The first time I tried raw milk

I grew up in California, in a suburb of San Jose. We didn't have access to raw milk, and the only time I ever experienced it was when I was 5 years old and my family went across the country to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. There, we got to see goats being milked, cows being milked, and a myriad of other things that I can' tseem to recall. I remember being squirted with milk as someone was milking a goat, I believe. I did not think that was funny at all.

But now that I know what happens on commercial dairy farms when they produce milk. I cannot get myself to drink store bought milk anymore. The blood and the pus that gets into the milk is "fine" for us to drink because it is going to be pasteurized. If they didn't pasteurize, the dairies would never be licensed because of all the crud and germs, bacteria and such that are in the not so clean dairy production centers... "but it is ok because pasteurization will kill them all". No, thank you. I gag now when I think of drinking milk from the store. Not to mention the hormones and antibiotics that will be lurking in your milk, or that the cows are fed genetically modified soy and corn. Yuck. Gross. Disgusting.

So, I found a co-op in my area that I could join and become a "member". As a result, I would have access to raw milk from an organic farm. One of the HUGE differences between an organic dairy farm and a commercial farm is the cleanliness and the gentle way of treating the animals vs. shoving them to be milked from a metal machine that makes their teats swollen, infected and inflamed. The safety and cleanliness requirements are way above and beyond what is required of a commercial dairy.

The first time I tried raw milk, I have to be honest, I couldn't drink it straight. I had to make chocolate milk. So I was drinking chocolate milk for about 2 weeks!! YUM! And I used it for cooking, and then for cereal. Pretty soon I became familiar with it, the wholesome goodness of fresh milk, from a bottle that I had to shake to distribute the cream on top!

Then I was hooked.

I recently went through the same process with kefir. I had been making homemade yogurt, which was very time consuming. I was told that kefir was so much easier, but when I thought of drinking fermented milk, it just grossed me out (even though yogurt is a type of fermented milk and I ate that all the time!). So, I slowly tried, started making it with some raw milk kefir grains a local farmer gave me. I started out by making fruit smoothies with it, and then just flavoring it with vanilla extracts... and now I barely sweeten it at all.

New processes and new foods take time to be comfortable with, but I am so glad I did. They don't seem strange to me anymore, but 5 years ago they did.

I am thankful I have my delicious, healthy, wholesome milk, and raw milk kefir now. I am getting REAL nutrition, an abundance of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, and tons of healthy probiotics for my insides :) Oh, and tons of enzymes that my body needs, as well.

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

How different people use detox foot pads (detox foot patches)

  There are many ways to use the detox foot pads. The first way I recommend is to wear three on each foot (depending on the size of your feet) the first night, so you can figure out what area of your feet are producing the most goo, and then focus on that area (with one on each foot) until that area is clean, and comes back in the morning white, vs. filled with goo. You should be able to feel better the quickest with this method.

But, there are so many other methods to use the detox foot patches.

One lady uses only one per night to help her sleep, and she rotates which foot and which area she puts them on, every night. This saves her money, and does a very slow detox, but still works well for her.

Everybody is different, and it depends on how  many toxins, what kind of toxins, and how often you are exposing your body to toxins. It can take MONTHS of the goo to disappear from the foot pads. My husband wore them and it took him only one month, and he doesn't have as healthy a lifestyle as I do! It took me over 3-4 months to get my arches to come out clean in the morning.

However, you don't have to use them for that long, to still get health benefits. If you notice that you are feeling better, sleeping better, having more energy, the foot pads ARE working. So if you can only afford on month for right now, I still recommend that. Many people are on limited, fixed incomes right now, and our economy isn't really helping us feel safe financially. We don't want to spend on something unnecessary, but I see it as health should be our top priority. That way we can continue to live our lives, work, earn money, and not feel sick.

I also would recommend trying them on different areas of your feet.... the underside of your toes, the heels, the balls of your feet, and the arches.

You also can put them directly on a swollen or inflamed area (elbows, knees, etc) if there are no open wounds in the area. You will be amazed at the inflammation that it pulls out.

One lady uses the detox foot pads for her children. They used to be disruptive in school, and wouldn't sleep well at night. Now, they sleep like babies, and she only uses one foot pad per kid per night. That is all it takes.

I know I sleep better with the foot pads on my feet at night. Some people that I know hate to have anything on their feet while they sleep. Those folks might do best to use the foot pads during the day.

Please "like" Purify Your Body's detox foot pads on Facebook

We offer special promotional codes every so often, so don't miss out!

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A customer testimonial for the foot pads!

I had been having problems with migraines and not sleeping very well, and thanks to the detox foot pads, they have helped out tremendously!

My migraines are not a frequent (almost completely gone) and I sleep better, too (I don't wake up during the night)!! I have tried so many other things and no luck till I came across these foot pads! Thanks so much Purify Your Body!!

-Denise, WA

Posted via email from Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads

Are Detox Foot Pads a Scam?

MSNBC and NPR and probably a host of other news corporations did tests on a brand of detox foot pads that I will not name, nor will I ever use or recommend. They start with a "K". Because the foot pads are filled with cornstarch (the generic name for "dextrin" or "vegetable fiber") you can assume that they barely pulled anything out of your body through your feet, onto the foot pad. And the test results proved that. They aren't going to damage you (except your wallet). They just won't do any good.

Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. The right one was one that I used on my feet. The left one is "before"

What really gets me ticked off is that they immediately lump every brand of foot pad into this same pile, and scream "They are all a scam! Don't waste your money!" It is like testing a Toyota for brake failure, and saying that all cars have brake failure. This is not true. Or  I would be riding my bicycle vs. my 10-year old Dodge Ram pickup truck!

I get email after email from my customers, telling me why they continue to buy my foot pads month after month. They sleep so well after using them, and feel refreshed. They don't get migraines anymore, they use them for gout flareups, and then more consistently to stop flareups from happening. Fibromyalgia, inflammation, chronic immune disorders... They help with ear infections and cancer treatments. (If someone decides to choose chemotherapy or radiation for cancer treatment, Purify Your Body detox foot pads help with the side effects). They truly DO pull out toxins, heavy metals, etc.

Before I even created Purify Your Body as a business years ago (2005), I had sent in some foot pads for testing. I wish I kept those results to post them. They proved to me that the foot pads were doing something besides just creating a placebo effect on me, because honestly, I was feeling great!

Why do people need to continue using them? Well, I know that I am exposed to a lot of toxins every day, in the foods I eat (although I try to eat healthy), in the commercial shampoos and makeup I wear (again, I try to limit my exposure, but I still purchase my favorite drugstore conditioner, loaded with parabens and other toxins... Infusium 23 is one of my faves). I eat a ton of chocolate, I don't exercise nearly as often as I should, and while I am not overweight, I of course wish that my muscle tone was better than it was! I breathe exhaust fumes, sometimes am exposed to secondhand smoke, and sometimes drink soda pop! I clean mostly with all natural cleansers (but not all, I still use a few bleach based products) So even in my life, while actively trying to avoid toxins, I still get a large dose every day. Most of the rest of our society doesn't even take the drastic measures I take, so I can imagine the toxins that are finding their way into their bodies. Especially those who work in labs, factories or beauty salons and are exposed to harsh chemicals all the time, or landscapers who expose themselves to commercial fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides.

So, what can you do? Well, I am pretty much in control of my toxins. (haha, that sounds funny!) I use my foot pads only on the weekends, and I don't get much goo out like I used to. So as long as I consistently use them, and watch my toxin levels, I feel pretty good :)
I truly recommend my detox foot pads as a way to good health. It may take months of using them to have the goo stop coming out like a faucet at night... it may be an ongoing thing you want to do every weekend like I do. It may spur you into trying to avoid more toxins in your life as well. You may only want to try it a few times and realize that it isn't for you, putting on foot pads at night and peeling them off in the morning and washing your feet. But there may come a day when you are feeling so lethargic and sick, that you will decide it is worth it.

