Barry Williams

OMG! I'm so psyched this morning! Last night, hubby and I went to Casino Aztar. The Lounge there was having the Original Idols Live concert going on. I knew Barry Williams was going to be there, but had no idea I'd actually see him up close and personal! After hubby and I finished at the casino, we came back through the lounge area. At the same time, Barry was exiting the stage. I didn't know it at the time though and was just trying to get through the mass of women surrounding it. As I pushed my way through though, I immediately bumped into this guy. As I looked up and saw who it was I almost died of embarrassment. It was Greg Brady himself, Mr. Barry Williams!!!! Talk about a red face! I apologized and he did too, he smiled and said hi and went off to the little backstage area they had set up. I was in shock. Hubby didn't see it happen, but it did and I'll remember it forever:)

I am a bit disappointed in myself though for not sticking around and seeing the entire show because LEIF GARRETT, my personal favorite from my younger years, was also there. I'm upset that I missed him, but still psyched about bumping into Barry:) If you don't know who some of these teen idols are, watch this video clip:



So, did you see any of your favorite singers from yesteryear in the video? I strongly recommend checking out this concert, if you did, so that you can catch them in concert yourself. I know if they come back to my area that I will be sticking around to see the entire show:)

Dang it!

Here I was, all fired up to have my weight and measurements taken at Curves today only to get there and have a new staff member there who didn't know how to do it. Dang it! I was ready. I had worked myself up all week to be excited about it, only to have it postponed until I go back next Tuesday. Oh well, that gives me all weekend to lose a few more pounds and work my butt off.

My favorite craft

Had lunch with my mom, aunt and cousin today. That is always fun. We get to catch up on each others lives and, of course, gossip:) Today my cousin brought me a new craft project. She was cleaning out her closet, she told me, and ran across it. Knowing that she'd never do it, she passed it along to me. It's a counted cross-stitch picture of a hummingbird with baby birds in a nest that, once finished, can either be made into a wall hanging or a pillow. I'll probably do it up as the wall hanging.

Now, anybody who knows me, knows that I love cross stitching. I've loved it ever since I was a little girl and my grandma, who will be 99 years young this year, taught me how to embroider. I never quite caught onto all of the embroidery stitches except the cross stitch and it really just stuck with me. I have done several projects that, if I wanted to do so, would easily fill an entire blog with pictures. If I'd taken pictures of everything, that is:)

I think the reason that I love to do this craft project above all others is the simple fact that my grandma taught me how to do it. I love my grandma with all my heart and anytime I am working on a cross-stitch project I just feel closer to her. It is something that I will always have, a memory that I'll keep with me even after she is gone.

I really wish I had a maid

I despise cleaning! I wish I was one of those women who enjoyed it, actually got some sort of pleasure and sense of accomplishment out of it, but I'm not. My daughter is having friends over this weekend to celebrate her birthday and I've been on a mad cleaning spree since yesterday, but don't seem to be getting much done.

My house isn't a pig sty, but it is lived in. It's not one of those homes you'd see featured in magazines, but rather a home that when you walk inside you can tell immediately that a family lives in it. There are shoes by the front door (no matter how many times kids have been told to put them in their room), clutter on the kitchen table, backpacks and sports equipment tossed on the couch, and dirty dishes in the sink. Those things I have no problem with. Those chores are easily doable and really don't take a lot of time to finish up. My least favorite chore, however, is dusting. I will avoid that at all costs, if possible. I think because we have so many little nooks and crannies that it just is too time consuming. We don't have a lot of knick knacks, but there are several pictures and, of course, the whole entertainment system to deal with. Not fun.

I think for Mother's Day I'm going to put an "idea" out there and see if i can get some help around the house as a much needed and wanted gift. Or better yet, one of those maid people that I hear all this talk about:)

Weigh and Measure

This Friday will be my first weigh and measure day at Curves. This first month has gone by really quick. I don't feel like I've lost anything although I know you can easily lose inches without showing a loss on the scale. I think that lifting weights is a great way to get in shape. When I was going to Club Fit a few years ago, the first month I lost 19 lbs(!!!) and was down several inches. I can't remember exactly how many but it was quite substantial. I hope my measurements show some loss Friday. I feel like I am getting a great workout at Curves. Every day I work up a sweat and can really feel my heart pumping afterwards so I know I'm doing something right. Now I just need some good numbers to prove it to myself.

