Freebie!

Yes, dear readers, it's the rarely seen "Saturday" Freebie!

Free sample of Garnier Nutritioniste here, look for it on the bottom left!

Are you suffering from summer chafing? Or just chafed? Get your free sample of Gold Bond Powder here

Get Hairapy with your free sample of Sunsilk here, for the UPC code field use FC527HMS

Free South Beach Diet "sweet nut creations" bar here

DVR

I am sooo loving my DVR! When I upgraded to high spped online a few weeks ago, I "bundled" my cable & internet to save money - and I went ahead and added the DVR. I love just scrolling through the on screen guide and recording anything I want! Then, on the nights when there is nothing on TV...I can watch all my recorded shows! I have been recording Futurama on Adult Swim, as I am never up that late, and a lot of Nick at Nite and TV Land stuff that comes on too late for me to watch. And, when Big Brother starts next week..I don't ever have to worry about missing it!

Furniture

I have some nice bedroom furniture , the entire set matches, I went to the store and picked it all out and was so proud to finally own a complete set that didn't come from a family member or a yard sale! I have been daydreaming for some time about upgrading my living room and dining room furniture. I used to have a sectional, but when Snoopy was a puppy, he ate one of the cushions! Now, I just have a loveseat and a mismatched Lazyboy recliner, as there isn't a lot of room in my living area. I love my recliner chair, it's old but real comfy, I know that it will be upgraded someday soon. And my dining room set? Yeah, a yard sale find...I certainly have got my moneys worth out of that smart purchase! My Home Office Desk is just a cheapy "build it yourself" model from some office supply store years ago. It has served a purpose over the years, but if I was to work at home I would like some nice matching home office furniture. This site has some really beautiful home furniture , from home office to fine dining, and everything in between..and they offer FREE delivery to your home!
This is a sponsored post.

Win some ca$h!

Who doesn't want to win some cash? I do!! Reviews and More is hosting a contest to promote their new blog The Chronic Consumer, and they're giving away COLD HARD CASH! Yeah! Now THAT is a prize we all can use! You can win anywhere from $10-$50 ...sweet! The sites are cool, too, there is some good information on Review Me, they pretty much review all sorts of products, books, television shows and movies, too! ON Chronic Consumer, they rate all sorts of consumer products, and give out shopping deals.......go check it out, get contest details, and enter to win some money while you're at it!

Thank You!

I would like to take a moment to plug C. Whyte's Blog, the self proclaimed "greatest blog on the interweb"! There's a nice mix over there of computer geekery stuff, entertainment and television, and general life ramblings. They gave me a geneorous donation toward my 3 Day efforts, so run over there an see what's happening!

Freebie!

Try a free sample of Pho Vietnamese Rice Noodle Cup of Noodles here, scroll down to the bottom for the form.

It's similiar to the Ramen Cup O Noodles, only with a rice noodle. I have had rice noodles and they are very tasty!

Free Soy Joy bar here

TGIF

I have a weekend, and it's all mine! You have no idea how excited I am about this. I am going to lay around in my jammies drinking coffee and reading the paper, I am going to get a few things done around the house that have not been done for 6 weeks, I am going to take Snoopy to the dog park, I am going to go to church, I am going to lay by the pool and read.....I may even hit a few yard sales or the thrift store! 48 hours of bliss!

Find a Friend

As a single gal, with single friends, we're always wondering where are all the quality guys? Bar scene, did that. Church, yep..go there. Work, nope, against my personal policy. I've tried different internet dating sites, and I always wonder, why should you have to PAY to meet people? Well, you don't have to! Check out FriendFinder and find yourself a new friend!It's FREE, so it meets an important criteria for me! It's clean and neat, not all bogged down with busy ads and stuff. Searching was easy, just type in the criteria for the kind of people you want to meet, and it brings up the list, with photos, thank you very much. There's also a chat room and a blog, so you can go in there for some chit chat before you make a decision that you want to actually meet someone. I do highly recommend, that if you decide to meet someone in person, you choose a busy location, and MEET them there....don't have strangers pick you up. Make it a daytime meet up, maybe lunch? You have to be safe no matter where you go to meet people. So,to recap, check out the site, see if anyone looks interesting, spark up a chat in the chatroom, and then meet them for lunch! Easy peasy, right? Did I mention that it's FREE?

Insurance. Hated.

Yeah, so Allstate cancelled my condo policy. No reason, just because they can. Happens a lot around here lately, with the sad state of insurance companies..who are making jillions of dollars off of us each year, even though they claim they have to raise rates all the time due to huge Hurricane payouts. Even thought we did not have a major Hurricane come through here last year. So yeah, I'm real happy about having to cough up $500 for the new policy. In one lump sum.

No fleas on us.

I am lucky enough to have dog that does not have dog flea problems. Not sure why, he does spend time outdoors, we go to the dog park and other places. I am not complaining mind you, I am happy that I do not have to spend extra time and money trying to control a flea problem! If you have flea problems, you can do some research here on how to rid your pets, and your home of these pesky insects. They have general information on fleas and how to kill them, specific and general flea control products.
This is a sponsored post.

Out of the mouths of babes....

I have been blessed with some awesome kids in my life. My Sister has been on vacation in Canada, her oldest, Catherine (age 11) , sent me this email while they were away:
"Hi Aunt Cheryl! I'm at the Hilton Hotel in Niagara Falls. In Montreal we went to Notre Dame and I lit a candle for Linda and Rupbert and said a prayer for them..."

Last night while on the phone with my Stepmother (Colleen's Mom) who was on vacation with them, Gracie (her middle child, age 9)called out from the background "Tell Aunt Cheryl I'm praying for Lynda" .

These are young girls, on summer vacation with their family. And they were unselfishly thinking of my Mom's (who is not their Grandmother) medical struggles.

Need I say more?

Freebie!

How about a nice freebie to lift our spirits today?

Sign up for a free water bottle here, a nice one....I am a big water drinker, and will make good use of this!

And, if you are having trouble holding all that water in, get a free sample of Poise Pads here!

Nice to know I still have my sense of humor!!

Hypothetical Question

If someone in your family was dying, and there was talk of a trip before they're gone, would you allow yourself to be guilted into taking said trip on the basis that it's a "dying wish", even though you had no desire to go..?

Zzzzz

Sleep has not been my friend. We used to be friends...I could fall asleep within minutes of getting into bed, and nap on weekends. Not this week.

Games

Yes. Fun and games. I remember those days, a mere six weeks ago when life was easier. What do we do to pass the time in the hospital? Play games. What do we do to pass time at my Mom's house? Play games. What do I do when I go to the library at her house because her computer is too slow? Play games. And blog, and do research...but the games are more fun, and take your mind off everything. Onslaught TD is fun, but I prefer their real estate game! You click on houses to buy and then try to sell and see how much profit you can make before the price goes down! I had huge fun with that one, and my Sister would love it, she's a closet real estate junkie!
This is a sponsored post.

Seriously.

