Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Financial Empowerment!


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Financial Empowerment: Realign Your Finances to God's WillThis book could not of come at a better time, as God's will. I am still reading this book and loving it. Financial Empowerment looks at topics like work, tithing, saving, investing, spending and loaning money. It includes helps and practical tips such as steps to eliminate excessive spending. There are a lot of biblical references, as to be expected as well as the plantings of several seeds in the readers soul. I think anyone that reads this will take something away from it if not only to be sprouted at another time in their life.

The Bible says a lot about money and this book offers biblically sound principles with scripture verses throughout; Although this book is about financial empowerment, the emphasis is more about our attitude towards money and God and how that relates to your everyday life.

Pamela has done an amazing job with this book, you can feel as though she is talking directly to you. It is a powerful conversation between two people and I feel empowered to change because of it.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

PRESS RELEASE FEED YOUR DREAMS COOKBOOK IS AVAILABLE www.apinchofgerman.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nathalie Porter
Phone: (978) 322-0411
Email: apinchofgerman@outlook.com





LOCAL WOMAN PUBLISHES COOKBOOK WITH GERMAN INFLUENCE

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire – Nathalie Porter, the owner and founder of A Pinch of German, is pleased to announce the release of her cookbook Feed Your Dreams. Porter has been passionately cooking since the age of 5. From her mother and grandmother’s apron strings, Nathalie learned family recipes. Urged by her husband to fulfill her dreams of writing a cookbook, Porter said, “This cookbook is a result of determination despite personal setbacks to show my children that no dream is too small or too big. no matter what you go through.”



Published by G&R Publishing, Feed your Dreams is a perfect companion to Porter’s spice blend business. A self-taught cook, with a passion for food, Porter keeps dishes rustic with a “made-and-served-as-mom-would” flair. Refusing to compromise on flavor, she keeps things simple and delicious using the best ingredients. Blending German heritage with Irish, Polish and American influences give the recipes an authentic taste with a twist!

For Porter, publishing her cookbook has been a great way to show her passion for cooking and showcase her heritage, both of which are very important to her. Porter says she loves creating recipes so much that she sometimes dreams about them and then starts testing as soon as she wakes up. 

Some of Porter’s favorite German recipes include Schnitzel (spiced breaded cutlets) and Rouladen (stuffed rolled meat). A sample menu created from Feed Your Dreams may include an appetizer of Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza, the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Next up, a nice hot bowl of Goulash Soup and finally on page 116, the award-winning Spiced Apple Fried Ravioli with Caramel Dipping Sauce for dessert. 

When asked about publishing her book and working with G&R Publishing, Porter commented, “This book is so much more than 161 unique recipes and nutrition tips. It also contains inspirational stories and quotes.” She continued, “G&R Publishing has been a joy to work with! They understood my vision and really walked me through the process of making my dreams a reality.”

To purchase a copy of Porter’s book, visit her website at http://www.apinchofgerman.com or visit Shaw Farm Dairy Farm in Dracut, Ma. Books will soon be available at more locations so check the website for updates. Priced at $24.95, Feed Your Dreams would make a great holiday gift. 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Book, The Wesite, The broken bank... HELP

OK I finally did it but I need your help!!!  Here is the website www.apinchofgerman.com
 
There is a donate button at the bottom of the page! Or you can go here
 
 
 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

rollercoaster

What a rollercoaster the past few years have been!  It started in 2009 when we planned to have another child and sibling for our than 2 year old, Kylie.  We were successful and got pregnant soon after trying and we were delighted!  While planning a trip to Florida with the family we went to our appt to hear the heartbeat but it was early and unsuccessful so we figured we’d wait till we got back.  I went at 14.5 weeks and when we went to listen we found out there was no heartbeat.  The baby never grew however my body carried on with the pregnancy the entire time and never rejected the baby.  I was scheduled the next day for a D&E as I now needed dilated as I was out of my first trimester.  This was devastating but we pushed on.  When we found out a couple months later we were pregnant again we were scared waiting for that first visit but overjoyed at the thought have having a successful pregnancy. Under excellent care by my Dr. and by treating this as high risk the pregnancy went on and I was supposed to take it in stride.  Work was very stressful at the time working a lot of hours but I was happy to have this little baby to look forward to.  We made it through the first trimester and most of the second when we had that appointment to see what we were having- we took our daughter with us because we were all so thrilled.  I remember like it was yesterday the moment they touched the ultrasound wand to my belly, and we saw our little boy- and his heart was not beating.  Chaos broke out in the room as I could see but needed to push back my tears because our daughter was there.  As the nurses quickly removed Kylie to entertain her so we could talk to the Dr. we were overcome with emotions.  Not knowing what happened to our baby I was given two options, deliver him naturally the next day and chance him being dismembered or deliver him while unconscious so that he has the best chance.  At this point the Dr. was unsure when exactly our baby died and wanted to deliver him the most humane as possible.  So we opted for unconscious so that he would be whole.  I wish the circumstances could be better, but you deal with the cards you were dealt.
 
