A place to inspire, motivate and encourage by providing posts on self improvement, health, family, women (and men), life, prayer, poems, quotes of wisdom and share ideas about life.

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Saturday, May 31, 2008

Are You Afraid To Take Risks?


So the other day, after some thought, decided to take action regarding a situation in my life. A risk? yes, but if I didn't take action, how would I ever know if the outcome would be positive...how would I ever know if the outcome would be the one I wanted?

When deciding to take a risk, you have a 50-50 chance of the outcome turning out the way you want. Is it worth it? YES, I believe so. Fear shouldn't hold you back. There are many factors when taking a risk that people think about and may keep them from actually moving forward with their action.

Are you afraid of exposing your true self? Fear of being rejected? Fear of failure? Fear not being loved in return? Lack belief in yourself or others? Want to avoid conflict? More comfortable playing it safe? Afraid of looking like a fool?

But risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. If a person risks nothing,,,has nothing. If you avoid taking a chance or risk because you are afraid of suffering and sorrow, you simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love.

Change happens when taking a risk. I did think about this when I moved forward with my action. You have to be willing to accept change because whatever happens...whether positive or negative, it will involve change.

Do you take risks? If you have trouble moving forward...ask yourself these questions as I did...

What is keeping me from solving this problem?

How do I feel about choosing an action with an outcome that I am uncertain of?

What is the worst possible thing that could happen if I did or did not take action?

What are the possible consequences of not taking the risks necessary?

My answers to those questions, helped me move forward and I am very happy and satisfied that I did. Although I do not know the outcome yet...I know it was worth it.

What also helped me is the fact that I believe in taking a chance...you never know if you don't and living with regret is something I try not to do. I have taken many chances in the past and my successes outweigh the failures, so I kept that in mind also.



Thursday, May 29, 2008

For All The Beautiful Women

...and that means you and me.

DID YOU KNOW?

There are 3 billion women who don't look like super models ?

And only eight who do.


Did you know Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14?

If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all FOURS due to her proportions!


The average woman weighs 144 pounds, and wears between a size 12-14.

One out of every 4 college-aged women has an eating disorder.

The Models in the magazines are AIRBRUSHED!!! - NOT Perfect!!

A psychological study in 1995 found that 3 minutes spent looking at a Fashion Magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed , guilty and SHAMEFUL!

Models 20 years ago weighed 8% Less than the average Woman.
Today they weigh 23% less...


~*~ Beauty of a Woman ~*~
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman
With time, only grows...



Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly

In With The New, Out With The Old...

It seems to me that most people do some 'spring cleaning' in the month or two preceding summer. We want our homes to be clean and refreshed from the winter months of closed windows.
A fresh start for the nice warm weather...


We purge the old...we tidy up...maybe even redecorate to give our homes a new updated look.
"in with the new, out with the old"


We go spring/summer clothes shopping...updating our looks. A new hair cut maybe and how about getting our bodies in shape for the beach? That's all we see in the magazines, on TV and on the Internet. Exercise to get our bodies in tip top shape.

Well, to go along with all this spring cleaning, updating the interior/exterior of our homes, our appearance...we should also consider spending time updating the way we think.

How many of us have negative thoughts about how we look or have confidence issues or our motivation isn't what it should be?

Why don't we put some time into our "inner self"? Changing any negative thoughts we have into positive. Learn how to be happy with ourselves.

Sounds easy I know, but if we focus on even one issue and make it our goal to overcome that issue, we would feel so successful... so wonderful and happy to go along with all the other spring cleaning updates we did in our life.

Our state of mind is what will spontaneously create the desired results. Create your life from within. Become satisfied with yourself and your thoughts and there will be nothing you cannot do or be – because your thoughts are powerful! Expect the very best of everything that this world has to offer - and know that you deserve it. You have friends and family who love you. Learn how to be thankful. Think of all the things you have to be happy about.

Try not to over analyze things. Stress can cause many mental, physical, and spiritual problems in your life.The true key to happiness is acceptance. Learn to be grateful for what you have. A lot of people know it, but don't keep it in their minds. Comparing your life with others is dangerous. Accept the gifts you have and know that no one is better than or less than anyone else.

