My youngest got his face painted like Darth Maul at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.
Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review and Giveaway
July 24, 2013 By
Disclosure: I was provided with a free Comfort Mat to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.
My aching back! And legs and feet! Yikes.
I have suffered from a bad back for years, and standing for long periods of time usually makes it worse. I have often come down in the morning and stood over the kitchen stove while holding my back for the intense pain. I have to prepare breakfast, but cooking at the stove leaves my legs and back feeling strained and sore. I have coveted kitchen mats for a very long time.
Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame has a beautiful line of kitchen mats called the Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home. They are just beautiful mats designed by Fabio Viviani to be reminiscent of his home; Italy. I loved the Mercato design with the fork, spoon and knife motif. To me it is perfect for the kitchen, and it comes in two colors, caramel and mocha. I personally adore the mocha, it is so dark and rich looking, but the caramel was a more perfect choice for our kitchen colors. The other mat, which also comes in caramel and mocha, has a more stylized pattern which would make it ideal for not only the kitchen but other areas of the home and office. I could imagine it being used in a work shop or studio.
Both styles are made of the same polyurethane composite. These are highly durable mats that will not breakdown and do not roll up. My husband and I have been using the mat for a little over a week and we are extremely pleased with how our legs, feet and back feel while cooking. We can’t get over just how much cushion they provide over our hardwood floors. The mat feels wonderful when I’m in my bare feet. The texture is smooth and it holds a comfortable temperature. I actually would love to get a second mat for under the kitchen sink.
Win Your Own Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home:
Just What The Heck Has Been Going On In My Life?
July 21, 2013 By
Seems like forever since I sat down and wrote. Things have been a bit weird for me lately and I just haven’t had the gumption to sit at the computer and put it into words. Not sure I can even do it now.
We continue to recover Matthew from autism. He is doing really well. Maybe I shouldn’t say “from autism” any more as he certainly no longer meets the DSM-IV criteria of autism. I think we are now recovering him from ADD/ADHD, according to the DSM-IV this is a more likely diagnosis now. I will certainly take the progress, but eventually I want to not be “recovering” him from anything.
I guess I have done it again, I have some how alienated a friend. Well, she wasn’t quite a friend, but she was more than an acquaintance. We don’t agree on what autism is, or how to treat it – actually on even if it should be treated. Oddly I feel rather apathetic to this loss. I think with the adrenal fatigue and utter exhaustion that comes with it, I have no energy to give to this loss, and therefore no feelings toward it. I try to conjure in my mind and my heart a response to her, but I can’t be mean or angry towards her. I also can’t say she is right. The best I can offer is the question if we need to have the same beliefs to be friends. But even that seems like very little so right now I offer nothing.
The kids are home from school and we are readdressing their activities. Matthew and Nico are now taking music lessons together. Matthew has been playing the piano for a little while, and Nico has now picked up the guitar. I have always pictured him as a musician. Who knows if I am right or not.
Speaking of my adrenal fatigue, my acupuncturist says I am so depleted he has no idea how I function at all. I told him I am a SuperMom and we must continue on. He is treating me with his big guns and fully believes I will be back to my old self. I hope so, as this has been extremely taxing. I want to sleep all the time.
Lastly I have been trying to get into watercolor painting. I love it. I am so excited to get my art back. So where have you been this summer?
WaterColor Wednesday
July 17, 2013 By
I have been stressing so much lately. My acupuncturist thinks this is the reason for my dizzy spells and is treating me for low Chi. In more “western” terms, we think I have severe adrenal fatigue brought on by years of worry and stress over Matthew’s autism. Basically I have pushed myself to the limit with the stress autism brings with it, and now my body is paying for it. One of the things I need to do is start having some fun and doing things I love.
I have always enjoyed art, but never had any real training. I took a few classes here and there, but never had a chance to really stick with it. I decided to pick up my watercolor supplies the other day and see what I could come up with. I went to the art school of Google and played around with a few things I learned there. I hope you like my first attempts at watercolor and I hope to show you some more real soon. Thanks for looking.
