Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years! everybody.

Just in time for the holidays

This is a timely post, because I was just talking about bankruptcy with a friend today. She's overwhelmed by credit card debt, never ending bills, and lamenting the fact that her credit has really taken a beating over the past year.

In addition to being stressed out by tight finances, my friend is worried about being able to buy a new(er) car in the near future. I told her that there are a lot of options nowadays for bad credit loans! Even if she ends up filing for bankruptcy, she may still be able to buy that car or go on the yearly family vacation.

BadCreditOffers is a one-stop shop for any and all loans, credit cards, etc for anyone with less than stellar credit. Take their auto loan page, for example. In one spot my friend can review 5 different auto loan programs, without having to jump from site to site.

They offer options for home loans, credit cards, personal loans, and even information on credit repair.

BadCreditOffers.com allows people to get a feel for what is out there, rather than just waiting by the mailbox for companies will solicit their business. When it's this easy to apply for credit and start rebuilding your good credit rating, why wait another minute?

What's up with that?

I tried to fill a prescription today for my migraine medicine, Midrin. The woman I spoke with told me it's not available. I came home and Googled & didn't find out a whole lot. One site said the FDA had recalled 20 migraine medications, including Midrin, while another site said that the manufacturer had them on backorder.

Either way, it just plain stinks!

Change is in the wind.

My husband just started a new job. That might hardly merit a mention under ordinary circumstances, but I live an extraordinary life. To say that we've been existing on zero salary for the past year is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tonight we sat the kiddos down and told them how their lives would be changing. A few of them weeped and wailed at the thought of moving, but I think they'll be so much happier. Sure, they'll be leaving old friends behind, but we'll be moving to a place with more playmates and we'll be close to several family friends.

This is pretty exciting.

I didn't think it was possible to get excited about Black Friday. Sure, I did, in the beginning. It didn't take me long to realize that the crowds and the chaos just weren't worth the money I saved. (In my opinion.)

Black Friday is the name given to the day after Thanksgiving. It's the biggest shopping day of the year, with amazing deals, and amazing crowds to go along with.

A few years ago a brother in law wanted one of the dirt cheap laptops that Circuit City was selling. He arrived at the store the night before Black Friday, and sure enough! He got his laptop. It was a screaming deal but he had to stand in line all night for it.

I admit, occasionally I think about going out & just seeing if anything has changed. But I never do, and I never have any regrets.

There's a website that will change the way you think about Black Friday. At Black-Friday.net there are no lines. No one to trample over your feet, no being squished up against someone with a bad case of body odor. Just the comfort of your PJs and a steaming cup of hot cocoa (with whipped cream, of course).

At Black-Friday.net you enter your zip code and you'll receive email updates when ads from your area are posted. How cool is that? Then you can see the Ikea ads, for example, or the ad for Kohl's, or even a list of the Sam's Club specials.

It's been years since I've been this excited about Black Friday. I can't wait to sign up at the website for access to all of the 2007 thanksgiving specials.

Oh my.

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged.

*hanging my head in shame*

I've been busy. Doing what you ask? Chasing children. Losing weight. Running a 5k. Watching my brother in law run a marathon and wishing it was me. Helping out with my church. And so on.

I hope you'll give me another chance. I won't take you for granted again.

Wherein I subscribe to a stereotype

I'm the woman of the house. The kitchen and laundry room are my domain. The garage? Not so much. But I admit I was intrigued when I heard of Diamond Plate Garage Cabinets. Diamond? I'm there.

So I visited the website to see just what diamond plate cabinetswere, exactly. And here is something I never dreamed I'd say:

Those garage cabinets are pretty dang stylish. They almost make me want to hang out in the garage and I don't know, weld something. Or something.

I wouldn't dream of ordering them by myself and then giving them to my hubby for Christmas. Actually, I would dream of it, and did, but only briefly. Because I can pretty much guarantee you that what I buy will not be what he wants. It must be a man thing, and I haven't figured it out yet.

But if you're a smarter girl than me (not hard), or you know your man, or maybe you don't need a man because you know how to pick out garage cabinets all by yourself. If you fall into one of those categories, I suggest you check out these Diamond Plate Cabinets.

Say it isn't so.

I have a few blogs that are hosted on their own domains. And I've been asking my husband to show me how to back them up, you know, in case anything ever gets lost.

I should have asked him more often.

This morning he informed me that our host goofed and reset everything to April. Since I didn't have anything backed up, I've lost everything from the past 3 months. On 3 different sites.

I could cry.

Great concept!

I've put on some weight during the course of my marriage, and so has my husband. I think most married couples would agree that between work, kids, church, and other responsibilities it's sometimes hard to make time for fitness. But if you want to live a long and fulfilling life, staying healthy has to be a priority.

When my dad started dating, he wanted to find a woman who was active and fit. If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have told him about FitnessDates. FitnessDates is the #1 fitness dating community on the internet.