Happiness begins from within. If you don't accept what you have or who you are, then you will never be truly happy with anyone else.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LIVE YOUR DREAMS

The day you take complete responsibility for yourself,
the day you stop making any excuses,
that's the day you start moving down the road to success.

No one else can do it for you.
Only you can make it happen.
You're the only one that has to live your life.

Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility.
It's up to you to choose the thoughts and actions
that will lead you to success.

Your life will be what you make of it.
Nothing will ever happen by itself.
Success will come your way once you realize
that you have to make it come your way by your own actions.

The power to succeed is yours alone.


Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Forgetting What Memorial Day Means

Along with the other holidays we observe...we are nonchalant about the true meaning. Christmas is Santa Claus and gifts, Easter is candy and the Easter Bunny, Forth of July is fireworks and so on...

Let's take a minute (just ONE minute) to observe Memorial Day. As you read this post, remember....

Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

Many people visit memorials and cemeteries. The US Flag is flown half mast from dawn until noon. Volunteers place an American flag on each grave site located in a National Cemetery.

This also is the time when people get together for barbecues, family gatherings and sporting events. Some towns still hold parades. It's also known for the official start of summer.

But,...I AM taking the time to remember my relatives, my friends and YOURS who have died while serving our country. I am also thinking about the men and women serving in the military right now.

We Shall Keep the Faith
by Moina Michael, November 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I Appreciate You

My friend Ajay visited my Many Pieces of Life Blog and commented on one of my posts. He brought something to my attention.

My regular readers are aware that I have been recuperating from an illness over the last 2 months. I had been away from my blogs for about a month. As I begin to feel better, I am getting back to my blogs...writing regularly and trying to keep up. I wanted to first start on providing content and information...

The one thing I have failed to do is respond to the many comments I have received on posts. I am not trying to be rude, nor am I wanting to offend anyone. I truly appreciate and am thankful for the visits and comments left by visitors.

I wanted to apologize to anyone who may have felt slighted or ignored. The importance of my readers is very high and although I have not practiced what I have preached about 'following through', I just have been taking one step at a time to get back to my once normal routine.

I will make it a goal TODAY to answer ALL comments. Please bear with me on this journey of recovery.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Why Can't The Rest Of The World Get Along??

My girlfriend knows how much I love animals. Tigers and lions are among
my favorites. I have tiger/lion plates, candle holders, pictures,
calenders and a plate collection.

She sent me this email and I loved it! Just gave me that warm, fuzzy
feeling...Now only if people can adjust, be as loving and accepting...

Here's the Story:
In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of
triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately,due to complications in the
pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size,
they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started
to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The
veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress
to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress
could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing
news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to
the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that
had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one
species will take on the care of a different species. The only
'orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs.
The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed
the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork
chops??
Take a look...



Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A Surprise In The Mail

My niece/goddaughter is a year and half and she is just a delight. She has brought new life to the family.

Of course my brother and sister-in-law constantly take pictures of her (how can you resist!) and try to share them with us when ever possible.

Today I received a wonderful surprise in the mail. My sister in law had gotten custom Photo Cards made and sent them to the family (and her friends)...'just because'.

What a great idea! I know my other family members were probably just as happy about receiving this surprise in the mail as I was. It sure brought a smile to my face.

I called my sister in law and she said she went to cardsdirect.com and easily ordered the customs cards. I went to the site because it got me thinking how I could use this photo card for business and use my logo or business card on the front. I was impressed at the quality of the card.

I don't have a way to show you what my card looked like, but here's the card. I took this off their site..of course mine had my niece on it. This card is sure to be a keepsake.



Cardsdirect.com offers a huge assortment of cards and photo cards to choose from:
Business Greeting Cards, Anniversary Cards,Birthday Cards, Congratulations Cards,Get Well Cards,Sympathy Cards,Thank You Cards,Thinking of You Cards Welcome Cards,Assortment Packs,All Occasion Cards,Photo & Custom Cards, Custom Greeting Cards,Photo Calendar Cards,Photo Holder Cards and Holiday Cards.

You don't pay for personalization or the custom verses and shipping is a flat $5.00. I think it's a good deal.

Next time you are sending special or holiday cards, you might want to surprise someone with a photo card and bring a smile to someones face...

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Food Store is a Trap!

