Sunday, September 16, 2007
The "New Girl" Birthday
My little girls, 7 and 3, have birthday's coming up soon. But as fast as they are approaching, I am nearly ready for them already. Rather than having a friends birthday party this year and having to plan and arrange everything, buy cutesy little plates and cups and send out birthday invitations like we do every other year, we are going to take the two little girls and get manicures and pedicures, get our hair done and go shopping for new outfits. It will give me some good "girls only" time with my little ones and I think they will have lots of fun. And there is no cleaning my house and getting ready involved. Ahhh... the bliss!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Announcing PowWow
CALLING ALL SCOUTERS!!!
Trapper Trails Council is holding their annual Pow Wow at Weber High School on November 3rd. For more information visit the council website at Trapper Trails and while your there check out all the other great stuff we have going on around our council.
Get your registration forms for Pow Wow in early to save $5. CD's will be available again this year and we have tons of fun stuff planned for you to take back to your Units.
BOY SCOUT LEADERS: Don't miss this one. We have more Boy Scouting, 11 year old Scouting, Venturing and Varsity stuff this year than ever before!!! Don't miss out on all the great information!
EVERYONE MARK YOUR CALANDERS FOR NOVEMBER THE 3RD!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Are You Still Single?
If you are then you have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain in trying out this fun sounding new website called Smooch.com. They are an online dating service and they have all the features you'd expect from a modern dating site, great software, a huge database, but the big kicker is, it's absolutely free! Click here to go to Smooch.com
Joining an online or brick and mortar dating service does not make you desperate, it actually says more to the opposite. It says you want someone to help match you to someone you are compatible with, you are not willing to settle for just anyone.
You want to find the one. The perfect one for you. So as far as I am concerned, put yourself out there and have some fun!
Joining an online or brick and mortar dating service does not make you desperate, it actually says more to the opposite. It says you want someone to help match you to someone you are compatible with, you are not willing to settle for just anyone.
You want to find the one. The perfect one for you. So as far as I am concerned, put yourself out there and have some fun!
Wear A Helmet
I cannot impress how direly important it is for you child to wear a bicycle helmet when they ride their bicycle and just as importantly to wear it correctly. I wanted to point out some great sites for information and statistics.
Here is a link to a government site that will teach you how to correctly wear a bicycle helmet, including illustrations.
Nationally, only about 15 percent of all kids wear bike helmets according to this study asking kids what they think about bicycle helmets.
And you play a huge role in getting kids to wear their helmets. According to a special report on wearing helmets, "if parents wear helmets when they bicycle, then about 98% of kids wear helmets.".
This is such a serious and scary issue as so, so many children do not wear helmets when they ride their bicycles and the injuries and deaths that occur because of it are sobering. Don't take the risk. Protect that precious little head!
Here is a link to a government site that will teach you how to correctly wear a bicycle helmet, including illustrations.
Nationally, only about 15 percent of all kids wear bike helmets according to this study asking kids what they think about bicycle helmets.
And you play a huge role in getting kids to wear their helmets. According to a special report on wearing helmets, "if parents wear helmets when they bicycle, then about 98% of kids wear helmets.".
This is such a serious and scary issue as so, so many children do not wear helmets when they ride their bicycles and the injuries and deaths that occur because of it are sobering. Don't take the risk. Protect that precious little head!
It Just Amazes Me
What is it about celebrities that causes them to do some of the stupid stuff they do? I mean, when you are constantly in the public eye, you would think that you would take care not do get your name in the news in a bad light. But no! These people are constantly going into drug rehab, getting caught drunk driving or in some sex/child scandal.
And it is constantly. You can not turn on the news anymore without hearing about Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, Courtney Love or some other celebrity, drunk driving or being forced into drug rehab or under investigation for some sex scandal. It is just plain silly! Are they really that stupid or just plain spoiled rotten???
And it is constantly. You can not turn on the news anymore without hearing about Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, Courtney Love or some other celebrity, drunk driving or being forced into drug rehab or under investigation for some sex scandal. It is just plain silly! Are they really that stupid or just plain spoiled rotten???
Everyone Should Have One
I won an iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner the other day and having had it just a few short days, it has become a lifeline for me. I don't think I could live with out it! It has become a focal point for my family. I yell "Are you ready to Roomba?" and the kids will come running and excitedly pick everything up off the floor so they can watch and play with Roomba as it moves effortlessly across the floor, saving me precious time and allowing me to get other chores done.
Just a few short days and this little robot has become a precious, time saving, children's motivating commodity. Now I just need to get myself Roomba's sister, Scooba and I will be set!
Just a few short days and this little robot has become a precious, time saving, children's motivating commodity. Now I just need to get myself Roomba's sister, Scooba and I will be set!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Scheduling Problems Solved
One of the hardest things I face in my day to day lives, especially with the schedule I outlined in my last post, is being able to schedule things so that i can remember them, don't overlap them and can get them done in a stress free manner. I think that is a daily struggle with anyone. Time management is a difficult thing. But Famundo is a great new, free service, designed to help you organize your daily life. It provides the ability to create a family hub, to replacing your huge calendar on the wall and the dry erase board by the door. No more refrigerator magnets or sticky notes all over the house. It can help you manage the family schedule and give you control over your life again. It has features like a "Homepage, Family Calendar, Message Board, Address Book, List Manager, Online File Storage, Photo Albums, Blog Engine and Family Vaults." It is easily shared, and downloaded to. It great for the children's online school newsletters. They can be downloaded right into your family calendar. I think I might actually be able to manage my hectic schedule with this wonderful new tool. It's going to be great and it is so easy to use.
Soccer, Football, Dance, When Is It Too Much?
When does it become too much for a child is something that has been discussed over and over and disagreed on on so many levels. However, that is not what I want to discuss. As a mother of five children I know how hard it is to try and balance schedules but my question is when does it become too much for you as a parent?
At the moment, I believe myself to be at the end of that rope. I am still managing, but if I were to try to add one more thing to our schedule I swear it would break. I have my oldest son in football which practices every day with games on Saturday and scouts on Wednesdays, my oldest daughter in Cleerleading on Fridays and girl scouts on Monday nights, my youngest son in Soccer on Tuesdays and Thursdays and my baby girl in Dance on Wednesdays. Now that is on top of my training/work from 6pm to midnight every night and my bowling on Tuesday nights.
My oldest son would now like to bowl the Fall and Winter leagues again. I hate to tell him no because he is actually pretty good at it. Okay, he beats me most of the time, but I just cannot add another thing to my schedule without becoming stressed and overwhelmed.
So what I am wondering, and I would like input on this, is at what point do you start to limit? Or do you? Would I be better off to let him express his talents and rely on another family member to get him to and from bowling? I am just not confident on where to draw the line and what color it should be. Any and all advice would be helpful.
At the moment, I believe myself to be at the end of that rope. I am still managing, but if I were to try to add one more thing to our schedule I swear it would break. I have my oldest son in football which practices every day with games on Saturday and scouts on Wednesdays, my oldest daughter in Cleerleading on Fridays and girl scouts on Monday nights, my youngest son in Soccer on Tuesdays and Thursdays and my baby girl in Dance on Wednesdays. Now that is on top of my training/work from 6pm to midnight every night and my bowling on Tuesday nights.
My oldest son would now like to bowl the Fall and Winter leagues again. I hate to tell him no because he is actually pretty good at it. Okay, he beats me most of the time, but I just cannot add another thing to my schedule without becoming stressed and overwhelmed.
So what I am wondering, and I would like input on this, is at what point do you start to limit? Or do you? Would I be better off to let him express his talents and rely on another family member to get him to and from bowling? I am just not confident on where to draw the line and what color it should be. Any and all advice would be helpful.
Time To Find A Great Deal
Is it time for you to finally find a great deal on the things you are looking for, rather than the stuff you don't need or want. Have you ever noticed how retailers will put the ugliest things on sale with super great prices to entice you into the store, but then all the cute stuff is regular price? Well, there comes a time when you need to take action and find your own great deals.
You all know I love shopping, even have a bit of a problem with it, but I have to admit that when it comes to shopping, I have learned most of the tricks. I wanted to share one of the best of them with you.
We all know how expensive an Omega Seamaster James Bond watch can be. Well, I found an Omega Seamaster James Bond Watch at AuctionSHARK for only $1390! It is normally at least $2000. A two thousand dollar watch for nearly half price?! That really is a great deal! Auction Shark hunts down the best deal for you checking online retailers and even Amazon and E-Bay for the best and most totally awesome deals! I happened to find this one on Amazon. Who knows where the next great deal will come from?
does! 
You all know I love shopping, even have a bit of a problem with it, but I have to admit that when it comes to shopping, I have learned most of the tricks. I wanted to share one of the best of them with you.
We all know how expensive an Omega Seamaster James Bond watch can be. Well, I found an Omega Seamaster James Bond Watch at AuctionSHARK for only $1390! It is normally at least $2000. A two thousand dollar watch for nearly half price?! That really is a great deal! Auction Shark hunts down the best deal for you checking online retailers and even Amazon and E-Bay for the best and most totally awesome deals! I happened to find this one on Amazon. Who knows where the next great deal will come from?
does!
September 11th, 2007
Today is the 6Th anniversary of the day that tore our nation apart and in doing so bonded it together stronger and more determined than ever. I think it was best put by Toby Keith in his song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue. "A Sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back. When we could see clearly through our big black eye, man we lit up your world like the 4Th of July" We were totally sucker punched but we maintained our dignity and our determination, we put together rescue efforts, we pulled together our resources and we pulled through. And we were pissed! We then took action. We may be on shaky ground with the UN at the moment, but I guarantee you that no nation, anywhere, will question anymore that we have the resources to defend ourselves and the determination to do so.
As for 9/11, many, many lives were lost that day and with that comes a deep sense of sadness, pain and heartache, especially for those that lost someone close to them and also for those that survived and everyone, everywhere. Every American, young and old, will remember where they were that day and what they were doing. Every American was touched in some way, knew someone or knew someones family. I fall into that category. My best friends brothers both worked in the World Trade Center. I had met Scott, the younger of the two, but never Donald. Scott is a carefree twenty something young man, with the same mentality. Thank God for that. With that mentality comes a lack of responsibility and because of that he was late for work, a common thing for him. He was on the subway when the tower were hit. I was at my friends home, watching the news broadcast with her when she got the call saying that Scott was alright but he didn't know where Donald was. Donald had made it to work on time. As the older brother, he was more responsible and had his head on a little straighter, due in part to his age and some to a motorcycle accident he had many, many years before that left him nearly paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Knowing Donald's physical condition, my friend was very very worried. I sat with her throughout the day and by evenings end, there was still no word. No one knew where Donald was.
The next morning, I was back over sitting with my friend when the phone rang again. She hesitantly answered it as she had for the last 24+ hours, dreading what might be on the other end. As her son and I watched her intently for any indication of what was being said, her face lost all color and she began sobbing and laughing all at the same time. Donald was alright. But his story was an amazing one.