Purify Your Body was created in 2005, and I feel I have the best ingredient combination in my foot pads. There are no fillers, none of that cornstarch in the foot pad. So, my foot pads cost a little more than other brands to make.... but I am adamant about good quality ingredients, my factory is ISO certified, registered with the FDA and gets audited to make sure they are really doing what they are supposed to be doing in a safe environment. Yes, they are made overseas in China. Most all of them are made in Asia, I think only one brand is made in Africa. But throughout my dealings with factories in China over the years, I know that there are some (definitely not all) that actually produce good products with quality raw materials, AND treat their employees decent. China gets a bad rap, sure, but if there were a factory that made them in the U.S. I would definitely look into changing facilities. As it stands now, there is none. And no chance in the foreseeable future.

I am a one-person business. I am the one who responds to all emails, fills all orders (sometimes with help from my husband or my dogs, don't know which one is more helpful hah). I am a real person, who cares about my customers and communicate with them on an individual basis. I have full confidence in the quality of my foot pads, and offer a money back guarantee. I ship within one business day, with few exceptions. If you want to return your foot pads, you don't have to wait 90 days to get reimbursed...  (I actually have about 1 or 2 people per year that want to return my foot pads!).

I try to always be honest, and give the best advice I know how. I am not a medical doctor. I am a fanatic about natural health. I am a firm believer in getting your nutrition from REAL FOOD, and exercising, and buying local, and meditating and giving thanks for your blessings. I am pretty much against western medicine that treats symptoms vs. the cause, and just slaps a person with meds to address the symptoms (usually resulting in more symptoms from the side effects). But I have a huge respect for our trauma care, and love how advanced medical technology has gotten in keeping a person alive after a car crash, or other horrendous accident.

So, all in all, that is Purify Your Body, and my detox foot pads. I have customers all over the world. I offer free priority mail shipping to all U.S. and military addresses, and usually throw in an extra pack as my way of saying thank you to our military. I do charge for international shipping, and wish it was cheaper than it is, but I don't regulate postage prices.

I am very blessed to have all of you reading this, and thankful for all my customers. When I think of the the blessings I have in my life, my customers definitely are at the top of my list.
Try the foot pads out. I offer free samples, just visit my site and send an email to me. Sometimes I include a discount coupon as well :)

And to finally answer the question, Are detox foot pads a scam? Some are, some aren't. Purify Your Body detox foot pads definitely are NOT a scam. They are the real deal.

My experience with Kefir and its health benefits

This past summer I was introduced to homemade kefir. I was suffering from what we thought was acid reflux, and so I researched some natural methods to treat it, and stumbled upon kefir.

I couldn't imagine drinking a "liquid yogurt drink" or a "fermented dairy drink" but everywhere on the internet I read fascinating testimonials about the health benefits of kefir, so I decided to try it.

I didn't want to buy the commercial brands, I wanted to make my own. The co-op where I get my raw milk from has a lady who had excess kefir grains, and so she gave me some for starters. I used raw milk, and started as directed by the many websites out there that teach you all you can learn. I make my kefir by fermenting it for 24 hours, and I flavor it with vanilla and liquid stevia. I drink it as a morning protein shake.

Some of the diseases/illnesses that kefir works to improve include:

• colitis / ulcerative colitis
• irritable bowel syndrome
• leaky gut
• acid reflux
• heartburn
• gastritis

This is just a few things that it can help. It relieves most all gastro-intestinal disorders, and adds the healthy bacteria into your gut. (tons more than yogurt!) It has a tranqulizing effect on the nervous system, and promotes good health.

I just feel fabulous after drinking some every morning for the past 3 months. I suggest you look into it if you want your body to have what my doctor calls a "superfood" - so try it out!! It is delicious!!

And to feel even healthier, please try my detox foot patches, to pull out the toxins from your body. Doing both the kefir and my detox foot pads for just a month, you will feel so much better!!!

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REAL FOOD vs. PROCESSED FOOD

 I belong to a Yahoo group and today a thread was going around regarding eating healthier, and for those people who are used to eating processed foods, switching over cold turkey may not be the best thing. Here is one of today's posts, used with permission from the author (remaining anonymous). I love the analogy of being robbed and given cab fare... you still were robbed! So enjoy :) And if you decide to start eating healthier, you may want to look into detox foot patches to help you on your way to fabulous health.
______________________________________________________________

When first eating whole grains you have to be careful... You have to kind of wean yourself into it...

Here's an example of why...

To make bread a brighter white, at the expense of consumer health, flour is treated with chemical bleach, similar to Clorox.
Most white flour used in super-market bread, rolls, cakes, pastries, spaghetti, noodles, pasta, and breakfast cereals, has been bleached.

More than 30 different chemicals are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for addition to bread, cereals and other foods, including ethylated mono and triglycerides, potassium bromate, potassium iodide, calcium proprionate, benzoyl peroxide, tricalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate ammonium chloride and magnesium carbonate. These are all routinely added to bread to extend shelf life, despite the fact that little is known about their long-term cumulative toxicity, when taken together. If you don't already read labels, you'll be shocked when you do.

When grain is made into refined white flour, more than 30 essential nutrients are largely removed. Only four of those nutrients are added back in a process called "enrichment." Using this same logic, if a person were robbed of 30 dollars and the thief then returned 4 dollars to his victim for cab fare home, then that person should be considered "enriched" by 4 dollars not robbed of 26 dollars. How would you feel in that situation?

You should feel the same about "enriched" white flour and bread! Only vitamins B1, B2, B3, and iron are added back. Nutrients which are removed and not returned include 44% of the vitamin E, 52% of the pantothenic acid, 65% of the folic acid, 76% of the biotin, 84% of the vitamin B6, and half or more of 20 minerals and trace elements, including magnesium, calcium, zinc, chromium, manganese, selenium, vanadium, and copper.

Now imagine, bombarding your body with nutrition it's never really had before...

Gotta start slowly...

I'd try having some eggs and bacon, alongside a very small bowl of ...
Whatever you decide to try...
And let your body slowly get used to real nutrition!

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Another Pet Peeve!!

I tend to have a lot of pet peeves. But lately I have been relaxing more about them. For example, when people don't use their turn signals I don't feel the need to shoot them with a bazooka anymore; when people at work leave seconds left on the microwave after using it (instead of clearing it), I just hold me fire and clear it myself; when people talk about how they want to breed their pets to make money selling the puppies, ok, yeah, that one still gets to me.

Here is one that I just can't get out of my mind, especially since the economy is so bad and I still have money to spend! Why don't people contact you back when you leave a message or submit a request on their website?

I am not a sales person. I hate selling anything. And I don't really do anything that requires customer service. Other than my side business, where I email customers or talk to them about my detox foot pads, that is a breeze, I don't mind that. But I wouldn't take a job or start a business (contractor, painter, etc) without understanding that I NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE!!

When I email someone on Craigslist because I am interested in buying something they are offering, GET BACK TO ME! When I use the contact us form because I have a question about a product before I buy it, I really want to know the answer before I buy! And, I won't buy before I find out that answer.

Don't have a "contact us" page on your website if you don't man it. Honestly.

Enough about my pet peeves for now. I truly am getting better, mostly...

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

The frustration I have with doctors and the whole medical community right now

Back in June I went to see my primary care doctor because my throat felt like it was closing up. It felt like I was wearing a tight turtleneck. It didn't hurt, but it felt very uncomfortable. Especially at night when I was trying to sleep. So my PCP referred me to an ENT doc. So there I went, to see a specialist. He did a scope down my throat, through my nostril, it was super uncomfortable and hurt for days afterward. He said he was silent reflux, i.e. laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. The "silent" part comes in because I never had heartburn or felt acid... except on those occasions when I would eat dozens of jalapeno poppers or something similar. Then, I would feel heartburn for a little while, then it would go away.

