Printastic is Pretty Fantastic!

I'm not gonna lie... I was first drawn to Printastic because of their offer of 250 FREE Business Cards.  I went to the website with every intention of just getting the FREE cards and was sure my selection would be most limited and unattractive.  Happily this was not the case.  Their choices were professional and clever... AND I was able to even create my own for the FREE cards.

I'll tell you I ended up spending money... but only because I was attracted to other items that I just had to purchase.  What can I say?  I like to shop.  The part that just blew me away was that I received my full order... which was 5 separate kinds of business cards in a matter of days.  Shipping was the most reasonable I have seen on these type of sights and did not go up as I added product.  Obviously they knew that consumers are not stupid and know what fits in a USPS Flat Rate box.

So to sum this up... Printastic was a Fantastic experience and I will be back to purchase from them in the future!

Generous Support

It does my heart good when I hear of organizations who are in the business of helping our veterans.  I was recently looking for a place to donate some money and possibly donate my car, and it was so great to see the numerous organizations to help support our military vets.

There is one organization that actually helps build homes for veterans.  It also helps in adapting homes for wheelchair access and other special needs for those service men injured while protecting our country.  There are also charities that help blinded veterans or those who have lost hearing.  To me this is a service we can not let go.  Those who have become disabled through military service deserve not only our respect and gratitude, but also our help.  It stands to reason that the very country a vet was serving to protect should do all it can to help make a life for him/her when they return.  If nothing else, the United States should be known not only for helping other countries, but most definitely for protecting their own.

I was pleased to see organizations that help the families of fallen heroes.  There are scholarships for their children, as well as, their spouses who now find it necessary to be the bread winner.  My Mom has been married to my Colonel in the Marine Corp Dad for over 50 years.  He served in Vietnam for 14 months.  We have been lucky.  My Mom did not go to college.  She worked as a secretary until they got married.  I can not imagine what she would have done to provide for our family had my Dad been killed.  Training and educating the widows of servicemen is an extremely worthwhile cause.  There is also counseling services available for the families.  Food programs, and most important, support from others who have gone through the same type of sacrifice.

I urge everyone to give generously to these programs.  We enjoy our freedoms, our safety, our abundance largely due to those in the armed forces who work so hard at protecting each and every one of us.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Over Indulging

I out did myself today and ate way too much.  Sometimes there are just those days where you are exposed to great food multiple times in a day, and I am one who definitely does not want to let something delicious go by without the experience.  It is definitely time for me to go to www.xango.com and gain some insight on the juice cleanse.

When I over eat there is that feeling, an uncomfortable feeling where you just feel heavy.  Fortunately I don't do this too often, but when I do I admit that I regret the feeling, but never the tasty food.  It feels so good to cleanse my body of all the food and oxidants packed inside of me.  Besides the obvious cleansing of the intestines and liver, I love the boost of energy.  It's no wonder that extra pounds make you more lethargic.  Dropping pounds energizes you and there is that added bonus of the cleansing of the mind.

You also boost your immunity, which during the spring is definitely an added perk for me.  I don't know what it is about the spring, but I inevitably get some kind of cold or flu.  I'm not sure if it's the change in weather or the fact that spring follows Valentines day... a day where I eat an exorbitant amount of sweets.  And it is in the spring when we celebrate Easter... another holiday with an amazing candy selection.

So cleanse quickly to prep for your Easter basket... which will naturally bring you to another cleanse which should mean smooth sailing through the summer!


This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Something to Smile About

There's just something about the dentist.  Am I right?  Why is it that no matter who you are talking to, unless of course it is a dentist, people cringe when you tell them you have to go the dentist.  I recently went to a Salt Lake City Dentist... now stop cringing... and it was fine.

I admit that I hadn't been to the dentist in over seven years.  Yeah... that's right... I am one of those people who cringe at the thought of, and avoid the dentist.  It all has proven to be misguided.  And here's why...

I love to smile.  Laughing is one of my favorite... if not my favorite thing to do.  And what is at the front of smiling?  Your teeth!  There are so many people who tend to hold back their full toothy grin because their smile is less than desirable.  Broken or missing teeth.  Dark stains.  Crooked teeth.  All of these factors prevent people from cutting loose and really, truly smiling.  Back in the day, you really couldn't do much to help your smile except for cleaning, brushing.  Today, it is positively amazing what a dentist can do.

Whitening is wonderful and painless.  Just an impression of your mouth and a mold is made.  A few squirts of bleach and you where the tray overnight and within a couple of weeks you have this beautiful white smile.  Broken teeth?  There is a bridge which is like a retainer that has the missing tooth in it.  Of course their are dentures for those missing a lot of teeth.  And now they even have implants, which give you a whole new set of teeth that will never get a cavity!  And they're perfect!  It's the perfect smile!

