hubby asked

I appreciate the guest post, Jewel Rodgers

When my husband asked me to look into electric rates in my area ambit energy was the first company I checked with. I had used them in the past and was really happy but low and behold he had a better idea – what he really meant for me to do was sign on with his buddy ted’s company. Now I usually wouldn’t have a problem with that but Ted is known all over town for having unscrupulous business practices and I just didn’t want any part of that. When I told my husband no it literally turned into the biggest fight we’ve ever had – I couldn’t believe it! At the end of the fight I was accusing him of choosing his friends over me and he was telling me I was all about money…things that weren’t at all what we started arguing about. It began small but some issues came up that apparently we need to address which is why I’ve signed us up for marital counseling. We start Monday and I’m only a little nervous…

Pimp My Cube

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Finally vacation is here. Well, not really too crazy though because it means I need to do a lot of stuff like chores, reorganization of the – what else… the bedroom and my workshop. And being said that here I am surfing the net, catching up with updates on facebook and sending emails left and right. Then I stumble upon this “Pimp My Cube Contest” and got quite stuck on it. I read and think if my messy workshop will qualify for this. I do need a very organize workshop for my craft where I do all my polymer clay sculpting. Well, that doesn’t count. So what am I talking about?

This Pimp My Cure Contest is a search for “ the worst, most pathetic and messy cubicle or office that may have bad furniture, old technology, messy, unorganized, noisy, dirty, dark and/or any other attributes that make it a bad space to work in . . .”

Isn’t it cool? They wanted people to use the power of internet to upload a video of their messy cubicle, office space or work area while explaining the why it’s horrible and why you need a make-over of sort. It’s like a reality TV/make-over TV shows that we watch on – of course TV. You need to explain why you really desperate to for the Contest Factory to come in and “Pimp”  your cube. Then, enter your video for the contest. Once the video is entered, you need to invite friends and family and coworkers to VOTE for your video. That’s it.

So what’s the prize for all the trouble you will get yourself into? You get sweepstakes entry points for registering, voting, commenting and inviting others to register for the contest. Judges of the Contest Factory will choose the most voted, best or shall I say “worst” video and the most compelling story. Approximately $1200 is at stake for this contest which will cost the updating of your cube/office/workplace.

There are three prize packages:

o New high end computer system
o New Desk, Chair and Decorations
o New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc.

Well, based on what I read no has uploaded a video so it means that our chances of winning are very good if we can do the video. You can use either your smart phone or webcam and upload video to the site to enter.
Here is a more detail information of the contest”

· Video should be fun and witty – anything goes!! The better the story, the funnier the video – better chances of winning.
· A second sweepstakes prize of a $200 gift card will be awarded to the registered user chosen by random drawing at the end of the contest period.
· The contest period is from 12/5/11 at 12:00PM to 1/31/12 at 12:00PM.

Hmmmm. I think I can qualify for this.  It will surely be fun. The only problem with me right now is I’m to shy to video tape myself. Well, I will think of something.

So you my friends, if you want a workplace make-over visit the PMC site, register and upload your videos and enter in the contest. Once your video is approved, sweet talk, bribe, force [whatever works for you to ensure you win the contest] your friends and family to vote on your video to enhance your chances of winning.

Now, where is my camera? Wink*

To Rent or Not to Rent

Last night, my Sweetie was busy browsing on Calgary Apartments online. I wondered why and suspected that she might be cooking up something again this time. Well, apparently, she has a friend who is now based in Calgary, Alberta and she is planning to spend her entire summer vacation there. Well, I am not really worried for now since it's way too far ahead. I was thinking it might really be a nice idea to go for a vacation for a change. I just need to google if Alberta has some gold for panning. wink***

But then, renting an apartment for our vacation is a great idea since it will be more convenient for us aside from the fact that the rate is practical and affordable too. We really don't know how long we would be there since she was only browsing for now but knowing my Sweetie, I don't think she only wanted to go for a visit for a week so renting an apartment is the best thing to do. Well, most visitors to RentCalgary.com are people looking to rent a home in Calgary, Alberta. And my Sweetie would surely love to spend her vacation on a homey environment.

