This is Me, and That's All

Bare Minerals Proof

2008-07-19T14:56:00.004-05:00

Granted, these aren't the best pictures, but here are my "before and after"":

Bare Minerals

2008-06-28T10:56:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine got the Bare Minerals makeup the other day and she loves it! She is a self-proclaimed fair-skinned-freckled-red-headed-Irish girl and wears makeup once a week. She purchased the Bare Minerals package after trying it out in the store, and now she wears it every day.

I had been thinking about buying Bare Minerals after seeing the commercial a year ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy makeup off of the TV. I wanted to try it, but it isn't like getting a $8 bottle of liquid foundation; this was an investment!

I decided last night that I would get some after my friend told me that it's available at Ulta. I dragged my poor 4 year old son there this morning and picked up the starter kit. It was pricey at around $60, but when I thought about how much I spend on foundation, bronzer, blush, glow, under eye makeup, and concealer pencil, I figured that this was actually a deal!

I brought it home and opened it right away. I decided to watch the "how to" DVD and then try it out. The video was easy to follow so felt pretty sure that I wouldn't mess up too badly.

I am officially in love with this product! Fist of all, I have really dry skin on my forehead and cheeks, so any liquid foundation I use tends to flake in those areas. Secondly, I have large pores on my cheeks, so when I use power it seems to amplify them. Well, this product isn't like your traditional make up at all. It glides over the skin and gives it an even, clean look. The make up looks like a powder, but because it's made from minerals it feels creamy-like but it doesn't sit on your skin like a liquid. After putting the foundation, glow, and mineral mask on, I looked like a different person! The tired I'm-pregnant-and-can't-sleep dark circles under my eyes are gone, the red splotches of hormonal angst that appeared on my face are dulled, and you can't even tell that I have dry skin or large pores!

I plan to buy everything that this product line has to offer. If I look this nice with only 3 of the products, imagine how good I'll look with the whole line!

Look of the Year!

2008-05-21T18:55:00.004-05:00

Interested in winning $10,000? Well, now there's a fun, easy way to do it!

Look Of The Year is looking for young people from all over the world to send in their best pictures. Have one that makes you look sexy? Alluring? Send your picture in and let this be your chance to be the next model working in Paris, New York or Milan! Join Look of the Year today and start your new life with some of the most beautiful people from all over the world.

Check out http://www.lookoftheyear.com/ and enter to win this beauty contest Don't miss your chance to win money and start a brand new life!

Wildlife Webcams

2008-01-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

I was reading the November/December issue of Spirituality & Health (yes, I am behind) and I came across an interesting set of websites to visit. They're all set for observation of different wildlife arenas!

Pete's Pond: in a Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana. Best viewed 4-8pm EST for night activity or 12-4am EST for morning activity.

The Perigrine Falcom Can: Standard & Poor's building in Manhattan. Spring and early summer viewing for parents and hatchlings.

The Wolf Cam: Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The Outer Bay Cam: Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea.

The Tiger Cub Cam: Choices at the National Zoo.

The Crane Cam: Nebraska's Platte River Audubon Center. Best at dawn and dusk.

Beluga Whales: Vancouver Aquarium.

Happy Viewing!

Spiritual Cinema Circle

2008-01-09T18:16:00.000-05:00

I joined the Spiritual Cinema Circle last week and I can't wait for the fist movie to arrive! I feel like a little kid, running to the mailbox every afternoon in hopes that it arrived...

What is Spiritual Cinema Circle? It's a monthly movie club for those of us who enjoy independent films and/or spiritual movies. You pay $21 a month and you get a DVD to keep, the selection of which is specially selected for their unique content, spiritual message, and general 'difference'. These DVDs may include ... "a mixture of features, shorts and documentaries that explore spirit, spirituality, existence, morality, compassion, the power of the mind, metaphysics and other enriching topics that take your personal journey further."

I love the idea behind this! It's a way to support filmmakers that Hollywood overlooks, and it provides me with entertainment that is different from the "usual". I'm excited that I can be a part of something so worthwhile!

Right now the Spiritual Cinema Circle is offering a free month of movies! I got in on that action, let me tell you!

Sonicare UV Sanitizer

2008-01-03T15:16:00.000-05:00

I am a member of BuzzAgent.com and I periodically get some great products to try out. Last month I was sent a Phillips Sonicare UV Sanitizer to use and spread the word about, so I plugged it in the moment I got it and got set to put my toothbrush in it.

My DH wasn't too thrilled about it, claiming "They never work!", but I had him read the literature on it. After reading it, he appeared impressed and said he'd try it out as well. He liked the way the unit took up little space in the bathroom, and was thrilled that there was a button he could push to turn it on (what is that about men?). He was even more excited at the UV light that you could see through the door of the sanitizer!

We let the thing sanitize our toothbrush heads after our nightly brushing (it has an automatic shut-off) and when I was awoken by my husband's exited whisper of, "Look! Look how clean they are," I took a look myself. Now, I know I can't literally see the sanitation, but I can tell you that I did notice that there was no dried toothpaste on the toothbrush head so I know it cleans!