And it's free! Just sign up, and immediately you can begin looking through thousands of profiles to find the men or women who have similar interests. One of the site features that I think is really cool is the "Little Black Book". When you add someone to your Little Black Book, you are then able to see information and photos that aren't viewable to everyone. It works the same way for you, if there is information you want to keep somewhat private, you can set up your profile so that only people who have YOU in their Little Black Book can view it. In order for someone to add you to their book they have to receive your approval, so it's very easy to control who has access to that part of your profile.

What are you waiting for? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by making FitnessDates YOUR site for fitness personals.

Quiet time.

I don't know whether I've ever been a morning person. But I would like to be. My mom used to get up at 4:30 every morning. It was the only way she could get done the things she wanted to do before the rest of the family awoke.

I can't manage to keep my eyes open before about 8:00 a.m., which means I end up staying up late after the kids are in bed to get some "me" time. I want to shift things around though, and be an early bird, not a night owl.

What is it Ben Franklin said?

I prefer the word frugal.

I could spend hours browsing Overstock.com. It's one of those websites where you can find not only what you want at a good price, but even stuff you had no idea you "needed" before you visited the site. Why do I love Overstock? Because of their awesome prices.

Yes, I admit it. I'm a cheapskate at heart. I like nice things, but I don't like to pay full price. And that's why I just love this site for online coupons. They have Overstock coupons, Target coupons, even coupons for Restaurant.com, which is an awesome discount site in and of itself.

I mean seriously, can shopping get any better than this?

Stuck on the details.

So my husband has caught my passion for running, and he's in the process of setting up a running blog. It's making my running blog look bad by comparison. He's got his all decked out already with widgets and graphs, and links to cool running gear...and I am still trying to decide on which theme I want. It's a good thing I'm not a perfectionist or this would never get off the ground.

Striking it rich

I've blogged a few times about how much I like PayPerPost. Forgive me if I repeat myself. ;)

I signed up with PayPerPost in August 2006. Because my blog didn't meet all of the criteria I didn't actually start takings opps (paid opportunities) until February of 2007. Since that time I've really only made a small effort. I keep meaning to sit down and carve out some time to make this into a real part time job.

In the meantime, I've made over $130 just doing this sporadically. It doesn't sound like much, but I can't tell you how nice it is to get that extra $5 or $10 every week or two. I don't keep real close track of when my payments are due, so it always comes as a nice surprise.

Another benefit of working with PayPerPost is that I find out about cool sites and services that I might not otherwise run across. Sites where you can win prizes, price health insurance, even learn where to list free classified ads.

I've already decided to take a portion of what I earn from PayPerPost & reinvest it into blog marketing. The rest of the money is going towards my running gear fund.

Monday run

I was looking forward to my run all day today. Funny how it's become something I do for me, and not just for weight loss.

I ran for 45 minutes, 3.15 miles & tried to keep my HR at 135 but it was more often around 145.

I feel good & my calves are showing some definition which is cool.

Ever wished you could design your own sandcastle?

I know I did. As a kid I felt like I'd been cheated out of something, not living anywhere near a beach. The one summer we did go on a vacation to California, the weather was chilly and building a sandcastle wasn't even remotely an option.

I'm a grown up now, but I still love sandcastles. I still hope to build one someday, on a beach somewhere, on vacation. Until that time comes, I'll have to settle for building one at www.virtualsandcastle.com Tonight seemed like the perfect time to check it out, since the rest of the family is away at Scout camp.

The website has a fun interactive tool that allows you to Build A Sandcastle and decorate it any way you like. I know my kids will even get a kick out of this when I show them.

Building a sandcastle couldn't be easier. Everything is self explanatory. There's a click and drag tool, various flags and accessories, even a tool to color the sand. (I like the natural look, personally.)

If you want to send a fun e-card to family or friends, or if your kids just need an easy summer activity, send them to the website where they can Build A Sandcastle of their very own.

And now for the finished product.....drumroll please....



(Did I mention that the website is also a great source of information for your next family vacation?)

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

The husband and I went to see this movie tonight. It was fun, and entertaining. I think we both enjoyed it. I'm glad that it was rated PG because I've got teenagers who are dying to see it as well. I could have done without a few of the jokes but overall, an enjoyable movie.

1-800-no-drugs

As a parent, I'm aware of the many problems that youth today face. There are some days that the idea of my kids growing up in this world just about scares my socks off.

As a teenager, I had several friends with severe drug addictions. In fact a boy that I dated for 3+ years eventually overdosed on heroin about 10 years after we broke up. So drugs is one issue that is close to my heart, and I wish there was more I could do to protect our children from its grip.

1800nodrugs is a non-profit rehabilitation referral program. You can call their number any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and speak to a caring member of the staff who will help you to find a rehabilitation program for yourself, or for the person you love. The company prides itself on helping individuals find a drug rehab program that will meet their needs.

