Everyday Living
28 February 2009
My Top Droppers for February
As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...
Everyday Living
Everyday Living
26 February 2009
Friday Photos: 2/27
Once again it is Friday: the gateway to the weekend! I hope you all have a terrific weekend. Now, to help ease your way through the remainder of this day, I hope that you will enjoy some of these pictures I have found...
This is Going to be One Mean Dog...
courtesy of... hahastop
I'll Sign Up for this Sport...
courtesy of... hahastop
The Great Escape...
courtesy of... greatfunnypictures.com
courtesy of... pyzam.com
Special announcement for Etsy Shop Owners
25 February 2009
Hand Crochet Lace Items
The following featured products are brought to you by: Crochet by MSA. The descriptions are copied from the owner's site. Please click on the title or the large image, to be taken to their site and to get additional information on the product of your choice.
DAISY CORONA HAND CROCHET
LACE THREAD ART DOILY
I hand crocheted this gorgeous “Daisy Corona Thread Art Doily”, that measures approx. 17" diameter, featuring a large daisy in the center with 16 smaller daisies all round.
Made with new White, Deft Blue, Soft Yellow & Leaf Green size 10 crochet cotton thread, lightly spray starched & pressed.
ELEGANT 3 D ROSES HAND CROCHET
LACE THREAD ART DOILY
I hand crocheted this elegant “ Romantic 3-D Roses Thread Art Doily”, which measures approx. 12.5" across, featuring 8 realistic blooming roses & leaves that are crocheted on to the doily. Made with new Lily Antique Natural size 10 cotton crochet thread, lightly spray starched & pressed.
VICTORIAN ROSE HAND CROCHET
LACE THREAD ART GIFT BAG/SACHET
“Victorian Rose Gift Bag”, which measures approx. 5" high,(not including handle) 4" across, sides & bottom are approx 1¾” featuring a beautiful rose with leaves in the center. Please note that back is crocheted with all Natural color thread with a rose in the center. Made with new Natural, Dusty Rose & Frosty Green size 10 cotton crochet thread with a piece of beige tulle & ribbon.
Special announcement for Etsy Shop Owners
23 February 2009
Creative Scrapbooks
The following featured products are brought to you by: Memories for Life Scrapbooks. The descriptions are copied from the owner's site. Please click on the title or the large image to be taken to the site and to get additional information on the product of your choice.
Custom Name-Word Album
This is for one custom word album. Any word you would like from 4-9 letters. All letters are hand cut so you can customize to your heart’s desire. Album measures 4"x12". It is made of heavy-duty chipboard. Bound with metal rings that are embellished with ribbon.
Star Shaped Scrapbook Photo Album
This is for one 3-D star shaped scrapbook photo album. It is made of heavy-duty chipboard.
Pages are covered with patterned paper on outside and cardstock on inside. Embellished with die cut swirls on photo corners. Will hold 10 photos.
Scrapbook Album-Mickey Mouse Flip Flops (removed dead link)
The album is made using one pair of Mickey Mouse flip flops. There are 12 pages (five double sided/two single sided). Pages are hand cut out of chipboard and covered with patterned paper. There are 1-2 photo mats per page for you to place your photos. Each page is decorated with Mickey and Friends embellishments.
Special announcement for Etsy Shop Owners
22 February 2009
Thank You to My Advertisers: 2/16-2/22
As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...
Everyday Living
Everyday Living
21 February 2009
Attention: Etsy Shop Owners
Hello, even though the new stimulus package is going to bloat all our checkbooks with a whopping thirteen extra dollars every two weeks I for one, do not really find that to be of much help. So, I figured that instead of trying to depend on the government to help us out, why don't we start helping each other. I figure that everyone could use a little extra advertising and free advertising is even better. It is in this vein that I would like to try something that I have seen at the BeadedTail. Once or twice a week, I would like to feature a few products from a fellow blogger's personal Etsy shop on my site.
Here's how it would work:
I have created a new Email address for you to use, to send me the links and for any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Everyday Living
So, if you would like to have your shop featured, please send me the information and I will take care of the rest.
Only pertains to Personal Etsy Shops. Family-friendly products only, please.
Here's how it would work:
- Provide a direct link to up to three products you would like to feature (email me at the address below)
- I will go to that page and capture the image(s)
- I will post the product image and the corresponding link in a post dedicated to your shop
- If someone is interested in your product, they will click the link you provided and be taken away to your site
- I will leave you a message when your site will be featured
I have created a new Email address for you to use, to send me the links and for any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Everyday Living
So, if you would like to have your shop featured, please send me the information and I will take care of the rest.
Only pertains to Personal Etsy Shops. Family-friendly products only, please.
19 February 2009
Friday Photos: 2/20
Have a great weekend, everyone!
You Snooze, You Lose...
courtesy of... premierphotographer.com
Innovative Way to Advertise...
courtesy of... pyzam.com
So True, Especially This Week...
courtesy of... funnyjunk.com
Oops...
courtesy of... eluniversogratis.com
18 February 2009
Fevers Mean Fotos
I'm not feeling too well at the moment, so I decided to take the lazy way out, and just share a few pictures with you.
This is a picture of "Hiss". He is a snake our kids caught in our back yard. He is over three years old now and he LOVES fish...
