Losing It Thursday!!!

Last Weeks Weigh In:  191.2

This Weeks Weigh In: 190.0

I'm pretty happy with this. 1.2 pounds gone! I've started watching my carbs again. I'm really hoping I can do this, that I can get at least 20 pounds off before May 21st. I'm going to be a bridesmaid in my cousins wedding on that date and my dress is sleeveless and I want to look better in it. It's a really beautiful dress, I have to do it justice!

March Goal: 179

Current Weight: 190.0

Pounds Left: 11

 

Didn't meet my goal for this month. I'm going to make 179 my april goal.

 

I do have a question for you guys. Do you watch carbs? Do you count calories? Do you do Weight Watchers? I can't decide what I want to do. There is part of me that wants to count carbs, but I have been soooo hungry this past week. I want to do Weight Watchers because I know it works, but I'm still burnt out on that. So what do you guys do? What works for you?

I'm linking this up with My Little Apricot!

How I Keep My Family Happy!!!

I think one of the most important jobs of a mommy is keeping the family happy. For me, as long as Luke and I are happy, everything else in the world is better. If Luke and I can laugh and have fun at some point in the day, it makes all the other "stuff" seem not so bad.

There are a few things that I do to keep us happy. I try to take time to play with Luke everyday. This is good not only for Luke, but for me too. Even if it's just simply playing with him while he's in the bath tub, it makes his day. I love to see him laugh, really belly laugh and this makes us both happy. Also, Luke loves to put "colors" in his bath (the color tablets that you can buy that changes your bath water change colors) so I make sure to have these on hand.

I try to get Luke outside everyday (weather permitting). Luke is an outdoor boy. He likes to be outside and run and play with his toys. I love the sunshine and the fresh air. If we are cooped up for too long, we get grumpy. And the fact that it is the end of March and we had snow today does not make us happy :) We also love to go for walks. Great exercise for me and Luke gets a change of scenery.

I give Luke kisses and hugs everyday. This is probably a given for any child. This makes us both happy. It makes me especially happy when I get an "luv vue Mommy" afterwards! Definitely a huge bonus!

Of course, Luke loves his blankey and his chocolate milk so I have that on hand at all times. I make sure if we are going to visit someone and will be gone for awhile I bring both with us. Luke loves it when he gets to bring his blankey along with us, and at this point they are pretty much attached at the hip!

Probably the most important thing is finding the good in everything you do. Luke loves to help me around the house so I let him help me dust, and mop and he runs his vacuum when I run mine! It makes the chores faster and less daunting when Luke is helping and I see him having fun while doing it.

And as for me....even though I'm happy if Luke is happy....sometimes I have to do things for myself to make ME happy. I love crafting, so getting a little time to sit down and work on something goes a long way for me. I also love photography so to get outside with Luke and get some great shots makes my day. I also love to have movie nights with my friends and watch some good movies and eat snacks. The last time we did this we laughed and laughed and I felt so relaxed! And, I've learned that it's ok to do things for yourself from time to time.

So, what do you do to make your family happy?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday!!!

Santa brought this Toy Story 4 wheeler for Luke for Christmas and this was the first time we have gotten to get out and ride it! He loves it!

It's hard concentrating on pushing the button

 "Come on Mommy"

 "This is fun"

 "Let's go that way"

"Cheese"

"Here we go"

 "Now this way Mommy"

Check out the concentration in this one!

Zooming along!

We had a blast!!

Wallie Exercises Review!!!

I have been overweight most of my life. That is why it is so very important for me to instill good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle into Luke. I want him to not only be healthy, but enjoy staying healthy as well. Wallie Exercises by Steve Ettinger and Pete Proctor is one tool I've been using to start teaching these values!

Wallie is mostly a wonderful dog, but his super-laziness has become a problem. So his boy convinces him to go on an adventure to get fit. With a little help from a big friend, Wallie learns how to exercise. Will he enjoy the change from pudgy pup to healthy hound or will he return to his lazy ways? Learn important fitness concepts while following Wallie on his hilarious journey to get in shape. A special section with more information and original exercises (performed by Wallie) will get every kid (and pup) excited about exercise.

