A Better Way To Invest

With the stock market, housing market, and job market all in shambles, it is a great time for those who can invest, to invest. There are many different choices, stocks, bonds, CD's, IRA's, but I think the most overlooked one would be Gold and precious metals. Gold is such a hot item right now because it's strength around the world is almost it's own currency. Many people are encouraged to buy gold eagle coins, for example, as way to invest and be ready for when the markets to turn around and we see a drastic rise in the gold market. People could see their money double, even triple if they play the market right and choose the right time to sell. Would you like to be the one to cash in and take advantage of our down economy, if so, this is the opportunity you can't pass up!

Selling our home

We have our house on the market...what a stressful time it can be. I don't want to complain, as we've had many showings and only positive feedback. The thing is....we've had no offers yet. :( I try not to get discouraged and not it will all happen when the time is right...but it's hard to be patient sometimes. Oh well...at least we love the house we're in and aren't being forced to move or anything. God knows the right timing...we just need to lean on that and Trust Him!

Samantha Brown, tour guide

Guest post written by Brenda Lowell

I’ve been using Samantha Brown (well, her show) to tell me where to go on vacation for years.

The spunky traveler seems so passionate and excited about where she’s going. But, if I had to go trek around the world instead of heading into the office every day, I’d probably be that excited too. She always seems so eager and open to experiencing things like the locals do, no matter how daring the customs and traditions are in comparison to those in American culture.

When I saw her episode about Barcelona, I started looking up ideas for activities immediately. I had just researched wild blue internet packages and switched my Internet service over to wildblue the week before so I watched other videos about Barcelona online and got even more excited.

My trip was great and I hit a lot of the spots that she did like La Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter, along with some yummy local restaurants.

I’m kind of hoping that when she retires, the people at the Travel Channel will call me up to replace her.

Needing Sleep

Wow..I've just been exhausted lately. I know this probably sounds bad, but ever since the 4th o July I feel like I can't catch up on work around the house or sleep. I'm not sure why...but I feel like I Get further and further behind on both. Part of it is that Kaden is now crawling. That is keeping me MUCH mroe busy! I'm excited for the day when he can entertain himself more. He does some, but also is still very much attached to me. I love it, but it makes it hard to get things done sometimes too.

United States Gold Bureau

You can purchase silver, gold and other precious metals and coins through the United States Gold Bureau. Your purchase can be arranged for immediate personal deliver or convenient and safe storage if you like. For anyone interested in investing, it is definitely the time to consider it. Buying gold has been recognized for centuries and is one of the best ways to preserve one's wealth and purchasing power. Scott and I have always talked about doing this, and after reading more about what a great idea it can be...we may just have to do so soon. What about you? Have you ever had an interest in investing in gold before? You check out more about how to buy gold bullion, here.

8 Months Old

Yesterday my baby boy turned 8 months old. Why does the time have to go by so quickly. He is starting to 'talk' more, is crawling all over the place, and most recently has been pulling up on things and standing. I love watching each new stage...but wish that it would slow down a bit. I want to be able to enjoy and cherish each and every moment while my kids are young. The time just goes by way too fast, don't you think?!

Moms Can Get An Education Too!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's summer time which means we moms are often quite busy. The thing we have to remember though, is that there's more to us than packing lunches and pooling our kids around. Maintaining a personal identity is also key and very important. That's why I believe strongly in pursuing an education. It's a great way to set an example for our kids, prepare to re-enter the workforce once our kids are older, transition to a work at home career....the benefits are endless.

Distance education is a family-friendly way to help moms get the education we've always wanted and deserve...easily, affordable, and from the comfort of your own home. Some things I really like about Ashworth is that tuition is 50% less than the average accredited online school, it's flexible which is important for stay at home moms and working adults who want to get an Online degree, offers zero-interest financing plus a low monthly payment plan, 75% of credits earned at other schools can be transferred and so much more!

