Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Impress Your Man With Xeon Dedicated Server Knowledge!



Okay, Okay, a lot of you are going to think this is a boring post. But, alas, it is not. You might not think that you are going to really care about a Xeon Dedicated Server post, but you are.. Just keep reading, it's really interesting stuff! A lot of you probably know about dedicated servers, I know a lot of you have guys in your life that enjoy gaming, so they are probably not a totally foreign concept to you.. Well, the Xeon Dedicated Server is probably the one that they are longing for, if not the one they already have. It is pretty much the best! So, get ready to knock your guy's socks off the next time he is blabbing on and on about dedicated servers!

Personally, I am a girl, so when I hear dedicated server, I hear blah blah blah, you know how it goes ladies. But, these servers are actually pretty cool. Dedicated severs make your internet and computer work super duper fast. I totally wish I had one for blogging, since my internet is notttt so great. Thanks, Windstream, btw, for the crap internet service! Ugh, that is another story for another day. We don't want to get my blood pressure up too much tonight, now do we?

So, if your honey is talking about a dedicated server, and you are really just wanting to fall asleep or watch tv or whatever it is that might get you out of the situation, instead of ignoring him, ask him about it. Ask him if he has heard of the Xeon Dedicated Servers and how great they are. Tell him that you know that the Xeon Dedicated Server provides 20% more power than the old one, and that he should choose it. Tell him that you know they are pricey, but you think that they are worth it! He is gonna be so super surprised! And, watch the look on his face when he is blown away by not only your beauty, but your smarts as well! Knock 'em Dead Girl!

This has been a sponsored post for Hivelocity, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Learning How To Pitch Harder



I don't know much about baseball. Okay, I don't know anything at all about baseball. But, I do have a nephew that has played baseball since he was 4.I mean really, since he was a baby. Every single year. He is now starting his freshman year of college,and baseball is his life.I don't know much about baseball, and I don't really remember anything that he has tried to teach me over the years. The one thing that I do remember him talking about over and over is how his coach always wants him to pitch harder.

Pitch harder? Seriously? I didn't even know there was such a thing.. I thought, you kinda, just "pitched". And that was that. But no, apparently that is not actually the case. Apparently, from what I am learning, this is a skill that can be learned, and you can learn to pitch up to like 90 mph. Umm, that is fast... And could really hurt. LOL. But, apparently this can also be a very good skill to have in baseball, and can make you really super successful!

There are books on the subject, products to help you, it just goes on and on! I had no idea that you could even train yourself to pitch harder, or faster. I just kinda thought you had to work with what you had LOL! I really hope that my nephew can take advantage of some of these cool products that are on the market today so that he can do his very best at college and make his coaches proud! I know that he has the potential to be a very successful guy, and I hope that he doesn't squander that when I know how well he could potentially do! 

What do you guys think? Do you know much about baseball? If you do, I would love to hear your opinion on pitching products, etc.. What do you think are the best ways out there for my nephew to improve his pitch? I think he is really wanting to do his best since now at college, he realizes that this could very well be his future and he doesn't want to mess up a great opportunity like that! So, share your thoughts in the comments, I would love to hear them! 

This has been a sponsored post for Pitch Harder, however, all thoughts and views are 100% my own.


Monday, August 27, 2012

Obligatory Jonathan Banks/Michael Ehrmantraut Love Post



I am so long overdue for a personal post. As most of you know, I absolutely love Breaking Bad on AMC. (Not Available On Dish LOL)..Well, we only have one episode left this year before the half-season break, and things are sure getting a little bit crazy in BB land. 

This past Sunday was a sad, sad night for me. It marked the end of Mike, my most beloved character on Breaking Bad. I seriously do not know what it is about this man, but I have loved him from the very start. Maybe it's my lack of grandpa/daddies in my life, but I just really, really love(d) this badass old man. 

So, by now, if you haven't seen this video, with my beloved Mike, you need to check it out: 


Jonathan Banks is such an amazing actor and I love, love love him! Mike will definitely go down as my all time favorite TV character! But, for now, we are impatiently waiting for Sunday night and what is going to happen before the horrible year long wait until the end of the series.. Oh, dear, is it time for Walking Dead and Dexter again yet ?

Friday, August 24, 2012

Nat Geo WILD Anteater Bug Vac from Uncle Milton!

Okay, if I had to choose only one brand of toys to buy each of my kids for the rest of forever, the choice for Tater would without a doubt be Uncle Milton. They make the coolest toys, specializing in "scientific" type toys. They are right up Tater's alley. We got a chance to review one of their new Nat Geo WILD toys recently, and.. oh my goodness, was it ever a hit!

This, my dears, is the Nat Geo WILD Anteater Bug Vac. Please tell me if you have ever in your life seen something so cute, yet gross? This guy is an actual motorized bug vacuum, that sucks up the bugs without killing them. You can take out his belly to better observe your creatures. (No thanks, but Tater likes it!)