Oh well, time flies quickly and as soon as the New Year starts months will be passing by quickly too. So, I better be prepared for anything because my Sweetie can change her mind anytime soon too.

Noontime

This is the situation at the campsite where we go for gold panning every noontime last summer. Can't wait for another summer.

To Join Photo Friday Challenge... click HERE.

Cupcakes

The article written by Alonso Kramer

Baking is not one of my strong points. My husband says that is putting it lightly. I guess there was a recent teeny tiny incident that might have put my skills further under question than usual. I recently got a new stand mixer, and decided to whip up a batch of cupcakes for a party we were attending. Seems fairly easy, right? It actually went really well. My batter was perfect, they cooked perfectly, I cooled and iced them and we headed to our friend’s house. One little problem—seems that somewhere along the way I forgot to turn the oven off. In my defense, it is a lot of steps to make the perfect cupcake. Luckily, we were barely down the street before I realized I’d forgotten something and we turned around to grab it. Immediately when I stepped in the house, I smelled the gas and shut the oven off. I’m so thankful that I did, as I have a dog and a cat who probably don’t want to breathe in noxious gas fumes. The good news, though, is that we also have an ADT long beach alarm, so once the sensor detected the carbon monoxide, an alarm would have sounded and the proper authorities would have been called. In the end it probably wouldn’t have been a disaster, but I will be staying away from baking for a while. Just in case.

Opening the store

Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

When I opened up my garage I didn’t have any business experience and I wasn’t sure how good I was going to be at it. I’ve been learning slowly and making mistakes every day but there’s no way anyone could know about some of the hardships I was going to deal with without actually going through it themselves. For example, I had a hard time finding some way to accept credit cards and my customers just weren’t able to pay me cash for the things I was doing to their cars. A friend finally told me about BANK-CARD-PROCESSING.com which has really helped but things like that are the things you learn when you’re on your own and trying to run a business. There are tons more lessons for me to learn but it won’t take long at this rate – each day brings some kind of new challenge but so far I feel like I’ve really been holding my own when it comes to being a small business owner with a good head on his shoulders.

Car

My Dad's 1930 Ford Roadster which my then two young daughters love to joyride with Nana and Grandpa. It is now sold for $16,000.

To Join Photo Friday Challenge... click HERE.

Fire

One weekend of summer 2010, my Sweetie and I spent another weekend at Byron. I was finally able to convince my Sweetie to go camping in the campsite instead in the hotel which we usually ended up every time we planned to go camping.

It was indeed a huge step for her to finally agree to sleep in the tent.

And here is the picture of the bonfire we had that time.

For more Thursday Challenge... visit HERE.

A score of 10 for this One

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you aware that you can stop the FCC from taxing you more? Yes you can stop tax increases for cellular service. Ok, this may be too technical. Let me quote so you can have a clear idea of what I am talking about.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is consolidating changing the way the Universal Service Fund (USF) fee assessed on all wireless carriers. This change would mean that each NET10 customers could pay almost $1.00 or more per month, even if the customer used little or no long distance service during the month. Prepaid wireless already pays its fair share into the USF, but the $1.00 fee would increase NET10'S USF taxes by 1,600 percent!
At NET10 Wireless, we support reasonable fees for USF, which is used to support affordable phone service for rural, inner-city and other low-income persons. But if you agree that a 1,600 percent increase in the USF fee would be unfair to you, or if you cannot afford higher airtime charges, you should tell the FCC directly how you feel about this proposal. 

So, with this in mind I believe that Net10 Unlimited is indeed a great deal in any phone service there is. Imagine that you can get nationwide coverage and unlimited talk, text, and data, for only $50 a month. That is huge, ain’t it?

This kind of phone service is indeed very useful for business like mine – construction where we spend more time on construction sites and always mobile. But more importantly, it is also very practical of everyday life where everyone are always out at work or at school.

As for me, this is not just a great deal but really practical. And there are 10 Good Reasons why I said that.

