The Daily Snoop

Michael has been in Milwaukee for the past few days helping take care of his Mom, who recently had a full hip replacement surgery. What a great son, eh?! He had a chance to spend quality time with Mom and Dad, Anthony and the boys and Grandma C. He cooked, cleaned and did laundry too. What a great guy!

Here’s a pic of us Skyping while he was away. Look at those big lips!

Here’s a pic of my Welcome Home surprise for Michael.
Martha Stewart’s Individual Rhubarb and Raspberry Tartlets

And here are some of Michael’s trip pics!
The one that gets me every time is the one of him holding Grandma C’s hand. It’s so precious.

Yeah, did the title of this blog post get you?! What is Chocomize, you ask?

Well, I will tell you – unless you already clicked the link and found out through the Chocomize website!

Chocomize is a place to customize your chocolate!! I just made my dream bar to see how much it would cost – not that I can eat it or anything – because I am allergic to dairy – but I can dream, right?

Sarah’s Dream Bar – $6.85 (with 1% going to charity)

• milk chocolate
• goji berries
• lavender
• pistachios

YUM!

I just heard about this place from Aunt Jean. Have to give her a shout out! Hi, Aunt Jean!! Thanks for letting me know about this place! Love their story and their motto. Love that they donate to charities too, even the Michael J. Fox Foundation. (Michael J. Fox is my hero – PS)

Double PS – If you clicked the link to their story and looked at the Chocomize founders, I think the guy in the middle looks like Hunter Parrish.

Last month, we had some family in town. Such fortunate timing that the Boldin boys and my Mom were able to plan their trips to LA at the same time. They got to meet each other!!! Needless to say, we had a ton of fun. Just see for yourself!

I also put a ton of videos of our Family Fun Day at the Beach on my Youtube Channel! Check it out! ~ Rosa-Boldin-Garrett-Joe Family Fun Day

• Dying Easter Eggs
• Egg Placement holders
• Egg Hunts – finding plastic Easter Eggs filled with candy
• Scavenger Hunts to find our Easter Baskets
• Easter Grass
• Easter Bunny
• Chicks
• Chocolate Hollow Bunnies
• Mom’s Easter Rice Krispies – in the shape of Bunnies and Eggs, decorated with frosting and Candy Buttons
• Special Mass
• Learning about what Easter really means – Jesus’ Resurrection to Heaven
• Special Easter Outfits
• Easter at the Snowbarger House in Kirksville, MO
• Angi’s Easter Sugar Cookies
• My Sixteenth Birthday on Easter – the Special Bunny Cake Aunt Rose and Angi made for me
• Peeps
• Dad giving us Cadbury Eggs, even mailing them to us in adulthood
• My favorite Dove Chocolates
• Easter Eggs filled with Lottery Tickets – for the adults
• West Coast Garrett Easter and that time Griffin ran to find Easter Eggs by the poolside (last year)
• When Ginger found that really old Easter Egg, thinking it was ours.. Eewww
• The time Mom and Jake came to visit us in LA so we were all together on Easter and for My Birthday (last year)

Aunt Jean has been warning me about Calcium levels at my age in life. She says that she doesn’t want me to suffer later on because I am not watching my Calcium levels right now. Well, I brought this up to my naturopath and she suggested that the real problem is a deficiency of Vitamin D. In doing some research on Vitamin D, I have found a ton of great information that I think most people are completely unaware of.

Deficiency in Vitamin D may lead to cancer (all cancers), cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, type 1 diabetes, fertility problems, dysfunctional labor, mood issues and certain autoimmune and chronic diseases.

As of right now, the conventional RDA for my age range is between 200 IU-400 IU. The experts suggest that most adults need about 5,000 IU of Vitamin D every day! Some may need more or less. The only way to test for your individual Vitamin D requirements is with a blood test.

These factors determine what amount of Vitamin D is right for you (more…)

Well, the Garretts made it special again. Sunday was the year anniversary of Dad’s passing. During such a hard time, they knew exactly what was needed – beach, salami/cheese and birthday celebrations!

Coincidentally Pat W., Uncle’s Tom’s cousin, and her sis Pam and daughter Jenna were in town celebrating Jenna’s Sweet 16. AND, even more coincidentally, Pat had reached out to me last year after Dad had passed. How coincidental that I met her (re-met her, as I had met her as a kid and had forgotten) in person on the anniversary of Dad’s passing!

We did a beach day, during the busiest time of year I may say. Springbreak! People were everywhere. That made it interesting. The weather was perfect however. We did dinner and birthday celebrations afterward at the Garrett household. Celebrating – Jenna and Gabe, me and Pat W.

To notate at the beach
As soon as we arrived, I found a ladybug on my towel. To us that’s a sign that Dad was with us. (M took a pic of her on his knee. See below.)
Grayson discovered sand. And, kudos to the kid for not trying to eat it! I was extremely impressed.

A Note of thanks!
Thanks to Ginger for the salami/cheese to celebrate Dad!
Thanks to Ginger and Griffin for the cupcakes to celebrate our birthdays!
Thanks to Gabe for the wonderful dinner!
Thanks to all for the wonderful times!