The whole Nat Geo Wild line is absolutely awesome, they have everything! They even have a video camera that goes on your dog's collar to record pet's eye view videos. Now I think that is awesome.

We really liked the Anteater. We saw it featured on the today show and were pretty excited to try it out ourselves. We live on two acres out in the country, so we have a plethora of bugs to go around! Tater's only qualms about the bug vac were that the suction isn't that strong, so sometimes the bugs would just fall back out. But, that isn't a big deal to him. He did like that the vacumn wasn't strong enough to kill the bugs so that was a good thing. He liked being able to observe them when they were still alive. 

All in all, this was a great toy and I am really happy that we got to try it out! It is absolutely perfect for my little scientist! 
IF you would like to check out other Uncle Milton products, go to their site today!

We received a sample product in order to conduct this review, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.

WOW Toys Are Amazing!


Today I have a great review for you guys! You know I am always on the lookout for toys that are good for my kids. I love toys that make them think, and I love toys that are, ahem. .. not loud. 

Well, the folks at WOW Toys have really covered all the bases. WOW Toys makes toys that are durable, fun, cute and best of all, require ZERO batteries! You know what that means? No noise! Just my kiddos and their imaginations, my favorite thing of all! 

We were sent two great toys from WOW to review!

This is Fred. He is known as Flip'n'Tip Fred! Fred is no ordinary garbage truck, he is a recycling truck! The boys are absolutely crazy about this one! I love, love, LOVE the folks at WOW made sure this truck came with not one, but two recyclers. I HATE buying a toy for the boys to share and it only coming with one little guy to play with. Then I have to hear them fight over it forever. Fred comes with a friction powered mower, so he still moves, just without batteries! The boys can actually sit down and play with this toy for hours at a time, and somehow they actually get along and play nicely! Thanks, WOW toys! 

Our next toy we got to review was Mix 'N Fix Mike! 
I love this one, he is my favorite! First of all, he is just the cutest! That little construction worker man is just adorable! When you push it along, the cement mixer part actually spins, and it is pretty neat. This one is Bean's fave, and I don't blame him! 

I want to say thanks to WOW Toys for providing my kids with the chance to review some really great toys. It is hard to find toys that are made like this anymore, and I am so happy that I got the chance to be introduced to WOW Toys! If you are looking for some quality toys that will promote imaginative play for your kids, I would highly recommend you check them out!
Check out WOW Toys today! 

We received a sample product in order to conduct this review. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Dinosaur Train Alvin InterAction Figure Review and Giveaway!



In our house, we are dinosaur CRAZY! I mean seriously. My boys share a dinosaur room, and we have probably 100 dinosaur figures. As a matter of fact, in a few weeks, we are going on vacation to.. wait for it.. DINOSAUR WORLD! So, when we got the chance to review the new Dinosaur Train Alvin InterAction Figure by TOMY, we were thrilled! I knew this would be right up my boys' alley! 


This, my friends, is Alvin. He is an Allosaurus. I know, I know, he looks like a T-Rex, but don't get that sort of thing wrong in my house.. That is serious business!

Here is what TOMY has to say about the new Dinosaur Train toys.. I love the InterAction ones! 

Inspired by Jim Henson's hit PBS show, DINOSAUR TRAIN toys merge both dinosaur and train play for action-packed adventures. Create a world of prehistoric fun with collectible dinosaur figures, motorized train sets with lights and sounds, and InterAction figures that talk, sing, and roar together.

How cool is that? I mean, the toys can actually play together! 
So, anyways, back to Alvin! He says over 50 different words, phrases and sounds! Even better than that? He can actually jump! The boys really love this toy, and of course, fight over it like crazy! So, we are going to have to get a few more of these Dinosaur Train toys, not only to see how they interact together, but also to keep the peace, haha! 

We are really enjoying hanging out with Alvin at our house, and we are planning on getting some more of the InterAction toys soon so we can all play together! 

Does your little dino lover want to have an Alvin of their own?
Guess what??


We are hosting a giveaway! 

We're gonna do easy entry on this one! 

To enter, leave a comment below and tell me your favorite dinosaur!!! 

(Make sure to leave your email address in the comments so I can contact you if you win!)

We will draw for a winner on Monday, August 27, 2012 at approx 11pm. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to claim prize. We received a sample product in order to conduct this review, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% our own!

Jersey = Vacation 2013?


After doing a few years of trips close to home, I am thinking that next year might be the year we are ready  to venture out a little further from home. I mean, Tater is almost seven now.. And Bean is 2, potty trained and big as he can be.. I think they could handle it.. So where am I thinking for this vacation? Maybe Central Jersey?

I have to admit that maybe it wasn't my first thought, but after researching a little bit, there really is a ton of stuff to do there, and it is closer to home than Florida, etc.. They really do have  a ton of fun stuff for families, they have a lot of amusement parks and water parks, etc..They even have an indoor water park!  Plus check out this balloon festival picture that I found, how fun does that look? 

