I Love This Option!

So, the hubster and I just returned for a trip to the West Coast, where a good time was had by all. But this isn't about the vacation, it's about the lack of worry while we were away. Just over a year ago we had a security system installed in our home. This is the first real 'away' trip we've taken since, and it was such a breeze!

Our home automation systems is set up through both of our mobiles, so each morning we could check the motion sensors, adjust the thermostat depending on the weather and turn lights on and off. I loved it! In the grand scheme of things, we thought of the security system as a 'protect us at home' option. But having the ability to change lights, adjust temps and the rest from the road is one more step to safety.

Coughing and Sneezing and Coughing, Oh My!

Let me first say that I've never really had allergies. I get the sniffles from time to time but full-blown allergy attacks? Yeah, not me. So, I've been in a connundrum since about July because (I swear!) I'm having allergy issues. Then, about two weeks ago, it started up with the kiddo - who definitely *didn't* have allergies up until this poing. I've gone to my doctor, who sent me to a specialist but so far they haven't found out exactly what is going on. Same with kiddo. Some days, the outdoors effects me, some days it is my pillow. It's so weird. So I've been doing some research into air purifiers and found a Hepa air purifier that looks like a good option for the kiddo and me.

A Tisket, A Tasket...

Okay, girls, you know as well as I do that there are some people on your list who won't be happy with anything you get them. So I'm always on the look out for great gift ideas for special occasions. My go-to lately has been gift baskets. I like the idea if giving more than one item - because, let's face it, for many gift-giving occasions there is a need for more than one 'thing'. Take baby showers - new moms need all kinds of stuff. Bottles, diapers, pacifiers, washcloths, clothes, rattles...the list goes on. Most of the time I order specific baby gifts depending on the recipient...but sometimes I'll make my own with a variety of things...it's like a gift to myself because creating each basket is unique. Try it next time you have a hard-to-buy-for or special occasion gift, k?

Hunh. What Was I Thinking?

Have you ever noticed that all faucets are not created the equally? I have. Especially since moving in to the new house. I'm not sure if the previous owners just got a really great deal on crummy, ugly kitchen faucets or what but I hated our kitchen fixtures. 1 - ugly. 2 - There is a constant drip, they're bulky and look like something from 1957 and they don't clean easily.

Anyway, I've been researching, good little DIY girl that I am, and found a really cool set-up. They aren't overly expensive, there is a huge variety of types of faucets and none of them (okay not many) are "ultra modern" - so I'll comply with the rules. Yay!

A Fun Moment!

So a couple of years ago the hubster and I went to a close friend's wedding. This was just after we were married and I remember thinking that I loved her gown (almost as much as mine) and that I wish I'd gone with a different bridal entry piece (as she did). But what I most remember is the pungent cigars dutch masters aroma drifting into the tent during the reception. Several of her family members had kidnapped (ha!) the hubster and were talking over an open pit as they smoked cigars. I'd never smoked a cigar before so I puffed on the hubster's a little...and had as little success with that as I did when I tried cigarettes! They were high-end, not Cuban but definitely several steps above the stuff you find at the mall. Still it was a fun moment...and I was able to use it in an article on trends in the cigar world. Love it when real-life anecdotes find a way into my writing, don't you?

Comfy!

This weekend, the hubster and I are headed to a new furniture gallery ... we love our leather furniture in the media room, but one of the sofas has developed a couple of weird lumps that are incredibly uncomfortable. So, a-shopping we will go for a new leather modern sofa - hopefully one that will last 5-10 years. Of course, savvy shopper that I am, I'm also looking around at stores that offer custom made products because, hey, if I'm shelling out the moolah, why not have a one-of-a-kind item? I know, dreaming big. We'll stick with the big store for now...but maybe someday I'll have a one-of-a-kind sofa.

Stuck In The Up...

Just after we bought the new house our air conditioner blew up (literally), we found mold in a wall and the ceiling in our mud room cracked. Yeah, and we thought it *wasn't* a fixer-upper. One other issue - we came home from a night out to find our garage door would only go part of the way up and then would come right back down. We tried everything to do a quick-fix, but would up calling a repair service. Two weeks later - not kidding!! - someone showed up. The entire door had to be replaced, along with wiring, motors...the works. Today, I'm researching for a DIY-project article and found garage door parts...man, I should have googled this when we had our problem!

Thursday Thirteen

Header by Samulli

I should probably be sleeping. Seriously. Sleeping. But we're headed out for a little vacation and I can't make my mind slow down enough to actually sleep. That and Criminal Minds was thought provoking tonight. I know, network television, who'd've thought?