Who'd have thought?  The dentist?  Someone to smile about!

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Road Trips

Road trips are fun.  I know there are many people, parents in particular, who do not agree with me.  Just give it a try.  Pick up your vehicle at a honda dealer chicago and drive it down to New Orleans and you'll see what I mean.  My favorite drive you will see is through the Ozarks.  The rolling green hills are beautiful.  And the view is only one of the reasons I love a good road trip.

First of all, I love the convenience of being able to stop and stretch whenever I want to.  Trapped on a plane, there is no where to go except up and down the aisle.  I get fidgety.  And to add to this convenience, you have the ability to stop anywhere you want for food.  Eating is usually the center to any and all my travels, and although I do try to pack quite the picnic when I fly, the ease of being able to pull over at any fruit stand, or ice cream shack is something I enjoy.

It adds to the pleasure of a road trip to see this country I live in close up and personal.  There is such diversity in this country. Just drive across the Sierra Nevada's, I'm telling you... you need to.  I would suggest avoiding it in the winter.  I have driven the route in the winter and it was quite exciting... maybe too exciting.  But the views are incredible.

And then on your next road trip, drive across Kansas and look out across the flat, flat, flat land for miles.  It's positively mind boggling that we are talking about the same country.

I understand with aviation we have the convenience of being at a new location within a very short time... but the convenience of the road trip is more enticing.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Maid Service

The most overwhelming part of my upcoming move is the condition of my existing home.  To say nothing of the many repairs, painting, and yard work that needs to be done... there is the need of Salt Lake City Maid Service.

My home is clean... to a point.  I know that when we start taking things out of closets... I am going to be surprised.  I just hope I am not too surprised if you know what I mean.  I have lived in this house for over 17 years so I know there is going to be some dirt and grime I have missed.

The laundry room is my greatest fear.  It is rather large, unfinished, and packed with boxes, and a vast variety of things.  I don't even want to see what is behind there.  I'm afraid.  And I can't help but think that by the time I pack everything into boxes.  Paint.  Hold a huge garage sale.  Dump the remaining.  There is going to be serious cleaning needed.  And I will be exhausted.

I'm not going to lie.  I have had a maid service on one occasion in my life.  I had been hospitalized for over a month.  I had a walking for crying out loud.  We had to get rid of our beloved dog because I couldn't take care of her properly and the kids were away to college.  I had a maid service come in and I was shocked.  We could have constructed another entire dog with all the dog fur they pulled from the vents and from behind the stove.  It was disgusting.  I think living in your house day to day helps you to overlook much needed cleaning.

A maid service is not such a bad idea.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

The Big Brother

My brother is a sponge.  He soaks up knowledge like nobody I have ever known.  Just ask him a question and you will get details like you never dreamed.  I once asked him how I should handle getting rid of a wasps nest that fell onto our back porch.  After 60 minutes of the life cycle of the wasp, the markings that identify an insect as a wasp, it's mating habits, what it eats, it's sting and the tactical skill of the wasp, I hung up and put the garbage can at the bottom of the stairs.  I then quickly swatted the nest with a broom hitting it into the can and quickly closed the lid.  Done.

Now that I am building my basement apartment, his knowledge knows no bounds.  His latest email had over 25 questions on fixtures, sewer type, cabinet panel versus wall, flooring and countless other items.  I could only answer two of the 25 questions.  I know he has become the Traverse City Plumbing Contractors best friend with his inquiries about low barrier showers, fixtures, and sink and island plumbing.  He had more questions about my toilet than I thought was possible.

The point is he loves me.  He wants whats best for me... and he knows I need to do this as inexpensively as possible.  Considering I haven't even sold my existing home yet... this could be a long six months.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Driver's Ed... in California

I learned to drive in southern California.  First day behind the wheel and I was taking the on ramp onto the freeway with the instructor praising me for taking it with such speed.  I like to drive fast.  It's no wonder that california speeding ticket was a big part of my youth.

We all got speeding tickets.  We were taught to drive fast.  Trying to merge your way onto the freeway going anything less than 70 would get you slammed in the rear end... or worse... a road raged driver would threaten you with who knows what.  It truly is just safe to drive fast on the California freeways.

