A Flu By Any Other Name

I like many other concerned parents, am worried about this recent Swine Flu outbreak. When I get worried about something it makes me feel better to research whatever it is to make sure I have the real facts.

I was looking on the CDC website to get the straight scoop. You can go there and get information on Swine Flu and regular influenza. From what I have read, I still can not figure out why we are suppose to be more nervous about this strain of flu than we are of others. I think the biggest problem is whether people get medical care when they need it. I think that is why things like this usually get out of hand in countries like Mexico where health care is different than in the U.S.

All types of influenza can be dangerous if they are not treated. They can lead to complications like breathing problems, fevers, and so on. The CDC website estimates that the flu is involved in at least 36,000 deaths a year. Meaning that influenza was thought to be the underlying or first illness that lead to a cause of death in a patient. So we should always be on guard for symptoms of the flu, no matter what type it might be.

The CDC site also explains that it is called Swine flu, because it comes from infected pigs, but through direct contact with a live, infected pig, not through pork or pork products that you would eat. I guess you don't want pigs coughing on you any more than you want people coughing on you. Just keep yourself hydrated, get rest when you can, keep clean and wash your hands often. If you think you are sick, keep your germs to yourself at home, and go to the doctor if you are getting worse instead of better. I am not a doctor, that is just common sense in my opinion.

I am not sure if I feel better or worse after my research. At least I feel that there is no real reason to be extra nervous, just my regular germophobia should serve me well. I have to go sign my daughter up for kindergarten tomorrow,,, yea just what I wanted a trip to germy, snot nosed land! LOL!

Did You Ever Lose Your Photos?

We have now had two hard drive crashes in less than three years. The first time we crashed I did not have all my family photos backed up. I take a ton of pictures, and I could not remember which ones I had backed up to a CD and which ones I hadn't yet. The first price when I started calling around was between 700 - 1000 dollars depending on how much date the company could recover, I was shocked. Luckily after I calmed down I called another computer place and they ended up recovering my data for around 100.00, a much more fair price.

Since then I do not take my photos of my memory card unless I have the time right then to back them up to CD. I am glad I adopted this habit, because we had another crash this year. This time I think they said our motherboard died, but it will be a while before we can afford to replace that. So it does pay to back up your work, even though it can be a bit of a pain some times.

My friend who takes as many pictures as I do had some pictures disappear from her computer right after she took them off of her memory card. She is pretty good about backing up, but this time she didn't even get the chance, poof the pictures were gone. I did some research on the web to see if we could find the pictures in here computer some how. I found a site called DiskDoctors.net, they specialize in Data Recovery software. There are several different types of software programs available depending on what type of data you lost, or operating system you have. The program that recovers lost photo files is less than 50.00! I think I might have my friend split this one with me to see if we can save her lost pictures and to keep on hand for future fiascoes.

Air Force One Photo Op Error

Did you hear about the stupidity in the skies over New York city today? Evidently someone wanted publicity shots of Air Force One flying in front of the Statue of Liberty. I read the article on FoxNews.com, but I am still not sure WHO wanted the photos. Does Air Force One NEED publicity?

Some officials, in some departments of some cities knew about the planned fly over, and others did not. I think the article even said that the president didn't even know about it, maybe it was not important enough to trouble him with. It could have been a simple photo session if things were handled right. Like someone in the article said though on top of the obvious reasons that you might not want to do a low altitude flight over NY, what about the wasted tax dollars. Someone could have photoshoped it for a fraction of the price.

At the very least they should have made sure that the residents of NY knew about the flyby in advance. They might have even wanted to take a vote on the matter, I don't know. They do not want to show images of Sept. 11 on the TV because it might upset someone,,,,but lets freak a whole bunch of ground zero folk out of their minds!

Great idea!

Keeping Your Home Safe

I think I have told you before that I am a stickler when it comes to safety. Whether it is whole a whole house Security System, or as small as a cabinet lock to keep the kids out, I try and stay on top of things.

I was looking around the internet to shop for a new Home Security System. We never put one in when we first got our house, but I really rather have one now if we can afford it. So I am starting the research phase. You know me research! I want to see what all is out there as far as home security options go.

I came across one website called Homesecurityteam.com, they are an ADT dealer. Their site has an offer right now where you get a free 850.00 security system when you sign up for monitoring service and pay the installation fee I think. That does not sound like a bad deal since you would pay for the installation and monitoring anyway right? If they want to give me the equipment for free, that's awesome!

What do you do around your house to keep things safer? We have some security lights and things. We also try and be aware of the trees around windows, and to plant prickly bushes around the perimeter of the house to deter lurkers. I figure every little bit helps.

Scholarships R Us

I think my brain is about to explode. It is scholarship season again so I am buried in paper work. It is always great when you actually GET a scholarship awarded to you, but the applications can really wear you out.

