Hippie Spelunker - The Original!

Elephants on Pinterest

2012-02-06T15:49:00.001-06:00

Are you on Pinterest? I just love that site! This is one of my favorite pins, in a board I've named "Heffalumps - I love them!"

Isn't this the absolute sweetest picture? A moment with a father, his son, and their ellie. So precious.

I call them that from that part in Winnie the Pooh. Man, that part scared me as a kid. I love it now, though.

You should join me on Pinterest if you're not on there - it's so much fun!

Hangout With President Obama

2012-01-30T18:58:00.002-06:00

Did you watch the hangout on Google+ with President Obama? How cool was that?

The video was having some trouble and my husband kept talking - at me, at the president, and then the video just stopped playing...so I eventually gave up on it, but, how dang cool was that? I love how open President Obama has been to new media, social media, even keeping his Blackberry. I just love that about him.

I missed the one question I was looking for, too, and that was the one about the British college student being extradited to the United States over linking to copyrighted material. I'm going to have to watch the whole thing over again and see if he ever got to that one.

This was definitely a cool thing, though. Totally awesome!

Thought about it

2012-01-30T18:48:00.000-06:00

Post contributed by Alfredo Gaines

I thought about dishnetwork for the house but the last thing I wanted was for my kids to get too addicted to TV. I love that they’re so young that they still want to be at home all the time but you know, at the end of the day I know they’re going to grow up and eventually want to be off with their friends and not so much at home with mom. I love my kids but I want to make sure I’m choosing really educational shows because I don’t want them to end up being brainfried because I plop them down in front of the TV too much. I wish I had more time to sit down and teach them things but between the grocery shopping and the cooking and the laundry I feel like my work around here is never done so I’m just trying to find a way to feel good about being a mom but also being able to give my kids what they need. It’s a hard balance!

Soul-Flower Blog: GIVEAWAY!! Freaks & Geeks May Apply. Inquire Withi...

2011-08-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

Soul-Flower Blog: GIVEAWAY!! Freaks & Geeks May Apply. Inquire Withi...: "A favorite moment from the short lived, but nonetheless amazing series, Freaks and Geeks , is the episode where Nick convinces Lindsay to ..."

Totally, totally awesome ya'll! My very favorite online store is having a back to school giveaway and let me tell you, the goodie bag is CHOCK O BLOCK FULL of totally awesome and groovy stuff! And not only that, the goodie bag itself is a rockin' cool gift! Seriously - go check it out! You can thank me later! ;)

Soul-Flower Blog: Hometown Tourist: Cutting Floor Hippie Dress Revie...

2011-07-27T14:42:00.000-05:00

Soul-Flower Blog: Hometown Tourist: Cutting Floor Hippie Dress Revie...: "Hey Buds! Making the best of this wonderful sunshine? So I got a little piece of the islands with me for the past couple weeks. My friend ..."

This dress is so pretty! Go check it out - I love it!!

Website Hosts Ratings And Reviews

2011-07-07T20:28:00.002-05:00

It's really important once you get online to get website hosting and have your own self-hosted blog or website. It will give you more control over your own content. I, personally, really love blogger so I am still over here blogging on several blogs while I also have hosted sites. I know I should probably give Blogger up, but, I just can't seem to completely walk away. Silly, I know.

I know some people buy their domains and still use Blogger as their CMS. I don't really know, though, if that really puts you in the driver seat or not. I suppose if you are making regular backups, you would still be safe. But owning the whole site, kit and caboodle, is the best way to go.

For my hosted sites, I actually have three different hosts. My favorite website host, though, is HostGator. You can read all about them, along with some reviews, at that link.

It can be so hard when you are going into something new, so it really helps to have a ratings and review site, where you can get stats on the different companies and impressions from real people on their experiences.

Fourth Of July Crafts

2011-06-30T18:41:00.000-05:00

I've been seeing some really cute July 4th crafts being talked about and demonstrated online so I thought I would share a few with you. It's always fun to get the kids involved in the decorating. It's even cooler when the decorating is an activity in itself - like a craft project!

4th of July Uncle Sam Hat

This looks really cute and pretty easy to do, as well. So I think kids of all ages can participate. The littler ones may have to just help out with the decorating, but, it is definitely not a craft that completely leaves them out. I like that.

