I had a couple of options today - do the dishes, or play on Zazzle. As you can see, I chose to create some new products on Zazzle.
It's much more fun than washing dishes. (The mousepad background is an airbrush design, with random colors and graphic 'mice' to complete the
look.)
This shoe started with the same abstract color design as the new mousepad. In darker colors, it will coordinate with virtually any casual outfit and resist showing dirt or stains. Something I love, because I am really bad about dust, dirt, and not washing my shoes.
Frankly, I love slip-on shoes. I keep a pair by the front door for quick trips to check the mail or pick up a soda at the store. Comfortable and easy-on, they are the best.
These shoes, in lighter colors, should work with just about any spring or summer look - whether you're headed to the corner store, an impromptu picnic, or the afternoon at your favorite museum.
Keep watching! Among other things, I plan to start collecting pictures for a 2010 calendar.
The one thing I love, almost as much as I love Mark, is finding a good sale! Buy.com is a great place to start looking for what I need. And for what I didn't know I needed - at prices that are very difficult to ignore.
This week's amazing deals run the gamut from LCD monitors to digital cards to ... oooh, I really need an antenna for the computer. See?! It doesn't matter what you're looking for, or what you didn't remember to pick up yesterday. There are great bargains to be found.
This is an open letter to all of my mothers - be they natural, adoptive, or mothers-by-marriage:
To all of the beautiful women who helped raise me and 'grow me up' and despaired of my ever creating (from scratch) a pie crust that wasn't laughable - or worse - toxic . . .
I MADE AN EDIBLE PIE CRUST!!
I finally did it! I read the directions in the cookbook, I didn't overcompensate, and I didn't overwork the dough. I did - however - forget to prick the sides of the crust (I'm making a chocolate cream pie and needed to 'blind bake' the crust), so it's a tad puffy around the edges.
At this point, I just don't care! The next one will be closer to perfect - I'm just thrilled that this one is going to be edible! At 52, I finally have hope!
PS: One of my favorite clerks at the corner store even wants a piece!
You wouldn't buy a house without a thorough inspection. How else would you know if the foundation is shaky or the roof leaks? The same is true for home insurance policies. Without checking carefully, how do you know that you're not paying too much or getting too little? Does your coverage include replacement value, or actual value? After you have a flood or a fire is not the time to find out that your policy doesn't include the computers or the piano. Or that the family-room sofa, which will cost $2,000.00 to replace, is only valued at $150.00.
The easiest way to get the right coverage at the right price is to get quotes from a number of insurers. Where you live, the size and age of your house, replacement value coverage, computers or jewelry riders - these all have an impact on insurance premiums. And need to be considered when shopping for a policy.
If you have a number of high-end electronics or inherited Grandma's jewelry collection, you will probably need a rider to provide complete coverage. This will add to your premium. That pool in the back yard? You may need additional liability coverage. But, if you don't have these additional needs, why should you pay an insurer as though you do?
Whether this is your first policy, or you're just doing a five-year check-up, get what you need. At a price you can live with.
I shouldn't have mentioned that we had happy appliances. It was just asking for trouble. And, sure enough, it happened. The refrigerator in the new apartment decided to leak all over - inside and outside. We got that replaced and counted our blessings.
Then, the oven decided to develop an attitude. Actually, a pretty serious attitude! Due to airflow problems, when we turned on the oven it didn't heat properly. If we opened the door to check on what we were cooking, there would be a rush of air - Boom! - and the oven would light. Not exactly safe, ya know?!
When it blew the door open and scattered black sooty mess all over the kitchen, we determined that we should have the complex replace it.
To make a long story (aren't they always) short, we got a replacement stove - at the end of the day, in the middle of a rainstorm. The burners worked, but the pilots wouldn't stay lit. We didn't even try the oven. It had been a long, difficult day and we'd both had about enough. We decided to worry about the pilots the next day.
Well, the pilots didn't work the next day, either. In frustration, I pulled the top off the stove and started to investigate. Imagine my surprise when I found electronics! Grabbing a flashlight, I took a quick look behind the stove and, not surprisingly, found a power cord.