So, he told me I need to start taking Prilosec, 40MG every morning 30 minutes before eating. Ok, so I told myself I would try this for a month or so, because I was getting sick of this tightness in my neck/throat. Within a few days of taking the prilosec, I started to feel acid coming up my throat. YUCK! So 2 weeks later I went back to the doc, telling him my symptoms, and that my throat issue has not changed. He added Sulcrafate to the prilosec, and told me I haven't given it enough time. So I was then taking 2 meds.

The acid seemed to go away with the second med (my assumption is that they neutralized each other). But then I felt a HUGE lump in my throat, behind my sternum area. It felt as if I swallowed a pill sideways and it got stuck. Even when I hadn't eaten anything for hours, I would have this feeling.

So finally, a month later, I went back to the ENT doc, and he said I should have an EGD done (esophagealgastroduodenoscopy I think is what it is called). To have a scope go all the way down into my esophagus and stomach and first part of my intestines, to just check things out. So I had that done. All they found was mild inflammation of the stomach lining which looked to be healing. That is it.

I should butt in right now and say that during this, I changed a lot of things. I inclined the head of my bed by 4 inches, I started making and drinking homemade kefir, I wouldn't eat after 6pm at night, and I cut out some of my favorite foods: chocolate, caffeine, tomatoes, peppermint... I am glad I found out about kefir, because I just feel super healthy now (other than the throat thing, mind you).

So, my assumption is that the inflammation of my stomach lining was caused by the overuse of NSAIDs that I used constantly during my shoulder issues (I had 2 shoulder surgeries last summer). The kefir was probably healing it.

I stopped all the drugs, and had my last appointment with my orthopedic surgeon, to check on my shoulders. I mentioned how my throat felt, and she said that my neck and shoulder muscles (including my trapezius) was SUPER tight, and that I should go get a massage and see my chiropractor. I hadn't seen them in months since I have been so busy going to medical doctors!!!! HAH! So, I went, and they both believe that it is caused by super tight neck muscles, from basically the base of my ear down to my sternum area. After my massage I felt amazing, it was great. So I figured I should also see my rolfer, Erin Herdina, from STructure For Life. She is amazing too! I hadn't seen her in over 8 months, so it was the longest stretch of time that I hadn't seen her for, in 5 1/2 years!

Today I went to see her. She told me my shoulders were rolled forward and that everything was super tight. So I got worked on at lunch time today and I can't even begin to describe how good I feel now. It was totally worth it!!!

My story is a perfect example of why I am not overly fond of medical doctors. I was put through procedures that carried some risk, that I really didn't need. I was put on medication that I also didn't need. YUCK! GROSS! I had a muscular-skeletal issue, yet they couldn't see beyond what the pharmaceutical companies could do for me. Not! I am just so frustrated. I ended up meeting my deductible for my high deductible insurance plan, and wasting money for my health plan group coverage. All because so many doctors don't see the body as a whole, and only see one tiny glimpse of it, and want to treat symptoms vs. the underlying cause.

What is Rolfing? It basically is the manipulation of the connective tissue in your body, so your body can have the correct posture again, and then have gravity work FOR you vs. against you. It aligns your body, and your structure and function improve. So I am glad I went to see her!!! She is amazing!

Next time my first stops will be to go to alternative medicine vs. allopathic doctors.

But don't get me wrong. I LOVE and RESPECT trauma care. If I get into a car accident and my arm is hanging off, take me to the nearest emergency room! :)

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

avoiding disease... or at least catching it early

It seems as if these days, most everyone is sick, not feeling well, in a malaised state, or chronically ill.

My first suggestion to everyone is this.... avoid getting sick. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? If only it were.

I am not a great writer. I always have a great deal of thoughts going through my mind but when I try to write them down, they seem to get jumbled. So bear with me here.

To avoid getting sick you have to avoid toxins. This is easier said than done, as there are toxins everywhere: in the produce we eat (thinking we are eating healthy), in the shampoo we use, the makeup, skin lotion, processed foods, soda pop, artificial sweeteners, air pollution, just everywhere!

Since it is near impossible to avoid toxins (notice I didn't say avoid germs, since I think a healthy dose of germs builds out immune system!) the best we can do is to detox our bodies as often as possible. We can eat detoxifying foods, we can use a far infrared sauna, we can use the detox foot pads, or the foot detox baths, or do acupuncture, we can do liver flushes and colon cleanses, and the many other multiple ways we can detox our bodies.

We also need to make sure we put good nutrients into our bodies. It seems almost impossible to get the nutrients our bodies need from our food, so we most likely will end up needing to take a good supplement, hopefully from whole foods. (i.e. a good greens formula, for example).

Disease can strike anyone. Everyone's tolerance level is different. Even though you and I may be exposed to the same amount of toxins, I may get sick from them and you may not. It may take double the amount to get you sick. Our chemical make up is just way different from each other. So it isn't right to compare one person to another. We just know what causes the sickness (toxins).

If you are unable to avoid disease, the next best thing is to catch it early. Many people gradually decline in health, so it might be very slow, they don't notice until they are super sick, that something is amiss. They can't pinpoint when it happened, or what caused it. Never would they believe that it was actually the toxins they were putting in their bodies over many years time!

Sometimes you feel ok and then all of the sudden you aren't feeling good at all. It may be a general feeling of being unwell, or it could be something like cancer.

While I am normally not too fond of doctors for every day care, I do firmly believe in getting a physical regularly, and catching any cancer or other illness, early.

My point is that if you aren't feeling well, and think something might be wrong, go get checked out -- catch it early, and then start treating it naturally. (Well, that is what I would do!) Some of the things I would do include drinking essiac tea, ozone therapy, and a rife machine. Those are just for starters.

Cheers to you and good luck avoiding disease!

Posted via email from Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads

The Parable of the 10 Lepers

Today in my Sunday School class, we learned the Parable of the 10 Lepers. In this story, Jesus is approaching a city when 10 lepers come to him, asking him for mercy. He tells them to go show themselves to the priests. When they did that, they were healed from their horrible leprosy.

Only one of the 10 came back to thank Jesus for healing him.

The purpose of the lesson was to get the girls to thank Heavenly Father for all the blessings that they have.

One of the questions that I asked them was "Why do you think nine of the lepers did not return to thank Jesus?" and I have to admit, that all my life that I have known of this parable, I just figured the nine lepers who didn't thank Jesus for healing them, were selfish and unthankful. But of course, I always learn something from the kids!

"They probably were so excited that they were healed, that they forgot" one girl pointed out to me.

And that is probably true. In thinking about it, if I was healed of this deadly disease, I would run to my family and be overwhelmed with excitement. I would definitely be thankful, too. I am willing to bet that they were ALL THANKFUL. Maybe by the time they went to find Jesus to thank him, he was already gone.

So, the true lesson that is even when you feel thankful in your heart, express it, and do it right away!

Unfortunately no funny stories in Sunday School today, not like last week. But I look forward to next week when I tell the story of the ungrateful servant, and we are going to act it out; and I am going to bring my tiara from my wedding when we roleplay. Someone gets to be the King (wearing a sparkly tiara, haha!)

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Nopalea -- is it good or bad? With Maltodextrin as an ingredient?

I just got my "free" bottle of Nopalea (you just pay about $10 shipping). It is 32-oz and is supposed to combat inflammation in your body.

It is touted as a breakthrough wellness drink that helps the body relieve pain, improve breathing, and reduces swelling in joints and muscles.

After having a horrible conversation with the sales rep who took my order (oh my goodness, can you say UPSELL?) I mean, goodness gracious, have some tact. I want to try the product first before I commit hundreds of dollars to it. I don't care if there is a money back guarantee or not. They just left a very bad taste in my mouth after that conversation.

Nopalea contains Maltodextrin. Sure, it is very controversial whether it is really such a bad ingredient or not, but in my book, it is horrible. The things it does to your body, it contains toxins from the genetically modified grains it is derived from, and wreaks havoc on your system. It also is an excitotoxin, and to simplify the definition, it kills your brain cells. So why do they offer it as an ingredient in their health drink?

