Blog Move

I moved to my own hosted site. I had a redirection but it caused a problem with some of my sponsored posts. Please visit me at me new site, juliannah by design.Sorry for any inconvenience.

Just Pass the Bread

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Wheat Food Council. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have I ever mentioned that I love most anything that is made from wheat? Just give me bread, bagels, pasta and tortillas. Yum, Yum, Yum. I never understood those low carb diets, because if someone took my bread away I would not be a happy camper.

So, I recently discovered a site that lets you interactively virtually grow, harvest and mill your own kernels to create your desired wheat food. Go to How Wheat Works and get started. People of all ages can participate.

The program has four phases. Growth, harvest, milling/baking and the grocer’s aisle and only takes just a few minutes to complete, although the program spans the course of four days. You get to pick the type of wheat to be grown and at the end of each phase you will have the opportunity to prepare recipes from wheat grown in your area. Plus you can view harvest videos from “America’s Heartland.” There is a program that reaches out to our youths by providing kids ages 9 to 12 with learning, quizzes and information and strives to educate children on the benefits of wheat products.

The best part is the Wheat Foods Council will donate two pounds of flour, up to 90,000 pounds, to Operation Homefront, a non-profit that provides assistance to needy U.S. troops and their families. Of course this is near and dear to my heart because I do all I can to support our troops and their families.

ADM and ConAgra Mills, two of the world’s largest millers are making this possible. Also the Wheat Food Council believes that teaching people about the benefits of whole or enriched grain food can shed new light on wheat nutrition, resulting in better informed food choices. So check out HowWheatWorks.com and get started on a better, healthy lifestyle and have fun while you are at it.

Still Hanging Out

Well it looks like I will still be hanging out here for awhile. I have to wait for Social Spark to change my url before I can write sponsored posts where I moved my blog. I will have to continue to post them here until that happens. I think their customer service department must be bogged down with the holidays barely over and such.

So if you want to read my product reviews continue to stop by and I will post when I finally get completely moved. I also will put the redirect back on so it will go there automatically. Also will my followers please follow me at the new juliannah by design. I would really appreciate it. I also need the traffic as my stats really took a hit once I moved. Of course I knew that would happen, but it is still disappointing. That is my priority in the next few weeks. I am also trying to work on Tweeting more and receiving more income from that avenue. Please come follow me on twitter too. You can find me as @juliannahaz. I will be breaking 300 followers anytime. Follow me and I will follow you.

Well, I am off to Social Spark to pick up a new Opp. Thanks for bearing with me during this move. Overall it will be for the better and I am enjoying working on my new blog.

Tuna: Good for Moms-To-Be

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of HealthyTuna.com. All opinions are 100% mine.


I find it very interesting how much differing views concerning pregnancy are out there. When I had my kids, the last one born 25 years ago, I was not told to avoid seafood. Today, pregnant women are told not to eat seafood such as shark, mackerel, swordfish and tilefish because they can be high in mercury and that can be harmful to the developing baby.

One type of seafood that I love is tuna. I ate tuna when I was pregnant with my children. I still enjoy a tuna sandwich for lunch A scientific report published in Environmental Health Perspectives recently stated that locally obtained seafood has higher levels of mercury, but most of the seafood consumed in the United States is not from local areas.

Some women may actually be avoiding seafood when some like healthy tuna could be beneficial to a pregnant woman. Studies have shown that tuna can help prevent depression in pregnant women. The omega-3 fatty acids also assist in brain development of the child.

Women trying to conceive can also benefit because tuna contribute to increased fertility, increases HDL (good) cholesterol and provides nutrients like the already mention Omega-3 fatty acids plus vitamin D and selenium.

Therefore, women should of course talk to their Obstetrician about diet before and during pregnancy and follow the Doctor’s recommendations, but should not be afraid to limit every type of seafood.

This is my family's favorite Tuna Casserole

* 8 ounces elbow macaroni
* 4 tablespoons butter
* 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
* 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
* 1 can cream of mushroom soup
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* buttered soft bread crumbs


Cook macaroni in boiling water according to package directions until tender, drain and rinse.
Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; add chopped onions and bell pepper and sauté over low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, until tender. Add flour, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until smooth and bubbly. Add milk and mushroom soup and stir over low heat until smooth and thickened. Add cooked drained macaroni, flaked tuna, peas, and about half of the cheese to sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into 2-quart buttered casserole; top with remaining cheese then buttered bread crumbs. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Tuna casserole serves 4 to 6.

My New Place

I have moved. My new address is juliannahbydesign.net. Please update your bookmarks and subscribe to me there.

I am very excited about having my own domain and more control over my blog. Please visit my new site so I can get my google rank up.

Just know that I am still working on my new site. I will get it together soon. Once the holidays are over I will have some more time.