I live in Utah now and the driving skills are drastically different.  I can't tell you how many times I have almost hit someone stopping at a yield sign.  In California, you roll through stop signs, and yield practically means nothing at all.  The worst problem in Utah is the round about.  I don't know who thought Utahns were ready for this road skill.  The idea, the main idea behind the round about is to keep traffic moving without stopping. If we wanted stopping, then they would have put in a four way stop.  But time after time, there are cars stopped in the round about... not sure if they should go... or should they let someone try and get in.

I understand that fast is not necessarily safe.  But I guarantee you slow and stopping when you are supposed to can be even more dangerous.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

This Could Work

My youngest daughter and I spent her senior trip in southern California.  It's over now... but we still remember the warmth of the beach.  It's during our February snow storms in Utah that we dream of Partners Trust Real Estate and all the homes available in southern California.

How fabulous would it be to have the option of another home in California?  When the weather got ridiculously cold.... like it has been lately... we could leave this frozen wasteland and lie on Venice Beach or near the Santa Monica pier.  It was positively beautiful and incredibly warm.  I remember my daughter telling me... with her eyes closed while she lay on her beach towel in the sand... "I'm not going back Mom."  I laughed but then she said again "No.  I'm not going back."  The warmth of the sun... the beauty of the coastline... and the sound of the ocean was just too good to walk away from.

I think she will end up in California one day.  She has a gift for acting.  She is incredible funny with an unending number of personalities, voices, and characters.  She dreams of being on Saturday Night Live one day... so California would be perfect.  Saturday Night Live would be lucky to have her.  And of course I would take advantage of having a daughter in California and visit her often.  Just like I take advantage of the daughter in New York.  Winters in California and Spring in New York.  This could work.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Mmmmm... The Smells of Summer

Every so often I get a craving like you wouldn't believe for the food of my summers when I was growing up. In the summer I would go visit my cousins in Kansas City, Missouri and man... they have the food!  My Aunt and Uncle have eight children, and with my only having the one brother, going to their house was wild.  Of course my fondest memories are the times spent with my cousins... but I have to admit the food is every present in my mind and makes me think of kansas city homes for sale.

Hot summer days would bring us to Drew's Frozen Custard... ice cream the likes of which I have never tasted anywhere else.  Cool and refreshing... and packed with the whole neighborhood... sweltering in hot humid weather... but enjoying the cool custardy treat.

At night we would play night games and catch lightning bugs.  My favorite was when we would take the butt of the lightning bug and stick it to our forehead and play tag.  We could only see each other by the spot of light goo from our disected lightning bug stuck to our forehead.  I had bangs so I did pretty good.  But afterwards there would be the night run to White Castle for the greasiest little square burger you've ever tasted.  Smothered in onions and it's cute little bun... we ate them by the dozen.

It's funny how smells bring back such vivid memories.  I can almost smell them now.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Wow... I Missed That One!

OK... so I feel like an idiot.  For someone who likes things a certain way and can be pretty obsessive compulsive about certain items/areas being clean... I sure missed the boat on something very important.  Let's just say I was in desperate need of Roto-Rooter due to my neglect.

I sort my laundry so meticulously and have quite the regimental way of addressing my laundry.  I am so particular that I actually prefer to do my own laundry.  I don't want anyone messing with my system.  I have certain soaps, fabric softeners.  I hand nearly everything after it has had a gentle low fluffing in my dryer.  So how could I miss the huge problem that would wreak havoc to my laundry?

You know how there is that lovely drain in your laundry room to prevent a flood if you happen to have a leak from your washer or washer hose?  Well mine didn't work and all I can say is... "Wow."  It never crossed my anal mind that a drain needs to be cleaned at least every once in a while.  Considering we have lived here over 17 years and I have never so much as swept a broom, wiped a cloth, or absolutely anything over that drain... it stands to reason that ours needed a serious overhaul.

Roto-Rooter to the rescue.  My flood was a simple problem of having a drain that had never been maintenance and was full of lint.  It just need a little freshening up and I sure missed the boat on doing just that!  Wow.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Hello Xango!

AS all my family and friends know... I occasionally have digestive health issues.  I watch what I eat as far as what will go through my digestive system smoothly.  I live on yogurt, pureed soups, and smoothies.  I do consume large... very large... extremely large amounts of sugar.  I never have a problem with sugar getting through.  Despite this weakness... I do eat very healthfully.  I can't eat vegetables raw... but I need the nutrients.  I can't eat fruit raw... but again... I need the nutrients.  And the antioxidants are what I am anxious to get in my body.  I was recently introduced to the mangosteen tree and the XANGO juice.