How much can one family take? Today was like a flood of bad news and emotions. I actually told my Sister I was going to STOP answering her calls, because she kept piling on more crappy news. Hated. I know that God will not give us more than we can handle, but I am starting to lose my grip on the load we have been given. I just need to hear one good thing. It doesn't have to be huge. it can be a small tibit of hope. Something. Anything.
Anybody want to buy a travel trailer? I have one listed on Craigslist and RV Trader Online. NEVER USED, I'll give you a good deal. Seriously.

Police!

I am a child of the 80's, and as such, love the 80's music. Have you seen the new Police CD in stores? I have a copy ,which is a compilation 2 disc set, and have been wearing it out on my road trips across the state to see my Mom! Have you seen me on the interstate, belting out my version of "Roxanne"? (How come, every time I hear that song, It makes me think of Eddie Murphy from 48 hours? )The CD also came with a cool vintage Police poster in it...and has some of their greatest hits on it, I highly recommend it for purchase!
Disc: 1
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine
Disc: 2
1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara

This is classic Police Music at it's best, put together to celebrate their anniversary and brand new tour!

Check this out:


So, check it out.....it's worth the trip to the store and pick up your own copy of the new Police CD ! Check out the tour dates too, don't miss your chance to see this great band LIVE !

Oncologist Recap

My Mom had an appointment with the Oncologist today, my Sister and her husband were there for it, as they are both nurses. She has stage 3 pancreatic cancer, the tumor is the rapidly growing kind, and when they were in doing her previous surgery, they did pull lymph nodes which also tested positive for cancer cells. She can do chemotherapy, it may add 6 months to the previous 3-6 months they gave her.
The chemo treatment they can put her on, if that's what she decides, requires installing a port in her chest - and her carrying the medicine around in a bag over her shoulder for an entire week, then having it removed for the weekend, and back on again Monday...for a 6 week run. Then they stop and see if it is producing any positive results.
Next step is a bone scan and cat scan to see if the cancer has spread to anywhere else.
We were hoping for better news.
I'll be needing some ice cream now, please.

Pet Peeve - Auto Category

One of my pet peeves, and I do have a few....is when I get my car back from the shop, whether a simple oil change or major work...it ALWAYS has dirty, greasy fingerprints all over it! I keep a neat, clean car, inside and out...I take pride in it. I almost obsess over it. So, when I bring my car in for you to work on it, I expect it to be returned to me in the same manner it was handed over (except I want the problem fixed!). If you take it for a test drive, please, wipe your grimy paw prints off my steering wheel, and from the inside of the door...and off the glove box, and anywhere else you touched! Is that too much to ask? Sheesh...and from the DEALER, no less! I expect them to treat it a little better than the local Grease Monkey Quickie Lube!

Dude, where's my opp?

I have not seen a decent opp over at PayPerPost in a week. I keep logging in and seeing the same 10 things, none of which apply to me or my blog. They must send their salespeople to the same training as the ones I work with! HA! Hopefully, when I move this blog over to my own domain (which is already in the works), I will start seeing more opps to pick from..cause I am not liking this at all. SLIM PICKINS!

Kauffman Tire Update

Yeah. My car has been at the dealer all day, just picked it up. They cannot fix the glovebox, they have to replace it. Ordered the parts, it'll be in next week, you'll have to bring the car back..blah blah blah.
Kauffman Tire called in response to my nastygram. There was much butt-kissing and apologizing for the "mishap". The technician who broke it and did not report it was written up. Apologize, apologize, blah blah blah. Your next oil change is on us, blah blah blah. Bring in the receipt from the dealer and we'll reimburse you. Psshht. What about my time? Is that worth nothing..? I have now worked through lunch for 2 days, as I had no car, and had to take time from work to go get it from Kauffman yesterday, and I had to drop it off at the dealer this morning at 07:30am, and have someone take me from work back over there to get it....and when the parts come in, will have to have it back over there again.
What a P. in the A.

Breasts. And Cancer. Now at your local Hooters.

I found this article in my local paper, talks about the Hooters chain and how they have put a face on breast cancer. Some of you may know Hooters, the chicken wing joint also famous for scantily clad ladies in orange shorts and tight shirts. The chain originated here, in Clearwater. One of their own, Kelly Jo Dowd, lost her battle with breast cancer a few months back. She was a Hooters girl who worked her way up to manager of the Palm Harbor location over the years. She found a lump, and left it there for 10 months. Early detection is key, get it looked at. But, she wasmore than a Hooter's girl. She was a Wife, and a Mother..of a promising young teen golfer, who had a wish for her Mom to see her play in an LPGA Tournament before she died. It happened last year, thanks to some generous folks. And, it brought their story to national attention.
Hooters is now raising money for breast cancer in her name, so next time you go, the waitress may do more than just take your order, she may ask you for a donation. Before you say no, think of your Mother, your Daughter, your Sister, or your Aunt. Breast cancer does not discriminate, it can happen to any one of us.
You can donate towards my personal mission against breast cancer here. In 3 short months I'll be walking 60 miles for a cure. I still need to reach my minimum fundraising goal, your donation can help find a cure.

Kauffman Tire = Idiots

I dropped my car off this morning for an oil change & tire rotation. I take it to the Kauffman Tire right up the road from my office, convenient and the price is right, been going there for years.
Simple, right? Yeah, not in my world lately!
When I went back to pick it up, I got in the car and was a tad irritated that they had gone into the glovebox to get the lug socket for my tires, and in doing so left some stuff out of the glovebox on my passenger seat. So, I went to open the box and put the stuff back in. Nothing. It would not open. I thought, oh, they locked it..so I tried it again with the key. Nothing. Turned it this way and that. Nothing. Now, I am officially agitated. I go back inside, and speak to the dude running the desk at the garage side. He comes out with me, fiddles with it for about 5 mins with me standing there watching, and telling him firmly NOT to break it, as he was yanking at it pretty hard. He tells me it's stuck.
DUH.
Yeah, I couldn't figure that out ya jackmunch.
So I get the standard "I'm sorry, you are going to have to take it to the dealer and get it fixed, bring me the bill and we will re-imburse you". To which, I begin my rant. "Whomever worked on my car KNEW that the box would not open, as they left everything on the passenger seat, why would you return my car to me and NOT tell me something was wrong? Did you think I wouldn't notice? Now, I have to take time out of MY day to take the car to the dealer and try and get this fixed!"
"Sorry about that ma'am, I don't know who worked on your car". Now, if it were MY employee, I would immediately have gone back into the garage and find out who worked on the car, and begin an inquisition on how this happened, and why it was not reported.
I am so NOT pleased with their half assed apology and offer to reimburse me. Did you think you would get away with NOT re-imbursing me? I didn't break it, you did!
So, I have taken my poison pen, and written a scathing letter to their corporate office to complain, advising them not only of the issue, but that they have lost a good customer. I will NEVER get any work done on any car I own at ANY Kauffman Tire, and I will tell everyone I know about my bad experience. They could have avoided all of this with some good old fashioned customer service, possibly offering a free future oil change, maybe SOUNDING like you are apologetic...courtesy is contagious..but, the damage has been done and no amount of butt kissing will make me go back there.
I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the dealer to get it fixed.
Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday!

