Child monitoring

Continuing with my previous thread, another thing I worry about is when the kids use the internet. There is really no way to control the internet, and the kids these days are so technologically savvy, they could probably get around any parental controls we would set up on the computer. For example, our daughter has been playing computer games since the age of two, so by the time she is a teenager she will have surpassed my computer knowledge for sure.

There is the option of computer monitoring that doesn't prevent children from going to restricted sites, but gives you reports on all the sites visited, the passwords used, and even copies of emails sent to and from your computer. I would think that if your child knew this software was in place, they would be very careful about the sites they visit and their online behavior. This software is a great choice for parents who want to steer their children in the right direction on the internet.

Worry-wart

As a parent, I find that I worry about things a lot more than I used to. I worry the instant they hop on that school bus - will they get to school OK? Will they get hurt or sick while at school? Will they get on the right bus to come home? When they are asleep at night I worry - did they dress warm enough? Could they suffocate from a stuffed animal being too close to their faces? Could they vomit in their sleep and choke on it? When we visit other people's houses I worry - do they have dangerous items within reach? Are there small things on the floor that the kids might eat? Is their dog going to attack my kid? And the list goes on and on...

As they get older, the worry fades a bit. But when they are teenagers the fear will come back tenfold as they get behind the wheel of an automobile. I dread the day my kids drive. I'm sure they will be very safe and cautious themselves, but I worry about all the other crazy drivers out there and all the terrible accidents we have in this area. Hopefully, our kids will be so used to walking places with us that they will walk or take the trolley when they need to go somewhere. I also plan on the kids riding the school bus even through high school. I read that up to 90% of high school students in Eureka ride the school bus, so they can't complain that they are the only ones riding it.

Button makers!

Going along with my 80's lifestyle, I found a cool button maker that you can order online! Their prices seem reasonable. You can get the whole button-making system, which includes 250, 500, or 1000 buttons. If I had one of these I would go nuts creating all kinds of different buttons. I would do some with text that supports my beliefs like: "Save the Parks", "Save the Trees", "Recycle", "Kill Your TV", "Respect Animals", and "Kill Your Car". I could distribute them to some residents in Eureka Springs, since lots of us have the same values.

I would also make some buttons that have bold graphic pictures on them that I would design myself using a software program like Photoshop and my digital camera. Music band buttons are cool, but you have to be careful with copyright issues. I remember I had a funny one as a young girl that said "Stop Staring at My Chest" and since you wear it on your chest, people had to stare to read it because the text was small. My dad didn't like that one so much...

There are some neat ideas here. I like the simple graphics on their buttons. Some designs are mysterious and their meaning is unknown, but who cares? It's fun.

Still livin in the 80's

I must admit I love the 80's. That was the time when I was just discovering music and fashion and it is still the music I love today. I like some newer music too, but putting on an 80's compilation always guarantees a good time! Many of the fashions of the 80's were big mistakes - like huge shoulder pads, stirrup pants, huge hair, and belts over big sweaters. Some of the 80's fashions I like and still wear are buttons on my jacket, hats, and funky colored tights.

Needless to say, I am happy that these fashions are coming back. I was really getting tired of the 70's bell bottoms, platform shoes, and tie-dye.

Best Buy Coupons

I wish I would've found this site with coupon codes before I bought that DVD player from Best Buy! Even if the store is having a sale, you can get even more money off using Best Buy coupons. All you have to do is type in the code when you click to checkout on Best Buy's website.

Since we live one hour away from the nearest large city, we do a lot of shopping online. I will definitely check them out for future online purchases.

New DVD player going back!

We were in need of a new DVD player, since ours was about 7 years old and was starting to act "buggy". So we went online with our BestBuy gift card we got for Christmas. They were having a sale, so we picked an RCA 5-disc system with the surround sound speakers. I knew DVD players were cheap now, but I had no idea you could get something like that for only $120! We placed our order and anxiously awaited the UPS delivery.

Well, it came yesterday and we are less than impressed. It makes all these weird noises and sometimes the DVD pauses between chapters for a second. I guess you get what you pay for. We are definitely returning it. Trouble is, I think we would have to pay for the shipping and I doubt they will refund the original shipping charges either. I think we may just have to make the drive to Rogers (about 1 hour away) to just return it in person and pick a better system. We will have to pay more, but since we don't have cable we watch movies a lot - so it will be worth the cost to have a good system.

Tips on avoiding debt

Now that Christmas is over, millions of Americans will find themselves in financial hardship because they spent too much for the holidays. The proof: debt advice helplines say January is their busiest time of year. Many people even take out personal loans to cover Christmas.