He had arrived to work on time and was headed into work when the first plane hit the tower adjacent to his. As the panic ensued he tried his best to maneuver his wheelchair down the steps of the tower but was not succeeding due to the mass panic. A complete stranger picked him up out of his chair and half carried him away. They first took shelter in a pizza shop a little ways away but when the second plane hit they were evacuated from there to a firehouse and then another shop further away from downtown. It was rough in going, Donald can hardly walk, but this stranger stayed by his side the whole, grueling 18+ hours of the ordeal. They were covered in soot, ashes and dust. Tired, hungry, thirsty and filthy. As the Second tower fell, the little pizza shop in which they had first taken cover was crushed by the falling debris. As the city around them was ripped apart, the whole city came together to help each other, neighbor, friend or complete stranger. It didn't matter. They were all Americans and each and every one of them are Heroes. They all helped each other and perished or survived, they came together to comfort, assist and do what they could to help their fellow Americans. Across the nation, the same outpouring of love, compassion and concern was flowing strong and hard through every heart and soul as people everywhere came out, showed their support, made their donations and prayed for the help that was needed.
We are a strong nation. We are AMERICANS! There is no other nation, kindred or people that will govern us, control us or frighten us. We are strong! We are determined! And most of all, WE ARE ONE! WE ARE AMERICANS! Today is one of the best days to remember that. Fly your flag high, fly it proud. But tomorrow, fly it again, not in memory of the wonderful people that were lost to us, but to the Nation that protects us and the Nation that we love!
As for 9/11, many, many lives were lost that day and with that comes a deep sense of sadness, pain and heartache, especially for those that lost someone close to them and also for those that survived and everyone, everywhere. Every American, young and old, will remember where they were that day and what they were doing. Every American was touched in some way, knew someone or knew someones family. I fall into that category. My best friends brothers both worked in the World Trade Center. I had met Scott, the younger of the two, but never Donald. Scott is a carefree twenty something young man, with the same mentality. Thank God for that. With that mentality comes a lack of responsibility and because of that he was late for work, a common thing for him. He was on the subway when the tower were hit. I was at my friends home, watching the news broadcast with her when she got the call saying that Scott was alright but he didn't know where Donald was. Donald had made it to work on time. As the older brother, he was more responsible and had his head on a little straighter, due in part to his age and some to a motorcycle accident he had many, many years before that left him nearly paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Knowing Donald's physical condition, my friend was very very worried. I sat with her throughout the day and by evenings end, there was still no word. No one knew where Donald was.
The next morning, I was back over sitting with my friend when the phone rang again. She hesitantly answered it as she had for the last 24+ hours, dreading what might be on the other end. As her son and I watched her intently for any indication of what was being said, her face lost all color and she began sobbing and laughing all at the same time. Donald was alright. But his story was an amazing one.
He had arrived to work on time and was headed into work when the first plane hit the tower adjacent to his. As the panic ensued he tried his best to maneuver his wheelchair down the steps of the tower but was not succeeding due to the mass panic. A complete stranger picked him up out of his chair and half carried him away. They first took shelter in a pizza shop a little ways away but when the second plane hit they were evacuated from there to a firehouse and then another shop further away from downtown. It was rough in going, Donald can hardly walk, but this stranger stayed by his side the whole, grueling 18+ hours of the ordeal. They were covered in soot, ashes and dust. Tired, hungry, thirsty and filthy. As the Second tower fell, the little pizza shop in which they had first taken cover was crushed by the falling debris. As the city around them was ripped apart, the whole city came together to help each other, neighbor, friend or complete stranger. It didn't matter. They were all Americans and each and every one of them are Heroes. They all helped each other and perished or survived, they came together to comfort, assist and do what they could to help their fellow Americans. Across the nation, the same outpouring of love, compassion and concern was flowing strong and hard through every heart and soul as people everywhere came out, showed their support, made their donations and prayed for the help that was needed.
We are a strong nation. We are AMERICANS! There is no other nation, kindred or people that will govern us, control us or frighten us. We are strong! We are determined! And most of all, WE ARE ONE! WE ARE AMERICANS! Today is one of the best days to remember that. Fly your flag high, fly it proud. But tomorrow, fly it again, not in memory of the wonderful people that were lost to us, but to the Nation that protects us and the Nation that we love!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Gossip, Do You Spread It?
I am sure we all spread the gossip in our daily lives. especially those of us with blogs. It has become so easy to talk about anything and too often that happens to be gossip.
Gossip is defined as:
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Gossip is defined as:
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
gos·sip 
[gos-uhp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -siped or -sipped, -sip·ing or -sip·ping.
—Related forms
[gos-uhp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -siped or -sipped, -sip·ing or -sip·ping. –noun
–verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others: the endless gossip about Hollywood stars. |
| 2. | light, familiar talk or writing. |
| 3. | Also, gos·sip·er, gos·sip·per. a person given to tattling or idle talk. |
| 4. | Chiefly British Dialect. a godparent. |
| 5. | Archaic. a friend, esp. a woman. |
| 6. | to talk idly, esp. about the affairs of others; go about tattling. |
| 7. | Chiefly British Dialect. to stand godparent to. |
| 8. | Archaic. to repeat like a gossip. |
[Origin: bef. 1050; ME gossib, godsib(be), OE godsibb, orig. godparent, equiv. to god God + sibb related; see sib1]
] —Related forms
gos·sip·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. small talk, hearsay, palaver, chitchat. Gossip, scandal apply to idle talk and newsmongering about the affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors. Scandal is rumor or general talk that is damaging to reputation; it is usually more or less malicious: The town never lived down the election scandal. 3. chatterer, talker, gabbler, rumormonger. 6. chatter, prattle, prate, palaver.
So, while not everything we talk about is considered gossip, that little piece I did about Lindsay Lohan and her rehab on my other blog, was deffinatly gossip. Gossip can be fine or it can be very, very hurtful to a lot of people so it needs to be taken very seriously and thought through very carefully. However, gossip can be a lot of fun as well. I know when Don was coming home, I gossiped about it to everyone but the important people, the ones that shouldn't know. I would not want to ruin the surprise.
But to get a good idea of the effects of gossip and what trouble or other it can cause, there is a cute new show premiering Wednesday, September 19th. It's called Gossip Girl and is a teen drama based on the novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar. It revolves around the lives of socialite young adults growing up on New York's Upper East Side attending an elite academic institution. It works through them dealing with sex, drugs, and other serious teenage issues. It centers mainly around, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), and their shared crush, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford). As outsiders looking in, Dan (Penn Badgley) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) do not run in the same social or financial circles as their peers but are drawn into their lives nonetheless. The series is narrated by, "Gossip Girl" (voiced by Kristen Bell), who runs a website blogging about her fellow Upper East Siders consequently stirring the pot and feeding potential rivalries in this exclusive and vicious circle of friends. It sounds like it will be a great series with some really good life lessons, plenty of drama and loads of fun. I think this will probably be a hit for young and old alike. Maybe some of us "old foggies" can get a glimpse into the world our children are living in.
I will deffinatly be watching Gossip Girl on The CW on Wednesday night. Where will you be? If you do get a chance to watch it, drop me a comment and let me know what you think of it. What do you think of the picture of it? Funny, it reminds me of Grease. That is a little to telling of my age! **blushing**
So, while not everything we talk about is considered gossip, that little piece I did about Lindsay Lohan and her rehab on my other blog, was deffinatly gossip. Gossip can be fine or it can be very, very hurtful to a lot of people so it needs to be taken very seriously and thought through very carefully. However, gossip can be a lot of fun as well. I know when Don was coming home, I gossiped about it to everyone but the important people, the ones that shouldn't know. I would not want to ruin the surprise.
But to get a good idea of the effects of gossip and what trouble or other it can cause, there is a cute new show premiering Wednesday, September 19th. It's called Gossip Girl and is a teen drama based on the novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar. It revolves around the lives of socialite young adults growing up on New York's Upper East Side attending an elite academic institution. It works through them dealing with sex, drugs, and other serious teenage issues. It centers mainly around, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), and their shared crush, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford). As outsiders looking in, Dan (Penn Badgley) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) do not run in the same social or financial circles as their peers but are drawn into their lives nonetheless. The series is narrated by, "Gossip Girl" (voiced by Kristen Bell), who runs a website blogging about her fellow Upper East Siders consequently stirring the pot and feeding potential rivalries in this exclusive and vicious circle of friends. It sounds like it will be a great series with some really good life lessons, plenty of drama and loads of fun. I think this will probably be a hit for young and old alike. Maybe some of us "old foggies" can get a glimpse into the world our children are living in.
I will deffinatly be watching Gossip Girl on The CW on Wednesday night. Where will you be? If you do get a chance to watch it, drop me a comment and let me know what you think of it. What do you think of the picture of it? Funny, it reminds me of Grease. That is a little to telling of my age! **blushing**
Monday, September 10, 2007
Get Your H2O
I have really struggled, trying to get my daily recommended allowance of water every day. My doctor chastises me for being dehydrated all the time and promises me that if I would just drink enough water I would feel a lot better. Unfortunately, the only time I really drink water is when I can feel that my body needs to be cleansed. Now, if I were to drink water regularly, I am sure my body would not need to be cleansed on a regular basis. The water would already do that.
But the point is, I have learned that if I have a bottle of water with me regularly then I drink more often. As I work I have a bottle of water on my desk and a determination to drink it all before the half way day mark. So half way through my work day I have already drank a bottle of water. Then on my break I will refill it and add some Kool-Aid singles or a Poweraide single to it to give it some flavor and me some sugar to help me stay awake through the rest of the work day, or in my case evening as I am currently training from 6pm to midnight.
I have to tell you, getting that much water has really helped me feel better. I have more energy, I don't feel so weighted down, if that makes any sense and I just feel better all around.
But the point is, I have learned that if I have a bottle of water with me regularly then I drink more often. As I work I have a bottle of water on my desk and a determination to drink it all before the half way day mark. So half way through my work day I have already drank a bottle of water. Then on my break I will refill it and add some Kool-Aid singles or a Poweraide single to it to give it some flavor and me some sugar to help me stay awake through the rest of the work day, or in my case evening as I am currently training from 6pm to midnight.
I have to tell you, getting that much water has really helped me feel better. I have more energy, I don't feel so weighted down, if that makes any sense and I just feel better all around.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Have You Ever Wanted?
I was shopping at RC Willey's last night, spending the $100 gift card I had and I came across a Nostalgic Miniature Popcorn Maker. It really popped popcorn, just like it's full size version, but it was small enough to fit on your counter top. It was so cute! I just loved it. I already have a chocolate fountain that I only use at Christmas and New Years, but how much fun would it be to have your very own popcorn machine.
Look how cute this is. (I had to find a picture to include). I just love how it is fashioned after the old fashioned ones that you would see roving around the carnivals.
I can not for the life of me figure out where in my kitchen I would put it or what in the world I would want it for, but heck. It's just too cute to pass up. Now I just have to talk my hubby into letting me get it!
Look how cute this is. (I had to find a picture to include). I just love how it is fashioned after the old fashioned ones that you would see roving around the carnivals.I can not for the life of me figure out where in my kitchen I would put it or what in the world I would want it for, but heck. It's just too cute to pass up. Now I just have to talk my hubby into letting me get it!
Do You Have Knowledge To Share?
We need people to help out at this years PowWow in Ogden. We need help on the registration committee as well as some good teachers for the classes. If you have spent some time in scouting and have some great ideas and information or just have some time to spare to help out, please let us know. We could use you!
It will require a lot of commitment on your part, but you will be able to attend PowWow for only $5, which covers the cost of your lunch and you would be doing something great for all the Boy Scouts and Cubs in the Trapper Trails District.
Come Help Us Out!!!