I am unsure I even want to try this bottle of it.

Even if they have 99% good, wholesome ingredients, having 1% poison still can do damage to you.

Overall, I am not impressed with the company so far.

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Something to think about

I received my latest order of Miracle Soap this week (this is what I use for my skin -- cleanser, shampoo, moisturizer:) and in it came with an information brochure with some very interesting and thought provoking information in it. Here is one of the paragraphs:

"Despite all of the life saving technology and wonder drugs available to us, why is it we are seeing a vast increase of chronic disease in our country? Scientific data is showing us our immune systems are more burdened than ever. Could it be due to the five billion pounds of toxic chemicals that have been dumped into our ecosystem? The statistics speak for themselves. Fortunately, though, people are starting to realize their need to take responsibility for their health and are discovering the amazing amount of information available concerning wellness. Medical professionals are doing the best job they know how treating the symptoms of our diseases. However, maybe it is time to take a look at what our role is in maintaining good health!"

I agree that our medical community treats symptoms very well. They are on the leading edge of all the technological breakthroughs. But we don't need more medications. I truly believe our bodies can heal themselves if we just detox our bodies, and get rid of all the toxic waste and chemicals inside ourselves. If our bodies can miraculously heal a cut when it is clean, why can't the rest of our body be healed if we also keep it clean?

You are welcome to a free sample of my detox foot pads -- just visit my website and send an email through the contact us form (free shipping to the U.S.) try them out. You can be on your way to a healthy body, free of toxins.

Have a fun journey!

Posted via email from Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads

Organic produce vs. no produce vs. pesticides

We all know the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables... there is no argument there. The nutrients they provide, the fiber, the delicious taste...

But try getting my husband to eat fresh veggies is impossible... unless they are fresh from my garden. Then, he will pick the green beans directly from the vine and pop them into his mouth without even washing them! It is nice, I don't use pesticides or herbicides. All healthy and natural.

So that is good... but what I want to write about is the regular fruits and vegetables that we buy from the store.

The other night, actually the first week we signed up for Netflix, my dear hubby stayed up late watching tons of documentaries. We streamed Netflix through our Wii and wireless connection, so it was easy choosing what to watch through our TV. He watched one about nutrition, and how we are destroying our food chain because of pesticides, etc.

He came up to bed (I was already asleep) but felt what he had to say was worth waking me up over. Big-eyed, he asked me "Do you know how long it takes for fresh produce to arrive in our local supermarket?" and I replied "a lot longer than it should!" and then he said "by the time it arrives, over 40% of the nutrients are depleted, and it isn't fresh, and they use pesticides". My "never caring what he eats" husband shocked me by seeming to care about this. He knows I care and purchase organic whenever it is available and our budget allows. But I know that he just buys whatever he sees. I thought that by telling him that what we can't grow ourselves we can get at the farmers market, he would let me go back to sleep.

Nope. I finally caught on to his ulterior motive. The next thing he said was "if we moved to Central America we wouldn't have to worry about nutrient depletion and pesticides... everything is grown right there, locally, and we can grow anything we want, by ourselves!" Ahh! There's the catch. Another reason to move to Central America. Something he has wanted to do for years now. So it wasn't really about him deciding to care what he puts into his body... it was just another thing to try to get ME enticed to move there. I love that man.

So... back to what I really want to write about... the produce we buy in our supermarket. If we don't have access to organic fruits and veggies, is it better to go without, or to eat the pesticide laden fruits and veggies that are available? I do not know the answer and am looking to find out. Anyone have any ideas? I would love to hear them. I am a regular user of my detox foot pads, and I know that pulls out pesticides from my body, along with other things, but what if people don't detox their bodies? Would you rather eat veggies filled with poisonous toxins, or none at all? (If organic wasn't available)? Let me know your answers!

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Today is my niece, Marin's, sweet 16

I haven't spoken to Marin in years, but I think of her all the time. She was the cutest baby, with big eyes that when they filled with tears, gave off a sparkle, and you just wanted to take her in your arms and wipe her tears away. I remember her growing up, she was a whiz, super intelligent, said the wittiest things. She sent me a postcard from her first trip to Disneyland, and she wrote that she rode the grown up roller coaster and she admitted to me that she was a "titch" scared. I think she was 6 or 7 years old at the time. And she used the word titch. :) I still have that postcard!

Wherever you are, Marin, I hope you are thinking of me, too! I love you so much, and pray for you all the time. I can't wait until you turn 18 and have the ability to make your own decisions. I hope you will contact me at that time. I love you sweetie!

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

10 Steps To Optimal Health

I have to say that there are a lot of folks out there who are very ill, even if they don't know it. And those who have been degrading their bodies for decades, following the steps below WILL help. Except it won't help overnight. It is a long-term change. If you have been polluting your body for 50 years, it may take YEARS of living healthy to make all the chronic illnesses go away. And, it isn't feasible to expect yourself to do every single one of these 10 things, right away. But, doing these things, following these steps, WILL help with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, lupus, gout, chronic illness, neurological disorders, migraines, weight gain, etc.

 1. STOP putting toxins in your body. Stop eating fast food, canned/processed food, artificial sweeteners (especially diet soft drinks). Of course this is next to impossible, unless you go on a raw/organic diet, but do the best you can. Every little bit helps.

 2. Take the toxins OUT of your body. Detox your liver, kidneys, do a bowel cleanse, a juice fast, detox foot pads, whatever you feel most comfortable doing to get the toxins out. (of course my detox foot pads are my choice method!)

 3. Put wholesome nutrients INTO your body. An organic whole food supplement like Sea Silver or Sea Power Plus is the best, if you don’t eat enough fruits and veggies. Also, make sure you eat enough fiber!

 4. Drink at least 75 oz. of purified, distilled, or spring water daily. Avoid city tap water if at all possible.

 5. Exercise at least 3 times a week. Try to get at least some exercise every day.

 6. Rest well. Shoot for 8 hours of sleep a night, preferably between 10pm and 6am.

 7. Relax, meditate, pray. Whatever your spiritual beliefs are, try to spend at least a few minutes a day relaxing, meditating or praying. De-compress.

 8. Smile and Laugh. Not only is laughter contagious, it lifts your mood, decreases stress and makes you more beautiful.

 9. Love. Love yourself and others.

10. Do a kind deed for someone. Niceness and charitable actions will improve your mood, your health and your heart.

By following the above steps, which are simple actions, you can live life to the fullest, and feel healthy, vibrant and have more energy than you ever knew was possible. Good luck, and God Bless.

HOW DETOX FOOT PADS WORK

Practitioners around the world know that toxins are one of the primary causes of diseases in people today. The Detox Foot Pad from Purify Your Body removes the toxins from the body, which results in the removal of pain and diseases.

The key to healthy living lies in having a clean bloodstream. Contaminated blood is not favorable for good health. The best way to cleanse the bloodstream is to detoxify the body.

The growth process of trees is a boundless source of knowledge and unexplained powers. Even under the worst weather conditions, trees can still grow and flourish for thousands of years on their own. If we could unlock the secret of the trees and apply it to humans, we could find the key to longer life expectancy.     
After 26 years of research and development, it was discovered that the wood vinegar essence found in oak, beech and sakura trees has the ability to absorb toxins, on top of other beneficial medical properties. The Detox Foot Pad’s toxin absorbent is made from a unique combination of wood vinegar essence, and eight other ingredients.

 
According to Chinese medical knowledge, our human body has over 360 acupuncture points, with more than 60 found on the soles of the feet. The feet are known as the 2nd heart because they are the reflective zones of our major internal organs. They are also the favorite homes for toxins. When the blood circulates to the soles of our feet, the Foot pad extracts the toxins from the acupuncture points. The pad is normally applied to the soles of the feet.

After only one night of application, there will be significant changes to the smell and color of the pad. The white pad will turn darker, from brown to grayish black; there will be a visible reduction in the stain and odor of the pad, indicating the effective extraction of toxins from the body.