Trouble in Blog Land

I tried to switch to a custom domain name and it seemed to go well but when I try to view my blog it starts to load but then it just stops. I posted this problem in Google help and the person checking on it said they could see my blog with no problem. So I have know idea what is going on. Wish me luck on fixing this problem.

Great Deals Online That Benefits Lung Cancer Awareness

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.

In early November, a new online auction site was launched. Online auctions are a great way to go shopping because you can get great deals on the things you want to purchase. At Bidazzled, winners typically save over 80% of retail prices. There are also no losers. If a bidder does not win, they will still receive up to 50 bonus points for participating. Winners are typically
offered cash and bids or bids for bedazzled to buy back the item.

When you sign up you get five free bids and during the first month, two winners won Nintendo Wiis with only their five free bids! If you register by January 15 Bidazzled you will receive 15 additional free bids. Just enter these codes on the registration page:

Blog: BBP1202A
Twitter: BTP1202A

Bids can be purchased for $1 or in a pack at $25 dollars. If you purchase a pack, you will receive bonus bids. If you join, you will also get in on a lucrative Viral Referral program.

This is how is works:

A refers B. A receives 5 Bonus Bids
B refers C. A receives 4 Bonus Bids
C refers D. A receives 3 Bonus Bids
D refers E. A receives 2 Bonus Bids
E refers F. A receives 1 Bonus Bid.

Bidazzled was designed to benefit the Ruch Foundation, a charity that promotes awareness about lung cancer. Therefore, everybody wins when you sign up for Bidazzled.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightening

I had an interesting day yesterday. It started out with a monster storm that contained almost hurricane force winds and torrential rain. When I woke up the wind was howling and leaves, tree branches and lord knows what else was flying everywhere. My dog buddy did not want to go outside and promptly peed on a rug in my bedroom. My big, red dog Lucie went outside, raced around in the mud, and of course tracked it back in the house. Nice.

I left to go to work and had to dislodge tumbleweed from underneath my car. As I was driving to work in the pouring rain, I barely missed hitting a downed tree. When I arrived at work apparently said tree had encounters with several other co-workers of mine. Thank goodness, it was early and there was not many people on the road as we all had to serve to miss the tree. We all concluded that after missing the tree there was no need for coffee as we were more than awake at that point.

When I left to go home I discovered my car had been hit with mud rain. What is mud rain? Well this is something new to me, but all I can say is my car looked like it had not seen a car wash in years and I actually had to turn on the window washer in order to see out.

Driving home, I ran over numerous palm tree branches and other debris. When I finally arrived home, the tumbleweed was still in my driveway. Now you would think with almost 70mph winds that tumbleweed would have left. Nope. Still there.

Once at home I cleaned the sticks, leaves and dirt off my back porch and tried to keep Lucie out of the mud. I thought about washing the car but decided to wait a couple of days. Another storm has been forecasted for this weekend. Maybe I will get lucky and this storm will contain clean rain. One can only hope.

I Need a New Vacuum!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dirt Devil. All opinions are 100% mine.

My vacuum cleaner is broken. It has decided to spit the dirt back at me rather than picking it up. Luckily I have mostly tile floors but my carpeted floors cannot go on without attention, so the time has come for a new vacuum.

While browsing the internet in search of a good deal I went to DirtDevil.com and while I was there I found the Dirt Devil Holiday Buying Guide. It is a downloadable catalogue that Dirt Devil has compiled with ways to get the best holiday deals. There are over 300 ways to save by shopping online with the Guide. Many sites are offering promos for reduced prices, free shipping as well as other special offers. The guide shows how to save with promo codes and the easiest way to find them. For example you can search the retailers name and include “promo code” to find great deals. I was able to find a great deal on a new vacuum cleaner using this tip in the guide.

December 17 many retailers will be offering free shipping and if you order on that day they guarantee delivery by Christmas! Plus there are links to sites that help you get free shipping all during the holiday season.

Besides the great Guide, DirtDevil has great holiday gifts for men, women and the whole family! So go check out the Dirt Devil Holiday Guide. They have done all the work and all you have to do is follow a few links and after a few mouse clicks your holiday shopping will be done. No crowds, no lines to wait in or trying to find a parking space. Now that is my idea of shopping!

We The People

This speaks for itself.

Great Prizes Just in Time for Christmas

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter Communication. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Yea, me either. If you are like me you are probably looking for the best deal on the gifts you want to give. Probably want the easiest way to purchase them too. I love to shop online. Just point and click and before you know the purchases arrive on your doorstep.

Better yet what if you do not have to pay for all your purchases? Well I found a site that lets you enter sweepstakes to win the great gifts you want. Just visit Charter's Daily Deal Web Site for two ways to win cool prizes like FREE gift cards and get great deals on Charter Cable, Internet and Phone services.