Why is it that when I went to the food store today, I bought more than what was on my list...again? This happens all the time. I go in for just a couple things and I walk out with a few bags ! That means, I've spent more than I intended to.

Do you have this problem too?

I decided that I should NEVER go into the food store whether it's for a few things or a week's worth while hungry. The smell of the baked goods drive me crazy and makes me even hungrier, so I think I buy more.

Then you have the deals that you see...those big SALE signs or the two for sales. I think that makes you be alittle bit impulsive, don't you? The food store is not the only place I impulsively shop. How about when you're clothes shopping and you see those very same signs...you tend to buy. The stores make us take the bait and then they reel us in.

Another way I think will put an end to buying more is to stick to my list and only go into the isles I know have what I'm looking for. If I start to wander down other isles, I see something I 'think' I need and just put it in my cart.

I came home today, unpacked the bags and thought...why the heck did I buy that?...I didn't need it. Now I feel like I wasted money that I could have used for something else. Not that the item won't be used, but probably not for awhile. It could have waited...

The food store is a trap..haha...

Sunday, May 18, 2008

You're Never Too Old...

Ok, so at age 50... well almost, I am considering doing something I have always wanted to do. You may be surprised at what I'm about to say, but I have always wanted to try paintball.

My friends who have gone, always come back from paintballing with great stories and share how much fun it is. I guess I still have a bit of tomboy in me from when I was little.

I'm told I do need to wear protective paintball clothing because when getting hit with paintballs, they hurt. Well, I do not intend to get hit by any paintballs..ha

My son and a group of his friends are getting together to reserve a paintball field, so I asked if I can join them. I am trying to talk my son's girlfriend into going with me.

He just visited the Ultimate Paintball site and purchased this Tippmann 98. He always has to have the best when doing something. He said he'd rather buy his paintball gear than rent it. This way he'll have it for another time instead of spending money 'renting' paintball equipment. Makes sense...and it'll save him money in the long run.

I don't know if I'm going to purchase a Tippmann also or other paintball equipment. It might be best if I rent until after I try paintball first, but they are selling a Gen-X GXG Stealth Goggles Paintball Mask for only
$18.95. That's something I'd rather have then rent a mask so many other people have worn.

Ultimate Paintball seems to offer the best prices and gives you free shipping, so if you're in the market for any paintballs or paintball gear, go take a look and save yourself some money.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Teenagers Who Bully

I have trouble comprehending the ways some of our children are behaving. We've been hearing alot about and seeing youtube videos of kids bullying others.

What is happening to the minds of our youth? What posses them to do this to one another?

Just this morning I heard about the teenager being charged with the death of another due to the taunting caused by way of a fake myspace page. The accused set up this fake 'boy' myspace page and repeatedly contacted the girl and bullied her...literally to death.

The accused caused so much pain to this other teenager. It boggles my mind that the accused actually carefully thought out and planned this torture. The other girl was under such pressure, was depressed and was experiencing emotional harm...in the end, she hung herself! I can't fathom this... Now children are dealing with cyber-bullying too?

Think of the families...not only for the family who lost their young child, but the family of the accused.

It is said that one student in 10 is bullied at least once a week. Bullying can either be physical, verbal or emotional (shunning, spreading nasty gossip). It is deliberate and hurtful behavior to another.

If you are a parent with young children, please read below the warning signs that a child is being bullied, according to About.com,

* Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
* Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
* Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time with
* Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs)
* Takes a long, “illogical” route when walking to or from school
* Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school
* Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
* Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
* Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
* Experiences a loss of appetite
* Appears anxious and/or suffers from low self-esteem

Bullying should not be a normal part of growing up...


Thursday, May 15, 2008

Bringing Awareness to Art

If you are lucky enough to live in Orange, Texas, you are already aware of the
Stark Museum of Art.




The museum concentrates on the 19th and 20th century nature, art and artifacts of the American West. Their collections of Western Art, American Indian Art and Decorative Arts focuses on the beautiful land, the people, and wildlife. The Museum also houses a collection of glass, porcelain and rare books.

They have unique changing exhibits that explore the artist's art in greater detail or when something new presents itself.

Within the Western Art collection, the featured artists presents their of interpretation of the western region over two centuries.