Statue of Liberty Crown

For this one, the kids will definitely need some help, but, it is so cute that it is totally worth it! I think they'll love it!

Fourth of July Centerpiece Decoration

I love the sand centerpiece in this video, but, I'm not really a fan of the second one that is shown. I just don't think it looks all that pretty.

And if you'd like a way easier centerpiece that is still really cute - and inexpensive - check out this post at Wooden Spoon: DIY 4th of July Table Centerpiece for $8 I really want to make that one! I love how the ribbon looks in the jar!

Long Hot Summer In The Sauna Van

2011-06-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

The kids and I are hardly going anywhere these days. And it's summertime. And one of them has his license. And their dad is giving them each $20 every week for allowance. You would think they'd be blowin' and goin', right?

Well, if it comes down to using our van (instead of being picked up by friends) they opt to stay home more than go out. The air conditioning is out - again. And let me tell you, that van gets HOT!

And the really horrible thing is that the driver side window cannot be rolled down. Oh it will roll down. But if you do roll it down, it might not roll back up. There is a little plastic tab, inside the door, that holds the window in its track, that is broken off. So when you are the driver, it is so unbelievably miserable in there.

And a lot of times, I'll be driving them around, and the person in the passenger seat - you know, the one with the window ROLLED DOWN - starts complaining. It is at that point one has to demonstrate the ultimate restraint to not reach over and smack the crap out of them!

My poor Nissan Quest - I really do love her, though. The kids complain about her all the time, but, really, she's been very good to us over the years. I think she's a '97 and we might have gotten her in '01 or '02. She's my third Nissan - I love Nissans. My 'dream Nissan' is a four-door Frontier, which I'll get one day when I don't have to lug multiple teenagers along with their instruments around.

Funny thing is, though, I'm going to go in and ask for a really old one. They came out with the four-door, or Crew Cab, in around '99 or '00 and after a few years - like just 2 or 3, I think, they changed the looks of it so much that I didn't really like it. Now, who knows, maybe by the time I'm wanting to not be 'Minivan Mom' anymore, I'll be head over heels for some other truck! Whatever it is - it will probably be a Nissan, though!

Justin Timberlake on SNL

2011-06-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

I appreciate the guest post, Jamie Guy

One of the most unforgettable performances that I ever saw on SNL was by Justin Timberlake. He is just so hilarious and I thought he did such a fabulous job on SNL. There is nothing better than seeing an episode of SNL where a celebrity just breaks out and is hilarious.

Timberlake performed one of the most hilarious skits on SNL. I remember watching it on my www.direct.tv and loving every minute of it. Timberlake did this skit with another actor on SNL, where they acted like two musicians from the seventies. Timberlake's impression of a former BeeGee's member from the seventies was right on. He even nailed the accent, and it was so funny to watch. It was so funny to watch Timberlake perform the skit, because he could barely keep a straight face. He was laughing the entire time and simply loved it so much. He was loving the audience too, because the audience was cracking up just as much as he was. The show depicted just how great SNL can be, in showing that celebrities are humans just like the rest of us.

Overall, I like watching SNL to see how celebrities can cut loose and act just like the rest of us. I think the episode with Timberlake definitely accomplished that and I loved every second of it. There is nothing better than Timberlake on SNL.

Possibility Thinking

2011-05-11T13:42:00.000-05:00

I just went over to LadyPens to browse around and there on the front page was this awesome article that really spoke to me! I just loved it and had to share it with you!

Smart Women in a Wild, Wacky World

With everything that’s going on in the world right now, I hesitated to write this article. However, I felt called to share my reflections with you. There has been so much despair and devastation in the world lately that when something happens to us personally, we can try to shrug it off because “compared to what’s going on in the world, this is minor.” (This has been my “mantra” over the past week.) Although I believe this to be true, when something happens to you personally, it feels real and challenging. It can paralyze you and keep you from moving forward. It’s essential that you acknowledge what’s happening and find solutions to manage the madness of life.

In the past week, I’ve had major technology glitches, vendor/supplier challenges as well as a leak in our home from all the rainy weather. (Yes, it’s been one of those weeks.) Being an entrepreneur will test you in every way imaginable. The universe has a way of “checking in” periodically to see how serious you are about your intentions, your dreams, and your purpose. It will throw you curve balls to see how you respond. When these situations arise, you always have two choices: Run for cover (like jumping in your bed and pulling the covers over your head, hoping that this will all go away quickly–not very effective I might add from personal experience) or step into a place of possibility thinking and find solutions (which works beautifully every time).