My husband is a full time student in college, works part time when he can, on top of being a husband and father to our three small children. I try and do as much as I can to help him out as far as leg work and paper works goes. I could not do his homework even if I wanted to ( unless he wanted bad grades), but I try and take care of most of the scholarship stuff.

Last year we were lucky enough to be awarded 3 scholarships from various organizations. I think I filled out a total of 6 or 7 applications last year, so that is not a bad ratio I guess. We will see how lucky we get this time around. So if you are thinking of applying, but are wondering if it worth it,, I think it is. Like I said there is a lot of paper work involved, but you stand a pretty good chance of winning one, as long as you follow the directions for each application.

Good luck!

Look at Lou Lou's Corner

Oh my goodness, you have to check out this site I was just on called LouLousCorner.com. They have they cutest kids stuff on this site. I could go nuts shopping on this site, especially since I have a baby shower to go to soon. Not only do they have some of the cutest designer baby clothes that I have ever seen, they have clothes for adults and lovely items for your home as well.

They have a line of stuffed animals called jellycat that are so adorable, they look super soft too. Remember when every kid had to have a "lovey" I think they were called. Well Lou Lou's Corner has something similar called a Buddy and Blankie in their barefoot dreams line. It is half stuffed animal, half snuggly blanket. I know my kids always loved them when they were small.

The household items they have are awesome. They have some kitchen items that are so unique, like a grate that looks like a lady in a dress,,lol. They even have an eco-friendly section of items. It is really a unique, fun site...check it out!

Tuckered Out and Tucked In

Well today was a very long, but very fun day. After all the play date fun and its associated bumps and bruises we got to go out to dinner with daddy ( a.k.a. my hubby). The girls were excited because daddy has been at school a lot lately preparing for finals. Our sons stayed home with his grandma since it was almost his bed time anyway. Not that grandma would let him out of her site after I let her baby boy get a bump today...lol.

I was surprised that the girls behaved so well at dinner considering how tired they must have been. They played their tiny little butts off today. We took some friends of ours to a park that my girls had been to before, but the friends had not. There are several things to climb on at this park, and it really wears kids out,,,yeeeaaah!!

After dinner we got milkshakes for dessert on the way home, it was quite a day. Usually the girls hassle us about going to bed, but tonight they were out in less than 20 minutes, probably less but I was bustling around doing other night time choirs. All I know is that I wish I were asleep to, but I have "mommy" things to do while they are asleep. I just thought I would take some unwinding time and blog.

Visualize Yourself With No Money Stress

Every time one gets into financial difficulties, the first advise given is usually something like...you really need to set yourself a budget and stay within those guidelines.
Or don't live above your means...what the heck does that mean?
Stop living and eating and enjoying life? I don't think so!
Every now and then one needs to go to lunch or dinner with a friend or if a special occasion turns up unexpectedly, we all know that.
So it would be nice to have a credit card for the little things in life that mean so much.
There is a Prepaid Visa card system that is perfect for this type of situation and you should check into it if you have a shoe string budget.
You direct deposit monies into the account and then you kind of forget it is there until you need extra special funds or you could keep your extra cash on you for those times and use this account for your monthly bill payment system.
Either way it would work to your benefit and separate your fun money from your gotta have money and if you happen to over charge on this card, the fees are a whole lot less than the regular bank fees at a local bank.
This prepaid system is so helpful that it is a must have to fight inflation in your own life.
If you think you could utilize this form of budgeting, do check it out.

Goose Eggs!

Oh My Goodness!

I took the kids to the playground today and the kids had a great time.

The only problem is is that the littlest took a couple of tumbles as boys will and I am so sure that my Mom is going to be in shock when she sees him.

He got a goose egg on his eye and it actually looks worse than the accident that happened was.

My Mom worries about everything that happens with the kids but she is supposed to of course as she is their Grandma!

And she does her job so well!

Well guess I will go get settle before grandma gets home and give Me a big ol' lecture...lol.

A New Watch For Spring

I was looking around the net for a new watch. I was thinking I might like to get something a little more light looking for spring. I found this site called Bluedial.com, and they have an awesome selection of watches to choose from.

They have bulova watches and all of the other brands you could be looking for. Now how do I narrow it down to choose only one? Quite a task when there are so many lovely things to choose from. It says they have free 2nd day shipping, that is always nice to have. And I read a banner on their site that says Mother's Day is May 10th. I was not even thinking that far ahead, but now that they mention it a watch would be a nice gift for my mom.

Of course I am drawn to a present for my dear hubby. There is a watch by Tissot that has a chronograph, altimeter,barometer and so many other cool functions I can't even think of them all. I do not know when my hubby would use and altimeter, but what guy would not like knowing they had all those gizmos on their watch. They could feel like MacGuyver or something!