Bid4Prizes

I love auction websites. I like the thrill and excitement of seeing whether or not I can get a fabulous deal on a product. Normally, auction websites have the highest bidder win the item, but now there is a new concept out there.

At Bid4Prizes.com, the LOWEST bidder wins the prize! Now how is that for a switcheroo? You're probably asking exactly how does this work? Well, at Bid4Prizes.com you find a prize you like (for example, a camcorder which would normally sell for several hundred dollars new). Instead of bidding and paying several hundred dollars for it, you bid .50 cents. Once you bid, they tell you whether your bid is high, low, unique, or duplicate and the game begins. Bid4Prizes then gives you game tips to help you decide the lowest unique bid that will win you the prize. And the best of all, if you win the prize you actually pay NOTHING! (except shipping costs and any applicable taxes the IRS might charge you)

To join in on the fun, visit Bid4Prizes.com and register. Once you are a member, you could be the next low bidder and win some fabulous prizes.

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I don't like them. Nope. Not one bit.

We have salamanders around our house. I do not like them. Whenever the weather turns warm, they slither across our front deck, up the side of the house and across our window screens. They like to hide underneath the porch and will run out when you are least expecting it.

Today, while I was mowing, I had to move a few things out of my way, one being a small statue. Whenever I picked it up, one of those little critters decided to run right out from under it right at me. The shock made me jump and when I landed, it just happened to be right on his tail. Yuck, yuck and double yuck! Did I mention that I do NOT like salamanders?

This makes the second run in that I've had with these creatures. The first was right after we moved in and one ran across my barefoot while I was sitting outside! Now this? I think it is time for me to give them their eviction notice. No more living underneath my porch. I do not care if they live farther away, say maybe in the storage shed waaaayyyyy on the other side of the property. I wonder if they'd move? I'm sure if they knew of the possibility of them losing a tail one day that might be a good incentive. does anybody speak salamander so we can get that message to them?

Weigh In today

FINALLY! The scale showed a 1.4 lb loss for this week. I'll take it:) Hopefully this is a new wave of losses for me and these next few weeks will move me right down the number scale. I've been on NS for a month and a half and am now down 10.2 lbs. or something like that. I can't remember the exact tenth of a pound. In two months time, I was really hoping to be down 20 lbs. The last time I was on NS, I lost the weight so much faster. This time I'm going down, but it has been super slow going. I still have a couple weeks left in this second month and I'm hoping to be down at least 12 lbs. in that time. We'll see. With working out at Curves, maybe it is doable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

National Library Week

During the week of April 15th to April 21st, otherwise known as National Library Week, AccessMyLibrary is allowing users to access their online resources for FREE!!

If you provide a library card, you can expand these resources to include over 27 million full text articles from many renowned magazines such as Newsweek, Consumer Reports and The New Yorker.

AccessMyLibrary has databases that include 19th Century US Newspapers, Biography Resource Center, History Resource Center, InfoTrac OneFile, Book Review Index, Kids InfoBits, Small Business Resource Center and many others.

If you would like to use these resources, sign in at www.accessmylibrary.com/libraryweek during National Library Week.

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Working from Home

When I used to work in the "outside world", I always thought it would be the best to work from home instead. But, now that I'm working from home, there are days that I really wish I still worked elsewhere.

When we first started out business, we really weren't big enough to utilize an office in town so I just did what I needed to here. It worked well and plus I could be here when my kids got home from school and I was also able to do other things while I was here during the day, like cleaning, the dishes, laundry, etc. Over time, however, our business has grown enough so that now our little corner of the bedroom is being overun by business items. There's no room to put any more storage in there and you actually have to navigate very carefully when you get up to use the bathroom at night so you don't trip over a box of copy paper or a pile of files.

My kids are definitely old enough for me to work in an office again and if I were in an office then the minute I walked out that door, I would be able to switch from work mode to mom/wife mode. As it is now, work mode never seems to leave. No matter how hard I try, work still ends up popping into any conversation that I'm having. Even when I'm trying to relax in a bubble bath at night, work keeps intruding. I always thought having little kids was the worst thing to bother me while trying to take a bath. Boy, was I wrong!:)

So, now I'm weighing the pros and cons on moving to an actual office in town. There are several good things about it, but there are also several cons. One being that we'd have to pay rent. At least having the office here is rent free. I'll just have to think about it and see if working from home is really what I want to continue to do or if moving back into the "outside world" is the better choice.