Charter's is finishing a great year of goundbreaking sweepstakes that began with Black Friday and Cyber Monday where they offered gift cards worth up to $200! For 38 days Charter’s is giving out great prizes like iPods, Camcorders, GPS units, webcams, Photo frames and much more. There are great Showtime programs like Dexter, The Tudors, and Californication, which by the way my son told me over Thanksgiving that this is a great show! They also have boxed sets of Big Love and Entourage, personal favorites of mine.

Plus become a fan of Charter on Facebook and you will be able to see updates everyday of these great deals.

During the last two years, Charter has surpassed the industry in creative and newsworthy Sweepstakes including terrific prizes like an HDTV-a-day, Toyota Prius, a new 2010 Chevy Camaro, Xbox 360s and much more.

Charter’s is worth checking out! After all, who does not like to win truly great prizes!

What is a Turducken?

That was my question last year. I first heard about it on the radio so naturally I had to find out all about it. It seems that a Turducken is a chicken stuffed into a duck that is then stuffed into a turkey. I really wonder who ever came up with this. Apparently, there are many people enjoying this dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The first Turducken is traced back to Paul Prudhomme, a creole chef. It is said he created the dish for the Duvell Festival in Washington . There is a company called Herbert’s Specialty Meats in Maurice Louisiana that prepares around 5,000 Turducken orders a week during Thanksgiving. I guess there are quite a few people out there that like Turducken!

I am not so sure this would be something I would like. I am not especially fond of duck. Although a chicken in a turkey might not be so bad. Hmm. Turchicken anyone?

Finding the Best Running Shoes.

Where do you buy shoes? Maybe at the mall or online better yet a discount shoe store? I really like the convenience of online shopping. I have found that you can see a bigger variety of the product you are looking for just by shopping online.


If you are a runner then Zappos.com is the place to go for running shoes. They have a huge variety and just about every brand you can think of. I found these Sketcher running shoes. I like the simplicity of the style. They will look great on the trail or with a pair of jeans if you so desire.


Another feature I like is free shipping! I also like the way they categorize the running shoes. You can look for the running shoes that fit your needs, like stability, motion control or trail running. There is also a section for track and field.


If you are in need of running shoe then check out Zappos.com.Oh, and while you are there check out the apparel, handbags, housewares and beauty section. Because all girls want more than just the perfect running shoes.

Sponsored Post

Tips for Keeping Your Kids Busy Before Christmas

When my children were young, they typically would become excited over the prospect of the coming holiday. With that came a renewed sense of energy that I needed to find a way to deal with, otherwise I would quickly find myself wanting to pull my hair out. After giving it some thought I decided to use the holiday as a new learning experience and a chance to embark on new projects. Here are my tips for engaging the kids with new and exciting things to do on those days leading up to the holidays.

Making cookies is pretty standard and straightforward holiday activity. That being said, kids usually love makeing and decorating cookies. In addition, the types of cookies to make are endless. The cookies can be made from scratch or buy a cookie log and simply cut the cookies or roll out and use cookie cutters. This was a personal favorite with my kids. After baking, I would let the kids decorate with frosting and all kinds of sprinkles and afterward we had quite an assortment of cookies. You can take it a step further and package the cookies in colorful tins for gift giving.

One year I decided to make ornaments. Some of the best ornaments I own are either handmade by my kids and me or received from my kids as school projects. I looked forward each year to see what ornaments they would bring home from school. One year after collecting pine cones from a mountain trip, we spray painted the cones and tied on ribbons. The ribbons served as hangers. They were simple, but quite beautiful. They still hang on my tree every year!

Try making a video. Kids naturally like to perform and with a little coaching and some practice, you can make a great video of your family singing songs or telling stories or even a small play. We made a video one year and the kids gave it to their grandparents as a gift. The kids had a great time and the grandparents loved it.

Find a small tree and let the kids make all the decorations such as paper ring garland, popsicle stick ornaments, pretzel wreaths or pipe cleaner ornaments. When I was a child, I loved having my “own” tree in my room. Let the kids come up with there own ideas for decorations. You will be surprised how creative they really are.

The possibilities are endless. These are just a few of the activities my kids and I did together. Please feel free to leave a comment about what you and you kids do or have done. I would love to hear them!

Oh, my daughter continues the cookie tradition. Sometimes we still get together and make cookies or if it is not possible, she makes them with her daughter. I am quite sure my granddaughter will continue someday with her own children.

Wordless Wednesday - My Best Friend's Wedding

Tweet and Get Paid For It!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Sponsored Tweets. All opinions are 100% mine.

