What's That Buzz

I Swore My House Wouldn’t Look Like This!

2012-06-01T23:35:00.000-05:00

A little over a year ago one of my neighbors visited our home to take a look at our newly finished basement. She was pregnant with her first child, while we were well established with our three boys. And our basement well reflected our status as parents of several young children. There were toys and books everywhere, and you could tell by the look on her face that she was flabbergasted by our mess. The reason I recognized the look so well was that I used to wear it quite frequently before I had children of my own.

Before I had children…I swore my house would be neat. We would only have a few toys, age appropriate of course. The boxes would be neatly stored and my kids would play quietly at the table. They would never fuss and we would be in tune with one another. I would never turn on the TV and my children would speak a second language, fluently, by age 5.

Then reality hit. Family members gave the boys tons of toys, often things I would never have dreamed of. And I loved to buy them those little trinkets that would put smiles on their sweet little faces. How could I deny them? When my oldest was diagnosed with autism I realized learning Spanish or Chinese was going to take a backseat to just learning to talk. Every time our therapist suggested a toy or object to help him progress I was the first in line to find it. Our collection of “things” just grew and grew. After baby number 3, I was just happy if the bathrooms were OK for visitors and the boys had on clean clothes. Making sure we made it to therapy was much more important than keeping a straight house. I didn’t worry so much about keeping the toys in their boxes or the books on their shelves, although sometimes I regret the chaos. Teaching a child to hold a conversation just seemed so much more important than keeping his toys neat.

A few months ago I stopped by my neighbor’s house. Her daughter is a year old now. She made a few apologies for the mess, then turned to me and said, “I don’t know how you do it with 3 boys!” I’m pretty sure that look will not cross her face again anytime soon, even though she swore her house would never look like this.

Maryann is the mom behind Matthew’s Puzzle where she blogs about autism recovery, green living and just plain life.

Camping Gear for Cooks

2012-05-29T15:55:00.001-05:00

We go camping a lot. So when I had the opportunity to try some products that we can use when playing in the great outdoors i was excited. When the package arrived it was like getting a Christmas present.

I received a 2-egg holder and corn popper.

2-Egg Holder kept my eggs whole and we tried to break them.
Coghlan's 2-Egg Holder is designed for short trips into the outdoors,
providing a compact and durable storage solution for two eggs. The carrier
is made from virtually unbreakable plastic that won't crush in your pack.
The Coghlan's 2-Egg Holder allows Cooking Wild enthusiasts to hunt, fish,
forage and feast in style!

2-Egg Holder

Corn Popper is so very cool and the popcorn is delicious!
Classic design makes great tasting popcorn every time. Great for roasting
chestnuts too! Use over a campfire or fireplace. The sliding lid is easy to
open and the space-saving handle stores inside the corn popper when not in
use. Wooden grip keeps handle cool and comfortable. Clean up is easy with
the non-stick surface. The first time we tried this the crowd was pleased.

Corn Popper

Products can be found at.

A product was received for review. I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

Another Reason I Like Living in a Small Town

2012-05-24T07:06:00.001-05:00

Do you ever think you're not a typical female? I do but that's because I don't like shopping. I think I can actually say I detest shopping. It's not the act of spending money that bothers me because I can spend it with the best of them, I don't like going to a mall, fighting the crowds and walking from one end to the other just to get to that ONE store that has what I want. I much prefer strip malls where you park, go in one store then get back in your car and drive to the next. No crowds to push your way through, no food courts beckoning me, no 1/2 off sale signs to lure me in. Just one store for my one purchase and I'm on my way home.

I wasn't always this way. When I was younger I would often marathon shop and I loved it. Get to the mall when it opened and not leave until it closed. I'd even eat my meals there, all 3 of them. My days off were spent at the mall. Any get together with friends would be spent at the mall and living in Chicago I had many to choose from. My favorites though were the ones with Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.

I often wonder if my dislike of crowds is why I jumped a the chance to relocate to a small town in the southeast. Our town is so small we have one store and it's a mini mart attached to the towns only gas station. Yes, we're that small but the good part is we live 2 miles from a bigger town and 6 miles from the mall which I've only been to 4 times in 9 years and I usually parked outside JC Penny, run in and back out. Would that be called "stealth shopping?" I also find that shopping online can be convenient, it’s another way for me to avoid the crowds. It can be a lot cheaper and the great thing is when you find a deal that you like which includes free shipping, meaning no added costs.

Of course I can always go Windows Shopping. (Get it, PC, Windows...oh forget it, that sounded funnier in my head).

I'm a Lazy Gardener

2012-05-21T00:20:00.001-05:00

"I love our house" is a phrase one of both of use says at least once a week. It's true, we both love our house. Don't get me wrong, there are things we could do that would make it the perfect but even without any changes or improvements we still "love our house".

Right after we moved in we both said we'd like to take the kitchen window out and replace it with French doors or sliders to the back yard. Right now the back door is through the garage and having an exit to the back from inside the house would be so much easier with the dogs. Then we play the "if we had the money" or "if we win the lottery" game. You know the one where you can buy all your wishes and dreams. First off we'd add on to the house all across the back so there would be a family room off the kitchen with doors leading outside from there. Of course that would only take half the addition, the other half would allow us to enlarge the master bedroom and bath. Of course that type of home improvement takes money and a LOT of it.