          In addition, there are also reports of success for patients suffering from migraines, fibromyalgia, inflammation, rheumatism, kidney problems, painful and swollen legs, insomnia and headaches.

The Detox Foot Pads help the body achieve its optimum state of health by improving blood circulations, increasing metabolism, activating blood cells, providing relief for joint pains, enhancing quality sleep and expelling unhealthy bodily fluids.

Besides its holistic healing effects, it is also safe to use. The Detox Foot Pads do not make medication less effective. In fact, the removal of toxins from the body will make the medication work more effectively. The pads remove only cellular wastes from the body. They are like garbage men…. The pads only pick up what has already been thrown away. They have been shown to pull out toxic metals, like mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead and even nicotine!

CLEAN YOUR BODY NOW!!!

Posted via email from Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads

All sorts of wandering thoughts, but mostly decisions to make

So here I am, 6 days before my wedding, and every day I am falling in love with Steve more and more. We have had our challenges during our 10- year courtship, and huge fights, and mountains to scale and canyons to cross. Oh, and raging rivers to swim... There were times when I was ready to give up, and I am sure many times he was ready to give up on me as well. But I am sure thankful we didn't give up. He brings so much to my life, and because he is part of it, it makes me not just WANT to be a better person, but actually makes me TRY to be a better person.

And, there are going to be tough decisions to make for me, soon. I need to gear up my strength to be able to handle them, and choose what is best for me. I will be doing a LOT of praying for the right answers!

And, since March 5th, I have lost at least 15 lbs. And, a few inches off my waist and other areas. YAY! So that is 21 days to lose 15 lbs. I haven't been super hungry during the diet, but I have had super cravings which I really hate. Tonight I am going out to dinner at El Loros, and will just eat a la carte, (enchiladas or a grande burrito, my faves!) And since my diet is officially over, I can eat carbs / grains again but I will just be careful about the sugars and refined starches... otherwise, I can have at it!! I am sure my dress will fit me just fine.

I can't wait for my massage coming up. I really need it. And, my chiro appointment because I have a rib out and the pain is emanating all around my side and it hurts to breathe. And laying down (which usually makes back pain subside) doesn't make this pain go away.

And, I have to make a decision by Monday on whether or not to cancel my follow up appointment with my surgeon, just checking in to see how my arms/shoulders are doing. I have been in pain, but also have only been doing the bare minimum of physical therapy and stretches, so it kinda serves me right. She will most likely tell me to go see my physical therapist again, and each appointment will cost me $100. Oh well. We will see.

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

9 days before my wedding

I am sure many brides have a whole range of emotions a mere 9 days before the wedding. I wonder if some of those thoughts are of the groom, wondering if he is going to get cold feet? Or if all the logistics are going to run smoothly, or about their bridesmaids and groomsmen and wonder if they will do their "jobs" -- who knows. I know that the following things are going through my mind:

1. Whether my family will make it safely here. They will be driving (most of them, my sisters will be flying, but my brothers and parents will be driving from Utah to Minnesota!). My brothers plan on driving straight through, taking turns at the wheel. Of course that gives me a sense of anxiety. My parents are making it a 2-day trip. It is 20 hours one way. I think they plan on driving 12 or 13 hours the first day.

2. Will I be able to be a good host for my family? Will I have enough food, blankets, beds, pillows, hot water, etc. for them? (Seriously, this is a concern for me!)

3. How will my dogs and cat react to having a newborn baby around? My cat should be fine, as she has been around babies before, but my dogs might want to "play" and their type of play (as boxers) is a bit rougher than say, the play of a shitzu. Where will my dogs sleep when Steve and I are at the hotel on our wedding night? (yes, this is another worry for me).

4. Will we get enough sleep, to be well rested? I suppose melatonin will be in order for this issue...

5. Will the snow be gone? Please, say yes!!! And sunny, blue skies, pretty please!

6. Then the worries start to fall onto the more materialistic things... like can I lose a few more pounds before the big day? will my hair turn out alright? will I get pimples from stress? What if the cake falls, what if my dog eats the flowers, what if, what if....

The one thing I am sure about is being married to Steve. And since it is only my family and his family that will be there, I suppose if things don't go perfectly, that is ok. Every family is dysfunctional, right? So having a dysfunctional wedding might just be perfect.

But I still don't see how other women can primp all the time... always getting nails done or hair done, doing facial treatments and whitening teeth. Man, it takes a LOT of time!!! I am so glad I am not high maintenance.

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Body Wrap - second review

After trying the It works! Body wrap last week and not getting any results, I tried the Luca Lean body wrap (bought 2 jars on eBay) last night. Steve laughed at me as he was wrapping me in plastic wrap :) I lost about 2 inches (off my thighs and hips). I am going to try it again tomorrow, to see if I get more inches to disappear. It is actually a LOT more comfortable than I thought it would be. And, I want to target more of my waist area. I will report back once I have tried it a few times. So far, I am pleased. The areas of my body that have the most "fatty tissue" are my upper thighs and butt, so I did see results there...

It is also a lot cheaper than the ItWorks! Body wrap, at only about $20 for a jar of the cream... and I am guessing you can do about 3+ body wraps per jar (plus the cost of the saran wrap)... way better than the price for the ItWorks! Body wraps, which targets only one area at a time, not your whole body. So far, I would choose Luca Lean body wrap formula over the other.

Posted via email

It Works! Body Wrap Review

I tried a body wrap from the MLM company, called It Works! Body Wrap. I of course want to be super slender for my wedding in 16 days... and if I can shed a few more inches before then, GREAT! I am also tanning, and did a 10-session package at a place called TOTALLY TAN, which has locations all over the northwest metro area. Since there is one near my work, it is convenient. Albeit, they are a little pushy. A 10-session tanning package is really only 10 points, and the low level beds are 1-point each, and they go up to 6 points each. So my "10 package" really may only be 2 tans... but I am using the low level beds. Going twice a week. (i am not a proponent of tanning but it is winter still here in MN for another week, hehe, snow still on the ground, and I am wearing a white wedding dress, and have light blond hair. I need some color.... I prefer real sunshine vs. fake bakes, but well, we do what we have to do !).

So, at this tanning salon, they sell the It Works! Body Wraps. All the girls that work there look 21, wear heavy makeup, have cute hair and are super skinny. The manager told me that she lost an inch in just 45 minutes wearing the wrap and she said she thought she didn't have that to lose (she was a stick as it was!) So I spent $25 and tried one.

I took a sauna, opening up the pores and cleansing the skin on my body. Then took a shower. Dried off... and then put the wrap on. I had it on for 2 hours last night. Measured before and after. Didn't lose an inch or even a fraction of an inch. I did it correct, as I watched the video and did what they told me to do.

It was very cold feeling... tingling... like ben gay with the potent herbal smell, but instead of heat, it gave off cold. This morning when I checked the inches, I did lose about 2-4 inches (we are supposed to measure in 3 places and add them up). But every morning I am thinner than I was at night. This is because (I think) last night I drank a ton of water in the sauna, maybe 20 oz. And I drank jasmine tea before bed, so while I still do drink throughout the day, I really need to drink when I lose moisture through sweating in my sauna. So that might be why.

It also is through a detox method, it says that is how it works. Well, I don't understand exactly, but my detox foot pads also provide a detox for your body. I have been doing those for years. Since I *probably* don't have as many toxins in my body as the average person, maybe that is why it didn't work as well. Like any type of "detox diet" that has you do a colon cleanse to lose weight fast, those don't work for me, since I use my oxyflush colon cleanse every night.