My wife volunteered last week for the 2009 Special Olympic World Games and she was able to take some great pictures. On top of meeting coaches and athletes from all over the world, she was also able to see some celebrities. Unfortunately, she didn't have her camera with her when the star of Scrubs was right in front of her.
Here is a picture of Michelle Kwan with some of the athletes...
A photo of Derek Parra, 2002 Olympic Gold and Silver Medal winner...
And finally, a picture of a bomb-sniffing dog...
Alright, back to bed for me:(
16 February 2009
How Not to Deal with Writers Block
This is going to be pretty short, because I have spent the entire day trying to get our other computer to work. It seems that when I went to turn it on this morning, just as Windows was beginning to load, an error message occurred stating: "Data Execution Prevention - Microsoft Windows. To help protect your computer, Windows has closed this program." It has been fun ever since. Since, I have been busy with the computer, here is an article I wrote a while ago. I was having a bad case of writer's block (what else is new), so I just decided to write on the first thing that came into my head. It's a strange piece of work...
Have you ever just sat down with pen and paper in hand (although these days its with a laptop) and have totally no idea what to write about? Well, that seems to be happening to me today. I can think of absolutely nothing to say. Some days I have no problem at all. I'll be teaching school and all of a sudden I get this great idea for an article; I can sit down and bang that puppy out in just a few minutes. Boy, I love those times. Then there are days like today, I sit in front of the computer screen and stare at that annoying, blinking cursor. It just sits there and blinks at me. It's like its taunting me, laughing at me because I have nothing to say. The pressure is unbearable. Blink, Blink,Blink.
I suppose I could change it to one of those smiley faces or a dinosaur, but then I would have a smiley face or dinosaur blinking at me. I guess I could probably not stare at the screen, I can watch TV or maybe read a book. But how is that going to help me write an article? Blink, Blink. Stupid cursor. This really isn't helping me. I'm so obsessed with this cursor, I can't let my muse come to me and do its muse thing. Knowing my luck, she's staring at the cursor too. Well, if my muse won't come maybe I should mow the lawn or something. No, it will never get that bad. When is there ever a good excuse to mow the lawn? Have you ever been so bored that you decide, "Hey, I'm bored, I think I'll go and mow the lawn." I don't know about you, but I've never done that. I can see going out and mowing the lawn if say, for example, my wife comes home and tells me to get my lazy butt outside and mow the lawn. That, in my opinion is a good reason. Being bored, not a good reason. Blink, blink, blink.
So, I'm back to square one, although now the cat is blinking at me. Listen, how many times have you had a stare-down with your cat and won? I'll tell you...Never. You can't get a cat to blink. Actually, you can't get a cat to do anything. Well, you can get it to sleep, but how hard is that. Now, all of a sudden the stupid thing gets it into it's head to blink at me. This is getting out of control. First the cursor, now the cat, what's next? Now, the light on the phone is blinking. OK, that's it, I'm done. I guess I just won't write anything today. Sorry guys, maybe tomorrow.
Have you ever just sat down with pen and paper in hand (although these days its with a laptop) and have totally no idea what to write about? Well, that seems to be happening to me today. I can think of absolutely nothing to say. Some days I have no problem at all. I'll be teaching school and all of a sudden I get this great idea for an article; I can sit down and bang that puppy out in just a few minutes. Boy, I love those times. Then there are days like today, I sit in front of the computer screen and stare at that annoying, blinking cursor. It just sits there and blinks at me. It's like its taunting me, laughing at me because I have nothing to say. The pressure is unbearable. Blink, Blink,Blink.
I suppose I could change it to one of those smiley faces or a dinosaur, but then I would have a smiley face or dinosaur blinking at me. I guess I could probably not stare at the screen, I can watch TV or maybe read a book. But how is that going to help me write an article? Blink, Blink. Stupid cursor. This really isn't helping me. I'm so obsessed with this cursor, I can't let my muse come to me and do its muse thing. Knowing my luck, she's staring at the cursor too. Well, if my muse won't come maybe I should mow the lawn or something. No, it will never get that bad. When is there ever a good excuse to mow the lawn? Have you ever been so bored that you decide, "Hey, I'm bored, I think I'll go and mow the lawn." I don't know about you, but I've never done that. I can see going out and mowing the lawn if say, for example, my wife comes home and tells me to get my lazy butt outside and mow the lawn. That, in my opinion is a good reason. Being bored, not a good reason. Blink, blink, blink.
So, I'm back to square one, although now the cat is blinking at me. Listen, how many times have you had a stare-down with your cat and won? I'll tell you...Never. You can't get a cat to blink. Actually, you can't get a cat to do anything. Well, you can get it to sleep, but how hard is that. Now, all of a sudden the stupid thing gets it into it's head to blink at me. This is getting out of control. First the cursor, now the cat, what's next? Now, the light on the phone is blinking. OK, that's it, I'm done. I guess I just won't write anything today. Sorry guys, maybe tomorrow.
15 February 2009
Tips on Reducing Your Credit Card Debt.
You don't need me to tell you that these are tough economic times. Unless you are one of the few who have millions of dollars lying around (please feel free to send some this way), chances are that most everyone will be affected by it. Although it will be difficult to see our way through to the end, it will be even more difficult for those who are already deep in debt. If you do fall into this category, let me just say that you are not alone and, through some old fashioned hard work, we can get ourselves back on track.