So, here I am, thinking up topics for this week's Thursday Thirteen. Which leads me to an interesting topic...

Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Topics I Discarded....

1. 13 Graduation Don't's - because there are waaay more than 13!
2. 13 Good Shows on Network Television - there aren't. I counted.
3. 13 Nicknames That Shouldn't Be Given
4. 13 Reasons I Didn't Write This Week (because I did write, I did!)
5. 13 Things You Don't Want To Hear At 1:00 AM
6. 13 Things You Should Never Forget to Pack
7. 13 Reasons Not To Worry About Selling The Book (here's just one)
8. 13 Reasons I Will Never _ ___ ___ (this is a family friendly blog ... I can't print that)
9. 13 Reasons My Car Won't Start (hopefully the mechanic tells me the real reason tomorrow)
10. 13 Books I Couldn't Put Down (think I'll do this one next week)
11. The 13 'Worst' First Jobs
12. 13 Funniest Things Seen People-Watching
13. 13 Reasons to give "Free Radio" a try - there's only one: It. Is. Hilarious.

Passing Along A Site

I'm forever looking for good deals on vitamins and such online and thought I would pass along to you all a site for with some good discounts. I figure why pay more when you don't have to? Seems simple to me...and besides, I like to shop and I like to share. So...From products that help remove blackheads on nose to other helpful stuff. What I like about the website is that there are no hidden agendas. You just click on the product you're interested in and you're done. I don't endorse any of the products, by the way, I'm just pointing them out. Before using any type of medication, you should check with your doctor first.

It's Just An Age...

So I've just finished a piece on aging gracefully and how fifty is the new thirty...and I started thinking: can't 30 be the new 30 and 50 be the new 50? Why do we, as women, need to justify our age, behavior or style of dress? Why can't we just be comfortable as we are? Why do we feel the need to hide those top anti aging products? Or lie about getting a little work done here or there? Seriously! I'm not at the age where the wrinkles are weighing down my face ... but when that happens (and I know it will) I don't think I should be made to feel badly about getting something done. Which is why I'm already researching different OTC products, home remedies and even bellaplex reviews sites. Why is it anyone's business what I do with or to my body? If it's okay with me (and the hubster), why should you care? I know, just a little bit of a rant but it really burns me up when people (usually men) come down on women for wanting to look their best.

Researchers Ahoy!

I've had a little extra paperwork this week but thankfully it isn't mine! Confused yet? Well, this week the hubster and I have been visiting his aunt, who is not paperwork savvy and just became eligible for Medicare. She lives in the next town over, about a 10 minute drive, and really needed extra eyes...so we helped with her medicare supplement plans paperwork, determining which was the best plan for her and how getting prescriptions would work from now on. Man, it makes me not want to get old! We went through the same thing with his grandfather a year or so ago, only his grandfather was paperwork savvy ... so that took about an hour. This was a full day. Seriously. One. Whole. Day. Yech!

Thursday Thirteen - Blog Topics

Header by Samulli

I should probably be sleeping. Seriously. Sleeping. But we're headed out for a little vacation and I can't make my mind slow down enough to actually sleep. That and Criminal Minds was thought provoking tonight. I know, network television, who'd've thought?

So, here I am, thinking up topics for this week's Thursday Thirteen. Which leads me to an interesting topic...

Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Topics I Discarded....

1. 13 Graduation Don't's - because there are waaay more than 13!
2. 13 Good Shows on Network Television - there aren't. I counted.
3. 13 Nicknames That Shouldn't Be Given
4. 13 Reasons I Didn't Write This Week (because I did write, I did!)
5. 13 Things You Don't Want To Hear At 1:00 AM
6. 13 Things You Should Never Forget to Pack
7. 13 Reasons Not To Worry About Selling The Book (here's just one)
8. 13 Reasons I Will Never _ ___ ___ (this is a family friendly blog ... I can't print that)
9. 13 Reasons My Car Won't Start (hopefully the mechanic tells me the real reason tomorrow)
10. 13 Books I Couldn't Put Down (think I'll do this one next week)
11. The 13 'Worst' First Jobs
12. 13 Funniest Things Seen People-Watching
13. 13 Reasons to give "Free Radio" a try - there's only one: It. Is. Hilarious.

Oh, the Options!