There are several things you can do to avoid the Christmas crunch. One idea is buying early in the year and spacing the purchases out over a few months. Spending an extra $30 a month is a lot easier than spending an extra $400 in December. If you find it hard to shop for Christmas early in the year (I know I do!), then there is another idea that works the same way. You divide the amount of money you plan to spend on gifts (let's say $400) by 12 (which is $33) and save that amount each month over the course of the year. Then when December rolls around, you have the extra money $400 saved up and ready to spend.

Actually, I use this technique for all my expenses that come annually or semi-annually, like car and health insurance, and also travel expenses. The money really adds up fast and you don't even miss it every month. I have avoided secured loans, credit card debt, and car loans using this method. Another big loan that I plan to pay off is the mortgage. I know it sounds crazy, but if you just make extra payments monthly toward your principle, you can pay off your mortgage years earlier than its term.

Super Size Me

I watched the documentary "Super Size Me" last night and it was a real eye-opener. We don't eat fast food that much anyway, but this movie really makes you want to stop fast food altogether. The filmmaker Morgan Spurlock puts his own health in serious jeopardy by eating only McDonald's food for 30 days. He starts off as a very healthy adult, and after only one week, he gains 10 pounds. After 30 days, he gained 25 pounds and did major damage to his liver. He felt bad the whole time and even had mood swings.

The movie also has lots of other facts about American obesity and the fast food epidemic. They covered the public school lunch program and the very serious childhood obesity problem we have in America. It was a really good documentary. You can find out more at SuperSizeMe.com.

Postie Patrol

PayPerPost is at it again! Check out this crazy video:



The PayPerPost team surprised a postie in Chicago and had her do a scavenger hunt with an HP camera, so she could win a new HP camera, printer, memory card, and a cool $1000. (You can get more info about HP and how to use your HP gear in this Digital Photography Review.) Not bad - especially since she had so much fun doing it. She said that was the most outgoing she'd ever been in her life! Go Robyn! My favorite part was when Ted ripped off his pants so Robyn could get a picture of someone wearing shorts. Since it was -9 degrees outside, if he had not done that, I doubt she could find anyone else wearing shorts!

Definitely a great time - and winning lots of stuff is great too. I would love to participate in a Postie Patrol sometime!

Brought to you by HP.

Silver Dollar City at Christmas

I had heard from some neighbors that Silver Dollar City is the place to see Christmas lights around the holidays. Since we bought season passes for 2006 that will expire in a couple of days, we figured we better go one last time and check out all the decorations. We went last night since the weather was fairly mild.

Well, I guess we weren't the only ones trying to go one last time - the place was packed! We got there around 5:00pm and you could hardly walk around some areas in the park because there were so many people everywhere. We had the little one in a stroller too, which further complicates things. I must say, the lights were very nice. They light up absolutely everything in the park with millions of Christmas lights. Even the train has lights all over it. They had a light parade which was nice too.

My only problem with that park is the layout. It is really confusing and we get lost at least once every time we go. We have been there 5 times and I still don't think we've seen the whole park because there are parts we can't find! I wish they had wider walkways because it gets really jammed up when they are busy and there are no places to "pull off" out of the walking traffic. So people just stop in the middle of the walkway to talk or look at their map.

Overall, it is a neat place to go and the kids love it. But it is much more enjoyable on a very slow day (which is getting harder and harder to come by!).

Free advice is nice

It's always nice to find something for free, isn't it? It's even better when it's news you can use that could help you make money.

I found a neat blog online that offers free business information. They have lots of articles about the latest business news and lots of advice for small businesses too, which will definitely help us in our ventures. The articles cover everything from business spending trends to S-Corporation advice to retirement benefits.

They have a link to their incorporation services, press releases, and also to their accounting services. This blog has a lot to offer small businesses and I plan to visit often.

Business is slow, but steady

We have entered the world of online affiliate marketing and advertising. My husband read some books about Adwords, Adsense, and SEO marketing to get some more ideas on how to tweak the accounts we already had going but were very slow to make money. We are making regular money now, but still not enough to live on.

Now that we are both doing PPP and getting paid to blog, we come much closer to our goal each month. We still need to get some more affiliate sites up and running so those can be making money too. We are convinced that it is all just a "numbers game." For example: if three sites make you $500 per month, then theoretically, twelve sites should make $2000. So that is what we will try to do. Hopefully it will work - I really don't want to see my husband under the stress of corporate work ever again!

Accounting

My husband and I work at home, desperately trying to make our living with several different online businesses. At some point, we may need help with small business accounting and now I know where we can go for help. It is an online service that assists small businesses with taxes, bookkeeping, and payroll. They use the QuickBooks system and charge a flat monthly fee based on the number of employees in the business.

They also give accounting tips and have CPA help available by phone or email. They also give their telephone number and address if you need it. They are a member of the Better Business Bureau which is very important when choosing a reputable company to work with, online or otherwise.