My Thoughts:

Luke really enjoys reading this book. He likes to do the exercises that Wallie does, and Luke really loves to exercise himself. He will do just about any exercise that I do. I loved the illustrations in this book and I feel it is a great tool to start teaching your child the importance of exercise and that not only is it important to stay healthy but that it can be fun too! Although the age group for this book is 4-6 years old, Luke enjoys it and we are off to a great start with learning the importance of exercise. 

You can purchase Wallie Exercises HERE at Amazon for $13.98 and it's eligible for free super saver shipping on orders of $25!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

The Best Advice My Mom Gave me About Parenting!

Thinking of motherly advice, I don't think there is one peice of advice that comes to mind. But, my mom has taught me over the years to be loving and caring. She supports me and my brother through anything and everything and supports every decision we make, even if she doesn't totally agree with it. Over the years she has offered me some advice that I didn't listen to, or that I didn't agree with and sometimes I thought she was....well...crazy!

My mom always said that she could smell fever on our breath. I thought she was losing it. Well, now that I have an almost three year old child....I can smell fever on his breath. Yep, that's right she wasn't totally crazy. I can definitely tell when he has a fever.

Even though I haven't always followed her advice, or always agreed with her...I still love my mom and wouldn't know what I would do without her. I'm planning on making her something special for Mother's Day and would love to add one of the Mother's Day Cards from Tiny Prints! My mom is the kind of person who likes to give just the right card, that sends just the right message, and she would appreciate the selection that Tiny Prints has to offer!

I love this Fingerprint Flowers card!

I also love this card for Grandmothers!

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Father’s Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event.

I will receive a Tiny Prints gift code in exchange for writing this post. These are my own honest opinions.

Leap Frog Camera Review!!!

I have passed my love of photography onto Luke, and I love it! He is so excited to see the pictures that I take and he loves it when he gets to take pictures himself. I sometimes let him use my cell phone to take his own pictures, but never my real camera. Now he has a real camera of his own to take his own works of art!

We received the Leap Frog Camera by Sakar for review!

  

Learn to take pictures with LeapFrog. Featuring a 1.5 inch screen, built in flash and Lean n' Learn Photo Editing Software. Has an easy grip so children's little hand will not have a problem holding on.

My Thoughts

Luke loves this camera! When it first arrived he couldn't wait for me to put batteries in it. And the next day he insisted that he take it to daycare with him. I reluctantly let him, and the other kids loved this camera so much that the teacher had to put it up till the end of the day! He took some pictures of his friends and his teacher. Luke is definitely a little selfish when it comes to his camera.

This camera has a soft outside which helps to protect it from little hands. Luke has dropped this camera and it doesn't miss a beat.

I love the LCD viewer on this. Luke feels like an adult with this. It is small, but Luke is perfectly happy with it.

The flash on this bad boy is bright! It will blind you!! Which is great for taking indoor shots. Just watch out for being too close to your subject as it will make it too bright. You can also shut the flash off as well.

We love how this camera talks to you too, encouraging your child with sayings like "good shot" which is great.

The photo quality was a little better than what I expected. Your not going to get "real" camera quality out of a childs camera, but it was better than what I thought it would be.

This camera also comes with photo editing software, which I thought was great! Your child can draw on the pictures they take as well as add special effects. Luke enjoys this!

Batteries seem to last a long time on this and it surprised me the amount of pictures it was able to hold with it's internal memory! I could not believe it held over 100 photo's! My only complaint was that I had a hard time getting the battery door back on after I put the batteries in. It screws on, which is a must have so that Luke can't get in to take the batteries out and play with them. This camera would make an excellent gift for the toddler in your life.

You can purchase the Leap Frog Digital Camera HERE at Toy'sRUs for $49.99.