1.       There are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. Great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Finally, Net10 only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.
2.       Their Monthly Plans are awesome. The Easy Minutes Plus plan is an automatic minutes plan that starts at $15.00 for 200 minutes.
3.       With Pay-As-You-Go Plans, your minutes carry over with active service.
4.       Unlimited Minutes, Text and Web for $50.00/month.
5.       Switch between plans each month to suit your budget and airtime needs, without penalties or fees.
6.        Airtime can be purchased online, at a nearby store, or directly from your phone.
7.       Their International Long Distance Service is available to over 75 countries, for about 15 cents per minute on calls originated in the US. International Neighbors program is currently available to Canada and Mexico. This program gives you a special phone number that your family and friends can use to reach you at your NET10 number.
8.       Their Phone Selection: Simple phones for simple needs, calling and texting capabilities for under $15.00
9.       Phones with essential features, such as camera, video recorder, blue tooth capability, mobile web and more for under $40.00
10.   Full QWERTY keyboard phones, slider phones, and touch screen phones, with all the basics plus great app capabilities, camera and video recorder, web access, etc., available for under $60.00

NET10 is the new thing on phone technology. And speaking of new – yes, you can check them out on Twitter or "like" it on Facebook. It only proves that they are indeed up-to-date.

To know more about NET10, don’t just take What Rob has to say… but also listen to what this Real NET10 customer has to say about these awesome phones and what they can offer.


Not convinced yet? See the Light… and check out this Cute NET10 commercial from some real Net10 customer testimonials


So between, practicality and functionality... NET10 is indeed the best phone service there is right now so what are you waiting for? Take advantage of this great offer and get connected for less and for real.

Beacon

Standing strong and proud, the Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth is historical. For me and my Sweetie, it's memorable. Four years ago on the 7th day of July, 2007... we vowed to love each other for better or worse.

Check out more Scenic Sunday entries HERE

The convenience of Convenience Store

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ampm for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sweetie spent the New Year at her cousin’s in California this year. It was the first time we been apart since we got married in 2007 and it was kinda tough for me. I don’t know about her but anyway, I was just happy that she was able to be with her cousin whom she has not seen for over 15 years.

Anyway, as she promised she would call me every day and every chance she gets while on vacation. Sometimes I would call her. And every time I called her and asked her where she was she would be at the ampm store either grabbing a snack or buying supplies for their road trip. I bet she also bought the stuff she brought me from her trip from ampm.

I wouldn’t be surprised if my Sweetie will be in the trendy stores all the time but if I could find her at the ampm store most of the time, there is something about it that is really convenient for her. Yes, it’s a convenience store that lives to its name.

Well, my Sweetie is always thirsty so I assumed it had something to do with “drinks” and yes, ampm's Thirst Oasis she said is an oasis for her thirst indeed because it offers up to 24 flavors of different fountain drinks with a choice of crushed or cubed ice. And that for her is already a luxury. LOL

Yesterday I came home early from work and found her “facebooking”. She was so excited about something and I found out why. It was all about the "Too Much Good Stuff Giveaway" that they are running at FB. She "Like" their page to join the said contest and went through the steps to register to win!

Well, I can’t blame her to feel so excited about the contest because the grand prize is a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada which she told me she wants to visit again – with me this time. Wink* And yes there are other super cool Periodic Sweepstakes prizes like; Apple iPod Nanos, Apple iPod Touches, Apple iPads or an Apple MacBook Air. That MacBook is the one I want to win for myself. LOL. They even have the Instant Win Game that you can play by spinning a virtual slot machine where they are giving away 15,000 bottles of Pepsi Max and 10,000 corn dogs! That one is way too cool too.

Well, if you have a facebook account, you too can join this cool contest. Here is how to join.

*Like" their page and go through the steps to register to win!
* After completing registration, you must then play the Instant Win Game by spinning the reels of virtual slot machine. If all three reels match each other at the end of the virtual spin you're a winner!! By playing the Instant Win Game you've automatically entered yourself into the Periodic Sweepstakes and the Grand Prize Drawing!

There are lots of convenience store all over the US and this ampm so far is my Sweetie’s favorite. And if it her favorite, it means – it lives up to her expectations and yes, it’s got to be the best!