Movie Review: Cars

OK, so I know the movie "Cars" by Pixar has been out for awhile, but we just watched it yesterday because our kids got it for Christmas. My daughter had seen it in the theatre with her Nana and loved it, and we wanted to see it but the time just passed and we never did. Anyhow, we finally saw it and it is great!

I really like the message of the story, which is to slow down your pace of life and to love what you do and the people around you. It's also about all the little towns in America that have virtually become ghost towns because of big interstate highways. These towns used to be on the highway, but when they came through and made the highway systems bigger and more direct, these towns got "bypassed" to save driving time.

In the "extra features" on the DVD, they have a segment all about Route 66 and how it has changed over the years and the towns that suffered when the new highway was built. They make a comment that people used to travel just for the sake of traveling and the thrill of discovery. Now, people just travel to a pre-set destination and try to get there as fast as they can, with the fewest stops or detours. I believe some of life's greatest moments happen during detours, so take the time to explore...

Speaking of extra money

On the topic of home improvements, one option is always a home equity loan. I don't think we've lived in our house long enough to have equity for a loan yet, but it's an idea to consider in the future. My mom made a huge mistake with her loan that I will make sure to avoid doing myself.

She took out a home equity loan to remodel the kitchen, fix some old plumbing, change the carpet, etc. She ended up buying a brand new car soon after and since she still had the extra money in her account from the equity loan, she used that to make the down payment on her car so the monthly payments would be lower. The problem is, the interest rate on the equity loan is higher than the interest on the car so she will end up paying more in the long run and now she doesn't have the cash to make those home improvements.

Maybe if she would've gotten some advice from a website like PersonalHomeLoanMortgages.com, she wouldn't be in this situation.

Lots of ideas

We have a list of things we would like to do to our house, when we have the money of course. The list keeps growing and growing. Our house is quite livable now and we are very happy with it. The biggest thing on the list is the flooring. The main level seriously needs new flooring and we want hardwood floor throughout that level. It would really make an impact and change the look of the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Due to the high price of lumber, however, we are looking at over $5000 to get the job done right. So for now, we will have to live with our old carpet and torn up linoleum. :(

But hey, it gives us something to work toward, right?

Still walking

Even though the weather has been on the cold side, I have been trying to walk daily for several reasons. Number one - the dog really needs it. We have a three month old puppy with tons of energy and if I don't walk her, she goes nuts in the house with the kids. Number two - I just feel like I need the fresh air. I am so accustomed to walking daily now, that I miss it when I can't go. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so if you work out daily for 21 days - it will be a habit for you.

I have been walking three miles a day for several months now, and still have not been losing weight like I expected. I think I figured out the problem when I read a blog by a personal trainer - I have portion distortion. She explains how America has become so accustomed to seeing huge portions on our plate at restaurants, that now we serve way to much at home too. She gives great advice on how to cut back slowly so you and your family won't miss the extra food. I tried serving less and just assumed everyone would want second helpings, but to my surprise they didn't. I also served the food on smaller plates so it would still look like a lot of food on the plate.

In addition to walking, I need to add weight training to my regimen also. This will add muscle, which makes you burn more calories all the time, even while you sleep. The theory behind losing weight is simple: burn more calories than you take in. Like many things in this world, it is easier said than done. I just have to keep trying and work harder!

Smoked!

We discovered the absolute best way to have a turkey prepared - smoked. We had smoked turkey at a friend's house on Thanksgiving and loved it. So when we were shopping at Hart's a few weeks back and they had a sign that said "Place your smoked turkey orders for Christmas now" - we just had to order one. It was delicious and we will be having the leftovers for another week at least. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest you do. You won't be disappointed!

We had a nice, quiet Christmas here at home. The kids were happily playing with their new toys all day, so my husband and I actually got to spend some time together and were even able to watch a movie.

Rockstartup antics

"Dude, could you not stand on that chair please?" This is my favorite quote from episode 3 of RockStartUp, the reality show about PayPerPost.com. They moved into their new office space on this episode and they have bought new $700 chairs. One of the building contractors stands on one of the chairs to reach something up on the wall and prompts Ted to make his request.

Ted calls from the airport when the new office is ready and surprises the rest of the employees when he asks them to move all by themselves. But they manage, except they didn't move Ted's Bobble-head collection which I thought was funny. The new office looks really cheerful with bright colors on the wall - definitely not your typical beige corporate office. Overall, they look like a really fun group and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Attempt to capture Christmas

In an attempt to capture the true feeling of Christmas, we opted not to travel to Denver to be with all our family for the holidays. We just wanted to have our little family here to start some traditions of our own. It seems like when we get together with everyone, we always get stressed out and my husband and I never get to spend any time with each other. You know how it goes - one of us always gets stuck talking to other people and by the end of the night you realize you haven't seen your spouse in a few hours.