I recieved the Leap Frog Camera for review purposes only and no other compensation was recieved. These are my own honest opinions.

It's My Birthday & I'll Cry If I Want To!!!

No, I'm not really crying. But today is my.....

Birthday!!!!

Guess how old I am....go ahead...guess.......I'm 30!

Yes, today I turned the big 3-0.

I'm not sad about it. I don't feel old. I think 30 is the new 20!

I feel like my whole life is still ahead of me.

No, I haven't achieved everything that I wanted. But that doesn't matter to me. I have Luke, and a great dog, and great friends, and great family, and great hobbies....and well.....life is good and is only getting better. My mom fixed me dinner on Saturday. We had grilled chicken, hashbrown casserole, a cheeseball and Oreo dessert. My parents also got me a Hummingbird feeder, which Luke says is his. Can't wait to put it up.

 Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

Did you feel older when you turned 30? Did you cry?

Mommyhood Monday!!!

I have a confession to make. Before I became Luke's mommy, I was one of THOSE women. You know the ones, the ones that hear the child screaming in the store and are in disbelief that their parents would allow that. The one that says "I'll never let my child do that" or "my child will never be like that" Yes, I was niave, no that's too nice of a word...I was stupid. Once I became a mom, all that went right out the window. So I thought I would make a list of the things that I said I would never do/my child would never do so that you all can laugh at my stupidity...I mean..who doesn't need a good laugh on Monday!

1. I said my child would never scream in the store. Yes, my child is the one who is throwing a fit in the store because he doesn't want to sit in the cart or he wants the cart that has the car in the front and they are all taken. Yes, my child is the one who threw the glass bottle of Frappacino out of the cart onto the floor and it busted and everyone stopped dead in their tracks to see what happened and watch my face turn red and about sink into the floor from embarrasment.

2. My child will never sleep in bed with me. Yes, Luke has slept in bed with me. Although, this happened over time, and it wasn't a decision that I just made one day. It still happened and now I am struggling to break the habit. I don't really regret letting him sleep with me, just hate breaking him of it.

3. My child will never have a cell phone. Yes, Luke will have a cell phone when he is old enough to use it. He would have one right now if he could text. I want to be able to reach him when he is not with me and check on him.

4. I will never spoil my child. I guess you could say that Luke is spoiled to an extent. I like to get him things he likes. I like to take him to do things that he enjoys. I enjoy doing things with him and making him happy. That doesn't mean I don't disclipine, just means that I enjoy being a mommy and that alot of what makes Luke's happy, makes me happy too.

5. My child will eat healthy. Luke has a mind of his own on that one. I fed him all the healthy baby foods, even started veggies before fruits. I fed him healthy meals when he started to eat big boy food. I fix healthy meals now and serve them to him....the child just has a mind of his own on what he likes. I'm hoping it's phase that he's going through, but yes, my child too is a picky toddler.

So, there you have it. Laugh away at how "naive" I was before I became a mommy. I actually think it's funny how things happen and how we change and grow after we become parents. Low and behold, I am a normal parent and Luke is a normal child. These things happen and every parent goes through it. It just took my brain changing from pre-mommy brain to mommy brain for me to realize that!

Friday Favorites!!!

If you read my previous post, you probably know how happy I am that this friday. I get to sleep in tomorrow, Yay!!

I managed to find three awesome projects to add to my to-do list!

First check out THIS Countdown to Easter from Crissy's Craft!

I'm definitely going to do this. I have different colored Sharpies that I could use to decorate the eggs and Luke would love to open an egg each day and get a little treat!

Next up is THIS super cute East Thumbprint Art from sweet and lovely crafts!

Yes, those are little thumbprints making those the cutest little animals and flowers! I love this idea and I think those little chicks are way too cute!

And last but definitely not least, check out THIS Felt Car Play Mat House from Cook Clean Craft!