Today is Nephew's birthday, he has reached the fine young age of 24! Run over to his blog and give him some birthday love.
Seems like yesterday that I was getting the call that I was an Aunt for the first time, and I went to the hospital to see that little blue eyed boy with the fine orange fuzz on his head, it was love at first sight. He and I have bonded a lot since that day, from spending his first New Years with me, taking him to his first NFL game (where he was more interested in why there was a fire truck on the field than the game itself!), riding go karts on Saturday's, fishing at Dunedin causeway, baseball and hockey games...we've had some good times together.
Happy Birthday, Boy!

Thanks, D !

I would like to thank fellow blogger, D, for her tip on why my PayPal payments from PayPerPost weren't going through. I logged into PayPal, added & confirmed my old email address, and WALA - the PPP payments were automatically in! Always nice when fellow blogger comes to your rescue quicker than the "support desk"..!

Coupons!

You all know what a thrifty gal I am, and that I try not to buy anything unless I have a coupom for it! I have been trying to instill this thrifty line of thinking into my Mom's brain...it's not working very well. They spend money like there is a tree that dispenses it in the backyard...I have spent a lot of time there over the past month, and I have not seen such a tree! I had to convince her to return some items that she bought and will NEVER use...which I found the receipts for! The thought of buying something that I will never use is so foreign to me, I wonder if I really came from her womb? Yeah, I did....I look just like her when she was young. When I shop, i usually check prices at multiple locations first, then look for online shopping coupons to even better my price. The twin beds in the spare room over at Mom's are killing us....my Sister wants to get some mattress toppers for them since we are spending so much time over there, found some coupons for Linens-n-Things that we can use to help offset the cost. Our backs, and our wallets, will thank us!
This is a sponsored post.

PPP Payment Issues

Got a new email address a few weeks ago when I upgraded to Roadrunner. Went to every single website that I belong to (banking, credit cards, PayPal, Ebay, PayPerPost, etc) and changed my email to reflect the new one. Everything was going along fine...and then, all of a sudden..3 days went by where PayPerPost says they paid me, but the money was not showing in my PayPal account? And, last week I stopped getting any kind of emails from PayPerPost. I checked my dashboard, and it showed the correct e mail address, the NEW one...so I was confused. Since my MSN was still letting me in, I checked mail there...all junk..with the exception of...guess? PAYPERPOST! All of a sudden, they seem to have switched back to emailing me to my OLD addy..?! Emails telling me that I needed to log into PayPal and claim my money or they would take it back?!! HA! I think not. DO NOT MESS WITH MY MONEY. I log into PayPal, and the last payment reflected for PPP was on June 18th. There are 4 missing after that, and more to come if they do not fix this little issue. I submitted a ticket, yeah, I am 114th in line! Good luck getting a resolution on a Sunday to that! Don't worry, I am keeping tabs on what I was paid for an what I wasn't paid for. Stay tuned.

Home.

I am back home again. Need to unpack, do laundry, pay bills, and cook dinner for Nephew and his Girlfriend. Tomorrow is Nephew's birthday, am cooking him dinner to celebrate....Pot Roast at his request.

Freebies!

I'm leaving today to go back over to my Mom's until Sunday....posting will be sporadic again. Here are a few freebies.....today we have something for just about everyone, these should keep you busy until I get back!

Free sample of Dove Ultimate Clear Deodorant here

Free sample of Dove Cool Moisture shampoo here

Free sample of Post It Portable Cards here

Free Ensure balanced nutrition shake coupon here

Free Monkey Brains Organic Oatmeal Sample & Sticker pack here

Free sample of Arm & Hammer Toothpaste here , click the left arrow at the bottom of your screen to move the household items, keep going until you see the toothbrush, then click on the toothbrush and the sample screen will pop up! Bonus: If you click on the laundry basket, there is a pop up box for Arm& Hammer detergent coupons under the "special offer" bubble!

ENJOY!!

Summer TV Doldrums

My friend Amy pointed out in a previous comment how bored I must be with summer reruns to be cleaning all the time! LOL ! She did not tell a fib! This summer TV is horrible. There is NOTHING on. I have introduced myself to a lot of shows on HGTV that I never watched before, designed to sell and sell this house, and also been watching a lot of Food Network, I really like Diners. Drive Ins & Dives...other than that I do a lot of channel surfing at night, watching DVR'ed TV Land or Nick at Nite, or just turning the dang thing off and reading! Big Brother starts in a few weeks right? Thank you, CBS, for creating an acutal SUMMER show!

Steel Wool

In case you were wondering, I tried out the steel wool trick last night on my stainless steel fixtures in the bathroom.......it worked, no scratches! I went to the hardware store and got some #00 Very Fine steel wool (it says on the package that it's for metal polishing), cost about $1.50. I tried it on my towel bar inside the shower stall, which had hard water stains all over it, and the shower head.....now they're both as shiny as a new nickel!

Helloooooooo?

Is anyone reading this week? I haven't had a comment since Sunday! If you don't comment, the author doesn't know if anyone is reading their material......! I try to provide engaging and entertaining stuff here people......throw me a bone!

New Bands

I know some musically inclined young people in my life who will be liking this! A new place on the web to check out the unsigned chart with free music downloads! Some of the greatest bands came from the UK...so you know there is going to be some good music on this. You can load up your iPod with all kinds of cool music and it won't cost a dime! You can say you knew them before they were big!

Here's the press release:

tourdates.Co.UK, Britains fastest growing new music website, has launched a chart for unsigned bands.

The site allows new bands to upload promotional tracks, announce gig dates and create profiles to promote themselves alongside major artists such as the Artic Monkeys and The Twang.

Tourdates Jarrod Robinson says, there are some fantastic unsigned bands in the UK and we wanted them to know how much our community likes their music, an unsigned chart seemed the perfect answer.

Chart results are announced on the site at 19:00 every sunday, the sametime as the No1 single of the week is announced on BBC's radio 1.

This is a sponsored post.

ING Direct Bonus Referral Links

Nephew's birthday is Monday, he is going to be 24! My how the years have gone.....anyhoo, he & I have agreed upon a great gift for his birthday, I am going to help him open an emergency fund! That boy is getting smart, I tell you what. With one of my bonus links, his account will automatically get a $25 boost! I am excited about helping him with this, and he is excited about watching his money grow at 4.5% interest! You can watch your money grow too, I have referral links to share - open a minimum $250 account at ING Direct and get another $25 with the link! Email me at clee009ATtampabayDOTrrDOTcom and Ill hook you up, too!

