Submissions are finally being made for my most recent contest! I was beginning to worry that there wouldn’t be many, if any at all! I am really looking forward to seeing more submissions!

I’ve somehow managed to slice my leg! I have no idea how I did this! I’ve been sitting here, at my computer for at least a good hour now! The only thing I can think of is that maybe Bella did it when she hopped into my lap earlier! If so, I guess I didn’t realize what she’d done at the time because it’s just now started to sting! Guess I’ll go doctor it up a bit and slap Sponge Bob band-aid over it!

Jo looks so cozy in the bed. I think I may go join him here in a few and at least try to get a little shut eye! Five:am will be here before I know it!

Many people in my family suffer from major health related illness, issues and diseases. Some suffer with diabetes, while others suffer with heart disease and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Many people turn to support groups for motivation, encouragement, inspiration and strength, while providing resources and information, which can have an amazing impact on ones health and wellness! With the internet, many people can find those support groups through web-forums and social networking sites!

There was a recent article released on such a network, med3q, which is providing a new way for people to start taking charge of their own healthcare! This is a forum uniting physicians with consumers in an effort to help members achieve better health with improved lifestyle management! Members have access to tracking diaries, which enable you to record information about your health and all-around well being and various other health and wellness related resources to help manage their personal health related information.

As someone who has many close relatives struggling with their own major illnesses, I know how important it is to understand wellness and health. While politicians twiddle their thumbs trying to figure out a proper policy, med3q is helping people take charge of their health for a better quality of life!

If you are someone who suffers from diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or any other major illness / chronic disease, med3q is a social network that can provides you with the tools to help you manage your health! It’s your life. Make it personal!

I am wide awake for the second night in a row. No, make that morning! I managed to get 3 hours of sleep last night and figured I’d catch an afternoon nap, which is becoming more and more normal for me. Unfortunately nap time never came! I have been up since 7:15am yesterday, after not going to bed until after 3am! I have been up ever since! At one point earlier in the day, I found my eyes becoming heavy and just felt tired. This was about the time that Jo got back in from his medical insurance appointment. Needless to say, once he got back I didn’t get that nap in! I can’t believe I’m still wide awake though! I’m currently showing no signs of sleepiness either!

There is no way this sleeping pattern is a healthy one! I’m not as young as I used to be! I need a good night’s rest! I think my sleeping pattern was just thrown out of whack when I was sick earlier in the week! My naps went from an hour or two, to more than 5 hours at times! Hopefully it straightens out soon. My body is going to pay for this, I just know it!

So, the clock is rolling over to 1am as we speak. I’m contemplating continuing my search for my new camera, for a decent price of course! I keep hoping “Today is the day” but unfortunately, little things pop up, which set me back a week or so at the time! Good things come to those who wait, of course but I think I’ve waited long enough! I’m ready to get back into the swing of things! I fear I’m a little rusty!

When I do get my camera though, Jo and I are planning a trip up to Drumheller, Alberta! I have been anxiously awaiting the day I visit! It’s going to be an awesome photographic opportunity and hopefully experience as well!

My dad runs a small sign business (large store signs/window signs/magnetic signs etc). When he has to haul finished signs to the location they’ll be put up, he has to do so on the back of his truck or trailer. Until recently he was using tarps to protect them when he placed them on the back of the truck but recently he’s been looking into getting a tonneau cover. They come in different styles, ranging from the Quick Hatch to Hard Hat and even Sure Fit! Since he’s getting quite a bit of business these days, I think this would be a great investment!

I just wanted to make a quick note and remind you all about my newest contest!! You still have plenty of time to get your submissions in! I hope to see at least a handful of submissions once it’s over! I think this is one of the easiest contests I’ve done! Go check out the information and see if you think it’s something you’d like to do! There’s $$ involved!

Now I’m trying to get myself ready as quick as possible, while trying to type this entry out because Jo’s decided he’s taking me out to dinner! I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the new keyboard? haha!

My mom has been doing a lot of work to her backyard. She recently had a deck built and purchased several pieces of outdoor furniture. Her next “big” thing is going to be a swing, similar to the charming swings you see on a front porch! She’s actually planning on doing this in her yard though, up under a large tree (for shade). My grandmother has been staying with her for well over a year now and she loves being outdoors! She especially loves sitting under the shade and swinging!

I will have to send her over to Cedarstore.com for a look see! They have really nice rustic and high back swings (that would likely be the best if they consider my grandmother). My mom isn’t all that internet savvy, especially when it comes to actually shopping online! Cedarstore.com is laid out perfectly for people like me, who do a lot of online shopping / “window” shopping but it’s also very easy to use / user friendly for those who haven’t done much of it! Some of the things I really love are - the search feature, which allows shoppers to key in specific keywords and search for what they’re looking for, the tool tabs at the top, which makes it easy for shoppers to browse by categories and once you’ve done your search, you can narrow it down styles and price until you find exactly what you want! If I had my own yard again, I could see myself investing into several items they offer!

I am definitely inspired now, so I hope to be able to help my mom with all of her plans!

Jo thinks he’s a hot shot now! When he finished up doing his medical insurance paperwork today, he decided he’d look around for a new keyboard. Anyone that knows Jo, knows he’s all into WoW! Well, he’s been after a keyboard like his friend Brian has (suped up). Well, he managed to find an actual gaming keyboard, which he’d been unable to do for a long time! So there went $75! I can’t decide if this is bothering me or not! That’s a lot of money for a keyboard but at the same time, he works very hard and deserves it! I guess I’ll be a good wife and not let it get to me!