If you’ve had some challenges lately in your business or personal life, and feel like you need some solutions to help you move into possibility thinking, here are a few tips that I personally use to move me out from under the covers and into being an energized solution seeker:

1. Walk it out – Grab a cup of coffee or bottle of water and hit the pavement. I find that going on a long walk, breathing in some fresh air and taking in some nature helps me refocus and reframe the situation in a more positive light.

2. Dive In - Going inward and allowing my internal voice (also referred to as your “instincts”) to be heard calmly and clearly helps a great deal. Meditation is a wonderful tool in these times. If you have never done meditation before, that’s fine. Just sit quietly, close your eyes and find your breath. Focus on breathing in and out for a few minutes. You’ll be amazed at how much calmer and more focused you feel within 5 minutes of doing this. Solitude is smart practice and one that I engage in regularly.

3. Find your Champions – This is the time to reach out to the people in your life who champion you. These are people who think you hung the moon. Avoid toxic naysayers. You know you’ve got a challenge. The last thing you need is someone to tell you that. Engage with people who have a positive attitude who truly want to see you succeed and provide resourceful contributions to your situation.

4. Take note – Take a good look at what went wrong in the situation. Ask yourself a few questions: What part did I play in this? How can I keep this from happening in the future? Become proactive and set up systems to avoid these types of situations in the future.

There’s an old saying that I’m sure you’ve heard before: ”Life happens on your way to making plans.” This is true especially for women. We wear so many hats and play so many roles for others. There are certain challenges in life that we won’t be able to avoid because life does happen. However, Smart Women set themselves up to survive and more importantly thrive in this wild, wacky world.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark .

Pens And Pencils For My Sites

2011-04-26T17:03:00.000-05:00

For some odd reason, I have a strange obsession with promotional products. I just love them. And not only just for me - or my sites - or my business. I like picking up pens, magnets and whatever from the pharmacy, the doctor's office, etc. Or even better yet, at industry conferences. You can get some really cool stuff there!

I used to go to a lot of PTA functions and even went to a 3-day seminar for PTA once and we would get all kinds of cool stuff. And being the president of the PTA, I got all kinds of catalogs from promotional materials companies. I used to love looking through those! (Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work....? ha!)

Now instead of catalogs, I just look online - and I can spend eons of time on sites that sell promo stuff. Today I'm looking at Amsterdam printing and I could really, really get lost on that site! They have just about every promo item under the sun!

I really haven't had a whole lot of my own promo items. I am drinking my coffee out of my Hippie Spelunker cup and I do absolutely love it! But - there is only one of them and it was really from CafePress, which isn't totally promo stuff. I mean, you can do promo things there for your business, but, you can also just do fun, whatever stuff. Like maybe you want to make all kinds of elephant picture t-shirts and sell them. I meant to start a My Very Own Mail section in my seller account there, so people could buy 'Bookworm Gear', but, I just haven't done it yet.

And one time I bought My Very Own Mail pens. They were so darn cute! And they went really fast, too! I would love to have some more, definitely!

At the Amsterdam site, you can get pens with any engraving you want on them. And they have seventy gabillion pens from which to pick! There are some really cool ones in there, too.

They also have personalized pencils there. Oddly, I had never even thought of that. Though, for My Very Own Mail, that would actually rock! I could hand them out to school kids, you know? That's a really good idea! I'm glad I saw that section on there. I'm going to definitely keep that in mind.

I would really like to get some Hippie Spelunker stuff, too, though. I kind of see Hippie Spelunker as my 'home' online, even though My Very Own Mail came first. I guess I could get Hippie Spelunker pens and My Very Own Mail pencils. That would be cool.

Do you have promo materials for your sites/businesses?

Science Is Really So Cool

2011-03-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

This is such a cool little movie about cool science facts that I had to share it with you! It's called "The Wonders of Science" and it was created by Mariela Kleiner, the author of a wonderful new book I'll tell you all about after the movie!

The book is called Meet Einsteinand it looks absolutely fabulous! Here is the description from Amazon:

Meet Einstein. He is a scientist who loves to study light and gravity. Einstein helps to introduce your kids to science, and show them that they are already great scientists!
Light and gravity are concepts that preschoolers are ready to learn. Help them make the connections in everything they see and do, and teach them that science is all around them.