The Sonicare UV Sanitizer helps to kill 99% of bacteria and viruses found on your toothbrush, all in 10 minutes! We all know that germs affect your health, so why not give yourself 10 minutes for a germ-free brush? The sanitizer is relatively inexpensive, so try treating yourself to better health at a low cost!

Mom 4 Moms

2007-12-04T16:59:00.000-05:00

My friend started a website recently: Mom4Moms.com

This site is fantastic because it's centered around mothers who are trying to earn a living making handcrafted goods. The items are all made by local moms (for now, LOL!) and are constructed by the moms listed, not by any contract workers.

I'm listed on there right now so head over and take a look at what we have to offer. Maybe something will interest you, or maybe you'll find a gift for someone that you haven't been able to find anything for!

Unknown Number

2007-11-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

I got a strange number on my cell phone, and since I have the worst plan in history I don't answer it if I don't know who's calling me. I waited to see if they left a message and, surprise!, they did.

When I listened to it all I heard was, "... English, press one. Para continuar en español aprieta 5." Pretty strange, even for an anonymous caller, so I did what every other person would do: I looked it up on-line.

I usually try something like the White Pages reverse look up, but I almost always come up with a dead-end. This time I just put it in the Yahoo Search! bar and I got a great site called 800Notes, which is a directory of 800 (or 866, or 877...) numbers that people have received and have than written about so others can have an idea of the company behind the call. All you have to do is enter the phone number, and a list of people's experiences with that number pops up! I was able to find out that a lot of people received the same message from the same number and that it was a satisfaction survey from my cell phone company. I had just gotten the piece of junk serviced this week so I knew this was the case with my call as well.

I feel better knowing who called and I don't have to waste time searching all over the net to find out (I don't just let things go, isn't that pretty obvious?), so I just saved myself a bunch of time!

Trying Something New

2007-11-28T20:05:00.000-05:00

I have this horrid cough that, if I were I child, I'm sure would be diagnosed as croup. I've been barking for three days and finally, today, I lost my voice. Yes, my husband and son are thrilled, but I do not like having to throw something at someones head to get them to listen.

I remembered reading an article about a Vinegar and Honey mixture that is supposed to cure all so I decided to try it today. I kept putting it off because, let's face it, it sounds gross! However; I'm home alone so I decided that if I were going to do it, now was the best time.

I spent about 10 minutes looking online for the correct amounts to use and I finally found a great article with all the information I needed. I am so glad that I looked it up because I was ready to use regular white vinegar, not the apple cider vinegar. Gag!

I'll let you all know how it works for me...

Plastic Surgery Blogs

2007-11-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

I’m very curious about the “befores” and “afters” of plastic surgery. I know that people have had great success with the different procedures, but I’ve never been able to actually see the changes first hand. I think I only know one person who’s gotten substantial plastic surgery and I wouldn’t dream of asking them to show me anything!

I’ve begun to look around at different plastic surgery information because I am considering (just considering) the thought of having some work done on myself. I want to know all I can about the procedures and I want to see as much as I can because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

I came across a very nicely done plastic surgery blog during my clicking travels and it’s pretty interesting. There are the before and after pictures I wanted to see, and the information regarding the different procedures is informative and easy to understand. They discuss things such as liposuction, tummy tucks, and nose jobs, but they also cover things such as rhinoplasty. As for the pictures: They’re great! I looked at the liposuction pictures first and they’re amazing! I can totally see myself getting that done so, of course, I read through the information there about recovery time and requirements. Then I moved over to the tummy tuck pictures and the information about those. Pretty awesome!

This cosmetic plastic surgery blog is a great place to start for those looking for general information and some pictures to really see what the information is referring to. Sometimes even a consultation at an office is too confusing; there’s a lot of information to go through in a short amount of time and, if you’re anything like me, you think of the majority of your questions once you’ve left the office! By looking at blogs that focus on the general processes involved with the more popular procedures, you can read through them and come up with all the questions you have before even stepping foot into an office.

Happy Reading!

Another Way to Save

2007-11-12T09:26:00.001-05:00

If you're like me, you love to save money! Now, I'm amazingly adept at cutting coupons and, more often then not, I actually remember to take them to the store with me when I go shopping which is always helpful. I like products that offer rebates too, but I sometimes slack in copying the receipt and mailing all the paperwork so I miss out on the whole thing anyway.

Where I really thrive is on-line shopping. I scour the Internet, compare prices on items and on the shipping costs, then I do a search for coupon codes and promotion codes. Last year I saved about $200, but I also spent a good deal of time (like, weeks) on this project.

That's why I'm glad I found Ebates, a site that has the rebates built right in! I got my husband's anniversary gift off of the site and, about two weeks later, I got a $10.00 check in the mail. Yesterday I was looking through the site for something small for my son for Christmas so I entered the name of the store I wanted, and up popped all the offers. I made my order, and I got $3.00 credited to my account today.

Seems pretty silly to do my on-line shopping any other way than through Ebates!