Artist Dorothy Doughty has her display of porcelain birds in the Decorative Arts collection and there are numerous pieces from Steuben Glass.

If like me, you don't live in Texas, you can visit the website online and view the collections that are displayed. Read the history of the museum and the details of the exhibits. I have always had an interest in American Indians and their art. The way they lived, their beliefs, their stories...it just fascinated me. The dream catcher has always been a favorite of mine. I am lucky to have an authentic dream catcher.The legend is that the bad dreams will get caught in the web. I also like the pottery and the bead work.

At the Stark Museum, the American Indian Art was created by the tribes of the Great Plains, Southwest, Eastern Woodlands and Northwest Coast. Visit their online store for books,posters, magnets,note cards, and limited-edition gifts or better yet, let's go to Texas and see the collections up close and personal!

To bring more awareness or to encourage an interest in the art, The Start Museum offers educational resources for teachers, students, researchers and the general public.

The Stark Museum supports the Stark Foundation, which is a non-profit
organization that wants to improve the quality of life in Southeast Texas by encouraging, promoting and assisting education, the arts, and health and human services. That is a great mission of the foundation, don't you think?



Freebies...For Real

While thumbing through the June edition of Woman's Day magazine, I came across an article about the surprising things you can get for free. Well...almost...you might have to pay a small shipping charge for a couple mentioned, but for the items you are getting, it is certainly worth it. I've already taken advantage of a few of these offers and had no problems.

Check these out if you're interested. Some of these are really no strings attached, no hidden agendas...

Silver Jewelry
The silver jewelry club at silverjewlryclub.com offers high quality gem stone jewelry including silver rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets. You might have to pay $5.99 for shipping, but this isn't junk... This site is giving away jewelry to promote their products.
Want Jewelry For Free? Click HERE

Online Checking Account at INGDirect.com
Not a savings account, but a checking account....completely free. Electric Orange, thru ING Direct is a paperless checking account that pays you up to 3.4 percent interest on your balance. Depost your paycheck, transfer money, send a paper or electronic check, pay bills all SECURE. They offer a great interest rate on a savings account too.

**FYI: I opened a savings account and if you want to open an account too and get free $25 deposited, just let me know. If I refer you with just your name and email, the bank will give you the $25.00 for either a savings or checking with a $250.00 initial deposit (I'd receive $10). It's free money...thought I'd mention it.

Business Cards
Vista Print offers amazing quality business cards and other printing freebies (including invites). visitaprint.com http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=891430546747 You may have to pay $5.00 for shipping but for the quality it's worth it.

Expert Computer Help
Need help with a computer glitch or ever pull your hair out when your computer is acting up? Want to learn how to use HTML? You can submit your question to protonic.com and you'll get a prompt answer back from a volunteer expert for FREE.
This company truly likes to help people and is tired of other companies taking advantage of people by charging high prices.

**Can you believe that? I had to read that twice myself.

Spam Filter
Get rid of the solicitations that clog up your inbox. For Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird and Mozilla Mail, this company offers a free download to get rid of spam spamato.net.
FYI: PC World Magazine named Spamato one of the 101 Fantastic Freebies

Business Classes
Learn everything from how to write a business plan to how to finance your venture through the Small Business Administration's website. sba.gov
Online courses are FREE and take about 30 mintues each

Cookbooks
Allrecipes.com features recipes from home cooks and is now offering FREE downloadable cookbooks for many occasions (listed under tips & Advice)


Tip:

Is it really free or a scam? It could be a scam if:


1. You're being offered a free car just to take a survey? Get a laptop for a single click...no way
2. You're a winner, but you have to pay a fee to claim your prize
3. Paying shipping of about $4-6 bucks ....okay, but when they're asking for over $50..nope
4. A website offers nothing but free stuff is probably an email collection site for spammers
5. There's ALOT of fine print (make sure you read it) and you have to agree and accept alot of terms.
6. You have to make a purchase to get the freebie
7. You must give a credit card number to get the free item
8. There's a free trial period..ok, some might be worth it,but if the company makes it hard to cancel...you're stuck



Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Planning a Vacation This Summer?

I know many people look forward to the summer months when the kids are out of school to plan their vacation.