It will require a lot of commitment on your part, but you will be able to attend PowWow for only $5, which covers the cost of your lunch and you would be doing something great for all the Boy Scouts and Cubs in the Trapper Trails District.
Come Help Us Out!!!
Congratulations Robyn!
Congratulations Robyn on your new home and moving in and all that fun stuff! I really wish I could be there to help you in your moving. That has always been one of the things I hate doing. Having to pack everything up and move it only to unpack it all over again. Not one of my favorite things, but then again, I have SO much stuff, most of which qualifies as junk, that is is incredibly hard to pack it all and move it.
But I am so jealous of you! I love looking for and at houses. I should be a real estate agent. I remember talking to you when you were looking for your house and how much fun you were having and how excited you would get. Are you still just as excited? I hope so! Your house is just beautiful and I can't wait to get out there to see it in person. Soon, very soon, I hope! Keep your fingers crossed and in the mean time, have a great time moving and getting acquainted with your new home.
But I am so jealous of you! I love looking for and at houses. I should be a real estate agent. I remember talking to you when you were looking for your house and how much fun you were having and how excited you would get. Are you still just as excited? I hope so! Your house is just beautiful and I can't wait to get out there to see it in person. Soon, very soon, I hope! Keep your fingers crossed and in the mean time, have a great time moving and getting acquainted with your new home.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Cub Scout Express Ideas and Fun
We just had our weekly pack meeting and I wanted to share with you what worked and what didn't.
We had our awards attached to darling little paper cutouts of train engines from the Cri-cut machine. In all honesty, the boys didn't really pay any attention to them. They would have much preferred a model train bringing them in which was one of the suggestions.
We bought Twinkies, butter cream icing and various candies such as starlight mints, M&M's, Spice drops and string licorice. Each boy got one Twinkie on a small plate, a couple of each of the candies and a small cup with icing and a fork. They were told to decorate their Twinkies into a train car. This took nearly 30 minutes and they had a ball. Every time one of the boys came and showed me their train, I would hold it up and loudly announce what a wonderful train they had made. They "ate" it up! It was great fun and surprisingly, they did not make too bad a mess. We were even in a carpeted room.
Some tips for this activity: Buy Twinkies in bulk from Sam's Club or The Hostess Store
The Bakery at Albertson's will sell you bulk icing in a clamshell container.
Little 3oz cups with a fork size scoop of icing is plenty
Popsicle sticks would probably be preferable to using forks
We used the ticket book idea out of the Program Helps and it worked great as a gathering activity and kept the kids busy while we got ready, however, handing them back out is really not productive or proactive. Lots of crying kids because they could not remember people or read the writing. Do the gathering activity, skip the handing them back out.
We had our awards attached to darling little paper cutouts of train engines from the Cri-cut machine. In all honesty, the boys didn't really pay any attention to them. They would have much preferred a model train bringing them in which was one of the suggestions.
We bought Twinkies, butter cream icing and various candies such as starlight mints, M&M's, Spice drops and string licorice. Each boy got one Twinkie on a small plate, a couple of each of the candies and a small cup with icing and a fork. They were told to decorate their Twinkies into a train car. This took nearly 30 minutes and they had a ball. Every time one of the boys came and showed me their train, I would hold it up and loudly announce what a wonderful train they had made. They "ate" it up! It was great fun and surprisingly, they did not make too bad a mess. We were even in a carpeted room.
Some tips for this activity: Buy Twinkies in bulk from Sam's Club or The Hostess Store
The Bakery at Albertson's will sell you bulk icing in a clamshell container.
Little 3oz cups with a fork size scoop of icing is plenty
Popsicle sticks would probably be preferable to using forks
We used the ticket book idea out of the Program Helps and it worked great as a gathering activity and kept the kids busy while we got ready, however, handing them back out is really not productive or proactive. Lots of crying kids because they could not remember people or read the writing. Do the gathering activity, skip the handing them back out.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
A Beautiful Ring
I just bought a beautiful blue topaz ring online and the other day my mother bought her a gorgeous jadeite and 14K gold spinner ring, also on line. I am quickly realizing that you can find some amazing deals on fashion jewelry on the internet. I had never before thought of the internet as an outlet for jewelry, but why not? You can get everything else on the internet, why not beautiful, fashionable jewelery?
The Mystery Solved
Here is what I used to see. 
I have solved one mystery which ultimately has lead to another. Now that I have my new monitor set up, for the first time, I have been able to use the resolution of which my computer is capable. However, once I upped the resolution it changed the size of my screen enough that now I see my poor blog in a new light. Now here is what I see.
Now that I can see what everyone else sees, now I need to know how to fix it. Blog Doctor, Can you fix it???
I have solved one mystery which ultimately has lead to another. Now that I have my new monitor set up, for the first time, I have been able to use the resolution of which my computer is capable. However, once I upped the resolution it changed the size of my screen enough that now I see my poor blog in a new light. Now here is what I see.
Now that I can see what everyone else sees, now I need to know how to fix it. Blog Doctor, Can you fix it???
Get Your Daily Dose of Inspiration
Every one needs a reason to keep going day in and day out and little word of inspiration are a great kick in the pants, if you will, to remind you what life is about and why you are alive, or just some interesting facts to get your brain in gear. Get your daily dose of inspiration and wisdom with Karl's blog. He has an amazing way of stating the obvious and making action out of it as well as finding interesting and little known facts for you to ponder throughout your day.
The author of this blog is Karl Moore and he just really enjoys his blog and his radio show and really seems to enjoy his life. If you haven't had a chance to read his blog lately, find some time, it's well worth it. Today you can find out where the Bronx got it's name. Who knows what you can read tomorrow!
The author of this blog is Karl Moore and he just really enjoys his blog and his radio show and really seems to enjoy his life. If you haven't had a chance to read his blog lately, find some time, it's well worth it. Today you can find out where the Bronx got it's name. Who knows what you can read tomorrow!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Calling All Scouters!!!
Calling All Scouters!!!
Are you in the Trapper Trails Council? Would you be willing to give of your time in order to help make this years PowWow a huge success? Or more importantly, would you like to attend PowWow for free? We would love to have as much help as we can get. If you are interested, please e-mail me at tyclayhope at@ yahoo dot .com and let me know that you would be interested.
The qualifications for the job are: You must be a registered Scouter or Adult Helper.
Even if you are willing to help but not able to attend PowWow on the 3rd of November, we have jobs that you can do and we could use your help! Please consider giving of your time to help us out and to make PowWow a success.
Thanks, Savvy Mom
Are you in the Trapper Trails Council? Would you be willing to give of your time in order to help make this years PowWow a huge success? Or more importantly, would you like to attend PowWow for free? We would love to have as much help as we can get. If you are interested, please e-mail me at tyclayhope at@ yahoo dot .com and let me know that you would be interested.
The qualifications for the job are: You must be a registered Scouter or Adult Helper.
Even if you are willing to help but not able to attend PowWow on the 3rd of November, we have jobs that you can do and we could use your help! Please consider giving of your time to help us out and to make PowWow a success.
Thanks, Savvy Mom
Research Your Business
One of the keys to a great business plan is researching your prospective market. Will the people you are selling to really be interested in your product? How do your competitors do and when are their "Red" times and "Black" times? Market research is a great tool in writing a great business plan as well as a good personal plan for your product or service. I would hope that no one would ever try to open a new business without having taken the time to do the proper research and market analysis and research absolutely needs to be included in that.
The 3rd Annual Blog Day!
Today is officially the 3rd Annual Blog Day!
So in the spirit of blog day I wanted to join in the fun and introduce you to some of my favorite blogs.
How Stuff Works: This has been an amazing blog for myself and my children. It answers SO many questions and can give us a topic to discuss if we just want to talk about something. It is so much fun.
Katina's Little Gardener's is another one of my favorites and one that I visit very often for ideas and activities for my kids.
The ABC Home Preschool Blog is a really cute one with good ideas, I just wish the font was a little larger, as it is very difficult for me to see. But the information is well worth the small inconvenience.
Ideas For Children's Art Lessons is great for finding ideas for children's art projects. The blog author also has some great learning activities.
Science News For Kids is a great site for getting your kids talking about science and I have found it to be especially helpful when it comes to picking a subject for a report.
Of course there are hundreds of thousands of great blogs out there and many, many more that I frequent, these just happen to be some of my favorites. I hope you can enjoy them and find them as helpful as I have.
What is BlogDay?
BlogDay was created with the belief that bloggers should have one day dedicated to getting to know other bloggers from other countries and areas of interest. On that day Bloggers will recommend other blogs to their blog visitors.
With the goal in mind, on this day every blogger will post a recommendation of 5 new blogs. This way, all blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, previously unknown blogs.
How Stuff Works: This has been an amazing blog for myself and my children. It answers SO many questions and can give us a topic to discuss if we just want to talk about something. It is so much fun.
Katina's Little Gardener's is another one of my favorites and one that I visit very often for ideas and activities for my kids.
The ABC Home Preschool Blog is a really cute one with good ideas, I just wish the font was a little larger, as it is very difficult for me to see. But the information is well worth the small inconvenience.
Ideas For Children's Art Lessons is great for finding ideas for children's art projects. The blog author also has some great learning activities.
Science News For Kids is a great site for getting your kids talking about science and I have found it to be especially helpful when it comes to picking a subject for a report.
Of course there are hundreds of thousands of great blogs out there and many, many more that I frequent, these just happen to be some of my favorites. I hope you can enjoy them and find them as helpful as I have.
Getting Funding
It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it can be to get the necessary funding needed to start a business, but the good news is it doesn't have to be difficult. If you find the right company, one that is dedicated to your success, then it really can be a piece of cake. If you can find a company that will allow entrepreneurs to send their business plan to hundreds or thousands of Investors, venture capital firms and Angel Investors with one click of a mouse. There is just no easier way than to have a company that wants you to succeed enough to do most of the leg work for you, finding the investors and submitting your business plan to them.
But if you are serious about starting a business for our self the very first thing you are going to need is a good business plan. Again, there are a lot of great companies out there that can help you with that as well. But a business is only as good as it's business plan and any investor is going to see that immediately. As a matter of fact, that is the very first thing and possibly the last thing an investor would ever see of a very good business idea if the business plan is poorly written.
But if you are serious about starting a business for our self the very first thing you are going to need is a good business plan. Again, there are a lot of great companies out there that can help you with that as well. But a business is only as good as it's business plan and any investor is going to see that immediately. As a matter of fact, that is the very first thing and possibly the last thing an investor would ever see of a very good business idea if the business plan is poorly written.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Here is what I see
Here is what I see when I look at Savvy Mom. Does anyone else see something different? My favorite reader (my sister) was looking at it and it is looking MUCH much different on her screen and I am wondering if it is just my resolution that is showing it right to me and skee-whompus to everyone else. Please let me know what you see.
Is Everyone Back to School Now?
Well I hope that everyone made it through getting your kids back to school without needing too strong a headache treatment. I know mine is not terribly mild. But now my kids are back in school and we are starting to get into a great routine.
One thing that has made the school mornings a lot easier for us has been this cute and easy craft. I bought 7 sheets of stiffened felt. Since I needed 4 sets I cute each sheet into four identical pieces.
Just like the picture. Then I Cut off the corners to make it look like a tag and with a blade, I cut an "X" at the top so it would easily slide down over a hanger. 