It seems our maintenance man just tucked it behind the stove and, even though the pilots wouldn't light, didn't feel the cord was important enough to mention. Perhaps where he comes from all stoves have tails!
I can't think of anything worse than a bug infestation. We had a problem for months, after a new tenant moved into the apartment next to ours. We shared a common kitchen wall and, in a very short time, we found ourselves sharing something much more unpleasant. It started with a bug here and there; nothing overwhelming. But that soon changed. Before long, we were infested and, even though the neighbor moved, the bugs stayed.
Coincidentally, about the time we were moving to our new apartment, I was asked to test and review a bed bug encasement product from BugZip.com. I couldn't wait for the bags to arrive! We didn't have bed bugs, but I was excited to try something non-toxic that would put a barrier between my blankets, comforters, pillows and our creepy-crawly roommates. (Little did I know that the new apartment had spiders, so I seriously needed some help.)
Suffice it to say, I am impressed. The quality is solid - the vinyl is more substantial than anything I've used before and the zippers wrap securely around three sides for easy access. My only concern quickly evaporated. The bags are big enough for everything I needed to cover, and then some.
As mentioned on the packaging, it does take a little care to zip them, initially; especially around the corners. Unfolding the larger bags was quite a job, too. But once they're open and carefully zipped the first time, they are a breeze to use. Now, I have everything washed, dried, and safely stored.
I was even able to treat an area along the wall we share with our old unit, without contaminating the stored items. This, needless to say, thrilled me. With the storage bags I had been using, everything permiated the flimsy plastic. It didn't matter the condition when I put things away; to use them again, they had to be laundered.
Nothing gets through BugZip's bags - not smells, not chemicals, and not bugs. And, unlike plastic bags, my closet looks neat and organized. I'm sold!
Over the years, living in our old apartment, things started quitting; stopped working. Many of the problems could be traced to a teenager who hated cleaning the apartment and himself, so he tended to abuse the vacuum, mop, broom, shower ... you name it. We didn't let him dust the furniture, because we didn't want our bric-a-brac damaged.
Well, since we've moved:
The vacuum on/off switch works again.
The vacuum 'bag full' indicator works.
The carpet shampooer works again.
The shower faucet works.
So . . .
The only conclusion I can draw is that even our appliances are happy to be in the new apartment! I know that we're thrilled with the 'new' TV, too - the one we found under all of the dust. (Mark insisted on cleaning it years ago, but I just didn't think it was a good idea to take apart expensive electronics and apply cleaner. Boy, was I wrong!)
The world of online education, like any other product or service on the Internet, is filled with wannabes. Filled with organizations that are very happy to take your money, for a lengthy period of time, at the end of which you have (if you're lucky) a frameable piece of paper that is too often more effective at the bottom of a birdcage than it is on a resume. Getting an MBA online is no different; although, from what I can tell, MBAs are extremely popular and, therefore, possibly more prone to abuse.
Before you even look at an MBA program, especially online, research the accreditation. I learned, from a woman I worked with, that in the business marketplace a degree is only as good as the accrediting institution. While she was knowledgable and had 'that piece of paper,' management did not recognize the school that she attended (online) as an accredited college / university. They, therefore, were not appreciative of her degree when it came time for raises and promotions. It was, in essence, a waste of her time and money.
The University of Scranton's online MBA program is accredited by the AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), a specialized agency that grants accreditation for business administration and accounting programs. It is the only 100% online program to receive this accreditation. During my research, I discovered that many accredited universities (e.g., Colorado State, University of Colorado, Michigan State, University of Michigan) have business and accounting programs that are also accredited by AACSB. This indicated to me that AACSB is not a rubber-stamp accreditation agency. Schools and programs earn the seals that they proudly display.
Not to mention, unlike many programs, The University of Scranton doesn't provide a 'degree-lite' online curriculum. The courses, faculty, standards, and diploma are the same for students who log in from hundreds, or thousands, of miles away as they are for those who occupy a seat in a classroom in a building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. To me, that is a major (pardon the pun) selling point. I would hate to spend 2 years, working my tail off, only to receive a diploma that, somehow, was less - online MBA - than what someone else received for the same effort, simply because they were able to physically attend class.