No matter if you're looking to get your associate degree, bachelors degree or even a master's degree...this is definitely something worth looking into. You can be well on your way to attaining a popular career in Medical Billing, Web Design, Bridal Consulting, Interior Decorating, Human Resources, Marketing, Early Childhood Education, etc.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you, but I am VERY picky when it comes to the products I use with my kids. It seems there are many baby products out there, but very few do the job their intended to do very well. That's why I like Boudreaux's Butt Paste. Diaper Rash is one of the most uncomfortable things for a baby, and something many of them deal with at some point. As a parent, it's my responsibility to help make my kids as comfortable as possible and get rid of things like this. Thanks to Boudreaux's Butt Paste, I can!

We've used this product and are really happy with how well it works. Unlike other products like it, Boudreaux's works quickly without stinging or putting my kids in more pain. It was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care...and in my experience, it does just that! Somethings I really like about it are:

• Pediatrician recommended
• Goes on and cleans off easily
• Available in convenient sizes
• Flip top cap (tubes)
• Handy travel size (convenient sizes - 1oz, 2oz, 3oz and 4oz tubes, 16oz jar)
• Pleasant scent
• Skin protectant

How about you? Have you ever tried Boudreaux's Butt Paste? What are your experiences? I'm sure many of you have heard of (and even tried it), as it's been featured on shows like Oprah, Tonight Show, Today Show, ESPN and even in People Magazine!

If you love Boudreaux's Butt Paste like we do, or want to try it for yourself with your kids...visit their site to receive your own free sample today!

Wedding Day!

Today is a big day! My hubby's sister is getting married and Kaelyn is a flower girl. She's very excited to wear her 'princess dress' as she calls it and I know she'll do great. Her cousin is walking down with her, so I think she'll just follow her lead. It should be a great day with family and friends. We've enjoyed the past week. It's been a busy one, but we've been able to spend time with a lot of family we're not able to see very often. Anyways...I suppose I better get things ready to go...we have to be there early. I will post pics later though!

The online gaming possibilities

Guest post written by Kimberlee Williams

My brother is so obsessed with online gaming that he’ll stay up late at night playing Xbox LIVE or other games, screaming inside jokes through his headset.

It’s pretty obnoxious while I’m home from college, especially because his computer and my bed’s headboard are along the same wall. He doesn’t realize he’s being so loud because our parents’ bedroom is upstairs and they can’t hear his yelling and jokes from that far away.

I would blame my parents for getting wild blue satellite UT so he never has any glitches or problems but I sometimes stream movies from Netflix Instant Watch on his Xbox so I also benefit. I guess that’s the burden of blue internet that I have to deal with.

I used to play a lot of video games with him but that was before he played games with other people on wildblue internet and we only had each other to talk to and taunt while competing in games like Mario Kart.

Maybe this is a habit my brother will outgrow, but as for now I’ll just try to fall asleep to my mp3 player to block it out.

Bright Beginnings Infant Formula

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

We have never chosen to use formula with either of our kids, but I know there are many parent's who do. Thankfully, those like Bright Beginnings are made with your child's best interest in mind. Bright Beginnings formula provides the benefits of the lipids DHA and ARA, nutrients naturally found in breast milk essential for babies' mental and visual development. It also contains a vegetarian blend of fats similar to breast milk which aids in the absorption of calcium.

Although we don't use formula, I'm familiar with the different brands and what their cans look like. That's why I was interested to learn that Bright Beginnings has a new can design. I headed over to Diapers.com, which is where you can purchase Bright Beginnings formula, and checked out the new design. I really like it. It's fun and something that definitely makes it stand out as different form other brands. I personally like it when companies make it a point to stand out and grab the attention of customers.

Again, you'll find Bright Beginnings available at diapers.com and it can be purchased directly from there.

House For Sale

Our house is on the market again, which means we are trying very hard to keep it as clean and picked up as possible. We never know when we might get a call for a showing, so having things in place is important. I'm finding it difficult though. With two kids there are always toys all over and sometimes I don't get to the dishes until they are napping. It's been stressful and I'm looking very forward to our house selling...hopefully soon!

VitaDigest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of VitaDigest. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you take vitamins? I hate to admit that I'm not the best at taking vitamins. The main time I'm really good about i is when I'm pregnant or nursing. Usually I try to take some sort of a multivitamin at those times that have enough calcium and iron. I have found looking for vitamins to be a little overwhelming though. Thanks to VitaDigest, it no longer has to be!