You can:

1. Set your price. Decide what you would like to be paid for your tweets!

2. Choose your offers. Decide what you want to tweet about.

3. Receive payment. Your account will be credited within 24 hours. You can cash out once your account reaches $50!





Go ahead and sign up for sponsored tweets and give it a try. Why not get paid for something you are already doing? Sponsored Tweets lets the tweeter have complete control and is designed to be non-intrusive and you, the tweeter wins as does the advertiser. Sponsored Tweets supports a code of ethics which includes mandatory disclosure, freedom of authenticity, freedom of choice and transparency of identity. So far I am very happy working with Sponsored Tweets. I think you will too. Go ahead and give it a try. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You have until 11/22/09 to sign up! Hurry and get in on this great opportunity! I know you will be very pleased! I know I am!

New Blog Post on Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

I have a new post on Life is Like a Box Of Chocolates:



5 Ways to Support the Troops During the Holidays

Please visit and tell me how you support the troops during the holidays.

How do You Survive Deployment?

I get this question quite a bit from co-workers, friends and family members. How do I do it? Well, I might say, "Very carefully." The truth is I do not always have a good time dealing with it. Even though my son is not in war zone, so to speak, I still worry and realize he is still a target. I find the not knowing aspect to be the hardest.

 

I cope by working on his Christmas care package, writing emails to him and updating his deployment website. I am so fortunate to be able to follow his deployment on FaceBook and Twitter. I also look at Marine, Naval and Unit websites quite regularly. I have said it before and I will say it again. Google is my friend.

 

Surviving deployment is made a little easier for me because I have many friends and family that understand when I get a little upset. Even though this is a non-combat deployment, there are other issues such as financial problems. I have to get his car registered this week and I have a feeling the experience will be less than pleasurable. Power of Attorney is not the end all to every situation that arises.

 

I also believe that we, the people back home can help ourselves survive by doing whatever we can, be that standing with the Patriot Guard, becoming a Soldiers' Angels or just shaking the hand of a vet and saying "Thank you." For some joining support groups or online communities such as Marineparents.com can help coping on a daily basis.

 

Deployment is hard any way you look at. 

So, how do you survive deployment?

Review: Why Mineral Makeup is my Choice

Years ago, when mineral makeup first came on the market it was only sold in high-end boutiques and TV shopping channels. It was also priced on the expensive side with a .06 ounce tub going for about $30.00. I did not mind then because I really liked how it evened out my skin and stayed fresh looking all day.
Another reason I liked mineral makeup is that it provided sunscreen protection. With an SPF of 15, it was not necessary to apply a liquid sunscreen. Since I have been using some form of sunscreen for many years, mineral makeup became even more appealing to me.

I was not surprised how popular the mineral powders became. Soon women everywhere were trying them and loving them. They seemed to work on almost all skin types and tones. Even if the shades available did not match someone's skin, exactly women could mix colors to get the right shade for their skin tone.

Mineral makeup has revolutionized the way women apply foundation. Applying mineral makeup is also easier than and not as messy as liquid foundations. Most come in a kit with a brush and women could just tap a little bit of the powder in the lid of the tub and swirl the brush in the minerals then apply to their face in circular motion. Just a few swirls on your face and that was all there was to it. Using a smaller brush women could even use a small amount as a concealer.

Another advantage is mineral makeup looks good on women of all ages. My mother tried mineral makeup when she was in her seventies and she loves it. Now in her eighties she continues to use mineral makeup. Mineral makeup would be the perfect choice for teenagers who are just starting to wear makeup, as it always looks natural. Young girls will not look too overly made up with this type of makeup.

I remember wondering how long it would be for less expensive makeup brands would come out with their own version of mineral makeup. Well it took a few years but now you can walk into any discount department store or pharmacy store and find mineral makeup in almost all of the popular less expensive makeup brands.

Now more than ever is a great time to try mineral makeup. Affordability is no longer an issue. All women can now enjoy these powders. The choice of brands is almost limitless. Most are talc free and women can choose between a matte look and a more luminous look. Also quite a few companies are more than willing to give out free samples so women can try several brands before making a choice. If you need more information on mineral makeup this website, Mineral Makeup Reviews, provides reviews, links to some mineral makeup companies, and even has a section on bargain mineral makeup.
I have enjoyed mineral makeup since first discovering it. If you decide to try it, you probably will too.

How About a Winter Vacation?

Since I live in a very warm climate sometimes I long to take a nice winter getaway. It would be great to go somewhere where the seasons actually change and the weather is brisk.

When my kids were small, we only took a summer Family Vacation. I always wondered what it would have been like for my kids to take ski vacations. I can imagine them throwing snowballs and making a snowman. They became very adept at water skiing and swimming but never winter sports.

There are so many wonderful resorts and lodges across the country. For instance, Vermont Hotels provide a magical winter holiday getaway. People can find something close to home so a long weekend could be a great chance to take the family on a wonderful outing or spend a week or two having fun on the slopes.

Many resorts offer family packages, couple’s retreats and corporate package deals for business trips. Some have private condominiums while others have luxury suites. In addition, if you are like me and you do not know how to ski, most lodges will offer beginning ski lessons to make the adventure a memorable one.