How Sick Can The Entertainment Business Get?!

Susan Boyle...the lady with the golden voice...got her first offer of ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

And for what? A porn flick! Can you believe that?! Just how sick is the entertainment field that some one offered that nice lady money for her voice to do porn. How totally disgusting is that, I am appalled and outraged!!!!

That in its self almost makes me not want to watch those talent shows anymore. To quash some body's beautiful and god given talent dreams with an offer so disgusting. I could throw up!!! I do not condone porn and I can not even imagine why that area of what ever you want to categorize it as, would want with her splendid voice to get involved with them.

I wish her all the success in the world,,,in a legitimate line of work.

More Web Hosting Info

I have talked before how it is important to keep up to date on web hosting information. There area often new providers out there, or the new deals to be had. Before you choose a web host or renew with your current host, do some research. You may just find a deal that you like better, whether because it is cheaper, or because is has the features you want etc.

One good place to compare web hosts is WebHostingChoice.com. They have big list of current web hosts, their features, and prices. The even have a top ten provider list, did your favorite provider make the list? Did you know that there are even "green" hosts? You can learn more on the site about how to set up a website too. It is a cool site to check out when you want to learn more about web hosting.

Have You Ever Heard Of SANDART?

Have you ever heard of SANDART? This is not the kind you buy at the carnival, this is an art form, a performance art form I guess. You have to check out the "paintings" this lady makes with her hands and sand.

She takes sand and manipulates it with her hands in such a way as to make beautiful scenes that change and evolve with each pass of her hand. I do not know how long it takes her to practice each one, but she does them in some sort of light box, films it, and sets it to music. These paintings are some of the most beautiful relaxing things I have ever watched. You can find her on Youtube, or her own site SandFantasy.com. Check them out the next time you want to unwind from a long day. They are amazing!

I can not decide which one is my favorite yet.

Shopping For Baby Contraptions

Often lately I keep getting hit by baby blues, but not the not the normal kind. Instead of the kind you get right after you have a baby I am having the ones that you have about one year to 5 years AFTER you have a baby. My youngest is now over a year old and my oldest is getting ready to start kindergarten in the fall. So I guess I am actually having the "I don't have babies anymore blues".

So to cheer myself up I am looking forward to the fun things I get to by as they get bigger, instead of what I don't need to buy anymore. I found myself looking around shopwiki.com again and there are so many cool things I could buy on there for my growing bunch. I may not need to by baby walkers anymore, but other items are graduating up the contraption ladder. Car seats are evolving into booster seats for instance.

I love all the buying guides and ratings on Shopwiki like I have said before. I also love that I can see so many results when I search for an item, not just for stores that pay for ads. I do find their buying guides very useful when I am trying to make a product decision though. My hubby and I have been wanting to buy a backpack style baby carrier before next fall. We like to do a bit of hiking in the fall and I think it would make it a lot easier to tote our youngest. When it was the two of us and two kids we had enough hands to carry the two, but with three kids you need extra help. The buying guide on this category is rather nice.

I may not need to buy baby walkers anymore, but I can still shop for cute toddler clothes. Oh, I forgot about the slider bar tool on shopwiki. You can shop by price range or color for many items. I need to do a search for all things pink tomorrow and let my youngest daughter check it out. She is a totally pink girl from head to toe whenever possible. Check out this adorable toddler T-shirt I just found when I did a " pink" search. It is pink, it is Winnie the Pooh, and it talks! My daughter would flip!

A Possible Twist In The Huckaby - Cantu Case

I was watching the news earlier on TV and they are batting around a horrible theory. There is suspicions that Melissa Huckaby might be responsible for the kidnapping of another little girl back in January. Supposedly another little girl from the same trailer park that Huckaby and Cantu lived in went missing for about 4 hours in January. When the girl was later returned home ( they did not say how she got back home), she was found to have some sort of muscle relaxer in her system.

The mother of this second little girl contacted that local police, but they said they did not take the mother seriously because the mother smelled of alcohol and had some sort of drugs in her possession. OK, I can imagine that this would not give the best impression to the police, but I would think it would make the police look harder into the welfare of this little girl, not ignore it. If they thought the mom was such a bad witness because of her condition, did they look into the welfare of the little girl? What about the fact that the hospital found muscle relaxers in the girls system, was there anything done there?

It is reported that the little girls mom gave a description of a vehicle that matched a vehicle owned by Melissa Huckaby. I guess Huckaby owns a purple vehicle of the same make that the mother told the police about, and it is not a common color or make....still nothing done? The thought now is that in hindsight maybe Sandra Cantu's life might have been spared if Huckaby indeed had something to do with what happened to the little girl in January. They often talk about how killers escalate their crimes as they go. Was this abduction a horrible dress rehearsal for what happened to poor little Sandra?