Eco-Friendly Bleach

2007-10-25T18:19:00.000-05:00

Since my son and I have such sensitive skin I've had to search for laundry detergent and bleach that won't affect us. I am also very aware of the impact cleaning agents have on our environment so I like to look for the eco-friendly products first.

Ecover Liquid Bleach is, by far, the best I've found. It's color safe (important for me because I always manage to spill bleach onto my clothes), deodorizes my clothing, and works on all the tough stains, including the stains my four year old manages to get every day. As for the environmental benefits, it has minimal impact on aquatic life, is completely biodegradable, and isn't tested on animals.

Considering how good it works and how drastically less it affects our environment in comparison to conventional bleach, you can be sure that this product is the only one that's going to be on my laundry room shelf.

Paid Site

2007-10-18T13:47:00.000-05:00

I have another site that I love to use! I'm not going to get rich off of it, but it's so easy to do. I log in when I'm working on other things on the computer and click through the ads here and there. It doesn't take long, I can do it as I'm working on other things, and it's guaranteed money!

I put a banner ad on the side of my blog: Click on it and you'll get $10 just for signing up!

Downey Wrinkle Reducer

2007-10-15T19:47:00.001-05:00

Another winner!

I brought it on the cruise with me because they don't allow irons in the staterooms, but I didn't expect much. I mean really; if full steam from a shower can't get the wrinkles out of my clothes why would something out of a bottle? I'd heard good things from people, but I highly doubt those people make little balls out of their clothes before they pack them!

I was shocked when I used it. I had a 100% cotton shirt that wouldn't even lay flat, it was so badly wrinkled, but I decided to give it a shot because it was either that or shove it back in my suitcase for the rest of the trip.. and I really wanted to wear it! So I hung it, sprayed it, pulled it straight, and ten minutes later I wore it to dinner. It was great and so worth the $4 I spent on it!

Career Path

2007-10-08T19:08:00.001-05:00

Since I'm unemployed I've been spending a lot of time on different sites looking at jobs and pay rates. One thing I've been seeing quite a lot of are requests for people to fill nursing jobs which, if I had the stomach for, I'd sign up for in a heartbeat! A lot of companies are offering sign-up bonuses and other monetary incentives, plus the salary base is really high in most cases! Add that to a job where you get to help people? Well, I'd do it if I could.

Tide Pen

2007-10-06T20:13:00.001-05:00

When I went on vacation I went through my truck to clean it out. Among the old napkins and various wrappers, I found a Tide Pen I bought a few months ago and put in my glove compartment for emergencies. I decided to put it in my purse and take it on the cruise in case I needed it.

On our first night away we spent some time in a bar where I leaned against the wall and got some black smears on a brand new shirt. I have no idea what this substance was (and I'm probably better off not knowing), and I was upset that something I wore for the very first time was ruined. I tried some water and soap but that didn't do anything but smear the black around a little bit.

When we got back to the room I remembered the Tide Pen and decided to give it a try. I took the shirt off, hung it up, and opened the pen for the first time. I followed the directions (which were really simple: Remove cap, press on fabric until area is damp, and rub until stain is removed) and was stunned when the stain disappeared! I mean, really disappeared. It didn't lessen in diameter, wasn't lighter; the whole thing was gone!

What a great product. I used it twice more on the trip, once when I dripped butter on a blouse and another time when I dripped dill sauce on my pants. In each instance the stain completely disappeared and the fabric remained in perfect condition. I used it on 100% cotton, rayon, and a cotton/poly blend, so I know it works great on those.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who ever gets stuff on their clothes, and I think it's especially useful for those of us with kids. I plan to keep one in my purse and another one in my truck!

Closing Early

2007-09-29T07:26:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you about some of the worst service I received this week.

Back in August my DH and I scheduled a four day cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida. We decided to make a full weeks vacation out of it so we planned on staying two extra nights upon our return from the cruise. Coincidentally, we went to the Home Show in Tampa where we were offered a free night (with a $20 deposit to be returned when we arrived) at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach if we agreed to the 90 minute sales tour of the resort. We signed up (obviously), and we were excited about extending our vacation.

We spoke to the sales rep, Phylis, a few days before we left. We confirmed our stay and went over the dates a second time. We told her that we were going on a cruise prior to our arrival and that is was only a four day, so we triple-checked our dates. We then told her that we were going to spend a second night, and she advised us to book the room at that point because there wouldn't be any guarantee that a room would be available if we waited too long. We agreed and she put our names in to the computer.

Our cruise left on Sunday and we spent a full four days at Sea. It was wonderful, and when we returned we were looking forward to the amenities at the Ron Jon resort that we had heard so much about! After getting in to our car to head to the result, I found out that my phone had seven messages on it, all from the sales rep, Phylis, asking us to return her call in order to confirm our stay! Each call sounded increasingly urgent, and by the seventh call I got the feeling that there was going to be a problem even though we had confirmed our stay previously. We returned her call right away but all we got was a voice mail, so we headed to the resort.