I am going to keep up my researching and come up with a game plan, and then spring it on the hubs and boys that this is where I think we are going to go next year! I think they will go for it, don't you? I mean, it's kind of an unexpected vacation destination, but I have found so much really cool stuff to do there!

I really think I found something for everyone, from the amusement and water parks, etc. for the boys, to the East Jersey Olde Towne Center and outdoor concerts that look right up my alley, to the sports events that my hubby would love! I am really excited for our next vacation!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Now Accepting Submissions!



Can you believe that it is time for Flip Out Mama's THIRD annual holiday gift guide?!?! 

This is my favorite part of the year and my very favorite blogging event, so you can imagine how excited I am!

I am happy to announce that we are now accepting submissions for gifts in the following categories:

  • Women
  • Men
  • Baby
  • Kids (especially BOYS!)
  • Teens
  • Techie Gifts
  • Food & Snacks
  • Stocking Stuffers
  • Home and Garde
  • Pets
  • and more! 
If you have a product that you would like to see featured on our holiday gift guide, the All Inclusive list of what to buy for Christmas 2012, send an email to Dawn at burton40444@gmail.com. We would be happy to discuss including your product! 

Saturday, August 18, 2012



My next book review is a great book by Howard Lufborrow, called "Crown Deception". The book is about a young dentist, Jake Patterson, in small town Texas who is asked by local police to examine a strange symbol on a dead man's tooth at the local morgue. In the same town, Kate Williams, a manager at a large company based in the Netherlands, finds out that something is being smuggled into her lab. Jake and Kate are brought into the mystery together when they find themselves on the same flight to the Netherlands for meetings. Things become much more complicated for these two, as they find themselves tangled in a web of murder, smuggling, espionage and an international police investigation. 

This book was a super interesting read! I read the whole thing straight through in less than 24 hours. I just did not want to put it down! I really found myself caring about the characters and hoping the best for them, which is not normal for me. I usually just read the book without getting emotionally invested in the characters, but not this time! 

The book is not like some that I have read that are so detailed and intricate that I can't keep up with the characters or what is going on. I like that the plot was for the most part, fairly simple and easy to follow. I loved the descriptions of the foreign locations, I felt like I was really there! There were a few twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming, and everyone loves a surprise here and there! 

I really enjoyed this book, and I think it would be great with a sequel. Kind of like a crime fighting dentist-type thing? I know it doesn't sound cool, but read the book, and you will see why it really is a cool, exciting and interesting read!




Howard Lufburrow, DDS has practiced dentistry in Texas since 1984.   Crown Deception is his first novel, where he drew upon his love for travel, adventure and his experience as a practicing dentist, relating well to his main character, Jake Patterson, DDS.
His previous writing includes an article published in the September 2004 Texas Dental Journal entitled Call to Service: Belize Mission Project, From the Beginning to Present.  He is also a contributor to the book, Getting Down to Business--Success in Each Stage of Your Dental Career, edited by L. Norton Hindley III, ASP with his chapter entitled  Group Practice: A Model for Talented Professionals.  The book was published  2009. 
He is a 1977 graduate of Baylor University in Waco with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  He graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch in 1984.  He currently practices dentistry in Salado, Texas at Saladosmiles.
He is married to Debbie and has two grown children Blake and Erin. He enjoys the time he spends with his three grandchildren Stella, Claire, and Carter.

Book Review: Transformations of the Liminal Self by Alaa Alghamdi


Today's book review is a book called "Transformations of the Liminal Self : Configurations of Home and Identity for Muslim Characters In British Post-colonial Fiction. The book is written by Alaa Alghamdi and it is a very informative read! 
 
I am going to be honest, this book is probably not something I would have picked up on my own, since I really didn't know much about the subject matter before beginning the book. But, I have to say that I am glad that I read and I did really end up learning a lot. 
 
The book's focus is on the complicated and sometimes confusing relationship between Muslim and Western culture for the people who have to live on both sides of the divide. I have never really imagined how difficult things must be for people who are born in one country but have family and history from another. 
 
The book focuses on British post-colonial literature to illustrate the points discussed, and I really found myself thinking a lot of about the lives of immigrants and what a difficult struggle it must be for them to really know the answer to the question: "Where Is Home?" The examples from literature that the book gave were spot on and really gave me a different perspective to think about.
 
 About the Author: 
 
Alaa Alghamdi graduated in 2002 from King Abdulaziz University in Medina with a major in English and literature. He earned a master's degree in English literature from Newcastle University and recently earned his PhD in English literature from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Alghamdi is an assistant professor at Taibah University in Saudi Arabia.


Friday, August 17, 2012

Hoover Twin Tank Steam Mop Review!


Okay, I will admit, I was a little bit reluctant for this review. Don't get me wrong, when I was chosen to review the Hoover Twin Tank Steam Mop, I was thrilled, but I didn't think it would beat the steam mop that I already owned. 