I know that police are overwhelmed with work at times, but where kids are concerned you can not be too careful or thorough.

Shaken Not Stirred For Fast Energy

I think I have told you before that I have been trying to get into better shape. I have been making as many little changes as I can fit into my crazy life. I figure that the little changes will add up and they are better than nothing right? I have been taking some vitamins, but I want to add a few more to my collection. Now I am thinking that I want to add some health shakes to my routine.

I found this awesome site called EnergyFirst.com and they have all sorts of items to help with a quest for better health. They have everything from vitamins to greens superfood and more. Since I am thinking or trying some new shakes I started looking around the site. They also have a nice selection of powder protein drink mixes to supplement your diet. If I buy ten vanilla and ten chocolate shakes mix packets I will get a free blender bottle.

If you like to drink any sort shake or energy drink, you should really check this thing out. It has a stainless steel mixing ball right inside the cup. When you shake it, the ball is suppose to move around and break up any clumps of mix powder. That is one of the things I did not like so much when I tried health shakes before, is the lumps. This cup sounds like it will make that a lot better.

Thankful For Modern Ammenities

I have been a little stressed out lately ( what else is new). All the day to day hustle and bustle has been running me down. My youngest does not like to sleep much, so that means little sleep for me. Money worries, kid worries, marriage worries, etc etc etc it all adds up to STRESS.

As fate would have it I have also been watching several pioneer days type movies as well. They have been running a series of them that I like on the Hallmark Channel, as well as a few others that aren't in the series. I started watching one in them middle tonight and it took me a few minutes to realize that it was the Hallmark Channel's remake of Little House on the Prairie. I had forgotten to tape it, but I am going to tape the rest of it.

Anyway as I am watching the dad (Charles) bring home presents from town it made me think. The girls were so happy to get new shoes, and some clothe for dresses, and even a bag of sugar. The thing that made Mrs. Ingalls the happiest was a package containing panes of glass so that Charles could put windows in their cabin. This would keep some of the could out, and let the sunshine in. These types of movies are really great for reminding someone of how easy we basically have it these days.

I have also been doing genealogy lately and I have made it back to the early 1800's on my hubby's tree. Sifting through the old photos and books that are on the internet has taken my mind back to that time as well. I can not imagine heading out across one or more countries to "Make my way". Not really knowing where I was going or where I would end up. I guess that is why they call it the pioneer spirit.

So I will sit here on my laptop that is hooked up to this miraculous thing called the internet, drink my coffee ( made in a machine), snuggle my daughter in a warm house full of fancy windows, and count my blessings!

Satellite TV For Your Business

I have heard of Direct TV of course, and I have even been a customer of theirs before. I did not realize that they provide special services to meet the needs of business customers. Do you own a bar, retaurant, or maybe a Salon? Commercial Direct TV offers great programming to suit your needs from NFL Sunday Ticket to a variety of news and entertainment for your customers to enjoy while they are at your establishment.

DirectTV Business can even provide you with Xm Satellite Radio so that you can have the kind of commercial free music you want. You can then decide on what type of mood you want to set in the background. Setting the right feeling can make a huge difference in the way your clientelle feels.

If you want to learn more about DirecTV Business offerings, you can go to their website and get a 15 second quote. Then you will know whether what they have to offer fills the bill of what you need.

Phil Spector Found Guilty

Well it only took four years to go to trial, and then two more years for a verdict, but Hollywood producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of 2nd degree murder. I never really paid to close of attention to the case, but I knew about it. I can't even remember what I heard when the case first happened, but I remember feeling that he was probably guilty.



I guess a jury finally decided that Spector was guilty too, after about 27 hours of deliberation. I hope the verdict brings some sort of closure to the friends and family of Lana Clarkson. Getting "justice" for a crime is often a small consolation, but at least it is something. I just read headline yesterday about how Scott Peterson spends most of his time in a small cell. Aww,, poor baby! Maybe he will be next door to Spector and they can whine to each other.



If you don't to die yourself, or spend the rest of your life rotting away in a cell, don't be an idiot and kill another human being.

Online Trading

Have you ever gotten in to Online Trading? I have always thought that it would be a fun thing to try if I new more about it. I was looking around a site called Firstrade.com and there is a lot of interesting information on that site.

You can go to their site and learn more about Stock Trading and become your own Online Broker. If you are already with another online broker, you can transfer to Firstrade for free, and they have a refer a friend bonus of 50.00 dollars! You can make trades for as low as 6.95 per trade and from what I have learned so far, that is a pretty good deal.