We got to Ron Jon's by 10:30am and went to the desk to check in. After about five minutes of searching my DH and I began to realize that there really was something was amiss. The registration staff member could not find our names on the registration list, nor could he find any record of us at all! When we told him that we had spoken to Phylis twice before to confirm, he didn't know who Phylis was, nor did he know how we could find her. The staff member, Everett, made three phone calls to see if our reservations could have been somewhere else (?) but he had no success. Finally he called the Outside Sales Office and spoke to the manager, Yvonne, who had no idea about our scheduled stay. She did provide us with the original sales representative's phone number which we called to leave another message on her voice mail, but as for any assistance towards our stay? Nothing. Everett searched his computer again and found us a room for the first night, but they were booked for the next. My husband refused, explaining that we had extended our stay because our first day was going to consist of the tour and we wanted the extra night as an "end" to our vacation. Everett was apologetic, but there was little he could do.

After about forty-five minutes of standing around while someone tried to figure out what was going on, my DH and I left and got back in to our car. We called Phylis again, and then began to drive around Cocoa Beach to burn time. After an hour of sitting in a Publix parking lot and about four more messages to Phylis, we decided to go home.

About 15 minutes down the highway we got a call from Phylis. She was surprised at the trouble we had and asked what happened. When we explained, she said she didn't know what the problem was because she had "put your names in the computer for the night. I don't know why it didn't show up!" DH relayed the whole story again, and told her that the reception desk staff member had even spoken to her boss! She then told DH that she had no idea we were on a cruise, and that the extra room we had wanted couldn't be confirmed until the Thursday before. DH was aghast and asked how that worked since we had supposedly booked the night while on the phone with her two weeks prior, but she couldn't answer that question.

The conversation went on for over seven minutes, with my DH repeating himself over and over again. Finally she said she would call us back, so we pulled over on the side of Interstate 95 and waited. She called back and said that her boss "was working on getting a room" for the extra night and she would call us back to let us know. A few minutes later she called back again as promised and advised us that we had a one bedroom for the night we had originally paid the $20 deposit for, and for Friday they "found" a studio for us to stay in.

At this point we were done. We pulled back on to the interstate and continued our drive home. DH told Phylis that he was disappointed in the resort, our treatment, and the obvious lack of communication. He requested our $20 deposit back and she told us, are you ready for this?, that we had to go back to the resort and give them the card that came in the mail to prove we had been there! DH was beyond pissed off and asked how we were supposed to do that when we hadn't been home in a week to get the mail? He also told her, "It's obvious we were there; I just told you every ones name!" They spoke a little while longer while she refused his request for the deposit to be returned, until DH finally started to laugh and said, "Keep the twenty bucks. It doesn't mean that much to me. I can assure you that this doesn't stop here though, because this is the worst treatment I have ever received, especially from someone who is trying to sell something!"

So, this entry is my first step in making sure that people contemplating a stay at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach know what they are potentially getting in to! I even found a bunch of reviews about the resort that were less than favorable.

My advice! BEWARE! The left hand certainly doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Make sure you enjoy your vacation: Don't get caught up in something like this!

All Natural Health

2007-09-13T21:22:00.000-05:00

My son has chronic asthma. He's been hospitalized a few times and we've had countless runs to the ER in his short 3-and-a-half years. He's on a nebulizer twice a day with steroids and, when needed, his rescue medication. He's also taking allergy medication daily in hopes that he won't get the allergy induced attacks which usually lead to pneumonia.

This has been really hard for me to accept. I am an all-natural, organic type of person. I check labels for additives and nutrients. I don't don't eat meat unless it's from free range animals that are not treated with hormones. I detest medication and I don't trust Western medicine. So, when I have to pump my child full of medication it goes against the very nature of my being.

That's why I'm so pleased with a product I've found by Buried Treasure called Children's ACF. I got it from my health food store last year and I liked it; I noticed a marked improvement in my son's health. We had no pneumonia scares and we were only at Urgent Care twice and the ER once. I think he only saw his primary care doctor three times too, which is a lot better than the seven the season before!

Yesterday I noticed that he was getting a stuffy nose which usually is the start to post nasal drip, which then leads to croup, which turns into pneumonia. Then we have to add a liquid steroid to his already overdosed medical regime and that's usually my breaking point... Anyway, I started the Children's ACF last night which seems to be helping already. He's still stuffy, but that's the extent of it. He hasn't coughed one time and there is NO hint of a wheeze *knock on wood, cross fingers*.

I love this product. I also use their liquid vitamin B product in conjunction with magnesium to help him sleep better (he's changed his sleeping pattern from a bedtime of 11pm to 9:30pm and he still sleeps to 7:30am!) so I know that their products are not only good but affordable!

Pay Me Please

2007-09-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

I've gotten some email asking me how I make money on-line. Admittedly most of it is blogging, but I've also come across some click-to-pay sites. Some of them aren't really worth the time it takes to sit at the computer unless I'm here already for some other reason, but the Mora Traffic sites pays out pretty well. Their site is easy to use and the 'click time' is quick. You won't get rich, but it's an easy way to make a few bucks!