Warning Labels

Today has been a very boring day so I've been doing a lot of television watching. While flipping channels, I happened to notice this warning on my RCA television remote...Do not put in dishwasher. Now who in the world would put their remote in the dishwasher? Apparantly someone was silly enough to do that though otherwise why the warning? Anyway, it made me wonder what other types of silly warning labels there are out there. I did some searching online and came across a website full of them. Thanks to Dumb.com for these hilariously funny labels.

On a container of salt: warning, high in sodium
On Woolite Carpet Cleaner: safe to use on carpets
Box of household nails: Do NOT swallow nails! May cause irritation!
Bottle of bathtub cleaner: For best results, start with a clean tub.
toilet brush: do not use for personal hygiene
T.V. manual: do not pour liquids into your television set
can of black pepper: usage unknown(?)
electronic thermometer: do not use orally after using rectally (yuck!)
rat poison: Caution! Has been found to cause cancer in laborator mice.
microwave oven: Do not use for drying pets
disposable razor: Do not use this product during an earthquake.

My favorite warning label though is on the boxes of Schwan's frozen food packages

Serving suggestion: Defrost

My favorite because my husband used to work for Schwans and he was ALWAYS telling me that people would ask him if the food had to be defrosted before eating! HA!

Blogging, Blogging, Blogging

I've had several of my friends ask me why I like blogging. Well, I like blogging because it gives me an outlet. When I'm blogging, I can let my fingers type whatever my mind tells them too without worrying about someone yelling at me because I've said something that I really shouldn't have to them. Blogging allows me to keep in touch with friends and family who live out of state. Blogging also lets me receive support on my weight loss journey from the many others out in the blogging world who are also on the same path.

When I first started blogging, I really didn't think anyone would ever visit my blog. It was more of an online diary for myself and myself alone. But the longer I was in the blogging world, the more I wanted others to read my stuff. So, I signed up for several websites that have me blogging for moolah. Of course, now I need even more people reading my website so that my page rank goes up and I can make even more money from these websites.

This is the main reason I joined the blogging group, Link and Blog Challenge. I'll be taking blogging challenges on this website, which will in turn give me a link from the next person in line to take the challenge. Sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to get backlinks to my blog. In case you're wondering what my first challenge was, it was to use the word blogging as many times as possible in this post. I think I did a good job.

Las Vegas trip

One of my friends, Josh, just got back from a trip to Vegas and from what he's told me they (Josh and his wife) had a blast! I have never been there, but think I'll be checking into it after hearing about all the fun he had this past week.

Josh said they saw all sorts of fun things, like the Azure Mermaid Show, which I guess is an underwater show featuring, you guessed it, mermaids! He tried to explain, but said I'd have to see it to totally understand. He also said they went to the Flamingo Hilton Wildlife Habitat, the Hard Rock Cafe, Harley Davidson Cafe, House of Blues, and the Nascar Cafe. But he said his favorite place of all was Planet Hollywood. He is a BIG movie buff and couldn't stop talking about this place and all the cool movie memoribilia.

Josh told me that if he ever wins the lottery and can move anywhere in the world, he would pick Vegas. He's already started looking at the MLS listings to see what type of homes are available there.

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Back on Track....again

I had a bad weigh-in Friday. I actually gained weight this past week. I am sticking with the reason being because I started going to the gym and my muscles are retaining water. I don't know if that is the real reason, but it's the one I'm going with.

Anyway, I looked back over my NS food diary and although I was following their plan I think I might have been eating bigger portions on some things then I should have been so today I'm back to measuring my add-in foods. I got lazy about doing it after the first few weeks and I am wondering if that might have been part of the gain last week too. We'll see this Friday if it helps. I would love to see a big whoosh of a weight loss, but will be happy just to be down something.

Alarm System

Owning our own business has led my husband and I to look into an alarm system for our storage building.

Most of the systems we have checked into though have been super expensive or you needed a professional to install them. Not so with the Lasershield alarm system. It is super simple to install, is portable and is available at stores such as Kmart and Sears.

I also like the fact that this system is expandable. You can connect it to multiple systems. It also provides 24/7 monitoring and is a pretty high-tech infrared system. It is perfect for small businesses, apartments or home security.