They also have a great website set up to go along with the book with lots of cool things for you to dig into! You can read about the author and the illustrator. You can follow 'Meet Einsteen' on Facebook and Twitter. And there are some fun PDF activity sheets available, too! Check 'em out!

Burial and Funeral Expenses Can Kick Your Butt

2011-03-18T12:42:00.000-05:00

I'm so worried about burial and funeral expenses - it's one thing that really makes me nervous, because, it can be so expensive. My friend and I were discussing it last night and I think she must think I'm crazy. I told her I'd like to buried right in the dirt. Just me. No box. No funeral home - nada. Kind of like that girl on the TV show, Six Feet Under. It is, however, illegal...so I don't think that will be happening.

When you lose someone near and dear to you, it is such a highly emotional time. Having to worry about covering the cost of the burial and the funeral and everything involved can add way too much stress onto an already difficult time. So planning ahead and getting BurialInsurance.org might be the best way to go, to lighten the load on your loved ones.

Another thing we all think about is life insurance and leaving bills behind, etc., for our loved ones to have to take care of in the event of our death. There are companies that will even provide life insurance for senior citizens. So if you are older and still need to get life insurance, you might be able to get some.

Funerals are just so darned expensive these days! It's really crazy! They can be between $5,000 and $10,000. And that is why I think it's a great idea to consider insurance and Burial Insurance for seniors is available through different companies - and most of them do not require a physical before the policy is activated.

So it's definitely something to think about. I'm a weird one and it's been on my mind for a number of years, probably at a younger age than it is on most people's minds. I just saw how expensive and stressful it was and began thinking of other ways the whole process could be handled.

Cali Lewis Reviews The Chrome Cr-48

2011-02-15T08:33:00.000-06:00

Have you heard that Google has come out with their own ...um... machine? There really is nothing like it out there at all. So what exactly to call it is kind of tricky to figure out. It is basically a small laptop that is cloud-based ONLY. When you log in, you are logging into your Google account.

Here's Cali's take on it so far:

So the machine is ALL INTERNET. And that's it. If you want to, say, save a document - you are going to do so in Google Docs. In the cloud. Same with pictures, and everything else.

Want to type a report? Create a spreadsheet? Anything you do will be done in the cloud, via Google.

Definitely an interesting concept, if you ask me. Will be interesting to see how far it goes - in terms of users and popularity. This could be a great machine for someone totally new to computers, I think. I mean, I think I'd like it too, but, I don't think I could depend on it as my sole machine. I really am liking the sound of it, though.

Last Chance Highway

2011-02-14T14:41:00.000-06:00

Written by my friend Judson Kelly

I have an absolute adoration for puppy dogs. Actually, I love dogs of any species and any age. I love just seeing dogs happy and content with an owner that they love. There are too many pooches that end up abandoned in today's harsh world. The show, "Last Chance Highway," depicts the lives of two people seeking to give every abandoned and abused dog a healthy and happy home. I love watching this show on my Satellite TV Specials with my own pet puppy. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

This is a great show to watch for those who have compassion for dogs. If you are a dog lover, then you must watch this show to see how dogs can be saved by the simple kindness of humans. This show actually inspires me to rescue dogs and give them loving homes. One of my dreams in life is to be able to start a community organization that gives all of the stray dogs in my town a home. I would love to see every puppy end up in a loving home.

Overall, I recommend this show for any pet owner. It does not matter if you have a pet dog or not, you will still feel compassion for these poor animals. It is a great show to watch to learn empathy with animals.

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Thanks so much for the guest post, Judson! My mom told me about that show - I really need to check it out!

Momma's Got An Attitude!

2011-02-04T11:32:00.000-06:00

This morning was a wee bit rough. The kids seemed to all be grumpy. Urgh! It's wearing on me. It's so weird, because, when the kids were munchkins, I was so good at detaching myself from it. I didn't take it personally, it didn't hurt my feelings, I didn't get sad, etc., etc. My husband, though - it really would bug him - it would totally get under his skin.

And now it is like it is the exact opposite. He's okay with it, knows they're teenagers and their angst and frustrations often have little to nothing to do with us. And he doesn't get his feelings hurt or get overly upset. I, on the other hand, completely crumble. It is so weird.