Even though we thought staying here would eliminate the holiday stress, it has managed to travel to us via the telephone line. A relative of ours who shall remain nameless has decided to be very selfish and demanding pity for herself and has in effect ruined my Christmas. I don't know why I let these things get to me so much. It has happened so many times now, I should be used to it. Somehow, people still manage to amaze me with their thoughtlessness. I will try to put it behind me and enjoy my husband and kids at our home this Christmas.

The gift of HP

Last summer we moved to Eureka Springs, the town of our dreams. Since then, my husband has been working like crazy (sometimes 18 hours a day!) designing websites and working on the internet to make money for us to live. We are trying to avoid working in "corporate America", we've been there already and are convinced we would be much happier doing the things we love to make money.

In High School and College, Photography was my hubby's passion. He switched to Computer Design since we thought there would be more job opportunities in that field. But after designing websites for a few companies, he didn't like being told what to do with his art. He has always been longing to get back into photography, this time using digital photography. He could print them out in a larger scale, frame them, and then try to sell them at the Artist Colony downtown.

The only setback right now is that we don't have the money for a new digital camera, which he would need to print in large format. He had an HP camera when he worked for the phone company and he liked it very much, but had to return it upon leaving the company. I would love to get one of the new 6 megapixel digital cameras from HP that PayPerPost is giving away. I would give it to my husband so he can pursue the career that would truly bring him joy.


--This post was brought to you by HP.

Time flies...

I swear, time goes by so fast once you have kids. Now I know what my parents were talking about when we were kids. As a kid, you can't seem to grow up fast enough and you think the adults are crazy when they say that time goes by so fast. But now that I have kids of my own, it's like you turn around and they have grown six inches.

The months are just flying by. It seems like Halloween was just yesterday, and tomorrow is Christmas! Maybe it's these short days in the winter that cause this feeling. But the days themselves seem long to me ever since the time changed. I don't know, it's just strange.

PPP's blog

I have been blogging for PayPerPost.com for a couple of weeks so far and I am totally loving it!! Since I am a stay-at-home-mom, this is my only contributing income to our household. One thing I didn't know about PPP is their blog, so I'm really glad they had this opportunity to write about it! The PPP blog is where they post all the latest news and updates about PPP. So now I know where to go to get the newest information about the company. They also talk about their RockStartUp show and what is going on with that.

I am very happy for the PPP team. They are growing very quickly and succeeding as a company. They have hired lots of new people in the last few weeks and that is a good sign. I am proud to be part of their paid blogger community. I recommend PPP to people all the time, since Eureka Springs is such a seasonal tourism town. People here have trouble making ends meet during the winter off-season, so PPP is a great way to fill that gap!

Cabin fever

I am starting to go a little crazy with the cold weather and sicknesses causing us to keep everyone inside the house all day. My toddler has been very whiny and since it is Christmas break, my kindergartner is home all day now too. There is only so much playing with play-doh and drawing pictures and watching movies we can do! I have to come up with some different activities. Plus, the dog gets all wound up since we can't walk like we usually do.

One thing that might be fun that we've been meaning to check out is the Museum downtown. It looks pretty neat from the outside and from what we've heard about it. Maybe next week between Christmas and New Year's. Of course, after Christmas they will have lots of new toys which should keep them occupied (I hope!).

See how it all started

PayPerPost.com has created their own reality web-based show, which I have blogged about previously. I have viewed some of their clips and my overall impression is that this company was started by a very honest and hardworking team. Every time they hire someone new, they film a "confessional" to get their opinion about working at the company. They all say the same thing - that it is a fun, cool, and exciting place to work. This makes me feel even better about putting ads on blogs that I will be paid for.

In my opinion, getting paid to blog is a no-brainer. Why wouldn't you do it? You "get paid to blog about the things you love". That is PayPerPost's slogan and I stand by it 100%. Yay PPP!!!

Here is a confessional by one of their new employees:

Painting again!

I have officially gotten back into painting and I am so excited! I haven't painted in five years, so it feels really good to do it again. It is a great stress reliever for me. I don't know why I waited this long - there's always the excuse of how busy I am. But since painting calms me, I should have been making the time to do it all along. It probably would have helped me with the stress of motherhood.

My goal is to get about ten good paintings done and then taking them to the Artist Colony to set them up for sale. It sounds like a neat thing they have going on over there. So hopefully by spring I will be ready - just in time for the tourism to pick up again.

U-DOO

I came across this really neat ad on PPP for a website that lets you create avatars with custom "ringtones" for your cell phone. You can check it out here. You customize the avatar to look like yourself or whatever you want, and then either record your ringtone, pick a pre-recorded one, or type what you want it to say and it converts text to speech.