My kids are all grown now, but I would not mind taking a winter holiday with Corvette even if was to sit by a warm fire and watch the snow fall. Yes, I think it is time to find the snow boots.

New blog post on Life is Like a Box of Chocolates - Do you Know About #MilitaryMon? Read to find out.

8 Easy Steps to a Stress Free Thanksgiving Dinner

Anybody who has prepared a Thanksgiving meal knows it can be quite time consuming. Some families assign certain dishes to each family member making it easier to prepare the overall meal. Years ago when we moved out of state I was faced with preparing the complete meal by myself for the first time. I soon found out that good planning was essential in order to pull off the entire meal by myself. I have come up with an organized system designed to make the process easier with minimal work.

1. Start by shopping for all items needed to prepare the dishes to be served. It is best to shop a week ahead of time. Doing this insures that you miss the holiday rush on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I used to work for a grocery store and trust me when I say that Wednesday is the single busiest grocery shopping day of the year. The turkey also needs about a week to thaw in the refrigerator so do shop ahead.
   
2. Make sure you have a list of all items needed. This will prevent any forgotten items and another trip to the grocery store.
3. On the Tuesday before the holiday make any pies that you plan to serve. They will be fine in the refrigerator.
4. On the Wednesday before the holiday prepare your side dishes. Mix the stuffing and place in a plastic container. Boil the potatoes, cook the yams and if you plan on making deviled eggs then boil the eggs too. Then finish any other side dish you plan to serve.
5. On Wednesday night set the table and put out your floral arrangement.
6. Now it is Thanksgiving morning and time to pop the turkey in the oven. If you stuff your turkey the stuffing is already to go in the bird. If you bake it in the oven or crock pot you can do that after the turkey is in the oven.
7. They only thing left to do is prepare any appetizers you might be serving. Right before dinner is served put the dinner rolls in the oven.
8. Serve dinner!

The key is to plan and prepare ahead of time. Following these steps will make the preparation for your Thanksgiving dinner painless and easy.

How Would You Like $5,000?

How would you like to win $5,000 or a big screen HDTV or maybe even the Flip UltraHD camcorder? Do I have your attention? I thought so. So what do you have to do? It’s simple. Just make a video in one of these three categories:

1.  "My contacts are getting in the way of my good time"

2.   "My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision"

3.   "You should see life after the iLASIK Procedure"

Next, submit the video to iLASIK Video Contest. Then tell all your friends and have them vote for your video. People can vote once per day until December 10.

 There will be one first prizewinner of $5,000. Three second prizewinners, one in each video category and three third prizewinners, one in each video category.

 If you already have an existing video, you can get help editing it for the contest. So get busy people, get creative and have fun because the winner just might be you!

Finding the Perfect and Affordable Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is something we do not think about everyday, but it something we have to have everyday. If you want to buy a car, you must show proof of insurance. If you want to register a car, you have to show proof of insurance. If a cop stops you, you had better show proof of insurance!

Finding affordable auto insurance is not always easy, but it is possible. Years ago, you would have to make numerous phone calls to different companies to get quotes. Well, now thank goodness with the internet after just a few clicks you can get a quote and have your insurance set up. Thank goodness for the internet and technology!

The Targets

As parents, we all worry about out children. Worry is something that starts long before our children are born. Then we realize the worry will never end. As parents of military members, we share another fear. Fear, we dread hearing the words, “Mom, Dad. I will be deploying on….” Those words pull on our heart even more because we know they will intentionally be in harm’s way.

What we try not to fear is when they are stateside on a base or post is their safety. The murder of 12 soldiers and 1 police officer on Fort Hood came as such a shock. Were they not supposed to be safe?

When my son deployed this fall on a naval ship I knew in my mind that all would probably be well. However, to be honest watching that ship sink smaller into the horizon left me with a pit in my stomach. I wanted to jump in the ocean and bring him back. I think about him every night before I go to sleep. I wonder where he is. I wonder if he will be safe while in port. No, I am sure I do not have the same fear as a mother of a service member in Afghanistan or Iraq, but fear is still fear.

When my son came home from boot camp, he told me that he is not allowed to travel in uniform. Why? Because he is a target. A target? My Son?

Last week we found out just how much of a target our children are. It is shameful, but real. It is why I lay awake at night.

Feeding my Reality Show Addiction

Did I mention I like reality TV? It is my favorite form of mindless TV. You have to wonder why it is so popular. My take is that people’s lives are so complicated these days that watching a reality program may help take some people’s minds off the their own daily lives. I am very sure many people had to give up paying for TV because of losing jobs.

I recently had to give up my Netflix in order to same some money. However, to my delight I have discovered I can Watch TV Online legally! Since Corvette can watch the same movie repeatedly, I tend to get very bored sometimes. I also fall asleep pretty early and then I miss many programs I like to watch.

