"I Love You Dad" Father's Day Poem- Review

Fathers Day is only a few months away and its time to start thinking about the special dad in your life. Telling your father how you feel isn't always easy, and something we take for granted.  But there is a solution that will not only express how you feel about dad, but will be cherished for many years to come.

Review:
I recently received a Fathers Day Poem from Because I Tried It to review and was touched by how beautifully done it was. The poem was very expressive and heart felt, which is so wonderful for those that can't seem to find the words. The Fathers Day poem was emailed to me in PDF format with a very nice, pre-set background for me to print out. I was given a choice of Fathers Day poems (because there are many types of fathers), and was give the option to add a personalized footer (which I chose not to do). 

Because I Tried It has a wide variety of Poems to choose from, and you can either have it emailed to you with the pre-set background in PDF format for only $2, or you can select a special Background and/or have it framed and mail to you for just a little bit more. They are very quick at filling orders too! I recieved mine just a few hours after I ordered it.

To keep up with the latest news about  Because I Tried It, and learn about any offers for free items they often have, you can:
Subscribe to their Newsletter
Follow them on Twitter
Be their friend on Facebook
Follow them on Google Plus

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Elfishki and The Giant Cake iPad Book

Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends of Elfishki is a series of stories and games for the iPad. Elfishki are little fairy tale creatures who live on the beautiful Rainbow Island in the middle of the Sparkling Sea. This is a place where miracles happen every day:

"Elfishki and the Giant Cake" is an interactive iPad book which is specifically designed to inspire the love of reading in elementary school age children. On every page, you can find comprehension questions which help your child develop his or her conscious reading skills. According to the website, this interactive iPad book will teach your elementary school-age child to:

• Retell short stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of the central message or the lesson of the fairy tale;

• Answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how.

• Acknowledge and appreciate differences in the points of view of the characters in the short story.

• Use illustrations and details in the kids’ stories to describe characters, settings, or events.

• Recall prior knowledge related to the information and events in the text.

• Make and confirm predictions about what will happen next in the fairy tale text.

How to get your own copy:

To purchase this iPad book, you can find Elfishki and the Giant Cake at the iTunes App Store. Please visit them on Twitter and Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

So thankful for my year and its just started!

2012 has just begun but it has been an amazing year for my family already.

After 8 years with the company I work for I received a very nice bonus and was able to purchase a new vehicle and pay cash YEAH!! and I received my nice raise too. No more car payments for me. This feels so amazing to not have any more monthly bills and to have a brand new car as well. Having money in my savings too has truly been such a blessing. No more worrying how I am going to pay my bills. Now I pay them and still have well over a paycheck left over.

I do not believe in Credit Cards. I feel if I dont have the money in hand to purchase something then I really dont need it.

Just got myself the New Ipad too. Got each of my sons a Flat Screen TV for their rooms as well as a new one for our livingroom and one for my room too. Next we are looking at a new Livingroom Set.

My son will be home very soon from Afghanistan and we are planning a nice vacation for when he is home for his visit. He really wants to go to Las Vegas since he will be 21 and I told him where ever he wants to go we will go.

My baby sister is getting married and I have the privilege of being their Photographer. With my bonus I was able to buy a very nice high end camera and am so excited. I have started a couple new hobbies since my boys are older now and finally have "ME" time. I have also started Cake Decorating and have been very busy doing cakes for so many people. It is so nice to hear how well my cakes have turned out - all are home made from scratch - nothing from a box.

My family will be taking several trips this year. Our first one is for my sister Bachelorette Party in Vegas - really looking forward to that trip. The next trip will be to see my son arrive back home from a Year Long Deployment to Afghanistan.

Hard to believe we are in March and so many great and amazing things have happened for our family already. God sure does take care of those who live their lives honestly and truly believe in him.

Birthday Chronicle Review & Giveaway

The Birthday Chronicle is a one-page (8 ½” x 11”) personalized newspaper that details the events of any particular day you choose. By providing a name, date, and headline, you can receive a newspaper that provides the details of that special day and the events that were occurring around that time.

For my headline I chose "Greg is 21". My son is currently deployed in Afghanistan and I wanted to come up with the perfect gift to send him. I received an email in less than an hour after submitting all my information, amazingly fast service. Some of the highlights are:

Twins Win 1991 World Series

64th Annual Academy Awards

Celebrities that share the same birthday

Top Music Hits of 1991

Other Headline News

The Birthday Chronicle is created by BecauseITriedIt.com. This company is proud to offer “Personalized Gifts for Anyone, Anytime”! The Birthday Chronicle makes a great gift for a family member or friend. For an additional fee, you can order your newspaper to be sent with a black frame so it can be displayed for everyone!

Because ITriedIt.com offers free items from time to time. If you would like to make sure you hear about these free items in time, please consider following them!

