Sweet Happenings

Discount AC Parts

2008-08-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

We were up in the mountains recently and my old 8 year van was trying to climb a big hill. It was 9 miles straight up and it actually did OK but the AC quit and I was afraid that I was going to need a new compressor. It also was unbearably hot too but on the way down after our 1 hour hike, the AC started working again.

If I needed to replace my AC, I might check out Discount AC Parts. They sell auto ac parts. They even have Volkswagen ac compressor parts as well as those for a Mercedes or BMW.

Summertime is not a good time to be without a working AC.

High School

2008-08-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

We went to my son's high school Open House and there was a good turn out for once. I guess last year, only 2 parents showed up. The problem was the school didn't bother to tell anyone that there was going to be an Open House in the first place. This year they gave us a 6 day notice which I guess was better than nothing. I liked that the school made you follow your child's schedule. We had to go to first period and sit in and listen to an overview of that course, then we went to second period and so on. It was much better then trying to introduce ourselves to the teacher and individually ask them questions about what they were going to teach for the semester. I liked some of the teachers and I hope my son has a good freshman year.

Vacation Orlando

2008-08-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

A while back, we took a vacation to Orlando and it turned out to be one of our most humorous vacations that we had ever taken. My husband decided to have arthroscopic surgery on his knee right before we were to leave. The recovery time was supposed to be short. Turned out he needed more extensive surgery and he had to be on crutches for 6 weeks.

We ended up having to sit in separate places on the plane because my husband needed more space for his leg which was in a soft cast. When we went to Disney World in Orlando, we had to rent a wheel chair and then I had to push him all over the place. It was hard because of the hills and my husband was not light. It was really hysterical because we ran into another couple with the husband in the wheel chair and he was trying to direct the wife where to push him and she was arguing with him left and right and then ignoring him. That mirrored exactly what we were doing too. I was ready to push my husband up the hill and then just let him go.

Because of the wheelchair, we were able move to the front of the line for all the Disney rides and we really got our money's worth. It turned out to be a huge advantage having that knee surgery in more ways than one. We joked that everyone should bring a fake cast to Disney World if they didn't want to wait in line.

Check out online tour guides to find Orlando tours. Trusted Tours and Attractions offers discounts on 23 city sightseeing tours including New Yorks's, Top of the Rock. They also have a newsletter where you can sign up to win a Magellan's Gift certificate.

In-Laws Coming

2008-08-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Since we are pretty much finished with the remodel with just a few things to add, we went ahead and got my in-laws plane tickets to fly out and see us. Had to get an early morning flight since the airlines have cut back on their schedules. My mother-in-law needs extra time to do back exercises for her Fibromyalgia and she won't be able to with a 7 am departure. Fortunately, they will be staying at a motel the night before so that should help a little bit.

I was looking into medical supplies that could help her back when she arrives. An ergonomic lumbar cushion might be good to get for sitting in a chair. I just want her to be comfortable as possible when she visits.

They will be here at the end of next month.

Bedroom Done!

2008-08-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Finally got some of the remodel done. Still have a lot of little things to do but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the culmination of 5 months worth of work and tons of headache. My husband and I tried to hire out most of the work but when it looked like it was going to take several months just to line up people, we were forced to do the majority of work ourselves.

Here is the room being renovated with the new French doors just put in:

Here is the finished room!

Online Courses

2008-08-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

I have been down in the doldrums lately and I am thinking I need to take a class or learn something new. Right now I have one son in college and another starting high school. I am trying to save money and time and so I have been looking around locally for a guitar teacher but there are none to be had. I also want to learn Spanish and again I have to travel if I want to do that.

Taking classes online is another alternative. Capella University offers classes via the internet and is an accredited school. They offer degrees in business management, health care, K-12, Mental Health and Public Safety. They also offer grants and scholarships to help fund your education.

Since I live in rural America and with the high gas costs, I may want to consider an education online option if I want to further my horizons.

Family Reunion Location

2008-08-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

After going back and forth with my brother, who is also planning next year's family reunion with me, we decided to not do the cruise to Mexico. It was too expensive plus there was the choice of only one Carnival cruise and no one seemed to like that cruise line.

My brother took a vacation down to San Diego in August and we thought about doing the reunion there. However, his verdict was that it was too crowded, traffic was terrible and the cost of hotels was astronomical.