I think this is the system that we are going to go with. I'll let you know how it works out once we get it installed.

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disturbia

We just got back from seeing the movie, Disturbia and let me tell you it was awesome! I was hoping from the previews that it would be. It did start out a little slow, but it gave a good background story as to why the main character was troubled and causing problems leading to his house arrest.

Once the action started though it was pretty much non-stop. There were plenty of parts that had me jumping in my seat. The ending was exactly what I hoped for also, but I won't go into detail there. I don't want to give it away in case you plan on seeing it yourself.

All in all, I'd give this movie a thumbs up. definitely one to see in a theater too. I think it would lose some of it's mystery if you wait to watch it at home.

Maternity Insurance

If you are pregnant and don't already have health insurance that covers the medical services required during pregnancy, it can be almost impossible to find coverage that you can afford. That's where MaternityCard comes in handy.

At MaternityCard, experts will help you find a maternity benefits package that will meet the mother's specific needs. They will help you make the best decision on how to handle the expenses associated with having a baby. So, if you are pregnant help is just a click away. Visit MaternityCard.com today.

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Sunday

It's a nice relaxing day here today. And the sun is out...finally! Yesterday, get this, it SNOWED! In April, it was actually snowing! It was the weirdest thing. I really hope that it is finished and that spring gets here and stays. Today is the perfect day to just relax and enjoy the sunshine. It could be a bit warmer. I'm ready for the days when I can open the windows and let the fresh air in, but I'll take sunshine whenever I can get it over snow any day.

I took my daughter out for drive time yesterday. She's pretty close to having all of her hours in (50 minimum) so we're hoping she has them all in time for her birthday at the end of this month. Granted, her bday is on a Sunday, the license branch is closed here on Monday so it'll be at least Tuesday, but more likely that following weekend before she gets her license, but I think she can wait. She's doing really well. Still has a bit of a fear of bigger vehicles following too close behind her. She thinks they aren't going to slow down enough and will hit her when she's getting ready to turn. I think she'll get better though. That is just something that will have to be gotten used to the more that she drives.

Time to think about fixing lunch then it's back to my lazy day. Gotta go!

Weigh-In

Well, I am a bit frustrated today. I weighed in to a one pound gain for the week. I was hoping to show a loss, but no such luck. I've followed NS to a tee and have been working out so I'm wondering if it is just water retention from the added workouts that my muscles are getting. I'm going to go with that answer anyway:) Sounds good to me.

My second week of workouts went well. I was very glad to be finished today though. I was pretty sore. My legs, mostly, but my arms a bit too. I found out today that I'll have been at the gym for two months before I get weighed and measured. I thought they did that once each month, but they do it after you've worked out for 30 days instead. Since I'm only going 3 days a week that will mean I'll have been going for a little over 2 months before I find out if I'm making any progress.

My mom was telling me today that she can already see definition in her arms, but I think that is just wishful thinking. No way that just six workouts would show a change. Or maybe I'm just jealous that I don't see any change in myself.

Next week will hopefully show a weight loss on the scale. If not, I don't know how I'll feel.

Almost two weeks done

Tomorrow will be the end of my second week of going to Curves. I don't know if it is getting any easier or not. Today I was asked by one of the other ladies in there if I was having an easier time of it yet. I told her that I was, but honestly I'm still having a hard time of it. My pulse is still WAY too high after one circuit and I don't even feel like I'm putting that much effort into it! I'm barely walking in place between machines and although I am working hard on each station I know I'm not doing as hard as I could be. I don't know. Maybe I'm just that much out of shape that it is going to take me longer to feel the results? I know I'm ready to get past the sweat dripping off my face stage of it. I feel like such a slob afterwards that I can't, no wait WON'T, run any errands. My mom was telling me today that if I ever want to go shopping afterwards or have anything else that I need to do that it is fine with her, but I personally don't feel comfortable doing it. I mean, I've got sweat dripping off my face, my hair is wet from it, I'm sure I have a slight aroma wafting from my body afterwards, no way would I want to be walking through a store or anything subjecting others to that. Maybe one day I'll be like some of the others that I've seen in there and be able to jog between machines and still walk out after my workout with only a small glean of moisture on my brow. Maybe someday.

Window Blinds

I've been looking to redo the blinds on my windows. At the moment, we have mini blinds on the majority of them. I do not like them. I haven't since the day my hubby brought them home and installed them. They are nice to keep people from seeing inside during the day, but still letting in natural light, but I don't like the fact that they gather dust so easily.