  When we lost Justin at five and a half months a piece of my heart broke in a way that can never be repaired. I tried talking about it but no one really can understand what we were feeling because it is one of those things that if you haven't gone through it you can never understand it.  Losing Justin in under 7 months of a previous miscarriage was not something anyone could understand.  Doctors had no answers to what happened either time- so we chalked it up to my 1% of all things strange and unexplainable that happens to me (no exaggeration- all true keep reading).
My husband and I ran the gamete of emotions, and lucky for us we pulled together instead of apart.  No one was to blame for what happened and we had no answers.  How do you deal with that?  Well I am sure I was not the most pleasant person to be around for awhile, but it was not something I could help or even explain.  No one can say the right thing to you.  You don't want to hear stories of other people and what they went through.  You know you are not alone but you feel like you are drowning and no one can save you.  Just when you think it couldn't get any worse I returned to work which was busier than ever- and thought the stress was just exhausting me and causing me the most intense Migraines I have ever had- I decided to walk to the ER to get something to clear the pain.  I was admitted again with a freak case of viral meningitis  (see the 1%).  I then suffered complications of meningitis and came down with encephalitis as well as some memory loss.  At this point we had just recovered from my loss of work with Justin for 4 weeks.  This recovery was taking a lot longer after all I was lucky to be alive for something that they don't know how I got it and don't know why it took so long to get better illness, I was at my wits end.   This time really did a number on us financially as bills were piling up and we had exhausted our life savings just to survive in our house.  After four months I was well enough to return to work part time with a 2 month plan to resume full time. And that is when we found out we were pregnant again.  What a rollercoaster and this time we were just scared to death with this pregnancy but happy nonetheless to move forward as I had almost died just 4 short months ago and we were still recovering from the loss of our son Justin.   Well as you can guess we can’t seem to do things the easy way and at 31 weeks my water ruptured.  When I finally went into labor no one believed me again. I was told I had an  “Irritable Uterus” from the doctor, I knew better and called my husband right away. Upon arriving at the hospital and after roughly one hour, it was decided to move me into the Labor and Delivery Area.  I was admitted to the hospital on the evening hours of October 15, 2010 due to ruptured membranes at which point I lost most of my amniotic fluid.
The doctors worked quickly to stop the immediate onset of labor as they felt the results would be disastrous for both the baby and I. The doctors were successful and I was admitted to the hospital on strict bed rest.
 
It can not be understated the direct and serious nature of pre-term labor at 31 weeks. Yes, I know,  modern medicine has come a long way, but the reality of the situation was there were many questions as to the viability of Nicklaus had he been born at 31 weeks. My health was also in question if I had to give birth at 31 weeks gestation.
 
So I adhered to the doctors’ plans and maintained constant bed rest for 2 weeks and 2 days.
While in labor, there were signs Nicklaus was in severe distress during contractions. The Dr. never once hesitated and looked at me and told us that if he saw 2 more stress indicators, he would have to conduct an emergency C-Section. I am not even sure that the doctor really got the words out of his mouth before he sprung into action and we were told to put on our gowns. Within minutes, I was whisked away to the operating room with mom and husband in tow. Within minutes, Nicklaus Paul entered this world. The Neonatal Unit was on hand as were many nurses and doctors. Nicklaus made a brief stop to see me before being whisked to his new home for the next 24 days.
 