The first thing that we need to do is make a budget. I know that this is not the most fun thing to do, but it does need to be done. Gather together all your bills and calculate your monthly payments. I understand that some of your bills may come quarterly or annually, so you will need to break those payments into monthly amounts. I would also suggest that you keep a spending diary; that way you can keep track of your daily expenses. Creating a budget is the first step in credit repair. Doing this, will give you a visual picture of your financial situation and allow you to decide on how next to proceed. Once you have a clear picture of where you stand, you will be able to begin the process of prioritizing your bills.
Now, on to the next important step: prioritizing…For me, housing is the number one priority, so my first payment of the month goes to the mortgage. Next, if you have an auto loan, that would be number two on this hit parade. We next need to assign priorities to your credit card payments. Although you may be tempted to try to tackle the largest bill first, try to avoid that temptation, because in order to fix credit problems, you will need to take a systematic approach. First, write down the minimum payment, interest rate, and total amount owed from each card; this you will keep for your personal records. Next, find the card with the highest interest rate and the one with the least minimum monthly payment. If there is less than a thousand dollars difference between the total amounts owed on the two cards, then you should start concentrating on the card with the highest interest rate. If however, there is more than a thousand dollars difference, put your focus on the card with the smallest minimum monthly payment.
Next, you will want to order your cards in terms of minimum monthly payment: from least to greatest. Here is how it will work: as soon as the first card you are working on is paid-off, you will take the payment you were making on that card and apply it to the next card on the list. For example, let’s say that the first card had a minimum payment of $100 and the second card in line has a payment of $150. Once that first card is paid-off, you will add that $100 to the $150 of your next card and apply the total $250 to that card. Once that card is paid-off, you will apply that $250 to the next one, and so on. I know from experience that this is a very slow process at the start. However, after the first one or two cards are paid-off, the process will go much faster. Please try to keep in mind that you are making a difference, however small it may seem at the time.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are already starting to be late in making your payments, please contact the credit card agency and talk with them. Tell them your situation and explain what you are trying to do. Let them know that you have made a budget and are currently working to pay your debts. Most agencies will be willing to help you; after all, they want the money you owe them. Working to repair credit problems is a long and arduous process, but there is outside help available if you need it. There are Consumer Credit Counseling services available and they are free of charge. They will work with you in adopting a budget and some will even negotiate with the credit card companies for you. Check your local area for the service near you. There is no reason to pay someone to help you get out of debt, when there are private agencies that are willing do it for you. Yes, you may have to attend budgeting classes, but is that such a large price to pay? Besides, you will be learning a valuable skill that you can use for the rest of your life.
As always, if you need help or just want to talk, please feel free to contact me. I will do my best to assist you. We are in this together and together we can win.
The first thing that we need to do is make a budget. I know that this is not the most fun thing to do, but it does need to be done. Gather together all your bills and calculate your monthly payments. I understand that some of your bills may come quarterly or annually, so you will need to break those payments into monthly amounts. I would also suggest that you keep a spending diary; that way you can keep track of your daily expenses. Creating a budget is the first step in credit repair. Doing this, will give you a visual picture of your financial situation and allow you to decide on how next to proceed. Once you have a clear picture of where you stand, you will be able to begin the process of prioritizing your bills.
Now, on to the next important step: prioritizing…For me, housing is the number one priority, so my first payment of the month goes to the mortgage. Next, if you have an auto loan, that would be number two on this hit parade. We next need to assign priorities to your credit card payments. Although you may be tempted to try to tackle the largest bill first, try to avoid that temptation, because in order to fix credit problems, you will need to take a systematic approach. First, write down the minimum payment, interest rate, and total amount owed from each card; this you will keep for your personal records. Next, find the card with the highest interest rate and the one with the least minimum monthly payment. If there is less than a thousand dollars difference between the total amounts owed on the two cards, then you should start concentrating on the card with the highest interest rate. If however, there is more than a thousand dollars difference, put your focus on the card with the smallest minimum monthly payment.
Next, you will want to order your cards in terms of minimum monthly payment: from least to greatest. Here is how it will work: as soon as the first card you are working on is paid-off, you will take the payment you were making on that card and apply it to the next card on the list. For example, let’s say that the first card had a minimum payment of $100 and the second card in line has a payment of $150. Once that first card is paid-off, you will add that $100 to the $150 of your next card and apply the total $250 to that card. Once that card is paid-off, you will apply that $250 to the next one, and so on. I know from experience that this is a very slow process at the start. However, after the first one or two cards are paid-off, the process will go much faster. Please try to keep in mind that you are making a difference, however small it may seem at the time.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are already starting to be late in making your payments, please contact the credit card agency and talk with them. Tell them your situation and explain what you are trying to do. Let them know that you have made a budget and are currently working to pay your debts. Most agencies will be willing to help you; after all, they want the money you owe them. Working to repair credit problems is a long and arduous process, but there is outside help available if you need it. There are Consumer Credit Counseling services available and they are free of charge. They will work with you in adopting a budget and some will even negotiate with the credit card companies for you. Check your local area for the service near you. There is no reason to pay someone to help you get out of debt, when there are private agencies that are willing do it for you. Yes, you may have to attend budgeting classes, but is that such a large price to pay? Besides, you will be learning a valuable skill that you can use for the rest of your life.
