Category Archives: Life

Learn How Povi Helps Children Develop Their Emotional Intelligence

Today’s environment has taken a toll on children’s emotional development. Overwhelmed parents and overly connected kids are leading to a lack of developing critical emotional intelligence skills.

Povi image

The Povi app and plush toy provide creative stories that teach children emotional intelligence based on input from experts.  Povi connects parents and caregivers to a network of child development specialists.Stories are written and curated  by expert psychologist, parents and teachers to help children develop their emotional intelligence.

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These stories help children work through situations and develop social skill helpful throughout life  by gaining understanding of how Povi would react in a situation. Povi helps spark conversations and can help children deal with feelings of disappointment, frustration, anger and sadness.  Povi  can help guide parents through what normally would be difficult conversations with their child. Povi is designed for children 3-8 years old. Check out the Povi Kickstarter campaign now!

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Povi isn’t a one-size-fits-all toy: it has stories for everyone. The app enables downloads of new content based on age, interest and ratings. It also provides follow-up questions for parents to spark discussion. The app enables users to rate stories and authors,this allows Povi to track interest in content and make suggestions.

 

 

Emotional intelligence  is one of the most important factors for  children’s happiness and success. Homework, extracurricular activities, both parents working outside the home and other commitments have made it harder than ever to have the necessary conversations with children to develop their emotional intelligence. Povi was created as an answer to this problem. Povi is loaded with real-life stories children can relate to and provide endless conversation starters.

povi app

The concept for this conversation-starting innovation came from Povi founder Seow Lim’s own experience with her son. “I always felt that I paid lots of attention to my child’s development and was very surprised when a school counselor said, ‘Your child is really smart, but he is not happy.’ It was so painful to me that I didn’t know this about my own son! In the process of transforming my parenting style from Tiger Mom to getting more connected to my child’s emotions, I created Povi.”

According to multiple studies, preschoolers who participate in social-emotional skills programs exhibit less aggression and anxiety and become better social problem solvers. Prosocial behavior in early childhood is closely tied to future academic performance and mental health.

Thousands of schools now use programs with this goal in mind. Povi enables parents to implement social-emotional development at home.

You can stay in the loop with Povi via their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, be sure and check out their Kickstarter page to learn more or to help with their mission. Let me know what you think of Povi in the comments.

 

 

This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Povi. I received compensation for my participation, but my opinions are my own.


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The Little Linebacker Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Book Blog Tour Image

Teaching kids that hard work pays off is probably one of the most important lessons we can teach them as they grow. So many adults that I know believe  things come easy and don’t require effort. As an entrepreneur I learned a long time ago there is no such thing as “overnight success.” Most people do not understand the years of work that go into becoming an “overnight success.” If kids learn this at an early age, it will serve them well throughout their life. They will not be the kind to give up at the first hurdle but instead find a way to get over each and every one on the way to reaching their dreams.

A book that can help kids understand this is The Little Linebacker. This book written by Maria Dismondy and Stephen Tulloch and illustrated by Heather Heyworth is a story of determination. The story is about a little boy who dreams of becoming a professional football player. This dream comes even before his first little league football practice. His mother is supportive and tells him to dream bigger dreams! He finds support through his life when he feels like giving up.

An elderly man he likes at the nursing home where his mom works provides some wise advice that you have to keep going even if you fail a few times. He helps Stephen practice his math skills when he gets a bad math test grade. Throughout the years, Stephen has defeats but someone is always there to help him summon his determination and keep going. He learns that when you don’t give up but keep pressing on, great things happen! This is a great book with a very valuable message. You can find this book on Amazon. You can download the Free Reader’s Guide HERE.

Take a look at the video trailer for the book below:

Enter now for your chance to win a copy:

Cardinal Rule Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of The Littlest Linebacker! Thank you to Cardinal Rule Press for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

The Littlest Linebacker – A Story of Determination Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Blog Tour, Books, Family, kids, Life, Life Stages, Review

The Smart Way To Organize All Your Keys-#KeySmart

Tired of fumbling around trying to find the right key? Hate that big bulky key ring with sharp jagged keys sticking out of your pant’s pocket or sliding all over your purse. Would you like to find a better way to streamline those keys?