While I was able to see Nicklaus briefly on October 30th, I also had to rest and recover from the C-Section. There was an issue that occurred during the C-Section that caused the doctor to go back in and suture an area that was still bleeding. This added additional strain to an already stressful situation.
Nicklaus was in the NICU and little did we know at first how serious Nicklaus’s situation was. We did not find out until the next morning that Nicklaus had a serious bacterial infection which was causing intestinal bleeding. The bleeding was of an unknown nature and he was not stable enough for surgical intervention. The doctors had to wait it out and see what lab results produced. While the lab was working rapidly, Nicklaus was very ill, and the doctors’ continued to work on Nick through preventive measures. My husband remembers the phone call from the Neonatologist very well. She called to let him know Nicklaus was having some major issues, one of which was a major infection and the other was an unknown cause for intestinal bleeding.
After many tests were conducted, X-Rays taken, medication being administered, it was determined Nicklaus had contracted E-Coli and was sepsis. While this was a reason for the bacterial infection, the doctors were still stumped as to his intestinal bleeding. After consultation with outside medical staff, it was decided a PICC line would be introduced to Nicklaus in an effort to evenly distribute the antibiotics and provide other life protecting measures.
After 2 attempts to introduce the PICC Line to Nicklaus failed, we were faced with the ever looming need for invasive surgery. Mind you, Nicklaus was only days old at this point. We agreed to allow the doctors to do whatever they had to in order to ensure Nicklaus would be ok.
After some discussion, it was decided to have a 3rd attempt at a PICC Line as the medical staff did not want to wait 2 days for surgical intervention. At 2:00 AM November 6th, you would have thought we won the lottery. It was a phone call to let us know the PICC Line was successfully inserted and the antibiotics were flowing freely. This was a major mile stone and major hurdle for us.
During this time period, Nicklaus had issues with his breathing in which he would pause for 15-20 seconds, sometimes longer. All the while surgery was looming which would have required an even greater pause in his breathing…in essence….being put under anesthesia could have been fatal for him. The doctors and nurses worked on him and never gave up. By inserting the PICC Line when they did, the doctors and nurses saved his life.
From that day forward, Nicklaus continued to make marked improvement. Unfortunately, the same day his PICC Line was inserted, I had developed a massive infection…..or so we thought it was one. In the end, I was battling dual infections. One for major cellulites…and the other….E-Coli both sepsis.  I was dying as my organs had begun shutting down. This resulted in an additional 5 day hospital stay in which I could not visit my son.
November 22, 2010, is one of the best days we have had to endure in over 1 month. That was the day we received news that our family would be together for the first time in over a month. We could not be happier.
 
For the first year of Nicklaus life he had to undergo painful RSV shots every month in order to keep him from contracting a cold as it could be fatal for him.  We kept him home and in a kind of seclusion- lots of antibacterial soap used in our house.  Then he was old enough to stop the RSV shots.  He contracted his first ear infection that never cleared, then pneumonia.  Little did we know this was a pattern and was going to go on for a year of constant Dr. Visits, urgent care and ER visits with no rhyme or reason as to what was happvfening.  After much frustration with the Dr.s we went to Boston and met who was to be our savior for Nicklaus – Dr. Martin.  In one visit with Boston Children’s we discovered that Nicklaus has some major issues from birth.  He aspirates which means every time he drinks it goes into his lung and causes an immediate pneumonia.  He had about 14 documented pneumonias at this point.  They also found that he needed tubes in his ears because his canals were so small and he had some reflux in conjunction with the aspirating that he kept infecting himself.  Then they moved onto his lungs. They wanted to do a procedure to see what was going on because they were having a difficult time diagnosing him.  While performing the ear surgery they also did a triple scope to determine what the constant rattling in his chest was caused from.  While in surgery he had complications and they needed to paralyze him in order to revive his airways again.  We almost lost him again.  Out of surgery they determined that he does in fact have an issue with his Mucus similar to that of Cystic Fibrosis however more like something called PCD.  This was the start of many tests for Little Nicklaus to determine what to do and how to treat him. 
 
Meanwhile, I had been suffering from incredible abdominal pain that we could not determine and so begins my course of pain medication and tests. 
After several hospitalizations for Nicklaus our financial situation has become intolerable.  We had no choice to stop paying for many credit card bills.  Our medicals were climbing and our saving were gone.  Knowing we have many more medical bills coming and appointments, surgery and several medications that Nicklaus needs regularly we both took loans from our retirement funds.  That wasn’t enough to pay anything off.  And then I found out I have an infection in my jaw and need to have surgery, an implant and another tooth pulled.  In the meantime, my husband suffered some injuries that just piled onto the bills.  Due to some extreme exhaustion running from hospital to hospital and dealing with life in general he had some accidental misfortunes dislocated his elbow, broke a couple ribs, tripped over a toy and ended up with a major concussion.  Now back on short term disability, my husband also had to go through minor surgery, that same day I found out I need to go in for surgery as the pain I was having was getting worse.   I scheduled my surgery, and was informed that they would use robotic assistance, and would try to save my ovaries if possible depending on what they found. 