We then thought about it doing it in San Francisco and then in Seattle but I really wanted to do it on the Oregon Coast and in the end my brother relented.

The advantages to having it on the coast are that it's not very far away, cost is not too high. There is the aquarium at Newport which is ranked nationally, the Tillamook cheese factory, Tillamook airplane museum, shopping in Cannon Beach, a few casinos, kite flying, clamming, crabbing, horseback riding, fishing,hiking, and being on the beach. Really lots of outdoor type activities. It's a beautiful area and I would be happy as a clam just spending all my time near the ocean.

The disadvantages are that it could rain that weekend, although it will be at the end of June so I am hoping the weather will not be bad.

Still I wonder if that is going to satisfy everyone's needs. It's difficult to pick a place that everyone will be happy with. Since my husband and I will be selecting lodging and the restaurants, it will be on our heads if things don't work out.

We will be heading over there in a couple of weeks to find a place to have it. I guess if people don't like the location, they don't have to come!

More Headaches From Lowes

2008-08-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

I have been having a lot of problems with Lowes and I am seriously thinking of not shopping there anymore. Since we started remodeling back in April, I have made countless trips to this store for paint, doors, hardware, blinds and etc. They already have messed up twice on my paint and my tile. The latest incident was with the blinds I ordered. The first time I tried to order my blinds, they couldn't find my blinds on the computer so they told me they couldn't order them. That should have been my clue to high tail it out of there. Later they called me at home and said they got someone who was able to make the program work but I had to come back in, I couldn't do it over the phone since it was a custom order.

I made the 30 mile trip back to town and ordered the blinds. I question them on the French door blinds because I had read that extra inches had to be added on them. I asked if I should add them to the measurement of the door windows. Lowe's said no, the manufacturer would automatically add them. I also asked this question the first time that I tried to order and was told the same answer.

I waited 2 weeks and my blinds finally showed up. I decided to take them out of the box and put them up to the windows to make sure they fit. Two of them did, the two French door blinds did not. They were too narrow and they fit exactly the length I had given them. I had to haul myself back to Lowes and they had to call in a manager because I had signed a paper saying that these measurements were exact. I was afraid it was going to be my word against theirs. As it turned out, the girl who took my order put down the blinds as inside mounts even though I specifically told her these were to be mounted on the door not inside the windows. Lowes agreed to replace the blinds but they told me that I should have known to add the extra inches. They said the manufacturer doesn't do that on outside mounts. I told them it was their people that gave me that info but they seemed to think that should not have mattered.

Anyway, I ordered the blinds with the added inches but for future purchases, I think I will try Home Depot. It's across town but it may be worth the hassle of going over there.

Vote

2008-08-07T11:25:00.001-07:00

With the year's big presidential election looming around the corner, I am in a quandry on who to vote for. I am not in love with either candidate.

My husband and I went and saw the movie,"Swing Vote." I liked it. It was funny ,it did poke fun at the political process and there was a lot of truth to it. Of course the ending was the best part of the film.

I hate all the spin that is associated with the political process and I have gotten to the point that I just don't believe what the candidates say anymore. They want the votes and that's the bottom line. I also hate the exorbitant amounts of money that is going into negative campaigning. I would think that money could be better spent elsewhere, like educating our kids or feeding the less fortunate.

Each person that makes it into office says they will change things up, then they are elected and it's the same old stuff. Everything gets bogged down and nothing is accomplished.

Still I feel it's very important to vote even if it's for a candidate that I am not very excited about. Maybe they will prove me wrong. I hope so.

The Importance of Power Steering

2008-08-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

My husband has never been a big spender. When he started work, he bought an old government truck from an auction. It had the logo stripped off and needed a paint job
really bad. There was no air conditioning, the driver door got stuck all the time, no power steering or power brakes. It was a bear to drive yet my husband kept that truck around for many many years until he switched jobs and was finally able to buy a nice Toyota Tacoma truck.

It's too bad he did not know about PowerSteeringPros.com. He could have bought a steering rack and pinion assembly. They have high quality products that dealers use at prices one can afford.

I don't know how he was able to drive that truck without power steering. It was difficult and we almost ended up in the ditch several times because he couldn't crank the wheel fast enough.

He sold that old truck to an employee and now it's someone else's headache to drive.