Which brings me to some of the other 'features' of an online MBA from The University of Scranton. Virtually all MBA programs require applicants to take the GMAT® (Graduate Management Admission Test®), a measurement of a student's qualifications for advance study and one predictor of academic performance. At The University of Scranton, the application includes a written response to a hypothetical business situation, designed to measure the applicant's writing and problem-solving skills. Based on this response, as well as the balance of the required documents, it is possible that the GMAT® will not be needed. A savings, to the qualified applicant, of at least $250.00 - plus study, prep, and test time. In the life of a business professional, time tends to be at a premium.
As a person who needs to get it done and get it done now, I also appreciate that The University of Scranton's online MBA program can be completed in two years, rather than the three that many part-time programs take. Most people I know have neither the time nor the money to invest in an extraneous year.
Do you? If not, please look at The University of Scranton. I think that you'll be happy with what they have to offer.
Along with fantastic products that range from shoes and aprons, to mugs and t-shirts, to postage and mouse pads, Zazzle is now offering, for a limited time, 15% off all orders - for friends and families!
Like all of JMark Afghans' designs, Zazzle products can be customized to suit your style and taste.
Simply find the shopping bag design you like, then pick the bag style that works for you. Sizes and styles run the gamut from the Tiny Tote at 14.5"w x 11"h x4"d, to the Jumbo Tote that measures 20"w x14.5"h x4.5"d.
If you'd like a little extra color, most bags have several options. Two offer colored handles to accent the natural bag. (The Organic Grocery Bag only comes in natural.)
The coupon code FRIFAMZAZZLE must be entered during checkout to receive the offer. Offer is valid through July 26, 2009 at 11:59pm PT.
When I'm not designing, crocheting, cleaning, or moving, I am a mystery shopper. It's interesting and gets me out of the house once in a while. (Many shops can be done online, which also works well for me.)
A friend recently sent me an email he received, allegedly from Shoppers' Critique. I hadn't seen this one before, although I have heard of Shoppers' Critique. (Message follows; typos are original.)
----- Original Message -----
Subject: 13/7/2009
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:24:42
From: Roland Bliss <baltimoreishe @ gmail.com>
Dear Representative,
You have been selected for an assignment as a Mystery Shopper. You will earn $400 been a mystery shopper. Your employment packet include funds for the shopping, a training assignment which will be send to you after you received payment for the assignment. Paycheck would be sent to you for the assignment by Check or money order. The paycheck would be in a certain amount, you are to deduct your salary,and the rest would be used for the evaluation at the store that would be given to you. Your Employment packet are as follows :
Email me the below details:
Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Nationality:
Alternative Email Address:
As a mystery shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $400 weekly on Part time basis , You only work 2-3hours twice in aweek. Do get back to the recruiting department of Shoppers' Critique International.
N:B - HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS OFFER FOR ANY COMPANY IF YES/NO..... IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE CHECKING YOUR MAILBOX,JUNK/BULK MAIL AND REPLYING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS FOR MY MESSAGES,THEN YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.
Your response would be highly appreciated.
Best Regard
Roland Bliss.
Secret Shopper®
As you can see, this message just reeks of scam/ spam/ phishing. From personal experience, I can assure you that Mystery / Secret Shopper organizations do not, ever pay in advance. That would be like giving the local tradesman $500.00 because, at some point, your sink may leak or you may need a room painted. Bad business and rather foolish.
So, with bells and whistles going off in my head, I went looking for Shoppers' Critique online. Amazingly, the first link I noticed - even before connecting to the website - was for a page titled: Scam Alert. Answered my question pretty quickly, didn't they?
I included a link to the Shoppers' Critique alert page, because the information listed there is concise, thorough, and easily applies to any message received from scammers and phishers. The links to reporting agencies are invaluable:
Your local FBI Field Office
www.fbi.gov Go to the site to find local information. (You don't have to have lost money to contact them. Any information you can provide may help stop the scammers and keep someone else from getting taken to the cleaners.)
Okay - we are moved in. It happened, despite my cynicism. Things got put away; beds got made; floors got cleaned. Life was good.
