I have been telling myself for months now, that I would sit down one day and work on creating an mailing list but had no idea what service I would use for it. I mean, it has seriously been years since I actually had and used a mailing list, but it is something I want (and probably need) to implement since I update so often and do so many different things with my blog these days.

People visit my blog for many different reasons; blog themes, blog banners, my random babbles, however amusing they may or may not be, contests which I hold a couple of times each month and of course, for my photography. I have recently registered with Zookoda, which is a free email marketing tool, and will start using it to send out regular summaries of my latest blog additions. For instance; I update my contests a couple of times a month, as well as my themes section. With Zookoda, I can send out a weekly summary of the updates that I have made to my blog, including the regular content and special features like my contest.

When you register with Zookoda you will be able to create and manage newsletters that can also be designed to to match the current design of your own blog - something I, as a designer, really enjoy. You will also have the ability to schedule a broadcast, review reports of your newsletter and easily create and add the subscription form feature to your own blog so that your visitors can subscribe to your newsletter. You can send your visitors a daily, weekly or even a monthly summary of the latest updates to your blog - and it goes straight to their inbox. I think this is a feature that my own visitors will really enjoy, especially the ones who are not always able to check my blog on a daily basis and hate the idea of trying to get caught up.

My memory may not be the best but I cannot recall ever using a similar service and not only having so many nice options, but also being so user friendly. Being easy to use is a big plus. I can’t wait to get started with my newsletter.

All of this, for free? Oh yeah, and you should have known that I would be game!

I’m going to be starting something new soon, a weekly photo meme. I’ve been thinking about this for about a week or so and it just seems fitting, especially after hearing “Manic Monday” while thinking about it. It just all came together.

You know how much I enjoy photography, like many of you. And you know how much I love, love, love macro photography (or as I like to call it, macrotography). I shall call it “Macro Monday” - it’s just another macro Monday. I’ll start it this coming Monday, March 31st and I really hope you’ll all participate. There will be no subject requirements, only the macro requirement. It sounds pretty fun to me. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I hope it’s sort of the same.

If you think you’ll be interested in participating, just check back here early on Monday, March 31st. Maybe I’ll be able to stick with it for a full year, though I failed miserably at other “like” projects.

Also, need I remind you about my contest? Hey, look! I just did.

With money being fairly tight around here, my husband and I have had to resort to different ways of saving money. Before, when we both brought in nice incomes, we could just stash some into our savings account. That, surprisingly, worked for many months. After moving here to Newfoundland we realized that we’d have to figure out how to save our money in other places in order to keep our savings account plump. I find it hard to believe that there was a time in my life when I turned my nose up at the idea of using a coupon. That time, of course, was a time when someone else paid my way. At this point in my life, there’s rarely an occasion where I won’t or don’t use a discount coupon for a purchase. I guess I’ve become the bargain shopper I never thought I’d be. I would rather find a good sale or discount than just toss extra cash someone else’s way.

I’ve just learned about a new website that caters to my (and anyone else who likes to save money when making a purchase) discount shopping needs: WebbyPlanet.com. Here, when a consumer makes a purchase online at their favorite stores, they can save with instant discount coupons. Consumers can also occasionally find printable coupons for purchases made in-store. Browsing for deals, coupons and discounts is easy. You can choose to select by category (categories like; electronics, pet supplies, web services, health and home and living), which after choosing will take you to a list of stores that fit that category or by scrolling down further and selection “All Stores” and searching directly for your them. Some of the stores you’ll find include; Dell, Sephora and Eddie Bauer, to name a few. WebbyPlanet.com keeps you up to date with all the latest information and updates regarding sales and discounts, daily.

I won’t pay full price for something if I don’t have to. I don’t know why anyone would pay full price for anything if there’s a discount, sale or coupon available.

First; I’d like to remind you, again, about the contest I’m holding. You can read about it here; Win a handbag. The winner will have the chance to choose between the pink and brown page featured here, or the black and white bag (with the flower on the front) featured in the contest information.