Cost vs Comfort

2007-09-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

I try to cut corners where I can. I try my best to economise because neither my husband or I are in high-paying jobs, nor has anyone died and left us money lately. I have let our lawn man go, have cancelled our DVD rental plan, and have cut down on eating out.

I've also been watching what I buy at the store. I no longer buy the high priced, plump-your-lips-without-botox lipsticks, or the lashes-that-finish-crossing-the-street-before-you-do mascara. I also went from using my favorite razor, the Schick Intuition and bought one of those 100 razors for five bucks deals. I was proud of myself because, lets face it, using those lotion razors sure hit you in the wallet, even if your legs really are smoother than a newborn baby's butt when you're done.

Well, I have decided that I will spend the money on the Schick Intuition razors the next time I am at the store (incidentally, I need a box of band-aids so I am going tonight come hell or high water!). I don't care if I have to forgo an evening out at our local Denny's in order for this to happen; I will never shave my legs with anything else again. Sure, my legs are smooth even without using the Schick Intuition razor, but their luster is somewhat marred by the seven Dora The Explorer band-aids...

Codes to Live By

2007-08-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

I am a big fan of getting things done early. Work related issues, appointments; anything that has a deadline I like to complete early.

One of the things I love to be prepared for is holiday shopping! Most everyone thinks that I’m crazy, but I like to be finished Christmas shopping by October. I used to love the hustle and bustle of the crowds around the holiday, but lately with time and money being so tight I’ve had to make some adjustments to the usual shopping. Being pressured to get the ‘perfect’ gift in a day's time just isn’t as much fun as it used to be, especially when restricted by a budget!

One of the better ways I’ve found to watch the almighty dollar is to shop online and use coupon codes. I can browse through all different ‘stores’ and find that perfect gift, plus save money in the process. Being online and using free online coupons means I don’t have to spend money on gas to get to the mall, try to find a parking place, and drag a 3 year old through countless stores while trying to maintain our santity!

My mother is a fan of fine jewelry, but I can’t stand the high pressure sales tactics of jewelry stores. I have always wanted to get her a unique necklace for her birthday or Christmas, but haven’t been able to stomach the process. After looking through these coupon codes I found a Blue Nile coupon. Now I can have the luxury of shopping over the computer and it gives me 10% off the purchase price. Can’t beat that!

My husband is impossible to shop for. Every year I get him a watch but it’s getting harder and harder to find interesting watches that aren’t mirror images to the ones he already has. I’ve been searching for over a month now with no luck until I came across a Netaya coupon. I found a great looking silver watch with a square face, and now I can get 10% off the purchase price.

It looks like I’ll be well within my budget this year!

2007-08-16T17:33:00.000-05:00

Last night I had a new beer by Coors called Blue Moon. It was available on tap and topped with an orange slice. It was great! The orange added a nice touch and when the beer was done, eating it was amazing! It was full of bubbles and had a hint of the beer taste. I definitely recommend this beer. Even if you aren't a beer fan you should try it- you might be surprised!

New Blog Payment Site

2007-08-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

I recently found a Paid-to-Blog site, Bloggerwave. They're pretty new and are actively seeking bloggers now! I applied and got approved within 24 hours (amazing!) and I already have jobs available.

It's such an easy concept: Blog like you always have and get paid. Could there be anything easier? It's great getting paid for something that I love to do!

It's a Sweet Life

2007-08-12T13:26:00.000-05:00

I've used artificial sweetener for as long as I can remember. I have never been a fan of Sweet n' Low, but I have loved Equal. When all of the bad press started I switched to Splenda, but then I found something even better!

Stevia is an actual herb that's sweeter than any supplement I've found. It can't be sold as a named sweetener because the FDA would seize it, but it is sold as a dietary supplement. It's low in carbs and has the same fiber content as the fruit we eat. I love the taste and I only need half a packet in my morning coffee. Considering it has health benefits and it costs about the same since I use half the amount I used to, this product is going to have a permanent spot in my cabinet!

True Clean

2007-06-06T17:26:00.000-05:00

Wow!

I've been struggling with my tile floors forever. Since coming to Florida I've never seen so much tile; it's everywhere you look! In Massachusetts I lived with bare wood floors or wood floors covered with rugs. Here? Tile.

So, then came the quest of cleaining them, including the grout, which is colored and that much harder to clean. I've went through product after product. I used a hand held steamer which worked pretty good, but it was tough work! I got a floor scrubber which made the tiles look good, but the grout remained nasty.

I've lived here five years now and the tile floors are the worst part of this house. It's one of the main reasons I don't have people over (well, that and my huge, messy dogs), and it's been on my last nerve for the past few months.

I got an e-mail with an all natural solution and I decided to try it. I hate chemicals in my home and I do my darndest to not even buy them if I can help it, so this was a good thing for me to try.

So, what do you think?

This is before:

AND THIS, is after:

The secret? 3/4 cup of Arm and Hammer and 1/4 cup hot water. Mix it, scrub with a toothbursh, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Wipe it up, mop it if you want, and voila!!!!!!