My Weekend Haven

I work hard everyday. And there is nothing that can compensate for a week's hard work for me but soaking in the beauty of nature with my Sweetie [though I know how much she hates it] down the river... doing one of my hobbies - gold panning.

Check out more Scenic Sunday entries HERE

Straighten Up your Budget

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sweetie and I spend a lot of time up the mountain all weekends of summer. I am just so happy that she comes with me without whining. LOL Well, I guess having our budget straightened out helps. You know women – they are not happy when budget is messed up. It makes them grumpy. [shhhhh, just between us wink*]

Well, since we switched to Straight Talk, I feel richer because my cell phone bill is cut in half. Sweetie is right; it’s crazy to be on a contract in this tough economy when you can get everything you need without one.

I told my friend about this switch too and he can’t believe the amount of money I save by switching to Straight Talk. He asked me what do I do with the extra money I save. Well what else would I do with it, it’s summertime? We can go camping all weekends. Wink*

If my friend like the idea of having  no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks, my own mother loves its great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. Oh yes, the saying “mom knows best” is so true with my own mother. She too was convinced by my Sweetie to switch, by the way. Why”

Here is why:

Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.
Their Monthly Plans:
• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.
• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.
• Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!
• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.
• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees
Their International Long Distance feature:
• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.
Their Phone Selection:
• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!
• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®

Mom said, ”this is everything you need Mike. Good that you listen to your wife!”  Well. I am glad too because I did buy a new Hook, line and sinker for ice-fishing. LOL
If you want to know more what these phones offer, watch this video of real Straight Talk customer:

And here is another testimonial of a convinced real Straight Talk customer that might convince you too:

As for me, if you will ask me, Straight Talk is just everything you need in a phone. You can call a friend, a loved one, or anybody without worrying about your bills. So what are you waiting for?Straighten up your budget with Straight Talk.

Last Weekend

Last weekend my boy finally agreed to go camping with us. I was indeed thrilled because last year he had a huge fit and I wasn't able to make him change his mind no matter how hard I tried.

Last weekend we spent quality time at the camp. We went fishing. We went gold panning. We watched movie inside the tent. It was simply awesome.

Last weekend I was able to do what I love doing during this time of the year - gold panning. And my sweetie and my boy did a great job in making that weekend awesome, despite the fact that I didn't get a huge nugget.

Better luck next weekend.

Switching is good! My Sweetie said.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I stop watching TV now. Why watch TV anyway when all you can see is the political circus that our politicians are doing. All the bickering won’t solve any problem that we already deep in. We need some fixing with the economy.

Oh well, I already did my share. I tighten out our budget. Well, upon my Sweetie’s bickering of course. She should be a politician… she has a convincing power. LOL First she started with… "Oh Sweetest, don’t you love the idea of feeling richer and saving money?" Of course I would say yes… "Well, lets start with switching our phone to Straight Talk because I can cut our cell phone bill in half." Of course, see hit me right in the gut. That’s the password.

Why not, being under contact with a phone company is crazy if you can get everything you need without one. We surely can save a lot and we can use the extra money we could save for our… yes, “gold panning” and to buy new Hook, line and sinker. for my ice fishing this winter.

So what is it all about Straight Talk? Here are some important points of consideration to switch.

There are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. Great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Finally, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.

And their Monthly plan is awesome, check this out:

• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.

• Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!

• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.

• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees

And for the International Long Distance, Sweetie was excited so she can talk to her family in the Philippines often:

• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

And yes, there is great phone selection:

• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!

• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®r, please check out these YouTube videos:

 I was really convinced when my Sweetie showed me real Straight Talk customer video on You Tube.



And for some real Straight Talk customer testimonials please check out the videos below:



C'mon life is tough, switching phone is the easiest thing to do now. I had to admit.

It's Gold Panning Season Again

It's summertime again and I am hoping that I will be able to do gold panning with my Sweetie and my son this year. You see, they bailed out on me last year.

Sweetie took a weekend job. I was guessing she took that job to have an excuse not to go with me.