In thinking about what we could do on a much smaller and economical scale I moved my thoughts to the outside. The buzz word when watching those house hunting shows is curb appeal and landscaping and I love flowers so a garden would be perfect. I can see me now sitting on a bench, surrounded by beautiful flower beds and landscaping. Maybe a small pond with some Koi swimming in and out of water plants or a dry creek bed with a little foot bridge. The only problem with that vision, we live in the south where it's extremely hot in the summer and the ground is very dry. I'm not the type of person to stand out and water a garden or even move a sprinkler around not to mention the amount of water it would take and the cost. That's when it hit me, I could make a water sprinkler or drip irrigation system. Both don't seem that hard to do and the materials are easy on the pocketbook.

The first thing I'd need to do is buy PVC pipe. I just love PVC, it's lightweight, easy to work with, easy to drill holes and it can be bent with just a little bit of heating. Another plus, it's not subject to corrosion and rusting. I'd also have to buy some schedule 40 fittings. These are great for connecting the pipe at angles, of course a few T shaped fittings would allow me to have several rows of the sprinkler or irrigation system. The last thing I'd need are butterfly valves. These I'd use to shut off the water to certain areas of the garden since some plants need more water than others.

The best thing about this project, I'm positive it's something I could tackle myself and complete in an afternoon. The garden, that's a different story as I'm sure it would take me a little longer to convince Don to dig up the yard and plant the flowers. What? You didn't think I'd get my hands dirty did you?

How I'd Use Coupon Codes USA

2012-05-16T14:49:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I told you about a discount voucher site for the UK. Since I'm in the U.S. I feel we need equal billing and I love this site. Coupon Codes USA.

At Coupon Codes USA you can find codes and discounts for your favorite stores like The Gap, Boot Barn (just to name a few). You can even get codes for discount glasses and outlet stores. How's that for savings, a discount for a discount store. I love it.

For those that are addicted to shopping or have any other problems counseling. Well, in looking over the site they seemed to have experts on a variety of topics such as health, spirituality, business and of course counseling. I just love the internet.

What's even better than saving money when shopping? Saving money on travel and vacations. I saw discount codes for air travel, car rentals and hotels/resorts. How about a code for $50 off a room or a free room upgrade? Why wasn't this around when I was young, single and traveled a few times a year. I know, because that was in the "Olden Days" before the internet or at least before home PC's were popular.

How I'd use Coupon Codes USA

I go to one website Coupon Codes USA and I can get a deal on counseling to set up my business so I can make more money. Then I can get a discount on a great vacation and THEN go shopping using discounts to purchase a new wardrobe for that vacation.

How's this for a vacation destination?

This post was brought to you by Coupon codes USA

Hunt For the Deals at netvouchercodes.co.uk

2012-05-15T21:44:00.001-05:00

It doesn't matter what your income is, what your economic status is or what country your from we all like to save money.

I get charged by the excitement of the hunt. You know, finding that perfect gift or item I want then going deep in the jungle of the World Wide Web to find the cheapest price or discount I can before I go in for the kill and make that purchase. I mean, nothing's more fulfilling than getting those shoes or that piece of electronic equipment at a rock bottom price. Once in a while all it takes to make me happy is free shipping, especially those times where the shipping costs are almost as much if not more than the price of the item itself. Yeah, nothing gets me more upset than buying something that costs $5.00 and having to pay $9.95 in shipping.

I've shared several places in the past for those of us in the U.S. to find deals but today I'm going to share a great site for my readers across the pond in the UK. This is a site where you can get Net voucher codes for all your favorite stores in one convenient spot.

Go ahead, check it out..We both know you want to. Oh, for those of you in the U.S. that are looking for gifts to send to friends and family in the UK, I'm not positive but pretty sure you could find a code and do your shopping at one of the sites they have. Using a credit card I think they'd figure out the conversion rate for you. I may be wrong in that but it's worth a try isn't it?

This post was brought to you by net voucher codes

A Healthy Choice with Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! Popcorn & Giveaway

2012-05-15T15:03:00.000-05:00

As many of you know I'm trying to lose weight by counting calories and making healthier or better choices in what I do eat. Not that I'm always successful but I do try.

One part of the day that's always tough for me is after dinner snacking. Watching TV - I want a snack, before bed - you guessed it, I want a snack.

One snack food I love while watching TV is popcorn but I'm in a constant debate with myself on how to prepare it. I love the convenience of microwave but don't like the bags. Once you eat the top layer you're entire arm ends up in the bag and I get the grease or whatever it is that's latched onto sides of the bag all over my arm. I decided to put the popcorn in a bowl but the I think "if I'm going to put the popcorn in a bowl why not go healthier and use the air popper". But then I'm not getting the convenience of the microwave.

WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?