In addition the website offers information on various forms of addiction, resources, and relapse prevention. I am grateful that programs like this exist, and I hope that you will check out their website.

We loved Aspen Grove!

Remember when I told you about my vacation at Aspen Grove? I have to tell you, the place is pretty amazing. My kids had a blast and have asked me when we can return nearly every day since we've been home.

We stayed in a tiny cabin, just big enough for us to store our clothes and sleep. (We had 13 people sleeping there the first night!)

In the mornings we'd meet at the cafeteria for a buffet breakfast. Then we'd get ready for the day and drop the kids off at their groups around 9 am. Each age group had loads of activities planned throughout the day. We're reconvene at lunch time & spend time hearing what the different family members had done. There were crafts, swimming, a ropes course, fishing, you name it and they probably had it. After lunch the kids would go back to groups & the adults would choose from various activities. I had my nursling with me (she didn't want to go to her group) so there were some things that I couldn't easily participate in. Even so, I had fun sitting around and visiting with the other grownups. Dinner was served in the cafeteria and the food was pretty good. Each night there were various family activities: skits, programs put on by the kids, badminton tournaments, pool, the list goes on and on.

Aspen Grove is going to be a yearly tradition for our family. It was so much fun.

The Police: a group I grew up listening to, and they're still going strong

Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live!



I was pretty excited when I heard that PayPerPost was giving away free copies of The Police's new album, The Police. Unfortunately I wasn't one of the lucky ones who got a copy of The Police cd, but the group has been on my mind ever since.

What took me awhile to do tonight will come easy to you if you're a die hard Police fan. Below is a list of ten scrambled song titles from the new album, which was released June 11.






1 ualtofl
2 ouon ttxey
3 oylselno
4 nnebhg ttrhigoni
5 e etvekruaeyrhta boy
6 ycirysotnicn
7 irs a kut tnepwyonoifglos
8 as poidi sit larhitletrmernw
9 c rtdeleganbat a
10 esblnvisiun i

To see the solutions, scroll down a bit.


















1 Fall Out
2 Next to You
3 So Lonely
4 Bring on the Night
5 Truth Hits Everybody
6 Synchronicity
7 Walking in Your Footsteps
8 Spirits in the Material World
9 Regatta de Blanc
10 Invisible Sun

Deciphering the song titles was kind of fun, and reminded me that there are even more Police songs that I like than I remembered. I thought it was funny that Synchronicity came up underlined in my spell checker. Perhaps it's not a real word?

It may be cheesy, but of the 30 songs on the new Police cd, I'll be missing you is hands down my favorite. I just love that song. I am pretty excited that this 2 CD compilation has so many of the songs I grew up listening to from The Police.

Even more exciting? You can Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live. Can you just imagine how cool that is going to be? And hey if you win? Remember who told you to enter the contest in the first place. ;)

Running

I've been running since November now and I'm really enjoying it. This week I upped my mileage and I got in 13 miles in 5 days. Which isn't awesome, I know, but for me it is. ;)

The downside is my appetite has really increased and I'm sure I've eaten many more calories than I've burned. I hope that changes real soon.

How do I love thee, PayPerPost? Let me count the ways!

At the risk of sounding like a PayPerPost fangirl, I need to tell you that I'm really excited about their latest offering. PayPerPost Direct makes it easy for advertisers to contact you (me! any and all bloggers!) directly through your blog with an advertising opportunity.

By placing a PayPerPost Direct badge on your blog (see mine above) you indicate that you are willing to take direct opportunities from the advertiser. By cutting out the middleman you get more of the money!

Let me explain. Let's say an advertiser sees my running blog and is wowed by it. (No stretch there. ;) ) He wants me to write a post reviewing his website that sells running shoes. Rather than listing the opportunity via PayPerPost, he can now contact me directly via my blog and the two of us can hammer out the details.

Now some companies would like to take anywhere from 50 to 100% of the payout for their (limited) services. Here's where PayPerPost rocks. If I had accessed this opportunity via the PayPerPost site, I'd be giving up 35% of what the advertiser is paying. (Still better than the competitors, don't you think?) But with PayPerPost Direct, I'm only losing 10%! That means if the aforementioned running shoe store owner is looking to pay $50 for a review of his site, I'm keeping $45. Not too shabby.

PayPerPost makes the whole process easy, from installing the code for the badge to ensuring that I'll get my payment & the advertiser will get a fair and well written review of his site.

Thanks PayPerPost, for making my life even easier...and more lucrative!

Vacation time for me!

It's been too long since I've had a vacation. (Yes, I know I had one a few months ago. I said TOO LONG, didn't I?)

Tomorrow the family and I are headed to Aspen Grove, Utah. Can I tell you how psyched I am? Swimming, camping, rock climbing, FREE BABYSITTING, food, FREE BABYSITTING, crafts, hiking, more food, and FREE BABYSITTING.