As always, if you need help or just want to talk, please feel free to contact me. I will do my best to assist you. We are in this together and together we can win.
Thank You to My Advertisers: 2/9-2/15
As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...
Everyday Living
Everyday Living
14 February 2009
Join the Fight Against Heart Disease
There is a silent killer among us. Something that lurks in the background of our lives and attacks when we least expect it. I am talking about heart disease, something that many of us do not give a moments thought about, until it is too late. However, this is about to change.
For all those who wore red on February 6 in support of this fight, I applaud you, because you took the first and most important step in raising awareness for the fight against heart disease, but unfortunately, heart disease does not work only one day a year and neither should the fight against it. We all need to fight against this problem 365 days a year and support those who are working hard for a cure. In order to do this, Chiquita®, Fresh Express®, and the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women™, have joined forces to make it even easier for you to help.
Although contributions are always welcome, you can also help support the cause by buying healthy products. From now until Feb 28, each time you buy a specially-marked bag of Fresh Express Salad or Chiquita Fruit Bites, Fresh Express will be donate $0.10 for each bag or unit sold, to the American Heart Association.
You can also help in another very important way: by sharing your story. There are many who feel as if they are the only ones out there that are affected by this disease. It can be very lonely and depressing thinking that no one cares about what you may be going through. By sharing your personal story, you can help inspire them to continue, even when the storm clouds are all around them. How many times have you had a problem or have been depressed about a certain situation, only to read about someone who is going through the exact same thing? Didn’t it make you feel good inside to know that this problem was not unique to you? Why not help someone else in this same way.
After you share your story, you are encouraged to upload a photo of yourself. This puts a face to your story and helps to personalize it. Even if you do not have a story, you can support the fight against heart disease by uploading your photo and letting everyone know how many of the specially-marked products you purchased. You get to eat good, healthy food, and support the fight at the same time. You can also show your support by joining the group on Facebook® or MySpace®. By working together, we can all make a difference and put an end to heart disease. Why not start now and make a difference in someone’s life, maybe even your own?
For all those who wore red on February 6 in support of this fight, I applaud you, because you took the first and most important step in raising awareness for the fight against heart disease, but unfortunately, heart disease does not work only one day a year and neither should the fight against it. We all need to fight against this problem 365 days a year and support those who are working hard for a cure. In order to do this, Chiquita®, Fresh Express®, and the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women™, have joined forces to make it even easier for you to help.
Although contributions are always welcome, you can also help support the cause by buying healthy products. From now until Feb 28, each time you buy a specially-marked bag of Fresh Express Salad or Chiquita Fruit Bites, Fresh Express will be donate $0.10 for each bag or unit sold, to the American Heart Association.You can also help in another very important way: by sharing your story. There are many who feel as if they are the only ones out there that are affected by this disease. It can be very lonely and depressing thinking that no one cares about what you may be going through. By sharing your personal story, you can help inspire them to continue, even when the storm clouds are all around them. How many times have you had a problem or have been depressed about a certain situation, only to read about someone who is going through the exact same thing? Didn’t it make you feel good inside to know that this problem was not unique to you? Why not help someone else in this same way.
After you share your story, you are encouraged to upload a photo of yourself. This puts a face to your story and helps to personalize it. Even if you do not have a story, you can support the fight against heart disease by uploading your photo and letting everyone know how many of the specially-marked products you purchased. You get to eat good, healthy food, and support the fight at the same time. You can also show your support by joining the group on Facebook® or MySpace®. By working together, we can all make a difference and put an end to heart disease. Why not start now and make a difference in someone’s life, maybe even your own?
13 February 2009
Treating Your Acne
At around the age of thirteen, I was introduced to something that I would have much rather not known: acne. At first, it wasn’t much of a problem; you know, just a few pimples here and there. However, as time went on, it became much worse and I was at the point where I didn’t even want to go to school anymore. I ended up trying many different things to try to clear-up my Acne, but nothing seemed to work. I even ended-up going to see a dermatologist, which tended to help, but at a very high price. My doctor would prescribe antibiotics and performed a procedure he called acne surgery. What they did was, take a lancet and open the blemishes and then, in order to drain the pimple, they would take a special tool, which looked like a crochet needle, and press down hard. In addition to being very painful, this weekly procedure was expensive ($40.00 per visit).
But what exactly causes acne in the first place? Well, to give a very brief explanation, inside your hair follicles are glands, which produce oil. This oil helps lubricate the hair as it passes out of the follicle. When too much oil is produced, as can happen during adolescence when the hormones go into overdrive, blockages can occur, which may result in a whitehead (trapped oil and bacteria), a blackhead (oxidized oil on the surface), or acne (ruptured follicle wall). By using the Murad Acne system, you can help eliminate this excess oil and help prevent the blockages before they occur.
Although a healthy diet and exercise are always beneficial to healthy skin, sometimes you may need some extra help and Acne Complex is there to do just that. When used twice each day, over 90% of those who used this product, saw a reduction in breakouts within four weeks, with some seeing results even sooner. One function of this product, when used according to the instructions, is to help draw out the excess oil and impurities in your skin, thus helping to minimize the chances of experiencing the blockages, which can eventually lead to the development of acne. If you are interested in clearer skin, than please visit their site and take a look around. Discover for yourself, how to use the product and visit the FAQ section to view some of the common questions people have regarding the system. You might also take a peak at their Healthy Skin Club, where you will have access to skincare specialists, who are there to answer your questions and accompany you on the road to clearer skin.