Orville Redenbacher's came to my rescue and they issued a challenge to me to try their SmartPop! and share my experience with my readers. What can I say, it's convenient and the bowl/bag is wide and shallow enough that my arm isn't getting all yucky from having to jam it down into the bag. Now I don't have to dirty a bowl. I don't know about you but think that's a win-win.

Another great thing with Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop , it's a smart choice when you're trying to make healthier decisions. Did you know there's only 100 calories in a 6 cup serving of popcorn. The entire SmartPop! bowl contains 2- 7.5 cup serving at 120 calories. That's a great snack that not only fills you up but takes time to eat so you eat less and don't get hungry an hour later. SmartPop! also uses less salt.

Here are a few other advantages Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! has over other snack foods

100 percent whole grain (The dietary guidelines recommendation for whole grain consumption is three servings a day.
Three cups of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn provides an one serving of whole grain. One serving of SmartPop! has two servings of whole grains)
A good source of fiber (Three times more fiber per 1-ounce serving than other snack foods, such as pretzels or potato chips)
Low in fat Zero grams of trans fat

I've started rethinking how I eat my popcorn

Straight out of the SmartPop! bowl (No more dirty dishes to wash)
For a evening snack in front of the TV
Lunch (great for times I don't want to sit and eat but would rather eat at my desk or while watching TV)
Share with my puppies. Ellie will sit and wait for me to spread a handful on the floor for her and Rascal just waits for me to miss my mouth and accidentally drop them on the floor

Orville Redenbacher's is asking you to participate in their "Healthy Snacking Challenge" All you have to do is begin substituting Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop! for your usual snacks. I've already started, why don't you join me. As an incentive Orville Redenbacher's is offering a $1 off coupon on their Facebook page. While you're there try out the Pop Cam Game.

Now for the giveaway Orville Redenbachers is giving 1 box of SmartPop to 10 readers of

What's That Buzz.

Giveaway open to U.S Residents 18 and over

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Orville and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

I Think I'm Back on Track - The Losing Track That Is

2012-05-12T14:04:00.002-05:00

My charm for losing 20 lbs

These last 2 weeks were so-so for me. 2 weeks ago I gained again but it was towards the end of the week that I realized why I was overeating. That week I gained 1.8 lbs but this last week was much better and I lost 3.2 lbs. That puts my weight at 239.7. What makes me upset is on March 22 I weighed 236.1. I'm on my way back there though and I'm going to pass that up. My goal this week is to have another loss. I don't care if its 1/10 or a lb as long as it's a loss.

I went for my 3rd epidural yesterday so pray that this one works and I can start some sort of exercise or go back to the walking trail with Don.

I finally got my 20 lb charm at TOPS last week. I actually earned it in January but they forgot to give it to me but that's OK. Don got his 50lb charm and is well on his way to the 70 lb mark. I am so very proud of him, a little jealous but very proud.

I have a bracelet that belonged to my mom from when she was in TOPS in the 60's. It was still in the box and had 2 generic TOPS charms (a refrigerator and scale) so Don put them on and we've been adding the few I've received. Since I'm not a charm bracelet person and I think I'm going to make us a sash or vest in the TOPS colors so we can display our charms each week.


Charms and Awards (I earned all but the scale and silver rectangle which is a refrigerator)

Win a $200 Nordstrom's Gift Card From Roofing-Directory.com

2012-05-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

What department would be your first stop if you had $200 to spend at Nordstrom's. I know mine would be SHOES I love shoes and Nordstrom's has so many styles and a lot of them come in different widths which is great for people like me with short wide feet. Yeah, $200 in shoes sounds like heaven. Of course if I had any money left over I might see what they have in the men's department so I could get Don something

Roofing-Directory.com is hosting a giveaway where you can win a $200 Nordstrom's gift card. If you win and go by their shoe department, tell them I said hi. I'm sure they'll remember me.

Roofing-Directory.com

Lucy's Cookies Q&A and Giveaway

2012-05-07T18:39:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I had the opportunity to review Lucy's Cookies. I do have to say they were very tasty for something that's gluten free, peanut free, allergen free and vegan that if I didn't tell you how healthy they are you most likely wouldn't believe me.

Tomorrow May 8th at 4pm EST Lucy's is having a Q&A session on their Facebook page where fans, both old and new as well as future fans can ask questions of their founder and MD Dr. Lucy. You can ask anything at all about the cookies, the company, food allergies, gluten free diets, food trends or just about anything else you can think of to ask.

In honor of this Q&A session Lucy's Cookies is giving away 5 boxes ($30 value) to 1 What's That Buzz reader.

If you're interested in participating in the Q&A but unable to make it tomorrow there's a couple more coming up on in the future.

Friday May 18 - 2pm EST
Wednesday May 23 - 11am EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A product was received for review. I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

Gift Cards Rock & $25 Applebee's Gift Card

2012-05-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

When I was growing up I use to hate when I got money as a gift. I know I was the odd one but I felt you put the money in your piggy bank or wallet and you didn't have anything to remember the gift giver by. Well, what can I say, the mind of a child wants toys. I also felt a gift of money wasn't personal and the giver didn't have to put much thought into it. My mom was on my side in this and I know because she never gave a gift of money unless it was a graduation or wedding. She felt picking out a gift for someone showed them you cared enough to put forth a bit of effort. When you send a thank you card you want to say

Aunt Martha,

Thank you for the neat Nurse Barbie. It's just what I wanted.

or whatever it was you got. You didn't want to say

Aunt Martha,

Thanks for the money, mom made me put it in the bank for college.