You see, I bought a high dollar, fancy steam mop and vacuum combo last year, and I have loved it. My husband reluctantly let me buy it, even though it cost way too much. So, why did I think that the Hoover Twin Tank mop would be better? 

Okay, I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. 

I am absolutely in love with the Hoover Twin Tank and I am not going back to the other steam mop. Ever. In fact, I already gave it to my sister. 

Why do I love this steam mop? 

Okay, first of all, it is the only steam mop with two tanks. One tank is for water, the other is for cleaning solution. That way you can use the mop with just steam, or steam and cleaner. I absolutely love this. It is so convenient to use this way. If I need steam, it's right there and if I need cleaner, it's right there too! I love not having to change tanks!



The Hoover Twin Tank Steam Mop is so easy to use. There is an easy to read dial on the front that lets you control the cleaning power. My favorite thing about it is the triangle shaped head. The way that the mop pivots around, you can really use it to get along edges and into corners. The triangle head makes getting behind the toilet, etc.. really easy! My other steam mop won't even fit behind the toilet!

Another cool fact about this steam mop? You can even use it on carpet to "refresh" it! I love that! I was totally confused at first, but now I think that might be my favorite feature. I also love that the Hoover Twin Tank steam mop is able to get underneath all of my furniture. My other steam mop is just too bulky to do anything like that!

Here is what Hoover has to say about the Twin Tank Steam Mop:

  • Out Cleans other steam mops1 – CE testing to prove we out clean other leading steam mops when using the proprietary Hoover® SteamPlus™ Cleaning Solution.
  • Disinfects & Kills or Removes2 greater than 99.99% of harmful bacteria3 with steam alone including MRSA, Staph, and Salmonella
  • TwinTank™ Technology – allows users to keep our 100% biodegradable formula cleaning solution and water separate for total control; Disinfect with steam alone2 or OUT CLEAN other steam mops1 with Hoover® SteamPlus™ Cleaning Solution.
  • Solution Control Dial – users can easily control the amount of cleaning solution used to meet the needs of any cleaning job
  • 30-Foot Power Cord – consumers can clean more areas of their home without re-plugging
  • Removable Tanks – for easy filling and emptying convenience
  • Triangular Swivel Mop Head – the mop head can pivot and maneuver into tight corners and along baseboards
  • Carpet Glider – refresh rugs and carpet
  • Microfiber Triangle Pads – ideal for cleaning multiple flooring types
  • Soft-Touch Grip – designed for comfort with a soft-touch grip on the inside
  • Cord Release – Features a rotating quick release
  • “Steam Ready” Indicator LED – alerts users when steamer is heated and ready for use
The Hoover TwinTank™ Steam Mop includes:
  • 8-oz. Bottle of Hoover® 2X SteamPlus™ Cleaning Solution
  • 3 Microfiber Triangle Pads
  • Cooling Tray – Protects your floors during cooling and storage
  • Carpet Glider – refresh carpets and rugs 
Another great thing about this steam mop is that the pads can just be thrown into the washer when they are dirty, and reused over and over again. This saves a lot of money in the long run! I also love that it is fast, only 15-30 seconds and then you are ready to go! 

All in all, this steam mop has made me hate all other steam mops, and I will never go back to another one! I really don't have anything negative to say about it. It is definitely a step up from my old one, and I am very happy with it! If you are looking to invest in a good steam mop, this would be the one I would choose! 

disclaimer: I did receive a sample product in order to conduct this review. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Book Review: The Ultimate Guide To Greening Your Home!


You guys know that I am on a roll with the book reviews around here! And this next one is right up my alley! The book I am going to tell you about today is called The Ultimate Guide To Greening Your Home and it is a great resource for people who are interested in going green and saving money. The author of this book is actually the owner of a sustainability consulting firm (Anthony Gilbreath), so he knows what he is talking about.

This 66 page ebook covers all the bases from electronics to lawn care to each room in your home. I love that the book is divided up into easy to read and digest sections. I love the daily tips that the book offers, that way I really do feel like I am making a difference every day! 

A lot of us feel like we need to be making better choices to be more environmentally conscious but we really don't know how to make those changes. This book shows you that you don't have to completely overhaul your lifestyle and make a drastic change to make a difference.

I know that a lot of us use coupons to supplement our income and help save money for our family. I think that by using some of the tips in this book you really can save as much as you can with couponing and for less effort and time! At only $9.99 this book is affordable too! You can get it in PDF format, for iPad or iPhone, and for Kindle. Just visit this site to check out the book, you can even click on the image in the middle of the page to read some samples from the book!