More of Less

2007-05-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

Just one more reason to hate Wal-Mart. Their "Organic" section? Yeah, what I joke. Granted, I am not a fan of mass-production places as a whole, so I'm sure my opinion is somewhat biased.

BUT:

Wal-Mart's first line of organic dairy is from from Dean/Horizon and Aurora . The pasture access which is a requirement for USDA organic certification is ON PAPER ONLY!!! That makes me sick. I hate the fact that something can pass by because of what is indicated in black and white. It takes away from the legit actions that true organic farmers are going through to ensure the quality of their products, as well as makes a mockery of our very certification process!

They are also outsourcing from China which kind of goes against the whole 'environmentally friendly' aspect of Organics in the first place. Are we really doing ourselves a favor by shipping products thousands of miles, thus creating even more pollution for our poor Earth to handle?

I fear that our local farmers who are TRUE organic growers are not going to be able to compete with the mass market of industry organics. Our prices will go down, but so will quality. I'm sure that the USDA organic certification standards will go down as well in order to encompass this "newly created " line of organic crap too... It's a vicious cycle!

Dating Evolution

2007-04-26T17:08:00.000-05:00

When I lived in Massachusetts I did a lot of dating off of an online dating site. The one I used wasnt free but, considering the cost of doing anything in Boston was so expensive, I felt that I was getting my money's worth.

When I moved here to Florida I joined another dating site. Sean and I met on that site so I wasn't on it for long, LOL, but I was a bit irked that I had to pay for yet another dating site, especially since I didn't use it for the full term I paid for.

There are free online dating sites out there but they are few and far between. That saddens me because it was a lot of fun, safe, and I obviously had great success! This online dating site I found the other day looked great. I wish I had known about it before; think of the money I would have saved. I probably wouldn't have met my husband though... Hmmm....

Bid To Win

2007-04-24T08:53:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of this new site, http://www.bid4prizes.com/ that offers prizes and cash prizes alike? I heard about it on Fox13 news a month or so ago and I couldn't believe it!

You register (duh) on their site at http://www.bid4prizes.com/, browse what they're offering, and then send a text message with your bid amount. If your bid is the lowest unique bid, then you win it! Isn't that amazing? It's so easy to do with no complicated entry forms or 'trick' small print to follow.

I went to their sweepstakes page today and they have a plasma TV and a Scion XB. Seriously, they do. There are also Playstations, Computers... And it's always changing.

I love it when companies can come up with something new!!!! And, hey, I'm always in the mood for free gifts!

Easter Staple

2007-04-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

Well, for some households anyways!

Peeps have never interested me, and my DH cannot stand them. We have done the usual microwave-freeze-hit-with-a-hammer experiments, but on the whole we just ignore the little buggers. However; I have found that some people adore the little guys!

For instance, there are a lot of craft ideas out there that I would never have thought of. The Peeps Website shows you how to make a lovely Flower Topiary (my personal favorite), Mini Spring Treat Basket, or Peeps Party Dippers.

You can even join their fan club where you can enjoy VIP access to all sorts of stuff like e-cards, and you'll be privy to upcoming Peep products. WooHoo!

They even have a Peeps Talk section where you can post your favorite Peeps memories and chat with other Peep-minded people. See, there are a lot of you out there!

Who knew that there was an actual following of these stretchy little fellows? I think I'll pass, but you may find something you can relate to... Scary as that is...

Postitive Spin

2007-03-07T07:29:00.000-05:00

It's about time to hear the good about NFL players!

Everson Walls is donating a kidney to his ex-teammate, Ron Springs due to complications with diabetes.

It's nice to hear about the good some of these men do, rather than being bombarded by their aggression and 'entitled' attitudes.

Your Wicked, Wicked Ways!

2007-02-28T07:03:00.000-05:00

We had a fantastic time last night and I'm hoping that we can make it a monthly event now!

We started out at 6pm and decided that, for a treat, we'd eat at Maestro's Cafe which is located in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center in downtown Tampa. I was expecting to cry when the bill came at the end of the meal, but it was surprisingly cheap! I was only $22.50 for a full buffet- the whole cost came out to less that what I spent this weekend at dinner.

From there we wandered the 100 yards to our seats and were ready to see the the show from the second row! In the beginning I was skeptical being so close to the stage, but I was enthralled by about the second line of the musical and I hardly noticed that we were close enough to the orchestra to be hit with the conductors baton...

Wicked, The Musical was nothing like I expected. The book (which I read about a year ago) was very difficult for me to get through and it was filled with underlying issues and political/social demise, and I was hesitant about seeing it performed on stage. I didn't have to worry at all, however; there was some familiarity about the production but on the whole it was a totally different experience mentally. What an amazingly wonderful piece of Broadway right here in Tampa Bay!