Bedding

I just re-decorated my room last year, and already I need new bedding. I am not pleased about that. Snoopy thinks the bed is his, even though he has his own on the floor. He's always "digging" himself a nest before he lays down on anything...dig-dig-dig, then circles 3 times, and then plops down! His constant digging in the same spot on my bed, has caused the comforter to wear down. I tried throwing a blanket over it, he just moves it out of his way! Of course , I do not want to change the color scheme in my room..so I will have to find something in simliar colors. I found this site with nice quilted bedspreads to choose from. When my life gets back to normal I'll have to get to work on that.
This is a sponsored post.

To Do List

I am going back over to my Mom's tomorrow, and staying until Sunday....she is home, but there are still a lot of things that need to be done. My older Sister likes to give us "assignments"....and we each have our area of expertise, so we split everything up so not all the burden is placed on one. My list for the weekend looks like this:

• Make an appt with the Oncologist
• Take pictures of their travel trailer, and make notes of all the xtras in it so we can decide on a price and I can list it for sale in the RV Trader and Craigslist
• Go over the monthly bills with Mom
• Cancel the BOA Mastercard
• Take them to the grocery store
• Cook & freeze some meals
• Weed the front garden

...and any other little thing that pops up while I am there.

Home Sweet Home

My Mom is being released today! This is great news, and much answered prayer, as she has only been out of ICU for 24 hours! My Sister is there making sure the caseworker arranges for a homehealth nurse to visit, getting her scripts filled, nd other assorted last minute details. Mom is anxious to get back home, so she can get back to her normal routine of watching Walker Texas Ranger every night for 2 hours, see her dog, complain about the mess us kids made when we were there, and order her husband around...it's what she does, we don't mind a bit.
: )

Gossip

We all love it. We cannot help ourselves, we are only human. Celebrity Gossip? Even better! Paris is in jail, Angelina is adopting another child, Lindsay got another DUI, Tiger Woods had a cub.....we cannot get enough! I know that I am guilty of standing in line at the grocery store looking through all the gossip mags to see who's doing what, and to whom! And, if I am channel surfing and come across a juicy celebrity story, I stop and watch for a few minutes. Can't help myself..we are all too fascinated with the rich & famous and what they are involved in. Now, you can get all of your super hot & juicy entertainment gossip in one place! And, you can even vote on your favorite juicy story! Check it out, see who's zooming who!
This is a sponsored post.

Win an AWESOME Prize at the Evil Blog Contest!

Wow! John Chow , over at his blog John Chow Dot Com , is giving away a 24" widescreen LCD monitor! FREE! What an awesome prize, and an EASY contest! His partner in the contest is BlueFur - now hosting all of Canada. All you have to do to enter is write about it on your blog! So go over there and read the post which will tell you what you need to do to enter! Easy Peasy! His blog is a good read too, he has a whole section where he talks about how to make money online!
I entered. Now pick me.

Festival Time!

The 79th edition of the Festival of Frugality is up over at Finance is Personal....go over there and scan the 40 articles and find some great money saving tips. My Frugal Tip of the Day post was included!

Frugal Bathroom Cleaner Update

I used the previously mentioned vinegar & water solution to tackle the hard water stains on my shower doors, as I did not have the doors replaced when I had the shower re-done. Let me tell you, it took a bit of elbow grease (we have seriously hard water down here, and it had been a while since I scrubbed them) with a scrubby sponge (the kind that's a sponge on one side, and scratchy on the other side)...but it worked like a charm! And, I did not pass out from fumes! I now have, in a spray bottle in my shower, a vinegar & water solution and I spray the shower down with it after each use to help keep it clean. A homemade version of the fancy expensive "fresh shower" sprays! Next on my list is to tackle the stainless steel fixtures with the steel wool trick...I'll save that for another post!

I'm a Survivor...

I am also a loner. This doesn't mean I want to live in a cave and do not like people! I just seem to be eternally single lately, and so I do a lot of things alone. Doesn't bother me, I can go to the mall, movies, park, beach..all by my lonesome. I find myself to be good company!I have always been the type who can travel alone, and find their way around a strange city. I used to travel for a living, and had to find my way to offices, around cities and eat...alone. Never bothered me. So, if someone actually "stranded" me in a strange city with no money, no food, no resources...I think I could make it back. Money? I'd either panhandle on the street asking people, pawn my jewelry, scan the streets for coins, or try to find a way to make a quick buck (umm, let me clarify, a LEGAL, DECENT way..sicko's!). As far as food, I have found lately that I can go for days without eating! But, if I needed too, again, I would either scrounge something out of an alley behind a restaurant...or go to one and woo some guy with my feminine wiles to feed me! HA! I could sleep on a park bench, or in an airport...there's always people there, so not too scary! Sound exciting? Then check out USA Network's Burn Notice, a hot new show about a hot CIA operative who gets caught in similiar situations!

Changing of the Guard

So, with my Mother's health issues that have sprung up in the past month, my siblings and I are trying to work everything out in "shifts". Our Mom lives in Cocoa, FL..about a 2 1/2 hour drive from here...over on the east coast. ( I actually shaved it to 2 hours last time I went..ooops!)My older Sister is a nurse, and also been on medical leave herself for Carpel Tunnel surgery on her hand, so unfortunately she has been there the brunt of the time...it is SO helpful to have a medical person there for surgery and doctor appointments! She has been going over for a week, coming home for 2 days, and then going right back over! My Brother is taking every 3rd week off under FMLA, using his PTO time ..he also works in a hospital (in the cafeteria), so taking this time off has not been an issue for him either. I work in a small office, and my desk is covered remotely when I am out by my peer in Orlando (Hi Amy!), and I am utilizing sick and vacation days..not as easy for me to take large chunks of time off..so I have been taking long weekends. My shift in Cocoa starts again on Thursday, so I can relieve my Sister, and she will actually get 5 whole days with her family! She is very excited! We are hopeful that Mom will be released early next week, and then we will not have to spend ALL of our time there keeping an eye on her husband and ensuring he does not wander off, making sure he eats, etc. To define all of this as exhuasting is an understatement.

Pet Insurance

When Snoopy was about 1 year old, he had some serious intestinal health issues, so much so that I thought I got a "lemon"! We were frequent visitors at the Vet,who learned everything she knew about Basenji's from treating him! We even to the animal emergency clinic, which was quite scary. I don't think I need to even tell you how expensive these little trips to the animal doctor can be....if I had pet insurance on him, I could have worried less about the cost, and more about his health!
This is a sponsored post.

P.C.