Near the end of 2010, when the hubster was contemplating doing something other than working from home - he's a freelance web designer and things had slowed with the blechy economy - we started looking at different franchises and franchising options. Our go-to was a Subway franchise because the restaurants are huge right now, but we were also looking for non-restaurant options. I found one for magazine writing/publishing - perfect for me as a freelancer! - and the hubster found a few options, too.

And then the economy picked up and we've kind of dropped the ball. But we're keeping all of our information and research handy and we look at it every few months. I think, strong economy or no, we will probably become franchisees within the next 2 years or so. With a growing kiddo, we will probably need the extra help!

Yum!!

I love to eat. Going out with friends, having dinner in, planning a dinner party somewhere - it's all part of being social for me. And a lot of other people, I bet! So I'm always looking for great restaurants, new places and I want to know what to expect before I get there. I've been making plans based on social-food-network friendsEAT.com. Real people like you and me go to restaurants, review them and post their results and findings in blogs. You can even chat with other foodies. It's a great resource and with all of the menu information available there it's easy to pre-plan -very important if, like me, you're dieting this time of year. I love it!

Drive Safely, Winter Isn't over

We just got a very sobering call about a good friend from our church - she was driving home from work last night and the ice on the roads caused her to wreck. Winter usually hits us the hardest after January because the lake has frozen over by then but this latest late-winter storm kind of threw everything off kilter.

The point to winter driving is to get home safe and sound. So please, guys, take a few extra minutes, slow down and watch the roads and other drivers very carefully, okay? And, if your in an accident, whether with another vehicle or not, don't just randomly sign papers. Call your insurance agent first, and while you're in sign-up phase ask about high risk auto insurance so you aren't caught off-guard if an accident happens and your rates go up.

Do You Rank Your Performance?

I've been ranking my performance by month, quarter and year since I started freelancing in 2005. What I mean by ranking is that I note my goals for the month (quarter, year) -- do I want to query 5 new magazines, for example, and I keep a running total of goals met, contacts made and articles sold.

It's a rough spreadsheet which isn't perfect by any means, but I recently found this performance management software which I'm thinking of installing and tweaking a bit to fit my needs. Rather than ranking and performance reviewing other people, I'll be doing it to myself (or making the hubster since he's in the office now, too)...to see where I can improve. Because improvement means more contacts, more writing and more money. Who doesn't want that?

Just Trying to Simplify

I am forever looking for a way to make life easier - meaning making those "daily chores" quicker. One thing I've found to be a huge help is in Internet. I don't have to search through a newspaper to find the stories I'm interested in - I have RSS feeds that deliver specific news to me via email, apps that shoot stuff direct to my Droid or iPad. I do the same thing with local television stations. I'm too busy to watch 30 minutes of news from all over, so by logging on to station websites I can find out what I need to know: weather information, closed roads, dangerous situations in 3 minutes or less. I love that about the Internet. Just another way to simplify work-at-home-mommies!

Just a Check-IN

Checking in after another week doing the Weight Watchers flex plan.... I am at -7 pounds! I'm so excited. I really thought I'd go in today and just have a 2 pound or less loss because I haven't felt deprived...and it's really rewarding to see a nice weight loss like that. The DH beat me, though. He's down 10...but he has more than I do to lose...and men lose faster, anyhow.

What have I done this week? I've watched my calorie intake, I've stayed with my walking plan, I've cut down on the Coke - used to drink 2-3 cans every day...sometimes more. Now I'm at 1 or 2 every couple of days. What am I drinking instead? Water (of course), iced tea and milk.

One thing I'm not doing? adapexin-p or any other diet pills. Although they've worked for some, pills just give me the willies...so I'm going it alone. you?

Tip for Insurance Information

One of my hates as a self-employed worker is health insurance/benefits. Sure, I get to work in my jammies, can take off time at a moment's notice and enjoy a long lunch from time to time. But finding the right health insurance has been a war from the beginning - a war I wage twice yearly in my quest to find the best rates.

One tip I've learned is to search your state for cheaper rates. Like this option for those of you on the East Coast: NC short term health insurance.

It's really quick and simple to use. You just have to enter in some basic information. I was looking for coverage for my husband and myself since we're both self-employed now. Once I entered in our information, I had 20 or so quotes in all different ranges - and all with good deductibles, co-pays and low monthly costs. Perfect! If you're looking for cheap insurance, this is the place to go!

Thursday Thirteen - BOOKS!

