CEOmum - Parenting is a Full Time Job

Get 2 Xbox Deals for $29.99 today only

2009-12-02T01:04:00.003-05:00

Ok these are not the educational gifts I was thinking about but you have got to get in on these deals today- if you or someone you know is an Xbox lover of course.

The Nintendo Wii lovers can check out the raffle.

Pardon my Absence

2009-11-29T18:18:00.004-05:00

Pardon my absence.

There just aren't enough hours in the day.

Since I love learning, I find I am always getting caught up in a number of projects and neglecting other important activities, like this my beloved blog.

Speakng of learning, I will soon be adding some information about wonderful educational gifts for kids this Christmas. Yes this quilt you see displayed is a baby toy. It is an interactive security blanket.

Meanwhile please enjoy the latest educational video I have added to the right.

250 Business Cards Winner

2009-10-22T18:51:00.002-05:00

The Winner of our 250 Business Cards Giveaway sponsored by Uprinting is Tanisha Renee of Girl, Lemme Tell You.

For those of you who didn't win, keep checking back we will have more great giveaways on offer.

From Boarding School to College

2009-10-13T22:55:00.005-05:00

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One of the benefits of having a kid who went to boarding school is not having to worry about how he will transition to college. If my son is to provide a basis for measurement as far as this is concerned I have to say he is doing fine, in fact too fine. I know this because:

He was so excited to start he insisted on going to his college Pre-orientation a full week before the real orientation that the majority of freshmen attend;
He is never in his room. What I really mean is he only sleeps there.
He only calls when it is absolutely necessary meaning when he is in crisis mode like when the pharmacist couldn't find any evidence that he had health insurance.
Mom am I insured?
He doesn't seem as excited as I to know that I will only be one hour away from him for a week starting tomorrow.
He does seem excited to be staying on campus for Thanksgiving and has even been talking about Christmas.

Anyway heading to la belle New York tomorrow.

7 Tips for Your Halloween Party

2009-10-12T13:19:00.009-05:00

My husband is now responsible for the dishes being to be served at the monthly meetings at his club and he is freaking out :). Sheessh so you know who is now responsible.

When people are thrown into the position of hosting parties or preparing menus and they have had no experience they usually need to find help fast.

Lynette over at BlogEnergiser has offered me these tips to offer to my readers. With Halloween coming up to avoid being poked by the cold finger of fear, you might find these very helpful.

7 Tips Halloween Party Success

And for those husbands who don't want to join in the fun.

How about you entice them with these. You never know they might just take the bait and your Halloween party night could end up being more successful than you ever expected.

250 Business Cards Giveaway

2009-10-09T17:26:00.010-05:00

Aah yes it is that time again when we offer a fabulous giveaway to our readers. This time the prize is truly nifty from a nifty online printing company.

Here is what you will get:

250 free business cards
you can choose from four sizes - 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2”, or 1.5 x 3.5”
you can choose from three types of papers - glossy, matte or recycled uncoated

Easy Requirement for Entry

All you have to do is leave a comment telling us what you would do if you won 250 free business cards.

Would you wish to announce the launch of a new website or how about the opening of a new estore or what about to market that blog that you have re-designed?

We know that someone out there would appreciate this free gift and we would like nothing more than to make your day. If you blog about it you can increase your chances of winning as you get an extra entry. Please make sure that you provide me with a means of contacting you via email. If you are a blogger ensure that your contact information is on your profile page. If you aren't, please leave you emsil address along with your comment.

If you live in the United States you get free UPS ground shipping. While Canadians are eligible too, they will have pay for shipping and taxes. Residents of other countries are ineligible.

Those guys over at Uprinting are so generous, they have offered me the same prize. I will get the same 250 Free Business Cards just like our lucky winner, just for offering this giveaway to you.

Giveaway ends October 20, 2009 so what are you waiting for? Let's hear it. What would you do with 250 free business cards?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-07T11:17:00.003-05:00

This is a nice opportunity to pay tribute to my new website and to join 5 mins for moms Wordless Wednesday post.

WAHM It

2009-10-05T20:28:00.011-05:00

After reading some comments and emails related to my last post, I have decided to post some pics and say a little bit about Stay at Home Moms who have built their own businesses using Site build it. For all inclusive case studies click here.

Inspiring and sincere, these ladies are doing what they love and making a living at it.

Michelle of style-hair-magazine.com says:

Just four years ago, I didn't even own a computer. If someone had told me then that I'd own a profitable web business in the near future, I would have thought they'd inhaled too much of their hairspray that morning!