I've been thinking of switching to Roller Blinds. Roller Blinds used to be pretty plain and only worked well for your kitchen or maybe a bathroom, but now they have so many varieties and styles available that you could use them in almost any room in the house.

I would love to get some black-out Roller Blinds for my bedroom. It faces east and every sunny morning, the sun shining on my face wakes me up too early. I'd also love to get some fabric covered ones for my living room. I'm sure I could find some to coordinate with the other fabrics already in there. And the ones that you can clean with a sponge would work fabulously in our mudroom. No more muddy little finger prints. I'm going to check out TerrysFabrics to see what I can find.

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Today in History

I meant to post this yesterday, but never got around to it. So will post it today. Enjoy!

April 10
1849-Walter Hunt of New York City patented the safety pin.

1916-The Professional Golfers Associations (PGA) held its first championship tournament.

1953-Eddie Fisher was discharged from the Army and arrived home to a nice paycheck of $330,000 in record royalties. He sold 7 million records for RCA Victor while on furloughs.

1958-Dick Clark devoted an hour of his American Bandstand show to the memory of Chuck Willis who had died earlier in the day from peritonitis.

1970-Paul McCartney officially resigned from the Beatles, disbanding the most influential rock group in history at a public news conference.

1985-Eddie Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop made it to the top ten on the list of top-grossing motion pictures.

Marketing Secrets

I've been trying to get more traffic to my blog forever, but just can't seem to figure out how to do it. Today I came across a Reformed Adult Webmaster Reveals Cutting-Edge Marketing Secrets.

Woodymaxim.com has a lot of different ideas of how to get more traffic to your website along with several other marketing strategies. Visit his website today to learn more!


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DNA results in for Anna Nicole's daughter

The courts finally got the results of the dna test today done on Anna Nicole Smith's daughter and found that Larry Birkhead, NOT Howard K. Stern, is the baby's father. It's about time. I kind of had a feeling that Birkhead would end up being the father simply because Stern was so adamant against taking the dna test in the first place. In my opinion, if he was so positive that the baby was his why didn't he jump at the chance to prove it? Hopefully now Dannielyn will be able to get to know her father and lead a normal life.

Hats

I always wished that I had been born back in the age when it was common to see a woman wearing a beautiful hat out in public. You know, like the big fancy hats that women used to wear to church on Easter. It's not as common now to see women wearing hats, but if you are one of the few who still loves them, I've found the coolest website.

Headgames.com has hats for all occasions. You'll find a cute little sun hat to wear for a day at the beach or an elegant ensemble for a summertime wedding. They also sell accessories, such as hair clips and Headbands and hair sticks.

Check them out today! Right now they are offering free shipping on orders over $75.

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Day 3, End of week 1

Ok, I made it through my first week of going to Curves. Today wasn't as hard as yesterday, but I also didn't work as hard as I did yesterday. I had problems when I was there Thursday. My pulse was WAY too high! I couldn't get it to slow down at all and by the time I left I was feeling dizzy and light headed. By the time I got home, I felt better thankfully.

Today I didn't go as fast on the walking platform between machines. Yesterday I was doing a fairly fast march and I think that's what pushed me over the top. Today I just did a slow walk in place and at times even just did a bit of a twisting motion. My pulse only went too high once and I was able to bring it down pretty quickly.

I'm hoping that next week is better. I'm sure it will be the more often I go and the better shape I get in. My mom is doing great. She might be 60 years old, but she was moving today like a 25 year old:)

Blogger's Choice Awards

PayPerPost has launched a new website to give out blogger awards. Voting is now open. The winner's will be announced on June 2 at PostieCon in Orlando, Florida.

When I checked out their website, there were 32 categories. Some of them are "Best Food Blog", "Freakiest Blog", "Most Obnoxious", "Hottest Mommy" and "Worst Blog of All Time". This blog hasn't been nominated yet (that I know of), but if you want to nominate me, head on over to their website and do so. You can nominate, vote for and even comment on any of the blogs that you'd like, but be gentle. Especially if you have a blog of your own. You never know who might be voting for yours! edit-This blog has been nominated in the category of Best Blog about Stuff. Please visit the blogger awards website and vote for me! Thanks!