I ordered some luca lean body wrap stuff the other day, and will try it this weekend. I will try my whole body. Then I will review that, as well. I am doing the hcg diet right now, too, but only have lost about 8 lbs in 13 days... not fast enough for me!! I think I am freaking out about my wedding, my dress (I go in for alterations tonight so maybe that is the pressure that I am feeling). I want to lose at least another 10 lbs before the big day... only 16 days from now!! (When I say I am freaking out about my wedding, I am NOT freaking out about marrying him, that is the only thing I feel 100% sure about, and when I think of being married to him, I feel a sense of calm and peace, while the rest of the world is experiencing chaos).

So... another review coming up within the week.

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Poison Found in California Dog Park

This is today's blog post from Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM.

---

Poison Found in California Dog Park Posted: 10 Mar 2011 08:49 AM PST Utah still holds the lead in the troubling pet news category this week. But I suppose it was only a matter of time until California made it onto the score board. Someone is trying to poison dogs in Silicon Valley. From KTVU.com: Sunnyvale city officials warned local dog owners Tuesday about someone trying to poison pets after rat poison was found at a local dog park. Police said that on two separate occasions in late February, boxes of rat poison were found at the Las Palmas Dog Park. D-con Baitbits are designed to kill mice and rats in one feeding. The small green pellets were discovered out in the open at the park for dogs to discover. An ominous threat that read “All dogs must die” was scrawled in blue marker on one of the boxes that was found. The active ingredient in D-con is brodifacoum. This agent is a potent poison in dogs. It is in a class of poisons called anticoagulants. Brodifacoum and similar poisons cause uncontrolled bleeding. For a more detailed description of the poison’s effects, symptoms, and treatments, see my website: http://drbarchas.com/rodenticide The Sunnyvale police department appears to be making an honest effort to deal with this issue. They ran a fingerprint analysis on the box, which unfortunately didn’t turn up any matches. They have issued warnings to the community. And, although a deranged sociopath is still on the loose in Sunnyvale, there is a silver lining to the cloud: Sunnyvale leaders said that so far, they don’t know of any dogs that have been poisoned at the park. They want to keep it that way.

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Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Homeless, Poor and Unemployed & Living within your means

I read an article the other day on CBSNews.com about children who were living out of their cars, or out of motels, because their families lost their homes and jobs. It tore my heart apart. In a county in Florida, some children were interviewed and asked how many of them went to bed hungry in the past week or so... I think 73% of them raised their hands (I can't find the article now so I can't quote exact figures or link the article... but the thoughts invoked by the article have stayed with me).

Children should not have to go hungry.

I have a LOT of opinions about different things. Many people may disagree with me, and they have the right to. Hopefully respectfully. For example, it is easy for me to make judgment about the obesity epidemic in our society, and how we eat processed, chemical laden food, and fast food because we are a gluttonous society and are losing the skills usually passed from one generation to the next, in learning to cook from scratch. I DO agree that parents who feed their children MSG, aspartame, and a host of other chemicals are setting them up for chronic illness, mental and emotional issues, and obesity/diabetes. So when I see the types of foods that are usually handed out at food shelves, or the type of food that is cheap enough for "poor" folks to purchase, I shake my head. I am generalizing here. Because I see this as a societal issue, and one that doesn't just touch the lower income families. But, it is less prevalent in higher income families who are more educated and can afford organic or healthier food choices. This is a fact, unfortunately, not just my opinion.

I am also one to avoid going to the doctor's unless it is something that I am very worried about. (i.e. gallbladder attack?), but not for a cold that won't seem to go away. I am anti-medication/drugs, and don't want to be prescribed antibiotics unless it is an emergency. It disturbs me to hear others head to the doctor because their child has had the sniffles for 2 days. And then they get antibiotics for a virus (I do have to say there are some cases where a viral infection triggers a bacterial infection, but that is NOT the norm). Why not eat HEALTHY food, take natural immune-boosting supplements, take colloidal silver (which attacks both viruses AND bacteria, AND other pathogens). Or a natural supplement like oil of oregano that is especially good against viruses. That is what I do, since all the stress in my life has been causing me to get a few colds a year vs. the one I used to get. Stress, on the other hand, is not something I am good at talking about dealing with effectively, because obviously I don't know how!! (relaxation, meditation, doing less, well, those just don't seem to exist in my world!! Someday maybe?)

Now, back to the article I originally mentioned. And back to my opinions. This is hindsight, of course, these people can't go back and change things now, but hopefully we all can learn. I just want to talk about some things that have me thinking, and occasionally get me angry (which is my own issue... for example, those banks that triggered the housing burst, well, I was responsible but I am paying for it... my properties are below water now! I never was late on any payments, and I never over-borrowed, why do I have to suffer as a result of others actions? I know, unrealistic, but sometimes those thoughts find their way into my mind).

Most of us (and quite a few of those who helped get us into this economic mess we are in) are living beyond our means. What does that REALLY mean? It means, if you do not have enough money to have health insurance, car insurance, life insurance, etc, and don't have enough money to put any away for your retirement and your savings (even if it is a measly $50 a month), then you are driving a car that is too expensive, or you are living in a place that is too expensive. You are going out to eat too often, and buying needless items. I am honest here. Why is insurance so important? Because then if disaster or trauma strikes you, you and your family will be covered. Why are savings so important? so you will be ok if you lose your job. If you are living in a $1,500 apartment, well, I know for a fact in my area there is a nice 2-bedroom apartment that includes all utilities except electric, for only $825! Because I OWN it and rent it out for that amount. I rarely have a hard time finding renters. Well, that is an extra $650 (the difference in rent) right there to put towards savings, retirement, getting out of debt, insurance. Oh, well, it isn't fancy enough for you? That isn't the right attitude to have. It is that kind of attitude that helped get us in this mess. We WANT and WANT and WANT. Let's bare down and get back to the basics. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Once you have those, and pay all your bills, including insurance and savings (think of it as paying yourself), then you can spend on whatever you want, a new video game, a $100 pair of jeans (ack!), shoes, or whatever it is your greedy heart desires. Yes, I am being a bit mean here. But I am being REALISTIC. The 7 deadly sins include sloth, greed, envy, lust... think about it.

I already mentioned not saving your money, but it bears mentioning again. Even if it is $50 a month, PAY YOURSELF! This is crucial. You need a safety net. An emergency fund. Times WILL be hard once in a while, but it will be easier to be happy and find joy during those hard times if you have that safety net. Granted, we all should have started this years ago, and are now paying the consequences of not having done it... so, START NOW. Forget the past, you can only change today and tomorrow.

Which brings me to my next recommendation, which is to HAVE GOALS!! Do you want to be debt-free, living within your means with savings and retirement funds? It won't happen overnight, but imagine yourself with all those things. I bet you feel peace. Peace knowing you don't have creditors knocking on your door, or bills stuffed inside the mailbox. You don't have to worry about looking people in the eye, or especially looking at yourself in the mirror. The peace in your life will be worth millions. Priceless. All you have to do is start now. Start small. Find one bill to pay off, and move to the next. And so on. Start putting $10 away at a time, and increase it as you are able. Practice living with less, being less greedy and materialistic. Soon, your whole life will change, and I bet you will be able to find happiness much easier! And, if we hit another terrible recession, it won't hurt as bad because you will be prepared. THAT is what I want people to learn. To be prepared, so it doesn't hurt as bad.

And then, materialism will slowly dwindle. Granted, retailers will have to find other things to entice us to spend our money on. But my bet is that they won't be lacking consumers willing to depart from their money... just don't be one of them! We boycotted the materialistic Christmas this year. We went to a Third World country and stayed in inexpensive hotels and resorts, away from all the greed that we have back here in the U.S. We saved all our frequent flier miles for 2 years, and got discounts on the hotels where we stayed. Sure, we had a much needed vacation, but thankfully we planned it well and it didn't cost us much at all. We didn't give each other presents. I read the Christmas story. It was beautiful. I don't like Easter for the materialism it is starting to represent, either. WHY do people other than Christians celebrate Easter? It makes no sense to me. Or Christmas, for that matter. I know why. GREED and MATERIALISM! PRESENTS!!