Now I can watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta anytime I want. Hey, maybe I can get rid of my expensive satellite TV. Although I do not think Corvette would be too happy about that. Since he only watches about 10 channels maybe he will not notice. Nah, I do not think so!

A Christmas Tree for my Son

I am preparing LCpl Honda's Christmas care package. Since he will not be here for the holidays I wanted to bring a little holiday spirit to him. I have been agonizing over what to send to him. He just keeps telling me he does not need anything. I know he is not deprived of anything since he is deployed on a Navy ship, but still I want to send him something!

Today I stopped at Walgreens and I this tree. I love it! The clerk loved it! Especially when she found out it was going to a deployed service member. Now my care package think tank is in full gear. Watch LCpl Honda, Christmas is coming!

Decorating Woes

My furniture is probably over ten years old. So I have been thinking about either replacing it or maybe covering it. It has a southwestern theme which is fine but I am kind of tired of it. I am striving for a simple decorating solution for my house. Although keeping Corvette from sitting out toy cars and machine gun shells from LCpl Honda is a challenge in itself.

I want to have a mix of Southwestern décor with a touch of modern motif. So of course, I resort to internet searches and I found a site that offers many options for my decorating dilemma. The Furniture Store has solutions for every room of the house. I really liked the selection of living room furniture.

I checked out the dinette sets because when we moved to our new house I bought a set that just does not work in our house. I want to sell it and get something that will work better in the space we have.

There is even a section for pets. I have been looking for a new affordable dog bed for Lucie for awhile now. I love my puppy but I am not willing to take out a loan for a dog bed. I found a large, plush dog bed for about $44.00. Not bad.

I am sure I will find what I am looking for. It just takes some time, but I will persevere in my quest to have my perfectly decorated home!

Applebees Salute to our Military and Veterans

Veteran’s Day is November 11 and if you are active duty military or a Vet then you will get to eat free at Applebee's. I have to aplaud Applebee's for honor our service members in this way.

We can all spread the word to the service members we know. Just go the Applebee's send an invitation page and fill in the service member’s info and they will be sent an personalized invitation. If you have a facebook or twitter account you can spread the word to lots of people

It is that easy. You will be doing a great thing along with Applebee's and our heroes get a a big thank you in the way of a free meal.

 

Doggie Halloween

I found this extremely funny. I was looking at different Halloween costumes and I ran across a site with pet costumes. I know many people dress their pets up for Halloween, but somehow I do not see that happening with Buddy and Lucie.

For one thing, Buddy would probably turn around and bite me and Lucie would just rip up the costume until if was off. I know, she chews anything she can get her mouth on. Anyhow, can you just imagine my little Chihuahua dressed like this?

Or Lucie, my big red dog dressed like this.

Healthful Halloween

It is almost Halloween and I am sure everyone is gearing up for the big night. I remember when my kids were little and they would go out and collect more candy then they needed in a year. They would come home and after inspecting the loot my next move would be to try and get control of the candy intake. I am sure most moms can relate to this. I could not just let them haul the candy bag off to their bedrooms. Oh no. This would surely result in stomach aches, candy wrapper trash everywhere but the worst would be the sugar high. All parents have experienced the horror of kids on sugar. So, needless to say I would fight to the end to gain control of the candy bag. This way I could limit the amount of candy they could eat at any given time. This would avoid the sugar high and all that comes along with eating too much sugar. For example, kids bouncing off the walls, kids screaming uncontrollably and the worst, kids that will not go to sleep.

I have given this much thought over the years and after giving out raisin packs, carrot sticks and other dried fruit, much to the dismay of trick or treaters, I decided to look into something healthful but a bit more appetizing. So I found a website that not only appeals to the little ghost and goblins, but meet my requirements for a healthful treat. I found Trick or Treat Me blog and they offer Hershey’s and Organic Valley Chocolate Milk in shelf-stable cartons. Most kids love chocolate milk! The chocolate milk comes in recyclable cartons and the Trick or Treat me offers some great information about milk and how it aids in recovery after exercise.

So this year I will be handing out these chocolate milk boxes along with a little bit of candy in hopes that I will not only make the kids happy but contribute to their overall health. I wish I had known about Hershey's and Organic Valley's Chocolate Milk in recyclable cartons before.

They even offer coupons toward the purchase price, so everybody wins. Check it out because after Halloween is over the chocolate milk is still a great afternoon snack or a before bedtime treat.

The Booklet

I received a booklet in the mail the other day. It was from Miss Foundation an advocacy group that not only works to educate people on stillborn, infant and childhood death, they also provide a place for bereaved parents and grandparents to come together, share and get help with the grieving process.