Then, in a moment of unanticipated delirium, I thought it would be a great idea to invite a couple of our friends for dinner and fun. I even stepped aside when Mark determined to choose the menu! What was I thinking?!
There continues to be controversy over the safety of Ephedra in dietary supplements, product recalls and ingredient bans notwithstanding. In all fairness, not all of the species in the Ephedra genus contain the so-called 'Ephedra Alkaloids' that are at the center of the health issues. And the species that do, contain radically different levels of the six (6) different alkaloids.
This makes discussion of ephedra diet pills a little tricky. Obviously, the phrase 'supplement containing Ephedra alkaloids' can mean a lot of different things. One study, "Analysis of Alkaloids in Chinese Ephedra Species by Gas
Chromatographic Methods," published in 1991, offers a bit of clarification:
"The results show that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the main components in these Herba Ephedrae, but the concentrations of the six Ephedra alkaloids vary greatly according to the plant species. The alkaloid contents of Ephedra sinica, E. equisetina, E. monos-perma and E. intermedia var. tibetica are high and ephedrine is the major component. In E. intermedia and E. tomatolepis the content of pseudoephedrine is higher than that of ephedrine. The content of methylephedrine is higher in E. intermedia var. tibetica gathered from Xizang (Tibet) and in E. sinica from Northeastern China than in the other species. The results also show that E. przewalskii and E. tepidosperma contain so little of the Ephedra alkaloids (<0.1%) that they are not considered suitable to be used as the drug (Ma Huang)." Phytochemical Analysis, Vol. 2, 116-119 (1991)
Note: this study looked at the species found in 16 Chinese provinces.
What I found interesting is the implications of these test results (however old) in the real world. One manufacturer, when faced with the ban, claimed that their supplement contained
Ephedra, but no alkaloids. This, we can see, is a possibility; is it true? and, more importantly, is it useful?
In theory, no alkaloids could move the product outside the scope of the ban and remove the risk factor. Right? But, all Chinese Ephedra, even E. przewalskii and E. tepidosperma, contain some alkaloids. Not to mention, aren't the alkaloids what make the supplement 'work'?
While researching a totally unrelated product, I found this information on the FDA Safety website:
Due to possible Salmonella contamination, Plainview Milk Products Cooperative is voluntarily recalling a variety of products manufactured in the last two years. These items are sold to distributors and manufacturers, not directly to the public. However, Plainview's industry customers may have incorporated the ingredients into their own products and made those goods available to consumers.
Consequently, as of noon on July 9, 2009, there are 204 items being recalled by distributors and manufacturers that use Plainview products.
The FDA has compiled a list of items subject to recall since June 2009, related to the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative. Products are grouped by manufacturer/distributor and include (where available):
Product Description
Recalling Firm
Packaging Size
Lot Numbers
Stock Numbers
Product Code
Label
For ease of use, the database can be searched by Brand Name, UPC Code, Product Description, or any combination of the three.
All I can say is: "Oh, my gosh ... Oh, my heavens ... Oh, my stars ... Oh, NO!"
I do not like heights and I certainly do not like heights in a clear box on the side of a skyscraper, 1,353 feet above the ground! Oh, no! Not me! Not gonna happen!
These pictures (click for larger view), taken by Jesus Ayala of ABC News, show 'The Ledge,' located off the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower and consisting of four boxes that jut out about 4.3 feet. About the size of an elevator, each box can support 5 tons. If you look at the picture of the two women (a reporter and her friend), you get an idea of just how far down 1,353 feet really is.
The view is rumored to be fantastic, and there are images all over the Internet of this attraction that opened July 2nd. Kids, I would imagine, would just love it; as would any adult not terrified on anything taller than a 2-step ladder. (Heck, I get nervous standing on a chair to clean my ceiling fan! Which probably explains the condition of my ceiling fan, but that's a whole 'nother story.)
Seriously though - three layers of glass, supported by steel beams from the Skydeck? Five tons, shmive tons. It's up way too high! And frankly, standing in a transparent elevator-sized box on the side of very tall building is enough to send me back inside to the bar - and I quit drinking years ago!
If any of you manage to get there and actually get out on 'The Ledge,' would you please send me pictures?! I'd love to see (from the safety of my recliner) just what the view is like.