After that I used puffy paint to write Monday on Red, Tuesday on Orange, Wednesday on Yellow, Thursday on Green, Friday on Blue, Saturday on Purple and Sunday on the White tags. Once they were dry, they were ready to use. 
Then for their socks and underwear I let them each pick out a bandanna that they liked and cut it into 8 pieces.
Then fold each piece in half, at the dotted line and sew it inside out at the zigzag lines.
Then I sewed on a key ring to use to hang it on the hanger as well.
Then on Sunday, right after church, the kids come home, change into play clothes and start picking out their outfits for the coming week. They hang their pants over the hanger and put the shirt on over it. Put a pair of socks and a pair of underwear in each bag and hang it over the hanger and then put on the tag for that day.
They know they need play clothes for Sunday and Saturday and school clothes for Monday through Friday. If a holiday happens to fall within the week then I will have to let them know. But for us this has saved us the morning rituals of not knowing what to wear, lost socks or all the pants are dirty. We know on Sunday if there is something missing and wash it right away. Our mornings go much smoother.
One thing that has made the school mornings a lot easier for us has been this cute and easy craft. I bought 7 sheets of stiffened felt. Since I needed 4 sets I cute each sheet into four identical pieces.
Just like the picture. Then I Cut off the corners to make it look like a tag and with a blade, I cut an "X" at the top so it would easily slide down over a hanger. 
After that I used puffy paint to write Monday on Red, Tuesday on Orange, Wednesday on Yellow, Thursday on Green, Friday on Blue, Saturday on Purple and Sunday on the White tags. Once they were dry, they were ready to use. 
Then for their socks and underwear I let them each pick out a bandanna that they liked and cut it into 8 pieces.
Then fold each piece in half, at the dotted line and sew it inside out at the zigzag lines.
Then I sewed on a key ring to use to hang it on the hanger as well.
Then on Sunday, right after church, the kids come home, change into play clothes and start picking out their outfits for the coming week. They hang their pants over the hanger and put the shirt on over it. Put a pair of socks and a pair of underwear in each bag and hang it over the hanger and then put on the tag for that day.
They know they need play clothes for Sunday and Saturday and school clothes for Monday through Friday. If a holiday happens to fall within the week then I will have to let them know. But for us this has saved us the morning rituals of not knowing what to wear, lost socks or all the pants are dirty. We know on Sunday if there is something missing and wash it right away. Our mornings go much smoother.
Reading With Your Kids
Everyone knows the importance of reading with their child and their child reading for at least 20 minutes per day. This is nothing new. However, when you get to a point when you have five kids going in five different directions and seven billion things to do all at one time, where in the world could you possibly find the time to read to each of your kids for 20 minutes per day? It is a bit overwhelming.
Well I have found a nearly fool proof plan to read to all my kids every night, without boring the older ones with the kiddie books and not loosing the little ones interest with the huge chapter books.
Every night, we sit down as a family, 20 minutes before bedtime and read books, as a family. I will read some, the older kids will read some and I will whisper the words in to the ears of the little ones so they can "read" as well. We will read a short chapter book to keep the older ones interested and then when it is done, we will read a few kiddie books.
This has worked tremendously in our family. It has increased my children's AR levels by 3+ grades and it gives us time together, regardless of what is going on. Even if we get home late, rather than rushing everyone off to bed, what's another 20 minutes? They all get ready for bed and assemble in the living room for reading adventures.
I love that while the older kids will read, they also still get read to, which is something that gets lost all to often once a child learns to read for themselves. I sincerely hope that you are taking the time to read to your child/children and are able to experience the amazing growth and bonding that can come with that. Happy Reading!
Well I have found a nearly fool proof plan to read to all my kids every night, without boring the older ones with the kiddie books and not loosing the little ones interest with the huge chapter books.
Every night, we sit down as a family, 20 minutes before bedtime and read books, as a family. I will read some, the older kids will read some and I will whisper the words in to the ears of the little ones so they can "read" as well. We will read a short chapter book to keep the older ones interested and then when it is done, we will read a few kiddie books.
This has worked tremendously in our family. It has increased my children's AR levels by 3+ grades and it gives us time together, regardless of what is going on. Even if we get home late, rather than rushing everyone off to bed, what's another 20 minutes? They all get ready for bed and assemble in the living room for reading adventures.
I love that while the older kids will read, they also still get read to, which is something that gets lost all to often once a child learns to read for themselves. I sincerely hope that you are taking the time to read to your child/children and are able to experience the amazing growth and bonding that can come with that. Happy Reading!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Christmas Shopping, Already???
I just had to laugh when I saw this Black Friday websites list being advertised. I can not believe that people are already preparing for Christmas. But in an effort to keep you up to date in a timely manner I decided that I needed to give you this website as well. Make sure you enter your e-mail address so they can let you know when more stores list their sales on the Black Friday list.
Personally, I love this www.black-friday.net list, as it gives me the opportunity to do my Black Friday shopping online rather than standing in those ridiculous lines and having to deal with the kicking and shoving that goes on in the stores. In this case, the quickest computer gets the gold and my computer is hands down, well and above most. So Game's On! Make sure you check out all the great deals!
Personally, I love this www.black-friday.net list, as it gives me the opportunity to do my Black Friday shopping online rather than standing in those ridiculous lines and having to deal with the kicking and shoving that goes on in the stores. In this case, the quickest computer gets the gold and my computer is hands down, well and above most. So Game's On! Make sure you check out all the great deals!
Do You Do Dollar Stores?
When was the last time you went into a Dollar Store? It was very recent for myself, as I love dollar stores. They can save you lots of money, but just be careful, just because it is a Dollar Store does not mean that they are less expensive than any other store. For instance, at a Dollar Store you can pick up a large bottle of Garlic Salt for $1 however, you can get the same size bottle of Garlic Salt at Walmart for $0.50, half the price. So, although Dollar Stores items will go quickly, make sure you do you homework just a little and remember, they are just like any other store, in that they are trying to make a profit. You need to be educated yourself.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Great Site for Real Estate
If you are looking for a place in wilmington nc real estate then you have got to check out this site. They have everything you could ever need to find the home of your dreams on the coast of North Carolina. Imagine the serenity and peace that you can find living on the coast. North Carolina is a great place to plan on spending your retirement as well. Wilmingoton is one of the top ten places to retire to in North and South Carolina as they offer the quiet life of a small town but are conveniently located near the amenities of the larger cities. The state of North Carolina is an ideal place to retire to as they offer quiet life, outdoor activities, good weather, top-notch medical care, cultural events, easy access to major highways...you name it, they have it. 
Winder Warning
I still love my Winder Dairy delivery, please do not get me wrong, however, I ordered their produce box and that, I am not at all happy with. I was hoping for some fruit and maybe celery, tomato's, potato's, you know, normal stuff. Instead, I got a bunch of bananas, three apples, 6 limes, 3 golden beets, gold beans and ginger root. I am sorry, but I am just not an experimental type person. I do not want veggies that I have no idea how to use. So, for the time being, I am just at a loss as to how to use this $20 worth of produce and I can guarantee that I will not ever do it again.
"Zero is More" Coke
Quick Make Ahead Breakfasts For Your Champions
With the start of school upon us or just around the corner, the hussle and bustle of every day life has resumed. But does that mean that you children have to go back to living off the regular milk and cereal routine breakfast? Not at all! Check out some of these great make-ahead breakfast ideas to get your little champions off on the right foot and out the door in healthy happy style.
6 Week Bran Muffins, these muffins are great to mix up ahead of time and leave in the fridge. Just warm the oven, scoop the batter into muffin cups and bake. In 30 minutes you have fresh hot muffins, without the stress of mixing and measuring on an already busy morning.
These Rich Chocolate Muffins are a treat any kid would enjoy, piping hot and fresh from the oven.
Crockpot Apple Cobbler is a warm and yummy breakfast that taste like apple crisp and will keep you little ones satisfied for a long time.
This recipe for Waffle and Pancake Batter will keep in the fridge for up to four days and will give your kids hot and fluffy pancakes or waffles, quick and easy in the mornings.
Ham and Tater Casserole is a wonderful breakfast that you can make the night before, in your crockpot, and it will cook overnight and be ready for your meat and potato men, first thing in the morning.
And the Classic Egg Casserole in the Crockpot is always a hit.
I hope these help to make your morning routine a little easier and healthier.
6 Week Bran Muffins, these muffins are great to mix up ahead of time and leave in the fridge. Just warm the oven, scoop the batter into muffin cups and bake. In 30 minutes you have fresh hot muffins, without the stress of mixing and measuring on an already busy morning.
These Rich Chocolate Muffins are a treat any kid would enjoy, piping hot and fresh from the oven.
Crockpot Apple Cobbler is a warm and yummy breakfast that taste like apple crisp and will keep you little ones satisfied for a long time.
This recipe for Waffle and Pancake Batter will keep in the fridge for up to four days and will give your kids hot and fluffy pancakes or waffles, quick and easy in the mornings.
Ham and Tater Casserole is a wonderful breakfast that you can make the night before, in your crockpot, and it will cook overnight and be ready for your meat and potato men, first thing in the morning.
And the Classic Egg Casserole in the Crockpot is always a hit.
I hope these help to make your morning routine a little easier and healthier.
Wendover or Home
Do you ever go to Wendover? I do a lot, at least once a year as my husbands company takes us yearly as one of their company parties. Unfortunately, this year, I may be staying home due to my new training with Continental Airlines. I am really bummed as I have been planning for some time, saving my change and just in general, getting ready to go.
Usually when we are down there I spent most of my time playing the slots. I have gotten into playing Roulette lately and have played the Blackjack Tables once or twice. I have never played the poker tables or Craps. I know nothing about Craps and I would rather play poker at home.
But I am really bummed out that this year I will have to miss it due to training, however, training does take precedence. What can I say, priorities. Making money over losing it.
Usually when we are down there I spent most of my time playing the slots. I have gotten into playing Roulette lately and have played the Blackjack Tables once or twice. I have never played the poker tables or Craps. I know nothing about Craps and I would rather play poker at home.
But I am really bummed out that this year I will have to miss it due to training, however, training does take precedence. What can I say, priorities. Making money over losing it.
Is Hannah Montana Threating To Break Your Bank?
Now I love Hannah Montana and I think she is a great role model for my little girls, however, when we recently heard that she was coming to Utah, it was too late. Tickets were sold out within the first few hours, an overwhelming number of which were sold to scalpers. Now to get a ticket, you will be paying outrageous prices. Anywhere between $100 and $1000. So now what do you say to your young girl?
Well, most are too young to understand the concept of $30 verses $100 or $1000. But if they are old enough then, explain to them what has happened and why you are not able to purchase tickets at that price. Then offer something else in it place. Offer to purchase a Hannah Montana doll for them or one of her T-Shirts. And to ease the pain of "the night" take them out for icecream or something else fun to get her mind off it. But remember, the point is not to break the bank. As you will not be able to explain the money issue to a younger Hannah Montana fan, the above will probably work just as well.
Good Luck and let's all hope Hannah Montana will visit us again real soon and with more than one show.
Well, most are too young to understand the concept of $30 verses $100 or $1000. But if they are old enough then, explain to them what has happened and why you are not able to purchase tickets at that price. Then offer something else in it place. Offer to purchase a Hannah Montana doll for them or one of her T-Shirts. And to ease the pain of "the night" take them out for icecream or something else fun to get her mind off it. But remember, the point is not to break the bank. As you will not be able to explain the money issue to a younger Hannah Montana fan, the above will probably work just as well.