Fat Burners

2008-08-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

I am at the age where fat just gravitates toward my middle. I have been really watching what I eat and I have found that if I even have a handful of chips, it immediately translates to larger love handles and extra pounds. My husband says I need to count calories but what a pain. This is what I have for breakfast: one bowl of oatmeal with flaxseed and a glass of water. Lunch consists of one container of no fat yogurt, a couple of pieces of lunch meat with no bread and water. For dinner I have 2 chicken tenders that have been grilled, one small helping of vegetables and one small helping of fruit and a glass of water. That's it. If I detour from this amount and have a handful of chips, I gain, simple as that. Usually I feel hungry in between meals so now I am going to try to get some organic granola bars or something along those lines to satisfy the hunger.

In addition to dieting, I am exercising at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. I do an AB workout, and either aerobics or I ride the stationary bike. I also do resistance training plus meditation.

I haven't tried any diet supplements but Pricesexposed.net has reviews on Xenadrine RFA-X, a fat burner that ranks in the top 20. This site also reviews other diet products like Hoodia and Proactol.

I don't know if they work or not but as with any product, thoroughly research it before making a decision to use it.

New Banner on My Ecrater Site

2008-08-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

My new banner on my Watercolor Works Ecrater Store is now finished. It looks fabulous and it was done by Sike Graphics. A new site and he is now offering packages of various banners, avatars and more. Here is my new banner!

Payday Loans

2008-08-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

I may be needing surgery soon and with college expenses looming in another month, plus all the remodeling, I may be strapped for cash. My insurance company informed me earlier this year that the $15.00 co-payment for the doctor's office visits was not going to cover everything like in the past. Now we have to pay 10% of the costs plus the $15.00. I haven't even checked into the coverage for the surgery.

Payday Loans will get you cash fast if you need it.Takes only 3 minutes to apply and you can be approved online within the hour. Loans are up to $1500.00 or less. I really hope I won't need a loan but this may be an option if I do.

New Banner Site

2008-07-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

Sike Graphics did my banner and I think he did a pretty good job on it. Right now he is offering his standard banners/headers for $5.00 a piece. Custom banners will be available soon. I'm going to have him do some other headers for me too.

Another Pair of Work Boots

2008-07-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but my husband is very hard on his clothing and shoes. Every time I turn around, he is telling me he needs new pants or work boots. He works out in the field a lot and what I don't understand is that he will wear his new shirts out in the hot sun. After a while, the collars on his shirts start to fade out and they look horrible.

His work boots always end up with holes in them. I went to worksbootsusa.com and found a whole slew of boots to choose from. They have several brands including Timberland, Wolverine, Caterpillar, Converse and more. They offer free ground shipping on orders over $50.00. They have a wide range of prices so it is easy to find one in your price range.

This boot website needs links so please check them out and give them some business.

Christmas Presents in July

2008-07-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

The art fair in the park was great! Usually when I go, it's the same old stuff and I end up not getting anything. This year, I went because I wanted to get a head start on some Christmas presents and I wasn't disappointed.

I ended up buying a beaded necklace and earrings for a friend. I also found for myself some Chinese characters painted on tile and framed. It will go perfect with the other items in my Asian theme living room.

At least I made a little dent in my shopping for the holidays.

Skin Problems

2008-07-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was noticing my son's acne problems were starting to get worse again. Sometimes his skin looks very good but because he has been having to sunscreen a lot lately, the oil from the lotion appears to be causing his skin to erupt again.

Lakeviewderm.com offers treatments for acne,moles, psoriasis, rosacea, spider veins and more. They even offer Park Ridge Botox treatments for wrinkles, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.

It's too bad these dermatologists are located in the Chicago, Illinois area. I would consider using them for my son's condition.

The Dark Knight

2008-07-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my family and I spent a fun day going to an art fair, shopping and then to see the Dark Knight. I wasn't sure that I wanted to see it even though I had heard it was very good. The critics said it was haunting and very dark and I didn't want to be depressed.

No other movies were showing at the same time so I ended up seeing batman with the rest of the family. It turned out to be great and I thought of course, Heath Ledger's characterization of the Joker was nothing short of phenomenal. The reviews were right. I also liked the idea that good and evil were the flip side of the same coin. The movie had some really thought provoking scenarios on human behavior that I found quite interesting.

All in all, a big thumbs up on this one!