Well, if you answered yes, I have the answer! Isn’t that good news, when it can be so hard to find a solution or answer to many of life’s questions, I am going to give you this solution right now! How awesome, then you can spend the rest of your day finding answers to all the other unanswered questions floating through your mind.

key smart

KeySmart Pro is the answer to taming that messy, cluttered key ring of yours. I could tell you so much but you know if a picture speaks 1,000 words this video easily has to speak thousands more!

Pretty cool don’t you think. You can see all KeySmart has to offer on their website.  I love my KeySmart Pro! Let me know if you decide to tame that messy key ring with KeySmart Pro.

key smart pro

 

I was provided with product samples to facilitate my review.


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Design A One-Of-A-Kind Hexagon #Metal Photo Print

Do you love taking photos like I do? Do you have an awesome shot from a recent trip? If you do, you might be happy to learn that AdoramaPix has these amazing Hexagon Metal Prints that are so different and really make your photos pop! Just take a look.

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AdoramaPix helps people turn their digital photographs from abstract computer files into beautiful keepsakes designed to last a lifetime. Their contemporary metal prints capture memories in rich color and vibrant detail. Because your images are infused right into the metal, and not painted on the surface, their metal prints are extremely durable. Not only will your metal image be water and weather proof, but scratch resistant as well. You can even clean it with glass cleaner. Your memories deserve to live in true, archival luxury with AdoramaPix metal prints.

Hexagon print 1

With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduation Time coming up, these would make a great gift! Mommy Ramblings’ readers can take 25% OFF Hexagon Metal Prints by using promo code PXHEXMTL25 when they check out. Offer expires June 15, 2016.

hexagon print

You can find more fun gift ideas HERE.


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Filed under Art, Family, Gift, Gifts, Home, Home & Garden, Life, Photography, Sale, USFG

Are You Looking For Outdoor Fun Ideas For Your Family?

We are moving into spring, the weather is warming up and soon the kids will be out of school for summer. Are you looking for fun outdoor things to do? How about camping? Even if it is in your own backyard, a family camping trip can be fun. You can start the night off with a fire in the fire pit, make s’mores, catch fireflies, have a sing a long and just talk and reconnect under the stars.tent pic 1

Kids have a blast camping out and you will make memories to last a lifetime. If you are looking for a nice 3 season tent for 2-3 people, you might want to take a look at the Semoo lightweight, waterproof, 3 Season Tent. This tent has a fun, vibrant orange color scheme. It is easy to set up. We put a tarp under ours. It comes packed in a duffel bag so that it is easy to transport.

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The tent has a large front door with a screen window and the back of the tent features a screen window too! There are interior pockets on the left and right side of the interior of the tent. These pockets are great to hold your wallet, smartphone or smaller items.

Check out our video below to see all the great details. If you want to take a closer look there is a link at the end of the post to the Amazon listing.

I hope you and your family have some great adventures this summer.


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Filed under Family Fun, Home, Home & Garden, Life, Outdoor, Outdoor Fun, Review

Don’t Forget The Small Details When Planning Your Wedding

Planning a wedding takes a lot of thought, time and effort. Most times we concern ourselves with the huge decisions like the dress, venue, bridal party, cake, menu, flowers, music and forget the little things that can add a special touch and brand the day our own. Things like personalized wedding napkins may not even cross your wedding planning radar but they should. Small details like this can really show you have coordinated your day down to the smallest detail and they  are a great memory to put in a shadow box or scrapbook to remember your day.

wedding napkins

Wedding napkins are so easy to personalize with graphics and of course your names and wedding date. There are all kinds of napkins in many color tones for beverages, luncheons, dinner and more! It really shows that you thought about everything to celebrate your wedding day. You might be surprised at all the different ways you can design them online.