Good Luck and let's all hope Hannah Montana will visit us again real soon and with more than one show.
The New Weight Loss Craze, Hoodia
Millions and millions of Americans suffer from obesity and most Americans continually look for ways to combat the ever increasing obesity rate in the United States. From this has sprung a revolutionary new weight loss supplement called Hoodia. Hoodia is a cactus looking plant that grows only wild in South Africa and has been used there for years as an appetite suppressant. Only recently has it made its way and infamy to the United States and when it did it was an instant star. Hoodia's natural botanical ability to suppress a person's appetite, therefore promoting weight loss has formed quite a following among users in the US. There are more and more "fakes" and watered down products showing up on the market every day. However, with the phenomenon that it has created, I can not believe that this comes as a surprise to anyone. Hoodia is sweeping the nation as the newest and currently strongest defense against obesity.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
MSG's Harmless or Not?
I went to see my Doctor the other day, concerned about one particular area of concern. The fact that at most restaurants I go to, especially buffets, after or sometimes while eating, I would get very, very sick to my stomach, resulting in both or either diarrhea or nausea and vomiting. This concerned me because I love to eat and I do not always want to have to cook. So restaurants are a huge highlight in my life.
Well, the doctors response was, I am allergic to MSG's. Now, while I had heard of MSG's and MSG allergies before, who hasn't, I had never put much thought or effort into find out much about them. When I did, wow, was I surprised!
Check out what these guys have to say, and be prepared to be just a little frightened. This is some serious stuff. MSGTruth.org. Just reading over that, I am a little inclined to frequent restaurants that do not use MSG's at all and stay away from products that do use them.
Well, the doctors response was, I am allergic to MSG's. Now, while I had heard of MSG's and MSG allergies before, who hasn't, I had never put much thought or effort into find out much about them. When I did, wow, was I surprised!
Check out what these guys have to say, and be prepared to be just a little frightened. This is some serious stuff. MSGTruth.org. Just reading over that, I am a little inclined to frequent restaurants that do not use MSG's at all and stay away from products that do use them.
Tomorrow Comes My Monitor
I am so excited for tomorrow. Tomorrow my brand new viewsonic monitor that I won from Bid 4 Prizes should be here. I have been waiting nearly ten weeks for this. I can hardly wait the last few hours.
I was very surprised that I won, even though I bid everyday, I wanted it SO badly. It is a 22" flat screen viewsonic monitor for my office. Here is a picture of it.
By this time tomorrow, I should be looking at a brand new monitor and hopefully a clean desk. Well, at least the monitor is feasible.
I was very surprised that I won, even though I bid everyday, I wanted it SO badly. It is a 22" flat screen viewsonic monitor for my office. Here is a picture of it.
By this time tomorrow, I should be looking at a brand new monitor and hopefully a clean desk. Well, at least the monitor is feasible.
My Resturant Of The Week
When was the last time you went into downtown Ogden to grab a bite to eat? In my case, it has been awhile. Well yesterday I happened to have the privilege of stopping into Roosters before we went to the movie. Now I am not a beer fan, even when it's chocolate beer, sorry. But I do love the restaurant. The service is great, the atmosphere is fun and upbeat and the food excellent. Next time you are in the downtown Ogden area, take a small detour and stop in.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Win A Beautiful Quartz Watch!
Okay ladies, and gentlemen, do you want to win a beautiful quartz watch from Fellin Jewelers? Of course you do! Imaging, a gorgeous quartz, gold plate or two-tone steel watch, resting lightly on your arm, the gold color warming the reflected light. Why would you not want to try to win such an expensive gift?
The catch. Good reason, but in this case the catch is simple. All you have to do is write a blog post on your blog mentioning this contest and linking to http://www.ivycoveredhalls.com with the anchor text "college graduation gifts" and select two products from Ivy Covered Halls to link to on your blog, post it and send the url link of your post and your name to info@fellins.com
It really is that simple and easy. Then on the 30th of September, they will pool all the entries and pull one out of a hat to win either a men's or woman's $195, gorgeous quartz watch! If you don't need one for yourself imagine how great it would look on the arm of your husband or wife! It's so easy to enter, you have no excuse not to!
Of course, it would not hurt to take a look around the sites while your there, I am sure you can find plenty of < ahref="http://www.ivycoveredhalls.com/products/desk-clock.php">great gifts for loved ones while you are at it.
The catch. Good reason, but in this case the catch is simple. All you have to do is write a blog post on your blog mentioning this contest and linking to http://www.ivycoveredhalls.com with the anchor text "college graduation gifts" and select two products from Ivy Covered Halls to link to on your blog, post it and send the url link of your post and your name to info@fellins.com
It really is that simple and easy. Then on the 30th of September, they will pool all the entries and pull one out of a hat to win either a men's or woman's $195, gorgeous quartz watch! If you don't need one for yourself imagine how great it would look on the arm of your husband or wife! It's so easy to enter, you have no excuse not to!
Of course, it would not hurt to take a look around the sites while your there, I am sure you can find plenty of < ahref="http://www.ivycoveredhalls.com/products/desk-clock.php">great gifts for loved ones while you are at it.
Did You Go On A Summer Vacation?
I want to know how many of you went on a summer vacation? Where did you go? What did you see? What were the best family sites you went to?
Our family vacation this year will not be until late fall or early winter. We have not even had a chance to spend time planning it yet. However, we would love to go spend some time back east or in the mid west. But we just haven't made any solid plans yet, so I was looking for some ideas from you. Please drop me a comment on where you think I should take my family on vacation.
Our family vacation this year will not be until late fall or early winter. We have not even had a chance to spend time planning it yet. However, we would love to go spend some time back east or in the mid west. But we just haven't made any solid plans yet, so I was looking for some ideas from you. Please drop me a comment on where you think I should take my family on vacation.
Learn to Invest in Real Estate
I have talked a lot about investing in real estate lately. I guess it is my current kick. It just seems like such a good idea to me at the moment. The market is cooling down but it is still red hot and at this time in my life it just seems like a smart thing to do. I have seen what the market is capable of in just ten short years, I can only imagine what it can do in 30 or even 50 years.
But on the other hand, I do really know the ins and outs of real estate investing and it would be just stupid and bull headed to jump into something of this magnitude without a great deal of study, education and thought. I have found some really good and useful information at www.PEIUniversity.com/blog. I really think that if you are considering investing in something as expensive and time consuming as real estate then you really need to do your homework and make sure that you are fully prepared and knowledgeable. Do not go it alone, find the help and opportunities available to you.
There are plenty of books and websites available to assist and educate you in the real estate market, there is absolutely no reason not to take advantage of all the free or low cost opportunities available to you.
But on the other hand, I do really know the ins and outs of real estate investing and it would be just stupid and bull headed to jump into something of this magnitude without a great deal of study, education and thought. I have found some really good and useful information at www.PEIUniversity.com/blog. I really think that if you are considering investing in something as expensive and time consuming as real estate then you really need to do your homework and make sure that you are fully prepared and knowledgeable. Do not go it alone, find the help and opportunities available to you.
There are plenty of books and websites available to assist and educate you in the real estate market, there is absolutely no reason not to take advantage of all the free or low cost opportunities available to you.
What's Your Story?
I am a scrapbooker in every sense of the word. I have more supplies than I can find or will ever need in a lifetime, mostly because they were cute. I spend hours on end each and every month scrapbooking alone or with friends and family. And all in all I am no where near "done".
However, all of that being said, I have always shied away from the digital world of scrapbooking. A) because my printers have never been up to par and B) it just felt wrong! What is scrapbooking with out cutting, pasting and embellishments? It's just not the same if the embellishments are only 2 dimensional.
But I have to admit, I have been turned to the Digital Darkside! At a fair I stopped by a booth and started talking to a lady named Heidi Wheatly. While my children and husband looked at the toys in the next booth, I chatted with her and flipped through some of the displays she had. I wasn't completely sold at first, but I had started talking to her so I felt I owed her the time to sell me on her product. I booked a show with her, because I love the in home parties. She explained that by hosting a party, I get a 5"x7" book for free if it is done and delivered by party time. So I gave her my information and went on my way.
Later that week I received an e-mail from her with the information I needed to start my own Heritage Makers story book. Once I got in, I quickly found that I needed to upgrade to a $10 membership to achieve the results I was looking for. I asked my sister to write up a name poem for my little Sarah which she did very quickly and I started putting together a book for Sarah. Well, I quickly became completely and totally converted. I LOVED IT! I have never had so much fun. I could spend hours on end on my computer, arranging and adding details and changing my pages until they were exactly what I was looking for.
Side note: I was no where near done come time to submit it for publishing and manufacturing. I was having WAY too much fun!
Well, I finally got it done and sent off my order for my book. I had to put expedited shipping to make sure it got here in time for the party as it can take up to 15 days to manufacture and publish. Well within 8 days my book was delivered to my doorstep. It was Christmas in August! The book was absolutely beautifully bound and printed. Although I had spent the last 4 weeks or more on it, spending hours at a time staring at it on the computer screen, nothing quite compared to seeing it printed and bound and holding it in my hands. This will be a beautiful memory book for my daughter for years to come. The quality is top notch and there is just nothing that can beat a personalized, hard back, library bound book for your child. And I am not talking about their name being mentioned within a story that has nothing to do with them. This is a hard backed memory book that is ALL about them.
I can not wait to get started on my other children's books and then I think I will work on my wedding album. Check out Heidi's website and see for yourself what fun this can be. And seriously consider hosting your own party and getting your own 5"x7" book for free. That's just for hosting the party, your party sales and bookings can add up to even more free books. There are so many great ideas for books and Heidi is great at helping you get started. Give her a call, you will not regret it!
However, all of that being said, I have always shied away from the digital world of scrapbooking. A) because my printers have never been up to par and B) it just felt wrong! What is scrapbooking with out cutting, pasting and embellishments? It's just not the same if the embellishments are only 2 dimensional.
But I have to admit, I have been turned to the Digital Darkside! At a fair I stopped by a booth and started talking to a lady named Heidi Wheatly. While my children and husband looked at the toys in the next booth, I chatted with her and flipped through some of the displays she had. I wasn't completely sold at first, but I had started talking to her so I felt I owed her the time to sell me on her product. I booked a show with her, because I love the in home parties. She explained that by hosting a party, I get a 5"x7" book for free if it is done and delivered by party time. So I gave her my information and went on my way.
Later that week I received an e-mail from her with the information I needed to start my own Heritage Makers story book. Once I got in, I quickly found that I needed to upgrade to a $10 membership to achieve the results I was looking for. I asked my sister to write up a name poem for my little Sarah which she did very quickly and I started putting together a book for Sarah. Well, I quickly became completely and totally converted. I LOVED IT! I have never had so much fun. I could spend hours on end on my computer, arranging and adding details and changing my pages until they were exactly what I was looking for.
Side note: I was no where near done come time to submit it for publishing and manufacturing. I was having WAY too much fun!