But this year, I was able to convince her to go with me without any argument. She was awesome. Now, I need to convince my son to go with us. And that will take some bribing. lol

Rain Rain Go Away

Guest post from: Bruno Smith

What in the world was I thinking moving to Seattle? When I came here a few years ago it was to live with my boyfriend of two years. Well, about three months after moving in he got kind of crazy so I decided to move out and that was the best decision I ever made. He sort of followed me for a bit and I even got a SECURITYCHOICE.COM alarm since I wasn’t sure if he might come to my house or something, but now I’m not worried at all and I hear he even has a new girlfriend. The whole thing I meant at the beginning is that I hate rain, like, hate it with a passion, so when it gets all wet outside I can’t stand it! And if you feel that way, Seattle is obviously the worst place in the country for you to move to, duh. Anyway, I’m thinking about going back to California when my lease is up but I will miss all the great friends I’ve made here!

More than Pain Relief

I love my job. I have been doing carpentry work for more than 20 years now and I still enjoy doing it. However, with my friend and co-worker and I, the physical aspect of our job is already taking a toll on us. Muscle pains are inevitable specially during those times when we are working on the roofs. The countless times we spend climbing the ladder up and down are just one of the things that can give me unbearable pains on my back and legs.

Sure, my Sweetie's back massage can give me instant pain relief but it does give her pain in her hands in the process especially now that she is doing it more often. Now, there are two of us whining about pains. LOL Good thing that she found TENS Units, Muscle Stimulators, and Ultrasound Units for Pain Relief and Rehabilitation from LGMedSupply.com. Those babies give us the pain relief that we both need.

A combination unit called the LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator, enables one to get special benefit for increased muscle tone and muscle pain rehabilitation which are used by thousands of satisfied patients worldwide. Visit LGMedSupply Online and check the items they have in-stock. You can also get additional information on these amazing pain relief gadgets at their online customer blog.

You don't need to bear pain and torture yourself no more. The pain relief you need is just a click away. So give yourself the relief you need because you deserve it.

Ask the Professional

One of the things we are concern about when we do renovations is to make sure that other parts of the house which are not part of the project remain intact. It could be a real challenge especially with all the debris produced during the course of the project. Of course we take all measures to keep organized and to protect those parts as much as we could. But we cannot control other mess that goes with the process.

After our project is done, we do clean up the mess however, if the owner wants a thorough cleaning, that calls for going to the next level. Someone has to do the dirty job, so to speak. We could only do minor cleaning especially those that we did produce.

But if the owner needs specific cleaning job like marble cleaning and polishing austin for a more serious type of cleaning job to as simple as pet odor treatment, that calls for a deeper consideration if one wants the job done the right way.

It's not rocket science. It's as simple as asking the dentist do a tooth job and a plumber to do your faulty pipes. In other words, let the professional do the job professionally.

Styling my spring break look with sundresses

Guest post written by Jessica Peterson

I'm almost through getting ready to go on my spring break trip to Cabo. But, the only thing that I'm worried about doing now is packing and planning all of my outfits out that I'm going to take. I have a carry on suitcase that I'm going to try and take all of my stuff in.

I was looking up the forecast for Cabo for next week a few nights ago and when I was doing that I came across the website WildBlueDeals.com. I read through it a little bit and after that I decided to sign up for ! one of the internet packages that I found on that website.

For my spring break style I'm focusing on just taking mostly dresses and a couple of pairs of shorts just in case. I plan on wearing dresses both as cover-ups on the beach and also out at night for dinner and to go clubbing. Too bad I canÕt take a steamer with me because IÕm sure all my dresses will get wrinkled during the trip there.

You Have Options

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fannie Mae for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

With all the things happening around the world… in Japan, Libya, and even in our own backyard… it will be hard for anyone to make important choices especially when it comes to financial decision. With the current state of economy, we need to be wise and smart. We have to know what options we have out there to make the most out of our investment.

I have a friend who is struggling with mortgage payments with her home and at the brink of foreclosure. Even with a stable job she has right now, it is not a guarantee that financial environment will be stable. That is why, she sought out help from the experts to make every penny works for her and make good and sound financial choices. She turned to KnowYourOptions.com to get the help she needs to achieve her goal and save her home.