I just want to sing songs of praise and glory that Jesus was resurrected! That is all! It is a very special day for me, Easter Sunday, because it reminds me that although I am a sinner, I can accept Christ, and because he died for me, I can be forgiven of my sins! What a wonderful message! And we have to desecrate that special message with our materialism.

Lastly, when we do start living within our means, and saving our money, we will not be chained down. We won't feel like we have shackles dragging behind us, weighing us down, like a heavy burden on our shoulders. And, that gives us more time to help others out that are less fortunate! Wouldn't that be grand!? I have this burning desire inside to want to lighten another's burdens, to help them out when needed, and to commit random acts of selflessness, anonymously.

Where am I in this whole process? Well, first, we are not living beyond our means. We are actually living below our means. Times have been tough for us, too, because our rental properties have caused a LOT of money drainage, so my goal this upcoming year is to try and replenish my depleted savings. My truck had probably about $4,000 worth of various work done on it in the past year. I had 3 surgeries and had to pay $2500 of my deductible (which I have to say is an extremely fair deal, I am not complaining about that at all). And, I still need to pay off one credit card that I put my schooling on. My goal is to have that paid off this year, by December!

So I am in the middle of this process. It does take a while, and sometimes there are setbacks. But if you start now, soon you, too, can be living within your means. And hopefully someone will listen so that 12 years down the road if we have another bad recession, they won't be homeless and their kids won't have to go to bed hungry. I wish I could feed all those children, and give them homes, and give their parents jobs, and make it so they don't have to worry about the instability in their lives, and that they can just focus on being kids. I wish and I wish.

(I want to mention that I seemed to be pushing insurance companies pretty hard... insurance is super important, but I have to say I am not affiliated with any insurance company. I get my health, AD&D, LTD and STD insurance through work, and my other insurance through USAA, which I absolutely love (homeowners, auto, life, etc). I have my meager retirement fund through both work, and also USAA... I am still young so I have a ways to go, but I do contribute a small amount each paycheck! When I can afford more, I will do so. But even a small amount gets me into the habit of saving) TRY IT!!

Good luck!

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Barnes and Noble Customer Support: FAIL

I recently purchased the Groupon offering $20 worth of product from Barnes and Noble, for only $10. When I went to redeem it, I followed the instructions to redeem it at the NookStore, and went to a web page that had a link for me to activate my "gift card". That link was broken. So, I sent the following email to the company, thinking that they would be interested to know a crucial link was broken on their website. I then called customer service, had someone from India (I presume, with the account and the digitized voice (VoIP). Once he found out that I had a question about the Groupon, he immediately wanted to send me to the "Groupon" department. I halted him and told him to go to the website and click on the link in question, to see if it worked for him. It didn't. But, he showed me a back door way to apply my gift card. Then, everything worked by then. He gave me the number to call the Groupon Department, and it happened to be Groupon itself!! Excuse me, how could Groupon help me with a broken link on Barnes and Noble's website?

So the response I just received today from them is below. They don't address my concerns, only go into a cookie cutter answer on how to use a gift card. BIG FAIL for their customer service!

> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
>
My Message to them:
>
> This URL doesn't allow me to click to
> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooksgiftcard/index.asp to manage gift
> cards link. it gives me a 404 error message:
> Server Error in '/' Application.
> The resource cannot be found.
> Description: HTTP 404. The resource you are looking for (or one of its
> dependencies) could have been removed, had its name changed, or is
> temporarily unavailable. Please review the following URL and make sure
> that it is spelled correctly.
>
> Requested URL: /account/request.aspx
>
>
> PLEASE HELP. I got the Groupon $20 certificate and want to buy some
> ebooks.
>

>
THEIR RESPONSE:::
>
>
> Thank you for writing to us about using Barnes & Noble Gift Cards to
> purchase NOOkbooks.
>
> At this time, the maximum number of gift cards that can be applied to an
> online NOOKbook purchase is three.
>
> To make your gift cards available for your future NOOKbook purchases,
> please sign on to your Account and click on the link titled Manage Gift
> Cards for NOOKbooks. You can store up to three gift cards in this
> section and they will be automatically applied to your NOOKbook
> purchase. If you do not currently have a Barnes & Noble Account, please
> visit our website and create one.
>
> Also, you will still need a default credit card for NOOKbook purchases.
> All publishers require that the eBooks they submit, including free
> eBooks, are encrypted for each customer. Currently, the ?unlock? device
> is the billing name and credit card number of the primary credit card on
> your Barnes & Noble account. However, your credit card will not be
> charged if there are sufficient funds on your gift card(s) to cover the
> order total.
>
> Please retain any gift card you have stored on your account if you wish
> to use it for non-NOOKbook purchases.
>
> We at Barnes & Noble want to say thanks for your suggestions and
> enthusiasm. We were able to accelerate this change due to your feedback.
>
>
>
>
> Visit www.bn.com and click on the options that appear in the upper
> right-hand corner to view information about your order.
>
> We look forward to your next visit.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Felicia
>
> Customer Service Representative
> Barnes & Noble
> http://www.bn.com/
>
>
>
>
>

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Relief From Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis

Just a couple days ago I received an amazing testimonial from a first time customer of my detox foot pads. Every small business owner dreams about receiving testimonials like this one, and sure enough, my dream came true! This is verbatim, word for word, what my customer said. It wasn't necessary to edit one word. She wrote it beautifully!! So, if you are suffering from heel spurs, you may want to request a free sample of my foot pads!

These foot pads may also help with plantar fasciitis pain relief.

"Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for shipping the foot pads so quickly. My sister gave me a few of these pads to try a few days ago. I have NEVER used anything that changed my life so dramatically in just a matter of hours. I have had heel spurs in my right foot for about 8 months and was to the point to where I could barely wear shoes or walk & was in constant pain. Bad pain. I was taking pain pills day & night. After wearing these pads the 1st night, I got up the following morning and just could not believe how the pain was barely even there anymore. The 2nd morning was even better & now the 3rd day those heel spurs are GONE. No pain whatsoever! I do not know if they broke off, dissolved or what exactly happened, but they truly are gone. I think that this information needs to get out to people. These pads are not known to be a cure for heel spurs - the only thing I have found that helps is cortisone injections or surgery which I have heard is very painful. These could help many people that have heel spurs. If you have a way to get word of this to people I really wish you would. The pads have also definitely helped with the way I feel in the mornings as I wake up easier & feel refreshed."

My detox foot pads and my upcoming wedding

I try to wear my detox foot pads every weekend for 2 nights. I wear 6 on each foot. I shower in the evenings usually after my workout, so I don't take the time in the morning before work to peel my foot pads off and scrub my feet, so the weekends work best for me.

I started an amazing promotion for the 60-pack foot pads (which for the time being, if you buy the 60-pack, you get 20 free). Regular price is $75, but the sale price is just $60. That is a total of 80 foot pads for $60 -- an absolutely fantastic deal.

Especially since I am one of the few foot pad companies that has absolutely NO FILLERS in my foot pads. They are super strong and will pull the toxins out like mad! :) And, I always offer FREE priority mail shipping to the U.S. and military bases. I am very thankful for all our military personnel and their families, and try to throw in an extra pack or two as a thank you gesture, when they do order.

But my point is that while I try to wear them myself on the weekends, I usually forget. I did wear them on Friday night but forgot last night. No wonder I didn't sleep as well.

I have a few things that I need to do before my wedding. One is to wear my detox foot pads more consistently, and another is to exfoliate my face / microderm abrasion etc. And, I want to lighten up my teeth. Oh, and of course, lose 15 more pounds so I can fit into my dress. I don't think that should be a problem, and I might not need to lose 15 lbs. I might just have to tone up my body and that will work. Muscle weighs more than fat, after all! Everything fits except in the chest area. I am surprised the waist fits, as I have a 30" waist and they said the measurements were for a 28 1/2" waist. But I do have flab, like in my upper love handle area, so I want to lose that and everything will be great!