Well, I finally got it done and sent off my order for my book. I had to put expedited shipping to make sure it got here in time for the party as it can take up to 15 days to manufacture and publish. Well within 8 days my book was delivered to my doorstep. It was Christmas in August! The book was absolutely beautifully bound and printed. Although I had spent the last 4 weeks or more on it, spending hours at a time staring at it on the computer screen, nothing quite compared to seeing it printed and bound and holding it in my hands. This will be a beautiful memory book for my daughter for years to come. The quality is top notch and there is just nothing that can beat a personalized, hard back, library bound book for your child. And I am not talking about their name being mentioned within a story that has nothing to do with them. This is a hard backed memory book that is ALL about them.
I can not wait to get started on my other children's books and then I think I will work on my wedding album. Check out Heidi's website and see for yourself what fun this can be. And seriously consider hosting your own party and getting your own 5"x7" book for free. That's just for hosting the party, your party sales and bookings can add up to even more free books. There are so many great ideas for books and Heidi is great at helping you get started. Give her a call, you will not regret it!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Thoughts and Prayers for the Trapped Miners
I just wanted to say how saddened I am by the recent events that have taken place and hindered the efforts to find and free the six miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon mine in Emery County Utah. My thoughts and prayers go out to the trapped, injured and killed miners and their families. Those brave men that put themselves in harms way to rescue another human being, a friend, are not merely rescue workers, they are heroes and will not soon be forgotten.
To the families of all the miners, while I could never begin to comprehend what you are going through, I pray daily for the safe return of your loved ones and peace within your hearts. Please know that the whole of Utah has you in their prayers and/or thoughts.
To the families of all the miners, while I could never begin to comprehend what you are going through, I pray daily for the safe return of your loved ones and peace within your hearts. Please know that the whole of Utah has you in their prayers and/or thoughts.
Every Baby Should Be A Slingling!
I absolutely love these slings and I wish I had had one when my kids were babies! I just got one the other day to give to a friend who is due in September and i just love it! The colors are totally trendy, bright and fashionable and the fabric is strong and durable. Look at how bright and trendy it is!
I love that is it light weight and small enough to take anywhere and yet comfortable to wear. Yes, I just had to play with it a bit before I gave it on. I always had one of those awkward baby packs, which worked well enough, but was bulky and time consuming to set up and really hard to put the baby in. Not to mention, it never did work very well for the newborns.
I just love the way that these baby slings allow you to hold your baby close to you so they can hear your heart beat and feel that closeness that they need and yet it allows your hand to be free to function. It's a great way to soothe your fussy baby without having to constantly stop what you are doing. In this busy world, that is always a plus!
I love that is it light weight and small enough to take anywhere and yet comfortable to wear. Yes, I just had to play with it a bit before I gave it on. I always had one of those awkward baby packs, which worked well enough, but was bulky and time consuming to set up and really hard to put the baby in. Not to mention, it never did work very well for the newborns.
I just love the way that these baby slings allow you to hold your baby close to you so they can hear your heart beat and feel that closeness that they need and yet it allows your hand to be free to function. It's a great way to soothe your fussy baby without having to constantly stop what you are doing. In this busy world, that is always a plus!
My 2 Cents About Working From Home
There are alot of great options for working at home but I want to caution you, there are a lot of scams and pyramid schemes out there. The best rule I have found is that if it is legit, there will be NO FEES to participate.
Now with some legit ones, there will be things that you have to purchase from independant retailers, to get your office up to their standards like computers, monitors or headsets. However, the key is you are buying it from and independant retailer, not from the company you are trying to work for. Legit companies DO NOT make a profit off potential employees.
Some work at home companies that I have worked for or that I know are legit are:
Alpine Access
Continental Airlines
PayU2Blog
Delta Airlines
and Jet Blue Airlines
Now with some legit ones, there will be things that you have to purchase from independant retailers, to get your office up to their standards like computers, monitors or headsets. However, the key is you are buying it from and independant retailer, not from the company you are trying to work for. Legit companies DO NOT make a profit off potential employees.
Some work at home companies that I have worked for or that I know are legit are:
Alpine Access
Continental Airlines
PayU2Blog
Delta Airlines
and Jet Blue Airlines
Monday, August 20, 2007
Picking An Online Pharmacy
Picking an online pharmacy can be a scary ordeal. Your medication is to important a thing to trust to just anyone so to try and find a pharmacist online, who you will never actually meet face to face is a scary thing! Especially with all the things that have been in the news lately. However, the benefits of an online pharmacist can be great. But how would you go about finding a good pharmacist? Well, luckily there is a website devoted to helping you find a good, safe pharmacist. They even have a blacklist of online pharmacists that have proven themselves unworthy. They also offer a customer forum, online pharmacy news, recommendations for choosing the best online pharmacy, useful information for patients with excess weight and even information about Phentermine alternatives like Acomplia. They really care about you finding the best possible online pharmacy to fit your individual needs. 
Bowtie & Chicken Salad
This is one of my all time favorite summer salads. It is light and so easy to make. I even love the cashews and I am not a fan of nuts in things. I go pretty easy on the cashews and dressing, but heavy on the chicken, grapes and celery. This is a great recipe to make and take to family picnics or get together's and has been at every family get together we have had for years. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
1 box Bow Tie Pasta, boiled and drained
1 box Rotini Tricolor, boiled and drained
1 cup Celery chopped
2 stalks Green Onion chopped
1 can Pineapple tidbits, drained
4 Chicken Breasts, boiled and diced
2 cups Red Seedless Grapes
1 cup Cashew Halves
1 /2 cup Kraft Coleslaw dressing
1/2 cup Mayonnaise (Salad Dressing does not work in this recipe)
Boil and drain the chicken and pasta. Rinse and cool pasta, dice chicken. Dice Celery and onions. Drain Pineapple. Add all ingredients except the Coleslaw Dressing and Mayonnaise, which you will stir together in another bowl until well mixed. Then pour over and toss into the rest of the ingredients.
1 box Bow Tie Pasta, boiled and drained
1 box Rotini Tricolor, boiled and drained
1 cup Celery chopped
2 stalks Green Onion chopped
1 can Pineapple tidbits, drained
4 Chicken Breasts, boiled and diced
2 cups Red Seedless Grapes
1 cup Cashew Halves
1 /2 cup Kraft Coleslaw dressing
1/2 cup Mayonnaise (Salad Dressing does not work in this recipe)
Boil and drain the chicken and pasta. Rinse and cool pasta, dice chicken. Dice Celery and onions. Drain Pineapple. Add all ingredients except the Coleslaw Dressing and Mayonnaise, which you will stir together in another bowl until well mixed. Then pour over and toss into the rest of the ingredients.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Working Women Entrepreneurs
As if working is not hard enough and taxing enough on any mother, add to that the huge stress of working for yourself, especially when you are just starting out. I admire any woman that takes it upon herself to start a business. It is no easy task!
But fortunately, for Women Entrepreneurs, there is lots of help out there, from the Small Business Association to smaller companies, looking to help in any way they can. One such company, founded on Las Vegas Nevada, does just that. Their company helps thousands of entrepreneurs every year start their own business. They are not lawyers, instead they are knowledgeable professionals that can help you with all the paperwork that would be confusing and complicated, especially to someone who is not familiar with starting a business. They do not charge outrageous fees as a lawyer would either.
They can help you set up corporations in any state. Texas corporations and Nevada corporations are big ones for them, but they can help in any state via virtual programs. Any time is a great time to start living your dreams. Now would be a perfect time to call these guys and see what they can do for you.
But fortunately, for Women Entrepreneurs, there is lots of help out there, from the Small Business Association to smaller companies, looking to help in any way they can. One such company, founded on Las Vegas Nevada, does just that. Their company helps thousands of entrepreneurs every year start their own business. They are not lawyers, instead they are knowledgeable professionals that can help you with all the paperwork that would be confusing and complicated, especially to someone who is not familiar with starting a business. They do not charge outrageous fees as a lawyer would either.
They can help you set up corporations in any state. Texas corporations and Nevada corporations are big ones for them, but they can help in any state via virtual programs. Any time is a great time to start living your dreams. Now would be a perfect time to call these guys and see what they can do for you.
Cub Scouting
I am a huge supporter of the Cub Scouting and Scouting programs and I have been ever since I was called to be a den leader, just after my son turned 8 years old. For those of you who have not yet been involved in the scouting program let me give you a little history on it.
*Scouting began in England in 1907-08, created by General Robert Baden-Powell. Baden-Powell, a 50-year old bachelor at the time, was one of the few heroes to come out of Britain's Boer War. He was known primarily for his unusual ideas about military scouting, explained in his book Aids to Scouting. Startled to discover that many boys were using his military book as a guide to outdoor activities, he began to think how he could convert his concepts of army scouting for men to "peace scouting" for boys. Gathering ideas from many sources (including Ernest Thompson Seton, who had founded a boys organization in the US), he tested his program on a group of boys on Brownsea Island in 1907. The island camp was successful, so B-P rewrote his military book, calling it Scouting for Boys. The climate was right for a youth program like Scouting, and it spread quickly around the British commonwealth, then to other countries.The Boy Scouts of America has quickly become a wonderful establishment to help young boys grow from youth to men, following paths of moral and ethical standards.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
I have seen little else in this world, aside from religion, that can have such a profound and deep rooted effect on any young boy in helping him to grow into a self-sufficient, productive and chivalrous man.
If you ever have the privilege of working within the scouting program, please, take this calling very seriously and have fun with it. There is no better calling as far as I am concerned.
*Taken from Troop 97
*Scouting began in England in 1907-08, created by General Robert Baden-Powell. Baden-Powell, a 50-year old bachelor at the time, was one of the few heroes to come out of Britain's Boer War. He was known primarily for his unusual ideas about military scouting, explained in his book Aids to Scouting. Startled to discover that many boys were using his military book as a guide to outdoor activities, he began to think how he could convert his concepts of army scouting for men to "peace scouting" for boys. Gathering ideas from many sources (including Ernest Thompson Seton, who had founded a boys organization in the US), he tested his program on a group of boys on Brownsea Island in 1907. The island camp was successful, so B-P rewrote his military book, calling it Scouting for Boys. The climate was right for a youth program like Scouting, and it spread quickly around the British commonwealth, then to other countries.The Boy Scouts of America has quickly become a wonderful establishment to help young boys grow from youth to men, following paths of moral and ethical standards.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
| Scout Oath | Scout Law | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. | A Scout is:
|
I have seen little else in this world, aside from religion, that can have such a profound and deep rooted effect on any young boy in helping him to grow into a self-sufficient, productive and chivalrous man.
If you ever have the privilege of working within the scouting program, please, take this calling very seriously and have fun with it. There is no better calling as far as I am concerned.
*Taken from Troop 97
Is Lap Band Surgery For You?
Every day millions of people in the United States struggle with losing weight. It has become such an overwhelming problem that many, many people have turned it into multi-million dollar companies. One of the newer techniques is lap band surgery and when done properly involves a few tiny incisions and a band wrapped and locked around the upper stomach forming a new, smaller stomach pouch which needs less food to feel full and digests slower to maintain fullness longer which can result in loss of excess body weight, improved weight-related health conditions and an enhance quality of life. This is a healthy way to lose weight, but it's not for everyone. Check with your doctor to see if it's right for you.
Friday, August 17, 2007
I Need Votes For My Robot!
I need everyone that loves me or hates me, either way, to go and vote for me!!! If I am in the top five I will get my very own Roomba Vacuum, which isn't nearly as neat as my Robot, but it will be a very, very long time before anyone makes me my own "Rosie" so for now I will settle for Roomba. My post entitled I Need A Robot can be found at this link or on my other blog, Mustard and Catsup. My number to vote for is #19, so please help me out and vote for me!!! Pretty, pretty please!