I also like that they don't have a minimum amount to start your account. I wonder if that really means I can start with enough to make one trade. If you are like me and want to learn more about online trading, I would say stop by Firstrade and check it out.

One Kid and Counting

Do any of you ever watch the TLC television show "17 (or 18) Kids and Counting"? Well the oldest Duggar son, Josh, got married recently and now he and his wife Anna are getting started on their own branch of the family tree.

Josh and Anna Duggar are expecting their first little bundle of joy in October 2009. Anna is about 3 months along now and she says she is feeling good and that morning sickness is subsiding. When the young couple were asked how many kids they were going to have, they said "We are leaving that up to God". Do I smell a spin off in the future? LOL

Another ironic twist to the story is that Josh's youngest sister will be less than a year younger than her little niece or nephew. I am sure this large, though tight knit, family will make sure that Anna and Josh have all the help and support the could need. There will not be a shortage of baby sitters either!

Good luck to them all!

The Car Connection

As I mentioned before, I like going to CarConnection.com whenever I want to research the latest cars that are out. It is a really interesting site that gives statistics and reviews on any make or model you might be interested.

My husband and I hardly ever agree on a car, SUV, or any type of vehicle. Check out the new kia models I was reading about. I have always like the look of most Kia, but the Sorento is particularly sharp looking. Dear hubby keeps saying that he wants to get "me" a jeep grand cherokee to tote the family around in. It is definitely a nice looking vehicle to, I don't know which I would like better.

That is me, I must research and research before I make a decision. According to
CarConnection.com the nissan murano rated even higher over all than the Cherokee did. It has some interesting styling points as well. I still think that a car like the honda civic hybrid would be the best bet for my husband to get back and forth to school and work. We will still have a bigger vehicle for when we need to all go together somewhere, but he needs a good runaround car.

Free At Last!!

I just got a news update email that says the U.S. Navy captain that has been held captive by Somalian pirates HAS BEEN FREED!!!!

The email update also said that 3 OR 4 pirates have been killed in the process. Loss of human life is never a good thing, but I once you decide to take another person hostage or anything like that, that is the risk you take.

I am so glad that the captain was saved and as far as I know, unharmed. I could not believe it when I heard the other day that the captain had jumped of the boat he was being held on, only to be captured again. I was shocked that there was not Navy seals in the water ready to scoop him up, or sharp shooters ready to "take the shot" as soon as the captain was clear.

The U.S. needs to show strength in these matters, especially now that there is a new president in charge. Of course bad guys from all over are going to be testing our country at this time,,, and we MUST PASS!

God bless the captain who traded himself for his crew. Now he can go home to be with his family and friends. Happy Easter to all!

Web Hosting Options

Remember when I was telling you that I like to keep up on the latest web hosting option out there? I stopped by webHostingRating.com as I do from time to time, and I am glad I did. There is a company on their newest list of rated web hosts that I did not see on the list before. It is called Just Host and they have an unlimited hosting deal for as low as 4.95 a month.

Just Host also got a great rating from WebHostingRating.com. They offer unlimited traffic, unlimited space, unlimited domains and more. You have to buy your domains of course, but you can then host as many as you want with this hosting provider for the same price. I love unlimited plans whenever I can get them whether it is for web hosting, or phone service etc. This leaves you with more options and less surprises on your bill.

If you like to stay up to date on the latest information on web hosting or other webmaster issues, check out their interesting articles section. If you have one blog or a multitude of websites that you control, it is always a good idea to stay informed and educated. Technology changes on almost a daily basis, you have to keep up!

Cooking Rice

Why is it that no matter how much you pre measure and pre figure out how much, when ever you cook rice...it is ALWAYS TOO MUCH?

It never fails. I start with enough broth, I read the box and add what they say is the correct amount and then when I go back to stir it...all the broth is sucked up in the rice?
I try adding less than they say and still not right. I have tried cooking the rice separately, but then it does not have the nice flavor of the broth....

There has got to be a secret to cooking the right amount of rice. Other than too much rice...the chicken and vegetables had a great taste. Oh, well, I will try again next time I guess.

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

Oh Yes! Hubby's work boots came in today.
He ordered the Wolverine Boots again because they are so comfortable and durable for his type of work.
I didn't want to tell him this but they look soooo darned handsome on him too!
He gets all his engineer gear on, you know, the denim jeans, the checkered shirt, the hard hat and those wolverine boots...what a hunk!
I was just browsing the web area for the boots and noticed they have a per cent off sale going on now.
I am going to go ahead and order another pair of boots for hubby and take advantage of the discount on them.
They will get here fast so I will pack them away for his birthday in a couple of months.
He will be happy to get them and he will be due for his new pair by them too.
I was noticing other shoes and boots on the web site but I am not sure which ones hubby would be interested in.
Maybe I can trick him into looking at the site with me one day and get a hint or two.
This is a great place to buy boots and shoes from.
The warranty, the fast shipping and the availability all a plus.

