“Write a post on your blog in response to the following hypothetical situation: Electrical storms are going to wipe out the Internet (perhaps forever). You have one day left to write about your passions: what do you want to say to the blogosphere in 300 words or less?”  Here is my entry:

I have written about my passions often over the years; the joys and frustrations associated with them.  I took for granted that I would always be healthy enough to pursue them.  I am also learning the hardest lesson of all- our loved ones won’t always be alive to help and support us with our passions.

Sometimes it is overwhelming like a ocean being ripped apart in a storm.  During these times my passions become the lighthouse in the distance.  The waves crash and break, but there is always a flicker of light showing me these struggles are temporary.   Writing my blog helps me navigate through these times, like during the last year when I discovered I had cancer, and my marriage ended.   When my cancer treatments were over, I found myself at the starting line of my new passion- running. 

Two weeks ago, another storm came crashing in, when my mother died.  I have no idea how to find the flicker of light through this storm. I wish if I could pursue my passions hard enough- write that brilliant piece, or run fast enough-it would bring my mom back. Life gives us beautiful highlights and agonizing heartbreaks.  It is easy to get weighed down in the sorrow and pain. 

But my greatest passion and love reminds me life goes on. The smiles and laughter are the brilliant lights, illuminating against the dark and angry waves.   This life-long passion is parenting.  It is the beacon in the storm, and the calming force. It is hope, and it is my future. 

I promised a few months ago, I would share the amazing scar reducing-healing product that was sent to me complimentary from Earth Mama Angel Baby, after my thyroid cancer, and neck dissection surgery.  I have mentioned in a few previous blog posts that I could not believe how wonderful this salve works, and I promised to write a blog post about it.  Since then, I have received a number of e-mails from people asking me what this product is- from other thyroid cancer patients to parents wanting something for their children who have had surgery, or scars. 

The product is  C-Mama Healing Salve.  Earth Mama Angel Baby describes the salve as:

Our amazing bodies are naturally designed to close wounds, soothe inflammations and rashes, staunch bleeding, resist infection and fade scars. Yet sometimes even nature’s perfection needs a helping hand!  So for you, this revolutionary, clinically tested healing salve was created with 100% natural ingredients rich in Vitamin C, essential fatty acids and amino acids – all nutrients necessary for proper cell regeneration and wound repair. Formulated especially for cesarean section and other surgical wounds, old c-section scars and stretch marks, and inflamed rashes and burns. Optimize your skin’s natural healing power with C-Mama Healing Salve™.

C-Mama Healing Salve was developed after a year of research.  It is also clinically tested, dermatologist tested, toxin-free, cruelty-free, and certified vegan.  It contains vitamin E, lavender oil, and organic calendula extract, among its ingredients. 

I have very sensitive skin, and so many cosmetics and products irritate it.  I have been using this salve every day since July, and have never had any sensitivity to it.  I have been astonished on how wonderful C-Mama Healing Salve has worked in reducing my scar on my neck.  I received the salve when I was recuperating at my dad’s house, a week after my surgery.  I didn’t mention anything to my dad about the salve.  I put the salve on at bedtime, and the next morning my dad asked me what had happened to my scar.  When I asked him what he meant, he said it didn’t look as red, and it looked like it had healed a lot over night!  He was right- it had!

I have posted pictures of my surgery scars, including some right after the surgery, in previous blog posts, so I am not going to post those again in this post.  But you can click on the links if you want to see them.  But since a picture speaks a thousand words, here is a picture of my scar that was taken on July 15, which was 33 days after my surgery.  I had been using the salve for about two weeks at this point:

I am happy to say that the scar is so faint now, taking a close-up of it, doesn’t really turn out.  Below is a picture of me on my birthday, just three weeks ago.  If you look closely at my neck, you might be able to see the faint line of a scar.   

I have only used the C-Mama Healing Salve on my scar.  The jar is 1 ounce, but a little goes a long way.  I still have the original jar that Earth Mama Angel Baby sent me!  Also, my surgeon (who is also a plastic surgeon) was surprised on how faint the incision had become.  He sells a professional line of scar reducing products.  He asked me if I had been using them, and I told him no, and told him I had been using this product.  He said it looked perfect, and couldn’t be healing any better!  I agree! I don’t do very many giveaways, but I am so impressed with this product, and I think it can help so many people- thyroid cancer patients included!

 I am thrilled to announce that the wonderful people at Earth Mama Angel Baby have offered one jar of their C-Mama Healing Salve for a very lucky reader!  All you have to do to enter for a chance to win it is go to Earth Mama Angel Baby‘s site, and look around.  They have so many other natural and organic products that support the common discomforts of the entire process of birth, from pregnancy through labor, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby.

Then leave a comment here, on A Mama’s Blog, stating which product or products caught your eye, or which ones you would like to try.  The giveaway will run from November 3, to 10pm, Mountain Time, November 18th.  A winner will be selected by random.org.  I will announce the winner in a separate blog post.

When my surgeon told me I was going to be left with a U-shaped incision from the surgery, I was worried about the scar’s appearance.  No one wants a big, ugly, noticeable scar on their neck.  Fortunately my surgery ended up not being so extensive, but I still had a very large scar. C-Mama Healing Salve has helped reduce that in three months, to barely noticeable.  I am so happy with the results, and am thankful to Earth Mama Angel Baby for making such a great product- that actually works- to help with scar healing! 