I was going on about books I couldn't put down a couple of weeks back and decided there was a Thursday Thirteen in there! So, this week:

Thirteen Books I Couldn't Put Down:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird - read it Freshman year (High School) and loved it!
2. Snow Bride by Margery Hilton - one of the first Harlequin's I read ...
3. The Wind In The Willows
4. Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews (too scary to stop in the middle!)
5. Without A Trace by Nora Roberts (started reading on the way to school and was finished by lunch! My teachers hated me that day!)
6. True Devotion by Dee Henderson
7. The Present by Johanna Lindsey
8. Home for the Holidays by Johanna Lindsey (picked them up on the Bargain shelf at Thanksgiving and both were read by the next Sunday)
9. Flirting with Danger by Suzanne Enoch (and the other 3 in the series, too!)
10. The MacGregor Series by Nora Roberts
11. Palomino by Danielle Steel (hid out in the school library to finish that one!)
12. The Night Drifter by Susan Carroll
13. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Rand-Helium Book Partnership

So, this very interesting to me as a freelancer writer, blogger and author. Basically non-fiction publisher Rand is partnering with Helium, an online content hub, to find new authors for titles. Cool, eh? Here's the press release:

RAND Publishing Taps Helium to Source Writers for New Skinny On™ Books

Selected Authors will Earn up to $5k per Title

Helium, the world’s largest writing community, today announced a partnership with RAND Publishing, publisher of The Skinny On™ series of illustrated non-fiction books. Under the partnership, RAND Publishing will leverage Helium’s social publishing platform to identify the most appropriate authors for up to twenty-five new titles, such as The Skinny On Finance for Young Adults and The Skinny on Social Networking. Selected writers will be chosen by Helium and paid between $3,500 and $5,000 per title.

First launched in 2008 by acclaimed author, attorney and motivational speaker Jim Randel, The Skinny On series is designed to provide time-starved and information-overloaded readers with "the skinny on life's most important lessons."

“The Skinny On series offers a new breed of book, striving to disseminate information to an audience increasingly used to consuming content on the internet and cell phones,” said Jim Randel, founder and Chairman of RAND Publishing. “Helium’s unique community of talented, motivated writers presents a gold mine for us to source the best authors for our future titles.”

Inspired by the Japanese literary form, Manga, a whimsical, illustrated modality for story-telling, and easily read in about an hour, each Skinny On subject is explored through the lives of ordinary people - normal in all respects but one: they happen to be stick people.

“The Skinny On™ books challenge the traditional publishing model for non-fiction works,” says Peter Newton, vice president of business development for Helium. “We look forward to helping such an innovative publishing company quickly and cost-effectively source new authors so they can continue to grow and scale their business.”

More About ME Than YOU Want to Know

So, my friend Linda sent the following to me through email and I thought it was a lot of fun (I usually don't even forward these things but I did this one) so I decided to put it on my blog. I'm not actually going to tag anyone ... but if you feel like doing it, consider yourself tagged!

FOUR THINGS ABOUT ME........

A) FOUR PLACES I GO REPEATEDLY: WalMart, Kroger, Christopher&Banks, Borders

B) FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: (on a regular basis): Jen, Gwen, Roseann, Barb

C) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: Mexican (I know that's not a specific food but anything Mexican works), french fries, peanut butter ice cream, strawberries

D) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: the beach (the WARM beach, I should say)....hmmm, just sat her five minutes and couldn't think of any others so I'll change this to 4 Places I'd Like to Visit -- an island in the Mediterranean, Alaska, anywhere in the South Pacific, the Mayan Ruins in South America

E) FOUR MOVIES I WOULD WATCH/HAVE WATCHED OVER AND OVER: Can't Buy Me Love, The Princess Bride, The Sound of Music and Tequila Sunrise

The Worst Holiday Ever

Will never be forgotten - the DH and I were just married and neither of us were making much at our jobs...we were maxed out because of my school bills, credit cards and random living expenses, and we actually had to get a loan to pay for Christmas presents for the family. We actually managed to buy nice gifts for his family and mine (30 people and ourselves) for under $1000...and we put a little in the bank to pay down a credit card. Having to take out a loan just made me feel...totally unworthy - like I was never going to get anywhere or be anybody.

But we both kept working it and gradually paid down our debt and we're in much better shape now. Why did I starting thinking about that stuff? Because I got two new applications for cash advance loans in email today (how do these people find us and why don't they update their lists???). We're always getting credit card applications - who doesn't? - but we haven't been solicited for loans in a long time. If you're in need these can work, just remember, a loan isn't the answer to every problem - you have to change your spending habits to really turn your financial life around.