Know Your Options by Fannie Mae is the best place to get the right answers to your financial issues. Check out their website and find out all the information you need to avoid home foreclosure. You do have options other than foreclosure. What you don’t have is the “Options to Leave Your Home” So what are you waiting for? Find out now. And oh, by the way, “Beware of Scams”, find out from Fannie Mae what you can do and know your best options. Their website provides tips and warnings on how you can protect yourself from scammers and it’s FREE.

In this current economic situation no can be too careful. You need to protect yourself from fraud and scammers who are out there waiting for their chance to take advantage of your shaky situation. Be wise, be smart… know you options.

Sapping it

Okay, I know this supposed to be about my carpentry job but since lately that my projects are minor jobs, I thank God though that I have time to do things that are productive.

Spring has finally sprung, though Wifey is not very thrilled because we get snow almost every two days... I on the other had is okay with it since it is good for the maple trees. Yup, I tapped our trees and the saps are coming like rain.

I already collected 3 huge buckets and will start boiling them soon.

Scrubs Save my Day

My daughter works as a caregiver for over 5 years now. I am so proud of her. She’s a dedicated and hard worker. I just love to see her wearing her medical scrubs every time she comes for a visit. She looks so dignified and professional.

Last January , I was too busy working and didn’t have time to go shopping for her birthday presents. Well, of course I really don’t do shopping. It’s my Sweetie’s department. But she sometimes asks me what I want to give my children so I would come up with suggestions. But still, it’s up to her if she will get it or not. In other words, she got the last word.

Then I told her that maybe we could get Heather a new set of nursing uniform scrub. And viola, she knew were to get the best scrubs. Next thing I knew she was buying scrubs online. And before long, Mr. UPS was standing at my doorstep carrying the package. And that saved my day and my spot in my daughter's heart. LOL

Season Change Cleaning

I don't know about other people but with my Sweetie, cleaning is a must every season change. She has spring cleaning, summer cleaning, fall cleaning and of course, winter cleaning schedules. So before each season ends she needs to clean the house from top to bottom. She is a little OCD in that case. She has different totes or boxes for different items for different season and just the task of putting away items each season is really taxing. It would be ok if she would do it herself, but the thing is she needs a hand or two. hahaha And you can't say NO or else... go figure what will happen.

So winter season is about to end and I am expecting that we will be needing to clean the carpet and upholstery again just like last season change. It's a pain-in-the-you-know-what especially if we have to do it manually since we are on a tight budget right now. But good thing that commercial carpet cleaners austin is just around and reliable and more importantly - affordable.

They provide a lot of cleaning services such as dog odor removal austin, dry steam cleaner austin and upholstery steam cleaner austin, just to name a few of their services. So, I am not really worried right now because I know I have something to fall my back on and keep my Sweetie happy. And that is the most important of all. wink***

Some Help

Maybe not many people are aware that there is a new funding scheme to keep Californians out of foreclosure and bankruptcy which is currently held up by banks. Well, I am not aware of it too, I just read it online and thought it will help some people to post it here. So if you are curious… you can check it out Sacramento bankruptcy attorney and get the help you need.

Tough Times

Tough times seem getting tougher. To think that I am hoping that the economy will soon bounce back, home foreclosures are still on the rise. So construction jobs are still scarce here. That is one reason why no matter how much I want to post anything about my work or job-related issues, I am having a hard time. After a couple of projects before Christmas and after the New Year, I am here again waiting for another project. I am trying my hands again on new bidding here and there but to no avail.

And when the economy is shaky, everything is unstable. Everybody feels the pinch and Wifey is not exempted from it. She is already complaining about everything too from bills to food and gas prices, from services to glasses frames. But what can we do? Everything is beyond anybody's control... not even Obama. So who do we blame for the economy? Libya? Oh don't get me started. I am not into politics.

Oh well, life is tough enough and there is no sense in blaming or pointing fingers. Hard work is getting valuable okay but beyond that we need patience and faith to be able to get by. And have a bite of a chocolate. wink*

She lost them safely.