You then download the avatar tones to your cell phone, email them to your friends, and publish them on your MySpace page.

Dog Whisperer

We don't have TV channels here and we love it. But when we got a puppy, my friend said we should watch "The Dog Whisperer". So I told her we don't have TV and she taped some episodes for me and sent me the tape. We watched a couple of episodes and this guy really is amazing. His techniques really do work too, even with a puppy.

He is not a pet trainer, but more of a pet psychologist that helps pets and their owners with any problems they are having. These dogs that he helps change so dramatically and quickly it is unbelievable. I highly recommend this show to anyone with a dog, whether you have any problems or not. He shows you a whole new way to treat your pets and how they should act within the family. He focuses on the importance of the people being dominant and the dogs being submissive in your household and that first comes exercise, then obedience, and then affection.

Lovely Night Sky

Since all the leaves are off the trees now, we can actually see the sky, the moon, and all the stars at night. The view is especially nice from our back deck. We were thinking of getting a telescope, but we thought they were way too expensive. But then I saw an opportunity on Pay Per Post for an online store called OpticsPlanet.net that has some really awesome deals on telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, night vision goggles, flashlights and more. They even carry ATN scopes.

They carry a very wide range of brands and prices as well. We are thinking of getting a telescope or some fancy binoculars for our daughter and their prices seem quite reasonable. Plus, you get free UPS shipping when you spend at least $29.95. This website is also a member of the Better Business Bureau, which is very important when checking reliability of an online store.

Officially off-season

Well, it is officially "off-season" here in Eureka Springs. After Thanksgiving, I've noticed most of the hotels along Hwy 62 are closed until March. A few restaurants have already closed as well. All the shops are still open, but I think after Christmas most of them will be closed for a couple months also.

The winter here is nice because you can really get to know your local community without all the tourists around. Also, since there are so many trees here, in the winter you have a totally different view of the city now that the trees are bare. We can actually see some of our neighbors' houses now, whereas in the spring and summer we can't see any of the houses behind ours.

Another all natural remedy

Wow, I found a website on Pay Per Post advertising how you can Reduce High Blood Pressure with Hyperestol. This product really sounds amazing. They state it is 99% effective in normalizing blood pressure. Their website has all the clinical results and even bar graphs to prove their success rate.

The best part is that they offer a one year full money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. With a deal like that, what do you have to lose?

School Christmas Program

Last night was the Elementary School Christmas program, which was held at THE Auditorium downtown. It was really neat to see the little ones up on that big stage. We were so proud!! The place was so packed. Even though we got there early, we had to sit in the back.

I thought it would just be the kids standing up there singing, but it was actually more like a musical with acting between the songs. All the songs had choreographed dance moves, too which was impressive.

Credit Card News

I think we've all had trouble with credit cards at some point in our adult lives, and some of us have required professional help to recover. Credit is one of those things that are useful, but very easy to go overboard with. In college, we got into major credit card debt and had to get counseling to recover. Luckily, we didn't have to file bankruptcy, but many people are not so lucky.

There are so many different credit cards out there today, it's hard to pick which one is right for you. There is a website I saw advertised on Pay Per Post that offers credit card advice and the latest credit card news.

You can view all the credit cards in a side-by-side comparison and organize them by the qualities you value the most. If you find one that suits your needs, you can apply for it right on the website.

One problem with small towns...

...is the lack of jobs available to local residents. Since Eureka Springs has a tourist-based economy, many of the hotels, shops, and restaurants are closed for the winter season. This leaves many people scrambling for jobs to make ends meet. Many locals have to work two jobs in the winter and some just can't make it and have to move away.

This is the fate of a good friend of mine and I am very sad about it. This is such a neat place to live and many people come to live here just because they love the town so much. But sometimes a lack of money forces them away from their dreams.

The answer to pet cancer

Speaking of pet health, I found this website called PetFriendlyHealth.com that has lots of natural remedies for pets. The latest product advertised on Pay Per Post is Chemidol pet cancer support. This is an all-natural product with absolutely no negative side effects.

They claim a 99% pet cancer recovery when combining Chemidol with a healthy lifestyle. That's a very bold claim, but they have thousands of success stories and a 90-day, no questions asked money-back guarantee. I'll definitely keep their page bookmarked for the sake of our pet's future health.

Loving our new pup

We got a puppy in November and we are so happy with her. We got a female this time, and a mixed breed. I have a feeling this is why her temperament is so good and we have had hardly any problems with her at all. As you may have read earlier, we had a dog with health problems a few years back and it has taken us a long time to give in and get another dog. It's just so hard to watch your precious furry family member suffer.