Kids Get Exercise

Yes it is almost spring but the weather is still a bit yucky for the kids to go outside and play.
But my children are very fortunate in the fact that they have a grandpa and grandma that go the local Y every other day and the children get to go to the Y with them.
They have access to the play room there and they can play basketball and if time and patience allow,they get to go swimming.
So even though they can't go run and play out doors, this lets them run off some steam and energy and they get to have the fun of playing with other children.
Grandpa and Grandma like taking them and I like the little extra time I can have to spend with the baby.
Everyone wins!

Paving The Way

How often do you pull into a parking lot and hit a chuck hole or wonder which way is the correct way to turn to park your vehicle or finally get a parking space, but you have to puddle jump to get out of your vehicle?
Well, parking lot maintenance in Virginia is done by a very professional company called ASAP Paving who is listed with the BBB in the state.
They do suburb work whether it be commercial or residential.
The know if you should use just pavement or locking pavers and where to put the drainage gutters so water will drain properly on the area being surfaced.
When this company is called out to do a repave job, they use only high quality materials and it won't wash away with the first rain.
Make sure you hire only reputable businesses to do this type of work because if they do not know what they are doing it can cause you a horrible and costly problem and may have to get it redone.If not done right you can get water draining the wrong way and cause inside flooding and you know you won't want that.
You could also get water run off the wrong way and it would cause erosion and property damages that could cost you a fortune to repair.
The company you hire must know the laws of the city for constructions works and they need to be educated in the work they do.
If you would have a driveway area paved, they would suggest that if you have a dumpster area where a big truck has to drive over that you would maybe place lock pavers to handle the excess weight of the truck.
So check out the company before you hire them.

Snazzy Displays

Do you know what trade show exhibits are? Many people do, but just don't think about it or realize it. Every time you have ever gone to a craft show, car show, home and garden show, etc, you have seen these types of exhibits.

So people give more thought to their trade show exhibit than others do, but it can make a big difference in how many sales you make at a show. I mean that is why you go there right, to sell your product or service? So why would you not want to take a little extra time and make a really nice display to catch people's eye? A customer is much more likely to stop at your booth if it looks nice. The days of the plain card table, chairs, and a banner are over. People want style or flash to catch their attention.

You could go to a site like GilbertDisplays.com and really put together a nice setup for your next trade show. I was looking around their website and I did not realize exactly all that they do. They craft some gorgeous architectural woodworking as well. The photo galleries on their site give you a great idea of what they can do for your store as well as your show displays. There was even a lovely wooden bar I saw on the site that would look great in any upscale pub.

It also looks like they have designed the interiors of some nice stores as well. There are so great shots of jewelry stores that they must have made the cabinetry for. It really is a nice looking site, check it out the next time you are looking to update the image of your business.

More on Hallmark Channel

Oh, I forgot to mention another interesting thing I saw on the Hallmark Channel website... they are making a new mini series of Little House on the Prarie. It is going to be a three part series I guess, so know that going in. I hate it when I start watching something and do not know that is it going to be continued.

Especially if you are setting something to tape or TiVo. You set it for the first night, watch it, then realize that you missed the next installment when you see those ominous TO BE CONTINUTED words flash across the screen. But as you know I love Hallmark movies and shows, so I will be checking it out for sure.

It might be a fun way to get my girls in to Little House stories. I use to watch the old series some when I was younger, but maybe I will get the books to read to my girls.

Myrtle Beach Resorts

My mom and dad have been looking for property in the Carolinas. They are trying to plan ahead and keep an eye out for just the right deal while they have time. The area they are mostly looking at is near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I like to look around the web for them once in awhile to see that is out there in that area.

Check out this site I found that helps you plan a vacation to Myrtle Beach Resorts. Now I know they are not going to be living at a Myrtle Beach Resort, but since I happened upon the site I will take it as a sign that I should look around. There is nothing saying that my family and I can not stay at one of these fabulous places when we go to visit one day right? You always have to keep your mind and options open.

I have stayed at Myrtle Beach Hotels before and I love the area. Anywhere by the water always has a special feel and charm. The fresh salty air is just so therapeutic in many ways. This site I was telling you about MyrtleBeachSeasideResorts.com, looks like a great site to use the next time you are planning to head in that direction for a vacation. They even handle condo rentals and full blown golf vacations. I can get my dad into anything that involves golf for sure. That is more than likely why he wants to retire to that state. Mom does not really care as long as there is no more snow for her.