If you would like to order this book, click here! You can use credit cards or PayPal to pay, but just be sure not to close the page after you pay, since it goes straight to the order page from there! Happy reading, and happy going green!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Why I Think Payza Is A Game Changer (A Shopper's Testimonial)



I want to start off by saying that I have been using the internet for purchases for years. Long before it was cool, and long before it was the norm. For the majority of my "online shopping" career, I have used "The Other Guys". You know, the big name payment processor who everyone uses (and hates!).
My experiences with "The Other Guys" has been rocky to say the least. In the last ten years, I have had more problems with them than I can count. They have "mistakenly" and "inadvertently" frozen my account (and therefore, my money!) several times. They have sent the money to the wrong bank account. They have ignored, ignored, and then ignored some more, my repeated emails and requests for support from their support team. But, the fees, were the worst. Oh, the fees! I had just gotten to the point where I was absolutely sick to death of them taking my money.
I knew there had to be another way.


A business colleague of mine turned me onto Payza. At first, I was a bit hesitant. I mean, weren't "The Other Guys" the only one who could handle this stuff? My friend assured me that Payza was completely legit and even more competent than their competitors. So, I decided to give them a shot. And I have never looked back.
From the moment I hit the Payza website, I knew they were different. The whole interface was so much more user friendly and easy to use. Setting up my account was free and took just a few minutes. There was no weird information requested, and it was all much simpler than I was used to over that "the other site". Just a few short minutes, and I was a member!
When it was time to start shopping, I had to add money to my Payza account. While I was worried about this, it ended up being one of the easiest things ever! They offer several choices on how to add money, including bank transfers, bank wires, checks or money orders, and credit or debit cards. The money goes onto your account within a few days. I personally have never had to wait longer than four or five days for my money to be in my account, and that was when I chose one of the options with a longer wait time. If you are using a credit or debit card to add money to your Payza account, it shows up instantly!
One thing that I noticed about Payza is that they are more widely available than "The Other Guys", especially in developing countries. I love to shop from a wide variety of retailers, and many of their shops are not supported by "The Other Guys", because of the countries where they are located. Now that I am a Payza member, I can shop wherever I want! I love not having to have my purchases dictated to me by some corporation. Payza truly gives me freedom as a shopper, and I like that about them.
One concern that I did have was how secure Payza would be. I am always a little nervous when my money is involved, so I took extra caution to make sure that Payza was secure. And, guess what, they are!All of the transactions done on Payza are protected with a 128 bit SSL encryption to make sure data is secure. I know that they are never, ever giving my personal or financial information to the companies I buy from. They are very cautious to protect that information, and that is something I appreciate. If there ever is a problem with an order, like, if I don't receive the product, or the company doesn't send the product on time, Payza has trained Resolution Experts to help solve the problem. I like knowing that in the event of a problem, there will be someone in my corner.
Another cool thing about Payza is the e-wallet. My Payza e-wallet is where all of my funds are located. The e-wallet allows me to shop safely and securely without ever exposing my personal info to anyone. I can use my e-wallet to shop to my heart's content. What happens if I want to buy something on a site that doesn't except Payza? Easy! I can have funds from my e-wallet transferred to my Payza prepaid card, and then shop that way too! I like the choices that Payza gives me, I am not committed to just one payment method!

As you can see, I have happily converted to a loyal Payza customer! I hope that you will give Payza a try and see just why I think they are a real game changer! If you are a shopper like me, they are truly the only way to go!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Awesome Birthday Banners!



Someone please tell me me why, oh why am I ALWAYS thinking birthdays? We JUST got the boys'  birthdays over with the end of May and I am already planning for next year. I guess I just want them to always be extra special. Well, I have found a great item for next year's party already. 

I found a great Etsy shop that makes Kid's Personalized Birthday Banners, and you guys know I love me some Etsy! These are amazing vinyl birthday banners that you can personalize with your kid's photos and favorite characters! I absolutely love this idea, and it is a great and inexpensive way to decorate for a party! I can even see us hanging these banners in the boys' rooms after the party is over! 

Look at this adorable Umizoomi Banner! Now, we love us some Team Umizoomi in this house, but that is not your only option! There are seriously tons to choose from! I had my boys take a look at they picked their favorites! In no particular order: 
  • Elmo and Friends
  • Sesame Street
  • Fresh Beat Band
  • Clifford
  • Batman
  • Toy Story 
  • Super Mario Brothers
  • Mario Kart
  • Transformers
  • Bubble Guppies
As you can see, we are a little indecisive, but at least we have another year before we have to decide! The best thing about this Etsy shop? FREE SHIPPING on all banners! How great is that!  I am pretty hyped now for next year's party, we will probably go with ANOTHER Mario theme, or dinosaurs....

Have you guys ever ordered a vinyl banner? What did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!

Great Blog To Share!


Happy Monday dear friends! Today I have a great blog to share with you guys! It is called Simply and Sincerely Food, and it is just great! The blog is written by a girl named Alissa, and she shares some really awesome and amazing recipes! This girl is SO far beyond what I will ever be as a cook,but her recipes are amazing!

On her blog you will find just about anything food-related that you could ever think of! She has so much more than recipes, her blog includes food stories, food travels, kitchen tips, cooking and shopping tips, and gorgeous food photos! This girl really has a knack for cooking and you can tell that she loves it by the way she writes about it! My personal favorite post was her "Eating Tour Of New York!" Now, that is MY kind of tour!!! 
And tell me photos like this don't make you ravenous!?! 