But what exactly causes acne in the first place? Well, to give a very brief explanation, inside your hair follicles are glands, which produce oil. This oil helps lubricate the hair as it passes out of the follicle. When too much oil is produced, as can happen during adolescence when the hormones go into overdrive, blockages can occur, which may result in a whitehead (trapped oil and bacteria), a blackhead (oxidized oil on the surface), or acne (ruptured follicle wall). By using the Murad Acne system, you can help eliminate this excess oil and help prevent the blockages before they occur.
Although a healthy diet and exercise are always beneficial to healthy skin, sometimes you may need some extra help and Acne Complex is there to do just that. When used twice each day, over 90% of those who used this product, saw a reduction in breakouts within four weeks, with some seeing results even sooner. One function of this product, when used according to the instructions, is to help draw out the excess oil and impurities in your skin, thus helping to minimize the chances of experiencing the blockages, which can eventually lead to the development of acne. If you are interested in clearer skin, than please visit their site and take a look around. Discover for yourself, how to use the product and visit the FAQ section to view some of the common questions people have regarding the system. You might also take a peak at their Healthy Skin Club, where you will have access to skincare specialists, who are there to answer your questions and accompany you on the road to clearer skin.
12 February 2009
Friday Fotos: 2/13
Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend...
This is an Interesting Cake...
courtesy of... photobasement.com
Chuck Norris Kitty...
courtesy of... listcollections.com
I Would Consider Staying Away...
courtesy of... greatfunnypictures.com
I LOVE This...
courtesy of... Link removed: Site no longer active
10 February 2009
Sharing Ideas
I have gotten a few good ideas from those who have commented on my previous post and, because I feel that part of the world of blogging is sharing ideas and helping each other, I am going to devote this post to sharing those resources with you. Also, it's a way to be really lazy and not have to come up with something to write about.
wrote...
I am a big fan of "Print Screen" many times free websites or free trials will allow you to make things but they charge you to save the file. You can just click Control & Print Screen (above the backspace button). Then you can just paste it into any photo software...even Paint. The last step is to just crop the portion you want and save it. Then you have a great banner ad or any size ad for free.
bannersdesignerpro.com (No longer active as of 12/29/2017)
wrote...
being a LINUX user I use GIMP, however I have paintshop pro on my windows machine, I prefer GIMP it has more things available to it and its open source which means FREE and you can find add ons and extras. This is the main page check it out gimp.org
Thank you for your great ideas!
wrote...I am a big fan of "Print Screen" many times free websites or free trials will allow you to make things but they charge you to save the file. You can just click Control & Print Screen (above the backspace button). Then you can just paste it into any photo software...even Paint. The last step is to just crop the portion you want and save it. Then you have a great banner ad or any size ad for free.
bannersdesignerpro.com (No longer active as of 12/29/2017)
wrote...being a LINUX user I use GIMP, however I have paintshop pro on my windows machine, I prefer GIMP it has more things available to it and its open source which means FREE and you can find add ons and extras. This is the main page check it out gimp.org
Thank you for your great ideas!
Keeping your Mail Secure
After several years of living in apartments, we were finally able to purchase our first home. Little did we know of the many aspects of home ownership that would surface. Yes, we knew that we would have to pay sewer, gas, and electric, but there were other things that we never even thought about. There are many small details that I never even took into consideration, such as supplying our own light bulbs or getting a mailbox.
So, imagine our surprise when we walked into our first house and saw, as one of our housewarming gift, a mailbox. This is something that I truly did not think about, so I’m glad that they provided one for us. So, one of my first duties as a new homeowner, would be to mount the box on the post. The only problem was that the post for our box was located 3 houses down. Now, I contacted the Post Office and told them about this and the manager told me that, due to federal regulations, the drivers are not allowed to backup their vehicles and because of the location of our house, the mailbox would need to be located at its current position.
Well, I went ahead and installed the box and life went on as normal. However, a few months ago, we noticed that some of our mail had started to disappear. It first began with a bill we were expecting, but never received. We were only aware of this fact due to the late notice we received from our creditor a few weeks later. Evidently, someone had gotten into our mail box and had taken the bill. The next instance occurred a few weeks later when my daughter’s birthday card never arrived. I knew now, that something needed to be done, but I was at a loss of what to do.
Well, thanks to the Internet, I get to let my fingers do the walking and I quickly found a site that carried a wide variety of mailboxes; they even have an entire section devoted to security mailboxes. Now, there are a few things that you want to look for when choosing your new box and the first, is its construction. You want to get a box that is made of solid, galvanized steel. After all, what is the purpose of getting a box made of sheet metal or plastic, when someone can just take a screwdriver and break it open.
You will also want a box that is secure. The box I am currently looking at has a commercial grade anti-pick lock and has a tubular locking mechanism. This type of lock is the same type that is used in vending machines and I can state from experience, these are very difficult locks to pick. (No, I am not a crook, but I am a certified locksmith and I have had experience in picking a wide variety of locks). These types of locks require a special tool in order to pick them quickly, to which your average crook does not have access. There are many mail boxes out there that claim to be security boxes, so please choose wisely. Get a box that is sturdy, durable, and secure.