The Love Saga Movies

Are any of you fans of the Hallmark Channel movies, or Janette Oke? I have not read any of Janette Oke's books, but she is one of my friends favorite authors. I happened across the first movie in the series a couple of years ago, and I thought that there were only three. I was going to post to let other fans know that there were two more movies being aired on the Hallmark Channel this week.

I just looked on HallmarkChannel.com and I find out that there was an original SIX not just three. now I have to find the other three so that I can watch them. So I guess the first six books/movies were ... Love Comes Softly; Love's Enduring Promise; Love's Long Journey; Love's Abiding Joy; Loves Unending Legacy; and Loves Unfolding Dream. This week they are coming out with two more including the one they say is that last in the saga. These are Love Takes Wing and Love Finds a Home.

As I look at the list now I am pretty sure I have actually seen the first four movies. They weird thing is, is that they seem to play them out of order all the time, so I get lost. It is a really nice series of movies. If you enjoy movies about family, love, faith, or pioneer spirit, you should check them out. The Hallmark Channel website has a lot of cool extras on the movie. Like a fan chat area, quizzes and even a family tree of the characters from the movie. A word of warning though..the family tree can be a bit of a SPOILER if you have not seen all the movies yet. I learned something I did not know while reading the tree, so I would check it out after you have watched all the movies if you don't want to know too much ahead of time.

I was going to watch the newest two movies this weekend, but now I guess I need to hunt down the movies I have missed. But if you are like me and like this series, I just wanted to let you know the new ones are out. Don't miss them!

A Safer Investment?

In these harsh economic times, what kinds of investments do you think are the safest? I don't have a ton of money to invest in anything right now, but I always like to learn about what is out there so that I know my options. That way if I do get a bit of money to invest I will know what opportunity that I want to take advantage of.

I think that the easy options like CD's and savings accounts might not be the best bet for awhile. One option I was reading about is investing in precious metals such as gold. I heard stories about banks going under, or white collar criminals stealing from people's investment portfolios, but I have never heard about anyone losing money on gold. Even if all the computers crashed tomorrow and all the "pretend money" vanished, gold will still be there.

I think I am going to look around on this site I found called GoldMadeEasy.com and learn more. The site seems to break down a lot of the information about buying or selling gold into easy to understand terms. I am going to education myself for the time when I do have some money to invest. Putting money into gold seems like a pretty solid investment. My grandfather had often given us grand kids coins for presents. I know that he understands the value of a long term investment and that he is really trying to give us the gift of security.

THE PARTY WAS A BLAST!!!

Oh My Goodness! We had the birthday party for the girls today. We went to the PUMP IT UP in Hartville, Ohio that I was telling you about. That place definitely lived up to its reputation in every way. They had called a couple days ago to get a head count and see if I had any other questions that they could help me with. I thought that was very nice and professional of them.

Then today from the moment you enter the building you can just tell that you are going to have a good time. Every inch of the place is brightly colored and beautifully decorated, but I noticed something even more important...the smell of CLEAN! Cleanliness is very important to me and I have never been in a public place that was so neat and clean, it even smelled fresh. This has to be a mighty task with the amounts of kids that must pass through there on a daily basis. The PUMP IT UP crew has the routine down to a science too. One of the other mothers that had gotten there before I did noticed how quick the workers were to clean up from the party before us.

The kids were instantly excited when they walked in. They knew that they were having a party but had no idea where it was going to be. You could tell by the look on their faces that they were trying to take it all in. They were excited enough when they walked in and saw their friends and family waiting in the lobby, I do not think it dawned on them until after they watched the pre-party safety video that they were going to get to do all the things they saw on the video. I think it was a neat idea that Pump it Up shows that video to teach the kids how to play safe on the equipment. The video only takes a few minutes, but it not only teaches the kids to be safe, but it gets them "Pumped Up" to go play. ( Pun intended LOL) It's almost like a coming attractions reel at the movies.

Oh I am so exhausted from the day leading up to the party itself and then playing with the kids, but it was so worth it. All of the kids had huge smiles on their faces from the minute they walked in, until we walked out at the party's end. All the parents thanked me for planning such a fun party, I had to laugh a little and explain that I did the easy part. The crew at this place is so awesome I can not say enough. They helped wrangle kids and keep everyone safe during the play time, they got my opinion on things when needed and kept me informed every step of the way.

While we were playing another helper set up the cake room. She had the cake table ready, the plates and drinks laid out, and even had the presents arranged on a table for us. She offered to keep track of the presents on a gift log like they do at showers. I said no since there were only a few presents I thought it would be easy to keep track. Now I wish I had said yes, so if you go let the nice gal take notes for you. We all enjoyed our cake and drinks then watched the girls open their presents. The got many nice things, but I don't think they would have minded not getting any wrapped presents at all after the fun they just had.