I've got to get packing, so I'll fill you in when I get back. I can't wait!

Cool new twist on the contest idea

When I first heard of Bid4prizes I assumed that it was similar to eBay. (OK, I guess the word prizes didn't register in my brain.) But then I went to the website to check it out and realized that it's not an auction site at all. It's a site where you can get AWESOME PRIZES for FREE.

The first thing you'll want to do is figure out which prize(s) you want to bid on. I am drooling over the Panasonic 42" TV and accompanying Bose DVD Home Theater system. The plasma TV is HD ready & the Bose system is just plain awesome.

The person with the lowest unique bid at Bid4Prizes will be the winner. Understand that although you are bidding, you are not actually expected to pay for the prize. The prizes are 100% free (that's why they're called prizes!). I recommend checking out the website to understand how the bidding works and you can even get tips so you know how to place the lowest bid. And hey, don't outbid me on the plasma!

Running isn't the only thing I'm learning

I've got my first race, a 5k, coming up in about 2 weeks. I haven't been running long & I'm both scared and excited. My original goal was to run the entire race without stopping to walk. I've been following the Couch to 5k training program at Cool Running, but I'm not going to be finished by the time race day rolls around. Not to mention the fact that I run so slowly, it'll take me around 45 minutes to finish.

What I'm learning from running, is to persevere. I'm learning that my limits are more mental than physical. I'm learning that if I focus on the task at hand I can outperform myself everytime. I'm learning to be a doer, not a watcher, and to never give up.

Person.com is a pretty cool site

I visited a new site tonight (new to me anyway). Person.com has webcams, chat, personals, and more. I admit I was intrigued by the things that make this site unique.

First and foremost has got to be the live video cam. As soon as I hit the site I was immediately able to view various people & get a feel for what kind of person they are. It's nice to know what someone looks like & head shots don't always tell the whole story. You can open a chat window and chat and view at the same time, even.

What was really cool in my mind was the hot or not feature. I mean, I have never seen such beautiful people from around the world in my lifetime. Some of them could have been celebrities, they are that beautiful. The photos in this section are broken down by personal photos, studio photos, or erotic photos. I like that things are classified that way; there are no unexpected surprises.

Person.com also has a fun "Play and Flirt game". I haven't played it yet because you have to upload a photo to participate & I need to find one I like. But the idea behind the game is that you ask players of the opposite sex questions and then rate their responses. It reminds me a little of the Dating Game.

There are enough different things on the site to easily keep you entertained for hours. They have over 267,000 members from all over the globe. The site is free to join and loads of fun to experience.

Positive thinking does the trick every time

I've been concentrating on keeping my thoughts positive lately. I recently read an interview with an athlete who makes it a point to try and focus on only positive things. If something negative creeps into his mind, he follows it up immediately with a positive thought. I thought this was a pretty good idea, and I've been trying to follow it.

At first I felt a little silly but I figured I'd "fake it 'til I make it" and I think it's working. The more positive I am, the better I feel. And the easier the whole thing is.

What is Gamma Knife Surgery?

Having watched my mother go through multiple chemotherapy and radiation treatments for her Multiple Myeloma I know how important good cancer treatment is.

For brain tumors, the only approved stereotactic radiosurgery system is Gamma Knife surgery. Gamma Knife surgery offers a guaranteed precision that can't be achieved with Cyberknife surgery.

With Gamma Knife surgery the head is held stationary, and radiation is directed toward the brain from all angles simultaneously. Contrast that with Cyberknife surgery that requires multiple X-rays of the brain, and where the arm of the machine is in constant motion.

Gamma Knife surgery requires only a single session of treatment rather than multiple visits. It makes sense to look to Gamma Knife surgery for effective, precise treatment of brain tumors.

UCAS

This is the first year that my teenager has attended the Utah County Academy of Sciences. UCAS is a charter high school located on the campus of Utah Valley State College.

The majority of the classes are concurrent enrollment, where the student received credit for both high school and college simultaneously. The school also has in school activities, dances, and extra curricular activities.

Students graduate from UCAS with a high school diploma, an associate's degree from UVSC, and a scholarship that pays 75% of future tuition at UVSC. It has been a good experience for my daughter and my other children are looking forward to attending when they reach high school.

I love Las Vegas.

Believe it or not, one of our family's favorite vacation spots is Las Vegas. Not the shows or the casinos, but the whole slew of other attractions to choose from. We're already planning our next trip, where we will visit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, Circus Circus, and the Bellagio conservatory.

We like Las Vegas enough that it wouldn't take too much to convince me to move there. And if you're in the market for Las Vegas real estate, I recommend looking at this site for Las Vegas MLS listings. You can search by zip code, or by community. The site even lets you save your searches so you can come back to them later.

They even have a section for Las Vegas homes for rent and an entire knowledge center for sellers and buyers with tips on everything from getting your house ready to list to finding the right financing.