Sing Away Your Troubles
If you have ever had a trouble, no is the time to make it work for you! Your trouble could be worth $5,000 in GotTrouble.com's "Sing your troubles away" sweepstakes. Take your singing talent and put it to use for you. Gottrouble.com has been featured on CNN as a legal help site and has even had it's 10 minutes of fame on Howard Stern. Now GotTrouble.com’s Video Promotion is giving away $5,000 to one lucky winner who can sing their troubles away.
Just make something up like:
I got trouble...
I got drunk and started to drive....
I got trouble.....
I hit somebody and I took a life....
I got trouble....
They are suing me and want me to pay....
I got trouble....
I wish I'd done it some other way....
I got trouble. Big, Big trouble.
Use your creative juices and get something going! It could be worth $5,000 to you!
Just make something up like:
I got trouble...
I got drunk and started to drive....
I got trouble.....
I hit somebody and I took a life....
I got trouble....
They are suing me and want me to pay....
I got trouble....
I wish I'd done it some other way....
I got trouble. Big, Big trouble.
Use your creative juices and get something going! It could be worth $5,000 to you!
Chocolate
Alright, I am a huge truffle fan. I love truffles, especially mint and when it comes to truffles no one makes them any better than Utah Truffles. They are a company, right here in Utah, as evidenced by their name, and their truffles are amazing. Smooth and delicious and not as expensive as you would think. They offer everything from large boxes to small boxes of 2 to 4 truffles which make excellent gifts for teachers on the first day of school. If you have not tried them before, give them a try! You will not be sorry! They are carried at Seagull Book and Tape and Wal-mart.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Attract Success
I am all for the self-help videos and tapes so when I point out this new site, it should come as no surprise to most of you. It is a new home study site dedicated to helping you achieve everything you want in life. While most books and videos only highlight what you need to do while ignoring the difficulties involved in the actual implementation of those tasks, this home study course is different. The law of attraction videos take a much different approach by eliminating the obstacles normally associated with success. They also offer a 6 week guarantee, if you do not see success and change then they will refund your money, no questions asked. And if you enroll by August 30th you will receive a free upgrade to Gold membership status. The Law of Attraction Videos is a home study course that easily outlines, step by step, the best way to transform your life into whatever you imagine success to be. It's well worth taking a look. 
Register Your Domain Name Cheap
I found myself needing to register myself some domain names, one of which is Daffodils & Dragonflies, which should be up and running within a week or so. But not all registrars are the same. I found a great one called NameCheap and they can register your domain name for you for only $8.88 per year. From what I have seen that is a really good price. So if you are looking for your very own domain name, I would check them out.
It's Time To Take A Stand
British Gas has just released this press release telling about their two new green energy tariffs. I am really excited, even though this is not yet in the United States, the technology is bound to make it's way here before long and when it does it will be even more exciting! But then, as the press release states, the tariffs were released in response to the increasing demand for green energy products, so that tells me that we need to start demanding green energy and not settling for what we get.
BRITISH GAS LAUNCHES GREENEST ENERGY TARIFF
9 August 2007: British Gas has announced it is launching two new green energy tariffs, Zero Carbon, which will be the greenest tariff available on the domestic market and Future Energy. British Gas has launched the tariffs, in response to the increasing demand for green energy products.
Householders signing up to the Zero Carbon tariff will:
• reduce their household energy carbon emissions to zero through Kyoto compliant offset schemes which will meet the new Defra requirements
• help fund a direct increase in investment in renewable energy generated in the UK
• contribute to the new British Gas green fund which will:
o invest in developing new renewable technologies such as wave power
o oversee a programme to help schools in the UK reduce their CO2 emissions
Gearóid Lane, Managing Director British Gas New Energy said,”Our new tariff responds to consumer demand for truly green energy solutions. It is essential that customers have confidence in green energy tariffs and that their credibility is not damaged by tariffs that claim to be green but in reality do not deliver any incremental environmental benefits. Green tariffs are moving from niche to mainstream products and we’re leading the industry by offering a tariff that will do more for the environment than any other product currently available.”
Under the government’s Renewables Obligation (RO), electricity suppliers in the UK are already required to produce an increasing percentage of their electricity through methods such as wind farms which, unlike traditional power plants, produce zero carbon emissions. For 2007/2008 this figure is set at 7.9%.
In a recent report, the National Consumer Council (NCC) raised concerns that some energy suppliers are packaging electricity which is produced under the RO scheme as “green”, yet it delivers no additional environmental benefits. The NCC called on energy suppliers to take steps beyond their legal requirements and offer green energy tariffs that provide genuine additional environmental benefits, in particular CO2 emissions reduction.
British Gas worked with Global Action Plan and The Climate Group’s “We’re in this Together” campaign to develop Zero Carbon which goes further than any other green tariff in meeting these requirements offering consumers the only zero carbon option on the market.
The tariff carries a premium of £84 per year, reflecting the higher cost of producing energy through lower carbon emission schemes.
Virginia Graham, Chair of Global Action Plan, said, “The British Gas Zero Carbon tariff delivers on all three of the essential requirements of a green tariff which are: additionality, transparency and verifiability. As such it is a very welcome new offering in the market. Consumers signing up to the tariff can be confident that they are getting 12 per cent more renewable energy than they would otherwise have got. The carbon emissions from their electricity and gas will also be offset with emissions reductions from projects accredited by the United Nations.”
Zero Carbon is one of the first initiatives launched through the ‘We’re in this Together’ campaign, which was launched in April 07 as an alliance of some of the UK’s biggest brands who are all working to help their customers reduce their impact on the climate.
Dr Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group and founder of ‘We’re in this Together’ said, “We’re committed to offering people ways to make a real impact on climate change through Together.com. We’ve worked with British Gas to ensure that Zero Carbon is a genuine step forward in delivering more environmental benefits than any other tariff currently available.”
British Gas’s second green energy tariff, Future Energy, offers an alternative green electricity tariff at a premium of just £20 per year. Customers signing up to this tariff will contribute to a green fund which will provide solar panels and other renewable energy technologies to UK schools. Money from the fund will also be invested in development of future renewable technologies and sources.
To sign up customers can call British Gas on 0845 604 0055 or visit www.britishgas.co.uk
BRITISH GAS LAUNCHES GREENEST ENERGY TARIFF
9 August 2007: British Gas has announced it is launching two new green energy tariffs, Zero Carbon, which will be the greenest tariff available on the domestic market and Future Energy. British Gas has launched the tariffs, in response to the increasing demand for green energy products.
Householders signing up to the Zero Carbon tariff will:
• reduce their household energy carbon emissions to zero through Kyoto compliant offset schemes which will meet the new Defra requirements
• help fund a direct increase in investment in renewable energy generated in the UK
• contribute to the new British Gas green fund which will:
o invest in developing new renewable technologies such as wave power
o oversee a programme to help schools in the UK reduce their CO2 emissions
Gearóid Lane, Managing Director British Gas New Energy said,”Our new tariff responds to consumer demand for truly green energy solutions. It is essential that customers have confidence in green energy tariffs and that their credibility is not damaged by tariffs that claim to be green but in reality do not deliver any incremental environmental benefits. Green tariffs are moving from niche to mainstream products and we’re leading the industry by offering a tariff that will do more for the environment than any other product currently available.”
Under the government’s Renewables Obligation (RO), electricity suppliers in the UK are already required to produce an increasing percentage of their electricity through methods such as wind farms which, unlike traditional power plants, produce zero carbon emissions. For 2007/2008 this figure is set at 7.9%.
In a recent report, the National Consumer Council (NCC) raised concerns that some energy suppliers are packaging electricity which is produced under the RO scheme as “green”, yet it delivers no additional environmental benefits. The NCC called on energy suppliers to take steps beyond their legal requirements and offer green energy tariffs that provide genuine additional environmental benefits, in particular CO2 emissions reduction.
British Gas worked with Global Action Plan and The Climate Group’s “We’re in this Together” campaign to develop Zero Carbon which goes further than any other green tariff in meeting these requirements offering consumers the only zero carbon option on the market.
The tariff carries a premium of £84 per year, reflecting the higher cost of producing energy through lower carbon emission schemes.
Virginia Graham, Chair of Global Action Plan, said, “The British Gas Zero Carbon tariff delivers on all three of the essential requirements of a green tariff which are: additionality, transparency and verifiability. As such it is a very welcome new offering in the market. Consumers signing up to the tariff can be confident that they are getting 12 per cent more renewable energy than they would otherwise have got. The carbon emissions from their electricity and gas will also be offset with emissions reductions from projects accredited by the United Nations.”
Zero Carbon is one of the first initiatives launched through the ‘We’re in this Together’ campaign, which was launched in April 07 as an alliance of some of the UK’s biggest brands who are all working to help their customers reduce their impact on the climate.
Dr Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group and founder of ‘We’re in this Together’ said, “We’re committed to offering people ways to make a real impact on climate change through Together.com. We’ve worked with British Gas to ensure that Zero Carbon is a genuine step forward in delivering more environmental benefits than any other tariff currently available.”
British Gas’s second green energy tariff, Future Energy, offers an alternative green electricity tariff at a premium of just £20 per year. Customers signing up to this tariff will contribute to a green fund which will provide solar panels and other renewable energy technologies to UK schools. Money from the fund will also be invested in development of future renewable technologies and sources.
To sign up customers can call British Gas on 0845 604 0055 or visit www.britishgas.co.uk
Not A Good Gift Idea
So most of you already know that it is not a good idea to get someone a pet as a gift. This is a well known fact. Well, I do not normally listen to well to well known facts. I decided that it would be a good idea to get my father a ferret for his birthday. Now while I know he is just going to love it, I also know my kids and husband are going to also fall in love while we have it in our care until it comes time to give him to his new owner.
This should be an interesting two weeks. I can't wait!
This should be an interesting two weeks. I can't wait!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Enjoy Your Children
Something that has taken me a long time to learn is to put aside my feelings of embarrassment and just enjoy my children being children. At the moment I have a three year old that insists on wearing her dress up dresses where ever we go. One day it is Cinderella or Snow White, then today it was a sequined flapper dress. As we had to take the older children bowling and I could not talk her out of wearing the outrageous outfit, I took her as is.
After the initial shock of seeing my youngest child running around in a flapper dress, I started realizing just how cute she was, running around the bowling alley like she owned the place and showing anyone that would pay attention her "bootiful dress". No one seemed to think this was odd, they all just kept commenting on how adorable she was.
What I learned from all this was, sit back and relax, let children be children and let your daughter wear her flapper dress, or animal jewelry or princess dress up gown and just watch and enjoy. These beautiful little children have the light of the world in their eyes and it is a beautiful thing to see.
After the initial shock of seeing my youngest child running around in a flapper dress, I started realizing just how cute she was, running around the bowling alley like she owned the place and showing anyone that would pay attention her "bootiful dress". No one seemed to think this was odd, they all just kept commenting on how adorable she was.
What I learned from all this was, sit back and relax, let children be children and let your daughter wear her flapper dress, or animal jewelry or princess dress up gown and just watch and enjoy. These beautiful little children have the light of the world in their eyes and it is a beautiful thing to see.