This is the ribbon for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness :

I walk for breast cancer, and now I begin my journey to help battle my Mother's Pancreatic Cancer. I will start by educating us with some important facts:

-Each year approx 32,000 indivduals in the US are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
-Early diagnosis is difficult, as symptoms are non-specific and varied
-PC has the #1 fatality rate of all cancers, and the #4 cancer killer in the US among men and women
-November is pancreatic cancer awareness month, purple is the traditional color

You can learn more about Pancreatic Cancer at PanCan

Summer Camp

Most of you know that I am a "Big"....I volunteer as a Big Sister through the Big Brother/Big Sister program. My "Little" (that's the term we use)is in 5th grade next fall, and she attends camp during the summer at the local YMCA. It's your typical day camp with various activities to keep the kids occupied, movies, games, and field trips. I think that she would benefit more from one of these Summer Camps though. She needs a structured environment where she is learning, as well as playing. There is nothing wrong with kids keeping their minds alert during the summer, instead of just vegging on the couch. It makes the transition back into the school year much easier. When I was little, my StepMother used to make up MATH HOMEWORK for me to do in the summer. HATED IT. But, it was for my own good....!
This is a sponsored post.

Needing my Freebie Fix

I am in freebie withdrawal, maybe you are too! Here's a few to get you going:

Enter the Body, Mind & Balance sweepstakes here and get a free sample of Post Chocolate Shredded Wheat (be sure and check the box at the bottom)

Free sample of Tampax cardboard here

Free sample of Pantene Pro V shampoo here

Free sample of Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste here

The C Word.

I am back. And at a loss for words..imagine that. They were unable to complete my Mom's surgery. When we got the call in the surgical waiting room only 3 hours in, we knew it was not going to be good news. Then, the surgeon comes down and takes you to that little dimly lit room. The tumor in her pancreas was too large, and attached to her portal vein..a major blood supplier to the body, to try and remove it would risk her life.
Cancer.
No one wants to hear that word in their lifetime.
She is still in ICU, but recovering nicely, they were able to remove her gall bladder while they were in there.
We do not know what the next step is. We are new at this, and are taking it one day at a time, learning as we go.

Out of Office

My blogging will be sporadic over the next few days, as I am traveling over to the other side of the state to be there for my Mom's surgery. Appreciate any prayers you throw our way, as this has been a difficult time for my family and it's only the beginning. Will try to hit the library while I am over there to post status for everyone. Thanks!

Frugal Tip of the Day, or How I have Wasted too Much Money on Fancy Cleaning Products!

So, you've been reading over the past few days about the new shower I am having put in my master bath. (All THREE of you, my loyal, faithful readers..I do this for YOU!) He is finishing the grout today, then will hang the doors. So, I was talking to the girl at the office, she called to go over what he was going to do today...being the stickler that I am with my money, and a job well done...I asked her was he going to seal the grout? She stated that the grout has sealer in it, and that you are to NEVER clean it with any product containing bleach.....thinking..."well, I use the over the counter bathroom cleaners at Target/WalMart..such as your Tilex...BUZZ! WRONG! They contain BLEACH, which will, over time, eat away at the grout. Of course, they don't tell you any of this on the label, or on the commericals where they are showing you how easy it is to spray those chemicals on your tile and wipe the grime right off..of course, not...because then you wouldn't BUY it! So, how do I protect my 4 figure investment? Your shower is where you wash your body, therefore, should be one of the cleanest places in your home!
VINEGAR & WATER.
That's it. No expensive cleaners, no fancy sprays after each shower, no "clean shower" fixture that automatically sprays every day.....just an EASY, LOW COST, ALL NATURAL - NO CHEMICAL ADDITIVES mixture of white vinegar & water. I verified it with the installer, who also added that for tough mildew spots and rust, just hit them with a straight vingar soaked sponge or rag. When I think of all the money I have wasted buying facny bathroom cleaners...and all the fumes I have inhaled...well, that just burns my bonnet! And I don't wear a bonnet!
Oh, and bonus tip.....to clean up old stainless steel bathroom fixtures...steel wool. Yep. Plain old steel wool from the hardware store(not the brillo pad soap filled kind). I have not tried any of these, but you can bet I am going to! If you have, or have another homemade cleaner tip, drop a comment.

Quiet.

It's kind of quiet around here tonight. When my friend Joe went home, he took Snoopy with him....he is going to take care of him while I am at my Mother's the next few days. I know he is having a great time over there, with a big yard to run around in, and 2 beds to choose from...but, I miss my baby already.

Designer Eyewear

I live in Florida, and sunglasses around here are not only for fashion, they are a necessity. The sun is brutal down here, all year round, and it is imperative that we protect our eyes from harmful UV rays. I have found, over the years, that cheap sunglasses just don't cut it...you will lose them or break them, or they will not provide the protection needed. I spend a lot of time outside, at the beach, by the pool, at the dog park, playing golf....so the need for Discount Designer Eyewear is a must. I don't buy them just to make a fashion statement, I buy quality designer sunglasses so I can look good while protecting my eyes from harmful rays!
This is a sponsored post.

Five things...

I got this in an email today, though it was funny...

Five things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk:

5. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."
4. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time
management course you sent me to."

3. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got
here just in time."

2. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you
put your ear down real close?"

And the NUMBER ONE best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at
your desk...

1. Raise your head slowly and say, "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

28 days

So, everybody knows somebody that either has, or used to have, and addiction problem. Friends, relatives, celebraties. Whether it's food,drug abuse, alcohol..there are so many bad things out there...and it can happen to any one of us. God willing it will not happen to me, or anyone in my circle...but, if it did, it's nice to know there are places out there where people can get help, and you can get the help needed in a 28 day program.
This is a sponsored post.

Tile Work

The mid day bathroom tile report was....about the lack of snacks in my pantry? Yes, he called to report not on the work, but the lack of "good" snack foods, why did I have a Sudoku book and not a crossword puzzle book (he's bored)....and why did I have cookies-n-cream ice cream, when he only liked plain vanilla or butter pecan. What is wrong with me? Apparently, the next time I need my boy Joe to keep an eye on the workers at my house....I will have to go shopping first! Oh yeah, and Snoopy is not happy that he cannot nap in my room due to the workers, and proceeded to remove the tail and 1 hump from his stuffed camel..this is the same camel that only has 2 legs...on the same side....because he already tore those off a few months ago! Poor camel, now has 1 leg, 1 arm, 1 hump, and no tail!

PayPerPost Secures $7Million!

Wow, that is a huge amount of money! It was announced yesterday that PayPerPost has secured $7 million in additional funding from investors, led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson! I think, after only a year, and to have this kind of investment being made in your business..you can pretty much count on ted murphy, PayPerPost CEO, being a solid businessman, and all around smart guy!
Here is the official press release:

The PayPerPost Revolution Accelerates, Sponsored
Blogging Marketplace Secures $7 Million Series B

Draper Fisher Jurvetson leads round and joins Board of Directors

ORLANDO, FL – (June 12, 2007) – PayPerPost, the leading marketplace for advertisers to reach bloggers and other consumer content creators, today announced it has completed a $7 million second round investment led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, an investor in the company's Series A and one of the world’s leading high-technology venture capital firms. The financing brings the total amount of capital raised by PayPerPost to over $10 million, giving the company considerable resources for further development as the industry’s leading Consumer Generated Advertising marketplace. Additional participants in the round include existing investors Inflexion Partners and Village Ventures as well as new investor DFJ Gotham. With this investment, DFJ Managing Director Josh Stein also joins PayPerPost’s Board of Directors.