Over the last four years, I have learned about website design - the hard way. Starting with a template from a dial-up ISP and the desire to have something unique, HTML and CSS became two of my best friends and worst enemies. But every now and then, the battles seem worth it. Apparently, Purple Moon Awards agreed!
Happily, JMark Afghans, etc. (the website) and I have been granted a Bronze Award. Please visit our Awards Page to see the beautiful Award banner and read the kind words that accompanied it. (There are some other goodies on that page that we are equally proud of, believe me.)
A healthy website is never stagnant. It grows and changes in small and large ways. That's what makes (and keeps) it exciting!
Please stop by to see what's new and different today. And tomorrow.
I am taking a bit of a break today, as a reward for getting everything done yesterday (okay, I still have laundry to do, but that doesn't count). You know me ~ off to shop I go. My favorite shopping category (at the moment) is jewelry; specifically, heart jewelry. Because I love the style and because I don't have any - yet.
Now, comes the small problem. Years ago, a mother-in-law recommended I steer clear of tiny, delicate jewelry and she was right. At almost 6 feet tall, teeny things get lost on me. Rings, watches, and bracelets are usually no problem. The sizes, even online, are pretty clear and there are a tremendous number of styles that just ... work for me.
Necklaces are a little trickier. I have rather picky taste, combined with a long, skinny neck and I don't wear anything that's low-cut. Finding something not too huge and not too small, not too long and not too short is a definite challenge. But that's alright. It gives me an excuse to keep shopping - a lot!
Well, I didn't think it would actually happen. In fact, I would have bet money (if I had any extra) that I would never, ever get everything put away. But, I would have been wrong.
Finally, after two weeks, the closet and pantry and living room and bedroom are organized! Yay! Hooray! All things have a home and are in their little homes. I have made a vow - a solemn vow - due to the pain in my feet, legs, and back to never, ever move anything again.
Not within a room. Not from room to room. And, most importantly, not from apartment to apartment.
They will carry me out feet-first before I move again! And that's the truth!
With moving and the holiday, I've taken some time off the hunt for information on the best fat burners and what's new in the weight-loss universe. Today, I'm looking at some of the ingredients and claims related to a pseudo-Phenteramine product. One ingredient kept me busy for quite a long while; partly, because there was so much information and partly because the information was just so fascinating.
Salvia sclarea: Clary, Clary Sage - Purported, in a review, to increase fat disintegration.
I'm no botanical chemist, but after rather intensive research, I couldn't substantiate this claim or, in fact, any fat-burning properties. (Actually, Clary Sage is most frequently cultivated for perfumery and distilling.) However, I was so impressed by the list of applications that I am inspired to grow my own plants.
Actions & Disorders:
Helps control muscle spasms and, possibly, convulsions.
Diminishes inflammation associated with arthritis, migraines, gingivitis, and similar disorders.
Enhances mood; reduces stress, depression, and anxiety.
Aids digestion, relieves gastrointestinal disorders, and increases appetite; helpful with diarrhea, flatulence, and cramps.
Stimulates estrogen production, lessening menopausal symptoms and menstrual difficulties.
Antiperspirant properties ameliorate night sweats.
Improves blood flow, reducing high blood pressure and related conditions.
Alleviates acne, oily skin and scalp, skin inflammations, and dandruff.
Soothes tired, irritated eyes; the seeds, soaked in water, are commonly used to remove grit from the eyes.
These uses are repeated (in general and specific) from website to website and sources run the gamut from herbalists to plant biologists.
Although there are absolutely no reports of toxicity, Clary Sage is not to be used by pregnant women, possibly due to the estrogen-enhancing properties. Taken with alcohol, Salvia sclarea can induce a narcotic effect and/or enhance drunkenness. In fact, generations ago, Germans added this plant during brewing to enhance the "euphoric qualities" of their beer.
I presume that this ingredient is included in a fat-burner because of the mood-enhancing properties. Since treating loss of appetite is not exactly a standard objective in a weight-loss supplement.
I hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth. Our day was terribly uneventful - until Frankie showed up! Great surprise for us.