 

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wedding dinner napkins

 

With wedding season approaching I thought this was a great tidbit to share. Personalized wedding napkins are a great way to add your special touch to make the ordinary truly extraordinary!


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Filed under Family, Gifts, Life, Life Stages, Weddings

Confidence Not Self-Esteem #Giveaway

Raising good kids who are happy, confident, and successful in life is every good parent’s intent. Without formal training or guidance, most parents raise their children in the hope that they will grow up to be more successful than them. To aid themselves in their most important job, parents seek out all kinds of advice from one end of the spectrum to the other.

One study that has failed parents most is The Psychology of Self-Esteem by Dr. Nathaniel Branden published in 1969. He concluded that “self-esteem” is the single most important part of one’s persona. Between 1970-2000, 15,000 scholarly articles were written that support this notion! This ushered in a cultural change that included the rise of the self-help publishing industry as well as manifold programs designed to help everyone build their self-esteem and instill the same in their children. Fostering self-esteem in every possible way was touted as the epitome of “good parenting.”

The Self-Esteem Revolution

The “self-esteem revolution” was responsible for soccer coaches who didn’t count goals but handed trophies out to everyone. Constructive criticism was replaced with broad, indiscriminate praise while honest competition was frowned upon, and a plethora of other changes based upon building self-esteem were implemented even though most didn’t make intuitive sense to many parents. Yet, logically, who could argue with all the data to support this?

It is no surprise that in 2003 the Association of Psychological Science asked Dr. Roy Baumeister, proponent and great believer in positive self-esteem, to review the literature. His conclusion: high self-esteem didn’t improve grades, career advancement, or achievement. It didn’t affect the usage of alcohol and didn’t reduce violence. He later stated that this was the biggest disappointment of his career!

Competence and Confidence

It is competence and confidence that help people from the youngest to the oldest become their best selves. It is empowering and encouraging positive behavior and accomplishment through trial and error that teaches children how to go through the process that makes success possible in their lives. They have to attempt a task, fail, and then try again and again to realize that this is part of life. Parents need to empower their children to do things for themselves. ThinkVirtues is here to help you do just that!

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ThinkVirtues provides a comprehensive program for you and your family to help transfer your parental wisdom, knowledge, and life experiences to your children. With over 300 years of combined experience, the ThinkVirtues’ ThinkTank is comprised of dedicated educators, counselors, and doctors who have the recipe for raising and educating resilient, happy, confident children who become successful now and later in life. This work is based on the timeless virtues responsible for developing strong character. Through ThinkVirtues’ carefully crafted exercises and conversation starters, parents can have meaningful conversations and create a lasting bond with their children. ThinkVirtues helps parents help their children grow up to become productive adults who will make the right decisions, develop healthy relationships, and become their best selves.

After all, no one else cares for your children more than you and with the guidance provided by ThinkVirtues, you can be sure that your children have all of the tools they need to navigate through life. The practice of ThinkVirtues’ exercises becomes a confidence-building surrogate for your maturing children when you are no longer there every minute of every day. Additionally, because of the lasting bond you will have created, your children will feel comfortable coming to you for help when unsure in a particular situation.

No class, camp, or person can provide the love and care that you have for your own children – we at ThinkVirtues know that. At times you may need help regarding the teaching of morality, resilience, and life experiences but don’t always feel comfortable asking for it. ThinkVirtues’ guided lesson plans provide assistance that is easy to follow and understand.

As a society, it is no longer possible to shelter children from the many bad examples they see outside of their homes, but with ThinkVirtues’ help, together we can ensure that they will learn to make the right decisions even when we are not there.