I remember way back when, taking my son to Orlando to experience the wonder of Disney World.
What a wonderful time and the memories are still fresh. Seeing Disney through the eyes of my son when he was young, brought a new dimension to the trip. The best memory was when he was feeding the dolphins at Sea World. The look on his face was priceless. He just couldn't believe he was that close and actually touching a dolphin. He just kept looking at us with this look of amazement. We literally had to drag him away when it was time to go.

This year I won't be taking a vacation due to the time off I have had due to illness, but since I live so close to New York, there are so many Things to do in New York City. I can escape to New York and go see a play, take a tour, visits museums and art galleries, go to Rockefeller Center, eat at fabulous restaurants, visit the Statue of Liberty (which I have never done) or even take a relaxing lunch or dinner cruise.

Trusted Tours & Attractions may be able to help you with ideas about where to take your vacation this summer and things you can do. On their site they provide reviews of tours, so you can make the best decisions and make the most of your trip. Take a look at their top picks because that might also help in making a decision on where to go.

They offer discounted tickets to the best sightseeing tours in 23 cities across the United States, which will save you some money.

Trusted Tours & Attractions also provide a 100% guarantee. If you are not satisfied with any of their tours, you can contact their customer service department and receive a full refund. Can't beat that...

Visit TrustedTours.com and you can have the chance to win a $150 itunes gift card by signing up for their newsletter. The contest ends May 31 2008.

Witnessing An Act of Kindness

Yesterday my Mom and I took a break from some morning errands and stopped at our neighborhood diner for a cup of coffee/tea.

I'm a people watcher, so as people were coming in, I always notice. This diner is a favorite among senior citizens, so as lunch time was approaching, the diner started to fill up.

I noticed 3 men, probably in their 30's, being seated by the window. They were obviously taking a break for lunch from their landscaping job.

A short time passed and I was noticing out the window a car that had pulled up to the front door. The driver was dropping off an old women. She was trying to get out of the car and walk to the front door.

One of the men that were seated by the window, got up and walked outside to help this women. I sat there and at first, couldn't believe it. How extremely nice of him!
He helped her out of the car, opened the door and walked her inside. They exchanged words and he just sat back down.

That act of kindness brought a smile to my face. It made ME feel good to know there are people out there that take a minute of their time to do something completely unexpected and kind for someone else. I wonder how he felt after helping that women?

After seeing this, I am sure that man has a big heart and most often shows kindness.

I had wanted to tell him that I witnessed his act of kindness and how nice of him it was, but the 3 men left before I had the chance.

Bring a smile to someones face and do an act of kindness for someone. You can make a difference...

You can never do kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Shopping for My Gift

My son's Mother's Day gift to me was a gift of my choice. He wasn't sure what I wanted or needed, so he said that since I have been doing alot of online shopping while I have been home, to buy something I wanted.

Soooo, going straight to ShopWiki.com, I knew I would find something I wanted, plus find a good deal. By the way, if you are not familiar with ShopWiki, this site shows you ALL the best stores and their
online shopping directory lists all the categories, offering the best deals. You can also view products by the wiki guides: by occasion, by holiday or recipient.

You're probably aware of those online shopping sites that when you search for an item they give you a result listing of some stores. Those stores probably have paid for advertisement, but ShopWiki shows you every store on the web. That makes a big difference when you're shopping for the best price.

Anyway, I'm planning to have a Forth of July party, so I want to buy a volleyball set, so my family and friends can participate in an activity and have some fun together. I found numerous listings and only spent $24.99 (s/h was only 5 bucks), so I can buy some more!

Now to buy something for only me...I always wanted a hammock to relax on lazy summer days and catch some sun. To my surprise, the listings in
Home & Garden showed me a deal I couldn't pass up. I was alittle concerned about the shipping costs, but for $10, I'm finally going to have a hammock.

ahhhh...can't wait! Thanks to ShopWiki and my son, I'm going to enjoy my gifts for sure.

Inspiration From Children

Every once in awhile I receive emails that are touching and have special meaning. To me they're worth sharing.The following email is one. Children bring to us so much if we only listen.

What Love means to a 4-8 year old ....