When I got older I started taking that money and buying something I wanted or used towards something I wanted and I'd send the gift giver a card thanking them for the money and then tell them what I used it for. It makes them feel like they really got you something you could use. At that time I'd be sending a thank you note something like this.

Dear Aunt Martha,

Thank you for the $25 you gave me for Christmas. I used it toward the Liz Claiborne sweater I wanted. I can't wait for you to see it.

See, doesn't that have more excitement and make the gift a bit more personal. Now that gift cards are so popular I'm in love with the money aspect again. Last Christmas our nephew gave us a restaurant gift card and we were able to go out to one of my favorite restaurants, Longhorn, for our anniversary. Nothing like having a prime rib dinner on someone else's dime. Giving a gift card is more personal than giving cash and it does take more thought since you need to know the person well enough to pick the right card. Do they like shopping at J.C. Penny or are they a designer boutique person. Do they like eating at Chili's or Applebee's. Maybe you're not quite sure so you get them a Visa Gift Card so they can go wherever they want or even use it to put gas in their car. We all know the gift of gasoline is like giving them gold. Giving a child a Visa Gift Card is the next best thing to taking them on a shopping spree. Their parents can't make them put it in their piggy bank so they can go to McDonalds, Toys R Us or even us it on that family vacation to Disney and buy the Mickey Mouse ears they want.

Gift cards are even great for family and friends who live across the country or across the ocean. I know my stepdaughter wants iTune's cards so I can buy them here and send them to her in Sweden. Lisa, if you're reading this I'm not saying that's what you're getting for your birthday. I know my sister-in-law likes shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond but not sure what she'd like from there so their gift card would be great.

If you're like me and love giving and receiving gift cards there's a whole community of people who share that love. It's called Gift Cards Rock and you can discuss everything gift cards. Gift Cards Rock is a great place meet people and connect with friends who love to use gift cards. You can talk about gift card ideas and maybe learn something you didn't think of and share your best stories about gift cards (best gift purchased with a card, favorite cards, etc.)

What's That Buzz has partnered with Gift Cards Rock to give one reader a $25 Applebee's Gift Card. If you can't use the card yourself I'm sure you know someone with a birthday or anniversary coming up and this would make a great gift. Better yet, it's graduation time and Mother's Day and Father's Day aren't too far away. Did you know you can find more gift cards at your grocery store? After you enter to win the Applebee's Gift Card why not stop by the blogs of a few of my friends and try your luck there for other cards.

$50 gift card to JCPenney Cocktails with Mom
$25 gift card to iTunes SimplyBudgeted
$25 gift card to Applebee's Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy

Giveaway open to U.S. Residents 18 and over

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a $25 Applebee's Gift Card in exchange for hosting this giveaway. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

Faith vs Religion

2012-05-04T13:53:00.000-05:00

I'm a Christian and love talking about my faith. Notice I didn't say my religion? That's because I strongly believe there's a difference between faith and religion and people often use the terms interchangeably when in fact they aren't the same.

Faith is a belief in something unseen. My faith is God and Christ. I believe Christ is the son of God and He was born, died on the cross for my sins and on the third day he rose and will come again. Religion is man made.

Religion is rules and fear that if you don't follow those rules you'll be separated from God and will never get into heaven. Faith has no rules only a promise that if you believe in Christ you will have eternal life.

I was raised in a religiously dysfunctional family. Mom always said she was protestant, Dad was a non-practicing catholic and my brother and I were left on our own to find out what we believed in. Even though we were raised with Christian beliefs and values I never really understood. My mom would let me go to church with my friends and I went to Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist churches with my friends. I was in the children's choirs of several of those churches and I went to VBS. At an early age I was searching for IT but not quite sure what IT was.

In high school I was a Bahai, studying to be Mormon (I admit the missionaries were cute and I was infatuated) and I was eventually baptized Catholic.

When I was 37 I accepted Christ and I felt like my eyes were open. My life was full and I couldn't get enough. I had an old King James Bible but quickly got an NIV and I absorbed it. I couldn't quote chapter and verse and still can't but I know what it says and I know what it means.

Over the years I've had several bibles from study bibles to reference bibles. The one constant was that it be an NIV. Not that it was easier to understand than a NKJV or NASB but it's what I was most comfortable with. I think at one time I had about 6 bibles in my possession.

Last month I received 4 new bibles from Zondevan. All are NIV and all are great for different reasons but mostly they're so cute. Yeah, I just said a bible was cute. The covers are soft and colorful.

The Bible Clutch serves 2 functions. It's a bible and it's a clutch with places for paper money and credit cards/ID inside the front cover and a zipper closure.

The DuoTone Thinline Bible is pocket sized and great for tossing into a handbag or jacket pocket.