Hopefully, since our dog is a mixed breed she won't have many health problems associated with pure breeds. This is another reason we wanted a mix this time.

Maternity Card

Since we are self-employed now, we had to get our own health insurance for the family. One thing I noticed among all the insurance plans was the lack of maternity coverage. When you first apply for the insurance, if you plan to become pregnant you have to purchase the "Maternity Rider" in addition to your regular policy. The "Rider" is so expensive per month, you would be better off paying out-of-pocket for your midwife or doctor visits.

Due to the high cost of having a baby, I would recommend trying a service like MaternityCard.com. They help couples with their hospital bills after having a baby. Their service aggressively reprices your hospital bill to come up with a much lower total. Most members' bills were lowered more than 60%.

They also give advice on what to bring with you to the hospital, so for example you won't get charged $32 for a box of tissues! The website was very helpful and informative and I will recommend it to my pregnant friends.

Think Globally, Shop Locally

I am shocked at the amount of money we are saving by shopping locally. I guess when we drive to a different city to shop, we feel like we should "stock up" so we won't have to drive there again for a while. But what ends up happening is that we just use up everything faster and stuff doesn't last as long as you figured it would. This is true for groceries, health items, household items, etc.

When I shop in town, I have to go to different stores depending what I need. This makes me really stick to my list. When we used to drive out to Wal-Mart in the nearby town of Berryville, we would buy all kinds of stuff on impulse and spend at least $50 more than we budgeted, not to mention the extra gas money spent driving there. I thought all the shops in town would be more expensive, but as long as you are comfortable using generic brands (we are very comfortable with them!), then you don't have to spend much to feed your family. Plus, since there are two local grocery stores, they have really good weekly specials to get your business. Hart's actually had bananas for 10 cents a pound one week!! We also got a 20 pound bag of potatoes for $3.99!

Natural remedies

I love it when a natural remedy is proven more effective than a prescription drug to cure an ailment. I saw an ad on Pay Per Post for an all natural gout remedy that sounds amazing. They have a full one year guarantee, which is the longest I have seen on any product. The remedy is derived from several different plant extracts blended together to provide relief within 5 to 7 days and a full reversal of the condition when used 3 to 6 months! Since it is all natural, there are no negative side effects.

I do not suffer from Gout myself, but I would definitely recommend GoutSolve to anyone wanting a safe, natural, fast-acting alternative to prescription medications.

Improving my health

For the last few months, I have been very tired all the time. It was to the point that if I would sit on the couch, I would fall asleep. I assumed my thyroid meds had to be increased and that would solve it all. Well, I had a blood test, and I did have the meds increased a bit, but my levels weren't off that much for how bad I was feeling. Then I started gaining weight and getting cold sores on my lips which I've gotten before, but only once or twice a year.

In October, I had the worst cold sore I've ever had - to the point where I didn't even want to get out of bed, let alone leave the house and go in public! Luckily, it was cold that week, so I wore a scarf around my neck that covered my mouth. Anyway, that led me to do some research on vitamins and minerals that could help my health. Since then, I have been taking lots more vitamins and have been watching my salt and sugar intake, which can cause sores for me.

I have noticed an increase in my energy levels, and I didn't get a cold sore in two months. I did get one yesterday, but as of today it is almost gone already which is a big change - usually they last a week. I expected to get one this time of year with all the Christmas hustle and bustle and the weather changes. Plus, I have been sick with bronchitis and I always get cold sores after I am sick. I will stick to the vitamins, though, because I definitely think they are helping me.

Get paid to blog

I honestly think PayPerPost is the coolest thing since sliced bread! I've only done paid blogs for one week, and I will be paid $65 once those posts are up for a month. I do two paid blogs a day, ranging from $5 - $10 per blog. I am a stay-at-home mom, so this is a way for me to make a contribution to our household finances.

They have a wide range of topics to pick from, so I only have to blog about what I'm interested in. Currently, you can only do two paid blogs a day, but it used to be three and will hopefully go back to three soon so I can do even more. After seeing all the bogus online money making scams, I was so relieved to find PayPerPost. This truly is one of the legitimate ways to make money on the internet without all the guesswork.

This is a great town for artists

There is a new artist colony that opened in October over on North Main Street here in Eureka Springs. We heard all about it and unfortunately were unable to make it to the opening celebration. I have read a few articles about it since then and what I heard was that it was studio/gallery space for artists and we could rent out the spaces on a monthly basis. The studios are open to the public and the artists are required to work in their studios at least two days a week.

The idea is that when people see you do the artwork, they feel more connected to the piece and are hopefully more likely to buy it. I think this is definitely true as I have been to festivals where artists are working and their art sells like hotcakes.