We finally got a handle on Nicklaus and although he is not better we are aware of the signs and can monitor him more closely so that at the first sign of a cough we can start his course of treatment and try to avoid going back to the hospital. 
 
Coming out of surgery I found out that I did in fact have damage from the delivery and the ecoli infection that I had 2 years prior with Nicklaus.  In the end I had lost an ovary and tube, they cleared all the scar tissue and separated all the adhesions so that I could have less pain but still keep some parts.   This is still a process that will go on for some time and eventually will need a hysterectomy.
 
During all of this I was recruited by another company.  I had explained in my job interview about Nicklaus and how I am excited for the opportunity however I wanted to be honest as to my situation so that they knew in advance of the flexibility I required with my son.   At my current job I was able to take the time as I worked often from home or from the hospital.  Since I worked for a hospital they were ok with that – for the most part.  My new job offered much more money which we desperately needed.  Our credit was sliding so fast we went to the lawyer to figure out bankruptcy.  Due to pride we figured we would manage on our own, my husband was graduating from law school soon and we hoped he would find something right away.  The job for me was going really well and about 5 months into the job Nicklaus had his first hospital stay in which I worked from the hospital and put in several extra hours on all the weeks we weren’t in the hospital so that I could prove my dedication.  Nicklaus post release ended up readmitted and had some serious complications in which he required oxygen and constant care.  I again worked from the hospital and upon his release my folks were able to care for him so that I could return to work – after missing three days.   I’ll never forget the morning I arrived back, no one asked how my little Nicklaus was doing ever and just directed me to a back room where they told me I was being let go.  The papers were dated while I was in the hospital with Nicklaus so they were waiting for me to return pending his release.  
 
Today we are still struggling, our credit is now nonexistent.  We are barely holding onto our house while all the bills pile up.  We tried to work with our creditors but they refused.  We have tried to refinance but got denied.  We have tried the hardship program for our mortgage but we are too underwater and didn’t qualify.  We are trying again…  Nicklaus is not able to return to school as it is too detrimental to his health and we still need to keep him clear of anyone that is sick because it means a hospital stay for him.  My daughter now six and in kindergarten I had to  reduce her down to 3 part time days as the daycare costs without me working was astronomical.  For me I have medical issues that continue to mount as I have now an autoimmune gluten allergy and hypothyroid.  We remain humble and believe this is just another test in life. We push forward and do our best as that is all we can do...after all there must be a reason....

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

BEWARE OF THE GBG for Life Health & Wealth company!! The Vitamin you GOT TO TRY!!

Update~ So I thought this were working however even if they were at this point I am so utterly disgusted with this company and how they operate I will move on to another method- I would stay far away from this company as you can- they rope you in get you to sell- and make promises they can't keep BEWARE



If you read my posts you know I am always looking to lose weight and stay healthy!   Since having my last son two months early and suffering all my health ailments since- I have not been able to do it.  Since my last major surgery in August- in which I lost an ovary and tube... :O( I also found out I have a gluten intolerance- and Hypothyroid... recipe for unsuccessful I'd say!  Well I found out I have mal-absorption of nutrients due to the state of my gluten allergy- naturally  this is my luck so I have been required to take a TON of vitamins just to get my levels up.  Good explanation of why I have felt like crap and not myself and tired all the time.  Oh ya because I am also anemic!!!  Love the rain fall don't you!  So not only have I found been spending a fortune on these crazy vitamins- I feel better most of the time but I am losing money.  It appears I will be on these for a long time to correct my body and yes you can feel the difference so I was trying to find the most efficient cost effective way to do this.

Well by golly I found it- and yes I said Golly!  A friend of mine from high school has been reading my posts for a long time and reached out out me with a product she uses... I implore you to check out this website and watch the videos and most definitely reach out to me with questions!!!  This is so much more reasonable on price saves me half of my costs and guess what?!  It has more bang for my buck!  My regular vitamins are lacking all the antioxidants and minerals that these have and they potency is higher in the GBG Vitamins.

The best part of this is the one day diet! Read the testimonials below!  I'll update you with my progress as I embark on my new adventure!!!  

Check me out here!!!




 
We’ve shared with you the facts and nutritional information about how the One Day Diet can help you shed those pesky pounds but sometimes facts and statistics can only go so far. Hear for yourself how the One Day Diet is helping people shed weight and lead happier, healthier lives.