Now neither time, the kids being munchkins - or the kids being teenagers, is completely black and white. Nothing really is totally black and white though, right? Every now and they when they were little, I would get upset, and every now and then nowadays, my hubby gets upset. For the most part, though, it is/was as I described.

And you know teens hate mornings. They are just often quite miserable for no more reason than that. There are some kind of studies about it. I know, I just can't bring them to mind right now. So, often - I try to have a protective wall up and not let my attitude/day be ruined, because the kids were grumpy. That is so hard to do, though.

This morning, I wound up all upset and sad and mad and all that. And that is when I decided to pour my freshly-poured HOT cup of coffee out of my sweet, groovy, happy Hippie cup and into this giant cup of ATTITUDE!!!

That's right! I decided to just TAKE BACK my attitude and not let moods of others so strongly influence the outcome of my own day!

And you know what?

IT WORKED!! WOOHOO!!!

Encouraging Your Child to Write

2010-12-28T21:46:00.000-06:00

How in the world do you get your child to write? This is the battle cry of many parents. A lot of imagination, with a little bribery (or praise) is all you need to get your child writing. We’ll supply the imagination. The praise and bribery is all up to you.

Grocery List: Enlist your child’s help in making the grocery list. Walk around the kitchen, naming things you need from the store. Ask your child to write everything down. Your child can also suggest foods you might need from the store and he can add those, too.

Old Checks: If you’ve recently switched banks and have checks that need to be destroyed, first let your child play with them. Give him some envelopes and he can pretend to pay bills – while getting him to do some writing. Of course, destroy the checks afterwards. If you do not have checks available, you can just give your child some blank pieces of paper and he can make his own checks.

Cards: If your child is interested in Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cards, then give him some index cards cut in half and have him design his own cards. Encourage your child to give the characters names and special abilities on their cards.

Fictional Journal: Sometimes it is hard for children to write in a journal. What is there to write about? Instead of a standard journal, give your child a fictional journal. He or she can pretend to be anything they’d like to be and write a journal as that person. Your child could write from the perspective of an Astronaut discovering a new planet, Prince or Princess on an Adventure, Archaeologist finding a new species of Dinosaur, Famous Athlete, President of a Country, Passenger on the Titanic. Your child could write from the perspective something instead of someone, a mailbox, an animal, a pen. The possibilities are endless.

Letter-writing: Have your child write a letter to Santa, the Easter bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Or, your child could write to their favorite athlete, fictional character, or movie star.

Alphabet Game: Take a piece of paper and write the letters A-Z in the left column. Then, choose a category from the following or make up one of your own. Vegetables, Fruits, Animals, Musical Instruments. For older children, the categories can be narrower and more difficult, like Countries, Characters in Literature, Presidents, etc. Set a timer and you and your child both list as many of the items in the category as you can for each letter. The trick at the end is that you have to cross off anything on your list that your child has listed. (for instance, if you both have “apple” for an “a” fruit, then the parent crosses theirs off.) Whoever has the most words wins.

Character Game: Tell your child to pick a character from a book or movie that he’s familiar with, and you do the same. Then, ask several questions and you each write the answers to the questions on a piece of paper. When you’ve finished asking the questions, then have your child read the answers and try to guess who he was pretending to be. You do the same and see if your child can guess who you were. Whether you are pretending to be Peter Pan or Shrek, you and your child will have fun and your child won’t even realize he’s practicing his writing!

Article by:

Nicole Dean
Visit www.ShowKidsTheFun.com and Free Online Preschool Themes for more fun ideas to spend time with your children.

How To Find The Best PLR Articles

2010-12-13T14:41:00.000-06:00

The following is an article by one of my most trusted sources for Private Label Rights articles - and a very sweet lady, to boot! Nicole is a fabulous person who runs one of the very best PLR services online and her company has been around for several years. She definitely knows what she is talking about!

PLR Articles: How to Choose a Good Service
By Nicole Dean

Private Label Rights (PLR) articles are hot right now. The only problem is that many people have tried them and been very disappointed. I can’t say I blame them. I’ve been disappointed, too.

Oftentimes, the PLR services you may have tried are lacking in several areas. So, what makes a good PLR service and how can you make sure that you don’t waste you money on a bad one?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before investing any money into a PLR package or membership.

