MOOOOOOVING

I am currently setting up the blog at wordpress on my host. Please update your bookmarks, ect. If you encounter any 404's or any other weird stuff, please be patient or let me know. I will try to get it done ASAP:)

Thanks!

Rambling Roundup 7

Lots to add this Friday. First, I received another award!! Thank you Christy (Writer's Reviews) for this awesome award! You can find the details and award code on Monday Morning Power. Now it's my turn to bestow this honorable award to others. Hmmm,.....


Betshopboy This guy is awesome! He is very complimenting and encouraging. In fact, he was the one that nominated me for the Top Female Blogger list:)

Skeet's Stuff The sweetest gal. She is so funny too:) She's always friendly to everyone and deserves much more than this award.

I know EVERYTHING - just ask my hubby Wonderful woman! Very generous and very kind:)

Pass it on folks!

Did you notice?......My back got scratched! Woohoo! Basically, you pay to be on the scratchback board. All you have to do is tip a $1 and you get on the board. While it is no follow, you will still benefit from the traffic I received. We all want some traffic right? Anyways, once all spots are filled and someone else comes along that wants on there, the first person will get "bumped" off. Get it? So if you want a way to be seen, all you have to do is scratch my back, and then I'll scratch yours:)

It looks like Google decide to slap some people around. @#$holes! Many people were affected by it and it's sad to say the least.

If you haven't joined my community, please do. I would love to have some new members and I'm trying to win a contest;)

I guess that's it for now. I might not blog too much this weekend. We have plans:) Ya'll have a goodun'.

El Vaquero Real is Released

We were fortunate a enough to receive the book before it was out for sale so wegot to see what exactly was in the book. I thought I would share 2 or 3 pics with you that are in the book and if you want to buy it, it's for sale:) I took these pictures straight from the book so my quality is not too great..sorry 'bout that. Great gift for ranch folk. We like to decorate with these kinds of books that have people we know in them!

This is my man....


My man, head honcho, head honcho's son.


My man up front, head honcho in the background.




El Vaquero Real: The Original American Cowboy by John Dyer
Mr. Dyer took over 100 pictures that are just beautiful. If you want to see more pictures from John, head on over and check it out the rest of the Boracho pictures.

Changes that You May or May Not Like

After much debate, I have decided to change this blog back to what I intended it to be in the first place, a blog about ranching, cowboys, cowgirls, family, ect. After getting caught up in the money hype, I realized I was becoming one of them. You know, those money making blogs. I'll still have my other blogs that do exactly that, but have decided to leave that kind of stuff where it belongs, so it will end on this blog (for the most part). I will monetize my blog with relevant ads that fall into the western/cowboy theme but that's about all.

Why some people won't like this-

There are going to be people that will dislike this decision for the simple fact of my lack of participation in certain things. This is a big risk on my part because I could lose some readership by not joining in on things that I normally do. For example: I will only be participating in 1 or 2 memes and they will involve photography....you know who you are.

My Apology-

I want to apologize to the people who might be dissappointed with this and perhaps even hurt by it. It's nothing personal at all, it's just that I want to get back to my roots and blog because I WANT to and not because I have to or because I feel bad about not joining in on something. Ya know what I mean? I'm sorry for drifting in another direction and turning this blog into something it's not.

I have made some wonderful friends and hope you will support this decision and continue to read my blog. Feel free to leave comments on any questions, thoughts, or opinions you may have about this.

Tuesday Toast Salute 11/13/07

Leigh has added a theme to the Tuesday Toast. This week is Toast Your Hero. This works out perfectly because, aside from my mom, my hero is my Dad, Bobby. And today happens to be his birthday!!

It was me and my mom for years and then here comes along some guy who fell in love with my mother. I took it hard at first, felt like he was taking her away from me and I was very unkind to him on many occasions. He was never ugly to me though. No matter what I said or acted like, he was always kind. Of course, I regret my behavior towards him back then and I can only say I'm sorry. You always made me feel like I could DO something with myself and taught me so many things. You made me smart. I'm not saying I wasn't smart, I'm saying you went beyond the basics and gave me a hunger for knowledge. It's because of you, that I have this 'power' to achieve. Whether I do or not is irrelevant. It's the motivation you gave me and the simple fact that you have always been supportive not matter what. Giving that to me, allows me to pay it forward to my kids, or anyone for that matter. I owe so much to you and wish I could offer you more than these words. So here's to you! A toast to my hero.

Happy Birthday & I Love You

Your Daughter,
Lori

My Handsome Lil Cowpoke

Well, today has been on the slow side so I thought I'd share a picture of my little man:) I decorate my house with cowboy hats and today, he got a hold of one them. He will be getting his own cowboy hat from his Uncle soon!! He's really gonna be a cutie then;) Truett is 14mths old and a mess--personality to boot and is quite the dancer. I sure do love this little cowboy.

Join My MyBlogLog Community

MyBlogLog is having a build your community contest and I’m entered! Here are the highlights of the contest.

We’re looking for vibrant, rapid-growing communities - that benefits you and us.
As such, in this contest, community owners will compete against each other to
see who can grow their community the most between November 8 - 30.

The grand prize winner wins:

One Year Pro MyBlogLog Subscription
$500 Yahoo! Search Marketing Credit
A 1-year membership to SEOmoz Premium Membership
1 Complete Blog Redesign
One Year Subscription To Yaro Starak’s Blog Mastermind
A Featured Community for the month of December at MyBlogLog
An invitation to the invite-only blog gathering, SOBCon 2008, in Chicago

So, if you want to help me win or just like my blogs, then please join one or both of my communities! PURTY PLEASE:)
Join my Blogging with Cents community here.
Join my A Cowboy’s Wife community here.

One Tired Cowpoke

This is the result of some rootin' tootin' fun playing football and visitin'. At around 12:00pm, this little cowpoke had about all the fun he could stand and finally just gave out right there on the sofa. Poor lil fella. He belongs to some good friends of ours who were invited over to have some rootin' tootin' fun themselves.

Levi aka Weasel

My Pal Bailey

A little while back, I won this bear from the Mad Doll Doctor and thought I would show him off and give a special thank you!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, HE IS WONDERFUL!! In fact, I had planned to give him to my niece but I don't know now. He sure is cute and could use a pal to talk to here at the house:) It's so much fun to win things!!!

Not Naturally

My skin is not naturally purified so I need all the help I can. In UK, they offer some beauty products to give you that Natural Skin Care kind of look. Who doesn't love beauty products, right?! Hey, this would also make a great Christmas gift people!! Head over and check it out..I know I have UK visitors.

First Handmade Bit

My husband made his first bit! This was a new challenge because he hasn't even seen anyone build one of these. I think he did pretty darn good! I'm so proud of him, especially since he hasn't had any coaching what-so-ever. He's got some spurs on ebay right now. They have a naked lady on one side and a playboy bunny on the other. Anyways, here's the bit............

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Tax Deductions

With all the money I'm making from Payperpost, I will sure enough need to find some tax deductions. After checking out what can and cannot be counted, I picked some that I will be using.

1. Internet Bill--Ours is through Wildblue which means mega bucks a month.
2. Hosting Fees--Yep, I'm paid for a year but you can bet that will be added on!
3. Domain Fees--Yep, I've got 5 or 6 so far;) That quickly adds up.
4. Office Supplies--I LOVE office supplies but they can get quite costly.
5. Templete/Theme/Logo Fees--Did some things here and there.
6. Advertising--I did some advertising too. That really paid off!
7. Paid Submission--I submitted my site to a few places that I had to pay for so you can bet I will count it in.
8. Coaching--I needed some advice from the high rollers:)
9. Business cards--I haven't done it yet but it's in the plans.
10. Camera & acc.--I use my camera nonstop for my blogging. The memory card, batteries, etc will be a great deduction.
11. TAX software--Yes, you can deduct this too. I do my online every year so I qualify for this.
12. Images--I have quite a few images, including my cowgirl you see in the header. These are deductible as well.
13. Blogging software--This can be photoshop or web form builders. Lots can go under this that would qualify.

Yes, I threw in a couple of affiliate links:) Christmas is coming afterall!

Tweaking Things Up

I love my design!! I am so happy with it. I added my new favicon last night and got rid of a bunch of unwanted junk. There are still some things to do like add photos for my photos link but I can't decide how I want to do that. I'll figure something out! I will also be fiddling with my blogroll so if we were supposed to exchange links and I didn't add you, please let me know so I can get you on there. It seems like everyone has been very receptive to the new design and that pleases me a great deal. YOU are the main reason I had this blog made over. If you have any other suggestions or critiques, please feel free to let me know via my contact page. Yes, I now have my own contact page with an official form:)

Thank you for all for the kinds words.

P.S. I wanted to point out that there might be a few more paid posts than normal this month. I would like to earn some extra spending money for Christmas and doing paid to blog bits help a great deal. Just thought I'd let you know that;)

Passionate Expression

I have mentioned before about How romance powers relationships but some people have difficulty expressing themselves. There is help for relationships that lack romance, you just have to look for it. I have often said when there is romance between spouses, the environment as a whole is healthier. This doesn't mean you have to be affectionate in public or get down to the nitty gritty, it just means finding a way to be passionate with each other in your own way. So, what's your definition of romance?
Need help in this department? This guy can help you out!

Name That Tune #11

You probably noticed that my Name that Tune contest dissappeared for awhile. This was due to page loading times. I kept getting complaints on how slow the page was loading so I decided to cancel it until my blog was made over. Well, that time has come! It's back:) If you need to find out how this works, you can check out my original Name that Tune Contest. With all that said, let the fun begin! Just a note for the ones who won last month--you will be put into the drawing this month! I didn't forget about ya;)

All you have to do is Name that Tune. I have provided a very small snippet of a song and you have to post a comment with your guess. You need to name the Title and Artist of the song. The FIRST one who answers correctly wins. Please..only 1 guess per comment but guess as many times as you like:) You have until Thursday 11:00pm cst. to guess. No hints will be given, unless I'm feeling generous;)

What do you win? Some link love of course. You will also get put into a monthly drawing of $10.00 payable via PayPal. In other words, there are 4 Wednesdays in November so you have at least a 1 in 4 chance of winning the $10.

I made this one easy to get everyone back in the groove!!!
Here we go folks............Name that Tune!

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UK Payday Loans

If you live in the UK and are need of some Payday Loans, then you might want to visit RobertsBridgeFinancial.com. They can help you get you between £80 up to £750 and it can be deposited right into your account. If you are struggling to reach your next paycheck, then you might consider this, however, you should do this wisely. This will shorten your next real paycheck so be sure to make that adjustment.

TA-DA!!! My New Makeover

Well, here it is! What do you guys think? I LOVE it!! Woohoo:) Amanda over at Blogger Buster was the creater of all this. She worked hard to give me what I wanted and make sure everything was looked right in all browsers. Thank you sooooo much Amanda! YOU ROCK!

If you notice, I still have my sidebars but I also have, what I call, a footer "sidebar"..lol. I love all the pictures and colors. She even made me some cool banners for advertising! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.

I had originally planned to move to wordpress but since I have some PR on this blog, I decided to stay until I get the PR up on acowboyswife.com url;) I think this a wide decision for the moment.

I was going to include a screenshot for those of you who check out my blog in your reader but then I thought...no way! YOU have to come and see it for yourself:)

It loads MUCH faster so you shouldn't have trouble viewing it now.

Please bare with me while I add my blogroll. I have a list of everyone that was on it and you will still be on it. I'll also be taking certain things off the blog to make it cleaner.

Well, I hope you leave a comment and tell me whatcha think:)

Get Paid to Promote Emergency Kits

With all the flooding, fires, and hurricanes; it's just plain common sense to have a kit on hand for an emergency and Make your family safer and more prepared. www.1800prepare.com offers these kinds of kits and if you're into making money, they have an affiliate program worth checking out. Anyone who joins will get 25% of every sale that they sent them. That is pretty good to me. I'm thinking I need to go join. We I know love to make money!

Tuesday Toast Salute 11/6/07

Cheers to Amanda!! This girl is redesigning my site and has been wonderful. I feel bad for her having to deal with all my noob questions and Doh's! She is a mom too who is super busy! Aside from tending to her family, she also runs/owns Blogger Buster, a place where you can find some COOL tools to use for blogger! She can practically make your blogger template like a wordpress theme. She has so much to offer.

One of the things that drew me in even closer was the fact that she responded to one of comments like my comment was so important! Her response was fast, very helpful, and super friendly. These are qualities that are hard to come by sometimes in the blogosphere so I salute her! Here's to you girl!

To join in the Tuesday Toast, just click on the glasses;)

My Parent's Garage

Talk about needing a makeover! Their garage flooring is yuck. There are stains and cracks that make it an unsightly scene. There are some things they should buy to help this because I know they don't want their neighbors or friends to see it like that. They could clean it and then recover it in tiles to give it a brand new look. While this is work, this could be a great gift for the guys!

Let the Healing Begin

Well, our town sucks! They don't have jack so if I need something important I have to go to a town that's an hour away:( I bought some huggies!! No more luvs around here. I also bought some Desitin and Johnson's Corn Starch. I caked his little butt up with that stuff and the rash has already started healing. Poor little guy..when he sees a diaper, he runs for the hills! I feel so bad for him. I can't imagine how bad that must hurt, especially his little cajones:(

Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you to those who commented with their diaper rash tips. It's much appreciated!

Stephen King with The Mist

I absolutely love scary movies! It looks like there's a new one coming out in theaters November 21 called The Mist by Stephen King. It is Rated R so please be advised that it is probably not for the younger children.

I love his books and the movies are just as spooky. I just finished the trailer and let me tell you, it looks like something that will make me jump! There is one particular part where they are just staring at the fog and then WHAM, something scares the living daylights out of them and me. There was another part that made me think there is much more to the story. A woman who was saying something about them being meant to shed their blood. It makes you wonder if she is trying to turn everyone against each other so they don't unite to stand against what ever it is out there in the mist. Sounds like a first class thriller doesn't it?

I've seen every movie based on Stephen King novels so I know this one will be just as good, or perhaps even better! I'm telling you this is not one to miss. Remember, it's out this Nov. 21. Get that babysitter and go enjoy the movie!

Diaper Rash Drama

I really hope there is someone out there that might know some trick to curing diaper rash. We recently had to buy some different diapers and since them, my son has had the worst diaper rash. Today it looks terrible and I just want to cry. I don't know what else to do. I've been putting diaper rash creme with corn starch since yesterday but it's not helping. I feel just awful and don't know what else to do. If you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know!

Sensitive Teeth Need Sensitive Care

I just received a sample of Biotene sensitive toothpaste today and was very excited to get to try this out. My teeth are actually very sensitive. I don't know if it's the water or I'm just getting old but my teeth have hurt for the past few years. Anyways, back to the toothpaste.

My first thoughts:

• It has a mild minty like taste to it. You can taste it while you are brushing but there is not much after-taste at all.


• Doesn't lather like other toothpastes. I didn't find myself spitting out excess foam that usual toothpastes produce.

After an hour:

• Feels clean.


• It doesn't hurt to breathe in like it normally does with my regular toothpaste.

So far, I have to say I am very pleased with it. I think with continued use, it will help my teeth and gums become less sensitive to simple things like drinking water.

From the product:

Multi-Protection Formula

Maximum sensitivity protection with Biotene's advanced Enzyme LP3 Complex™ for dry mouth relief

Promotes healing of bleeding gums and inflammation that can cause tooth sensitivity

Delicious flavor fights cavities and the causes and effects of bad
breath

So you see, not only does this toothpaste prevent, it also heals. I think that is something important to recognize. If your teeth are sensitive like mine, then I really do recommend you give it a try. If you suffer from dry mouth, I highly encourage you to try it because it is formulated especially for this.

Review of Blogging with Cents

I just received my first review over at Ryan Shamus dot Com and thought I would share it with ya'll. Ryan doensn't own that blog anymore but he still had a few unfinished things to do, which including my review. I thought it was a great review and I appreciate the things he had to say. I hope that you check out the blog and perhaps my review and give Gavin, the new owner, a nice welcome! See ya later:)

Who Needs Bartending School!

Wouldn't it be cool of you could play Tom Cruise and mixed drinks at home while learning at the same time?! Well, you can over at Absolut Drinks. Yes, they are virtual drinks but what I thought was really neat, is that you actually learn about how different drinks are made. If you click on Ingredients at the top of the page, you will see the basics from which a drink is made. I did not know this and learned a thing or two! You start by picking your glass and it will then give you a hint of sorts about what kind of drinks go good in those glasses. Then, you pick your ice (if you want ice). Again, it tells you some more hints on what goes good with the ice that you picked or didn't pick. See my screenshot below.

Do you see steps 1 through 7? Complete those and finalize your drink. At this point, you actually get to name your drink, which I thought was very cool! You can browse at some of the drinks made and see what they are made of. In fact, you will be able to rate them and print the recipe. You will also find recommended drinks for certain occasions and a few tips along the way too. Overall, I think it's a fun site, as well as, educational. Remember, you MUST be 21 and your age will be checked.

Advertise on a PR4 Blog

I'm running some November specials on my other blog. If you are wanting to advertise on a PR4 blog, then now's your chance to get in on the special price:) I get WAY more traffic at Blogging with Cents than I do here. I'm fixing to get some buzz. I have a couple of reviews due and I will be promoting my next contest soon;) Check it out!!

New Housewares Site

There a new site in town and if you are need of some new shower curtains, then you might want to check it out! I would love to have a new one in bathroom. Of course my bathroom is a western theme but I would love to change it up a bit. What I really need is a new shower curtain liner. Mine is yuck! I try to clean it but you know how that goes. Anyways, they also have some aprons. I think it would be a neat idea to give your little chef in the family their very own kid apron along with some cooking gadgets. Ding, ding! Christmas idea there people and to put icing on the cake, there is FREE SHIPPING to anywhere in the good ol' USA. Like I said, this site is just starting out and with a little customer love, will be off the ground in no time! Head on over, browse around, and take advantage of that free shipping.

October's Earnings

There have been a few questions about what I earn a month and I decided to post a quick summar on my other blog. So if you are the least bit interested in my earnings for October, you can mosey on over there and check it out. I also posted some statistics for my other blog. Those visits and such didn't include this blog or any of my other blogs. Check it out if you want:)

Protect Your Belly from Strechmarks

Unfortunately, this is something I didn't do with my first born. There wasn't anyone around to tell me these things so I do have stretchmarks. The best thing to do is apply stretch mark creams through the entire pregnancy to prevent them from developing. I guarantee you they work and are worth applying each day!

Self Portrait Sunday 11/4/07

I feel blah! It's late, I'm bored, tired, and I don't feel like having my picture taken so this is the best you're gonna get mister! My hair has about 20 rats nest in it, wasn't washed today, and is on the verge of falling out. I have no makeup on and I took the picture in the dark. LATER
Self Portrait Sunday

Can I Get A Loan Please?

We've all been there. You run short on money and need that cash advance to make til your next check comes in but where do you get the money? Thats where a payday lender comes in and give you a quick loan. They're easy and fast to get; just watch the fees. I recommend you browse a payday loan directory to find one that fits your needs best.

My New Offline Money Maker

I know you've seen those vending type machines around that hold bubble gum, runts, m&m's, etc. Well, I own one now:) I was recently introduced to them from a friend of ours and after hearing some the income figures, I decided it would be something for me.

To give you an example:

The left side is the big bubblegums. The container can hold 500 gumballs at .25 each. That totals $125 bucks when they are all gone! Not too bad! My machine holds 2 different types of candy to I'll making a nice little income from that. After just one sell out of both candies, I will have made a profit of $200. This includes the cost of the machine and candy for the first time. After that, I will just buy the candy to refill and everything from then on will be profit:)

If this is something you might be interested, all you need to do once you find a machine, is find a location to put it. Most places will let you put one in place for no charge at all. Very few will charge a small percentage. I will be placing mine at our farm & ranch store and at the beauty salon. Lots of kiddos with their parents go to the ones around here! (VERY small town)

And Let the Shopping Begin!

Oh goodness, is it that time again? Time to shop til we drop. I personally dread the crowded stores and plan to do most of my Christmas shopping online this year. And have you ever been to those Black Friday sales in town. Holy cow! People become crazy in an instant. I plan to check out black-friday.net this year in hopes to avoid the overcrowding mob. I would much rather shop at home while lying around in my pj's. There are many gifts to get this year and I love giving. I'm sure I'll be searching for some Harbor Freight deals for my husband. My husband gets many of his supplies and tools there for his spur making. They always have specials and online sales happening. The kids will be easy this year. My oldest wants cowboy gear like leggin's and would love a new pair of spurs. My middle son would love anything. He's not picky at all! My little guy will be getting spoiled this year. What? I can if I want to! I plan on getting him a recliner, horses and trucks, maybe a jungle gym, a new little rope, and who knows what else. I can get all this stuff online and you can bet that's how I'll get it too. What are you guys planning to do and buy this year? Are you going to enjoy your shopping experience while in the comfort of your own home or are you going to face the psycho crowd?

Rambling Roundup 6

First, I need to say thank you to Mad Doll Doctor because I won an awesome Mohair Bear! Woohoo, and thank you. It's uplifting when you win something and I'm very thankful.

I also want to give a shout out to Amanda. She gave me some good advice and seems like a very genuine person. I will be in touch;) See How she Earned $5381.77 in 1 Month of Blogging!!! No Joke!

If you're always looking for coupons for domains and hosting, you need to keep your eyes on the Googlelady. She's always posting the latests deals. She also provides some good info on adwords and advertising.

5xmom rocks! She makes mucho dinero and shares some tips and some she don't. I really enjoyed her post on Salvaging her PR. I learned a few things. To some this isn't important but to us who make money online, it is!

Oh, and don't forget to change my url to www.acowboyswife.com if you are linked to me:) Purty please.

I have started a new food/cooking blog. VERY new. In fact, the content is only 2 posts...lol. I will adding tons of content this weekend. If you have a blog in the same niche and would consider doing a link exchange with me, please email me or leave a comment. Oh!...here's the url-- My Wooden Spoon
I would love to hear your thoughts on the look and feel to that blog. I took a theme and made it my own. It was a pain in the bootay but I got-r-done!

Well, that's it for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Try to have some fun!

Weightloss Solutions

When my mom quit smoking, she gained weight. Now, I don't think she's big but she does and I know how much she would like to change that. She might consider going to the kingwood lap band facility and see what they have to offer. Since she lives around Houston, this would be close for to check out. From what I understand, the environment is comfortable and they always put the patient first. This procedure is an in and out surgery so you get to rest in your home. If you're unhappy with your weight like me, then check this out and give it some consideration. I'm just glad she quit smoking;)

Coon Pup for Wello

We took a couple of coon pups from a guy who breeds them and I have to say, I'm falling in love with the runt of the two! They can be quite cute with their long ears and their little howl but they are dog ugly when they get big (at least in my opinion). We got one for my father-in-law and the other one just cause. I personally hope my brother-in-law takes it but who knows. Pups are fun to watch but costly to feed.

Quick Fix for Toothaches

Since I have been married, I have not seen the dentist too much. I really need to go but the funds just are not there right now. I have a filling that fell out a couple of months ago and seems to be getting worse and worse. Dentemp OS will definitely help this situation but I had no knowledge of this product until today. I realize that this product can only provide temporary dental repair but that will work until I can get in for a dental checkup.

Some of the highlights of this product:

--Provides fast, temporary relief of pain and discomfort.

--Just remove it from its plastic vial and it's ready to use. No Mess! No Mixing!
Several Applications in each vial.

--Replaces lost fillings and may be used to temporarily cement loose crowns.

--You can eat on it within 30 minutes of setting.

--All products have been tested and fully comply with FDA Regulations for Oral Care

.
Did you notice the last one? FDA Approved and the 2007 Marketplace Product Showcase winner! That should tell you something about this product.

I will be getting some of this for me ASAP and maybe even some for my mom. She has been complaining of tooth pain for months now. She can afford to go but she's a big scaredy cat. I bet she would love to have some Dentemp OS to help relieve the pain she's been having lately. This would also be great for all you ranch folks. Living so far out of town, we can just jump up to the store or dentist. Keep this on hand and you're sure to subside the pain until you can get to town.

Custom Domain in Effect!

Did any of you notice my brand new custom domain?? I decided to do this change for a couple of reasons. Mainly, due to a little more R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Advertisers are more likely to approach if your blog is on it's own domain, as well, having a wee bit more professional look.(coming soon:)

If you go to http://www.acowboyswife.com/, you'll end up here. If you go to http://acowboyswife.com/, you'll still end up here. And finally, if you go to http://acowboyswife.blogspot.com/, you'll end up here too! Pretty cool, huh!

I will eventually be moving this entire blog on it's own host along with my others but for now, it's staying put! So, if any of you that are linked to me find the extra time to change my link to one of the first url(www.acowboyswife.com), it would be greatly appreciated.

iFloor Guarantees!

iFLOOR, America's largest online flooring retailer, today announced a $1,000,000 limited warranty designed to protect its customers from predatory manufacturer policies that exclude warranty coverage from online purchases.

The policy, which goes into effect immediately, offers up to one million dollars of coverage in the event that a customer's warranty claim is denied specifically because they made their purchase online. It is complimentary for every iFLOOR customer, and protects the buyer under the same terms as the original product warranty.

iFLOOR, Inc. CEO, Steve Simonson, came up with the program to combat "scare tactics" used by manufacturers of hardwood floors and laminate flooring. "Their idea is to discourage you from buying at a discount!" wrote Simonson in his blog "It's About Flooring". "This is not right! You deserve to save money! So we're going to take care of this problem once and for all."

And it would appear that federal law is on his side. Section 108 of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Act, states that, "In general, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty."

Under iFLOOR's new warranty, a key provision allows for iFLOOR to "seek justice" on behalf of the customer in the event of legal action. According to Simonson, "I'm putting iFLOOR's money where my mouth is."

About iFLOOR, Inc.
Since 1998, iFLOOR.com has been the leading online and retail flooring company, with 36 local retail stores nationwide offering more than 70,000 products, including hardwood floors, laminate flooring, bamboo flooring and cork floors. iFLOOR.com is the largest online flooring retailer according to Internet Retailer Magazine, and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States for the past three years. Committed to quality customer service, superior selection and friendly expert advice, iFLOOR.com enables customers to buy flooring both online and in its retail stores at a substantial savings over traditional retailers. For more information about iFLOOR, please visit www.iFLOOR.com.

###

With a warranty like this, buyers can rest assured they are making a safe and stress free purchase. I am definitely going to be checking this out. I would love to redo my bathroom floor! With 4 guys and the previous occupants of this house, that floor has seen its' days. I really never thought about looking online for this type of product but with the iFLOOR guarantee, who could resist, right?!

Halloween Comment Winner

Well, not many people commented. I'm hoping it was due to the actual holiday and being busy with it. There were technically 4 official comments that did what I asked and told me one thing they were scared of. I did have other comments that didn't name a scary thing but I still appreciate the comments and I have included them in the drawing:)
The winner is....
Zhu!

Thanks for playing along and email Zhu with your paypal address please:)

Subscribers Are Up!

Have you checked out my feed chicklet?? 70 subscribers...woohoo! Thank you to all of you who are subscribing to my blog. I'm flattered to have so many readers that enjoy my boring life:)

I'm wondering if my increased posting is the cause for this rise. I have always had around 50 readers and since I've started posting a bit more, I have reached the 70 mark! Hmmmm, this would make a good case study;)

Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you reading and hope you like the new changes that will be coming soon!

Getting a Good Rate

Living on a ranch, mortgages are something we don't have to worry about. Our homes are supplied with our income so we have nothing to do with it. But my father in law owns his own home and has already paid it off! He has excellent credit so he was able to get a good rate. I couldn't believe how fast he had paid it off but since he is retired, it was a good thing he did. Now he can go and do things without worrying about it.

If you're searching for a mortgage broker, be sure to check all resources and their references. You want a financial advisor, not a salesman.

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Changes with This Blog

I really couldn't think of much to write about this week so bare with me on my crappy TT list.
These are 13 changes that will be happening to this blog.

1. A brand new custom design!
2. Faster loading time!
3. Less widgets
4. More posting!
5. Sticking to a schedule. (directed towards memes, etc.)
6. More western monetization going on.
7. More contests or giveaways!
8. Less rambling and more focused posts.
9. Newsletter:)
10. More photography, after all, it is my passion:)
11. A post devoted to a certain topic every day of the week continued every week.
12. More subscribers cause the page will load faster;)
13. Commenter giveaway:)

What do you think? Do these sound good?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Where's All the Trick or Treaters??

BOO!
I love Halloween but we won't be doing anything this year. We just don't know anyone in the closest town so we don't want to take our little one to houses we don't know. BUT,........

In the spirit of the day, I thought I would offer $9 bucks to a random commenter who leaves a comment with the one thing they are scared of.

I am terrified of clowns!! I hate them. What are you scared of? Leave your comment and you might win a whoppin' $9 smackaroos. (available via paypal:)

Four Foods Meme 10/31/07

It's time for the Four Food Meme again! I love this meme. Of course, being fatty, I love food! You haven't joined in the fun? What's the matta wit you?? Get over there:)

1. Do you like hot dogs, if so how do you eat yours? If not, why don’t you eat them?
YES! I learned how to make them from my mother. Tear off several sheets of foil. (big enough to wrap the hotdog) Boil your weiners and warm your chili up. Put your bun, weiner, chili, and slices of Velveeta cheese on top. Wrap them up loosely and put in the oven for just a few mintutes. HMMMM, GOOD!

2. What’s your favorite type of store bought cookie? (meaning mass produced, like Oreos.)
My absolute favorite are the Danish Wedding Cookies. Oh my gosh..I could eat the whole box if I wanted to:)

3. Is there a food where you live that is hard to get anywhere else?
Bueno green chilis. You get them in the freezer section and they come in a tub. I love them but they are hard to find around these parts.

4. Do you drink milk? Whole, 2%, no fat or other? Or, why don’t you drink milk?
Yes I do. Whole, because that is what we give our little guy. I really like chocolate milk but the kids automatically become hogs when it's in the house so I rarely get any.

A Place for Idols to Meet

I don't know about you, but I love American Idol. Maybe it's because I love to sing. NO, I can't sing, I just love to. Now, if you're a die hard fan, you can go to Idol Exclusive to see the latest news and chat with other idol fans. There are some really cool photos posted there. I had never seen some of the idols all made up and posing those ways. They turned out really sharp. They have forums and blogs to participate in, as well as, widgets to show your idol support and display various photos of all the idol contestants. The layout is vibrant, inviting, and cool! It is definitely an exciting, new social hot spot for idol fans to get together share their enthusiasm about the show.

Linky Love with Myself

LOL...That sounds bad but was not my intention. Ummm, maybe those were just my thoughts**blushing**. I've been blogging for 9mths now and thought it would be a good time to link to some of my entries from way back then.
Some of the ones listed below seemed to cause a bit of conflict with folks but they are my beliefs and I still stand by them.

• What's Wrong With Today's Kids
• Where's A Woman's Place and A Woman's Place Response
• Is Spanking OK?

My father-in-law sings and sometimes even writes songs. These are in Spanish but I did share one of my favorite Spanish songs that he sings all the time.

If you want to know how me and my husband met, you can read the story of us. It was back in my outlaw days:) If you got the balls to see some horses that don't then you might make it as a cowboy;) Cowboys see bears and rattlesnakes too!

Romance for Everyone

If you've read any of my entries, you will remember two I wrote on keeping your man happy and keeping your woman happy. Why did I write these? I strongly believe that if a couple has a healthy and loving relationship with each other, then everything else will fall into place. In those posts, I mentioned a few things my husband has done that I would consider romantic.

• He brings me wild flowers from the side of the road. I love this. He got this from me mentioning how my father-in-law used to do this for his mom. It doesn't cost anything for the flowers except a little time to stop and do it.
• He wrote Happy Anniversary with lipstick on my mirror. SWEEEET! He did this before heading off to work because he knew he wouldn't be home til late. Yes, my lipstick was ruined but it was one of the sweetest things. Had he been there, he would have received a big ol' kiss from me.

Another really romantic thing to do, is to write a little love note that says something like I miss you or I love you and slip it into their pant pocket before they head off to work. I have done this, as well as, my sister-in-law. I think our husbands enjoy the little surprise more than they say.

My husband is not very affectionate in public but he does do one thing every so often that makes me want him. He holds my hand. I know, it doesn't sound all that romantic does it? But just him touching my hand like that makes me feel wanted. Hmmm, I wonder if he'll read this and do something special like take me out on a romantic date.

It's important to keep the fire lit between a husband and wife. All you need are a few romantic ideas and you'll be on your way.

My Blog Plug

I just wanted to mention to my new readers that I also blog at Blogging with Cents. I provide blogging tips, resources, and some secrets to earn money online. I do reviews and whatever else comes to mind:) If you haven't been to check it out, please do. I would love to gain some new readers over there too. If you visit here often and you haven't subscribed to my feed, then you should consider subscribing via reader or email.

Savvy Trading with Help

Do you know anything about the stock market? Well, if you're like me, you are completely out of the loop when it comes to that kind of stuff. You also probably would like to know more about it though, right? I talked about this awhile back but I am mentioning it again.

There is help for us newbies. MyWallSt.net is a place where you can learn and play. They actually give you the opportunity to trade and invest with virtual money. You also have a chance to win some real money. I think this is an awesome idea. To be able to spend play money while learning how to trade is just very cool. It also is a social of site of sorts. There are many people you can chit chat with or ask questions to something you may not be familiar with. It's like a little community where you can even rate different stocks. Having a community like that can be beneficial in helping you understand and reach your financial goals and ventures. I know absolutely nothing about this sort of thing, so having friendly advice would be useful and appreciative.

Being able to go online and check out stocks right then is also handy. Papers only come out once a day. Who has time to wait for tomorrow's paper on today's stocks, right? If there is a perfect opportunity to invest, you need to be able to jump right on it. Everything is available via Internet these days so why not trading in the stock market!

You really should give the Rookie challenge a go. It's easy to register and you gain knowledge about something that could potentially make you richer and it will be fun to see how good you'll be at picking the right stocks. Give it a try! And remember, there are people there to help you if you just ask.

Changes Coming Soon

I had originally planned to do a 301 redirect here to my own host but since I have PR, things have changed. Instead, I have decided to stay on blogspot until PR doesn't exist or my PR is up on the new domain, whichever comes first.


Also, the theme/template will be changed here. I have received many compliments on my little place here but it's time for a change. Keep your eyes peeled for the new look. Coming soon to a screen near you;)

Tuesday Toast Salute 10/30/07

I would like to salute my sister-n-law Marni. She is awesome. Why?

• She took me kiddos so I could have a weekend to ALL by myself!


• She talks to her nephew through the webcam because she loves him.


• She is freakin' hilarious! Nobody can make me laugh like her.


• She's fun and full of energy & I aspire to that.


• She'll do anything for ya:)


• She makes some awesome beef jerky!!! HINT, HINT

These are just a few but, overall, she really is a great gal. Here's to ya Marnita!!

To join in the Tuesday Toast, just click on the glasses;)

Show Me the Money

Yahooooooo! Since I have a pagerank now, my opportunities have increased in both quantity and payout! OH YEAH BABY:) So far I have made $46 bucks, fixin' to be $72 in less than 2 hours. PRETTY DARN GOOD!! Just think, if I make that in a couple of hours with a PR3, imagine what a PR4 & up make...dang! Don't know what I'm talking about you say?? PAYPERPOST is
their name and paying you to blog is their game. Okay so I'm a little excited but wouldn't you be??!! No, this isn't a sponsored post, I just wanted other moms to make money at home like me:) If you want to go through me though, you can click on my PPP ad in the sidebar. I get $15 bucks for everyone who signs up and completes their first opp.

WAH Opportunity

As a stay at home mom, I'm always researching for opportunities to be a work at home mom. What can be better than making money at home in your pj's?? Not only that, but I can still have my little guy around while I'm earning money in my pj's.

If you are looking for a unique opportunity, then I suggest you check out Courtney Raymond Consultants.

Courtney Raymond Consultants is the #1 national recruiting firm for Merrill Lynch. We specialize in the placement of retail financial services professionals, including middle market and international brokers.

What does that mean? It means if you have good phone skills, you could work from the comfort of your own home. How great would it be to be a part of
one of the largest financial companies. There are no start up fees, no experience required, free training and leads, and a chance to work a flexible
schedule by setting your own hours.

I have loved being home to raise my kids but making money while doing it, would be icing on the cake. There are many scams out there but this one is not one of them. Merrill Lynch has an excellent reputation and I think that speaks for alot. I am definitely going to be checking this opportunity out. I believe my mom might be interested in something like this as well. She has quite a bit of experience on the phone and has worked with customer relations the past few years. She should qualify for an awesome opportunity!

PR Update - How'd You Do?

Well, the PR update has finally been happy and while many are dissappointed, I am happy. Here at "A Cowboy's Wife", PR went from a 0 to a 2 or 3 (not sure just yet) and at my Blogging with Cents, it went from a 0 to a PR4 and that blog is under 2mths old!! Woohoo. Not too shabby. The hard part will be maintaining the current PR or increasing it. What was your experience with the PR update? Did yours drop like many others or did you go up like me?

My Virtual Makeover

Years ago, I had some computer software that could give you a virtual makeover. The only problem with some software is that it get's outdated. If you get an online virtual makeover, you know that it will all be current and hip. I recommend http://www.makeoversolutions.com/. Not only can you get a makeover, you can also find some really great tips on makeup, hair, and what's hot with the celebs.

The one thing I would change about myself for fun, would be my hairstyle. I have always had long brown curly hair. I get so sick of sometimes. I thought I'd give the virtual makeover a shot and boy was I amused. It's super easy to do uploading my photo was a cinch. Now because I didn't want to take a new picture, I just went and cut the hair off of a recent picture I took and uploaded it. You pretty much place some circles where your eyes are and put some darts where the corners of your mouth and eyes are and that's it. After that, you can choose from celebrity hairstyles or just regular ones. They also give you some wonderful choices for lip, nail, and hair color. You can add accessories or even make your teeth whiter!! After making all your changes, you will see your final results. I have to say, this was too much fun! I had a blast and was cracking myself up putting all the different hairstyles on me. I finally decided on a hairstyle that would be completely opposite of what mine is. Drumroll please....................

OH YEAH!!! Short hair and blonde....LOOK OUT PARIS, HERE I COME!

Frances Elizabeth

I will be writing only 1 post today and it will be to remember my grandma. She would have been 70 years old today. I put a slide show together of a few of my favorite photos of her. They are when she was young and all in black & white except for 1. The slide show will be under the music of the Statler Brothers, her most favorite group. This is not meant to be sad, it is to remember the good times:)
Speaking of....

Me and her used to take these drives from Sweetwater to Stanton to have Thanksgiving with her parents. At the time, it was so embarrassing, but she would honk at the cars going by and wave like she knew them. She was just being silly. What's funny, is I do the same thing with my kids today--just to embarrass them:) She was always doing something silly like that and I think that's were my goofiness came from.

She also made a killer Chocolate Sheet Cake! The recipe is below. I wasn't going to share it but I think she would be proud. Enjoy the recipe and I do hope you view the show. I love old pictures and I miss her:)

CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE

Cake Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 c. shortening
• 1 c. water
• 4 TBLS cocoa
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Icing Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 4 TBLS cocoa
• 6 TBLS milk
• 1 box confectioners sugar

Melt butter, shortening, water, and cocoa. Bring to a boil. Mix sugar & flour in bowl. Add the first mixture you boiled to dry ingredients. Then add buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon, vanilla. Mix well. Bake for 22-25 minutes in a 350' oven.

Icing--During the last 5 minutes of baking, melt butter, cocoa, and milk. Bring to a boil. Add confectioners sugar making sure to get rid of all the lumps. Pour over hot cake......hmmmmmm, good!

El Vaquero Real: The Original American Cowboy

A long time ago, there was a photographer that came out and took pictures for his new book. Well, we got to see that book today and it's awesome! My husband is all through the book..COOL:) I have 2 8x10's of a couple of photos he took and gave to my husband. They are sharp.
The book is not quite available yet but I'm posting it here so you can see it and for friends or family WHO MIGHT WANT TO ORDER IT:)..LOL.
El Vaquero Real: The Original American Cowboy by John Dyer

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Repeats

Repeat, repeat, and repeat some more. I feel like I'm saying thing same things over and over again! Blah:(

1. No, I said no! (to my kids)
2. Because I said so. (to my kids)
3. Have you talked to anyone today? (to my husband)
4. Brush your dang hair. (to my 11yr old)
5. Have a good day at school. (to my kids)
6. Get off the phone. (to my 14yr old)
7. Get off the computer. (to my 14yr old)
8. How was school? (to my kids)
9. What do you want for supper? (to my husband)
10. Laaaaaame! (to my kids:)
11. Chore time. (to my kids)
12. You're a big boy! (to my 1yr old)
13. I love you!!! (to all my guys;)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Possibly Mad Cow

I should have wrote this yesterday but I needed time to think about and cool off a bit. I’m sure many of you are loyal readers of cow just as I am, so when I opened up my reader to see a certain C word in the title, I was shocked but mostly dissappointed. I made a point to comment on the word…here’s what I said:

As you can see Darren also replied saying, basically, the same thing I did–about it being poor taste.

Aside from being offended, I was embarrassed that I had linked to him awhile back as being “a blog to checkout”. I have many women readers and I know a couple of them were thinking why the hec I referred them to his blog. I apologize to all my readers but my female audience in particular.
I think Mr. Cow has become a “mad” cow these days. He seems to defensive about many things and is starting to remind of TechCrunch…you know, saying things to get people stirred up or doing whatever to get backlinks and traffic. I despise techcrunch and no longer read them because they have turned into a gossip corner in my opinion. Anyways, I think the cow needs to rethink things a bit. I really miss the funny guy who always had clever things to say.

I realize that different countries have different versions of what words are considered a no-no and absolute vulgar, but even putting something like that (which we all know what is implied when that is said) is just out of line.

Mr. Cow has changed the title of that post. While I’m appreciative of that, the deed is done and I can still visualize the word. All I can think about, is the good natured people that read his blog– who’s kids or grandkids were wearing those little Johncow.com outfits and how one word has can make a man go from funny to jerk.

My beef is over with this matter and I can only hope that I see something better appearing in my reader.

P.S. My intentions were NOT to link to him but since I think this would be a good lesson to learn, I am. I want you to see that I was not the only one with a bad reaction to the word.

Finally Better and New Food Meme

I'm feeling much better today. Geez, I've had so much trouble with my sinuses these days!

We are finally gonna get some beef. We have been out for some time but my husband took our beef in yesterday to the Long X Ranch to be killed. I think he said they killed and hung 3 or 4 yesterday. Now they hang for about a week and then get cut up for us to eat:)...aren't you glad I don't have pictures of that!

New Four Foods on Friday Meme to participate in. This would be great if you have a food blog. I happen to be working on one for the future;)

1. How do you like your eggs cooked? Any special ingredients?
I prefer my eggs boiled with salt and paprika. Boring I know, but they sure are good.

2. What’s your favorite cold sandwich, made on two pieces of bread?
I love a good turkey sandwhich. I put 2 pieces of turkey with a slice of swiss cheese inbetween. It's layered with lettuce, tomato, black olives, and dijon.

3. What is your favorite pie?
I LOVE buttermilk pie! It is sooooooooo goood!

4. Name one food you refuse to eat and why.
I absolutely refuse to eat is fat! I hate when steak has pieces of fat on it. I cannot stand the texture and it makes me gag:(

5. What’s the name of your favorite restaurant, and is it small or part of a chain?
My favorite restaurant has to be Logan's Roadhouse. They have steaks, seafood, and some dang good biscuits. Throwing peanut shells on the floor is fun for the kids too! Big Chain.

Tuesday Toast Salute 10/23/07

After dealing with a miserable day of allergies, I'm finally feeling somewhat better. Obviously, this is my reason for the lack of posts today. I still feel sleepy from taking allergy medicine but I wanted to make sure I participated in Leigh's Tuesday Post! In Leigh's words...

Each Tuesday we toast somebody special in our lives. It could be a fellow blogger, a family member, close friend, or even a public icon such as an actor. Anybody you feel deserves Kudos!

If you've followed my blog then you have probably heard me plug Cman here and there. This week, my Tuesday Toast goes to him. I met Cman in the very first forum I signed up with after starting this thing called blogging. I knew nothing and would have given up if it wasn't for him. Not only did he encourage me to keep my chin up, he explained how everything works, help me setup a few things, and taught me all the basics. This makes him special for a couple reasons. 1--He was setting up his own blog path to success and yet still found time to help me with ALL my questions. And 2--Not many people would have taken the iniative to help and the patience to deal with such a newbie.

So here's to ya Jonathan!!! Thank you:)

Real Paint Horses

What do you think of this painting???

What if I told you it costs $2400 and was painted by a horse? I don't know about you, but I'm thinkin' about headin' outside and seeing if our horses can paint:)

Meet Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the top one and Juliet is the below. Juliet is the artist behind the painting above. I love horses and I think it's neat that these horses have such a unique talent, however, I don't think I could dish out the dough for painting done by a horse.

Thanks Marn

10 Questions Answered

Blogweluv is asking 10 questions to bloggers. I think these were some really good questions and have already submitted my answers. I thought I would post them here on my blog too. Here we go..

Describe your blog in five sentences or less.

My blog reflects my personality. Readers will see that my family takes priority and the pictures I post show the kind of life we live. I'm not afraid to state my strong opinions and my posts reflect that. I earn pocket change on the side and pass along money making methods that work for me. Mostly, my blog is about having fun, and is a place where I can be me.

Link us to one post from your blog that best defines who you are.

Keeping Your Man Happy

Wow! This was tough. I chose this post because I believe if the relationship between a husband and wife is healthy, then together they will make a happy home.

What sets you apart from other bloggers?

I think living the ranch life sets me apart a bit. Considering I'm only 31, I have ol' fashion views on the way family life should be lived. People seem to be interested in the way cowboys live, the scenery & animals, and the honesty that I display. I don't exaggerate or lie. That alone, sets me apart from MANY other bloggers, unfortunately.

When and how did you first discover blogging?

Oh gosh, I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this. I wanted some extra money and bought one of those "How to Make Money Blogging" ebooks on Ebay back in February. I learned real quick that it wasn't easy to make money fast but I did take away info such as, setting up a blog and picking a niche. So really, the ebook had a big helping hand in getting me where I am today.

What is your biggest pet peeve related to blogging or the internet?

Over exaggerated hype. This is geared towards money making, gossip, etc. I really hate when money hungry bloggers try to hype up a product, that they know, ain't worth a damn. I hate when people make gossip even worse--like gossip alone ain't enough. I just wish people were honest and not so quick to be judgmental.

Name one plugin, blogging widget, or service that you can’t live without.

Popular Posts. This gives newcomers a chance to see why I even have readers in the first place. These posts are popular, usually, 'cause they reflect my personality and/or benefit others.

If you could choose anyone, living or dead, to write a guest post for your blog,who would it be and why?

I would choose my Papaw. I would love to have had him tell people what is was like to ride on an Emperor's horse, maybe share a war story, and share his opinions on what keeps a marriage together (besides having a beautiful and funny woman at his side).

How has blogging made you a better person?

A couple of things come to mind. Participating in memes and commenting have increased my social skills. Having adult conversations, on an array of topics, has increased my vocabulary. A particular meme has even helped me overcome a terrible phobia I had;)
The learning factor is the other. The amount of knowledge I have gained is unreal. When you're just a cowboy's wife, you don't hear about politics so much or html at all. I have learned better writing skills, how to redesign templates, and so much more. This is has given me a new-found confidence that I can do anything.

What are your tips for becoming a better blogger?

Be honest.
Blog about what you know.
Be yourself.
Don't know something?..ask questions and learn.

Name one great blog that you read on a regular basis. What makes it unique?

My Single Mom Life

Kat is VERY honest and VERY blunt. She seems hardcore for the most part but when you read her thoughts on family and friends, you really see her soft side. She doesn't try to sell you bullshit--she's who she is and that's that. (pardon my language)

Self Portrait Sunday 10/21/07

It's been a little bit since I've participated in the Self Portrait Sunday. I really hate seeing myself and went through a spell where I didn't like any that I took so I just didn't post. I decided to be brave again this week. In fact, I am posting not just 1 picture, but 2 pictures! I hate the pictures but what the hay. If I didn't have such fat cheeks I would be much more inclined to do this:)

Insurance For Everything!

We just received our car insurance bill and we were pleased to see a discount for having a no claims policy...SWEET! What I would really love is to have it to where we get money back for having the no claims policy.

Living on a ranch, we don't pay for home insurance . The ranch pays for all that so we would be protected if something were to happen. I think this kind of insurance is not bought as often as it should be because most people think to themselves "nothing won't happen to my house".

I do think if you LOVE your pets as much as my mom does, you should invest in some pet insurance. My mom's dogs have this and in the long run, has been worthwhile. They have had to take the dogs to the vet for a number of different reasons including allergies, rashes, and cysts or knots on one the dog's tail.

Got insurance?

Rambling Roundup 5

Well, mi familia leaves today and I will be all by myself. I love them so much that it will be kinda hard to be apart from ALL of them but I really need this "me" time. I plan to go get a perm and shop today so that tomorrow, I can veg out all day:)

There are many memes out there but few dedicated to saluting the good things in your life. Leigh and Skeet are toasting to some good news and would love for you to be apart of it.

Can YOU figure out the music in the background of this video? I couldn't, but if you do, please let me know!

Blog about your Blog is having a contest sponsored by Bidvertiser. Just subscribe to their feed (which I've done) and blog about it!

I'm a little busy right now so I'll have to link up to more people later. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

$1000 Visa Gift Card

Do you remember when I talked about completing offers in order to get my $500 American Express Gift Card?? Well, a new offer is available from another trusted company that I deal with. It's a $1000 Visa Gift Card. You have to complete more offers with this one but I just did it for under $50 bucks. I bought the know-how a long time ago and it has been well worth the money I spent to learn. You see these offers everywhere but finding a reputable company is the hardest thing to do. When I did my first one for $500, I was so worried that I had spent that money for nothing. I was SOOOOO excited when it all worked out and I had all that extra moolah to do spend.

Where do you think all those people get those gift cards that are sold on ebay for $100, $500, etc?

Thursday Thirteen - 13Things About 13

1. Thirteen is the 6th smallest prime number.
2. 13 goes into 999,999 exactly 76,923 times.
3. The number of participants at the Last Supper.
4. Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many cultures.
5. In Tarot decks, the 13th card of the Major Arcana is Death.
6. The number of steps, according to Egyptian lore, between life and death.
7. In Jewish tradition a boy becomes bar mitzvah at age 13, when a ceremony is held and the boy reads from the Torah for the first time.
8. The original flag had thirteen stars, one for each state.
9. The number of loaves in a "baker's dozen".
10. Princess Diana died when her car hit the thirteenth pillar of a tunnel in Paris, on August 31, 1997.
11. Chromosome 13 is the largest human acrocentric chromosome.
12. The number of guns in a gun salute to U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Major Generals, and Navy and Coast Guard Rear Admirals Upper Half.
13. You may remember the disaster that befell NASA’s space shuttle, Apollo 13. Did you know that Apollo 13 left our planet on the 13th hour? An explosion in the fuel cells of the service module severely crippled the spacecraft. The number 13 may have brought good luck for the 3 Astronauts who returned safety to earth on Friday 17 April 1970.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

My Favorite Football Player

I love football and this guy right here is my favorite player. Yep, he's my oldest son! It's not very often that people see him WITHOUT his hat so I thought I'd share it with you all. It's a different side to him but he's loving it and he does really well. He asked me the other night if he could have one of the wallet pictures for his girlfriend!! HIS GIRLFRIEND...geez, I feel so old. I did get to see his girlfriend's volleyball picture though. She's cute:)

Hopefully he can keep his grades up so he can play basketball. He's been so active this year.

How Much is Your Grocery Bill?

I bought groceries yesterday and spent a whopping $408.54! This lasts the whole month with only buying milk and fresh produce throughout the rest of the month. Of course, we get out beef free so that is not included in the bill.

I'm exhausted today and trying to clean up a bit and wash clothes. You see, I will be ALL BY MYSELF this weekend!!! Woohooo. My 2 youngest are going to go stay with their Aunt and my other 2 will be going to the Tom Butler Memorial Bronc Ridin' this weekend. Oh my, what am I going to do???!!!

Anyways, I was just curious on what your monthly grocery bill is. I would love to know if mine is normal or not. I left the grocery store with 3 baskets. Try fitting that and Wal-mart household stuff in an Oldsmobile Alero with a carseat;) We have a big truck but the gas is too costly to fill it up so I just took my car. Back to washing clothes:(

P.S. I will post the Name that Tune later today;)

Designer Cakes

Okay, maybe not designer where you're from but they would be considered that here where I live. I ran across a site called Pink Cake Box and talk about some amazing cakes. I really enjoyed browsing the children's cakes....hmmmm, good. I could just imagine a little girls eyes light up when they would see a cake that looks like this one! Definately a cake fit for a Princess:)

How to Raise a Reader

As my little guy grows up, I make sure reading is a part of our everyday life. He absolutely loves book and I love that! I found this article by Mary VanClay and thought it provided some really good tips.

It's never too early to steer your child toward books. But for toddlers, the goal is not to make sure they can read the classics before they're out of preschool. "The phrase to remember is 'developmentally appropriate,'" says Roni Leiderman, associate dean of the Family Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Parents often come to me wanting to push academics too much, too fast, too soon. In fact, children learn best through play. Make reading a joyous event for them."

There are many developmentally appropriate — and fun — ways to help your little one learn to love books and stories. And, surprisingly, not all of them involve sitting down with an actual book.

Use books to bond
"It's not about reading the words," says Leiderman. "At this age it's about learning to love the interaction with Mom, Dad, or a caretaker." When your child sits in your lap as you read aloud, she doesn't just enjoy books, she also enjoys the security of your undivided attention.

Set up a ritual
A regular reading time establishes a calming routine young children love — that's why the bedtime story is a time-honored tradition. But don't forget that many other daily events also provide good reading opportunities. Once in a while try establishing a new ritual with a breakfast story, a bathtub story, a just-home-from-daycare story. Some toddlers (and older children) who are heavy sleepers are much better able to face the day when their parents "read them awake" rather than hustle them out of bed.

Choose appropriate books
Toddlers love board books, bathtub books, and pop-up books — any type they can hold easily and manipulate themselves. They love stories accompanied by bright, clear, realistic pictures. And of course they love rhymes. That's not to say your 2-year-old won't appreciate the stories her big brother chooses — who knows, Rocks and Minerals may end up being her favorite book. Just make sure she has access to simpler books as well.

Repeat, repeat, repeat
Stifle your yawns if you've read The Very Hungry Caterpillar every night for the past month and your child still asks to hear it again. Repetition is a hallmark of the toddler years. "The reason children love to read the same stories over and over and over again is that they're so thirsty to learn," says Leiderman. You'll soon find that your toddler has memorized her favorite passages and is eager to supply key phrases herself — both signs of increasing reading readiness.

Ham it up
Lose your inhibitions when you read to your child. Growl like the Papa Bear in Goldilocks, squeak like Piglet in Winnie-the-Pooh. Kids love drama as much as adults do — in fact, your youngster may love to pretend to be the scary wolf in The Three Little Pigs. Encourage her, even if it slows the story's progress. She'll get more out of the story if she's participating actively.

Follow her interests
Choose books about her favorite activities — visiting the zoo, swimming, playing ball. Back up your kids' favorite videos and TV shows with books about the characters. You may be mystified by the appeal of Teletubbies, but if your child loves the cheery little creatures, she'll love the books about their exploits as well. Follow her lead, but do experiment with a wide variety of books before you decide you know exactly what your child will like. Your little girl who loves dress-up and dolls may, to your surprise, also be the one who asks to hear Godzilla Likes to Roar or Monster Bugs over and over.

Go to the library
Even babies like library story-hours, and they're wonderful adventures for toddlers. Your child may well discover a new favorite when it's presented by a beguiling librarian with a soothing voice and perhaps some pictures or puppets to illustrate the action. And, of course, libraries let parents — and kids — try out countless stories without spending a bundle.

Push play
Many wonderful books exist on cassette or CD. Your toddler may not be interested in them because what she really likes about books is the interaction with you, says pediatrician Laura Jana, a national trainer for Reach Out and Read. But if your toddler does happen to like them, great. She may want to sit with the picture book while she listens to the recording, or you may want to put it on while the two of you do other things. You could also record yourself — or another relative or friend — reading stories. Just remember, says Jana, that recorded stories can't take the place of sitting down together.

Don't make books a reward
Don't tell your child she can listen to a story if she finishes her dinner. When reading is associated with systems of reward and punishment, it isn't a positive experience. Instead, pick times to read that feel natural, such as when you want your toddler to quiet down before her nap.

Dealing with the wigglers
Some wiggly youngsters just won't sit still through all of Blueberries for Sal. What to do? "Sit down and leaf through something short for just 30 seconds, and then say, 'Wow, we read this whole book!' Then let them go," says Leiderman. The next day you can try a little longer session. "Some children will always be more interested in motor activities than in reading," she says. "Respect that, and don't make reading a negative experience." If your toddler is the physically active type, she may respond best to the non-book-related activities described below.

Make storytelling a part of life
"Promoting reading readiness is more than reading a traditional book," says Leiderman. While you're at the dinner table or in the car, tell stories — standards like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" anecdotes from your own childhood, or stories that feature your child as a central character. Make books of your child's drawings or favorite photos, and tell stories about them — or ask her to be the narrator.

Point out words everywhere
Wherever you go, you can show your child that words are an important part of everyday life. Even the youngest toddlers quickly learn, for example, that traffic signs say STOP. Alphabet refrigerator magnets are staples in many homes. Other families label objects around the house, such as the shelves that house BLOCKS, DOLLS, and other toys. If your child is in daycare or preschool, slip a daily note into her lunchbox. Even if she can't yet read CAT, seeing the word printed on a piece of paper, along with a drawing or sticker of a cute kitten, will be a high point in her day and help excite her interest in reading. If this seems too ambitious, try drawing a heart or smiley face with a simple "I love you," which will help get your toddler excited about the meaning behind words.

Talk
Children from families who converse at the dinner table have larger vocabularies, according to researchers at Harvard University. Talk with your toddler, and don't be afraid to use complex words and phrases. Encourage her questions and explanations. Toddlers are curious and wonder endlessly about the world, so don't be shy about trying to explore her interests with her.

Demonstrate your own love of books
Your child wants to imitate you. If she sees books all around the house and knows that you like to settle down with one whenever you have a moment to yourself, she'll learn that books are essential to daily life. Modeling your own love of reading is more powerful than making your child sit through a rigid story time.

Books for you
Numerous books have been written for parents who want to nourish a love of reading. Try Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook, E.D. Hirsch's Books to Build On, Elizabeth Wilson's Books Children Love, and Bernice Cullinan's Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read.