By 2007 her husband was able to quit his oilfield job in Alberta and they moved to live by the ocean.

Tracy of tips-to-organize-life.com quit her 9-5 job and not only makes enough but reaps the benefit of staying with her family and avoiding the hassle and cost of commuting.

18 months after Luisa of ViequesTravelGuide.com started with Site build It she said,

I already make as much money as I used to in my previous full time job. Google Adsense alone is enough to support my family. On top of that I provide advertising for businesses on the island and I am doing very well with selected affiliate programs.

Since I have started with SBI I have come to the conclusion that this program is the genuine stuff, the real mckoy. It is not just about hosting a website, it is a program that gives you full time support to build a business. From the beginning they help you to brainstorm ideas for your business, they assist you by encouraging you to explore your own strengths; they help you to discover which of them has solid potential and they show you how to actually build and grow the site even if you had no previous computer or business experience. In other words it's a full service center that provides all the tools, support and advice (in a simplified way) so that you feel that you are a part of a family who helps you to just do it. Just wait until you discover "Brainstorm it".!!

So I would recommend it to the SAHMs who are thinking about becoming WAHMs and the 9-5ers who wish you were self-employed. As for those creative bloggers I bump into ever so often; SBI even has a tool called Infin it which allows you to plug third party resources into your SBI! site. You can add forums, shopping carts, datafeeds and your blogs right to your website so if you are happy with you blog but feel you would like to take it further, this could be the place for you.

Why I Have Been Busy

2009-10-01T00:46:00.007-05:00

The reason I haven't been blogging very often is that I have been busy building a website. This is what happens when attacked by the empty nest syndrome.

Yes I have been learning about CSS etc through SBI. It's not been easy but very, very engaging. I am hooked and exhausted. How couldn't I be? You see they offer great support they offer, (not only them but also the other SBIers like me and the many work at home moms like my fellow bloggers) and they are totally scam free.

I love how the owner's teenage daughter built her own site too about Anguilla Beaches. There is a whole lotta love at SBI. Check this out.

Winner - Free Poster Giveaway

2009-09-30T14:43:00.005-05:00

The Winner of our Free Poster Giveaway is The Girl With Flour in her Hair

As she said the "shadow puppet pictures would make an awesome poster!"

For those who didn't win another Upringting giveaway will be announced shortly, so come back and enter then.

Fabulous Free Poster Giveaway

2009-09-21T20:55:00.011-05:00

OMG you have got to get in on my fabulous poster giveaway. On my trip to my son's new college, his home away from home, I realize what an amazing role posters play away from home. They not only decorate and add life to your dorms, but they also can help to remind you of home, of your dreams, of your hero(in)es. And for those who are not away at school posters can brighten up your homes and your work space too.

Check out below how you can use your own design and get your own (1) 18x24” rolled poster print FREE FREE FREE from Uprinting.com.

Got the sweetest photo of your baby, toddler or twins? Bet you would love to see it all blown up before they are all grown up. That would be a wonderful keepsake. Or maybe you are an awesome designer and can create your own marvelous images. Or if you wish you can use the templates provided online and rock an splendid ad for your home business. Whatever the source, you could be the lucky winner of a huge, yes that is an 18X24", FREE poster print courtesy of Uprinting's Poster Printing.

Here is a Simpsonized version of my son I created. His birthday is coming up in November and I can just see him trying to figure it out.

So try your luck. Here are the rules to enter:

It's very simple just leave a comment explaining how you would use the Poster Print if you won.
Ok, ok if you blog about it and link to this post you will get 2 more entries. That is TWO. Just leave a comment confirming your post.
It's free UPS Ground shipping guys and girls so don't hesitate.
Contest ends September 29.

Winner will be chosen by Paul. Yeah he will decide who has the best idea for the poster. So please remember to make your contact info available. All I should have to do is visit your profile to find your email, or you can just leave it in your comments. I'll need to send you your coupon code see.

Back From College

2009-09-17T19:57:00.008-05:00

Well it was a nice (though expensive) little trip to see my son off to college. He has settled in nicely in a single room in which he feels comfortable and today was his first class, "Political Theory". He was a bit miffed that "Human Adaptation" was filled but it will also be taught next semester.

Here are some stuff he just had to get once we arrived:

A standing lamp. The room which would be big if it measured 100 sq ft. looked like a small cave to me, but it holds him and his stuff quite fine and the standing lamp made a world of difference.
A laundry bag/hamper thingy to hold soiled clothes until they get done.
A cactus (don't ask)
A fan
Oust and cedar rounds
Flipflops for the shared shower.
Posters. Yes he got the one you see displayed here.
Wallmounts. 3M has some pretty good ones.
Food. The dining hall took a while to open.
Iphone. This thing is cool but as I said he is paying for it.