And, I think I want to keep my tan. Having a golden tan next to a white dress is beautiful!

Lots to do, but this is fun. No stress allowed!

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We are leaving Panama today

Today is our 12th day in Panama, and currently I am at the Tocumen airport at my gate. Steve is at the airport bookstore trying to find a good read.

Our basic synopsis is this:

Boca Chica -- WE LOVED IT!! Wish we spent more than 3 days there
Boquete -- We could have done without this, or done it in one afternoon or morning, waste of time, too much rain
Bocas del Toro -- Of course this is a great place because Steve proposed to me here and it will always have fond memories. But we could have done without the pouring down rain, and better service.
Panama City -- we stayed here one night in a luxurious hotel. I slept AMAZING. They had great customer service at the Radisson Decapolis, except that we didn't understand why they charged us $11 for dim sum although we didn't have it... Steve didn't tell me until we were on our way to the airport, but he didn't even bother to challenge it. When we went to the hot tub, there was a family (we are guessing they are local to Panama or another Central American country), but they were SUPER rude. Their little girl (maybe around 3 years old) was using the hot tub as a swimming pool, splashing EVERYONE, and the older grandma was playing touchy feely with mine and Steve's legs. Overall very rude and inconsiderate. if they want to swim, use the pool.

I didn't take any pictures in Panama City because a fellow traveler told us that he tried, and his cab driver told him not to, otherwise they might get carjacked. Besides, there wasn't much to take pictures of. A dirty city is a dirty city, right? I know that I won't ever be able to know how to get from one place to another. It doesn't make sense to me. hah. I would get lost totally.

The customer service is very bad here in Panama. The restaurants (most of them) took their time, didn't have everything on the menu, and didn't care if they brought you out a hot meal that wasn't hot anymore. They don't refill your drinks, and when you need to leave and there are people waiting to sit down at a table, they still don't bring your bill...

It is very different here than it is in the U.S. I am more appreciative of even COMCAST (I know, I know, I can't even believe i wrote that!!) and I will be sure to tell any future waitresses I have back home that they are providing me exceptional service.

Will we come back to Panama? I think so. We want to tour Pedasi, Chitre, Las Tablos, Santiago, etc. (the Azuero peninsula) And we will probably rent a car vs rely on public transportation. And I don't want to fly Air Panama or Aeroperlas ever again. If you want to experience chaos and a cluster @#$^, then you definitely should try them out. We got out of the tiny airport (I did take a picture of that but will upload it later) 2 hours behind schedule, but all along they kept telling us that the filght was on time. We had a 2pm flight... at 2:30 they told us it was still on schedule!! HAHAHAHAH!!! That cracks me up.

Anyway, time for me to get going. We are flying to Dallas and then will have a 3-hour layover before we catch a filght to MSP. Aegis, Max, Bimp, I will see you soon!! Miss you!!!!

And I am so utterly in love with Steve. Even after almost 10 years, he is the man of my dreams.

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Bocas Town on Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro

Dec 30th we checked into the Bahia del Sol bed and breakfast in Bocas Town. It is a great place. We love the house. It has 4 guest rooms. We got to know some of the other people staying here, too. We love the architecture, the layout, the dock (the whole building is above water). They have a cat and dog that live here, Sophia and Cubby. Jack and Lee, the owners, are very pleasant. Jack is quite a character. And he cooks breakfast for everyone.

The ONE thing that I don't like, and it is probably a reason I wouldn't stay here again, is that secondhand smoke seeps into the rooms when someone smokes outdoors. The windows are just screens with shutters, they don't shut completely. And since I can't control people smoking, I would probably not stay here again, to protect myself from my reaction to secondhand smoke. I don't want to get sick on my vacation!

Otherwise, it is a perfect place. If you don't get sick from second hand smoke, then this might just be the place for you. It is a $1 taxi ride into town. Or you can walk. It is nestled in Saigon Bay, amongst the locals. I love it. I have heard that if you stay in town on the main street (there are only a few streets here in Bocas Town), you won't get much sleep because the discos play until the wee hours of the morning and are LOUD. We are about 15 min walk (or 5 min cab ride) away, so it is great.

We had one day of no rain (yesterday, Jan 1st). Right now it is pouring down rain. It is just pounding!! We got some sun yesterday, and we got engaged, so it was a perfect day! We ate at Buena Vista Bar and Grill in Bocas Town and the sun was setting. Once it was dark, they had a boat parade and fireworks -- it was great.  The boats were all lit up. The service was pretty decent and the food was delicious.

One thing that is kinda cool is that Bahia del Sol, along with many other places here on th island, collect the rain water, and that is what is used for the wash, for showering, toilets, faucet. We drink bottled water but have used the tap water for brushing our teeth and washing our faces and showering. So far we haven't gotten sick. Many locals do this, too. It is nice. I would like to do this back home. (we are on a well system so I don't mean for our water supply, but mainly for gardening, etc).

The vehicles (mostly taxis) here have specific reasons for honking their horns, which they do quite often:

1) to tell people in the streets to get out of the way
2) to tell other vehicles they are going to pass them
3) to acknowledge people ("hello")
4) to let folks know they are waiting for them
5) to let folks know they are angry at them (this one we didn't see too much of)

It is hilarious. Each time we see a taxi honk their horn, we know which category from above that it falls into. Very easy to decipher.

The policia stop folks randomly... and the hospital looks very germy. And there is trash everywhere!!!

When we were walking back to Bahia del Sol, we saw a cemetery, and a lady on a scooter was leaving with two dogs. The dogs just jumped up on her scooter, and held their position as she rode away. I took a picture of it (see below all the pics of these things I am mentioning).

Today we are taking a short flight back to Panama City, and will spend the afternoon and night there, and then we will fly back tomorrow morning to the states.

Kinda sad it is over, but missing my home, my Aegis and my Max, and my Bimpy cat.

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from rhauptman's posterous

Marriage proposal in Panama

I am the happiest girl alive!!! Steve and I went to town this morning, to purchase some souvenirs, and to eat lunch. We also checked out where the airport was. We WALKED to the airport. Kinda cool. Then, we were so blessed with a gorgeous sunny day without a cloud in sight. How could it have been raining non-stop for the past week straight? Well, a good start to the new year!

We went to a local beach, and we laid out, and then Steve talked me into going into the water. I am usually not one for going into the water at the beach, at least past my knees. But we went in... farther and farther out!!!

I got sidetracked at first because a local man was wading out into the ocean sorta close by us, and he was carrying a puppy. I thought for an instant that he might drown the puppy. I am unsure of the way folks do things here, so I went over to him (I battled the ocean to get to him) and he let me hold the puppy. The poor little guy was scared and shivering. So, I gave the puppy back, and was going to watch him with an eagle eye, ready to rescue the puppy if necessary (even though I don't swim well).

Then I went back to Steve and was talking animatedly about the pup, and then he turned around to face me with the souvenir ring and asked "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" O my!!!! My heart stopped, I wasn't expecting this, and thankfully my sunglasses hid the tears welling up in my eyes. My knees felt weak, and I said "are you serious?" and he said yes, and I then said "me? You want to marry ME?" And he again said yes, and I believe I said yes or "of course I will" at that point, but he started getting impatient and said "well, ANSWER ME" hehe.. I told him yes yes yes yes yes.

He then explained how this was the start of a new year and wanted to propose to me in the water, because the water travels all over the place, and so wherever we go, whether it is Belize, or Costa Rica, or wherever, it has the same water, and it can be "Our place". If that isn't the most romantic thing ever, then I don't know what is.

So, we then decided (me really) that I don't want a big wedding at all. Maybe just a couple people witnessing our wedding, and then maybe do it early spring. Maybe April 1st. hehe.

I get to pick out a ring when I get home. I am already looking online to check them out. Woohoo!

So, this was a perfect New Years Day. The sun came out, for the first time in a week. Blue skies, sunshine, marriage proposal!! YAY!!! What a fantastic trip so far!

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