1. What topics are you getting?
I mean, seriously, if you are promised 100 articles each month, but you end up receiving a selection on Laser Hair Removal and Divorce, when all your websites are about cooking… You just wasted money.

2. What quality are you getting?
Say you’re lucky enough to get a series of articles on your topic. Take a minute to look at them. Are they pure fluff? I’ve paid for articles that had no original ideas, or worse, were written so poorly that there’s no possible way I’d put them on my website. Make sure your PLR package contains quality articles. Otherwise, you just wasted money.

3. How many other people are getting the exact same articles?
If 1000 other people signed up to get the same articles, are you really receiving any value? Perhaps, if you don’t mind reworking the articles. However, if you’d like more unique articles, then you may consider a more limited PLR service.

4. Does the PLR service give you any extras?
Are they offering training on ways to use their PLR articles? Do they provide you with ways to monetize the articles you’ve purchased? Some PLR sites will include recommended affiliate programs and training on how to use their articles to get the most benefits from their service.

Really assess the value you’re receiving when investing in any PLR package or service so that you don’t end up wasting your money. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

Article written by:

Nicole Dean is the owner of www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities. The PLR articles at EasyPLR are professionally written and professionally edited — top quality at an affordable price.

First Camping Trip With My Son

2010-11-05T14:19:00.000-05:00

Post contributed by Martha Case
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The week my son turned four years old, I took him camping for the first time. I don't think he even knew what camping was at the time, but I could tell he was very excited to go when I told him about it. First we went to the store to go pick out some supplies to use. My son is admittedly pretty smart for his age, and he actually caught on pretty quick. He was helping me choose items to bring with us, and while some of them seemed kind of random, he did a decent job for the most part.

So after we got all of our supplies we headed home to get them all organized and packed up. We made sure the cats had plenty of food to last them through the weekend, I set the SecurityChoice home security alarm, and we were off to our camping trip.

I took him to a local camping grounds that was actually only a few minutes from home. It is a beautiful park with trails that go back into a thick forest, a pond where you can fish at, picnic areas with BBQ pits, and a recreation center. We stayed there all weekend and had a blast. I taught him to fish and we saw a lot of cool wildlife back in the forest trails too.
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That sounds totally awesome - love it! :)

Mosaic Tiles

2010-11-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

I've always loved the artwork that people create in their homes using mosaic tiles. I just have always loved that look and think it is so gorgeous!

We decided, at one point, to do the kids bathroom with fish-themed decorating. And it was all really colorful. Not like when people do nautical themes, but, more along the lines of Nemo-colorful, you know?

Mark - my contractor husband - told me at that time, that I should change out the bathroom tiles to mosaic tiles. He thought that I would be perfectly capable of doing so and that it would turn out great. I did not agree in regards to my skill set and never tried it. One day I'll try it on something, though, maybe on a smaller scale to start out with. And I'm sure it will be abstract. He thought I could make cute little fish! That crazy man.

I know exactly what would have happened - I would have started and he would come in there correcting me and eventually just taking over. Hmm...that is one way to get him to do what you want, now, isn't it? Ha!

For our fishy bathroom, though, it would be really cute if he would put up some subway tiles in a few shades of blue. I think that would look great! He could put some really pretty bright blue on the bottom half and then a lighter shade of blue for the top half. That would look cool!

Start to type....stop. Start to type....stop.

2010-09-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

I really need to do some writing this afternoon and it is just not coming out. I'm (as the title says) starting to type...and then stopping. Like, repeatedly. Questioning every sentence. Questioning every word. So I thought I'd come over here and just let things fly out of my fingertips. Just fly - freely....

I figured you guys wouldn't mind. So this free form writing, rambling, if you will - is so nice. So freeing. Like flying in the sky like I'm a little bird. You know, I always dream about flying - always.

In the dreams, I can jump really high and then fly if I want to or just jump like crazy. It's so awesome. I freaking love those dreams. Cannot get enough of them. When I wake up from them, I try to go back to sleep, if I have time - just to experience them some more.

But, anyhoo - wouldn't it be great if writing that we 'need to do' flowed as freely as just running our mouths? Heaven. It would just be Heaven. I'd probably be rich. Or at least a lot better off than I am right now. Contributing significantly more to the household income - fo sho!