VitaDigest offers a large selection of vitamins and supplements. In fact, they actually offer over 13,000 vitamins, supplements and other health products! That is a large selection and it's fantastic to be able to find all this in one location. Nothing is more frustrating than looking for something and not being able to find it. I thought it was also impressive that they have been awarded INC5000 for 2009 as top 5000 Fastest growing companies!

I have spent quite some time visiting their website and think the Brainstorm 2 capsules look very interesting. They offer 90 veggie capsules which promote mental concentration. Pretty cool!

If you're looking to purchase vitamins or supplements, I would highly recommend checking out VitaDigest! They are currently offering an exclusive 10% off coupon with coupon code 'izb10jan' through the end of February! They also offer FREE shipping on all orders over $100.

Fun Weekend!

We had such a great weekend with family! It has been a while since we had so many days off work and available to relax and spend with family. Kaelyn and Kaden especially enjoyed their time with cousins and at the pool. It wasn't an extremely nice weekend, however we did get some windows of sun where we could spend some time outdoors. I was bummed that the weekend went by so quickly, but am happy that tomorrow is already Wednesday! YAY! Hopefully the next few days go by quickly too.

Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

This is the time of year that many of us are planning getaways with family and friends. That's why I was excited when I learned about the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes. This summer they are offering a great way for you to reconnect with friends. There is a daily giveaway for a free weekend stay at any Hampton Hotel! I don't know about you, but this is a very appealing thought this time of year. I'm always telling my hubby that even a weekend vacation would be great. I think weekend vacations are a great way to refresh and relax. It's important to travel with friends and family, and that's why I appreciate the whole idea behind the Chain of Friends Sweepstakes. What a great way to reconnect with those who are important to you.

If I happened to win, I think my hubby and I would go to Las Vegas and stay in the Hampton Hotel there. We've always talked about going there and think it would be a terrific weekend getaway.

What I love about this contest, is that entering couldn't be easier. By simply visiting the Hampton website, you can click on the 'enter now' button and enter the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes for your very own chance to win! Be sure to check it out and enter if you haven't already! It's a terrific chance to win a fun getaway this summer.

Summer Time!

Can you believe we're already into July?! Why is it that winter seems to last forever, but once summer arrives it flies by? I love this time of year and that's why my family and I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Unfortunately the rain and mosquitoes have ruined that some for us this year..but we're definitely looking forward to it getting nicer...hopefully! The kids really enjoy their time spent outdoors as well!

Mission Menus Challenge

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

If there is one food I am always sure to have in my house, it's tortillas. No matter what mood your in, the meals you can make with tortillas are absolutely endless! Over the years we've learned there are good tortillas and not so good tortillas. One of our favorites is Mission Flour Tortillas!

Mission Flour Tortillas are great for meal preparation! They are versatile, soft and delicious, kid-friendly, super convenient and have the most amazing freshly-baked taste! We have come up with some pretty amazing recipes using Mission Flour Tortillas in the past, but I'm always looking for new, budget friendly ideas to try. That's why I really appreciate MissionMenus.com and their many examples of quick & easy, affordable meals for $10 using Mission Flour Tortillas. The Buffalo Chicken Tacos and Sunrise Breakfast Burrito look especially good! Yum!

One thing I love about Mission Flour Tortillas is that they contain 0 grams Trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free. They are also available in convenient sizes: small (6"), medium (8") and large (10”) sizes and can be found in major grocery stores nationwide! That means no matter where I'm at, I'm able to find them almost anywhere.

Do you enjoy meals with tortillas? Do you have some amazing recipes you've created? If so, you'll be interested in knowing that Mission Foods has a new Mission Menus Challenge currently running.

Beginning June 28, 2010 and continuing until August 9th, consumers can submit their budget-friendly recipes to Mission at www.MissionMenusChallenge.com for a chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles and win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover as well as a host of weekly prizes! The grand prize winner will win round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles.

All recipes must:
• Must include Mission Flour Tortillas
• Be original
• Feed a family of five for $10 or less

I love a company that supports great causes. Mission Foods is one of those companies! They are proud to support Share Our Strength, the leading national organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. If you'd like to help or learn more, you can visit MissionMenusChallenge.com.