It seems like everyone is looking for ways to improve their SEO (search engine optimization) ranking! Not many people understand the importance of internet marketing and many of you are probably wondering why that is! Consider this - If you are a business owner who’s seeking new customers / clients via the internet, many of those customers / clients will find their way to your website by using search engines. This is the point where you want to grab those potential customers / clients, the moment they view their search results! It provides an immediate opportunity for a business, to bring that potential customer / client to them for a potential sell! Having a good quality web design and using custom photography over stock images is also important! Giving your business a professional, customized design will ensure the quality of your businesses image, a professional image it deserves!

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I’m going to be changing things up a bit, over the next few hours! Just letting you know, in the event you pop up over here and notice anything wonky! I’ve been working on a new theme and have been putting the final touches on it over the last couple of hours. I like the current one and could see myself going back to it in the future, when I get bored with others or just want a change without having to do an entire theme up!

Anywho, just letting you know!

One thing I would hate to live without is comfortable bedding. I do not like stiff sheets at all, so I’m always buying sheets with a fairly decent thread count! Anything over 250 and I’m sold! Jo and I have been on the lookout for bedding for our future guest room. I’ve been browsing around Daxstores.com and found a sheet set in their organic bedding section! I really love the Coyuchi Damask Set! I’ve always loved natural colors, especially in a bedroom. Beige and white have always provided a naturally beautiful and crisp feel to a room! One of the things I like about these organic sheets, is that the cotton used has not been treated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers! When you add that to the 300 thread count, you’ve got one amazing set of amazing sheets!

Those of you that are looking for more eco-friendly textiles, check out Daxstores.com! Not only do they sell things like organic bedding (like mentioned above), but they also sell recycled garden furniture!

For a second night (er morning) this week, I’m up way past my “bedtime”! It’s after 3am and I am still wide awake. I think it has a lot to do with my nap earlier today. I just have not been feeling like myself at all these last couple of days. I know it’s to do with this cold but I just hate it! I’m ready to get my energy back. I don’t mind taking little cat-naps when needed but this 5-7 hour nap thing is getting really old, really fast!

I’m considering hopping into bed and maybe watching a movie or something on Pay Per View, though I’m not sure there’s really anything worth watching on there, much less paying for! I wonder if CSI is on. It’s like a 24 hour CSI marathon up here. I get to watch like 5 episodes a day! I think I’ll check and see!

Here we are, smack dab in a heatwave, in the middle of summer! It’s so hot, the only relief one can get is to actually go outside! Now that summer’s here though, many people are planning their vacations. Jo and I plan to take a mini-vacation when we go back to Georgia. We’ll probably make it a weekend getaway of some sort and likely find ourselves in Florida somewhere! Jo’s never been to an amusement park, so my mom and I have been talking and we may end up with all of us doing a Disney Vacation! She’s been searching for Condo Hotels and other rentals in the Orlando and Kissimmee area. I would love to visit Sea World again myself! I think Jo is more along the lines of Universal Studios though! Either way, it will be a really nice and much needed family vacation!

I couldn’t imagine not having life insurance. It just seems so risky to me! None of us are promised tomorrow and I would hate to be living uninsured and something happen to me. I would never want to burden my family with any debts I may in the event my life was cut short. My parents always had insurance on my siblings and I but when I started working myself, I bought my own life insurance plan. After being laid off a little over a year ago, Jo decided to purchase a plan through his employer. Thank goodness for that!

Could you imagine getting a life insurance plan of $50,000 for only $1! I had no idea you could get a plan like that through Globe Insurance!

I look forward to Jo and I owning our own home again. There’s nothing like having the freedom to express yourself and add your own personality to every room in your home. One of the places I look forward to adding my personal touches to will be our future master bathroom. I can’t wait to shop for things like bathroom vanities, stone tiles for the floors (provided that they aren’t similar to what I want) and I would love to have one of those beautiful clawfoot tubs! I consider “my” bathroom to be “my” little retreat, which is why it’s so important that I add my own personal touches throughout! After a long day at work or a hard day of cleaning and running errands, there’s nothing better than relaxing in a nice bubble bath!

Edit; This contest was a complete scam. I have changed the links to redirect to the information regarding Ashwin the scammer.

I catch myself daydreaming about my soon-to-be new camera a lot lately. As I get closer and closer to the actual purchase, I just get more and more excited! I had actually hoped I would have had it by now but as they say - Good things come to those who wait! I’m trying to be very patient and not spend a large amount of money at once, without the proper nest egg to fall back on. It would be foolish if I took my entire savings and spent it on something that isn’t a necessity (though I often consider it as such).

So I daydream of winning some money. Maybe I could be one of those lucky people who gets the winning lotto number, maybe I’ll inherit some money from a relative (though that would mean the passing of a loved one and I would rather not have that happen any time soon). Or, maybe, just maybe I could win $2500 in a contest??!!!

Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

Many people talk about the bills they’d pay off. I have no such things, just regular utilities. I consider myself lucky in that aspect though. Some talk of donating and while I’m absolutely positive I would do this (it’s something I do at various times each year anyway), I still know that a good chunk would be spent on a little self indulgence! Everyone needs to do that from time to time!

You should all check out Ashwin’s blog. Maybe you’ll be the lucky blogger to win $2500, or maybe I will!!