This has to be the ultimate boy craft that I've come across! I so badly want to make one of these for Luke. She gives us the full tutorial on making these and it doesn't seem hard, maybe will just take a little time. Once I get my curtains done, I think this will be the next big project that I do!

My to-do list gets bigger and bigger every week! But, that's ok because I love the inspiration!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. My mom is having a dinner for me tomorrow for my birthday (it's not till Tuesday) and then Sunday I have to go dress shopping with my cousin to get my bridesmaid dress. Not really looking forward to that at all. Blah. But, it might be nice to get out and go somewhere different.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama!

He was waiting for me to run around the other side of the building, but I fooled him, hehehhehe!

SuperNanny Doesn't Know Squat!!

So, you know I started putting Luke in his own bed on Sunday night. The first night went pretty well, a half hour of putting him back in bed, not a whole lot of crying...he got up in the middle of the night, no big deal. The second night and third night pretty much the same thing, only he was going out sometime in the middle of the night to sleep on the recliner. So the fourth night, he did the same thing, only it took me an hour to get him to stay in there and fall asleep. Then he got up and went out to the living room, I went out and took him back to his bed. I laid in bed awake listening for him. About twenty minutes went by and nothing, so I went to check on him....he was asleep in the recliner. So instead of waking him up, I slept on the couch to keep any eye on him. I don't like him going out to the living room because I'm afraid he will get into something he's not supposed to.

Well, last night was the worst of them all. It took me two hours of putting him back into his bed. I picked up the child so much that my whole body was tired...and I even broke a sweat. I'd say about 120 times I quietly carried him back to his room. He tried everything, peeking around the corner, laying in the hallway...everything.  Finally after two hours of this, he went to sleep. Then I went to bed, I put the baby gate up in the hallway so that the only place he could go was to my room. He woke up shortly after I went to bed and started screaming and crying because of the gate. I went out and carried him back to his bed...about three or four more times. He went back to sleep. This morning my alarm went off at 6 am, I shut it off and opened my eyes....to see.......Luke sitting on the floor, next to my bed, looking at me. "Wake up Mommy?" he asked.

Uggghhhh, poor baby. He must have came into my room and slept on the floor. Luke barely makes any noise when he walks, and by the time I got to sleep I was so tired I had no idea he was up. He was in good spirits this morning, he acted like he was well rested....not me.

I am trying to follow the steps that SuperNanny does (at my soon to be ex's advice) and let me tell you. I don't believe for one mili-second that she breaks those kids in the short week that she is there. Last night was night #5 and it is worse than it was on night #1. I do everything she (and my soon to be ex) suggests:

1. Bedtime routine~~~~Check

2. Consistency~~~~~~Check

3. Not talking to them if they get up~~~~~Check

The next step I guess would be to put the gate up in his doorway so he has to stay in there. I don't want to do that. I'm tired and it's taking everything I have to stick to this and be consistent with it. My eye lids felt like sandpaper this morning. And I feel bad because I didn't mind him sleeping with me, I really didn't. It was the fact that he thought he could stay up just as late as me that I wanted to change. And the soon to be ex wanted me to start putting him in his own bed. So, I miss him being in bed with me....I don't like sleeping alone myself....and he doesn't like it either. So, yeah this sucks all the way around. It's something I know that needs done, but I just thought it would get a little better each night, not worse.

I'm almost ready to go drop $200 on a little flat screen for his room so he can watch t.v. while he falls asleep. He does at his dad's house and at daycare for nap. I'm not sure what to do. The only reason I say flat screen is that it can be mounted on the wall and is lite so if would knock it down it won't really hurt him.

So, I know that some of you reading this have been there and done this. Does anyone have ANY suggestions for me? Advice? What worked for you? How long did it take for you? Am I doing something wrong?

Oh, and if SuperNanny is reading this, feel free to stop by my house and show me how it's done, if you think you can. My doors open!

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Review & Giveaway!!!

Winner: Comment #55: momtodc!!!