Slow down to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of children.
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8
***

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4
***

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5
***

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6
***

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4
***

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7
***

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8
***

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
***

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6 (we need a million more Nikka's)
***

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7
***

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6
***

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8
***

'My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6
***

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5
***

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7
***

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4
***

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4
***

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7
***

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6
***

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8
***

And the final one

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'


Just wanted to Bless all my friends in whatever it is that you may be needing this day. May your life be full of peace, prosperity and love.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Taking An Interest in Going Green

Over the last several months, the topic of 'going green' has been everywhere. All the major talk shows have tips and information and the Internet is a buzz too.

It is good to see that so many people and companies are finally taking an active part to help and our environment.

The first major car rental company in the United States has just committed to going 100% green. They will be providing a fleet of 100% fuel efficient vehicles to their customers. Think about all the vehicles that will reduce global warming pollution from cars, reduce pollution, benefit the region’s health and help the customer save on gas.

If you rent a car from Advantage you will not only receive a fuel efficient vehicle, but can take advantage of the specials they are running. Renting a car starts only at $19.99 and you can also receive a portable navigation system. They offer special rates if you need an SUV, truck or van. If you happen to fly on Sun Country, you can receive a free day rental.

Things have sure changed since I last had to rent a vehicle...the rates were sky high and the vehicle...well, it was a used car not looking it's best.

For The Girls in My Circle

I have found while I have been sick, my friends have really been here for me. I never thought they wouldn't be, but honestly, the support...the caring...the way they haven't forgotten me as I am home and not able to see them, has been more than I ever expected. It is a wonderful feeling to be cared about and they are and have really helped me get through this episode.

They even got together and presented me with the most perfect gift. It was overwhelming and brought tears to my eyes.

I have been out of work going on two months, so my friends came up with a way to help. Their generosity, thoughtfullness and caring ways will buy groceries or other items needed for the rest of the month. Just overwhelming and I am so Thankful...

So For The Girls In My Circle (including my Internet Friends)...this is for you...

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, "Let's cry together,"
Another , "Let's fight together,"
Another , "Let's walk away together."

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ..
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
Maybe some days your Internet Friends
And on some days, your daughters.


So whether you've been my friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,
God has placed you in my life to make a difference...AND YOU HAVE !

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Just a Thought...

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other,totally worn out and screaming... 'WOO HOO what a ride!'

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a truly beautiful piece. I received this in an email with no mention of who actually wrote it.

For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom,
this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is
even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.
Happy Mother's Day

MOTHER

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. 'Is
this the long way?' she asked. And the guide said: 'Yes, and the way is hard
And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But
the end will be b e tter than the beginning.'

But the young mother was happy, and she would not
believe that anything could be better than these years. So she
played with her children, and gathered flowers for
them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and
the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,
'Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.'

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was
dark, and the chil dren shook with fear and cold, and the mother
drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,
'Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.'

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and
the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.
But at all times she said to the children,' A little patience and we are there.'
So the children climbed, and when they reached the top
they said, 'Mother, we would not have done it without you.'

And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up
at the stars and said, 'This is a better day than the last, for my
children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage.
Today, I've given them strength.'

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened
the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped
and stumbled, and the mother said: 'Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.
' And the children looked and saw above the clouds
an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the
darkne ss. And that night the Mother said,
'This is the best day of all, for
I have shown my children God.'

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and
the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent.
But her children were tall and strong, and walked with
courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her,
for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill,
and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, 'I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end
is better than the beginning, for my children can
walk alone, and their children after them.'

And the children said, 'You will always walk with us,
Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.'
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates
closed after her. And they said: 'We cannot see her
but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. S he
is a living presence.......'

Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper
of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand
on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives
inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from, your first home; and
she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love
and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can
separate you.

Not time, not space... not even death!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Make Money with an Online Store

While browsing through the blogsphere, I find many people are writing about the opportunities to make money online. There's also much talk about working from home, so one can stay and care for the family or just for the simple reason that people would rather be home making money than going to work for someone else.

I know the possbilities are endless and we just need to put forth effort and make our ideas reality by just going for it. What holds us back from taking a chance?

One idea I see mentioned is to set up an online store. One might think this is hard to do and complicated. Once set up though, the 'store' can pretty much run itself when using user friendly shopping cart software and having the tools to be successful.

Are you an ebay seller or already selling products online? Why not take your item(s), create a store, complete with a shopping cart and have everything in one place?