If you would like to check out Alissa's blog, here is her link: http://www.simplyandsincerelyfood.com/

I highly recommend that you follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well so you don't miss out on any delicious posts!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Who Wants To Go To Sandals!?


Well, you guys know that I love a good vacation, even though I have been vacation-deprived in this lifetime 

But for those of you who are not so vacation deprived, I found a site that has some great deals on vacations to Sandals Resort! 

With these Sandals Resort discounts, you can save up to 65%!! 

If you don't know about Sandals, it's only the most wonderful, amazing vacation resort on the face of the planet.

If you can dream it, they can provide it! 
 
 They have all sorts of packages, including all-inclusive, which would definitely be my choice!

If I am going on vacation, I don't wanna worry about ANYTHING! 

If you are lucky enough to be planning a Sandals vacation, you gotta check this site out!

What are you waiting for, go!!

 

Super Cool Apps for your iPhone!


Hey guys!I have a new client that I am working with, Bazzbo!

Bazzbo is the maker of some of the most awesome iPhone photo apps I have ever seen!

this photo was created using Bazzbo's Textures+ app!
The apps that you can get from Bazzbo can turn your iPhone photos into works of art!

I really suck at taking pics with my iPhone, but with Bazzbo's apps, I look like a photo genius!

 Their newest app, Smoosh, was just released, and it is going to be a big hit!


Check out the press release here: http://prmac.com/release-id-46310.htm

I would love for you guys to join me over on their Facebook page, where we will be sharing some awesome iPhone photography tips!

http://www.facebook.com/goBazzbo
Or you can follow on Twitter @gobazzbo! 


If you are looking for some really great apps for your phone, or you just like taking photos, join us today!

Book Review: The Humanity Of Justice By Burke E. Strunsky


Another great book review for you guys today!

I have been reviewing a ton of books lately and not all of them are my style of books, but this one is right up my alley! These are the kind of books that I really like to read! This one, The Humanity Of Justice, is a true-crime book as told by a veteran prosecutor. Mr. Strunsky tells all about some of the most chilling and haunting cases the US Justice system has ever seen, and takes you right inside the courtroom.
 
I learned so much from the book. Not only were the cases gripping and compelling, but I learned a lot of criminal justice facts, and terms, etc. It was really interesting to me to learn all of this while also being entertained by the stories themselves.

What I really liked about the book, aside from the actual stories and cases, is the commentary that Mr. Strunsky has throughout the book. You can tell that he truly cares about the people in these cases and that he really has an emotional involvement in these stories.It was really intriguing to read about the people behind the cases, and the thought processes that go on inside the minds of the people who are on the other side of the defendant. The best part of the whole book is that 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Humanity Of Justice Foundation, that helps prevent child abuse and neglect. 

About the Author: 
Burke E. Strunsky is a senior deputy district attorney working in Riverside County, an hour east of Los Angeles. His office has one of the highest conviction rates in California, is the fourth largest in the state, and the fifteenth largest in the nation. The author specializes in homicide cases and crimes against children. His tenacious work ethic and impassioned attitude in the pursuit of pedophiles and murderers have earned him great respect and recognition in his field. In 2009 and 2011, the author was named Prosecutor of the Year. He has prosecuted defendants in extraordinary criminal cases that have been featured on national TV shows.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cool, Easy To Use Money Converter

 
Hey guys, I've got a cool little tool to share with you guys today! It's a great site that converts Australian Dollars to pounds! Now, personally, I don't use either one of those currencies, but I really like to play around with cool stuff like this!

This site could be a great resource if you were going on vacation and needed to convert your cash! I have never been to Australia, but it is definitely on my list, so I will have to bookmark this page for future use! The site is updated daily, so you know you are always getting the most up to date info!

If you guys wanna check it out, here it is!

Kid's Goody Bags

Favourite Ingredients in Goody Bags

A goody bag is the staple of children’s parties- there can never be a good party for kids without these. Whether it is a birthday party or a class members’ get together, you need to figure out what to offer them when they come. Whether given to kids or adults, or even drop-ins, putting favourite ingredients in goody bags will make your party a lifetime memorial moment.

Some the favourite ingredients in goody bags include the following:

It should be tied to the theme of the party. Wonderful flower covers may be good for a get together. Decorative leaves and plastic grapes may be useful for thanksgiving parties. Plastic Easter eggs and chocolate covers may be favorable for Easter seasons. Even burning candles are good.

For kids, little toys and games can be favourite ingredient in goody bags for them. It will be highly appreciated and acknowledged. These can often be passed out either at the end or beginning of a party.

Kids’ goody bags need not be too expensive. There are only three elements that must be included as favourite ingredients. These are edible treat, small toy and an activity. Remember they should match the party theme or just go with a lot of fun stuff that they will enjoy.