Surely this is not where all of my money went. Luckily my mom was there. Yes it was quite the family send off but not once did we whip out the Kleenex. We were all so brave.

Heading to College

2009-08-25T10:09:00.007-05:00

Next week right about this time I'm scheduled to take my son to college. When we visited in May the campus seemed rather intimidating and beautiful but in a Harry Potter sort of way if you know what I mean. The campus you see is huge and green and kept in tip top shape and the architecture is unmistakeably Gothic in style. The place simply breathes history and excellence and starting next Tuesday my son will be spending the next four years of his life in this environment where he will no doubt undergo life changing experiences.

To get ready he had to:

Apply for his student visa. Luckily we had been through this before when he got accepted to boarding school so we knew the ropes including the payment of the SEVIS fee, the completion of the various application forms, the taking of photographs, the submission of acceptance letter, proof of finances (thank God for financial aid), the waiting in line, the interview and finally return of passport with visa.
Do his medical. Yes your immunization record has to be up to date and some stuff that you might never have heard of before will be required like mantoux tests. If not you won't be registered. That was quite a headache but after the inoculation and testing and letter writing (for those who wish medical exemption etc) and another bill payment at least there was one bright note with my choice of almonds for the picking.
Read a ton of stuff. The school sent loads of emails and attachments along with regular snail mail during the summer. There is so much paper once you print and collate everything. There are forms relating to college employment, room assignments, foriegn language placement and course choices. There are cute colorful cards directing you to websites or other wonderful places like laundry agencies or outside stores and where to go when moving in.
Pay his fee. Nope he didn't. The salary he earned this summer just didn't cut it so that was our job but he has saved his money for the things he plans to pay for like the cell phone and the related bills. Who you're gonna call? ....is what I'd like to know. Somehow I don't think it's me.:)
Discuss money. Yeah this is a biggie and related to the one above. These days seemingly more than ever budgeting is critical. He won't be getting a credit card but will participate in the debit card thingy at his school and will open a bank account. This will be a good learning experience.
Buy Small Stuff at Home. One of the benefits of attending boarding school is that you understand pretty quickly how easy it is to buy too much stuff and how storage can become a problem. Since my son went to boarding school in a wintry place, he loved taking tropical posters and other little things to remind him off home. He'll do it again for college. Nothing like having the sun setting over the ocean while it's 10 degrees out. When you are traveling by plane however it can get costly and also dorm rooms aren't that big so it will basically be the small stuff.
Make a list. For all the other things we will have to do when we get there.

He can't wait.

Win $200

2009-08-23T17:47:00.006-05:00

My friend Alicia is having a giveaway over at her jewelery site. Yep you can win $200 US from LuShae Jewelry and it is so easy to enter. All you have to do is give your boyfriend or husband a subtle hint. Hopefully he reads your blog :) or mine. And please, please please send an email to alicia at jewelryartdesigns.com to let her know you heard about her contest here. Oh and its a monthly draw.

Whozzat

2009-08-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Is she a natural beauty?

New Words

2009-08-17T09:59:00.004-05:00

I was amused recently, particularly in light of my recent post to come across this neologism from one of my favorite sites Word Spy:

intexticated: Preoccupied by reading or sending text messages, particularly while driving a car.

Word spy highlights words, phrases or acronyms that have been newly coined. In some cases you will find that they have already made their way into your vocabulary and in others they haven't but once you see it you might just get it, because they reflect current trends. Here are some for 2009. They are jumbled. See if you can match the number with the corresponding letter:

1. Weisure A. The energy and other resources used while preparing meals.
2. HENRY B. Posting a series of messages that reflect one's current thoughts, ideas, passions, observations, readings, and other intellectual interests.
3. Generation O C. An event where people support an environmentally-friendly store by gathering en masse to purchase the store's products.
4. Rumortrage D A silent phone call received from a person who has inadvertently dialed or selected the number on their mobile phone.
5. Sexting E. A website where a couple posts information about their upcoming or recent wedding.
6. Mindcasting F. Generation of people approximately 18 to 35 years old who voted for or supported Barack Obama
7. Carrotmob G. A person with a substantial income, but who is not yet wealthy.
8. Wedsite H. Free time spent doing work or work-related tasks.
9. Ghost call I. Sending a salacious text message.
10. Cookprint J. Spreading false or misleading information about a company to take advantage of the subsequent move in the company's stock price

1.Weisure		A.
2. HENRY		B.
3. Generation O		C.
4. Rumortrage		D
5. Sexting		E.
6. Mindcasting		F.
7. Carrotmob		G.
8. Wedsite		H.
9. Ghost call		I.
10. Cookprint		J.