I've been using a new dictionary site for a little while now and thought I'd pass along the link. The Allwords dictionary doesn't just give you results for the word you put in - and this is why I love it - it gives results for words that begin like the word you enter and allows you to search different meanings and translations of the word. Why do you need this?

Because sometimes you don't know the exact word you want. This happens to me all the time, the word I need to really convey what my characters are feeling, thinking or saying is right on the tip of my tongue...but I can't think of it. I know how it begins but I the whole word won't come. It's so frustrating. And crazy! With AllWords, I just type in the beginning that I know and the rest of the word appears. You can also find the etymology of words, search words with repeated letters - like jazz or doodle - and you can find different translations - French, Spanish and even Dutch. It's really simple to use...so if you get stuck like I do, check it out.

Building a Deck...and the Portfolio

Just after New Year's we realized our old deck needed a complete replacement. When we bought the fixer-upper 18 months ago, a deck was back-burnered because it was still workable. But with a very curious toddler around now those wobbly steps need a revamp, and we also want to make it a more inclusive space - a place we can picnic but also play on nice days, color/paint and just relax. So we chose our plan and got to work last week. One thing we decided to do was use untreated wood, which means we need abrasives as well as varnish/paint, etc. I had no clue about any of this stuff, which got me thinking: how many other DIYers are out of their element with big jobs like this? So I queried a couple of ideas to a mid-size DIY magazine...and they bit! So, as I'm building a deck, I'm also making notes and writing up my experiences. I love it when this happens!

New Way to Count

So you guys know the hubster and I have been weight watching since January (25 pounds lost by me!) and increasing our exercise program. I think we've both done really well but as the diet has gone on I have realized something. I really R E A L L Y hate to count calories. It's too dang hard to get the exact amount by reading the labels (although those labels do help). One easy way I've found to count calories with actual food scales - because it weighs the food, telling you how much a serving is and getting you caloric information.
Cool, huh? I love free stuff and this is free and totally easy to use. It's a great idea if (like me) you're counting your cookies before you eat 'em.

Networking the Home Office...

Working at home became much more difficult in 2010. Because the hubster opened his own shop - designing websites and providing content to a number of publishers - but we made it work. Until about November of last year, which it became evident that our trusty hp printers was giving up the ghost.

Not a big deal? Au contraire, my friends, because I'm a Mac girl and he's soooo a PC boy. So networking one new printer was out of the question. Or so we thought. Turns out not such a big deal, we just had to read a lot of fine print about accessibility. But I'm still on-track to convert him to Mac. Soon.

Thursday Thirteen - On My Desk

I was cleaning up in the office this morning and realized I have way more things on my desk than I need...but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of any of them! Why? Because in different ways, these things all help me stay or become focused when I write. So this week's Thursday Thirteen is:

Strange Things On My Desk...

1. My chicken jar of pens. From the chicken lips to the color (blues!), it's fun to look at.
2. Pictures. I don't keep a lot here but the pics I keep front and center are some of my favorite places!
3. Folders. Yep, chalk full of ideas, magazine snips, nature images...you name it!
4. The catch-all - a small, square bowl with carved stones, thimbles and assorted 'stuff'.
5. Money. Should have put it in the wallet days ago ... but money is always inspiring!
6. The handcarved wooden bowl from our trip to Haiti.
7. My calendar. Images from the National Gallery of Art. Man, I wish I could paint!
8. A set of cups filled with writerly paraphernalia - pencils, scissors, markers, a few strange cords...lots of stuff to capture my imagination.
9. Pictures that need to be scrapbooked ... Maybe I should do that tonight!
10. My current quilting project (a baby quilt for my sister).
11. Snowglobe from Bermuda...does anyone else find it strange that tropical destinations all make snowglobes?
12. A miniature Christmas tree with lighthouses as decorations.
13. An old church bulletin...I swear, I have no idea why I kept it!

All The Debate...

Where we live, in the upper mid-west, there are town hall meetings and debates it seems every night lately. Why? It all circles around the union/collective barganing reversals that the state governments in Wisconsin and Ohio are considering to save money. I have to say that I don't really understand everything about unions; I know there was a place for unions in the past, but I've not held down any production jobs - government or private sector. But it seems to me that private sector/manufacturing jobs would be more in need of unionization and collective bargaining that government workers because of the types of jobs/work available.

So I'm watching the press surrounding and trying to do my own research into what is/isn't going on and what it all means. Meanwhile, if you, my readers, have an opinion, I'd love to hear it.