Then like magic the helper whisked away the wrapping paper, plates etc and even helped me carry items out to our minivan. I asked how much they would charge to help like that at my house, and she just laughed. I really can not say enough about this place and I am sure that I will post about it again. If you are planning a birthday party or other group gathering I would highly recommend this place.

Shopping For Springy Shoes

Oh ladies, the weather is getting nice. It is time to get your pedicures with pretty nail polish, because it is sandal season again. It is so nice to get to lighten up the wardrobe every year. Put away the heavy coats, bet out the sun dresses and shorts.

I was on Zappos.com and they have the cutest, strappy sandals. It makes me want to plan a family picnic just so that I can buy a new dress and shoes LOL. I might just have to buy the ones they have on their homepage today. It is a pair of Cole Haan sandals named Tiana, they are so cute and I love the natural leather tone. Natural shades of shoes go with anything so you really get use out of them.

Awww, they even have some adorable kids' sandals on here. I just noticed that they have added clothing to Zappos.com as well. I love it when a site I already like expands to other items, then I have more options while I am already there shopping. The list of brand names they carry is huge. There is one brand name J. Renee I am going to have to tell my friend Jen about. She can have shoes named after her, that would be fun!

I think I am going to have to get two pairs of these mootsie's Tootsies sandals I just found on here for my girls. They are white with pink and green dragonflies on them. Pink and green are their two favorite colors and they are so springy. Yep, I'll take two please!

Springtime and Flea Time

I am so happy that spring is here, but I am preparing now for the barrage of fleas ahead of us this summer. I am starting RIGHT NOW to prevent these creatures from their home invasion.
I am starting with the dog then outside around the house and yard.

I actually remembered to buy a spot treatment for my dog ahead of time this year. I wanted to get her treated ahead of time this year to avoid the battle I had last season. I am looking for ways to keep the fleas away from our yard as much as possible too.

So if any of you have any tried and true ways to rid us of fleas, please let me know.
The thing I do not want is "my friend said methods" or "I heard" ...I want things that really, really work.

Thanks all.

Your Dentist Knows More Than You Think

Cold sores, canker sores, gingivitis and cavities are all things that we commonly hear or think about in reference to our facial area.
Of the above, the gums are the most important because it reflects what is going on with our health.
When properly diagnosed some gum issues are treated by laser gum surgery to fix the problem.
This procedure is less painful and gentler on the patient that the usual method of cutting surgery and allows the dentist to use topical anesthetic to ease pain.
Gum disease can cause such things as heart diseases and diabetes.
Certain patterns of tissue irritation can depict symptoms of Wegener's Granulamatosis which is a form of vasculitis.
The laser method decontaminates the area best and healing time is hastened.
Before this method id decided on, a consult takes place and blood work is done to help determine the actions necessary to put your mouth back on the road to recovery.
A dentist has to know not only about teeth, but he/she has to be fully educated on your entire body...inside and out.
Getting a dental check up can auger the onset of Alzheimer's, a stroke or even preterm low birth weight in babies. Is this amazing news to you?
Then you should check into this web area to learn more...a lot more.
You need to go to your dentist for a check up even if you feel nothing wrong at the time if it has been a while since your last visit.
Do not wait for the pain to start. Go visit your dentist to prevent pain and other bad things before they get out of hand.

Heroes Star Battles Epilepsy With His Son

I just read an article about how actor Greg Grunberg ( Heroes), has a son who has been battling epilepsy for many years. He said that his son was already having many seizures each day, and that it got worse after puberty. Grunberg and his wife decided to take what to some might be a drastic step...surgery.

Doctors removed that part of the boy's brain that had the most epileptic activity. I guess the boy is doing great, and now only has one epileptic episode every three weeks or so. This is big change from the hundreds he was having each day. It would definitely seem that the surgery was a success.

Now Grunberg and his family are helping get the word out about a website called TalkAboutit.org. This site gives people who are dealing with epilepsy a positive place to go and get support and information. That is great that they are using their celebrity to help a good cause.

Would you have the bravery to get surgery for yourself or a child that was going through such a thing?

Affordable Fashionable Maternity Clothes

I know that I was pregnant, I was luckier than some generations before me. We now have better medical care, more safety products and prettier maternity clothes . I wish I would have found this site I found today when I was pregnant though. The site is called KikisFashions.com, and they have an awesome collection of gorgeous maternity clothes at some really great prices!

I am going to have to show this site to my cousin who is expecting. I can not believe how cute some of the tops and dresses are. There are a lot of pretty things to help you get ready for spring and summer. I also found out that if you put the code "blogfriends" in the check out that you will get an extra 20% off of your order.

There is even a whole section of clothes that is under 10.00. It is almost impossible to find a nice top under 10.00 at local stores where I am from. It says they change up their stock regularly too, so you always have something new to choose from.