Days like today when it's cold and rainy outside moving to a warmer climate with plenty to do is very attractive.

One thing I've learned is that it's important to appreciate the lack of bad things. LOL Today I got a blister from the new running shoes I wore to the gym. Yowch. I didn't realize how much I like my feet & how good walking blisterless feels, until I had a blister. Same thing for my headaches, which I get on a regular basis. After a killer headache, the days where there is no pain seem just a little bit sweeter. There does need to be opposition in all things.

You take the bad with the good.

There are a lot of cool things about being your own boss. Working in your pajamas and ordering pizza for breakfast, for instance. One thing I'm not fond of is shopping for health insurance. In the past I've been tempted to forgo the whole process, but when it comes to providing for your family, peace of mind is crucial.

Without health insurance, medical bills can be astronomical. One prescription can cost hundreds of dollars each month. With so much at stake, it makes sense to find a health insurance provider that offers good coverage for a reasonable price.

Secure Insurance Quotes takes the guesswork out of finding the right provider. More than just a California Insurance Broker, Secure Insurance Quotes delivers health insurance quotes from providers nationwide.

What I think is really cool though, is the wealth of information you can find when you visit their website. They have an entire section of articles where you can find answers to any of your insurance questions. You can learn how to choose the health insurance plan that is right for you, or why it's a good idea to have travel health insurance. You can even read about other types of insurance, from auto insurance to home insurance or life insurance.

If you're looking for low cost health insurance, or just want to kill some time waiting for that conference call, Secure Insurance Quotes is guaranteed to have the answers you're looking for.

The sweetest thing you'll ever know

My twins are one of the best things that ever happened to me. Make that two. Parenting them is a challenge unlike any other I've faced. There are many days when I'm struggling to hold onto my sanity, days like today when they've teamed up to unload the refrigerator and figure out how to escape the house. There are plenty of times when I realize why babies usually don't come in pairs. And then there are moments like tonight, when they're both asleep on the couch, holding hands & looking utterly kissable. Those moments are the ones when I realize that no matter how tough, it's all worth it.

Stone Hawk wants to make a difference

I wasn't a happy teenager. I drank, smoked, and used drugs that scare the pants off me nowadays. My parents didn't know what to do. They'd never heard of the Narconon drug treatment program at Stone Hawk.

Stone Hawk isn't your typical rehabilitation center. The Narconon program they offer differs from traditional drug treatment by doing more than just breaking the physical addiction. They also teach life skills that will enable the student to deal with the stresses of life once they've graduated from the program, so that they will succeed rather than return to drugs or alcohol.

The detoxification program at Stone Hawk is unique as well. They promote the use of saunas to help move the toxins out of the student's system. They utilize vitamins, a healthy diet, and regular exercise to help the addict's body heal from the damage caused by the alcohol or drugs.

The people at Stone Hawk were once addicts themselves, so they know the road that lies ahead and the challenges that the student must face. Their unique perspective, combined with their medical expertise, makes them a good choice when it comes to finding a drug treatment program.

Blades of Glory

My husband and I went to see this movie tonight. I hadn't seen the previews, but knowing Will Farrell and Jon Heder were starring in it did give me pause. I knew it would either by hysterically funny, or somewhat offensive. It was both.

The premise is that two competitive figure skaters get into a brawl and are banned from figure skating forever. They realize that the ban doesn't apply to couples skating, so the two men form a team. There's a love interest for Heder, and some dirty tricks thrown in by the competition. It's predictable, no doubt.

I did laugh quite a bit but it's not a movie I'll want my kids to see.

Free classified ad listing

Between trying to Feng Shui my house & packing boxes for a move that hasn't yet manifested (we haven't sold our house, yet) I have a lot of stuff that needs to leave. I've contemplated eBay but it doesn't seem worth the hassle. (You didn't catch me admitting that it's junk, though.) I've thought about Craiglist but I worry about the weirdos.

That's why I love the idea of the free ads at ItsMyMarket.com I mean, the site is cool for other reasons, too. They have a section for blogs, one for community events, and one for local competitions.

Back to the free ads though. It's easy enough to list anything you're itching to unload, and since it's free, you don't have to pay anything. Not only can you find baby furniture to livestock to a new couch, but you can look for employment, list rental property, or even find a date.

Now if they will just deliver pizza, I'll never have to leave my house.

I've been doing the Couch to 5k training program put out by CoolRunnings.com I'm only on Week 2, & Boy, can I feel it! Week 2 consists of alternating 90 seconds of running with 2 minutes of walking. This is harder than it sounds! In the beginning I didn't know if I could do it. Now I'm realizing that my limits are mostly ones that I created myself.

Hotel Reservations made easy

The first night of our vacation we spent in a hotel. It was a last minute decision. We were getting tired, it was getting late, & the idea of a warm soft bed was very appealing. Had I known what the camping would be like on the trip, I would have appreciated it all the more.