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About ThinkVirtues—
ThinkVirtues empowers children to be happy, confident and resilient! ThinkVirtues provides a complete set of tools, endorsed by experienced educators and child development specialists, so you can establish the right foundation in your child. Created for ages 4 to forever, children who’ve used ThinkVirtues are happier, more confident and resilient individuals who excel in the classroom, family, friendships and beyond! Just a few minutes a day prepares your child for the journey ahead. Learn more at www.ThinkVirtues.com

Giveaway

ThinkVirtues is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a ThinkVirtues Gold Annual Subscription (Retail Value $179.99). Thank you to ThinkVirtues for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

 

ThinkVirtues Gold Annual Subscription Includes:

-(365) daily lessons emailed directly to winner

-Exclusive access to the member’s portal complete with courses and videos

-A copy of the fantasy-fiction book, Eutopia: The Discovery

-52-card deck of the Virtues Questions Cards

-Children’s workbook (printable PDF)

-15% discount on all ThinkVirtues merchandise

 

ThinkVirtues Gold Annual Subscription Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Diffusing Essential Oils Can Help You Cope With The Last Weeks of Winter! #Giveaway

You know when we are at the end of winter like this and just longing for spring, it can seem just like a huge tease. We are so close but then Old Man Winter just does not want to leave quietly. Instead, he wants to go out kicking and screaming. It is those last few weeks that can drag on forever it seems especially since that liar groundhog made us think we were getting an early spring. Never trust the groundhog, he lies! One thing I found that really improves my mood during these seemingly endless last few weeks of winter is to diffuse pleasing blends of pure essential oils throughout my home. You would be surprised what a difference it makes.

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If you have never used an essential oil diffuser or if you are looking into getting another, I have a great option to share with you. The Rockano by Quooz is a very interesting looking essential oil diffuser. It comes in three colors; cobalt blue, toffee and peach. I chose the toffee. This diffuser holds 200 ml of water so is in the mid-range volume size. It has a light function that has three modes; steady on, breathing mode and off. The mist has a low or high setting and the unit is easy to operate and care for. Watch my video below for all the details.

 

Product Description:

“”Rockano”” by Quooz® is an essential oil diffuser that utilizes the most advanced ultrasonic technology to diffuse tap water with a few drops of your choice of oils into a cool mist, maximizing the aromatic powers of the oils. It is ideal for relieving asthma, dry cough, sinus, and cold and flu symptoms or for adding fragrance to your environment.

With adjustable mist and adjustable lighting, “Rockano” is sure to please your every preference. The high mist setting is designed for those who like a strong mist or for larger areas. On the regular mist setting, Rockano’s high capacity allows it to work all night. Then, for optimal safety, the unit will turn off automatically when the water runs low- quietly.

Rockano’s stylish, contemporary design, shaped like a peaky, rocky mountain, will blend well with your style- whether conventional or modern. It also resembles the fine cuts of a dazzling Diamond.

•Large capacity- 200 ML
•2 mist settings with separate control buttons
•High mist diffuses up to 5 hours
•Regular mist diffuses up to 10 hours
•Energy- saving LED lighting
•Quiet Diffusion
•Quiet automatic shut-off
•Low energy use
•DC 24V Voltage. 12W Power.
•BPA- free
•Diffuses ultrasonically at 2.4million Hz/second
•Easy to clean & long- lasting
•Five Functions in one: Purifier/Aroma Diffuser/ Ionizer/Humidifier/Night Light
•Great for every room in your home, office, hotel- just about anywhere.

Open your senses to the beauty of aromatherapy – a true retreat for the body, mind and soul.

Included in the gift box:
Rockano diffuser
A/C adapter
User manual”

This diffuser is a great way to enjoy your favorite essential oils and essential oil blends. The product is available right on Amazon and you can order one by clicking on the photo link at the end of this post. If you would like to try and win one, we are having a giveaway and one lucky reader will win their own Rockano Aroma Diffuser. Thank you to Quooz for the review unit and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents, just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
rockano diffuser

Quooz, Rockano Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Is Green Tea Causing Liver Damage?

Green tea is supposed to be good for us, right? A metabolism boosting drink filled with powerful antioxidant properties? Green tea is a good choice of beverage for those wanting to get healthier isn’t it?  Well, you might be surprised to hear that there are some very scary cases in the news recently that are shaking a lot of green tea drinkers up.