There are several blogs nominated in the Worst Blog of all Times category. I sure hope nobody puts me in that one! Yikes! I think my favorite category is Most Obnoxious Blogger. There are actually several blogs nominated in this category that I visit all the time. Like The Domestic Diva, The Sanction, and 5xmom. I don't think I would have classified them as obnoxious, but I guess everybody has to fit in one category or another.

So, what are you waiting for? Head on over and check this out. You'll find some fantastic blogs to read and don't forget to vote for your favorites!

Curves, Day 2

Ouch! That's about all I can say this morning. Every muscle in my body is SCREAMING at me, yelling at me for putting them through this torture we call exercise. God, I can tell I'm in terrible shape.

Day two started out fine. I picked up mom and we were all smiles when we got to the gym because there wasn't anybody else there. I love working out when you have full use of the gym and don't have to wait on others to move out of your way. So, we get started and on the very first machine we're both making terrible grimacy faces. Hmm, guess our muscles did get a workout on Tuesday after all and are now wondering why the heck we're going through this again. One lap around the room and we're both huffing and puffing. Halfway through the second lap, my pulse is way too high so I slow it way down. I make it through the second rotation and get a dang cramp in my thigh. So, as I'm limping through the last half of the circuit, I'm in pain from being out of shape, my face is beat red, I have sweat dripping from my nose and I have a dang cramp in my leg. Talk about a beautiful sight. NOT!

Mom did fine, but she said she was more sore today then she was Tuesday also. I really hope this gets easier. I'm almost afraid to see how I feel tomorrow. Will I make it? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Cheating Men

I'm so glad that I'm not out in the dating world anymore. You never know what stories these guys are telling you just to get you to go out with them. Wouldn't it be nice if there were some way to check and see that the guys you're eyeing aren't actually cheaters or abusive men?

Well, there is. It's the World's Largest Database Rating Abusive and Cheating Men and is called WomanSavers. On this website you can search or even post cheating or abusive men. They also offer an abuse recovery message board, medical and psychotherapy advice.

Not all men out there are jerks, but why take the chance when you can check it out so easily.

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I LUV Ebay!!!!

I love eBay!!! Anything you could ever wish for, you can find on this website. I decided yesterday after working out at Curves that I needed a few more tshirts to wear there. I had thought about buying one of the tshirts that they had for sale there, but didn't want to pay that much for something that I'd just be wearing to get sweaty in. Anyway, I came home and thought I'd look on ebay and lo' and behold, there they were....Curves tshirts!

I found two in my size and bid on them. Thankfully both auctions were ending within the day and I was able to swoop in and win both of them:) I will now be waiting patiently for my mailman to bring them to me. They both shipped out today and said they should be here within one week. WooHoo! eBay, you are loved:)

Big Money! Big Money!

Over at PayPerPost, you know the website that all of these sponsored posts on my blog come from, they are offering 1K Tuesdays now! This means that every Tuesday there will be one posting opportunity that will pay $1000!!!!! There are no minimum page ranks, no segmentation whatsoever. You just have to snag it before anybody else does!

Who knew that blog advertising could be so profitable? I have done several posts for PPP in the past, but none have paid this much. I really hope that I can grab this opportunity when it is posted. This would make it so much easier to pay off some of my bills, which is my whole reason for "working" for PPP to begin with.

If you are not a member of PPP yet, visit their website to sign up. If you would like to read more about this opportunity, click HERE. If you are lucky, you might be the lucky person to snag the 1K opp. this week, but if you are not, don't worry. This generosity is going to go on the entire month of April so that means there will be THREE more opportunities for you to possibly grab some extra cash.

From a curvy woman to a Curves woman

Well, I did it. I made it through my first day of Curves. I didn't know if I'd be able to make it all the way through the circuit, but I did and I'm proud of myself. Granted, I was tired and sweating up a storm by the time I finished, but I finished and that is what matters.

I picked my mom up at 7:30 this morning and she rode into town with me and the kids. I dropped the kids off at school then mom and I headed to the gym. We were hoping nobody else would be there, but there were two other women in there. No problem though because they were very nice and almost finished with their workout anyway. Mom and I got started and we were moving along really well....for the first lap of the machines. Come time to do the second lap around and we were both feeling it. We were moving a lot slower that second time, but we were both enjoying ourselves and having fun. My sister inlaw came in when we were almost finished and we chatted with her for the remainder of our time. Afterwards, we did our stretches then left. We were both pretty wobbly going out to my car and when we got into the car, we both pretty much just collapsed. I'm sure we'll be better Thursday when we go back, but right now I'm sore and I don't even want to move anymore.