I contacted the group not long after Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven in an attempt to cope with my own grief and to try to help Cinderella in any way I could. At the time, they sent me a packet filled with information about the subject. The booklet had lots of information and it listed so many names of Angel children. I never realized how many children die each year and how many other people were out there with the same feelings I had.

A couple days ago another issue of the booklet arrived in the mail. I did not pick it up and look at it until yesterday. As I was looking through it, I came upon a section titled recent losses. There I saw it. Lolly’s name printed with several other children. I have to admit it was like a stab in the gut. Not that I think I am over this, because I never will be, but I have managed to find a new “normal” way of living. I know that I still think about him everyday. I just do not feel sucker-punched as much as in the beginning.

I also read that October 15 was National Infant and Child Death Awareness and Prevention Day. I was unaware of this. I wish I would have know because I would have worked to get the word out to help other parents and family members that find themselves in this sad group.

We cannot bring Lolly back but at least we know there is help out there and it is comforting to know that our Lolly is not forgotten. Certainly not by us and not by people who did not even know him.

Love you and miss you big boy!

 

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Cuties

Heatwave or Snowstorm?

I know I have talked about the weather here in the Desert Southwest a time or two. Last week we were still hovering around the ninety’s. Nothing new for October since we only have two seasons here. Ungodly hot and normal hot. Ninety degree temperatures in October are not unusual.

Normally it cools down a little around Halloween just in time for parents to start looking for jackets so the little ghost and goblins will be warm for a night of treats. I remember my kids would want to pick a costume like a fairy princess or some other outfit that I knew they would end up getting cold by wearing.

So I turned on the news last night and wouldn't you know it. The weather person says there is a cold front coming. Now we are not talking any cold front. Oh no. We are talking near freezing temperatures by Wednesday morning with a high somewhere in the fifties and a possibility of mountain snow. The high temperature for today is supposed to be 86 degrees. I am wondering does this happen anywhere else in the country? Then on Halloween the temperature should be back up to seventy degrees.

So, today is shorts tomorrow may be heavy sweaters and back to shorts by the weekend.

Ahh, so is life in the Desert Southwest.

Ten Things You Don't Know About Me

1. I cannot stand when people say Achoo loudly when they sneeze. Not necessary. Why? Did you ever hear a newborn say Achoo?

2. I like reality shows. Current favorite, The Househusbands of Hollywood. I know but sometimes I just need mindless TV.

3. I was a stay-at-home mom in the eighties when it was not very popular to do so. So many people would ask, "What do you do for a career?" When I told them, I was raising my children at home I would usually get a raised eyebrow along with a cool "Oh."

4. I love living in the Desert Southwest but quite honestly, I am getting really tired of the extreme heat in the summer. Sometimes I would like to run away to an area with grass, big trees and find a house with a wrap-around porch. Then I would sit in a rocking chair on the porch and sip lemonade. However, places with snow or freezing temperatures with just not do. Is that asking too much?

5. I really do not care to watch movies repeatedly. Unless it is 'From Dusk to Dawn', 'School of Rock', or 'Walk the Line', don't even ask. I know, quite a diverse group of pictures. What can I say? I am diverse and hate repetition.

6. I can easily pass on candy, cookies, cake and sweets in general. If people kept jars of pizza or bagels on their desks, I would be in big trouble.

7. I used to read books all the time when I was younger. Now, since I read newspapers and magazines for a living I have not picked up a good book in a long time. I do however read numerous blogs, internet news and entertainment sites. I have so many bookmarked sites in my favorites I sometimes forget what each site is about.

8. When I was a child, I wanted to be a comedienne when I grew up. Really. I thought I was funny. Still do. But then again I also wanted to be an Indian and live on the land. I actually tried it once in the backyard.

9. I love animals. Sometimes more than people.

10. I try to live like a decent person, although I am not perfect. I had made many mistakes. At the end of the day, I believe if everyone got up in the morning and thought what they could do to make the people in their live's day a little better, the world would be better off for it. Something to think about.

momfuse

As a mom and grandmother I am always on the look out for good sites concerning parenting and products for parents. I ran across momfuse a couple of days ago and let me say this site is filled with information for today's mom. Even though my kids are grown they have kids of their own who come and stay with me so I like to keep up with parenting world.

On momfuse you can find information on food, beauty, parenting and they also have giveaways! Who does not like a giveaway? I think my favorite part is the momprenuers. I wish I had opportunities like this when I was a stay-at-home mom.

So if you are mom checkout this site you will not be sorry.

My Son, Deployed

Visit my son's deployment site:

http://jacksdeployment.shutterfly.com/

Planting Our Fall Garden

After a scorching summer, our garden has finally rebounded and we were able to harvest a few peppers, one lone cucumber, and a giant radish. Corvette and I have concluded that planting early spring and late fall is probably our best bet for having a more productive garden.


