Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening?

All right, so it's afternoon here. I wanted to get a quick post in before the weekend arrives. Forgive me ahead of time, for I feel like I have a few things I want to say, so likely, it'll be a rambler.

First up- this weekend marks the start of my Birthday Week Giveaways! From Saturday the 24th through Friday the 30th, I will have at least 1 giveaway posted per day. Let me give you a few hints as to what to expect-

• Everything is handmade!
• The items have been donated by fellow bloggers.
• There are two contests where the winner gets to choose their own prize!
• The prizes include items like jewelry, baby items, and even a hand made purse (which I am in love with..)

So, please, stop back in on Saturday for the first of at least 7 give aways! The posts will be here on my blog, and where possible, will be in the weekly link parties. Good Luck ahead of time!

Next up- I just finished my first go-round of Physical Therapy today for my neck, which I recently found out has arthritis. Yes, I know- I'm too young for that. Apparently not. This week we worked on exercises I can do to strengthen my back muscles, so that it's easier for me to stand and sit with good posture, which will alleviate the worst of the pain, stave off a majority of the headaches, and lastly, keep the arthritis from deteriorating further.

I even spent some time on Tuesday with skin ripping tape on my back- I kid you not. They put me in the right posture, taped me up, and gave me dire warnings of skin being ripped off by the tape if I slouched. I only lasted about 3 hours in it before I was begging hubby to get it off.

All in all, though? I have almost no pain during the day in my neck or shoulders. I still have some headaches, and if I am active, I very quickly grow sore and get massive headaches. My mobility has improved greatly. I can tilt my head backwards all the way- actually, he said I was tilting it further than it normally would go in other people, but that he has a feeling my neck itself isn't aligned the way other people's are, if he saw it on an xray. Forward, I don't tilt nearly as far as I should, but at the same time, I was tilting down till my chin was touching the hollow of my neck. Physically, there's no way I could have gone further, but the numbers weren't as high as they should have been. That's why he thinks my neck isn't aligned the way it should have been, and that I was likely just born that way.

He discharged me from neck PT, and I get to go back in 2-3 times a week and work out with the exercises they gave me, so I can continue to strengthen my muscles. I have to remind myself to shove my shoulders back when I'm sitting down. Standing, I have decent posture. But sitting, I've always slumped back or bent forward because of the pain. Which, in turn, made it worse- go figure.

Anyway.. so, PT went good. They are going to start working on my knee next, but that has to wait for the doctor to send in a new script for it.

Tomorrow is yard sale day. I'm going to hit the sales big time in a town up north. Nearly every other house in the city holds a yard sale this weekend. I kid you not, I could walk block by block for 6 hours and still not have hit every single sale. LOVE IT!

And last, but not least- I sold my Alice headband from my Etsy shop today. I'm excited! I already have it shipped out. I am loving this!

So... have a great weekend, and I'll be back and posting on Saturday for the first of several giveaways!

My Frugal Etsy Shop!

I have finally done it- I've opened an Etsy shop with some small items in it, all frugally priced.

Currently, there are 3 headbands, a pair of clip barrettes, and a pair of bib clips available in the shop.

Lucy Clips- A pair of corker ribbon clips

 Charlotte Headband, with a black satin bow & red gemstone attached

Emma Leigh Headband, with a pale pink Gerbera Daisy, and a pink button and gemstone center

Alice Headband- a black slim headband with a wide black satin bow, perched off center

Baby Bib Clips- turn any piece of fabric, cloth, or even paper towel into an emergency bib with just 1 clip. These can also be used for nursing mothers modesty blankets, or attaching favorite toys, cups, blankets, or stuffed animals to strollers.

Sophia Clips- This is a pair of yellow and fuchsia snap barrettes. The centers are made from yellow buttons and pale pink gemstones.

Betsy Headband- This is a slim fuchsia pink, clear plastic headband with glitter inside. Attached is a fuchsia pink Gerbera daisy, with an orange button and purple gemstone center.

Olivia Headband- This is a slim, pink plastic multi-tonal headband with a pale pink Gerbera daisy on it. The center of the daisy is made from a thick clear pink button, and a pink gem stone.

If you have a moment, please check the shop out! My goal is to earn some money through my crafts, to put towards summer fun with the kids!