 

“The GBG One Day Diet has been amazing for me. For the past 15 years I have tried to watch what I eat and tried a couple other diets. When I would lose some weight my energy level would be zapped.  That is not the case with the One Day Diet, I have lost over 20 pounds since I started and I feel great. I have more energy than I have had for a long, long time. I am at the weight that I was at 20 years ago!” – Tom B.

 

"When I decided to start the One Day Diet I was both skeptical & hopeful.  Skeptical because I have tried so many different diets and never seemed to "beat" the diet dragon and hopeful because I want to be more healthy & thin!  I've struggled with my weight most of my adult life and I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised with the One Day Diet.  I have lost a total of 18 pounds and 13 inches.  It is such an easy plan to follow and I don't struggle with being hungry, shaky, cranky or cravings.  I have lots of energy and I am satisfied with much less food.  Before I started the diet I suffered with indigestion fairly regularly but I haven't had any problems. I also sleep better! Thanks GBG for such wonderful products! I'm looking forward to continuing my weight loss journey and I KNOW I am going to achieve my goal." – Deena L.


“This has been the easiest diet to follow. Knowing that it is just one day and the following day I can eat what I want is extremely doable.  And the day I am on the diet I have plenty of energy and feel satisfied from the shakes and delicious bars.  I feel good knowing that my body is getting what it needs from the 10-In-One vitamins.  I have also found I am waking up fully energized and I need less sleep.  Other diets are so hard to stick to because they are never ending.  This is definitely a diet breakthrough! I can't wait to get others started on this diet.” – Karl B.

 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Long Time Coming

Well it has been a long time- sorry for the wait- Nicklaus has been sick and things have been so hectic I have had little time to focus on writing! 

My cookbook is almost done - just editing the last of it - proofing all the recipes and hoping that I am following the correct format while I my eyes go criss cross!  Then onto the photo pages and the autobiography of the book- that should take some time!  Maybe I'll hire someone to write about me!  In the meantime the recipes are selling well on EBAY and I have great reviews for those recipes. 

I recently have been diagonsed with Gluten intolerance and so you know what that means... new book opportunity!  I want it to be simple not a lot of ingredients and just regular dishes- nothing so funky you would only eat if you had this allergy!  Then onto the others~!  This has been a life long dream of mine and I am hoping for your support!- failure is just not an option!

Updates with Nicklaus- Well our little preemie is still a mystery to the Dr's at Boston Childrens- we are praying for some kind of diagnosis and cure for him.  It seems he has some kind of a lung condition wether it PCD or something else.  He has a lot of A typical symptoms hmm guess he got my Gene for the 1% of all things strange!  So we are back and forth inbetween the pnemonias trying to get answers.  We ask that everyone pray for the little kids with medical issues and not just for them of course but for all- no matter what your religion.

Best news is after a very long and what seemed impossible ride most of the time- hubby takes the bar at the end of the month!  WOOHOO I couldn't be more proud of him if I tried!  We have been through so much in the past few years with love and loss and medical issues, near death experiances and job loss he has fought through it all to graduate with a PHD in law in Honors!

This year will be a year of change and opportunity!  May the planets align and God carry us through! 

Monday, August 13, 2012

vacation spots- close to home

Man I have so much to write about but I have to think of how to compose all that has been going on- in meantime of all the regular crazy drama we have been trying to find some mini vacation spots. You know the kinds that are close enough to drive to or cheap enough to fly too- that way we can go for adult mini weekend or a fun time with the kids. We ran the gamete of places and although we decided our first trip to be a romantic getaway in Bar Harbor- we made a kind of bucket list of places to go. One of those places is Central New Jersey.. I haven’t been since 1996 when my brother was in school in NY …but it was it great. Now that I am grown they have so much more to offer..
One of the coolest things I saw was the festival of ballooning! Who even knew that this existed!? What a great time! Just to give you an idea of all the cool things for kids Kidz Village – Woodbridge, Uptown Playground - Kendal Park, Six Flags – Jackson, iPlay America – Freehold.
If you haven’t looked at Jersey as a place to go visit I suggest you check out their website for some great ideas http://www.gocentraljersey.com/.

I am always looking for great places to go – good food, entertainment, hotels, beaches – you name it!
The more I research Central Jersey the more fun things I find to do. I love fairs and festivals, live music etc. There is nothing Central Jersey doesn’t have – so I suggest you hope over to check them out as soon as you can and book your vacation- keep American running by staying and keeping it alive!