Milk Fairies
This has been a long standing thing that my kids just love, although, one of them has finally out grown it. It has also been a long time since we employed this magic. It's called "Milk Fairies". The "Milk Fairies" come once a week and leave milk and other items in a cooler on our doorstep. Now to an 8 year old, a 5 year old and a 3 year old, this is pure magic and nothing is better than running down the stairs every Wednesday morning, throwing open the door and peeking in the cooler to see if the "Milk Fairies" really came again.
This never, ever gets old for them. My oldest son however, has become disenchanted with this. He knows exactly how that milk gets in there and where it comes from and that I have to pay for it. However, he still gets immense joy out of waking up and yelling to the little ones "do you think the milk fairies came again?"
Now, it is with much embarrassment that I admit that I pay nearly $1 more per gallon of milk, loaf of bread, block of cheese and dozen eggs, just to have them arrive at my doorstep with no effort at all on my part. However, in my defense, it saves me gas, as if I did not have it delivered, I would be at the store at least three times a week, it saves me time for the same reason and it saves me money because every time I am in a store it is another opportunity for me to spend frivolously.
But if you have the desire to spend less time at the grocery store and instead have the "Milk Fairies" deliver directly to your doorstep, then I would suggest taking a minute to visit the website of Winder Farms and take a look around. Not only do they have milk and cheese and bread, they also have meats, fresh fruits and veggies, yogurts, juices, baked goods and tons more! But again, they are more expensive than Wal-Mart, but it is healthier and all organic and best of all, it appears on your doorstep, every week, with out fail, thanks to the "Milk Fairies"!
This never, ever gets old for them. My oldest son however, has become disenchanted with this. He knows exactly how that milk gets in there and where it comes from and that I have to pay for it. However, he still gets immense joy out of waking up and yelling to the little ones "do you think the milk fairies came again?"
Now, it is with much embarrassment that I admit that I pay nearly $1 more per gallon of milk, loaf of bread, block of cheese and dozen eggs, just to have them arrive at my doorstep with no effort at all on my part. However, in my defense, it saves me gas, as if I did not have it delivered, I would be at the store at least three times a week, it saves me time for the same reason and it saves me money because every time I am in a store it is another opportunity for me to spend frivolously.
But if you have the desire to spend less time at the grocery store and instead have the "Milk Fairies" deliver directly to your doorstep, then I would suggest taking a minute to visit the website of Winder Farms and take a look around. Not only do they have milk and cheese and bread, they also have meats, fresh fruits and veggies, yogurts, juices, baked goods and tons more! But again, they are more expensive than Wal-Mart, but it is healthier and all organic and best of all, it appears on your doorstep, every week, with out fail, thanks to the "Milk Fairies"!
The Most Beautiful Gift
I just had one of my wedding pictures made into a 16x20 inch canvas print to go in my entryway. Currently there is a picture of tools the Lee's mother cross stitched for him, years and years ago. Not that I don't love the picture she cross stitched, I just decided that it was time for something a little fancier. To give you an idea, here is a picture of what you would normally see walking into our home.
Not terribly fancy. So I sent my picture into Canvas on Demand and ordered my canvas. Which was an experience in and of itself! They have so many options to choose from and so many different and fun techniques that they can do to make your canvas a one in a million, gift of a lifetime. But, I have to tell you, beyond their many, many options, this is, by far, over and above, the best company, online or other wise, that I have ever done business with. Never, in all my business dealings have I ever come across a company that is so customer service oriented. Not that I didn't really, really care about my canvas, quite the contrary actually. It is an anniversary gift for my husband and I, so it was really important to me. But I swear, they cared more about it than even I did! They take so much pride in their workmanship and their craft that they work constantly to make it right. I sent over a scan of the print and it was not of a high enough quality to enlarge that much. So they called me to let me know and while I was on the phone with him, he e-mailed me the address that I could send the photo to and they would scan it for me, make it into a canvas and send it with the canvas to me.
Now, I am incredibly slow in getting things in the mail. I am just horrible at it. I had already taken care of the payment to this company so in all reality, they could have just forgotten about me and taken care of me when I got around to sending the photo. But instead, the fussed and worried over me. E-mailing me every once in awhile to make sure I was doing alright and see if they could help in anyway. They were so kind and helpful and interested in my product as much as my business. Something you seldom ever get from any other company. They just kept in constant contact.
So, I finally got the photo into the mail and three days later I got an e-mail confirming receipt of my photo. Now this might now seem a big thing to some people, but to me it was huge! I have only the one copy of that photo, it is a wedding photograph and the negatives were ruined in the rain. I was very, very nervous sending that print through the mail. Anything could have happened to it and it would be a total and complete loss. Especially since, as I was making it into a 16x20" canvas, it was my favorite! They were so thoughtful to make sure I knew that they had received it safe and sound.
Then just a few short days later I received another e-mail. This one with a tracking number confirming the shipment of my canvas to me. And just today I received it via FeDex as promised. I can not believe how incredibly beautiful it is! It actually made me cry, but then I am a big baby after all, but it was just so amazing to see my favorite wedding picture in full color and large as life. I just could not wait to get it hung up! So I got right to work, removing the other picture and hanging and straightening this one. So now, when my husband arrives home from work he will walk into more than just our home, he will be able to walk into a memory.
If you are looking for an amazing anniversary, birthday or celebration gift of any kind, for your parents, family or friends, I highly suggest that you look to these guys first. You can never go wrong with a beautiful canvas print of their favorite photo. It would be perfect for the new baby or wedding anniversary or graduation. These are special occasions and this would make a lasting and memorable gift. Just be forewarned, they have lots of options to choose from. Everything imaginable to make your memories last a lifetime. Please give them a try. You will not be sorry you did!
Not terribly fancy. So I sent my picture into Canvas on Demand and ordered my canvas. Which was an experience in and of itself! They have so many options to choose from and so many different and fun techniques that they can do to make your canvas a one in a million, gift of a lifetime. But, I have to tell you, beyond their many, many options, this is, by far, over and above, the best company, online or other wise, that I have ever done business with. Never, in all my business dealings have I ever come across a company that is so customer service oriented. Not that I didn't really, really care about my canvas, quite the contrary actually. It is an anniversary gift for my husband and I, so it was really important to me. But I swear, they cared more about it than even I did! They take so much pride in their workmanship and their craft that they work constantly to make it right. I sent over a scan of the print and it was not of a high enough quality to enlarge that much. So they called me to let me know and while I was on the phone with him, he e-mailed me the address that I could send the photo to and they would scan it for me, make it into a canvas and send it with the canvas to me.Now, I am incredibly slow in getting things in the mail. I am just horrible at it. I had already taken care of the payment to this company so in all reality, they could have just forgotten about me and taken care of me when I got around to sending the photo. But instead, the fussed and worried over me. E-mailing me every once in awhile to make sure I was doing alright and see if they could help in anyway. They were so kind and helpful and interested in my product as much as my business. Something you seldom ever get from any other company. They just kept in constant contact.
So, I finally got the photo into the mail and three days later I got an e-mail confirming receipt of my photo. Now this might now seem a big thing to some people, but to me it was huge! I have only the one copy of that photo, it is a wedding photograph and the negatives were ruined in the rain. I was very, very nervous sending that print through the mail. Anything could have happened to it and it would be a total and complete loss. Especially since, as I was making it into a 16x20" canvas, it was my favorite! They were so thoughtful to make sure I knew that they had received it safe and sound.
Then just a few short days later I received another e-mail. This one with a tracking number confirming the shipment of my canvas to me. And just today I received it via FeDex as promised. I can not believe how incredibly beautiful it is! It actually made me cry, but then I am a big baby after all, but it was just so amazing to see my favorite wedding picture in full color and large as life. I just could not wait to get it hung up! So I got right to work, removing the other picture and hanging and straightening this one. So now, when my husband arrives home from work he will walk into more than just our home, he will be able to walk into a memory.
If you are looking for an amazing anniversary, birthday or celebration gift of any kind, for your parents, family or friends, I highly suggest that you look to these guys first. You can never go wrong with a beautiful canvas print of their favorite photo. It would be perfect for the new baby or wedding anniversary or graduation. These are special occasions and this would make a lasting and memorable gift. Just be forewarned, they have lots of options to choose from. Everything imaginable to make your memories last a lifetime. Please give them a try. You will not be sorry you did!
Update On Sparetime Summer Fun League
I just wanted to update everyone on our summer bowling league experience. This year I let my 11 year old, my two 8 year olds and my 5 year old bowl. This got really crazy at times as they were on three different teams and usually spread all across the bowling alley. However, my 11 year old needed no supervision at all as he bowls the regular fall leagues as well. But for the first few weeks my 8 year olds required a little supervision and my five year old constant supervision. But as we were bowling on teams with their cousins I was able to share the supervision duties with my sister-in-law and when all was said and done, everything ended up working out very well. The kids had a blast and it was a great experience.
As today was the last day of the league, they made a bit of a party out of it. They started off the bowling by handing out trophies to every bowler. And along with the trophy, each bowler got a ticket to the Raptors game, 1 free miniature golfing pass each month for 1 year and $120 in Spondoolies which are $5 coupons that they can spend anywhere in Sparetime including the miniature golf, batting cages, bowling alley, arcade, sports shops and cafe. So I spent $30 per child for them to bowl all summer long, they could bowl three free games any day, all summer long, plus their three league games each week, then they also got 1 free batting cage token every day of the league and once the league was over they got all the free stuff I just told you about. For the $30 I got well more than my money's worth and the kids had a great time.
As today was the last day of the league, they made a bit of a party out of it. They started off the bowling by handing out trophies to every bowler. And along with the trophy, each bowler got a ticket to the Raptors game, 1 free miniature golfing pass each month for 1 year and $120 in Spondoolies which are $5 coupons that they can spend anywhere in Sparetime including the miniature golf, batting cages, bowling alley, arcade, sports shops and cafe. So I spent $30 per child for them to bowl all summer long, they could bowl three free games any day, all summer long, plus their three league games each week, then they also got 1 free batting cage token every day of the league and once the league was over they got all the free stuff I just told you about. For the $30 I got well more than my money's worth and the kids had a great time.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Time To Upgrade In The Window Treatment Department
Window treatments are not my forte. In my mind, horizontal blinds or sheets work just fine. However, I look and all around me I see the beautiful homes with gorgeous window treatments and I am realizing more and more that window treatments are a direly important part of home decorating.
I guess it's time to start looking into window treatments. I really like the idea of faux wood blinds, they are by far my favorite look and they fit my life style. With young children I could never have real wood blinds and the faux wooden blinds look just the same to me. Not to mention they are much easier to clean and care for.
So, here I go, diving into the wonderful world of window treatments. Wish me luck!
I guess it's time to start looking into window treatments. I really like the idea of faux wood blinds, they are by far my favorite look and they fit my life style. With young children I could never have real wood blinds and the faux wooden blinds look just the same to me. Not to mention they are much easier to clean and care for.
So, here I go, diving into the wonderful world of window treatments. Wish me luck!
Bite Me?
It's not often someone says that and people can avoid getting offended, but in this case it is a good thing! Mrs. Venomous Kate has asked bloggers all around to bite her! That's right, she say's "Bite Me". She is trying to get links back to her site and in return she will link to yours. It's a great way to get some link lovin' but most of all a great way to get some traffic to a wonderful blog. I have read her blog on and off for awhile and I love her! She is so sassy and sweet at the same time. It really is great reading.
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