But damn, my brain gets in the way when I'm writing for someone else. Constantly second-guessing, constantly critiquing. It's nauseating. So then I just give up. And the project runs over, over, over - and the client, I'm sure, is cussing me and wondering where in the holy hell their damn project is - or if it's ever even coming.

Totally need to write every day. Every single damn day. Get myself more in the habit of seeing MY words on the screen. I think that's definitely what needs to happen. And lord knows I've got all these blogger blogs on which to do just that. There's something to me about not being 'just quite right' on domains I own, much less client work.

Nutty, I know, but constant writing should get me past that. Right?

Ok, take seven.....

P.S. Thanks for listening, guys.

Picnic Games for Kids

2010-04-23T11:48:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Picnics bring to mind memories of playing games and running about in wide open spaces. Kids still love to run and play. Use these picnic game ideas to keep your kids occupied during the next family outing.

When several kids are present, group games can be played. Divide the kids up into teams. A little friendly competition will get the appetite going. Choose games that are easy and fast paced.

Two such games are the potato sack race and the three legged race. With the potato sack race, kids can compete in teams of two or three. Each player hops to the opposite line and tags their partner who then completes his/her leg of the race. Once the final member of the team completes their segment, the race is over.

The three legged race can be played with kids and adults. Kids can pair up with their parents or each other. Tie a string or a scarf around one leg of each partner. The teammates will have to hang on to each other to keep their balance. When the whistle sounds, each team runs as fast as they can to the finish line at the other end.

Kids can test their catching skills with the water balloon toss. Each team of players starts the game facing each other in the middle. With each toss, the tossing partner takes one step backwards. This continues, until there is one team remaining whose water balloon has not burst. Be sure to bring a few towels to wipe off the participants. Water balloons can be filled at home and transported to the picnic venue in a container.

Older kids and teens will want to play games with a bit more action. Sporting goods stores sell outdoor game kits like badminton and volleyball. It takes very little time to set up the net and you are ready to choose your teams. Choose a parent to act as referee and score keeper for the games. In cooler weather, touch football will keep the blood flowing.

Young kids would be happy with simpler activities. Bubbles are entertaining to them. Instead of using the small wand that comes with a bottle of bubbles, purchase the big wand that creates bubbles of all sizes. Soak the wand in the bubble solution and let the kids run behind you and try to catch them.

Games give kids something to occupy their time at a family picnic. Pack your game equipment the night before so that nothing is forgotten. Don’t forget the first aid kit-you may need it.

Article by:

Nicole Dean welcomes you to www.ShowKidstheFun.com — a free website filled with activities to make memories with your children and www.ShowMomtheMoney.com — a fun and informative resource for moms who want to make money from home.

Exercise Equipment For Your Home

2010-04-07T16:11:00.000-05:00

I have really been wanting to do more exercise lately. It's kind of hard for me right now, because, I messed up my foot a few months ago. When it heals up, though, I do think it would be cool to have some kind of equipment at home. At one time, I had a recumbent bike and I really liked that thing. I'm not even sure why we got rid of it. We probably sold it because we needed the money. Or it might have been when we were moving into a smaller house and had no room for it.

eFITology.com is a website that sells exercise equipment to consumers and they deliver and assemble it for you, as well. The site itself and the people behind it seem very supportive and helpful in your quest to get fit. They have a live chat available and a free help line and a very active blog. On the blog, they just had a very cool contest where they gave away three different kinds of exercise equipment. They gave away an upright bike, a recumbent bike and a set of dumbbells. Awesome!

One of the brands they carry is Tunturi. They sell Tunturi treadmills, as well as Tunturi ellipticals. Those ellipticals are so cool and look like so much fun! Not to mention a major workout! I think I'd have to work up from about 30 seconds on the thing! Seriously! LOL!

There is a cool website that bills itself as "The Online Self-Improvement Encyclopedia" - now I could really dig into that site! For hours, probably! Anyway, they have a page chock full of Information on Exercise Equipment. It seems that you could find out just about anything you want to know digging through that list!

Who knows, maybe one day soon this stupid foot of mine will heal up and I will get myself a new something or other! I noticed the other day that my mother-in-law even has a new piece of exercise equipment! No fair!

Brought to your by your friends at efitology.com

The 5 Elements of Feng Shui

2010-04-07T15:08:00.000-05:00

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy for creating positive energy in any space. The system is dominated by eight areas of each space and five elements. Here, you will learn about the five elements that define feng shui and give rise to the colors and organization of your space to create an atmosphere of prosperity and health.