The Bloom Collection are eye catching and fun. They have soft covers with raised design and detail. They are small and portable. I received the Lily and Poppy covers.

Zondervan has offered 2 readers their choice of bible from the Bloom Collection pictured above. That's right you get to choose either the Poppy or Lily cover for your NIV bible.

Giveaway open to U.S. Residents 18 and over

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A product was received for review. I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

My Weight Loss Journey: Not So Good the Last Couple of Weeks

2012-05-02T18:53:00.000-05:00

I was really upset last week at TOPS. I gained again for the second week in a row which brings my 2 week gain up to 3.1 lbs and my weight back up to 241.1. I vowed to do better this week and I kept my food diary maybe 2 days so far since last Thursday and on those days I went way over my target calorie intake. It finally hit me last night, I'm going through a bit of depression and I need to snap out of it.

One thing that I'm sure has me depressed is my health. First I was having pain in my right lower back/hip area that's spread around to the side and front. Orthopedic doc says it's my sacroiliac joint and after a steroid injection he sent me for 2 lumbar epidurals. They really haven't gotten rid of the pain and I was scheduled for a 3rd epidural last Friday but I cancelled. My PCP thought I might have a kidney stone which caused the pain but a CT-Scan showed no stone but I did have a 5.5cm cyst on my right ovary (at least that's what the nurse told me). After having an ultrasound and seeing my gynecologist yesterday I was told the cyst is on my left ovary and was not causing my pain. We're treating the cyst with a shot of progesterone to try to dissolve it and follow-up ultrasound in 6 weeks. The gyne did suggest physical therapy for my pain though. I did a search last night and found 3 exercises to do at home for sacroilitis and also have a call into the otrho to see if I might be able to do some PT or at least get some exercises to do at home. I also asked Don to let me start doing things around the house again. He's been so good and is afraid of me hurting that he won't let me do anything. I could understand that in the beginning when i couldn't even walk 10-15 feet from the office to the bathroom without holding the walls and crying but I'm able to walk farther now and folding laundry isn't going to hurt me. I really thing that going back to some normal activities will help my frame of mind.

Another thing I decided to do was get back in touch with God. I'm a Christian (was saved in 1995) and use to have a great prayer life. I'd talk to God and I swear he talked back. I heard him and I felt him. Over the last couple of years I've slacked off on my end. I know God's still there and He hasn't given up on me, I just haven't been as available as He'd like me to be. I started this morning with a great conversation with Him and I'm really going to try to get back in the habit of talking to him daily if not multiple times a day.

If you're looking for a quick low cal meal or side dish I suggest Zataran's. We always have a few boxes of assorted Zataran's flavors in the cabinet and the other night had some grilled chicken breasts and but into bite size pieces. Added it to a box of Zataran's Cheddar Broccoli Rice and we had a dish that was under 300 calories per serving. I even took the easy route with the chicken and bought a package of pre-cooked Purdue chicken breasts from the store's refrigerated section.

On a final note, I hope I don't have too much of a gain tomorrow from all my eating this week. I know one day of doing good (today) isn't going to help much but a girl can hope can't she?

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer Giveaway

2012-04-30T11:06:00.001-05:00

The pvc fittings and pipe company CIS is giving away a KitchenAid Mixer!
(more informtion on this prize)

a Commercial Industrial Supply giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Home Improvements and Innovations

2012-04-25T12:57:00.002-05:00

If you want to make any improvements to the exterior of your home, there’s nothing wrong with wanting them to be different. To some people, they’re happy to make their home fit in with those around them, and doing so may involve little more than a lick of paint or a new door. However, to go that extra mile, adding innovative flourishes to your home like those seen on nationwideltd.co.uk could make your home look much better.

The best home innovations are not only great to look at, but they also help with both you and your home’s wellbeing. This is certainly the case if you have a glass veranda. Whether you place it over a door, patio or even your garage, verandas serve to accentuate them, adding a touch of class to your home. Meanwhile, if you’re waiting to get into your home, while standing under a veranda, you’re protected from rain, snow and other forms of precipitation.

Protection is also something you can expect to get from awnings. Electronically operated, they can shield anyone underneath from extreme heat and intense sunlight during the height of summer. Among other things, they can block harmful UV rays as well as other extreme weather such as rain and hail, while keeping you cool at the same time.

A different form of protection comes with adding security blinds to your home. If you’re out of the house for a considerable length of time, drawing them will make it impossible for burglars to break into your home, leaving you feeling secure.

Garden Furniture

2012-04-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

When looking for the right item of furniture for your garden, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s hard to identify what will work and what won’t. A few decades ago, the choice of garden furniture available to shoppers consisted of nothing more than cheap plastic patio furniture and flimsy wicker chairs. However, the massive range of garden furniture items for sale now is leaving consumers unsure of what to choose.

For people ranging from professional leeds gardeners to homeowners who simply want to make a few improvements to their garden, the choice of garden furniture presented to them is massive. However, some items are more popular than others, which is largely down to the different types of garden that they own or maintain. Other factors determining the popularity of some kinds of furniture include price, materials and design.