The edible treats may be adjusted to the age and taste of the kid. For small toys, get something of high quality and not the toys gathered from some supermarket that will break within some few minutes. Look for durability.

For activities, color books, paints and stickers would do since kids really like painting their faces. You can also get a colour paint and sticker set that is suited for any type of skin. For adults, their favourite ingredient in goody bags would be based on their class, age, favors expected among other things. Remember to always research on what each likes, otherwise you may be disappointed.

A favourite ingredient in a goody bag for a toddler would be something they would enjoy opening, not too fragile to break, and catchy that they can have fun carrying it home with them. This would make it more memorable.

Gift boxes and gift bags including nicely created packages- customized to the theme, all play a critical role of being favourite ingredients in a goody bag. They can be woolen fabric, hand-made or uniquely selected from a shop to carry the gifts for your guests and kids.

Some of these little things are the ones that create a major difference between normal and extra-ordinary gifts.

Next time you go shopping, you may be forced to really put into consideration what each person in your party would like. Carry out a little research to come up with their favourite ingredients which when included in your goody bag will pass your message of appreciation across. However hard it may seem, this would go a long way in rewarding you for knowing what your friends and kids like instead of dropping in with gifts they may never use, will trash or pass it on to another person.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Book Review: The Boss In Bunny Slippers by Terra Bohlmann


Today I have a great book to tell you guys about that is right up my alley! The book is called "The Boss In Bunny Slippers: A Woman's Guide To Leadership Success, All While Working From The Comfort Of Home". This book is perfect for me and all moms out there like me who are trying to take care of their families, emotionally, physically, and financially while staying at home. It really is a hard job, and there are times that I am afraid that I have made the wrong choice, but I know at home with my babies is where I need to be. So, I was excited to find this book! 

This book is a great resource for work at home moms, and not only does it give great advice, but it is funny too! I really like books that give you the actual tools you need and not just a general idea. I like details!!! 
Anyways, this is a great book for work at home moms like me, and I totally recommend it to you! 
If you would like to check it out, click here!

About The Author: 

Terra Bohlmann is the founder of TheWorkingHouse.com. Her mission is to help small business owners grow their businesses...all from working from home. She has spent the past decade leading virtual teams as a consultant and business owner. She has led successful virtual teams all around the world including Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. After struggling to find balance between her personal and work life, she now aspires to share her secrets to leadership success. Terra enjoys mentoring and helping others achieve their professional and personal best without sacrificing what matters most in life. Raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and three sons. For additional information, visit TheWorkingHouse.com or email Terra@TheWorkingHouse.com. Let’s stay connected! Twitter (@TheWorkingHouse), Facebook (TheWorkingHouse), and TheWorkingHouse.com blog.

App Review: Care4Teen keeps tabs on your teen's online activity!


I don't have teenagers yet, and I am NOT looking forward to when I do have teens. But, for those of you who do, this is a pretty cool app! Care4teen is an app that helps parents keep tabs on what their kids and teens are doing online. You can see what apps they download, what games they play and what websites they visit. 
 
The really cool thing about this app is that you can see also where your child is by the GPS montioring. This app also offers a safe web browser, and restrictions for launching applications. The best part about this app? It's FREE!!!! If you have teens or tweens in your house, you really do need this app to keep up with them! I am so thankful that I am not at this point yet!!! 
 
If you want to check out this app, click here! 

Friday, August 3, 2012

Book Review: Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo

 
Most of you guys know that I am trying to get back into reading like I used to before the boys were born. It is my plan that after Tater goes back to school, (NEXT WEDNESDAY-Hallelujah!) I will have more free time. But in the meantime, I have been checking out a few books here and there, and I wanted to share this one with you guys! 

Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo is really an interesting read. The book focuses on detective Frankie Donovan, who is investigating a string of murders in Brooklyn. When the clues begin to point to childhood friends with whom his emotional bond is unbreakable, the lines between right and wrong begin to blur, and he has to struggle to decide what actions to take. 

What I really liked about the book, is that it wasn't focused on "just murder". It wasn't just a crime drama book. It had a lot of emotional and relationship issues, which is always interesting to read, and even a little bit of love. It really is a book for everyone, which is so rare to find anymore! Most books are stuck in one genre and that is it. But not this one!

The characters in this book are really well developed, and you do really feel as if you are getting to know them.The relationships do seem realistic, and you really do feel for the characters, even the "bad guys". It really is interesting to see the choices that people have to make when faced with a decision that might not be so clear cut. There is not a influx of a million different characters like most crime books, so you can actually keep track of who is who, which I like. The points of view do change back and forth a bit, so you have to keep up with the changes. 

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series, and I will definitely be reading more! I totally recommend that you check this book out!