Green Tea Causing Hepatitis?

green tea cupA recent case study in the British Medical Journal reports that a 16-year-old girl suffering from symptoms of nausea, joint pain, and non-specific abdominal pain visited her physician. The doctor did not feel it was serious and sent her home stating she may just have a minor infection. When she did not get better and her symptoms worsened, she went to the ER. By the time she arrived in the ER she was jaundiced as well.

The girl explained that she had recently started drinking green tea she purchased online to help her lose weight. Citing she had only lost a few pounds when she started to experience horrid pains in her joints. She also felt very dizzy and sick the study reported. The teen was admitted to the hospital and put through a battery of tests.

Test results revealed she had acute hepatitis, or an inflamed liver. She was lucky because once the cause was found, she was given intravenous fluids and medication that let her quickly recover. She also stopped drinking the tea. While the tea she purchased was not tested, doctors theorized that the tea itself could have contained the materials that affected her liver function. While doctors said for the most part green tea is predominantly very safe and healthy to drink with the benefit of antioxidant properties, the danger may be in the additives.

These additives can be chemicals or other ingredients that can cause hepatotoxicity which is chemical-driven liver damage. They said this is especially true in teas made and marketed especially for weight loss. These teas in loose and bag varieties are being sold online through major online retailers and other sources. They have become quite popular with those looking to lose weight or detox their bodies.  It actually appears a natural and safe way to slim down but as shown here, could have dire consequences. Beyond additives, pesticides used in growing the tea leaves could also be a culprit in liver disease.

green tea leaves

Dr. Donna Seger, head of the Tennessee Poison Center in Nashville, said she’s always concerned when people buy herbal supplements or tea over the Internet without knowing much about where it came from. “I think there are still tons of people who don’t realize that because it’s natural,” doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you, Seger said of unlisted herbs or other materials in products. “They can have very significant toxicity.”Seger said people often turn to herbal supplements for weight loss and body building and that the liver, used to filter out toxins, is often the first organ to signal something is wrong.

The teen said she will never buy any online tea or weight-loss pills online again.

Green Tea Extract Supplements Causing Severe Liver Damage?

supplements

A New York Times Article told the story of  17-year-old Christopher Herrera.  Christopher was using a concentrated green tea extract that he bought at a nutrition store as a “fat burning” supplement.  However the effects on Christopher were life-threatening. When he went to the ER at Texas Children’s Hospital with his chest, face and eyes bright yellow it was determined he was suffering from severe liver damage from taking the supplement. The damage was so severe he was put on the waiting list for a liver transplant.

Christopher was terrified, this high school student from Katy, Texas was focused on the fact he needed a new liver and the possibility of his body rejecting it. Even with the best surgeons trying to comfort him it was gut wrenching. Research is showing us that Christopher’s case is not an isolated occurrence. Nutritional supplements account for nearly 20 percent of drug related liver issues that are seen in hospitals. This is up 13% from just a decade ago. Since this study only had data from the most severe cases of liver damage, investigators believe the actual number of cases is even higher.

GREEN TEA CUP SUGAR

Middle-Aged Women At Risk?

It is not only naïve teenagers who are at risk. Today, growing numbers of  middle-aged women are turning to dietary supplements that promise to speed up fat burning and help them lose weight. These supplements appear to be a good choice for them and the women consider them  a “healthy option” to stack the weight loss deck in their favor. I think these discoveries and the potential effects will have a lot of people rethinking their choices.

“It’s really the Wild West,” said Dr. Herbert L. Bonkovsky, the director of the liver, digestive and metabolic disorders laboratory at Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, N.C. “When people buy these dietary supplements, it’s anybody’s guess as to what they’re getting.”