The Five Elements

There are five main elements in Feng Shui theory. They are wood, fire, water, earth and metal. Each element plays a crucial role within the space that you occupy, whether it is your home or your office. After you have used a compass and your home’s floor plan to create the bagua (energy map) the next step is to look at the elements that control each of the eight areas.

Each element has a particular life area that it influences. Knowing what areas those are helps with creating the design of your home and the use of furniture and accents that demonstrate that specific element.

Fire – As you can imagine, anything that has to do with fire inspires a passion that burns deep within. The fire element also adds a high amount of energy to anything that you do. This includes your work (career), your leisure activities and for couples, your sex life.

Water - Water is a refreshing element. Water flows freely bring with it an abundance of good fortune. In ancient rituals of many cultures, water was used as a purifying agent. Using the water element in your home adds purity, abundance of energy and a fresh feeling.

Earth – Have you ever heard of someone who is “down to Earth?” The Earth element brings a feeling of stability and security to your home. Mother Earth nurtures all who live on it and within it. The same goes for the earth element in your home – it nourishes each family member.

Metal – You may be wondering why metal is an element. It seems so hard and impersonal. Actually, metal is used to represent efficiency and clarity of mind and purpose. Your work will have both a well-defined purpose and good qualities when the metal element is present.

Wood – Think of trees. They provide oxygen for all living creatures that need it. The wood element equals health to the body. Healing cures using feng shui include the wood element in their composition. Prosperity in your home is also governed by the wood element.

Each Feng Shui element serves a different purpose in the home. The associated colors and areas that work best with each element help you to build positive energy throughout your home. Each area will be strong in a particular element and give you a certain feeling when you enter that room.

Savings.com - Mega Site For Savings

2010-03-23T08:34:00.000-05:00

This post is brought to you by Savings.com. Savings.com is a monster site! I've been exploring on there for over an hour and I'm nowhere near finished! They have some very cool features there!

I love shopping online and I absolutely love online coupons, savings, coupon codes, you name it! So I was excited to get to check out this site and tell you all about it. The first thing, the very first thing, that I noticed ...was the logo! I really, really like their logo and the connecting/continuing background. The text is like one connected string and in various places the string makes different pictures after the word. You can see it here a little bit, but, you'll have to go to the site to see what I mean about the groovy pictures that are connected to it. Love the look and feel of it, though.

A major plus is that there are tons and tons and tons of retailers and their accompanying discounts and/or coupons listed. That should definitely be said. But there are many other things, also, that really made me like this site, the first of which is the community and the way that Savings.com embraces the community.

Once you join the site, which is super easy to do - they have social networking profiles available for members, in which you can fill out your bio, add a link to your own site, write a blog on the site, and it will also keep track of any coupons you voted for, comments you've made, any deals that you have submitted - and more!

They also have a very active blog for the main site, that super active members can contribute to. And they are on Twitter and Facebook and have their links right on the homepage. And there is a newsletter that you can sign up for so that you don't miss any deals! And there are tons of helpful articles on the site! It really is a great site!

Ok, so I went shopping around to see what I could find that I needed and let me tell you what! I need a new camera. In a bad way, in fact, it's so bad that some friends have nicknamed me "1972" just in reference to the camera I've been using!! It's my husband's digital camera from 2002 - it. is. horrible. Now, to be fair, I do have a nicer camera, but, less than a year after having it - it went kablooey. Kodak thinks they can fix it for about $100, but, I'm doggoned tired of Kodak software not working with Windows software! That's right - Kodak gives you .mov files and Windows Movie Maker does not work with .mov files. What a pain!

So I started out looking at Sony ecoupons and I found some interesting discounts and coupons. Once you find one you want to check out, you click the link and it takes you directly to sony and OMG! ya'll! I found the coooooolest camera. And just go ahead and guess what it's called! OMG!!! It's called the "bloggie"!! I'm not even kidding you - this things looks so awesome!! It takes video and stills and the viewfinder flips around so that when you're self-recording, as we bloggers tend to do - you can make sure and get yourself in the shot! I seriously think I might NEEEEED this camera! Coolio!

Now see? See how much fun looking through online coupons can be? I don't know about you, but, I'm pumped!

Here's a quick video from Savings.com explaining the process a little bit more!