If you cannot afford a security mailbox, there are a few things that you can do to help minimize your chances of becoming a victim. Firstly, make sure that all your outgoing mail, is mailed from the post office, or is placed in one of their official boxes. Next, if you have a mailbox that is located near along the street, as we do, try to collect your mail as soon after it is delivered as possible. Now, I know that this is not always possible, but if you cannot do it yourself, maybe have someone pick it up for you. If this is not an option and you are having problems with theft, you may want to think about getting a PO Box. The main idea is to not only prevent your mail from being stolen, but your identity as well.
So, imagine our surprise when we walked into our first house and saw, as one of our housewarming gift, a mailbox. This is something that I truly did not think about, so I’m glad that they provided one for us. So, one of my first duties as a new homeowner, would be to mount the box on the post. The only problem was that the post for our box was located 3 houses down. Now, I contacted the Post Office and told them about this and the manager told me that, due to federal regulations, the drivers are not allowed to backup their vehicles and because of the location of our house, the mailbox would need to be located at its current position.
Well, I went ahead and installed the box and life went on as normal. However, a few months ago, we noticed that some of our mail had started to disappear. It first began with a bill we were expecting, but never received. We were only aware of this fact due to the late notice we received from our creditor a few weeks later. Evidently, someone had gotten into our mail box and had taken the bill. The next instance occurred a few weeks later when my daughter’s birthday card never arrived. I knew now, that something needed to be done, but I was at a loss of what to do.
Well, thanks to the Internet, I get to let my fingers do the walking and I quickly found a site that carried a wide variety of mailboxes; they even have an entire section devoted to security mailboxes. Now, there are a few things that you want to look for when choosing your new box and the first, is its construction. You want to get a box that is made of solid, galvanized steel. After all, what is the purpose of getting a box made of sheet metal or plastic, when someone can just take a screwdriver and break it open.
You will also want a box that is secure. The box I am currently looking at has a commercial grade anti-pick lock and has a tubular locking mechanism. This type of lock is the same type that is used in vending machines and I can state from experience, these are very difficult locks to pick. (No, I am not a crook, but I am a certified locksmith and I have had experience in picking a wide variety of locks). These types of locks require a special tool in order to pick them quickly, to which your average crook does not have access. There are many mail boxes out there that claim to be security boxes, so please choose wisely. Get a box that is sturdy, durable, and secure.
If you cannot afford a security mailbox, there are a few things that you can do to help minimize your chances of becoming a victim. Firstly, make sure that all your outgoing mail, is mailed from the post office, or is placed in one of their official boxes. Next, if you have a mailbox that is located near along the street, as we do, try to collect your mail as soon after it is delivered as possible. Now, I know that this is not always possible, but if you cannot do it yourself, maybe have someone pick it up for you. If this is not an option and you are having problems with theft, you may want to think about getting a PO Box. The main idea is to not only prevent your mail from being stolen, but your identity as well.
09 February 2009
My New Toy
**Just to let you know, this is not a PPP article**
As you no doubt have noticed, I have been playing around with the design of my header. I have always wanted to do something with it, but I have not had the tools necessary to attempt a change. Well, as I was surfing through the Internet on Friday, I came across a program that has really impressed me and I would like to share it with you.
I have always wanted to have Photoshop but, unfortunately, I don't have $700 lying around. I mean, if I had that kind of money to spend, do you think I would have these ads plastered all over my site? So, I went looking for free photo editing software and I finally came up with a winner. The software is called photoscape and I am having a great time playing with it. I have downloaded a lot of other programs in the past, but this one actually seems to work. I have been playing with it the past few days and I must say that I am impressed with what this program can do. Now, I know it does not even compare with what Photoshop can do, but for free...well, I can live with it.
I have currently only been in the editing portion of the program, but I can now re-size and add text to my pictures without having to go to various websites to have it done. This program can even take screen shots of either the entire screen or whatever portion you choose. Anyway, so far I am pretty pleased and I plan to do more experimenting ( as noted in the above picture). So, if you see changes from time to time, you will know what I am doing.
If there is anyone doesn't have a photo editor and would like to have one, you might want to give this one a test drive and please let me know what you think.
As you no doubt have noticed, I have been playing around with the design of my header. I have always wanted to do something with it, but I have not had the tools necessary to attempt a change. Well, as I was surfing through the Internet on Friday, I came across a program that has really impressed me and I would like to share it with you.
I have always wanted to have Photoshop but, unfortunately, I don't have $700 lying around. I mean, if I had that kind of money to spend, do you think I would have these ads plastered all over my site? So, I went looking for free photo editing software and I finally came up with a winner. The software is called photoscape and I am having a great time playing with it. I have downloaded a lot of other programs in the past, but this one actually seems to work. I have been playing with it the past few days and I must say that I am impressed with what this program can do. Now, I know it does not even compare with what Photoshop can do, but for free...well, I can live with it.
I have currently only been in the editing portion of the program, but I can now re-size and add text to my pictures without having to go to various websites to have it done. This program can even take screen shots of either the entire screen or whatever portion you choose. Anyway, so far I am pretty pleased and I plan to do more experimenting ( as noted in the above picture). So, if you see changes from time to time, you will know what I am doing.