AshopCommerce provides just the right solution and happens to be a leading provider of US hosted shopping cart software.Their shopping carts are already OPTIMIZED, so you'll be in the top of the search engines. If you are not so familiar with how to set up an online store, Ashop provides templates, which make it extremely easy for you to get your store up and running.

Ashop wants you to be successful and provides a user manual plus online chat help for any questions, problems or concerns you may have. Guaranteed securely hosted and they alert you to any fraud. There are too many positive features of this company to outline in this post, so by going HERE you can read for yourself what they offer. I found their rates are very reasonable compared to other companies offering ecommerce software.

Right now, Ashop is offering a free trial, with no credit card necessary to participate. This way you can test drive the online store and see if it's for you. This really is a chance for you to make your idea reality.

Taking a chance is what it's all about...you'll never know if you will succeed if you don't try. Go ahead...make some money with an online store.

The Interview With God.....

I realize everyone is of a different religion and their beliefs may differ, but this email I received contains some life lessons I thought worth sharing...

I dreamed I had an INTERVIEW WITH GOD.

"So you would like to interview me?" GOD asked.

"If you have the time," I said.

GOD Smiled.

"My time is eternity...what questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

GOD answered....

"That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money, and lose their money to restore their health."

"That thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that the live in neither the present, nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they have never lived."

God's hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked, "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves to be loved."

"To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly. "Is there anything else you'd like your children to know?"

GOD smiled and said......

"Just know I am here."

"Always."

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Social Spark is LIVE

Back in April, I had joined a brand new social marketing site while it was in the beta process called SocialSpark. This site is now live for others to join. Social Spark are the people that brought you The Blogger's Choice Awards.

Social Spark offers features for both bloggers and advertisers. For bloggers,you can learn to be a better blogger by way of writing. You can earn some extra money by getting paid for an approved post you wrote or you can display advertisements on your blog. It's also a great way to meet new people. You are able to view the blogs registered and the people behind them. A friend request to them enables you to continue a connection. This also becomes a way to network and advertise your blogs, bringing more readers to you.

For advertisers, you can connect with blogs that match your target audience and have bloggers write about your product, service, website or company on their blog.

My first friend request came from Archit, which was helpful because he offered help navigating this new site. Thanks Archit!

Some additional features I'd like to point out are:

The community...a place to watch videos on many topics and view all community members.

The marketplace...where you can search opportunities, see the featured opportunity, sponsored posts, comments on the opportunties and highlighted posts.

Blog Analytics...This section allows you to see what kind of traffic is coming to your blog

Campaign Reporting... Understand important metrics like CPM, CPC as well as impact on buzz.

Content Summeries where you can discover and learn about interesting causes and read the thoughts of other bloggers. There's information on a variety of topics.

Once you create a profile, you can register all your blogs. Social Spark highlights blogs and presents a featured blog. You can send and recieve messages with other account members, exchange friend requests, accept opportunities to write posts, receive payment and have advertisers make you cash offers.

Social Spark is free to join, so consider this an opportunity if it is something you are interested in. I'm still navigating my way around since I haven't been able to spend much time within the community yet, but so far, I haven't found anything negitive about Social Spark.

Brought to you by Social Spark

Human Error in the Hospital

I have to admit that I have a fear of going in the hospital. When I was told I was going to be admitted, my heart began to race. I didn't want to leave my home, my son or my dog. But, I realized I needed to be there and receive the treatment necessary to help me become well.

I am very concerned about human error when in the hospital. I remember when my father was hospitalized, the nurse was about to administer the wrong medication and prep him for the wrong test. If we were not there, God knows what would have happened.

I did expereince a few errors that could have happened to me during my week stay in the hospital. By the way, I was wearing not only one, but two, ID bracelets. I became aware of all the medications by pill form and IV that I was to receive.

One morning at 6am a nurse came into my room with two needles in her hand and she was about to inject into my IV. WAIT! I questioned her immediately because I knew it wasn't time for my injection. I asked her who she was looking for. She never checked my ID bracelet. Turned out I wasn't the patient she wanted. She looked at me as if I did something wrong. I couldn't help but say...I think the ID's should be checked, don't you? She left looking digusted, but hey....she could have killed me!