Wifey is a health junkie. And she is into everything herbal like Herbalife. And I can’t blame her. She does losing all those pounds that she gained since she came from the Philippines.

If you are looking for the best way to lose weight, find Herbalife Distributor nearest you.

She Spices up my Life

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am not really too crazy about spicy food. It’s not that I am scared of spices. They just kinda intimidate me. LOL. But when I married Sweetie, a lot of things have changed. Spices are part of my diet now… even with my “over easy” in the morning.

Well, if my Sweetie has changed that part of me. I can say that I also changed her. I got her into football and she is more excited of the Super Bowl than me. And since then, football season was never the same again. Every football season, instead of our usual movie night, we have the football night. And instead of popcorn… we have homemade pizza with TABASCO® Original Red on it. Yes, a Pizza Perfected with Tabasco. And turst me, it is not a football pizza without Tabasco on it – because, Tabasco is part of the game day tradition, so to speak. Wink* Well, why not? TABASCO® Original Red is "So Much More Than Hot”. It’s magical. It unlocks and enhances the flavor of food so every bite is a touchdown.

Let me share with you some ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about Tabasco that I find interesting:

• Original Red was the first sauce introduced by the McIlhenny family back in 1868 and continues to be their most popular sauce of 6 total sauces.

• TABASCO® Original Red is not about heat for heat’s sake. It’s about what heat does to the flavor of food. The simple combination of salt, red pepper, and vinegar are perfected in a 3-year aging process that produces a hot sauce with the uncanny ability to bring the most out of your food. Other hot sauces add their own specific flavor to food. TABASCO® Original Red simply enhances the flavor of food.

Well, I am not a cook. I am an eater so I cannot share any recipe with you right now. But if you want to know how Tabasco can spice up your life… check out the Game-Day Party Menu from their website for some yummy recipes and tasty ideas.

VD Pressures

VD is just around the corner. Time flies so quickly. I haven't even recovered yet. I haven't even recovered from the expenses from last December [I went to Jared!] and here come Valentine's Day.

Well, expenses are something that will surely stick around no matter what. Last December, I got some huge spending. I had to buy 4 new tires for my truck... replaced its windshield... and bought a couple of parts needed for repair. Then, comes Christmas season where I need to buy presents for my Sweetie. Whew.

Now, it's Valentine's Day... then March... which will be my Sweetie's birthday. Hayyyy!

Down the Frozen Lakes

I know my Sweetie isn't very impressed when I spend long hours in the lakes and ponds of Maine. Though she knows that it is that time of the year where we enjoy some winter activities like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and of course her most favorite... ice-fishing.

She is happy that it is ice-fishing season already. What she is not happy about it.. is that I spend so much time out in the frozen lake while I am having some pains on my back, toes and joint. She is complaining that when I am hurting and in pain, she takes the toll because I bother her to rub my back with her magic ointment.

Well, what can I do? I can't work full time now considering the weather. We have snow storms almost twice a week so we can't work on a regular basis for obvious reasons. And for obvious reasons... it is the best time when fishes bite!

Alone on New Year's Day

My Sweetie is in California. She will be back on the 8th [I hope].

This is the very first New Year's Day that we didn't celebrate together since we got married. When she told me her plans last year, I was okay with it. It only sank deep when she finally got the ticket 6 months after. And I finally realized it's impact when she finally said goodbye to me at the airport.

My Sweetie at the Getty Observatory. Copied it from here

Facebook page where she updates her 12-day Vacation.

Last week, we had a really bad snow storm that led to cancellations of thousand of flights. I was secretly hoping that it will continue so I can keep Sweetie to myself and celebrate New Year with her. But I knew deep in my heart that this vacation meant so much to her specially that she will finally reunited with her cousin whom she had not seen for more than 10 years.

Well, my Sweetie calls me everyday since she left to check on me and to share how her day was. And every time we speak on the phone... I knew how happy she is and how she misses me so much. And that is good enough reason that I let her go - at least for just a couple of weeks.