To be honest, it's hard for me to enjoy musicals because I'm constantly critiquing the performers (I suppose that's true when you're entwined in any sort of professional aspect of what you're watching/participating), but by the time the first song began I was hooked. A combination of fantastic stage scenery, great consumes, and fanstic voices made this a truly wonderful experience. Surprising me the most, I think, was the performance of Glinda. I was expecting a very superficial part, but she ended up being a spotlight role and she delivered a powerful vocal punch.

I would highly recommend seeing Wicked, the Musical to anyone who wants to be amazed and enthralled for an evening. If you only see one show this year, make it this one!

" Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.

WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...), WICKED is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune)."
Running time for the show is 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission

Perk up the Coffee

2007-02-20T07:38:00.000-05:00

I love flavored coffee!

Now that I'm on this diet I have to cut back on fats so I picked up some Coffee-Mate at Publix. The one I chose was the Sugar Free Vanilla Caramel which "Now the irresistible taste of indulgent caramel and rich vanilla comes to you both sweet and sugar free. Sugar Free Vanilla Caramel is a decadent treat that evokes the flavors of "Dulce de Leche," a favored dessert in Mexico & Latin America."

Wow! I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did, but it's fantastic! I don't even have to add any sweeters to it.

Making it Right

2007-01-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

It's funny what a letdown it can be when you've gotten yourself all worked up and pissed off and the situation ends up getting resolved easily.

I paid to have an add printed in The Flyer for an Open House on the 13th of this month. Publication date was the 10th so there wasn't a lot of time until the actual date of the event. Boy, was I surprised when my phone started ringing how much it cost in rent to own it! Upon looking into it, I discovered they had printed the add in the "Rental" section!

I was so majorly pissed off I called up the paper and was ready to get my guns ablazein'... But in an instant they asked me what they could do to make it right. I was literally speechless for a moment. I'm not used to that kind of customer service anymore! I used to people placing blame elsewhere and getting the run-around because of it. I'm used to people making it my fault somehow. I'm used to getting nowhere.

They were fantastic! We were able to come to a mutual agreement and I'll even be using them again.

Outback Bowl and A Good Educations

2006-12-31T07:53:00.000-05:00

I heard on the news that one of the TN team members will not be playing in this year's Outback Bowl. When I did a search to see the story behind this "academically ineligible" player, I found that a lot of players aren't playing because their academic downfalls.

I'm glad to see that Institutions are looking at the whole picture regarding these 'stars' of the football field. How many players have slipped through the cracks of the academic world because of the 'need' to have them play? How may school officials have turned and looked the other way when a young person's academic standing wasn't where it should be so that they could have a chance to play in what ever game was deemed important at the time? It's comforting to see that some seriousness has been placed on the educational guidelines of college sports.

Hey, I'm as much for notoriety as the next guy, but I'm also for people's futures and for fairness!

A Diffferent Military Experience

2006-12-26T09:50:00.000-05:00

When I think of the military I think of war. I think of battles and shooting, fear and agnst. I also think of the protection we Americans are enjoying anad hardly ever question, like it's a right rather than an amazing privilidge. I think about all the souls whom have chosen the military as a way of life and have made the decision that protecting this wonderful country and the citizens here is their life's purpose.

There are the other parts of the military that I don't think about too often and that are just as important. There are branches that assist in feeding our active soldiers, branches that fix the military equipment... And then there are these branches:

Creativity

2006-12-12T08:22:00.000-05:00

This is one of those things that make you wonder at the creativity of people.

jerome murat
Uploaded by segalier

How impressive that someone can come up with this, let alone carry it off!

A Company to Do Business With

2006-12-06T07:20:00.000-05:00

I receive a lot of catalogues throughout the year because I once made the mistake (?) of ordering some things once. Around this time of year the amount I get is increased by about 50% and my recycle bin overflows way before the weekly pick up date.

I usually browse through these catalogues, sigh about how much paper and energy is wasted, and then toss them into the blue bin to leave by the curb… But this month something from Coldwater Creek caught my eye:

This is a company that I will spend more time looking at. I'll give their products more consideration becuase I feel that they've gone an extra step to help our planet. I wish more manufacturing companies would all follow their example!

If I Had Only Known

2006-12-03T21:57:00.000-05:00

I've had issues with my two dogs. I have a pit bull/Shepard mix and a German Shepard/Rottweiler mix. They're sweet and lovable, but they have been such PITAs! They bark and anything and everything, have problems listening when we walk them (the pit has actually tried to attack the Shepard when she sees approaching dogs, so I'm sure you can guess that heeling has been out of the question), and only the pit actually understands what I mean when I say "sit!".

It's been a rough road, but I've finally found something to help us. I was considering going to a training class with them, but I just don't have the time. When could I fit it in with 3 jobs, a home to take care of, and my three year old son? I found the answer: On-line dog training help! There are tons of helpful techniques for even the 'toughest dogs' out there, and they focus on positive training techniques which was very important to me.

Click Here to begin the first step to bettering the your relationship with the 'tough dog' in your life!

Dawn

2006-11-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big product freak. What I mean by that is if I find a product I like, I may mention it if the topic comes up (sure, becuase I'm always sitting around discussing the benefits of liquid versus powder laundry detergent or something), but I hardly go out of my way to talk about my experiences.