If there is anyone doesn't have a photo editor and would like to have one, you might want to give this one a test drive and please let me know what you think.
07 February 2009
Thank You to My Advertisers: 2/2-2/8
As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...
Everyday Living
Everyday Living
05 February 2009
Friday Fotos: 2/6
Happy Friday, everyone. Wishing you all a great weekend!
Good Luck...Right...
courtesy of... funnyjunk.com
How Do We Explain This on the Insurance Form...
courtesy of... funnyhub.com
Okay, How Lazy is This Person...
courtesy of... hahastop.com
courtesy of... funnyjunk.com
04 February 2009
Thank You for These Awards
I have received more awards which I would like to share with others. I want to thank you for thinking of me when you present your awards; it really means a lot! As I pass these along, please do not feel obligated to respond in kind. I am doing this to show my appreciation for all your hard work.
I would like to take this time to thank From A Yellow House in England for presenting me with...
Da rules: Link to who gave the award to you; admit 5 addictions; and then pass the award on to 5 other blogs.
My Addictions...
1) this one is easy: Smoking. I started in Grad school and never gave the habit up.
2) Pistachios. I love these things, especially the salty shells.
3) Chicago Connection Pizza. They have the best pizza anywhere. Tons of cheese and just dripping with grease:) Unfortunately, I haven't been able to have one in over 14 months (yes, I am keeping track).
4) Reading. Give me a good book and I can be lost for hours. I am currently reading a book called Shadow Divers. It is about deep sea diving and the discovery and attempts to identify a U-Boat found off the coast of new Jersey. A true story and fascinating to read. I know that wreck diving is one thing I could never do.
5) Cooking. I love experimenting with different foods and combinations. Usually, it turns out pretty good.
I would like to thank Ask Ms Recipe for presenting me with the...
03 February 2009
Just Say No to Payday Loans
There is a monster lurking out in the credit world. You may think that I am talking about the big credit card companies, but sadly, no. Since I am in a dinosaur mood, I'm going to see if I can completely mess-up this analogy: The big credit card companies are represented by the T-Rex and the part of the Velociraptor is played by the Payday loan. They hunt in packs (you see them on almost every street corner), they are relentless in their attack (the lure of easy money, fast), and they totally devour their prey (high interest rates).
I realize that there may come a time when there is no choice but to get a loan from one of these places, but please be aware that you may be opening a door to a certain lady's box. For example, let's say that you need to borrow $200. You go down to your local Loan store and get your money, what could be easier? Well, depending on the company you choose, you will be paying anywhere from $41.00 to $50.00 for the privilege of borrowing that money for 14 days. Now, on first glance that may not seem like a great deal of money, but just take a minute and have a look at the interest rate you are paying: anywhere from 430.18% to 573.57% APR (roughly 21-25% for the 14-day loan).1I don't know about you, but I find that a trifle high. With those type of rates, I am half expecting someone to drop by and break my legs if my payment is late.
I took a look at three of these companies and the only one that offered the lower rate, $41.00, was MoneyTree. All the others used a rate of 25% for the 14 day loan period. At the end of the term, you pay the company $250 and you are done. But, let's say that you just can't pay them at the end of the 14 days, what can you do? Well, you pay them $50 (your interest) and they will extend the term of your loan for an additional 14 days. At the end of that period, you pay them $250. So, for the $200 you borrowed, you have paid $100, or 50% of the original loan. If you are already on a tight budget, how will you be able to come up with the extra $50-$100? Does this seem worth it to you? Can you see where this can become a vicious cycle?
This cycle has become so dangerous, that the Federal government has even joined the party. "On October 1, 2007, a new federal law became effective that severely limits the terms under which we can loan to active duty members of the military and their spouses and dependents. As a result, after this date we will no longer be able to offer payday loans to our military customers."2 Now, if they get involved, you know that there is something to be concerned about.
I realize that in this age of tight budgets and little disposable income, there is a real temptation to get cash, fast; It's easy and convenient, but at a price. I know from experience (I fell into this money pit about 7 years ago) the type of trouble you can get into by using these services, so PLEASE think it through and be very careful.
1moneytreeinc.com (dead link removed)
2moneytreeinc.com (dead link removed)
I realize that there may come a time when there is no choice but to get a loan from one of these places, but please be aware that you may be opening a door to a certain lady's box. For example, let's say that you need to borrow $200. You go down to your local Loan store and get your money, what could be easier? Well, depending on the company you choose, you will be paying anywhere from $41.00 to $50.00 for the privilege of borrowing that money for 14 days. Now, on first glance that may not seem like a great deal of money, but just take a minute and have a look at the interest rate you are paying: anywhere from 430.18% to 573.57% APR (roughly 21-25% for the 14-day loan).1I don't know about you, but I find that a trifle high. With those type of rates, I am half expecting someone to drop by and break my legs if my payment is late.
I took a look at three of these companies and the only one that offered the lower rate, $41.00, was MoneyTree. All the others used a rate of 25% for the 14 day loan period. At the end of the term, you pay the company $250 and you are done. But, let's say that you just can't pay them at the end of the 14 days, what can you do? Well, you pay them $50 (your interest) and they will extend the term of your loan for an additional 14 days. At the end of that period, you pay them $250. So, for the $200 you borrowed, you have paid $100, or 50% of the original loan. If you are already on a tight budget, how will you be able to come up with the extra $50-$100? Does this seem worth it to you? Can you see where this can become a vicious cycle?