Second; Jess, my lovely friend from back home, is running a contest too. Those who enter have a chance at winning an 8oz soy candle, created by Jess herself. She has some of the best scents out there, plus it’s soy. For those who aren’t familiar with soy candles - the burn longer and cleaner, and the scents are stronger. The winner will also get the choice of selecting their favorite scent from the selection of scents that she has available. In other words, the candle is made just for you. If you’d like to learn more about Jess’ contest or enter for a chance to win the soy candle, check out the contest details here; Soy candle giveaway. Hurry now though, the contest ends on April 1st. If you don’t win this time, no worries. She will feature a candle every month, in a contest, from here on out!

Well I’m happy to report that my headache is finally starting to subside. The pain has gone from fairly painful to a really dual pain. The area above my eyes no longer feels like it’s bruised. I’m not sure if it was the Aspirin or if it was the chocolate from the chips in my muffin. Either way I’m happy it’s easing off. I hope it’s gone for good too and that I don’t wake up tomorrow morning with another pounding headache.

On a different subject; I’m so disappointed that Kristy Lee Cook wasn’t voted off. I hate to say this but I really feel like the song she chose was chosen out of desperation. After all, she did sing “Proud to be an American” and it is American Idol. I do agree that she did sing better than she has thus far but I still don’t think she’s good enough to still be in the game. Then again, I’m no music guru or anything.. so what do I know? Do you watch the show? What do you think about the elimination tonight? My husband says the show is rigged. I think I’m in denial.

It seems like many of us know at least one person who’s struggled with an addiction, whether it be to alcohol or drugs. It’s something that’s touched my own life in a very personal way on more than one occasion. My youngest sister’s ex-boyfriend, and likely still is, addicted to drugs and alcohol. He also struggled with depression, which we believe actually caused him to resort to the drugs and alcohol in his early teens. We all, foolishly, thought he’d grow out of it - like it was a phase. The sad truth; for as long as I’ve known him, he’s never grown out of it. It was very, very heartbreaking for me because he and my sister have 3 beautiful children that will, and do suffer the most.

For people like my sister’s ex, regular addiction treatments may not work. Tackling the addiction alone isn’t going to help, it’s going to take tackling the reason they’re resorting to drugs and alcohol. Speaking on this personal situation, my sister’s ex should have had a dual diagnosis, and essentially been put into a program to treat the addiction to drugs and alcohol, and the mental illness that brought him down to them. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many people who suffer with addictions also suffer with emotional and mental illnesses too. Addiction Treatment without them both has obviously not been working for her ex because time and again he’s relapsing. It makes sense that diagnosing and treating both problems, rather than just one would provide a greater success and chance at recovery.

People can and do recover from these illnesses. For those who suffer from addiction as well as any number of mental illnesses, there are programs out there that treat co-curring illnesses. Once a patient has been detoxed and has completed their addiction treatment, following up with psychiatric care may help prevent future relapses. Lakeview Health not only helps individuals get to the root of the problem with dual diagnosis and treatment, they also provide individuals and families with therapy and even educational classes.

Other than my sister’s ex, I also have another close relative who has been sober for several months and though everyday is a struggle, she’s well on her way to lifetime without addiction. Her success can be attributed to not only treatment for the addiction but also because she received treatment for the reason, which will hopefully decrease her chances for a relapse.

This was a paid review

I’ve been dealing with a headache for three straight days. It’s unlike any headache I’ve ever had in my life. It’s moving from just above my left eye to just above my right eye. Jo said it’s the “marbles moving around”, and I couldn’t help but laugh though it hurt. I finally gave in and took something for it late last night, which did ease the pain for a couple of hours but soon thereafter, it was back full force. I really hoped that when I woke up this morning it would be nothing more than a memory but unfortunately, it’s still there. Both my mother and father in law have been suffering from headaches today too - weird. I think I just need a pick me up via Tim Horton’s. Ha,ha.

Anywho, this explains why I haven’t been around very much these last couple of days. I doubt I’ll be around much this evening either, American Idol comes on tonight - it’s elimination night and I really hope that Kristy Lee Cook will be the one to say bye-bye tonight. No offense to the girl, she sings better than I ever could but she’s by far the worst of the final 10 (IMO). Of course as long as they keep Michael Johns and David Cook, I’m A-OK with it. These two guys rock.

I think I’ll go medicate this headache now. By the way, just a reminder; don’t forget about the handbag contest I’m running.