Patio furniture is hugely popular with garden owners. As the name suggests, it’s perfect for patios, and in addition to being light and easy to assemble, many items are made using strong material such as graphite and aluminum. Many modern patio furniture items like patio tables also come in unique shapes such as curved triangles.

In recent years, garden sofas are proving to be increasingly popular additions to many a garden. The best garden sofas come fully upholstered, and they’re made with innovative materials such as rattan, which are not only light but durable. All-weather garden sofas are particularly popular, as they can be left out without being damaged in adverse weather. Rattan garden furniture in general is also favored by many, as it comes in a variety of shades such as mocha, dark charcoal and light brown.

Top Brands and Services

2012-04-17T10:56:00.000-05:00

When buying appliances, you want everything to be perfect. You want them to do the job they’re supposed to. You want them to work correctly every time, and not for them to be prone to breaking. Above all else, you want them to last for a long time. Many of the best appliances on the market tend to be quite expensive, but by visiting a website like Appliances Direct to look for the best available deals, it’s possible to get the best branded appliances for less.

If for example, you’re looking for a new Fridge Freezer because your old one broke down, you may find that you’ve not got several hundred pounds to spend on a top-of-the-range appliance. However, you may be surprised to know that it’s possible to get one with a large capacity, good energy efficiency rating and other features such as being frost-free for less than £300, and one that’s been made by a leading manufacturer such as Indesit to boot.

The same goes for any other appliance that comes to mind. One such appliance is a Washing Machine. Like fridge freezers, they can be expensive, but you can buy one which does all that you can ask of it for a more than reasonable price. You may think that buying a washing machine that performs a number of functions from a respected brand will be out of reach if you’re trying to stick to a budget, but that’s not the case. It’s possible to buy a branded washing machine for less than £200.

By shopping around on specialist websites dedicated to different types of household appliance from the likes of Appliances Direct, you can get a branded appliance for a great price. On top of that, you can also get fast delivery which is convenient for you, especially if you lead a busy lifestyle.

My Weight Loss Journey: Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Pudding, All The Flavor with Half The Calories

2012-04-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

Another 2 weeks and I've lost 5.9 lbs which brings me down to 238. That's a total of 12.2 lbs since December 1st. I know it doesn't sound like much but I just realized I've gained and lost the same 10 lbs over and over for the last 2 months. Something's got to change in my behavior and I think I'm on the road to making that change. My FREE DAY.

I'm still planning on having a day that I don't count calories and I can give into my little cravings but it's now going to be on Saturday rather than Thursday. I've known for a while that my FREE Thursday has been merging into Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That just can't continue. Now my FREE day is Saturday so if it does blend into Sunday it's only 2 days rather than the 4 which was most of a week. At that rate why even bother trying to modify my eating.

April 5th were our monthly awards at TOPS and I was pleasantly surprised when I got an award for 2nd place in my division for weight loss in 2011. I'd lost a total of 16.25 lbs in 2011 which isn't bad considering we didn't join TOPS until October 13. Don of course got 1st place in his division. Yeah, he's always got to on up me doesn't he? I'm very proud of him for his loss though and I must say he's looking better all the time, if that's even possible. Don also got various other awards but after the first couple I lose track.

I mentioned my cravings a little bit ago and I have to tell you about one of them. I'm a tapioca pudding lover and my mom use to make it for me from scratch. I remember eating it warm from the pan before it had time to fully set. As I got older I'd make it for myself and eat from the pan. Yeah, I always told myself I'd have one bowl then put the rest away but we know how well that went. The pan was empty before I knew it.

After Don and I got married I discovered Kozy Shack Tapioca Pudding and decided to try it. After one bite I was hooked. Kozy Shack Tapioca Pudding is creamy, no stiff and just so delicious. It didn't take much arm twisting to get Don to try it and agree with me. I'd buy us a carton of tapioca pudding once in a while and it was our little indulgence. After changing our eating those cartons kept jumping out at me when I'd pass through the dairy aisle at the store but I was good and passed by, often with tears in my eyes but I managed to resist.

A couple of weeks ago I was given the opportunity to try Kozy Shack again and that's when I discovered something awesome, NO SUGAR ADDED. Yes, my favorite tapioca pudding now fits in with our new lifestyle. I got to try their no sugar added Rice Pudding, Chocolate and of course Tapioca.

Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Chocolate Pudding is creamy and much better than other pre-made puddings (I won't mention the competitor's name here) and didn't leave me with any idea that it didn't have sugar. At only 60 calories a serving it's perfect for dessert or a snack before bed.

Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Rice Pudding is, delicious. Several of my favorite family style restaurants in Chicago had rice puddings on their menu for dessert and that's what I always ordered. Kozy Shack takes me back to my childhood with memories of going out to Sunday dinner with the folks. Even though it's lacking the cinnamon on top it's got a great flavor and creamy enough without being mushy. At 70 calories per serving if this hasn't taken the top spot in my favorite Kozy Shack flavors it's tied for first.

Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Tapioca Pudding is just as good as the regular. Still creamy and nothing to let me know it's sugar free and lower in calories. Just like it's Rice Pudding friend it comes in at 70 calories per serving.

Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Puddings also come in Strawberry and Vanilla. Who says dieting has to be boring, I know Kozy Shack doesn't think so.

A product was received for review. I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

Achieve Great Looking Skin With SkinMedica Skin Polisher and Ultra Sheer Moisturizer Giveaway

2012-04-15T02:18:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, as the female of the species we want to feel good about ourselves and that feeling often goes hand in hand with how we feel about our looks. While we can't all afford to buy Angelina's lips, J.Lo's derriere or Nicole's hair we can take care of our skin for that peaches and cream complexion and healthy glow.

Now you can go out and peruse the department stores and drug stores for the right shade of concealar, foundation, powder, eye liner, eye shadow, blush and lip gloss we often forget the most important step. Exfoliating and moisturizing to make those other items go on smoother or maybe we can eliminate some of them. I mean, if your skin is clean and smooth you might not need the concealer, foundation or powder. Your cheeks might have a natural blush so let's forgo that.

I know what you're thinking, a lot of talk but how can we achieve that without spending a fortune on chemical peels, facials and who knows what else you can think of. It's easy, by exfoliating and moisturizing at home. The folks at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre have kindly offered to give one reader of What's That Buzz a prize package valued at $94.

Package includes:

SkinMedica Skin Polisher contains ultra-fine jojoba spheres to gently exfoliate without stripping moisture or over exfoliating the skin. It's a fragrance-free cream formulation won't scratch or irritate the skin. ($40 value)

SkinMedica Ultra Sheer Moisturizer is a light oil-free formula that hydrates the skin while vitamins C and E antioxidants protect against free radical damage. ($54 value)

Giveaway open to US Resident only

Must be 18 or over to enter.

There is no mandatory entry. You can do one or all for more ways to enter.

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MyJobChart.com

2012-04-12T07:53:00.001-05:00

MyJobChart.com, an online chore chart was designed to teach young people the concept of responsibility, work ethic and the value of money by giving them a way to earn points for completing their chores.
The free site has always offered a way for young users to ‘spend’ their points on rewards they want, ‘share’ what they earn with a chosen charity, or to ‘save’ for the future.”
Kids are able to experience the tremendous rewards of earning money for themselves and then of accumulating that money and saving for the future. As they do this they will get a $20 bonus into each child’s account just for signing up for a kids savings account.
My Job Chart is easy of use and the high-tech approach have made MyJobChart.com a hit with more than 140,000 kids in just over a year since its inception with kids completing over 9.4 Million chores using the site!

Win A Breville Juice Fountain Plus from Natural Horizons

2012-04-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

(view more details on this prize)

a Natural Horizons giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Earth Bread

2012-03-30T23:04:00.001-05:00

My mom was always making homemade bread and I can still remember eating it fresh from the oven with nothing on it. To me it was like eating cake. She had one bread that was my favorite and she always called it Earth Bread. I don't know if that's the official name or if it was just called Honey Oatmeal Bread and to be honest I don't really care what it's called, I just know it's delicious.

I found the recipe the other day and decided to try my hand at making it and I even tried to lighten it up a bit calorie wise. I didn't do too bad for my first attempt at making bread from scratch and having to knead it. I mean, Don said it was good and what more could a girl want. I'm going to share the recipe the way it's written then tell you what I did differently.

Earth Bread

1 cups oatmeal

2 cups boiling water

2 packages yeast

1 tablespoons salt

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

Poppy Seeds (optional)

Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 cup oatmeal. Let stand 1/2 hour
Dissolve 2 pkgs yeast in 1/3 cup lukewarm water.

After 1/2 hour add to oatmeal: 1 tblsp salt 1/2 cup honey 2 tblsp melted butter.
Stir in yeast.
Gradually add 4 1/2 cups flour
On floured surface knead for 10 minutes (a kitchen aide works well).
Place in large bowl, oil top and let rise until double.
Punch down and shape into 2 loaves. Put in 2 greased pans and let rise again.
Beat 1 egg with a little water and spread over top of loaves.
Sprinkle with poppy seeds if desired.
Bake @ 325 for 50 minutes

In trying to lighten it up I used applesauce in place of the butter. In doing some searching on Google I'd read that it measures the same so instead of 2 tablespoons of butter I used 2 tablespoons of applesauce. That saved me 157 calories for 2 loaves or 8 1/2 calories per slice. I then decided to use whole wheat flour. I know whole wheat flour tends to make things denser and when I make pizza crust I can use less flour so I started out with 3 cups. I had what looked to be the consistency of oatmeal so I added more flour 1/2 cup at a time until I had the full 4 1/2 cups. Since the calorie count is the same for both flours i didn't save any calories there but it was worth a shot. The problem I had, even with the full 4 1/2 cups of flour, the dough didn't get the consistency of regular bread dough. It was more like thick, sticky oatmeal. I didn't want to keep adding flour so I decided to knead it and crossed my fingers. That worked. The dough started stiffening up and took on an actual bread dough consistency and texture. The dough rose perfectly for both loaves and as I said, it tastes GREAT. I was thinking I might add a few raisins the next time.