“PayPerPost created this exciting new advertising space and has established itself as the industry leader,” said Ted Murphy, chief executive officer of PayPerPost. “Although we’ve only used a portion of our first round capital, this added support from investors unlocks significant growth potential. Our content creator and advertiser ROI metrics clearly demonstrate the upside for PayPerPost’s model. We intend to use this capital to build the infrastructure, visibility and professional expertise necessary to reach and retain a greater network of advertisers and content creators than ever before.”

Since its founding in June of 2006, PayPerPost has signed more than 6,500 advertisers to its groundbreaking service, which has enabled Consumer Content Creators to be compensated for their efforts discussing specific companies, products or services via blogs, videos or other media. The content creators are required to disclose relationships with advertisers on their blog, providing transparency for the end reader. Over 125,000 Internet postings, most in the form of blogs, have already earned money for their creators through PayPerPost’s innovative marketplace. PayPerPost recently released PayPerPost Direct, a disruptive new service that allows advertisers to contract and negotiate directly with individual bloggers they identify through a safe, managed system.

“PayPerPost has laid a strong foundation for the future,” noted Tim Draper, founder and managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “It continues to attract a critical mass of participants from both the advertising and blogging communities. Analogous to Overture’s sponsored search model, we believe PayPerPost’s business model holds disruptive potential and will enable the company to thrive in the evolving paid-content arena.”

To mark the $7 million dollar funding, PayPerPost has launched a new website detailing the company’s service offering at http://www.payperpost.com. Bloggers and advertisers can easily sign up at the site and begin leveraging the self service marketplace.

I wonder what they will do with all that money? They have just redesigned their entire website, so that is a start. With more than 6500 advertisers and over 25,000 bloggers (affectionately dubbed "Posties")..I hope they secure more advertising so all of the bloggers can make even more money! And I am talking GOOD opps, like the Universal Music and movies opps they have been releasing..stuff that is fun to work with! Maybe they will have more giveaway related opportunities for the Posties! They did an entire month of HDTV Tuesday's, who knows what kind of cool goods they can give away to the Posties with all that money invested! OR, maybe Ted will take some of that money and finally hire Snoopy to be the PayPerPost Poster Pooch! That's taking your P's to the 5th Power, Ted...C'mon! Whatever they do, I know for sure it will be fun to sit back and watch it all unfold! I know that ted murphy and all of the folks over at PayPerPost love their Posties, and will ensure that the love gets spread out amongst the masses! What are you waiting for? Click the link on my sidebar and you can join the PayPerPost team and make money blogging like the rest of us!

New Shower, Day 2

Dropping the floor pan in and tiling and grouting today. They are supposed to finish the work today, and I hope they do as I have to leave for the east coast tomorrow to take care of business over at my Mother's house.

Monday Freebies!

Free sample of Ultra Downy here

For the Ladies, free sample of Kotex Ultra Fit here

Free Ziploc Gift Pack here

New Shower..

Getting my new shower done today and tomorrow....tile guys and plumber are there now working on it. I have a friend over there keeping an eye on things (and Snoopy)...and while I trust this friend with my life and my dogs... I'm still nervous about work being done and me not being there to supervise!

Coupon Codes

Those that know me, know that I am a thrifty girl...I look for sales and coupons every time I have to buy something. I rarely buy something off the internet without looking for a coupon code first. Why should you pay full price if you don't have to? I have been eyeballing a new book that was just released, The Reagan Diaries, and found the lowest price on the web at Overstock, and then found this coupon code to get another 8% off! Sweet!
This is a sponsored post.

Another Nature Sighting..

So, last night I took Snoopy downstairs about 9:30pm to relieve himself...and he kept pulling on the leash after he was done, like he was trying to go after something...so I stepped out onto the grass beyond the shrubs to see what had his interest....TWO adult deer standing not 10 yards from me, chomping on the grass...actually, I think they were probably eating the stale graham crackers I threw out there for the birds earlier! They were just staring back at him...didn't move. And, it's kind of funny, because Snoopy looks kind of like a mini deer, his color and body shapr, ears straight up...so you have to wonder what they think when looking at each other! I stood there for a few minutes and enjoyed a moment with nature. Then took him back upstairs and watched them from my window. I love where I live. And, before you ask, it was too dark to take a picture and I didn't want to scare them off with the flash.

Thanks PayPerPost!

PayPerPost, the company that pays me to blog, held a contest to win a Police CD and some SWAG. My post was chosen as one of the winners!! I opened up the mailbox today and found this, which Snoopy had to check out for me to ensure it was safe:




Oh, and by the way Ted..Snoopy would like to speak to you about becoming the Poster Dog for PayPerPost..have your people call his people!

Cell Phones & Cell Phone Accessories

Until his audio engineering career kicks off, Nephew is working at the mall. He runs one of the kiosks that sells cell phone accessories, batteries, and chargers and such. If you live in the area, drop by Countryside Mall and see him, he's the cute redhead outside of the Disney store..he'll give you a good deal!

The Kite Runner

I am an avid reader, and just started The Kite Runner... (which I purchased at a thrift store for 99 cents!)..I can hardly put it down...what a great read!!

Busy Day

Going to be busy today, and it looks like it may rain when I have to go out an run around! Have to get a haircut, come back and wait for the cable guy, finally upgrading to Roadrunner! And, later have to run up to older Sister's and take care of the mail, cats, and such as they are on the last day of their cruise.

PAYjr

Well, I knew it was coming, and what a great idea to teach your kids about money! You can use this Teen Visa for their allowance, lunch money, and rather then sending them off to Grandma's for the weekend with cash..they have a prepaid Visa debit card! You easily transfer money over to it via your accounts, and you can monitor their spending habits..while teaching them to do the same, because unlike a credit card or checking account, when the account is empty, the card won't work! So, you don't have to worry about over limit fees or NSF fees, and it teaches kids to stay within their budget. Parents can also suspend the card.....you have total control.
This is a sponsored post.

Friday's Freebie!

Can be found over at Nephew's blog...go get yourself some FREE!

Thank you!

I passed a yard sale sign at lunch today, and it had the familiar pink ribbon on it, and stated that all donations were going to breast cancer..I wonder if it's a fellow 3 day walker? Reminded me that I had to send a huge thank you out to my friend Rick, for his generous donation towards my fundraising efforts! You can help to, run over here and give some donation love towards healthy breasts.... no amount is too small, every dollar helps!!!!

Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday

There are only about 5 days left to take advantage of the sales tax holiday here in Florida on Hurricane supplies...so if you need batteries, flashlights, or other hurricane supplies, stock up while they are tax free!