The Day Time Stopped - 9.58

2009-08-16T16:19:00.005-05:00

My friends know that I am a track and field fanatic and an unapologetic fan of Usain Bolt, the man who has ~~cemented~~ reinforced his standing as the Fastest Man of all Time.

One year to the day that Usain crushed the field in the 100 m at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time of 9.69 secs, he erased .11 seconds off to sear into our minds a mind boggling superhuman record of 9.58 secs. One minute he was in the start up line at one with the best in the business. 20 metres later he was ahead of the field and in fact it was all over. By the time he cleared the finish line, leaving such stars as Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in his wake, he had left no doubt, that here was a human machine, a bionic man and the mere mortals behind him despite running their very best were simple pedestrians.

Once again this man left me speechless, time stopped, the world passed by in slow motion as I tried to figure out WTF just happened. It was as if I had looked up then down and Bolt, bolted by in a blur. Then reality took,

"9.58, 9.58", I screamed.

The phone rang and rang. My husband answered and told the caller.

"I can't speak"

We had to watch the replay, no interruptions allowed. What just happened? Can man do this? Is physics being turned on its head? Is there any stopping this man? I hope not. Today August 16, 2009 I witnessed history again and it was sweeter than before as this time, there were no criticisms of showboating, the man had matured and executed his plan with amazing calm. He was so cool, so confident and without question stamped his authority on the event outclassing the very best in track and field.

Hats off to you Usain Bolt, the most fantastic athlete I have ever had the pleasure to watch.

Almond - the Fruit

2009-08-13T19:23:00.007-05:00

My son loved science as a toddler and throughout his early years, mainly because we taught him that science was all around him and made life exciting. Like most young boys he loved building stuff. Lego was the blocks of choice. Dinosaurs were hot as were crocodiles, alligators and other scary looking creatures. We had great fun too going to the country and picking tropical fruits that somehow he never heard about in the books he read.

Eating unusual fruits can be a great science lesson. Recently when I took him to get his medical for college, he and I knew exactly what to do when we spotted some juicy almonds hanging low in the parking lot.

I was transported back to my early years when I was about 7 or 8 and I am sure he was too when almonds were a daily snack. Yes the fruit. When people talk about almonds they tend to talk about the nut but for us, almonds supply a double pleasure and getting to the nut is so much fun. One thing we learned early is that the nut is not a true nut, it is actually the seed of the fruit which we got to by whacking the hard shell (kinda like a peach pit) that we came upon after eating the leathery skin and the flesh of the fruit. As kids we'd just whack it with a rock unlike commercial growers who leave the fruit to split open on the tree.

Usually there was only one nut per fruit so we'd have to bludgeon quite a few almond shells to get to the healthy seed but as fun activities go whacking hard shells was pretty good and my son learned the science word for it - endocarp - pretty early.

You see the almond tree with it big green leaves, tends to provide a wide umbrella like shield. If you've ever been to the beach in a tropical country or state you might have seen one. It grows pretty well in sandy soil. It spreads like a canopy and so as kids we'd sit in the shade and pick, munch, whack and munch again happily.

Pity we couldn't do that at the doctor. We only managed to pick them but once we got home we did the rest. Aah to be a child again.

Watch the Trumpet Lady

2009-08-05T09:01:00.001-05:00

Where is the trumpet?

If you liked this version of Pink Panther you can enjoy more of Denise Reis here.

Remember Dark Shadows

2009-07-30T14:58:00.006-05:00

For some reason I have always enjoyed horror shows. Dracula, Frankenstein, Psycho and the Exorcist are some shows involving the supernatural that kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. Last night I enjoyed a good round of Ghost Hunters International although I found it somewhat tame, but I am very excited about the upcoming Dark Shadows Movie that is schedules to come out in 2010. Let's take a little trip down memory lane when Bactine enjoyed popularity.

DARK SHADOWS EPISODE 1

Did you Drink Soda Today

2009-07-27T02:52:00.003-05:00

I hardly drink soda but only because I love water and fruits so it hasn't been much of a problem. I notice when my son eats out though that he loves to order Pepsi and it has never really bothered me because he doesn't have the opportunity to do it often at home and he guzzles a lot of water.

Yet the statistics which I found at Mercola.com regarding soda consumption are not at all encouraging. here are some tidbits

One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites.