Proper Hand Washing and RSV Prevention

2012-03-29T14:57:00.003-05:00

We've all seen the signs in public washrooms, doctors offices and hospitals but we need to post them at home. After all it's the number one defense against some illnesses. I'm talking about hand washing. Yes, that simple act of mixing soap with water and vigorously rubbing it on your hands can stop the spread of germs and prevent many illnesses.

One illness hand washing can prevent is RSV. RSV in most of us is a cold but to an infant it can be serious and to a baby that's got a compromised immune system it can be deadly.
The symptoms of a severe RSV infection.

Coughing or wheezing that does not stop. (A lot of times the baby will sound like they're choking) Fast breathing or gasping for breath Spread-out nostrils and/or caved-in chest when trying to breath. (Referred to nasal flaring is when the edges of the nostrils move or widen as the baby's trying to breath. Retractions are when the middle of the chest or area at the bottom of the breast bone pulls in with each breath. Sometimes the area between the ribs will pull in)

A bluish color around the mouth or fingernails (This is caused by a lack of oxygen)

A fever (In infants under 3 months a fever greater than 100.4 rectally is a cause for concern)

Click Photo to Enlarge

It's common sense not to take a newborn or immunosuppressed infant around crowds and anyone with a cold, especially young children but what can you do in your own home.

Wash your hands OFTEN. Wash your hands before touching the baby, after coughing or sneezing, after touching a doorknob or any other surface. Make others in the home do the same, even visitors

Ask visitors to call before coming over and if they're sick ask them to reschedule their visit until they're well

Do not allow smoking in your home or near the baby

Wash your baby's toys, clothes and bedding OFTEN

I can't stress enough how important hand washing is. After a virus outbreak at the hospital I worked with I was selected to take a class in proper hand washing and then educate other staff members. Yes, according to the CDC there is a correct way to wash your hands.

Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap

Make a lather by rubbing your hands together and scrub them well making sure to scrub the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.

Continue rubbing your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Rinse your hands well under running water

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry

If soap and water aren't available you can use an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. This can quickly reduce the number of germs but do NOT eliminate all types of germs . They are also not effective on hands that are visibly dirty. Before you ask there is a correct way to use a hand sanitizer.

Apply to the palm of your hand

Rub hands together

Continue rubbing the sanitizer over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

For more information on RSV go to RSVProtection.com

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate."

A Perfect Pet for Peyton Review

2012-03-28T10:50:00.006-05:00
As a wife & mother I always strive to be a better person. I want the best for my marriage and my daughter. I think the best way to keep a relationship strong and healthy is by constantly growing, together.

I've been a fan of Dr. Gary Chapman's 'The 5 Love Languages' for many years and was thrilled when I was offered the chance to read and review his newest book that is directed towards children, 'A Perfect Pet for Peyton' which has overthrown all the books we have for my 4 year old daughter and we've read it nightly since it arrived.

The book is well written with catching illustrations. My 4 year old reads it alone (in her own version) and begs me to read it with her multiple times a day. The book shows children, in a way they can understand what the 5 Love Languages are and how they apply to each person. This book helps to discuss what Love Language best fits your child. I can attest that as soon as you understand the Love Language of the people close to you, your relationships will skyrocket.

Here is a peek at the cover:

We are offering a copy of Dr. Gary Chapman's newest book to ONE reader! Please enter below, the giveaway will end 4/5/2012, and the winner will be contacted via email.

Giveaway open to US Resident only

Must be 18 or over to enter.

There is no mandatory entry. You can do one or all for more ways to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A product was received for review. I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The opinions expressed are my own and were NOT influenced in any way.

Flowers: The International Language of Love and Caring

2012-03-25T21:50:00.002-05:00
Do you know what brings thoughts of spring to my mind? Flowers. When I was single I'd buy myself a nice bouquet of assorted flowers every few weeks. Looking at them always lightened my mood and I honestly think they added a spring to my step.

Since marrying Don he buys me flowers and now they bring tears to my eyes. I'm not positive but I think it has to do with the look of love in his eyes when he gives them to me or the love I feel when I see them.

Even though cut flowers are fragrant and beautiful I've always wanted a flowering plant but for some reason I kill them. Don't ask my why because I follow the instruction card and I've read books but they still die. If the plant does manage to stay alive though it won't flower again. I've had orchids, lily's and even flowering cactus's but after the initial flowers fall off there's nothing.

I've been looking at flowers and plants online and have found some beautiful flowers from Interflora. In addition to flower arrangements they have flowering plants and I honestly think I may try my hand at another orchid. The colors of the flowers with the dark green leaves are beautiful.

Another great thing about having flowers delivered by Interflora, you don't have to live in the UK to receive them. They have international delivery so whether you're sending to the UK, US, Canada or just about anywhere from Australia to Zimbabwe they've got you covered.

You know, Easter's only a couple of weeks away and Mother's Day isn't that far behind. What are you waiting for, add a smile to someone's face, put a spring in their step or order them for yourself. Flowers are the international language of love and a great way to tell someone you're thinking of them and you care.