Night Vision

One of my best friends from school married a guy who loves to hunt for fun. We jokingly call him "the mighty hunter". Once, before they were married, he tricked us all into eating deer by calling it CHILI...he didn't tell us it was BAMBI CHILI! Yeah, he's got all the gear - goggles, guns, bows ....and he goes up on the roof and practices on the deer target...the neighbors have gotten used to it! He got their daughter a puppy (translation - hunting dog) and has taught the dog to fetch dead things. They were married at the beginning of hunting season , and every year, he goes up north with his boys hunting right around their anniversary! It's quite the joke among all of us! So, I've laways wondered how do they see at night, way out in the woods when it's dark? They have to get some,night vision binoculars! So, for birthdays and such, being the good sport she is, I know she supports his hobby buying him new toys so he can hunt safely...I'll be sharing this with her.
This is a sponsored post.

Shuttle Launch

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to go up tonight, should be a nice view from here with a clear evening sky. I wish it were delayed a week, because then I'll be over there. In all the years I have been here I have never witnessed a shuttle launch from the east coast, despite the fact that my Mother lives right there, and I could watch it from her backyard! All the time I've spent over there, it's never been convenient for NASA to schedule any launches on my time!

Debt

There are so many Americans in debt right now, it may be at it's highest ever! I see a lot on the news and in print about our nation's debt problem...everyone is trying to "keep up with the Joneses", so to speak. Big screen TV's, fancy cars , vacations, new houses...how are we paying for it? CREDIT. Not a good situation to be in. Something I've been preaching to my Nephew lately...pay cash, have some money in the bank, and do not get yourself into the debt trap. It's a vicious, never ending cycle that you can spend your life trying to get out of. There are places where you can get debt help ,and I know some folks who are using them. I have to give them props for recognizing a problem and trying to fix it as best they can. I do not envy them, though, it can take years. I'd rather live my little frugal life, than have all those fancy toys and gadgets and be knee deep in debt!
This is a sponsored post.

Where's Amy?

She's on the beach, and I am not. Amy is my freind and counterpart at our sister office in Orlando. She is on vacation this week, and I have had no one to vent to about work related BS all week. Umm, yeah, you're getting an earful when you get back Sister! Ha!

Root Beer Float Night!

Don't forget tonight is root beer float night at your local Sonic Drive In...stop by between 8pm-Midnight for your free 10 oz root beer float!

Coloring

You're never too old to color! I still sit at the table or on the floor with my nieces and nephews to color with them, and always encourage them to color new pictures for me to decorate my house and cubicle! Our problem is we are always running out of pages in the coloring books at my house! Well, I just found a solution to that....your computer is like an endless coloring book with these Coloring Pages! This is a great way for the kids to spend creative time at the computer, rather than just playing games. You can either print them out, or they can color them online selecting colors from the palette and clicking areas of the picture they want to fill in - and create an interactive coloring book by sharing the URL with their friends and relatives! They can also upload their own drawing and color it through their computer...! This would be a great party activity...there are many designs to choose from, to reach different age groups...they have everthing from Bratz to Barbie to Cinderella and Tinkerbell! They have sports related for the boys, and, they have educational and holiday pages, perfect for schools and after school programs.
This is a sponsored post.

Paris Hilton out of Jail..?

What the heck? Paris was in jail for what, 48 hours...? And, she has been released for medical reasons. To her house, with an ankle bracelet...I wonder if it's diamond studded? Let's see, Paris on house arrest...yeah...that's where I want to go to jail, in the Hilton mansion! Helloooooo...you broke the law you freaking princess! You need to pay the price just like regular people!! I guess this proves the old theory that money will buy you anything! What's next The Simple Life - House Arrest?

Tutoring

I had an outing with my Little Sister last weekend, and we went over her final grades for the school year. When I asked how she did, her reply was "I passed to the 5th grade". Standard answer for scraping by. She has struggled with a few subjects all year, I think mostly due to not applying herself, and constantly losing her assignments. I have helped her with homework and she is completely disorganized. I am trying to work with her Grandmother to get her on the right track, and going to have to look into Math Tutors before she falls too far behind.
This is a sponsored post.

Nature Walk

I am blessed to live in a great part of town, out in the semi-rural area. The condo's I live in are bordered on 2 sides by a protected nature preserve. I always see all sorts of wildlife when I am out walking the dog....assorted birds, deer, gators, turtles, even a rattlesnake once.
This morning, I saw FOUR hawks! There were 2 flying from tree to tree together, not sure if they were male/female, one sitting at the tippy top of a pine tree..and then, as I approached our building, there was another on the roof screeching. Now, usually I see A hawk in the evening when I walk him....out foraging for something to eat..and one time, I was about 10 feet from one standing in the grass with a lizard in his claws, taking bites! THAT was cool! Never have a camera in my hand for these moments!

Doggie Bladder Control

Why does my dog get up every morning between 4-4:30am to tinkle? Why can't he hold his water anymore? At 7 years old, has his bladder shrunk?
I take him on a loooong walk after work, where he proceeds to lift his leg on every tree, bush, or branch that he finds, until there is nothing left to "mark" with...he goes out a minimum of 2 more times after that, one of which being right before we go to bed, and I take his water bowl up at 8pm. Still, 9 times out of 10 - he is waking me up about 4am to go out. I suppose I should be grateful that he wakes me up?

CRM Software

We have a sales team in my company, who doesn't? They have to not only pound the pavement drumming up business, making cold calls, and schmoozing customers....they have reports they have to file weekly, that shows the powers that be how many calls they made, number of leads followed up on, and any business they closed. I know they hate the reporting part....they'd rather be out selling. There's a new crm software package out there, AIM Promote, that will make any salespersons job easier. You choose which of the features that will benefit your company, eliminating training time on things sales won't use, and streamlining your entire sales process.
This is a sponsored post.

15 Minutes for Frugality

Trent over at The Simple Dollar had this great article on devoting 15 minutes per day to frugality. There are some good tips in there, how many are you doing? Give it a try and see if you are saving at the end of the month.

Humpday Freebies!

Free sample of Gain laundry detergent here

Free sample of Act II microwave popcorn here

Free Hallmark Connections greeting card here

June 6, 1944

Today is the anniversary of D Day, the invasion of normandy...the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II, and also the largest seaborne invasion in history.
I highly recommend the movie The Longest Day, a very good account of the 24 hours covering the invasion from the allied and Nazi side. Done in 1962, with an all star cast, it shows, almost jokingly, the bumbling mistakes the Nazis made in underestimating the allied forces. It is a great movie, one of my personal favorites.

He's a Gator? It ain't Magic...

Looks like Billy Donovan and the Magic are closer to finalizing the deal to make him NOT the head coach....and put him back on the Gators court at O'Connell Center. One of the stipulation is that he cannot coach in the NBA for 5 years...that'll give you some time to think about what you did Billy. Now, go sit in the corner.

Room 1408 please......