Personal Loans

2008-07-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

I hate to keep harping on the lousy economy but unfortunately that is what's on the forefront of everybody's mind. It was a nice relief to see the gas prices drop a little bit but will it stay that way? I doubt it.

I am quite concerned about the food prices and everything else that is now going through the roof. People are being stretched thin and I am not sure where it is all going to lead except that this cannot be good.

I found Personal Loans Online that may help ease the burden. They have loans available up to $15,000.00 and even people with no credit or bad credit can apply. The processing is easy and quick.

As with any site, please read the terms of use very carefully and research the site before making any commitments.

New Banner Business

2008-07-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

My son wanted to start a business. He's only 14 and so now he is doing headers for websites and blogs. He just designed mine for my site. I told him that if he wanted to do different headers for my blog, I would rotate them around. He is working on a website to advertise his business and so I will have more on that later. His prices are $15- $20 for custom headers and $5.00 for his standard ones. I think he has a knack for it so we will see how it goes.

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

2008-07-21T14:04:00.001-07:00

We have been touched with Alzheimer's as my father-in-law was diagnosed about 5 or 6 years ago. He took all the tests and then immediately went on medication. The medicine has slowed the progression of the disease. His short term memory is starting to be affected but he is still doing pretty well considering his diagnosis.

About 5 years ago, I remember meeting my father-in-law's sister at a 50th anniversary party and she must have asked me the same question, 20 times. I couldn't believe that she was still driving around because she was obviously having some memory issues. Shortly after that she passed on. Alzheimer's seems to be very prevalent in the family. My husband's dad's dad had it pretty bad and died of it back in the 70's.

The Alzheimer's Memory Walk put on by the Alzheimer's Association is the largest event in the country and involves walks in over 600 communities. Volunteers of all ages are being asked to participate in these walks to help raise awareness, funds and research to fight this deadly condition. The walks themselves are 2 to 3 miles in length. Sign up to volunteer or become a team captain. Let's find a cure!

Back From Our Short Trip

2008-07-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

We ran down to see my nephew play in his soccer tournament. It's too bad that we don't live closer. Have never gotten to see him or his sister play anything because we live about 12 hours away. Since his tournament was in Portland, it was a doable drive for us.

Got there on Friday evening and found out that our motel room only had 1 bed to it for 4 people and no rollaways to be had. All other rooms were booked up. Thank goodness they gave us a king size bed. At least 3 of us got something to sleep on. One of my sons had to sleep in the chair.

Anyway, my nephew, had a good first game. He headed in a ball to score at the beginning of the game. His team held onto the lead but lost it in the second half when the opposing team scored 3 goals. The next day, my nephew was injured in the first minute of the game and then was benched for the remainder. A little bit of a downer for us but his team did well and won.

We had to leave after that to go home. My nephew was able to play the next day and they won their semi-final match but still haven't heard from my brother whether they took home the championship or not.

Iderma.com

2008-07-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Now that I am at the ripe age of 50, I am paying more attention to my skin. New anti aging products are all over the place and I am considering using them. Iderma.com sells Azure Cosmeceuticals which use hydropeptides to boost collagen and elastin production which reduces wrinkles. Iderma also sells Mineral Makeup which has great coverage and UV protection. They carry several brands of anti-aging cosmetics including CaliDerma,Heliocare,Elta MD and more. I, for one, will be checking them out.

More Opportunities

2008-07-15T18:55:00.001-07:00

I don't know what is going on but it seems like there have been more opportunities available lately. Has anyone noticed this too? Since I signed up for SocialSpark.com,I have seen an increase so I think it must be making a difference. I hope it keeps up and I will continue to blog as fast as my little fingers will let me type.

Save Money Through Dealking.com

2008-07-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

With the economy in dire straits, I have been looking at all avenues to save some extra money. Dealking.com is a site that lists hot deals and offers coupons to several stores. They also offer cash back to Old Navy,Sears, Target, Toys R Us and many more. Including Christopher and Banks which is one of my favorite stores and they offer a 3% cashback there.

Sign-up for the DealKing affiliate program. This is a new program where Dealking will pay bloggers for anyone that signs up. More money can be made if that person purchases an AT&T Go Phone. You can receive $25.00 cash back and then another $5.00 for each phone sold.

I am definitely bookmarking this site for future reference.