Another day, a nurse was giving me pills about 2 hours after I ate dinner. I knew I had already taken those pills. I would have been double dosed.

Another morning, a lab tech came into my room telling me she needed to take blood. I questioned what the test was. Didn't sound like something for me and then I asked her who she was looking for. Again, I was the wrong patient.

My fear of human error was happening and it kept me very in tune to everything that concerned my care.

May I suggest that if you find yourself in the hospital or a loved one, make sure you get very involved in their care. You can not leave your life totally in the hands of others. You need to look after yourself.

Some Important tips:

Get involved in your health care. Ask questions, and make sure you understand the answers. Take part in every decision about your health care, because research shows the more involved a patient is, the better his or her results.

Bring into the hospital all of the medicines you take if you can. Make sure each one of your doctors knows all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements you are taking.

Tell doctors about any allergies.

Choose a hospital that has experience with your condition. Research shows that patients tend to have better results when treated at hospital where their procedures are frequently performed.

If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done. Operating on the wrong part of the body is rare, but it happens. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery.

Patient advocacy! Ask a family member or friend to be at the hospital with you, and to be your advocate. Even if you think you don't need help now, you might need it later.

Ask all health care workers who have direct contact with you whether or not they have washed their hands. Hand washing prevents the spread of infections. A recent study found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.

Get the results of any test or procedure. If you do not get the results when expected, ask when you will get the news. Do not assume no news is good news. Ask questions!

The first step to preventing medication errors is to know exactly what your doctor is prescribing, how often you should take it, and at what dosage. If you don't understand something, you ASK. The doctors or nurses may get annoyed, but it is your right.

Ask for a list of all the medications you're supposed to be given, what they look like, and when you should get them. Then, when a nurse comes around to give you your medications, you know if they have it right.

Ask that the doctor, nurse or lab tech check your ID bracelet every time you're given a medicine.
It might be tough to notice mistakes when you're sick. Researchers who specialize in medical errors say it's very important to have someone with you in the hospital.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD: Dispelling The Credit Repair Myths

As with some things, we may need help once in a while, but credit repair is something that we can do quite easily on our own with a little work and time.

This is something everyone should take the time to do for yourself. It is important to keep up on your credit reports. Review your credit reports and make sure all your information is correct. You wouldn't believe how many mistakes are on your credit report. It is easy to remove the mistakes and negative items. I believe this is important enough to offer you this free information, so take advantage of it.

There are some myths. Some may shock or even anger you, but it is a message that must be told. For example, you probably think you can't do it yourself and you NEED a professional agency to do it for you. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I am giving you this FREE download, so you can learn some of the credit repair myths. This information is something you shouldn't be without.

Click the link below to receive your free copy:

FREE DOWNLOAD: DISPELLING THE CREDIT REPAIR MYTHS

Go HERE to learn the credit repair agencies top secret methods for removing negative items, inquiries, judgments, and bankruptcies from credit reports.

Friday, May 2, 2008

A Scientific Way to Name Your Baby?

A friend of mine was telling me that she saw this ad on TV about a company called TheRightBabyName.Com . It explains there is a scientific way to name your baby.

I have posted before about the names parents have given their children. Some are outrageous.

The Right Baby Name explains there is statistical data on a name's "uniqueness", "goodwill", and "fit". Uniqueness refers to a name's memorability and frequency. Goodwill refers to general public perception of a name's class, economic, and educational implications. The fit of a name refers to how a name matches your family, ethnicity, and religion. There is also some data on the association of names with celebrities, Ivy Leaguers, academics and professional success.

I was so curious that I checked out The Right Baby Name and found all sorts of tools and information for expecting parents. They give you name comparison, name recommendations, name meanings, a name poll and a name type analysis.

Back in the day when I was pregnant, I will admit to buying a baby name book and looking up the meanings on some names. I realize now a days, people give this much more thought.

The Right Baby Name also offers other useful links for expectant mothers on pregnancy and specials off on maternity wear. You'll find links for what to expect while expecting, understanding your baby and free products and samples.

So, if you are expecting, this might be a great site for you to check out and learn how to name your baby the scientific way.

TheRightBabyName.Com...Register For Free Trial Today!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

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