The truth is that the fruit from the mangosteen tree has not been in the United States for very long.  Not long enough for the considerable amount of testing the FDA requires in order for you to claim a substance will help prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, dementia, and cancer.  But the other truth is that we have proven that antioxidants play a role in preventing heart disease and cancer.  So it stands to reason that if something is full of antioxidants... then naturally it would do as we know antioxidants do... and help prevent heart disease, or atherosclerosis, and cancer.

All I can say is if there is a chance that something that is good for you... and is full of antioxidants which we know are healthy for us... then why not add it to our diet.  I got a sample... and Hello Xango!  It was delicious.

 This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Viva Las Vegas!

My brother has lived in Michigan for many years... which was fine while he was raising his daughter.  Her mother is from the area so it made sense for his daughter to be near them both.  Now... she has graduated from college... will be relocating... and she is an adult and out on her own... so it is finally time for my brother to move back west near his family.  Our folks are in Las Vegas so a short sale las vegas would definitely fit our needs!  Obviously there is the immediate project of selling his house which might be difficult with the Michigan economy.

Our folks are fortunately fairly healthy... but they are getting up there in age and having my brother around will be extremely helpful.  We have family in St. George and central Utah so the location would give him ample opportunity to be with family for holidays, celebrations, and basically anytime.

Although we grew up in San Diego... I think he will love Las Vegas.  The climate is a huge improvement from Michigan.  When I hear the stories of the amount of snow... it is mind blowing.  He also loves cars... is extremely passionate about cars... and Las Vegas has numerous auto show type events... as well as... auto museums and collections.  If he could get a job at one of those... Viva Las Vegas baby!

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Call Roto-Rooter.....

I love the old commercial jingles.  Years ago a great commercial had a catchy tune... rather than a scantily clad model making a potato chip look sexy.  Jingles made you remember the item always.  A personal favorite was "Roto-Rooter that's the name!  And away goes trouble down the drain!"  The tune was beyond catchy and the words clearly told you what you needed Roto-Rooter for.

And you and your friends and neighbors would recite the song at any given moment.  Your bathroom toilet is overflowing and immediately someone would say "Call Roto-Rooter that's the name!"  Clogged drain and... that's right... the song would prevail.

Do you remember "There are lots of chewy Rollos in a roll for you. If you're choosy about what you chew.  Real milk chocolate and some caramel too.  Chew!  Chew!  Chew!"  Very clear what was for sale here.  Chocolate candy with caramel that is chewy.  But in the catchy tune which was probably released back in the 70's it served it's purpose.  I mean I can still sing the song some 40 years later!

I admit there were times when you wanted that blasted jingle out of your head... but all in all I still prefer that being stuck in my head than some of the sights that get in there without my permission from a commercial depicting a bag of potato chips as the cure all to a gorgeous body and the perfect man.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Website Design

Some websites are just more interesting or more fun than others.  And then there are websites that can just be too much.  There's music in the background, pop ups, and a trail of sprinkles or sparkles to mark where your mouse is moving.  Too much.  I've never really thought about how those websites were created... the background of making them... web design... until I needed one.  And it didn't take me long to realize I needed a professional.

It's like you are meeting someone for the first time.  Do you want to look nice, sharp... like a person you would want to do business with?  Or do you want to look like a slob?  Do you want to be able to answer their questions and give them a clear picture of who you are?  Or do you appear doubtful and offer up answers that may give the wrong impression of what you represent?

In today's world a website says it all.  Sadly, people very often meet businesses, travel destinations, products, and even people for the first time via the internet.  And although I do not agree with this... it is a fact.  And personally... I want to give out an impression that I have an organized, functional business that is integrated with all the social media out there.  And by the time I try and learn only a part of this... new things will come along and I am learning all over again.

Why not get someone who does this for a living and knows what they're doing?  When I want a car, I don't try and build one.  Right?

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

website design

Inspiring

I just got done reading an article about a man who was hit head on by a drunk driver.  His wife, their unborn baby, a son, and a daughter were all killed.  He and one other son survived and he had on son who was not in the car.  Yes, there is dui salt lake city.  His story is about forgiveness.

The driver of the car was a teenage boy.  He survived.  There was no one else in his car.  So the innocent family just out and about enjoying life were called to suffer.  I could go on and on about this tragedy, but that is not the message from this incredible man who is surviving with his two sons.

He says that the moment he realized that his wife and two children were gone he heard a voice tell him to "Let it go".  If he didn't forgive, he would be tortured with not only the burden of loss, but also the burden of anger, resentment, and other feelings that would not help him in this most difficult time.  Instead he chose to even help the teenager who so obviously will have to live with the pain and guilt that I can not even begin to imagine.  The man has befriended the teenagers family who also live with sorrow.