I decided to do a little research to see what vegetables do the best in the fall months. I came up with a list for fall planting. Snap peas and snow peas, broccoli, cabbage, collards, carrots, parships, beets, onions, lettuce, mesclun, spinach, turnips & chard to name a few. Now some of these need to be planted no later than August in order to get a good harvest. However, since I live in the Desert Southwest we do not get many hard freezes and I am hoping that if we do get cooler temperatures I can just cover the garden. Just as this summer was a learning experience with the garden, winter will be too.

I hope that by next year I will have a real good idea what to plant during warm weather and cooler weather. Now if I can just get Corvette to stop picking the vegetables before they are mature I might actually have eatable veggies! Seriously, we had green leaf lettuce that even though it was taking a bit of a beating from the heat he thought if he picked it early he would save it. Wrong. I tasted it and it had a horrible sour taste. Please Vette baby, let the garden grow!

On Getting Paid to Blog

Blogging has definitely exploded over the last few years. I started reading blogs a little over a year ago. I probably read close to fifty blogs on a regular basis and communicate with many of the authors. A soldier deployed to Iraq wrote the first blog I started reading. I must admit I was hooked almost immediately. The soldier is a very talented writer and he was able to describe events taking place with such eloquence. He had a remarkable way of comparing and contrasting his military service, deployment and personal life. He eventually had to cease and desist. The military thought he might be revealing a little too much concerning his deployment. He now has a book coming out soon.

I started blogging not long after I started reading blogs. I do love to read and write and over the past year, I have learned quite a bit about blogging and advertising on blogs. Although, I digress, I still have a lot to learn. I do however find it very satisfying to write a review for a product, website or company. Making extra money is a plus too.

Companies have found that blog advertising can and does reach many potential customers. A well-written, popular blog with a regular readership is a lucrative way for companies to attract new customers. Writing blog posts for advertising is easy. After signing up, the blogger can write about the subjects they choose. This is nice because the bloggers can write about what is interesting to them.

Therefore, blogging for money is good deal for both bloggers and advertisers. I expect this form of advertising will continue for a long time. I am sure the internet is not going anywhere soon. My ultimate dream would be to get paid to blog full time. Hint, anybody want to hire me? But seriously, I will definitely keep writing and loving it at the same time

Just a Couple Pics of Fuzzy and Wuzzy

I haven’t seen the Twins, Fuzzy and Wuzzy for a couple of weeks but I have been assured they are growing and interacting even more. They are both around 10lbs now and will be two months old next week. Where does the time go? I am going to turn around and they will be starting school.


Sometimes it feels like my kids where just born yesterday and my youngest, Hippie Guy just turned twentyfive last month. Time seems to go by so quickly. That’s ok. I like where I am at now. I do not think I want to go back to when my kids were small. Too much work. hah! But then Buddy might as well be an infant as he feels the need to wake me up at night. Sometimes two or three times!

Well here is a couple of pictures Flower Child’s dad sent me. I believe the first one in Fuzzy but I do not know for sure. ;)

They are so cute!!!!

I hope to get some more when we go visit them this weeked.

Sometimes We Just Need a Little Help

The post will be a little out of the norm for me. I hope it does not offend anyone. The truth is some people need a little help in the bedroom. The medical field has made many advances in this area in the last few years.


Now it is commonplace to see TV commercials for Viagra, Levitra and other similar products. The one that really cracks me up is the ExtenZe commercial. That guy and his silly grin gets me every time. Now I have no idea if that stuff really works, but if it does, I guess that is good news for the guys that are using it.

Still, it must be embarrassing for some people seeking these medications and treatments. There are actually sites on the internet where these medications can be purchased, discreetly and privately.

So, this post is just for spreading imformation. Let’s face it, most everyone would like to have a great sex life. If this post helps someone out there so much the better.

Cinderella's New Tattoo and Butterfly's Girly Bedroom

Cinderella got a new tattoo in honor of Lolly Pop Kid. The movie ‘Cars’ was everything to him so of course she got the Lighting McQueen car. Here is a pic of it. The artist drew it freehand and did a nice job. She already has Butterfly’s name tattooed on her back and it is only fitting Lolly is there too. I thought about getting one. I really have no idea what to get. I thought about his initial. Hmm maybe a lollypop with his initial intertwined. I am going to have to think about that one.

I also spoke with Butterfly yesterday and she was kind enough to send me a picture of her room. She told me she rearranged it all by herself and for the most part decorated it too. I love it. It is sooo pink. What little girl would not love this room? I especially love the pink butterfly curtains. Very appropriate if I don’t say so myself!

Also, notice the movie on the TV. Yes, it just happens to be ‘Cars’ and of course there is Lighting McQueen with his big, toothy smile. Just like our Lolly. We know he is still with us and many ways.

BTW, his tree has a brand new orange bloom. I look forward to watching the oranges grow.

Love you big boy. Thanks for sending the love from heaven.