However; I actually have found a dishwashing liquid that I cannot live without. Dawn Direct Foam is the best product for washing dishes that I have EVER used. I usually burn food in my pots and pans, and the usual way for me to deal with that is to soak them... for days. I hate cleaning that crap and scrubbing them while my hands burn from the hot water! Now I don't have to! I don't know what's in that stuff, but it's fantastic. Just a tiny drop goes in, some water, then a bit of scrubbing and *bam*! all clean.

A Doll is a Doll... Right?

2006-11-25T09:12:00.000-05:00

Barbie is no longer a prominent presence in Middle Eastern toy stores; she had been replaced by a more culturally reflective Fulla doll. Fulla forgoes the skin-tight, low neck-line outfits that Barbie usually wears, and instead wears a black abaya and a head scarf which portray a more conservative and culturally 'proper' Middle Eastern system.

There is some controversy surrounding the new Fulla doll. Some say that Fulla is "just a plaything" like Barbie is to the world at large, but other's say that this new Fulla doll represents the pressure to conform to the limiting female role within the Middle East.

It seems that Fulla is everywhere in the Middle East, just as Barbie is here in America. Fulla is on breakfast cereal, is used to sell chewing gum, and is a marketing figure for bikes and backpacks. Some parents complain, saying that Fulla has taken over, but others claim that having a role model that is shown in commercials to be praying before sunrise and acting in the more 'traditional' roles of a woman, are good to have.

What's Your Major?

2006-11-22T09:49:00.000-05:00

Sounds like a bad pick up line, doesn't it? Well, now kids in Florida highschools will have a basis for such a question.

In an article written by Written by Nancy Steinbach in Voices of America there are pros and cons to this concept that Florida Governor Jeb Bush supported as part of an education reform plan. Pros include encouraging students to plan for the future and have more students graduate high school due to having the opportunity to learn a job skill while getting educated. Cons of this new requirement are having students limited in their schooling experience, coupled with the known fact that very few fourteen-year-olds know what they want to do with the rest of their life.

The Associated Press article in the New York Times focuses on the same issues, stating that the opponents of the bill say the requirement would put "too much pressure" on students to decide their future, while supporters say they hope the state's dropout rate will fall and that classroom achievement will rise if students can pick out on subjects they are interested in.

I found the Florida Department of Education's Graduation Options. It looks interesting, and it reminds me a bit of college requirements.

The fact of the matter lies within the students themselves. We can, as a State and a Nation, think what we will about this Legislature, but it's going to remain up to the individual students to make this a positive change within the schools.

My interest lies in the students who think they know what they want to do in the future as far as career choices go. When I was fourteen I wanted to be a famous actress or a horse trainer. Now, at 31, I'm a wife, mother, real estate agent, and Forensic Specialist with the local mental health center. Do I think that what ever I could have experienced in high school may have helped me find the way to where I am now? No. However, I'm not single-minded enough to think that there isn't the possibility that the road taken to get here may have been a bit easier to travel if I'd had the chance to dive into certain subjects prior to my college years!

Beauty Knows No Bounds

2006-11-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

There is a dance originated in Asia called the Thousand-Hand Guan Yin.

Guan Yin is revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. The name is short for Guan Shi Yin. (Guan which means to observe, watch, or monitor; Shi which means the world; and Yin which means sounds, specifically of those who suffer. ) Guan Yin, then, is a compassionate being who watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out for help. (taken, in part, from exerpt by Derek Lin)

I watched this video of the Thousand-Hand Guan Yin performed by 21 dancers who are completely deaf. It is an amazing accomplishment to master this dance considering the intricate and precise dance movements involved, but it's even more amazing in light of the fact that these dancers cannot hear music cues! They perform this dance by relying on on signals from four trainers at the four corners of the stage.

Take a moment and watch this amazing execution of the Thousand-Hand Guan Yin! I'm sure you'll be as amazed as I was.

Product Buzz

2006-11-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

I received a Sonicare Toothbrush for free last week. I was hesitant to sign up for this because I'm not a fan of electric toothbrushes, but I decided that since it was free I didn't have much to loose.

The initial attempt to use it was funny; it felt like my gums were getting tickled by a thousand fingers and those fingers were then sending electric currents to my teeth. Sounds fun, right? You'd try again, wouldn't you?

I did, and I'm glad. My teeth feel great! I keep running my tongue across them (I'm sure people find that wildly attractive) and I really do think they're getting whiter.

I also believe that my gums just might get used to the vibrations...

A New Beginning

2006-11-20T06:27:00.000-05:00

Fitting that I would 're-start' on a Monday... The Monday before the holidays none the less.

It's a time to start looking over the past and to start planning for the year ahead. Time to right wrongs, make some goals, and to begin a-new. Time to start fresh with the beginning of a brand new year, and hopefully time to make some changes for the better...

I think I'm ready for 2007... but I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to 2006 yet! Good thing there are still a few weeks left.