One of these days though I'll be posting that the workouts aren't as challenging anymore and I'm breezing through them with ease (HA! that won't be for awhile) and that's when I'll know I've become an official Curves woman:)

Weigh-In

Well, I don't know how I managed to do it, but I was down another pound this morning. That makes a total of 9 lbs. gone now. Slowly but surely I am getting there. I know it would be so much more if I could just stick to NS 100% for the entire week, but those weekends just kill my eating plans. No matter how hard I try, something comes up and I totally go off program. I know it is all a mental attitude, but it is just one that I can't seem to get past. Oh well, I'm happy with the 9 lbs. that are gone and plus I start working out at Curves tomorrow and I know that will boost my losses too. I'll get there!

The Heart of Mars

The Heart of Mars by Chuck Rosenthal is a new book that I recently read. It's part fantasy, part detective story and gives you a different perspective of how our future might be. This book is a follow-up to his earlier novel, "My Mistress, Humanity".

This genre isn't normally what I would pick to read, but Mr. Rosenthal makes it very interesting and was able to hold my interest the entire time. I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy for yourself.

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I'm worried

I am wondering if I'm going to show a loss tomorrow. When I peeked at the scale on Friday, I was down another pound, but this weekend has been pretty much an eating fest! Friday night, since hubby was out of town, I took the kids to dairy queen for a treat. I didn't get any ice cream, but I did eat dinner there (a grilled chicken sandwich, no mayo, and a small fry). I did really well Saturday for breakfast and lunch, but then when my hubby returned that evening he wanted to go out for dinner and we ended up at the local Mexican restaurant. I did order a small taco meal, but it was still way more then I needed. Today we took the kids to bowl and did have a lot of fun there, but afterwards we ate at Applebee's. I did order off the weight watchers menu, but still feel that i didn't stay on program even though it was lower calorie then anything else I could have ordered. I'm going to get back on track with my dinner tonight and I have drank a ton of water since we got home to hopefully help flush any extra calories out too. I will hope for the best, I guess and then pray that going to Curves this week gives me a bit of a boost too.

Make Money with IM

There are several ways to make money popping up all over the internet. The newest website that I've found is called Isellim: Connect with experts online now via Instant Messaging

With Isellim, if you are a lawyer, accountant, therapist, geek, or just someone who can offer professional advice then you can sign up for Isellim and earn money by helping people who need your it. You will be listed according to your expertise and then people can "hire" you to get your professional advice.

The following is a press release regarding Isellim:

A new website at www.isellim.com allows experts to set up an account and get paid by clients for their expertise.

Are you a great financial planner? Maybe you have excellent fashion sense or can tell someone how to optimize their website

How much is your time worth? $75 an hour? $15 for 15 minutes? $30 per call? Whatever you like. People will only be able to

contact you when they've prepaid your rate.

"Creating a simplified way to sell knowledge is a logical and overdue step on the economic evolution of the net," said

isellim's creator Richard Ellender.

The concept of isellim is fairly straightforward, experts are able to list themselves in a directory.according to their

professional expertise and will be available for hire by any isellim client. They receive all the tools necessary to

communicate with clients who are searching for immediate help.

From the clients's point of view isellim is an online expert advice service that enables them to contact a real person who is

an expert in the chosen area of inquiry.

"With an isellim account, you are in control of when you are available for work," Ellender said.

When an isellim expert is available, an "online" button appears in the directory of the isellim site or on the experts's web

site, blog or email. Pricing can be set per minute or per call with a set time limit.

The entire service is free for experts, save from a 10 percent commission taken from all Instant Messaging Sessions. "Anyone

on the web can use this, without any money down," Ellender said. "There is only a charge if it's used. The Internet will be a

saviour for knowledgeable people looking to make some extra money."

isellim allows anyone with expert knowledge in their field to use the service; traditional service providers like accountants,

therapists and legal professionals, as well as other experts and enthusiasts, to earn money by connecting online immediately

with their clients.

Try the new Instant Messaging Service at www.isellim.com

April Fool's

Your April Fool's Day Prank Should Be

Loosening the salt shaker

What April Fool's Prank Should You Play?