I've said before that I have problems with my complexion. One problem that I've had for some time now is red splotchy patches and dry skin. And, I'm starting to see wrinkles. Naturally, I'm always on the lookout for the best skin care products that will help to make my skin healthier. This is why I was thrilled to try out Skin MD Natural Sheilding Lotion!

A shielding lotion does the real work to prevent dry skin in two ways.

First, it assists the inner layers of skin to absorb moisture. The humectant (an ingredient that attracts moisture) used in Skin MD Natural is unique to it and has been laboratory tested to be 6 times more effective than any other you will find in common creams.

Second, a shielding lotion enhances the power of the top layer of the skin to resist environmental irritants while protecting the inner natural moisture.

This can be a big benefit for those who cook, wash dishes and garden because Skin MD Natural helps skin retain its natural moisture and oils in the face of all those irritating soaps and chemicals.

The manufacturer's website www.skinmdnatural.com has hundreds of dermatologist and user reviews including many addressing severe dry skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. People with sensitive skin -- and those of us who like to live as naturally as possible -- will appreciate that Skin MD Natural is hypoallergenic, free of fragrances, parabens and colorants. It is made with more than 90% natural ingredients and 100% food-grade ingredients that are on the FDA's "most safe" list.

My Thoughts:

I started using this skin care product as soon as it arrived. Immediately I noticed that the dry skin on my cheeks went away. My skin also felt tighter to the touch. It looked brighter as well. It was in the morning when I first put this on, and that night when I went to take a shower, I could tell that this sheilding lotion was still on my skin! It actually lasted all day! And as I'm putting it on my face, it is softening my hands as well. It only takes a small amount of this to go a long way too! Of course, I love that this product is natural so I don't have the worry of putting chemicals on my skin. I'm very happy with the Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, and I'm sure the longer that I use it, the more benefits I will see!

Skin MD wants to give one of my readers their own Natural Shielding Lotion!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me why you would like to try this out!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Skin MD on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Skin MD on Twitter

3 Extra Entries: Follow my blog

3 Extra Entries: Subscribe to my emails

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet. You can do this everyday for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Review & #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins @skinmdnatural http://goo.gl/fb/RshMs

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada and will end on 4/12 at 10pm. I will use random.org to draw a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will draw another winner. I received the Natural Shielding Lotion for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Losing It Thursday!!!

I'm just going to start off by saying that I blew off dieting this week. I just needed a break and had too much stuff going on to stick with it.

Last Weeks Weigh In: 190.0

This Weeks Weigh In: 191.2

Not too bad I don't think. Today I've started watching my carbs again. I need to get with it and start exercising too. It's funny how stress can have the opposite effect on you one week to the next. This weeks stress didn't help me at all, of course I blew caution to the wind and ate what I wanted. I even had an Oreo Flurry from Wendy's. But I'm back at it.

March Goal: 179

Current Weight: 191.2

Pounds Left: 12.2

Yep, that's not going to happen, guess I will make that my April goal!

I'm linking this up to My Little Apricot!

Purex with Zout~Review!!!

I am always a little leary about trying out new laundry products. I've had bad experiences in the past with allergic reactions...so I tend to stick to one brand. Since becoming a Purex Insider...I have been trying out the Purex brand...and have found that I am able to use different products, which is great!

This time I was able to try out the new Purex with Zout laundry detergent!

Purex Complete with Zout combines the proven performance of Purex detergent with the triple-enzyme stain-fighting power of Zout Stain Remover

How does it work?

Purex Complete with Zout comes in two scents too! Fresh Morning Burst or Free and Clear!

My Thoughts

I received the Fresh Morning Burst for review. I love the smell of this detergent. This was an eyebrow raiser for me. Of course the first thing that I did when I got this was to open it and smell it, and it definitely smells good! I did my own little test with this detergent. Luke had a little stomach bug and had an accident in the middle of the night. I decided that I was going to use this detergent to see just how good it was. I pre-treated the undies with this and waited a few minutes before throwing them in the washer. Once the load was done and dried, I checked out my experiment. The stain was mostly gone. You could barely tell where it was. I will spare you all the before and after pictures...you will just have to take my word for it :) I believe that the Purex Complete with Zout did just as good as the more expensive brands that I have used in the past. The smell does stay in your clothes, and is great when paired with the Purex Fabric Softener Crystals!