Since we hadn't planned to stop anywhere, we didn't have any Hotel Reservations. Fortunately for us, March is not a big month for tourists in Southern Utah. We were able to find a room at the first place we stopped & the kids only complained a little bit about not having access to a pool.

Next time we take a trip, however, I'll definitely be checking out the Hotel Reservations website. First off, it's an easy name to remember. Not much chance that I'll forget the URL to that one. In addition to hotels, the site has info on flights, cars, vacation packages and vacation rentals. (Did I mention how many hours we spent looking for a vacation rental before deciding to camp?)

The site even offers a lowest price guarantee. If you find a lower price online for the same hotel and date, Hotel Reservations will give you a $100 rebate.

Hotel Reservations has fantastic discounts on world wide destinations, ranging from Algeria to Taiwan, Canada to Fiji. In fact they list 1360 destinations to choose from. With a list that long there's no excuse for booking your travel anywhere else.

I'm telling you, I could spend all day daydreaming about their vacation packages. It would have been nice to know about this website when we planned our trip, but better late than never. Next time we travel I won't have to worry about smelling like a campfire or whether there are any mosquitos in my rootbeer. I can shop for hotels in my jammies at 3:00 in the morning & know I'm getting the best deal on the net.

Vacation

This past week the family and I took a vacation. We haven't done anything official for the last several years. It's tough with little kids. We decided to take the kids camping at Zion National Park in Southern Utah. It was fun, but boy was I glad to get home!

The days were scorching hot, and there just wasn't much shade to be had. Hanging around camp wasn't as fun as it could have been because there was no way to escape the heat. And then the nights...we just about froze at night. I actually didn't mind so much but the kids sure did!

It was nice to have that unscheduled time & the break from our normal routine. And it made me appreciate my cozy home just a little bit more.

Something is simmering at PayPerPost

Once again, people are buzzing about PayPerPost. PayPerPost has devised a new way to increase site traffic, but what it is, is anyone's guess.

I have to admit, I really like PayPerPost. It's fun, it's relatively easy money, and I get to hear - and blog - about products, websites, and services that I might not have otherwise known about. Cool stuff like the Box.net widget and CouponChief, just to name a few.

I'm anxious to find out what this new idea is all about. PayPerPost set the blogging world on fire, in a manner of speaking, when they came out with the idea behind their business model. It will be cool to see what they've come up with this time.

I think most bloggers and website owners are looking for any ethical way to drive traffic to their site. The more traffic the merrier, I always say! I have an online jewelry store that I'm forever trying to promote in order to bring in new business. (If you are in the market - or even if you're not - check it out!) I also maintain several blogs, like this one and my running blog.

Whatever they've got in store for us, I'm fairly confident it will live up to the hype.

These are a few of my favorite things

Burts Bees lip balm is one product I can't live without. I've got a drawer full of it, because any time I leave the house without it, I end up detouring to a store that sells it. They've got a new, pomegranate flavor that I really like, but the original is just untouchable.

I love my new Garmin GPS trainer. I can keep track of how far I run, how fast, and for how long. I can track my heart rate and I can visually compare the information using the accompanying software.

And I really like Melinda's Lotions. They come in a wide variety of scents, they are thick and creamy, but not at all greasy. I slather it on before bed and wake up with super soft skin.

Hint, hint

I've got a birthday coming up next month. Number 36, to be exact, and I'm hoping that it merits a gift from Blue Nile. I've been dropping hints, like saying, "If you buy me diamond earrings for my birthday, I'll never complain about paintball outings again," changing my husband's computer wallpaper from a Dodge Viper to a 3 carat princess cut ring, you know, all the usual subtle stuff.

Fortunately, I know about a website that makes it a little more likely that I'll get my wish. It's Coupon Chief, and they've got oodles of coupons for online stores, including Blue Nile coupon codes! I've explained to my husband that when you see a good deal, you must act right away. With a coupon or a sale, the more you buy, the more you save. I can't tell if he agrees with me, but he hasn't divorced me yet. ;)

The Z list

Here's how the Z-list works. Write a post, and include the blog list below in it. Add your favorite blogs to the top of the list if you'd like. Publish the post. People will notice the incoming links, check out your blog, and hopefully write their own z-list posts. The more people who are linking to your blog the better. :)
When you publish the list, please be sure and credit this blog as your inspiration.

(These really are some blogs worth checking out!)