The average soda consumption among teenage males between ages 13 and 18 is three or more cans a day, and 10% drink seven or more cans a day.

Of 13- to 18-year-old girls who drink the beverages, the average intake is more than two cans a day, and 10% of those teenagers drink more than five cans a day.

For each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumed during the nearly two-year study, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.

There is a direct link between tooth decay and soft drinks.

Animal studies demonstrate that, a common ingredient in soda, can deplete bones of calcium.

A 1994 Harvard study of bone fractures in teenage athletes found a strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in 14-year-old girls.

I think I feel a lot better knowing I drink lots of water but you've been hearing some weird stories about the bottled ones too. Personally I boil my water and I lots of people I know have theirs filtered. So instead of reaching for soda today how about regulate filtered tap water.

It's Coconut Water not Coconut Milk

2009-07-24T01:11:00.003-05:00

After what seemed like an unusually hot couple of days I did what I usually do when I get very thirsty and want something other than water - which I love by the way - I buy coconut water, yes water not milk.

Every few months, I post about the wonderful tropical fruits I enjoy especially during the summer months.

Now some people only know about the dry coconut and the hard meat inside. I've often marvelled at the fact that some people in Florida have the coconut palm trees and don't use the coconuts.

The water inside the coconut, known simply as coconut water is natural, refreshing, sweet (depending on the fruits maturity) and good for you. The water is almost clear and it has got loads of potassium and electrolytes. Sports drink lovers are welcome to try it. I'm told too (ahem by high school biology student) that its makeup is just like blood plasma. I haven't seen any scientific studies but I did see the Jackie Chan movie ;).

Now some of you may be wondering what is the difference between this and coconut milk. Coconut milk is derived from the coconut meat itself. When the coconut is mature the nut gets hard and the husk dry. Put small pieces of the coconut in the blender with water, grate it and voila, you get coconut milk and it looks like the white stuff too. That milk and the hard nut is what you use in your recipes but when the fruit is young that meat is think like gelatin and makes for a lovely snack.

So I bought 5 coconuts - not the mature one. I had my coconut vendor chop off the top like in the picture. When I got home I stuck a sharp knife in the top (look for the tender spot and it will be easy) and it filled my pitcher. Refreshing!

Next I opened the hole a bit more with the knife and then I grabbed a spoon and scooped out the meat which we call coconut jelly. Kids love this.

If you have friends with a coconut tree, tell them to try the water, just be careful with the knife. It's sad to make this go to waste and there must be a reason why the canned stuff is flying off the shelves in stores.

Get the Scoop on Going to College - Before and After

2009-07-22T09:21:00.005-05:00

The Carnival of College Admissions goes live usually once per month and is up today. it includes some informative and thoughtful perspectives on a range of issues like fun stuff such as building will power, technology in the classroom, campus cuisine and heavy stuff like college drinking and fiscal responsibility. Oh and its all wrapped up in ice cream.

Those sweet people over at College Surfing Insider even bothered to include CEOmum. Thanks Dawn.

Define Expand

2009-07-21T12:05:00.010-05:00

I'm sure Peter is an expert at SMS. In language, context is important even in math class.

Check out Peter's interpretation of "expand" on his math test.

He expanded alright.

Source

Buying New Glasses

2009-07-21T00:18:00.001-05:00

My son needs new glasses. He had a fancy pair with transition lenses. The child who at sixteen thinks he is cool hardly wears them, except of course when he is sitting at the back of the class. His reasoning: wearing them makes him dependent and his vision actually deteriorates. So why does he need new glasses?

It's not because his sight has gotten worse, nnno those fancy glasses, those high tech transition lenses have started to strip, to peel and of course to look real shabby, not to mention it's now difficult to see with all that peeling inside. So we went to the optician to see if anything could be done and they had never seen anything like it. Recommendation: Get a new pair.

Now the price of the fancy pair was consistent with the fanciness and we are not looking forward to the prospect of paying any more fancy prices. But the child is going off to school in September and he will need to see the board. Hence we are looking around for affordable eyeglasses that are cool enough for a teen. Zennioptical.com looks to be the best bet. To say they are affordable is an understatement as they start at eight bucks and they are stylish too with cute colors for kids like blue, purple, pink, silver, orange and fashionable frames ranging from plastic to stainless steel and rimless and half rim frames.

Now the thing is you order these glasses online so you must have your prescription ready. Sometimes though you prescription doesn't have the pupillary distance included, that is the distance between your pupils, but the optometrist will have this information so I'll just ask him.

I like these. I haven't placed the order yet but will let you know about my and his experience when I do.