So what do you think? Have you tried the detox or weight-loss teas? What about the herbal supplements like Garincia Cambogia, Forsklin, Raspberry Ketones, Green Tea and Green Coffee Extracts? What about the increasingly popular Matcha tea from Japan? Do you really know what is in those teas and supplements? Are you willing to play Russian Roulette with your health. I would love to hear your thoughts.

GREEN TEA CUP 1

 


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What Do You Think About Juan Martinez’s Book-“Conviction-The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars” ?

Did anyone watch Dr. Phil today with Juan Martinez? Juan Martinez is the prosecutor that put murderer, Jodi Arias behind bars for the rest of her life with no chance of parole.  I will admit I am captivated by this trial, I watch it on YouTube and yes, I realize it is over. I am not alone, many are watching the days of the cross-examination of Ms. Arias for the 3rd or 4th time. Many echo my same sentiments about wanting to jump through their screens to wipe that smirk off her face. The woman who self proclaims herself smarter than Einstein is now in Perryville Correctional Facility for the rest of her natural life.

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juan martinez

She showed no remorse through her trials and even used her time at her sentencing to get a last jab at the Alexander family. A fog that she had through the trial suddenly lifted and she needed to let them know Travis was alive when she slit his throat from ear to ear. Pure evil is Ms. Arias who is a phony abuse victim. She claims that her mom using a wooden spoon to spank her was abusive and one of the reasons she should be spared 1st degree murder charges  in the brutal butchering of her ex boyfriend Travis Alexander. She goes on to accuse the deceased Mr. Alexander of abusing her too. She claims that the 29 stab wounds, slitting of his throat and gunshot was done in self-defense.

jodi arias smirk

The self-defense excuse was not her first choice to explain what happened. That was her third or fourth story regarding his murder. First she denied being there, then it was a home invasion and when that did not add up, Ms. Arias, an abused woman acted in self-defense.  Okay, this woman is a psychotic stalker and this was a totally premeditated murder because she could not take the fact he would not marry her or even take her to his upcoming trip to Cancun with him.

If she could not have him, no one would. She stalked him, slashed his tires, entered his house through a doggie door, followed him on dates, went to the new girlfriend’s house to stalk them and more. She is someone who cannot let go and she was going to have him or she would make sure no one else could.

She had a history of checking her past boyfriend’s social media and email accounts and it just got worse. She is a manipulator and uses sex and flirtation to manipulate any male. She tried it with the investigator on the case, she tried to do it with her defense attorney and reporters, she did it with the jury and reportedly one older man fell for it and fell in love with the killer. She did it most recently with a rapper who has been visiting her in jail, calling her and wrote a song about her that is a disgrace to true victims of domestic violence. That rapper was on the Dr. Phil show today where the disdain for him was so palpable you could cut it with a knife.

jodi arias prison stripes

I am going to be purchasing Mr. Martinez’s book, Conviction, The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars. I really have so many questions about how someone smarter than Einstein could forget an SD card in a digital camera that showed her committing the murder. How she a professional photographer could not know anything can be recovered from that and leaving it in a washing machine would not destroy the chip.

The smarter than Einstein murderer who is a narcissist and paints herself a victim is a psychology textbook on just about every kind of psychosis and psychopathic behavior. Her cocky attitude as she played to the jury, mocking Juan Martinez and thinking she was winning them over as her friends is fascinating. Her smirk, smugness and oh that fog and brain scramble that come on at all the right times.

She changed from a blonde, sex crazed bimbo to a mousey, meek, librarian for the trial. Although in the early days when her old boyfriends were testifying she did not let herself look as mousey as she did as the trial went on. How she did not want to be seen in prison stripes and how that is what she wore along with shackles as she was sentenced to natural life in prison.  She talked about the embarrassment of having to wear an orange jump suit and how embarrassing it would be to her family. How when she changed her mind about wanting to be put to death that it was not for her, but to spare her family the pain and suffering.  Well off to purchase Mr. Martinez’s book. I think he was brilliant during the trial and exposed her lack of remorse and lies better than anyone could. Did you watch today? Will you be reading the book? Do let me know.

 

 


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