This week, I read an article that mentioned the colony had open outdoor spaces created for non-member artists to come and set up their artwork for sale at no charge to the artist. I am really excited about this because I had been trying to start painting again, but I wasn't sure how to go about selling any pieces. I know there are lots of arts festivals here, but you usually have to pay for booth space for those. Another option is the Basin Park. There are always artists and musicians set up there with pieces to sell. I wonder if you need a license to do that? Well, since the Basin is right across the street from the Court House, I could set up there and I would find out pretty quick if it was allowed or not!

Interesting marketing campaign

So I just ran across a very clever marketing campaign by the creators of Pay Per Post. They are documenting their startup and success through reality tv. You can view the episodes of "Rockstartup" on the website and see how these guys and Pay Per Post came to be.

They are using the show to promote their web service of getting advertisers to pay bloggers to mention them on their blogs. But the bloggers on PPP can also get paid to blog about their website which tells others how to get paid blogging too! It's like a crazy advertising cycle to generate traffic between their two websites. I think it is very smart indeed.

Pay Per Post is definitely on top of "Guerrilla PR tactics" though. Did you hear what they did on the Today Show a few months back? They brought a bunch of blank white posterboards and passed them out to people with markers so they could write things like "Hi Mom" on them. Then you look a little closer, and you notice the PPP logo is on every one of the posters too! Genius.

Eureka in the morning

This morning, I was trying to get to the Post Office as soon as it opened to mail out holiday packages to our relatives. During the week it opens at 8:15, so that's what time I headed over. When I got there it was closed, and I found out that on Saturdays the PO is only open from 10am to noon.

Since I had the kids with me and didn't really feel like going home and coming back two hours later, my daughter suggested we walk around downtown. This is one of her favorite things to do since she is so outgoing and likes to meet people all the time. The weather is very warm today, so I thought it sounded like a good idea too. So we walked around town waiting for the PO to open. All the shops downtown open around 10am also, so it was very quiet and nice.

We walked to Basin Park so the kids could get a close-up view of the Nativity and the other decorations there. On our way back up to the PO, some of the shops started to open and it was really nice to see all the shop owners preparing for a big shopping day. You really can get a sense of all the different types of people that live and work here. It's nice to have such a blend of styles all working together.

Another dating website

Previously, I mentioned a website that is not a dating service in itself, but is a review of other online dating services. Well, tonight I saw this new Online Dating website advertised called IamFreeTonight.com and it had an interesting spin. They have a service where you can sign up a friend as your "wingman" and search for others who want to double date.

I think this is a neat idea since a lot of people are skeptical to go on blind dates and this way some of the pressure is alleviated. There is less chance of an "uncomfortable silence" with a group of at least 4 people and usually the date is a lot more lively and fun.

Another plus for IamFreeTonight.com is that all the services are completely free. You can also use a feature to find a date for a specific date or activity. You just post the day you are available and search the "date now" listings. I think I'll mention this one to my single friends to try out...

Christmas shopping all done!

Yay, we have finished our Christmas shopping!! I was so worried that we were procrastinating (as usual), but we found everything in one shopping trip! For our families, we made ornaments with the kids and burned DVD photo slideshows.

Since we're still working out the whole self-employment thing, we don't have the money right now to buy gifts for everyone. But I think making gifts for people makes an impression and is something that they will remember more than a candle or scarf or something.

Too late for our Westie

Wow, I just saw an ad for this new all natural remedy for pets with skin problems. We had a West Highland White Terrier for many years that suffered far too long with skin problems that we never could completely cure. We'd find something that would work for awhile, but then the side effects of the meds would cause more problems and we'd have to switch to something else.

We ended up putting him to sleep at the age of 12 due to severe fur loss, skin irritation, chronic ear infections, heart disease, etc. I really wish this medicine called Dermaxol was available five years ago so we could've given our little dog another chance at a healthy life.

Warm weather!

For the past couple of days, we've been having awesome spring-like weather in the upper 60's. Unfortunately, many of us can't go out and enjoy it thanks to this darn bronchitis that has seem to hit the whole city. They even had an article about it in the local newspaper!

Of course, my daughter caught it first from school, then on to my husband (who had it a lot worse), then on to me and my son. Me and the boy didn't suffer half as much as the other two, so I felt really bad for them. This thing just takes a hold of you and won't let go!! The cough is totally uncontrollable. Since I was feeling pretty good, I went on my usual 3 mile walk yesterday morning. But when I came back home, my cough was a lot worse so I think I over-did it.

And it's still hard to lose weight

Even though I have been walking all over the place, I still seem to be gaining weight. Maybe it's the usual "winter weight" that your body holds onto to stay warm, I'm not sure. You would think that I would be thinner since I walk 3 miles four or five times a week, pushing a stroller with a heavy toddler in it! I have been eating more sweets than usual, but overall I eat pretty healthy. It may be time to get some extra help...