Spent the day doing laundry and trying to cook - around, over, and on top of the washing machine.
We have an apartment-sized washer and dryer, which is tremendously convenient and much, much cheaper than the laundromat. However, since the washer hooks up to the kitchen faucet, not much else gets done when it's laundry day. And, for some unknown reason, the dryer compartment is smaller than the washer tub?!
Not usually an issue, until we get to the throws for the recliners or the comforters on the bed.
They fit just fine (okay, the comforter fits just barely) in the washer and even get really nice and clean. However ... after stuffing, shoving, pushing, pulling, and screaming, they just don't fit quite as well in the dryer. Which means that every 15-20 minutes they need to be completely removed, fluffed, adjusted, and restuffed, shoved, pushed, and screamed back in.
And people wonder why I'm cranky after the laundry is done!? Sheesh!
One of the most critical steps in growing a business is often software development. It can also be one of the most overlooked steps.
The little spreadsheet or database that Joe Schmo threw together in his spare time, for example, worked just fine when there were three people in the front office supporting a handful of sales people. But, suddenly, the business has taken off; the sales and support staff has doubled. Reporting requirements have tripled. And that little program can't handling the demands, at all. Bad news for everyone.
Almost as bad as hiring the wrong person or company to help fix the problem.
Years ago, I worked for a company with locations all over the United States and Mexico. Each department had pieces of information. Reports and spreadsheets transferred back and forth, around the company, with this group adding that group's information to their files. There was no single report or place where all of the information could be found. So, because I thought that was ridiculously inefficient, I was asked to fix it.
Not a problem - to a point. I knew enough about spreadsheets and databases to pull all of the information together. In a matter of days, I managed to create a consolidated database with all of the details about all of the locations. Anything and everything that anyone and everyone needed to access was there. But that was all I knew how to do.
I didn't know how to create reports from my pretty little database. In essence, the information was useless. Luckily, two contractors, working on another project, knew exactly what to do next.
So, take it from me: If your business is growing and your software applications aren't getting the job done, make sure you hire someone who is able to put all of the pieces in place and make them function efficiently. Otherwise, you could end up with a pretty little database that no one can use.
I know I'm a little early, but this is a song that needs to be played - over and over, regardless of the date.
We don't all share the same political views. We don't, it seems, all share the same goals for this country. We, thank our forefathers, don't share the same beliefs.
That is what it is to be an American - we are free to believe as we choose; we are free to worship as we choose. And we are free to speak our minds!
I had a couple of options today - do the dishes, or play on Zazzle. As you can see, I chose to create some new products on Zazzle.
It's much more fun than washing dishes. (The mousepad background is an airbrush design, with random colors and graphic 'mice' to complete the
look.)
I can't think of anything worse than a bug infestation. We had a problem for months, after a new tenant moved into the apartment next to ours. We shared a common kitchen wall and, in a very short time, we found ourselves sharing something much more unpleasant. It started with a bug here and there; nothing overwhelming. But that soon changed. Before long, we were infested and, even though the neighbor moved, the bugs stayed.
Coincidentally, about the time we were moving to our new apartment, I was asked to test and review a 
As mentioned on the packaging, it does take a little care to zip them, initially; especially around the corners. Unfolding the larger bags was quite a job, too. But once they're open and carefully zipped the first time, they are a breeze to use. Now, I have everything washed, dried, and safely stored.
I am taking a bit of a break today, as a reward for getting everything done yesterday (okay, I still have laundry to do, but that doesn't count). You know me ~ off to shop I go. My favorite shopping category (at the moment) is jewelry; specifically, 
Now, comes the small problem. Years ago, a mother-in-law recommended I steer clear of tiny, delicate jewelry and she was right. At almost 6 feet tall, teeny things get lost on me. Rings, watches, and bracelets are usually no problem. The sizes, even online, are pretty clear and there are a tremendous number of styles that just ... work for me.
Necklaces are a little trickier. I have rather picky taste, combined with a long, skinny neck and I don't wear anything that's low-cut. Finding something not too huge and not too small, not too long and not too short is a definite challenge. But that's alright. It gives me an excuse to keep shopping - a lot!
