**********This in NOT a sponsored post.**********

See that Crohn's Forum Book Store notation in my sidebar? It's not a paid ad. I put it there because it supports a cause I believe in. A portion of every purchase from the book store goes to support research through the Crohns's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. Any profit remaining supports the Crohn's Forum. It's a safe and friendly gathering place for folks with bowel disease to talk to others who share similar conditions.

Bowel diseases impact every area of ones life. The diseases themselves can be incredibly painful, and many sufferers have to endure multiple surgeries to find any comfort at all. The medications that help the most also carry serious side effects, both physical and emotional. Many people with bowel diseases suffer from depression, brought on or exacerbated by the steroids and other drugs they need to take to combat inflamed bowels. The diseases can interfere with business, school and social life, leading to stress and further depression. We spend our days trying to find the right balance of safe foods and physical activity to avoid pain, flares and embarrassing accidents. We pass by the tempting party platters at holiday gatherings or just don't go at all. We scope out each new establishment to see if they are appropriately set up to accomodate the mad dash we sometimes have to make towards the restroom. Most of us carry spare clothes and a clean-up kit with us everywhere we go because, well, accidents happen. On top of feeling sick most of the time, we have a condition that is socially embarrassing and eats away at ones self-esteem. Family and friends can be great support, but if they aren't fellow-sufferers they most often have no understanding of just how huge the impact of bowel desease is on our lives. That's why the Crohn's Disease Forum and other support groups are so important in our lives. We know that we can go there and vent about all of the stuff that most of you don't want to hear and wouldn't understand if you did.

The Crohn's Forum Book Store is an Amazon Affiliate. There's a wonderful selection of books especially for folks with Crohn's and other bowel diseases, but you'll also find a variety of computer and video games, DVDs, music, toys and games available. I hope you'll consider doing a little of your last-minute shopping there.

Labels: Bowel Disease, Christmas gifts, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, health, Suppport Groups

My son is a sports nut. He’s working two jobs right now. He’s single, has an apartment with a reasonable rent and no major expenses. So why is he working two jobs? It would be nice if it was because he’s a forward-thinking guy who is feathering his nest for the future (grandkids?!) but that’s not the case. He pretty much spends it as fast as he makes it, and what he spends it on is sports. He lives in San Francisco and goes to all of the Giants, Sharks and A's games, and he’s been in the same rotisserie league for almost fifteen years. This makes it easy to shop for him at Christmas, since anything sports related makes him happy. We’ve been talking about doing some traveling together this spring. So I’m thinking that Chicago Cubs Spring Training Tickets might be the right thing to go with the Leroy Neiman print that’s already on its way to him. What do you think? Has Mom scored a hit this year?

Labels: Christmas gifts, payperpost, sports, spring training

Does someone on you gift list want a phone for Christmas? How would you like to get it free? Yep, you read that right! Your Cingular Motorola C139 Go Phone will be free with the rebate and cash back offer from dealking.com. Prowl around the site for other great bargains on every category of gifts you can imagine. But, hey, free! Can’t beat that!

Labels: Christmas gifts, payperpost

I’ve only been a postie for a few weeks. I’ve earned $133.01 for posting on my blog about various products and services for PayPerPost. A little over $100 of that will be paid to me between now and Christmas. I’m not doing a lot of gift-giving this year (should have learned how to advertise on blogs sooner!) but I do have some gifts for my son and his girlfriend, my sister and brother and a few friends. If business stays slow, I’ll have time to do some baking and make my mouth-watering Spiced Pecans, an old holiday tradition that I’d like to revive this year. PayPerPost bucks will handle all of the ingredients I need, some nice jars and tins to package them in, and the postage to get all of my gifts from this little dot in the Pacific to various locations on the mainland. Not bad at all for a newbie!

Labels: Christmas gifts, family, payperpost