This cycle has become so dangerous, that the Federal government has even joined the party. "On October 1, 2007, a new federal law became effective that severely limits the terms under which we can loan to active duty members of the military and their spouses and dependents. As a result, after this date we will no longer be able to offer payday loans to our military customers."2 Now, if they get involved, you know that there is something to be concerned about.
I realize that in this age of tight budgets and little disposable income, there is a real temptation to get cash, fast; It's easy and convenient, but at a price. I know from experience (I fell into this money pit about 7 years ago) the type of trouble you can get into by using these services, so PLEASE think it through and be very careful.
1moneytreeinc.com (dead link removed)
2moneytreeinc.com (dead link removed)
02 February 2009
Putting Your Budget on a Diet
Yeah, you heard me correctly. It's time to put the old budget on a much needed diet. I figure since I have bored you all to tears with my weight loss journey, I might as well capitalize on this theme and take it to another level. Due to our current situation, I am in the process of creating a new budget; one that we can actually work with. So, I'll take you all along for the ride.
First thing to do is to gather all your bills and place them on the table in front of you. You will need to include every bill you pay on a regular basis: Mortgage, insurance, credit cards, sewer, water, garbage, Association fees, phone, cable, gas, electric, fuel, food, and any other ones you may have. These constitute your fixed expenses. If some of them are billed on a quarterly basis, then you will need to divide that amount by 3. If billed on an annual basis, then divide by 12. You will most likely have some bills that fluctuate from month to month, so in order to get a rough estimate, try and get your bills from the previous year and average them out. Once you get a monthly total, you will have a pretty good idea of where you stand.
The next part of this budget is going to seem rather odd, but it will really be an eye-opener. As you go through your day, whenever you buy something write down a description and the amount you paid. Keep a diary of these purchases for at least one week. At the end of the week, add-up everything you purchased and take a look at the total. Most likely, you will be surprised at where your money goes. The $5.00 cup of coffee or the $1.50 spent on a snack may not seem like a great deal at the time, but it adds up over the days.
Now that you have a better picture of where your money is going, you will be in a much better situation to begin re-allocating your money to where it is most needed, for example paying off those credit card bills. If, by chance, you find that you are over-budget, you will need to take a hard look at your current expenses and decide where you can cut some fat. Look around and try and find things that you Really don't need. For example, do you currently have cable and subscribe to every service they offer? Try and look into cutting back to a more basic service. Ask yourself, do you really need all those movie channels? How often do you watch those movies and how often do they actually play movies you care to see? What about canceling that expensive service and putting your money elsewhere. If you really need your movie fix, what about joining Netflix or Blockbuster. That way you pay for only the movies you want to see.
In our case, it's water delivery. We get bottled water delivered twice a month and shell-out around $48.00 for the privilege. Now, the water itself is not that expensive, it is the rental cost of the dispenser which drives the price up. So, we are currently looking into discontinuing that service. Thus, we can steer that money towards one of our bills.
To sum up, my point here is to try and give you tips on how to visualize your current financial situation. If you can actually see where your money is going, you will be in a better situation to be able to control your finances, instead of them controlling you.
First thing to do is to gather all your bills and place them on the table in front of you. You will need to include every bill you pay on a regular basis: Mortgage, insurance, credit cards, sewer, water, garbage, Association fees, phone, cable, gas, electric, fuel, food, and any other ones you may have. These constitute your fixed expenses. If some of them are billed on a quarterly basis, then you will need to divide that amount by 3. If billed on an annual basis, then divide by 12. You will most likely have some bills that fluctuate from month to month, so in order to get a rough estimate, try and get your bills from the previous year and average them out. Once you get a monthly total, you will have a pretty good idea of where you stand.
The next part of this budget is going to seem rather odd, but it will really be an eye-opener. As you go through your day, whenever you buy something write down a description and the amount you paid. Keep a diary of these purchases for at least one week. At the end of the week, add-up everything you purchased and take a look at the total. Most likely, you will be surprised at where your money goes. The $5.00 cup of coffee or the $1.50 spent on a snack may not seem like a great deal at the time, but it adds up over the days.
Now that you have a better picture of where your money is going, you will be in a much better situation to begin re-allocating your money to where it is most needed, for example paying off those credit card bills. If, by chance, you find that you are over-budget, you will need to take a hard look at your current expenses and decide where you can cut some fat. Look around and try and find things that you Really don't need. For example, do you currently have cable and subscribe to every service they offer? Try and look into cutting back to a more basic service. Ask yourself, do you really need all those movie channels? How often do you watch those movies and how often do they actually play movies you care to see? What about canceling that expensive service and putting your money elsewhere. If you really need your movie fix, what about joining Netflix or Blockbuster. That way you pay for only the movies you want to see.
In our case, it's water delivery. We get bottled water delivered twice a month and shell-out around $48.00 for the privilege. Now, the water itself is not that expensive, it is the rental cost of the dispenser which drives the price up. So, we are currently looking into discontinuing that service. Thus, we can steer that money towards one of our bills.
To sum up, my point here is to try and give you tips on how to visualize your current financial situation. If you can actually see where your money is going, you will be in a better situation to be able to control your finances, instead of them controlling you.
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