Added:
Less Jess
Feminist Mormon Housewives
Uterine Wars
A Little Pregnant
Chez Adria
Wasted Birth Control
First Fruits
0 to 26.2 in 18 months
Don't let's start

The list
LubyVision
Coffee Time
Teapot Terrorist
Fenway Faithful
Internet.Serious Business
Jimi Morrisons Head
Pray For Mojo
Sir Post A Lot
JMH Techtronics
The Financial Planner
My Single Life Mom
No Average Mom
Tricia’s Musings
Guitar Licks
Candid Quips
Toil
That Boy Ain’t Right
Simplify Every Obstacle
Marisa’s Dandelion Patch
Organic Income
Owen of Ugh
Jules is Utterly Geek
The Sabahan
Critical Thoughts
Blog-Op
Carols Vault

Blog About Your Blog
Monetize Your Blog
Cosmin PTR
Make Money On The Net
Successful Online Money Making
Turn One Pound Into One Million$
Work at Home Blog
Blogtrepreneur
Flee the Cube
Blogging Secret
Blogging to Fame
Million Dollar Experiment heads Down Under
Quest to make money on the internet
Kumiko’s Cash Quest
Calico Monkey
Internet Bazaar
Shotgun Marketing Blog
BrandSizzle
No Average Mom

Money may not buy happiness, but it definitely delivers peace of mind.

Money's been on my mind a lot these past few months. We're looking for investors for my husband's business, & trying to figure out how to make next to nothing stretch as much as possible.

Because we didn't have a lot in savings when we started on this venture, we've considered a few different options, including secured loans, using the equity in our home. For a time we even had our home up for sale, but nothing really came of it. I can't begin to explain how stressful that was - trying to keep things looking "sell-able" with a houseful of young children!

Fortunately, we haven't had to worry too much about paying down credit card. We've kept our credit limit low on the card we have, which makes it easier to stay on top of things when money is tight.

One thing that has been on my mind though, is car insurance. Our oldest is 16 & learning to drive, which means our premiums will go up and I may get a few more gray hairs before it's all said and done. ;)

Garmin, Garmin, where art thou?

You wouldn't think it would be so hard to find the Garmin GPS with heart rate monitor I've been drooling over these past few months. I set out tonight to find one locally, after pricing them online. Little did I know it would be a two hour venture!

First I visited Sportsmans Warehouse. They did have last year's model, but not the updated version that came out several months ago. I drove across town to Sports Authority, a sporting goods store, but they only had automobile GPS systems. Then I tried CompUSA, Best Buy, and 2 more sporting goods stores before giving up.

The one running store in the valley had long closed by this time, so I gave up and headed home. I really wanted to try the GPS heart rate monitor on before buying, but it looks like I'll be shopping at Amazon again tonight instead.

Why Wirefly?

There's a mini war going on in my house. Not about George Bush, not about religion, no, this war is about something really important. This war is about which cell phone is best. Like politics and social issues, we are never all in agreement.

Until the Apple iPhone is released, my vote for the most awesome phone ever is for the Sidekick 3. My husband loves his Treo. In fact, I think if he'd met the Treo before he met me he may never have proposed. (I won't muddy the issue by describing its - at times - unwelcome intrusions on our dates. My teenager disagrees with us both. (What else is new?) Her vote for best phone is the red Motorola Razr.



I think red is her thing, because a close contender is the LG chocolate in cherry. Hmmm, maybe I could talk her out of needing an iPod if she gets one of these.



Lucky for my daughter, we can either of her favorites at Wirefly, the best choice online for free cell phones. I can get two MotoRazr phones for free with a Cingular family plan. (My son would love that.) Cingular has the largest wireless community in America. For only $69.99 a month you can get 700 national minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, free roaming, 2 lines, voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, & call waiting, all with only a $36 activation fee.

This online shopping can be a dangerous hobby, though. Now I'm thinking that I might even get a Firefly for my 6 year old.



The Firefly is small, just right for a child's hand. It has flashing lights, 12 pre-loaded ring tones, 7 screen colors, & 5 animated graphics. Parents can pre-program numbers or screen calls. And did I mention it's free with a Cingular calling plan? Razr - Firefly - iPhone come June - Cingular is looking better and better!

Wirefly is the top source online for wireless plans and cell phones. They offer unbeatable prices, free shipping, and a satisfaction guarantee. Why would I look for cell phones anywhere else?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

I have a love/hate relationship with the snow. Living near the mountains, we see our fair share of it each year. I think it's breathtakingly beautiful. Perfect, crisp, gorgeous to behold. I love sitting inside by the fire, and gazing through the window at the unbroken landscape extending out behind my home.

I am not so fond of driving in it. Slick, icy roads, low visibility, and cold that seeps in through the door cracks. It's even worse when the fuse that has it in for me blows, and the heater goes out.

I dream of exotic islands during the winter, but I don't think I'll ever call any other place home.

PayPerPost adds Review My Post, an easy way to make money

If you've been reading here for very long, you've already figured out that I like PayPerPost. When it comes to blog marketing, they know how to make it work. PayPerPost pays bloggers like you and me to write about all kinds of things, from food, to shopping, to technology, to social issues...the list goes on and on.