I have been reading Stephen King novels ever since I was in high school, I started with Carrie, and I was hooked! We've even got my 15 year old neice reading some of his stuff, she is so into the horror flicks and the dark macabre stuff. I love all of his work, and while not a huge fan of most of these run of the mill scary movies...i watch all the ones that were once a Stephen King novel. They are just too good to pass up, the freakier the better! Now they're coming out with 1408 Movie, starring John Cusak, one of my personal favorites (again, dating myself as he goes back to some of my favorite 80's movies) and Samual L Jackson...this is going to be a good flick! I saw the previews last weekend at the theatre, check this out:

Awesome! This was actually a novella in Everythings Eventual: 14 Dark Tales, about a haunted hotel room..umm....room 1408 please....NOT! It's a story about a writer of haunted tour guides encounters the real thing! Good stuff, classic Stephen King, and 1408 Movie should be great on the big screen! It will be interesting to see John Cusak play this type of role, I'm so used to seeing him as the geek, the funny guy, or the boyfriend type..I hope he lives up to my expectations! We know Samual L Jackson can work well in this kind of flick. So, June 22 I'll be going back to the theatre for more summer movie madness to see this!

Root Beer Float Night at Sonic!

This Thursday, June 7th, is Root Beer Float night at your local Sonic....stop by between 8-10pm get a 10 oz root beer float for FREE!

Free Chipotle Today!

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, Chipotle is giving away free food today for National Hunger Awareness Day! Bring in a non perishable food item, and trade it for a free burrito, bol, tacos, or salad! All donations benefit America's Second Harvest Tampa Bay.

Free Breakfast!

Umm, sorry, not for you - just for me! I was sitting at a red light this morning, and some kids were there in cow aprons handing out free Chik Fil A chicken biscuits! They were from a local church, as they gave out Chik Fil A coupons and a church business card with them. Nice marketing strategy, who doesn't want free Chik Fil A?

Creature Comforts

Did anyone watch this show tonight? It was hilarious! Started at 8pm on CBS, 30 mins....it was all claymation animals, I thought it was going to be a kids show. WRONG. There was a voice behind the camera asking the animals differnt questions, mostly related to relationships, etc. Very funny stuff, and I thought they pushed th envelope a few times. I'll definitely be wacthing it again, and I recommend you do if you want a good laugh!

Billy Donovan.....is he, or isn't he?

So, Billy Donovan, Gator head basketball coach, signed a 5 year, $27.5 Million dollar deal on Friday with the Orlando Magic. And now, after mulling it over..he has decided that maybe he wants out. And neither side is talking due to legal remifications.
So, will the Magic let him out of the contract? It was reported that, upon news of his signing, 200 season tickets to the Magic were sold in one day. Think any of them will want a refund?
Will this have an effect on Gator basketball?
And, what about Anthony Grant, Donovan's former assistant and now head coach of Virginia Commonwealth....AD Jeremey Foley flew up there to talk to him about taking over the vacant position at Florida..what happens to that deal? See what happens when we can't make up our mind Billy? It's not only your own life this decision effects....

Free!

Free sample of Airborne Seasonal here.

Star Struck

Did you ever notice how the night sky is different wherever you go? I noticed that a few weeks back when I was over at my Mom's...sitting on the back porch enjoying a moment. I have always enjoyed looking at the stars and the moon, trying to find the big and little dippers, and any other little thing I can identify, I find it very relaxing. I have a skylight in my condo, and at night, from my favorite lazy boy, I can see the moon...sometimes so bright that it lights the room! Pretty cool. The folks over at meade have made it even easier for a rookie astronomer like me to identify the night sky, with their MySky Personal Video Planetarium! The MySKY is an interactive, hand-held, point-shoot-and-identify multimedia guide to the universe....it's like having your own personal astronomer standing next to you! What a great gift idea for the kids..and it's so much fun, they won't even know they are actually learning while they use it!
This is a sponsored post.

Lazy.......

Whoever coined the term "working like a dog" ? This is what Snoopy was doing while Mommy was downstairs at the neighbors working....!
Colleen, he loves the blanket you made me for my birthday!

Barry Ruined our Fundraiser!

Tropical Storm Barry rolled in last night, I was awakened by the sound of wind and rain in the middle of the night...and them again at the crack of dawn by my neighbor..the parking lot was flooded and I had to move my car to higher ground. Yeah, second day of hurricane season....hasn't rained in a month..and we get too much rain too quickly which only makes things worse. Anyway, we had to cancel the fundraiser due to it raining sideways and all....I reschedule for July. So, I am going to finish my neighbor's bathroom. I started earlier this week, she removed all wallpaper, I sanded all the walls, spackled...now I have to sand again, and then apply a nice coat of paint. Impressed? You should be, I'm pretty handy for a girl!

Rain!

It is finally raining....not a lot, a nice steady drizzle. Oh, and of course, it's supposed to rain tomorrow......when we have our fundraiser! Nice! Hasn't rained in a month, and it chooses to do so when we are supposed to be out raising money! Oh well, we need the rain badly...hopefully, people will take pity and still drop us a buck or two.

Fundraiser!

We have another fundraiser for our 3 day walk tomorrow. We'll be out at the Brooker Creek Publix asking for donations from 10am-2pm! Come by and see us, drop some coin in the bucket and help us fight breast cancer! Oh, what's that....you don't live in the area? That's OK, you can still help us out with your tax deductible donation right here.

Drug Rehab

We have been lucky enough in my family to not have anyone fall into serious addiction issues. We consider it a blessing. I do know people who have suffered from addiction problems, and the effects it can have on a family are horrible. It's nice to know there are places out there to go for drug rehabilitation, that are safe and secure, and have a very good reputation. Seems like lately all you hear about in the news, both on TV and in print, is all these stars getting involved with DUI, and other assorted addictive behaviors, and then having to go to rehab...or maybe it just seems like more of them are getting into trouble because they are so high profile. This place is run by former addicts, and it seems like they would be the one you would want to turn to in that situation. Someone who has walked in your shoes and knows exactly what you are going through, and how to get better.
This is a sponsored post.

Geeky Speaky Giveaways!

Yes, another contest starting today! Over at Geeky Speaky, my Sister's geek blog (umm, did I just call my Sister a geek?)...she is hosting a giveaway - which starts today! Run over here and enter to win some great prizes!
For this contest, I would like to win the booby prize. Think about it, I walk 60 miles for boobies, I raise money and awareness for healthy boobies, and I have some nice boobies - these things combined make me highly eligible for the booby prize!

Colleenie Weenie Contest Today!!

Today is the first day of hurricane season, and the first Colleenie Weenie contest! She is giving away some right fine booty matey's, so run over to her blog and sign up...savvy?

Medical Information

With everything we've been going through with my Mom, it's so very nice to have a Sister who is a nurse...and her husband, and my Stepmother! We have lots of healthcare professionals to go to for advice in my family. My Sister brought some medical books over to my Mom's so we could all read about the surgery, and see pictures...and know exactly what we are dealing with. I am now well versed in the "Whipple Procedure". I also searched the internet for information, and found some good health related articles here. It's nice to know what's going on, especially when you have everyone asking you questions about her Health and all of the procedures she's having to go through.
This is a sponsored post.