I saw an advertisement in a magazine for a supplement called hoodia" and I wanted to learn more about it. I found a website about the Hoodia Diet Pill and it states that it is derived from Hoodia Gordonii cactus, which grows in South Africa. The natives have used this cactus as an appetite suppressant for generations. It is also supposed to enhance your mood. Sounds like a good PMS treatment for me!! That's when I'm the most moody and tend to pig out.

Anyway, they say that right when you take the hoodia pill, your mood improves instantly, then you feel like you've just eaten a satisfying meal. The potency is 10,000 times more than glucose at sending the message to your brain that your body is not hungry. In clinical trials, people ate as much as 40% less than they normally would.

Hmmmm, maybe this is worth a try. I am more likely to try products that are derived from nature, rather than totally processed and fake.

Driving a whole lot less

Since we saw that horrible car accident about a month ago (see previous post from November), we have been driving a lot less than we used to. We have been trying really hard to only buy things locally or online. It's been really nice, actually. It's funny how when you are a teenager and have your first car, you practically live in it and can't imagine life without it. Now, I try to find ways to avoid driving. Living in Eureka Springs certainly makes this easier, since I can walk lots of places and/or take the trolley.

Now if we can only convince our daughter by the time she is sixteen to keep riding the school bus...

Snow birds

I saw Cave Creek Real Estate listed on PPP and their information on condos for rent in Arizona reminded me of my aunt and uncle. Their family mostly lives in Colorado, and that's where they spend their summers, but their winters are spent in Arizona. They travel and live in their very luxurious RV, but if they could get a deal like this, they may consider it.

These condos are available to purchase, but you can have them rented out like a hotel room when you are not there. They are staffed and managed just like a hotel, so they are more likely to be rented out regularly than if you tried to handle that part yourself.

Another cool thing about small towns

I find it really neat that I am constantly running into people I know around town. Since I usually have some time on my hands, it's nice to be able to stop and chat with people that I run into that I know - or meet new people that I don't know yet. But I could see how it could be tough if you were in a hurry or if you had a "scuffle" with someone and you ran into them at the Post Office or Library or something.

Today, while dropping off books at the library, I waved as my real estate agent drove by, congratulated the librarian on her chorale concert I had attended last weekend, and spent a while talking to my good friend who had stopped by to check her email on the library computer. Just in the course of one outing, I saw three people I knew! This happens all the time around here and when you are in a new town trying to meet new people it is great!

Speaking of online dating

In my last post, I was wondering if those online dating services really work for anyone. Then I came across this website with Dating Site Reviews . They are not a dating service themselves, but rather a list of all the dating sites out there and reviews of each site. It also shares very helpful tips about online dating.

The site is very straightforward and realistic. I like how they advise people to just be honest about themselves (their weight, their height, their kids, etc.) They also suggest talking to people you have an online relationship with over the phone. If they contradict anything they said online, confront them about it. This is very good advice. I think I will share this website with all our single friends...

Single friends...

Sometimes, I wish my hubby and I could have more "couple" friends. It seems like we always have single male friends who were once in a relationship and have since divorced and we got custody of the guy. Of course, we love all our friends, but it's easier to get together with a couple so no one feels left out of the conversations.

We've tried setting up some of our single friends and that never seems to work out and then you end up with awkward situations at parties. You hear of people hooking up on the internet, but I just don't see how that works. It seems like no one is honest enough online - they always use a fake persona and "build themselves up" so much. Then they are disappointed when they finally meet the other person and find out that they embellished their profile as well!

No local places to shop?

If you live in a small town like I do, you may have trouble finding just the right gifts for Christmas. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of very cool shops here in Eureka Springs and lots of people come here just for the shopping. But I'm talking about shopping for something specific. Then your options are 1) drive for an hour to the nearest big town or 2) shop online. Personally, I hate to drive so I shop online all the time. It's so much easier to comparison shop online too, rather than drive around to different stores looking at the same things trying to get the best price.

One cool site that puts online shopping coupons all in one place is CouponChief.com. They have my favorite online stores like Target, Best Buy, and Kohl's. So if you need a little help with your Christmas shopping, I'd recommend shopping online with some coupons from Coupon Chief.

Why Moms never get sick...

Since we have to take care of the rest of the family when they are sick, us moms never seem to get sick ourselves. Or when we do, it is never as severe as everyone else and we recover quicker. Although I hate to be sick, it is really tough to care for the whole family and keep up with the housework and meals and everything else.

It is also very tiring since sleep at night is very limited during "sick" times. There's always a kid that needs you or someone coughing and keeping you awake. Anyway, my family is all sick right now and I just wanted to vent a little... Maybe today I can actually take a nap while the little one is taking his nap.