PayPerPost recently added yet another way to earn money with your blog. It's called Review My Post, and it's perfect for anyone who doesn't want to be bothered writing sponsored posts (although it's no bother at all, IMO). With Review My Post you blog about whatever you want, and at the end of your post, include the Review Me badge, which invites readers to review *your* post and get paid for it! (See the bottom of this post and you'll know what I mean.)

The more reviews you get, the more incoming links your site will have. And we all want incoming links, don't we? The more people that blog about (review) your posts, the more hits your site will receive.


It's an easy way to generate a little extra income, without any extra work. How could anyone complain about that?

And I wonder, how did I live so long without these?

Peel and stick beauty marks, that is. Now why didn't I think of those?

The box.net widget

Now here's something cool. The Box.net Widget lets you share files with anyone and everyone. What I like about it - besides the obvious fact that it rocks - is that it's super easy to set up. Case in point, my widget.


Get your own Box.net widget and share anywhere!

I harbored some concerns that it wouldn't run on my Mac, but it did. It took me almost no time to upload my test files, and it automatically generates the code to put on your website. This is a keeper, and it's going on all of my blogs.

PS. Did I mention the unlimited bandwidth and the fact that they will host 1 gig of files? For free?!

The case of the missing iPod.

So, my iPod has gone missing. It can't have felt unloved, because I use it almost daily. I'm not embarrassed to take it out in public, not at all. I use my red nano every time I go running, which is almost daily. I lovingly store it in my Nike+ armband so it won't get scratched. I upload my running data the minute I walk in the door from my run. In fact the only places my iPod ever goes are in my gym bag or hooked up to the laptop. So how can it possibly have disappeared? Dear iPod nano, please come home. I miss you so much that I'm thinking of pulling out the video iPod and making its acquaintance again.

It just gets better and better.

So I'm pretty excited about blogging for PayPerPost. I think there's a lot of potential, and their blog marketing ideas are top notch. Of course, I'm not going to get rich doing this but how can you beat getting paid to talk? That's right, you can't.

PayPerPost is the way to go whether your blog gets a little traffic or a lot. High traffic blogs can make as much as $1000 a post! Heck, for that much, I could shut down my work-at-home business and do nothing but blab. I mean blog.

PayPerPost only charges a 35% service fee, too. Compare that to ReviewMe, which has a 100% markup, and you'll see there really is no comparison. With PayPerPost more of the money is going in your pocket. And the more you blog, the more traffic you'll eventually see, and the more traffic you get, the better the PayPerPost opportunities.

PayPerPost requires full disclosure from all bloggers. And with their new review program, anyone can get paid for reviewing posts as well as blogging. This has got to be the best blogging bargain in the business. Say that three times.

The Company Store

This place is down heaven. The ducks may not agree, but The Company Store offers pillows and comforters TO DIE FOR. If I could, I think I'd order one of everything in their catalog.

Back in November I was browsing the catalog, looking for the perfect quilt. I found one on clearance; it was love at first sight. I placed the order. I waited. A few weeks later I got an email that my quilt was back ordered. Since the email stated that the quilt would ship in 30 days, I ignored the small line of print that said it might not be available until March.

A few months have gone by, but not a week goes by that I don't think of my quilt. It would have been nice to have during the cold December and January months, but good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wait.

I just received another email today. My quilt will hopefully ship within the next 30 days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. March is just around the corner.

And you thought gift cards were boring.

I love gift cards, I really do. Some people say they're boring or impersonal. I say it beats the heck out of another crocheted toilet paper holder for the guest bathroom. I never complain about receiving a gift card. I enjoy selecting my own gift, and it's always something I enjoy & appreciate.

Now that I've got a teenage daughter, I have an even greater appreciation for gift cards. Straight A's? How about a bookstore gift card? Extra chores? Here's a gift card to the mall. I can even give her allowance in the form of a gift card.

MINT offers a Mint Gift Card that is a prepaid credit card. You can give one to your neighbor, your child's teacher, even your dentist. What better way to say thank you, and ensure that the recipient will love the gift?

MINT also offers the Mint Credit Card. This comes in one of two versions: the standard card, and the funky MC2 card. The MC2 card has the bottom right corner removed. How cool is that? Leave it to MINT to reinvent the shape of credit cards, something that hasn't happened in the UK for 37 years.

The Mint Credit Card offers 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases until December. If you blew the budget over the holidays (didn't we all?), this is a great way to save a little money on interest.

Take a look at the Mint credit card. You'll be glad you did.

JOYS filing system

I'm coveting this fantastic organizing package. For some reason I really feel like it would help me get the chaos under control, and that in turn would make me a happier person. Is that crazy?

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This is an excellent article for beginning runners.

SilkSkin

I don't believe I've written about SilkSkin yet. I received a sample of this in the mail and was going to toss it, but decided I might as well give it a try first. I'm so glad I did! I loved the moisturizer and the way it left my skin silky soft. I ended up ordering the 3 piece kit and I love this stuff. I can see and feel a real difference in the way my skin looks.