I think the best thing about the Purex Complete with Zout is the cost. The fact that you can get a quality detergent for $3.49 to $7.99 (depending on size and retailer) is awesome! And, I have found quite a few coupons for Purex making this an even better deal!

Purex Complete with Zout will be available nationwide at the end of March!

You can go to http://www.freesamplepurex.com/ to request your own sample and do your own experiment!

I received a sample of Purex Complete with Zout for review purposes only through the Purex Insiders program. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Giggle Junction I-Spy Bag Review & Giveaway!!!

Winner: Comment #10 Sarah Shult!!!

I love it when I can give Luke something fun that will keep him occupied...and if that item can be handmade...that's a definite plus! I immediately fell in love with the I Spy Bags that I found at Giggle Junction!

Children spend hours, playing independently, searching for treasures inside this colorful soft toy.  Parents love that spy bags can be used to improve vocabulary development and fine motor skills.  The multiple textures on the fabric and plastic window of the bag offer an incredible sensory experience for the person holding it.  The entire interactive toy is self-contained making it a great activity for traveling, school, church, or any quiet time.

Giggle Junctions spy bags are made with soft flannel and are secured inside then turned and top stitched with a heavy duty utility stitch for added durability.  Each bag contains 30 miniature objects hidden among the non-toxic plastic pellets in the 7 x 7 square.  Children hold the bags and use their hands to shift around the pellets to reveal the hidden objects in the spy window.  It's perfect for children who prefer tactile games and encourages development of fine motor skills.

Instead of a word list of hidden objects, we choose to take the extra step and take a photo of the contents to promote independent play for young children not yet reading or with communication delays.  They will easily be able to identify and match items from the card to the spy window.

My Thoughts

I love the idea of an I Spy Bag. One thing I appreciate about Giggle Junction is that they make one for a toddler with a bigger window. This is great for Luke and makes it easier for him to find the little objects. I also love that they use pictures to list the items hidden inside, that way your child doesn't have to be able to read to use it!

I was so excited to open this package when it came. As soon as I opened it Luke's eyes got very wide! He didn't quite know what it was, but he knew he liked it! Then we had a little argument over who was going to play with it first lol. I just wanted to look it over, and he couldn't wait to get his hands on it.

I am in love with the turtle design on this! This is totally cute and so soft! As you can see, it comes with the little attached card that tells you which items are hidden inside.

It was so funny when Luke first played with this, he kept asking me to open it. He wanted to play with the hidden items. Once I explained to him that we couldn't open it, I think he realized that you just look inside for the trinkets.

Luke got excited when he found items he recognized like the ice cream cone and the ball. He had to show me each and every time he found something he recognized.

This is an awesome toy, and would be great for car trips, and for use in the doctor's waiting room too!

Giggle Junction even offers Party Packs, which comes with one large I Spy Bag and 8 mini I Spy Bags! This is a great idea for party favors!

We are very happy with our I Spy Bag and I definitely would purchase another for when Luke gets older and would love to give one of these out as gifts as well!

Giggle Junction wants to give one of my readers an I Spy Bag of their choice!!

Mandatory Entry:

Check out Giggle Junction and tell me which I Spy Bag you would choose if you win

Extra Entries:

3 Extra Entries: Be a follower of my blog

3 Extra Entries: Subscribe to my emails

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

Giggle Junction I-Spy Bag Review & #Giveaway!!! #handmade @getinonthewins http://goo.gl/fb/ei3Fw

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on my blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link

This giveaway will end on 4/5 at 10pm and is open to U.S. and Canada. I will use random.org to draw a winner. They will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. I received the mentioned I Spy Bag for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.