 From the author:

I live in Texas now, but I grew up in Cleland Heights, a mixed ethnic neighborhood in Wilmington, Delaware that sat on the fringes of the Italian, Irish and Polish neighborhoods. The main characters of Murder Takes Time grew up in Cleland Heights and many of the scenes in the book were taken from real-life experiences.
Somehow I survived the transition to adulthood, but when my kids were young I left the Northeast and settled in Texas, where my wife suggested we get a few animals. I should have known better; we now have a full-blown animal sanctuary with rescues from all over. At last count we had 41 animals—12 dogs, a horse, a three-legged cat and 26 pigs. Oh, and one crazy—and very large—wild boar, who takes walks with me every day and happens to also be my best buddy.
Since this is a bio some of you might wonder what I do. By day I am a headhunter, scouring the country for top talent to fill jobs in the biotech and medical device industry. In the evening I help my wife tend the animals, and at night—late at night—I turn into a writer.
Now that you’ve stumbled onto this site, you might as well explore it; so look around, click some links, and, if you’ve got time, tell me what you think. Contact me at jim@giacomogiammatteo.com.



How Online Survey Software Can Help Your Blog, Too!

 
As a blogger, it is my main goal to connect with my readers, and give them things they want to see and read about! It is kind of hard sometimes though, since you don't really know just who is out there reading. What if the things I am posting are not really things that my readers want to read? I don't really know my readers as well as I would like to, and that is where online survey software can come in handy for blog owners.

You can create online surveys in just a few minutes, and invite your blog readers to take them. Everyone loves a survey, right? And, no one minds to take one that is going to improve their reading experiences. This is a great way to get to know your reader demographics and see exactly who is reading your blog! 

Getting new insight on your reader demographics is not the only way that online surveys or market research surveys can be beneficial to your blog. You can also use them to see exactly what your readers want to see on your blog. You can ask them for specifics. Would they like to see more reviews or giveaways? Personal stories? What about DIY or how-to posts? Do they wish they could find more recipes on your blog? You can kind of get inside your reader's heads and see exactly what they are thinking about! 

As you can see, online surveys and the like are a great way to get insight into what your readers really want. No one wants to read a blog that they are not interested in, so why not make your blog the best that it can be and actually bring readers that are interested in what you have to say? Remember, an engaged reader is a loyal reader! How do you think you can utilize online surveys for your blog? 

This has been a sponsored post for Qualtrics, however all opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Anyone ever done a body cleanse?



Well, now that I am transitioning to being at home full time, I have a little more time on my hands, and I have been able to exercise and work out a little more than usual. It also helps that since I had my heart surgery, I can actually exercise without feeling like I was (literally) having a heart attack.

But, I am thinking that I might want to do a body cleanse. Have you guys ever done one? 

It seems like a good way to jumpstart my weight loss and get my body feeling better. 

I have heard that it isn't as hard as it sounds, and that you really do get good results. 

I am really interested in trying it, since I am all about some homeopathic or natural remedies. 

It would be really cool to have something like that actually work, and imagine how motivated I would be afterwards to actually keep exercising. 

I am leaning more and more towards trying one in the very near future. 

Any one have experiences to share? 

This has been a sponsored post on behalf of Xango, however all opinions and thoughts are my own. 



Why Am I Looking At Kansas City Homes?



Okay, I really don't know.. but it was a good teaser, wasn't it? I have been looking at all kinds of homes lately, from Kansas City Homes to Albuquerque homes.. I have this kind of crazy fantasy life in my head, where hubs and I just pack up and move on a whim, and start a new life in a new town. It sounds so romantic and cool, but it's not ever going to happen. My life is anything but cool OR romantic, so why should it start now LOL?

We are happy here, our (tiny) family is here, and this is where we were raised. So, regardless of crazy fantasy life, I don't think we will be moving to Kansas City. Not that I wouldn't like to, but it just doesn't seem feasible. Not right now anyways, maybe when we're old and gray.. 

It's just too hard right now when the house here is almost paid off, the boys are so young, and school, and jobs, etc.. Seems almost impossible to move across town, much less across the country. 

What about you guys? Do you have a place in your mind that you would move if you had the chance?

Where is it? I'd love to know! 



This has been a sponsored post on behalf of Remax, however, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

I Think Tater Needs Coaching Drills.



So, somewhere along the lines, Tater got fat. I don't know when this happened, but he kind of blew up like a whale. I mean don't get me wrong, he is still cute as a button. Just a little, well, "fluffier" than usual. I am thinking of getting him into a sport that would provide him with some exercise, coaching drills, and maybe some structure. 

He really needs something to motivate him. I bought him the new bike, and that didn't do the trick. Even when his friends get out and run around, he is usually hanging back, and not doing anything physical. I am hoping that sports could change that. Maybe he could find something that he would really enjoy, maybe he could make some new friends in the process. 

I am thinking of signing him up for soccer on back to school night. I don't know if he would really enjoy it or not, but we are going to talk more about it and see. I don't want him to be a lazy kid, so I have got to find a way to get him motivated! 

Any thoughts?

This has been a sponsored post on behalf of Total Coach, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails