Friday, June 27, 2008

Did You Know About Visit to Wonderful Island?

Did you know about "visit to wonderful island" ?

This is a new blog that I just came across. Of course it caught my fancy as it is filled with exciting pictures and tips on traveling to exotic places in Indonesia. Lake Toba looks lovely and Komodo Dragon Island looks like a very cool place to see some unusual creatures! I know the kids would love that one! And of course there is Bali . Maybe one of these days we will make a journey over to Indonesia while we are visiting Singapore. Who knows? Maybe reading this blog will help me prepare!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Did You Know How To Make Money Blogging?

Did you know how to make money blogging?

I know very little about it. I have done alright inserting paid ads and even made a little with an affiliate program. But there is someone who has really taken off in their blogging for money efforts, and she shares them regularly online for anyone willing to take the time to learn from her advice.

At Court's Internet Marketing School you can learn daily ways to help you monetize your blog. And starting today, Court will begin a 50 part video series that walks through starting a blog for profit. What better way to make money with your blog than with free advice from a successful blogger like Court!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Did You Know About Blue Lagoon?

Did you know about Blue Lagoon?




Yesterday, we went scuba diving in a lake just north of Huntsville, TX. This lake, or really two lakes, is known as Blue Lagoon. Is was made just for divers so there is no need to worry about boaters. We drove up and spent nearly the entire day at Blue Lagoon. When we got there, the attendant said they were nearly full and there were no shelters available. We did not realize you could reserve these ahead of time or we would have (though we are still not 100% clear on if individuals can reserve these or only dive classes.)



We drove around to where our instructor had recommended us to go. It was pretty full but we found a vacant spot. Just as we got everything unloaded, a group came saying they had reserved this spot. (It was not a sheltered area) So, we threw everything in the truck and parked in the shade and started unloading. We decided we would just put everything in the water and leave it at the edge between dives. This worked out pretty well, but luckily, the group in the shelter next to where we were was just finishing up and gave us their shelter!

The water was warm, calm and pretty clear (though as the day wore on, visibility grew less.) Even though they were full, we found it not to be a problem. We never felt too crowded by other divers or swimmers (you can apparently go to just swim.) We were in a really nice spot to play and swim between dives. The kids (and us) had fun swimming, snorkeling and jumping off the rocks.

The lake is really pretty and was a great place for us to get in some good practice and gain some confidence in our new adventure.




Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Did You Know About My Reusable Shopping Bags?

Did you know about my reusable shopping bags?



green sage grocery bags


I am happy to use less plastic by taking my own shopping bags to the store. I've got several tote bags/book bags, but they really did not work so well for shopping. Our local stores began selling some reusable shopping bags. I did buy a few of these, but knew I would need many more for my weekly (or ten days) shopping trips.

My friend Forever Flamingo bought herself some sturdy reusable grocery bags and wrote about them on her blog . I decided to check them out for myself. I found them online and purchased the grocery set , four sturdy bags and four produce bags.



cotton produce bags


I must say that I love them! They are large and hold a lot, they are sturdy and the produce bags work well too. I am still not completely in the habit of taking my own bags in with me. If I am going on my grocery shopping trip, I usually remember, but if I am out and decide to stop and pick up a few things, I don't always remember. But I'm getting there. There have been a few times where I or my kids have gone back out to the car for the bags. I think it really is worth it.


these hold lots of heavy stuff

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Did You Know About My New Blogs?

Did you know about my new blogs?

Yes, it's true. I have started not one, but two new blogs! I have thought for some time about starting up a new blog on my own domain. BlogSire has recently posted some advantages of having a blog at your own domain. I know of several others who have also recently gotten blogs on their own domain.

So, when the time came, I chose to start up two new Wordpress blogs. BlogSire did much to help me. It was a lot of fun. One of the most fun things, one that my daughter enjoyed doing too, was looking for wordpress templates to use for my blogs. There are lots out there to choose from. But I had some certain ideas in mind that I was looking for. I did find something close to what I had in mind for my alphabet blog and the other I found something that fit perfectly that I had not thought of!

If you too are looking for a new theme for your wordpress blog, you might want to check out some of these great designs: "pink stars" is cute, or maybe you are ready for a "beach party". I really like the "fractal rainbow" myself. I think it's important to be able to preview the template before downloading it. This gives you a feel for how your blog will look.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Did You Know We Have an Orchard Nearby?

Did you know we have an orchard nearby?

I had no idea until today! A lady from church told me about an orchard, yes, an actual orchard very near to our house! Fruits N Such Orchard is located off state Highway 146 at 6309 Ave. U in Dickinson, TX. It is open daily from 6-8 pm and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. The orchard boast peaches, blackberries, tomatoes, okra and black eyed peas, all ready for you to pick! I am anxious to get time to get the family out to Fruits N Such!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Did You Know A Local Town is Looking Into Alternative Water Transportation?

Did you know a local town is looking into alternative water transportation?

My first thought was something like the canals of Vienna, but I think the vision is a little different than that. As there is so much congestion of traffic in the neighboring cities, in particular those cars heading to NASA, the local communities are looking for alternative methods of transportation. I think I kind of like this idea. It would be smart to use the existing waterways to help people get to where they need to go and it seems as if it would help cut down on the traffic congestion. They are not looking at using gasoline powered boats that hold 50 people, but rather some type of containerized bullet-train type water jet! Sounds very interesting! It would also be appealing to tourists in the area. The communities that could possibly be interested in this new idea are those who surround Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and Taylor Lake.

Did You Know I Think I am Losing My Mind?

Did you know I think I am losing my mind?

Wouldn't it be great if we could upgrade our memory as easily as we upgrade our computer memory? The older I get, the worse my memory is getting. I am forever asking or telling my kids things that they say I've already asked or said! I just can't remember!! I don't know if it is so much that my memory is fading or if it is in overload...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Did You Know About the Lolita Effect?

Did you know about the Lolita Effect?


Yesterday, one of my daughter's friend's dad stated that "modesty is seriously underated." I had to agree. And it made me think about a new book that I recently heard about, called The Lolita Effect. It is about the early sexualization of girls targeted by today's media. Last month, the book's author joined in an online chat with others who were interested in her subject. Many thoughts and questions were brought up. It seems that there is quite a bit of concern as to what our girls and boys are being taught by the constant bombardment of sexual images and the targeting of young children with sexual merchandise and articles of clothing. If you are interested to read through the discussion you can find it here .

Did You Know About A New Twist for a Birthday Party?

Did you know about a new twist for a birthday party?

My daughter volunteers with a pet shelter whenever she can. Right now, they are having to relocate their facility. They are in need of money and donated items to help them with their move, not to mention the regularly donated items they rely on such as dog food and paper towels.

One of the other girls who volunteers here just had a really great new idea. She had a birthday party where guests did not bring gifts for her, but rather brought requested items to donate to the shelter! She got cash, dog food and paper towels for her birthday! What fun for these kids! I bet she had just as much fun printing up her party invitations and being with her friends, not to mention that she knew she was helping out for a good cause.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Did You Know About My 200 Haves and Have Nots?

Did you know about my 200 Haves and Have Nots?

I noticed on Marathon Bird's blog, this fun little game. It is a fun list to look through and find all the things you have done. It's also fun to see things you have not done and maybe wish you had. If you want to play along, simply copy the list and highlight the things you have done!

My 200 Have and Have Nots!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars (in a tent!)
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight (recently my youngest nephew challenged me!)
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (helped my friend who raised a lamb, but never held it)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run (T ball!)
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach (not midnight, but night)
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving (just got certified!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (blogging for money??)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie (an extra in a commercial)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy (would books count?)
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did (Patrick Henry is a distant relative)
71. Called or written your Congress person (email)
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (for those T ball home runs!)
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name (When I got married)
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad (hm, in school and I doubt it was the whole thing)
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four feet
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play (well, off Broadway)
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone (nearly every day!)
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant (I have ridden a camel and my kids rode an elephant in the Singapore zoo)
127. Published a book (maybe some day; I’ve got an idea and it’s already typed up)
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place (TEXAS is pretty historic isn’t it??)
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (if Putt-Putt counts)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon (done two triathlons)
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo (only to my kids or my bible class kids!)
143. Gone spelunking (do tours of caverns count??)
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss (hey, MOM is the boss, right??)
154. Sat on a jury (almost!)
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera (kids opera)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous (if form letters count)
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics (1984!)
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life (unless you count the numerous times I didn’t "kill" my kids when they deserved it!!)
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator (but I have been in four states at once-Four Corners)
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire (that’s hubby’s job!)
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Did You Know You Can Read Reviews on Phentermine?

Did you know you can read reviews on Phentermine?

Now that swimsuit season is officially here, there are many who are trying quick weight loss methods. Of course, nothing can replace a healthy diet and exercise. But for those who are looking for a boost, it is good to do your homework. Online reviews can be a great place to start for information.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Did You Know About the Online Homeschool Art Gallery?

Did you know about the online homeschool art gallery?

I did not know one existed before! I just found out about a new blog which is host to art work done by children, particularly homeschooled children. Now, the blog is still fairly new, but the host is letting folks know that not only will she be posting art work, but others are welcome to post kids' work as well. What a fun way to gather and show off kid's work in one virtual location. I am going to have to look through and see what I can find to submit to the Homeschool Artist .

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Did You Know About the 2008 Hurricane Workshop?

Did you know about the 2008 Hurricane Workshop?

As hurricane season is upon us, the greater community is taking care that folks will be prepared in case of emergency. This Saturday, June 7, the 2008 Hurricane Workshop will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. This is a free family preparedness workshop and will feature an interactive kid's area. If you want to see how ready you are, take the survey online at hurricaneworkshop.com.

Did You Know About Smart Balance Transfers?

Did you know about Smart Balance Transfers?

I think keeping credit cards under control is important. There have been times when we have gotten in over our heads, and one good way to cut out some of the additional fees is to make a balance transfer to a card with lower or even no fees. It is a quick and easy way to cut down on added credit card fees.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Did You Know How To Win Free Books?

Did you know how to win free books?

Do you love birthday parties? Do you love books? Would you like to win free books?
My bloggy friend Sun Singer is celebrating his book's birthday by giving away free books! It's fast and easy to enter and you just may end up a winner. Take a look at his blog and the books offered up as prizes . One of them is his very own Sun Singer novel!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Did You Know About Watership Down?

Did you know about Watership Down?

My friend Marathon Bird recently hosted a book club on the book Watership Down . Yesterday as I was out, I came across a real life version of this story. I think I encountered Fiver coming face to face with one of his visions.



This was taken directly across the street from the site of a new subdivision...

Did You Know about Moving Out of State?

Did you know about moving out of state?

I have never moved out of state. We have several friends moving this summer. One of my son's team mates is moving out of state. I am not sure exactly where they are moving. But I know that there are many movers available nationwide that would be an asset to these families. From movers New York to movers on the West, I know families in transition this summer will be looking for these services.