Good luck!!

Thanks for stopping by A Mama’s Blog for Bloggy Carnival.  I am very excited to offer a wonderful and indulgent spa gift basket by Check Mix Bars. 

I don’t have to tell my busy readers, how precious a little free time is.  The Basket of Indulgence will add a touch of luxury to that time-even if you don’t have time for a bath, this great basket includes something to indulge yourself whether you have five minutes, or five hours (don’t we wish!)

The Basket of Indulgence includes:

• One box of Turtle Chex Mix Bars with crunchy Chex pieces, pretzels, and peanuts with caramel and chocolate.  AND they have less than 150 calories per bar, while providing at least 8 grams of whole grains per serving.  (So you can indulge with a sweet treat-guilt free!)
• Chocolate Candles
• Caramel Lotion
• Spa Essentials- a loofah, hand massager, nail brush, spa towel, and wicker basket to hold it all

We all love Bloggy Carnival, and thanks to the Chex Mix Bars folks, you have a chance to win one of THREE Baskets of Indulgence!  There will be THREE winners, each receiving their own basket.

 All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite homemade spa recipe, or a relaxation tip.  I am in the process of remodeling the new home we just purchased, and packing for our move.  I need all the relaxation tips I can get, and I always love homemade spa recipes. 

This giveaway will end at 8PM Eastern time on Friday, October 31st, (Halloween), so be sure to enter before then.  One comment will enter you for a chance to win one of the three baskets.  The winners will be picked by random.org, and notified by e-mail.  The basket will be shipped directly to you, from Chex Mix Bars.  This contest is only open to residents of the USA.

This is a fabulous spa basket, and I know you will love it!  I can’t wait to read all your tips, and I’ll let you know my favorite ones in a future post. 

Thanks again for stopping by, I hope you will visit A Mama’s Blog again, and good luck!

More giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!

As always, I want to thank the bloggers who posted this giveaway on their blogs, and they are:

Now for the winners:

The winner of the 24-ounce water bottle is:

Kristin from Blue Skies

The winner of the 21-ounce water bottle is:

One Mother’s Love

I have sent the winners an e-mail, and thanks to everyone who entered.  A BIG thank you to Lets Go Green.biz, for offering such great items.  

 Be sure to check back here at the end of September, where I will be giving away another fabulous product from Lets Go Green.biz!  Speaking of, head over there anyway, and get that water bottle in the color you have been wanting…come on, you know you want to, they are so affordable, and you need a BPA-free water bottle. 

It is time for A Mama’s Blog, and Lets Go Green.biz‘s monthly giveaway! This month, I am happy to announce that we will be giving away not one, but TWO of the fabulous BPA free water bottles made by Camelbak.

If you are not aware of what BPA’s are, they are a chemical called Bisphenola-A (BPA) traditionally used in making hard plastic bottles.  Wikipedia, states that BPA’s have been thought to be hazardous to humans since the 1930′s.  Long term exposure to BPA’s can induce chronic toxicity.  Some of the effects on the body, that were toxic in rats were: permanent changes to the genital tract, changes in breast tissue that predispose cells to hormones and carcinogens, breast cells predisposed to cancer, and lower bodyweight in both genders, and signs of early puberty.

BPA is known to leach from the plastic when heated at high temperatures (such as being washed in a dishwasher.) Needless to say, this isn’t a chemical that you want to be overly exposed to, and any chance you have to reduce your exposure to it-the better.

How many of us have plastic water bottles for ourselves and children?  Before becoming informed on BPA’s, I always ran my water bottles in the dishwasher, increasing the chances that my family was exposed to this chemical.

Lets Go Green’s water bottles are ALL BPA free, so you can put them in the dishwasher with no worries.  I have been using the 25-ounce Better Bottle now for a month and a half, and it is great.  I take it everywhere with me.  I especially love that the straw and the lid stay in place.  I have had so many water bottles that the straw comes out, and then it doesn’t work right, or makes annoying noises when drinking from it, so I ended up just throwing the straw away. 

My boys fight over who gets to use the 21-ounce Podium Bottle.  It is so easy to use and to hold, that my two-year old can use it with no help from me.  The lid is great too, because you can adjust how much liquid comes out, and you can completely turn the lid to “off,” so you don’t have any unexpected spills.  I definitely will be ordering another one of these so each boy has his own.

Be sure to check out Lets Go Green’s line of insulated water bottles too. 

For this giveaway, we are giving one 25-ounce Better Bottle, and one 21-ounce Podium Bottle.  The winners get to pick the color they would like.  In order to be eligible to win, go to Lets Go Green.biz BPA Free Water Bottle page, and look through the water bottles.  Then leave a comment here, stating which bottle you would like to have, and what color(s) you like.  If you would like to earn an additional chance to win, mention this contest on your blog, and provide a link back here. Be sure to sign Mr. Linky so I know you did this.

There will be TWO winners selected on Monday, September 1, at 8 PM eastern time, by random.org.  The first winner will receive the 25-ounce size, and the second winner will receive the 21-ounce size. 

If you can’t wait for the contest to end, these water bottles are VERY affordable. They range in price from $8.79 to $12.89.  If you use the coupon code, FRIEND, at check-out, you will receive 25% off your order!

Good luck!