A lesson to be taken in by all of us.  If only the world could forgive more and react or counteract less.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Working From Home

I have mentioned many times the kindness of the owner of the company where I work.  He has done everything he can to make it possible for me to work from home.  The greatest thing he has done is put our entire company on Laserfiche.

You've heard of transcribing documents?  I can not emphasis the importance of transcription.  The whole country should be transcribing every important document into searchable digital documents.  Transcription from coast to coast!  Transcription from New York to transcription Seattle.

Just take one example... you need the document you received in the mail from an business where you had made a purchase.  They are informing you that there is a recall, and you need to bring this letter into this place of business and they will tell you what needs to be done... but without the letter... no go.

Mail is like socks.  You open it and look at it... but mysteriously pieces disappear.  Right?  Mail can end up anywhere.  But if that document was transcribed into a digital document, all you have to do is find your computer.

And this is what my boss has done.  He has taken every document our company has received, or produced made them all digital.  Now I can do my job for every branch throughout the whole U.S. right from the comfort of my own home.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

What To Do With Mom?

My kids are always talking about what they are going to do with Mom when my youngest moves out.  It cracks me up.  I have a daughter in NYC and a daughter in Arkansas, and the rest in Utah.  What to do with Mom?

New York would kill me.  Walking all around, up and down the subway stairs, carrying my groceries each and everyday... but then again... maybe not.  The exercise would do me good.  And the food is incredible.  It could work.

My daughter in Arkansas I truly love... but I have made it abundantly clear that it wouldn't matter which one of my kids was in Arkansas... I don't want to live there.  I've tried to guide them to Missouri (I have family there.) and Oregon (I've heard the crime rate is low.) and I've even told them to look for Homes for Sale in Albuquerque NM.  Just not Arkansas.

When it all comes down to it... although Utah is not my first choice... I need to be near the Huntsman Cancer Hospital.  And I love the idea of living in the walk out basement of my daughter's home.  She will have two little girls by the time I get there and I couldn't be more excited!

Let's have Mom play with grandbabies.  That's what we'll do with Mom.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Dedicated Server

I know we are all at the mercy of computers.  I accept this most frustrating fact.  My personal computer can drive me to the brink of blood curdling screams.  My work computer... not so much.  I have come to find that the difference is between a shared server versus a dedicated server.

My personal computer, which is shared web hosting, offers very little in the way of bandwidth, and disk space.  This shared server is a good option when you don't expect a lot of traffic and you don't need to store media files such as audio, video, animations, etc..  Try working this way with teenagers and iTunes, Facebook, Videos, etc...  It does not work.

But when I go to work, we have a dedicated server and it is pure heaven.  This option gives you 100% control over the sites and servers.  Sure you need someone 100% dedicated to maintain it... and we do... and I love him.  He has incredible tech knowledge and can fix problems immediately.  This gives all of us at my company full control, secure data exchange, and it's fast!

I know I was taught to share.  I spent a great deal of time instilling this into my children.  I hate to admit, but when it comes to a shared server versus a dedicated server.  I vote don't share.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Modest Swimsuits

Everyone knows my daughter and I just got back from a wonderful California vacation.  My daughter loves Marilyn Monroe and we stayed at a hotel where Marilyn lived so many years ago.  We had seen pictures of Marilyn in various areas in the hotel and numerous pictures of her by the pool.  Our goal was to recreate these photos with my daughter "playing Marilyn".  I knew in the past, modest swimsuits were hard to come by.

I can remember when my oldest four daughters were all teenagers (at the same time) and we went shopping for bathing suits.  What a frustrating event that always was!  String bikini bottoms.  Bikinis tops with the tiniest rectangle of fabric to cover the essentials.  Bikinis and more bikinis.  And when you did find a one piece it was not "one" piece.  It had holes or was cut shamelessly low either in the front or back.  When did this become attractive?

In Marilyn's day women looked like women.  They had curves... curves that separated them from the boys.  And you didn't show it all.  You wore clothes that left something to the imagination.  Marilyn's bathing suit in the pictures we wanted to recreate was one piece, and completely covered everything.  It looked kind of like it wrapped and all the fabric was scrunched to the one side.  It was extremely attractive and very flattering... and modest.

I am happy to say that this time I had a lovely selection of modest bathing suits.  One piece bathing suits that covered front and back.... and even with straps.  It was a difficult choice but we found one in black with small white polka dots and the style was Marilyn.

And while we were in California whether at the pool or the beach... someone always came up and asked my daughter where she got that suit.  This is what women want and what men find attractive.  A modest bathing suit.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.