Receive their newsletter and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Klout!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

A Mothers Journey during deployment

Deployments are not only difficult for those who are deployed themselves but for their families as well.

My son has been deployed since last summer and it has had its moments. I do my best to not watch the news because of all the events going on over there right now and it is hard enough having him over there right in the middle of all of it. There have been a few times that he has signed on and we see a new mark on his face, of course he reassures us all is ok and he is fine but a mother knows something has happened that he doesn't want to talk about. No matter what I am always here for my son and support him.

I am so proud of my son for serving his country and putting his life on the line each and every moment he is over there. We are on our final countdown for when he is home for good!

Thank you to each and every one of our servicemen/women who are currently deployed and to those who are preparing to deploy themselves.

Living within our means

There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.

Calvin Coolidge

I believe the following website says it all: 

Live Within Your Means
What do you want? What do you really need? Evaluate your current financial situation. Take a look at the big picture. Make two lists – one for needs and one for wants. As you make the list, ask yourself:
Why do I want it?
How would things be different if I had it?
What other things would change if I had it? (for better or worse)
Which things are truly important to me?
Does this match my values?We all have different budgets based on our needs and wants. But the Building a Budget chart on the next page shows some guidelines on how much should go toward different expenses. You may need to make adjustments for a daily latte fix or visits to family, but remember to subtract amounts from other areas if you do.
Once you start tracking, you may be surprised to find you spend hundreds of dollars a month on eating out or other flexible expenses. Some of these are easily trimmed. Cutting back is usually a better place to start than completely cutting out. Be realistic. It will help you to be better prepared for unexpected costs.
In finding ways to trim flexible expenses, it helps to have a goal to save toward each month. Setting such a goal needs to be SMART:


If you are like many Americans, you may find that you are spending more than you're saving and steadily going deeper into debt as a result. This is an easy and common pattern to fall into, and one that requires some planning and discipline to reverse.

The first step is creating a budget. As unpleasant as this may sound, creating a budget is nothing more than examining your income and expenditures in order to determine exactly how much money you have coming in and where you’re spending that money.

Once you've got a clear understanding of your current budget, your challenge is to find places where you can spend less (or earn more) in order to achieve your financial goals. Here are some steps you can take toward that end:

1. Question Your Needs And Wants


2. Set Guidelines


3. Track, Trim And Target


The SMART Way to Trim Expenses


SPECIFIC Smart goals are specific enough to suggest action. Example: Save enough to visit Rome for your wedding anniversary. Not just "save money."

MEASURABLE You need to know when you achieved your goal or how close you are. Example: A trip to Italy costs $2,000, and you have $800 saved.

ATTAINABLE The steps toward reaching your goal need to be reasonable and possible. Example: I know I can save enough money each week to purchase that trip to Italy.

RELEVANT The goal needs to make sense. You don't want to work toward a goal that doesn't fit your need. Example: We would like to stay in four-star hotels in celebration of our anniversary.

TIME-RELATED Set a definite target date. Example: I want to go to Italy by next summer.









http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/personalfinance/savingspending/budgeting/means.php

Purex Triple Action Review

Purex Triple Action Review

I started buying a Purex products a few years ago. I was first attracted to the brand when I noticed how much money I could save by purchasing it instead of other leading brands. So last year when I learned about the Purex Insider program, I just had to become a member!

Purex is rolling out a new Triple Action formula across the entire liquid detergent line. This new and improved Triple Action formula delivers even better on Purex’s promise to leave your clothes bright, white, and clean, and as always, for half the price of the leading brand! The detergent is for all types of washing machines including high efficiency. And it comes in different scents including Mountain Breeze, Lavender Fresh, and After the Rain. And they also have a Free & Clear version if you prefer something without the usual dyes and scents.

I really like this new product. The Mountain Breeze variety has a nice scent, and I love the innovations that are allowing us to use less and less detergent and still have fresh, clean results!

A Christmas Surprise

So Greg was able to be home for 2 weeks during Christmas and surprised his girlfriend Christmas Day - He proposed to her during our Family Christmas Dinner. It was the most amazing proposal EVER! The words he said to her were priceless. There was not a dry eye in the entire room when he was done.

Shanna has been the most amazing woman during his deployment. So many women end up moving on because they cannot handle the distance but she has not wavered at all.

They are currently planning their wedding and once he gets home everything will be finalized.

Purex Ultra Packs Review

I LOVE Purex Laundry Detergents and Fabric Softeners.  It's extremely effective and reasonable priced laundry lovin'!  I was recently given a free package of Purex Ultra Packs Liquid Laundry detergent and now I've found another reason to love Purex!

Purex Ultrapacks are pre-closed laundry packs that are so easy to use.  .Purex Ultra packs make laundry detergent so convenient and easy to use!  No spilling and amazing cleaning! So easy and simple to use. I have the HE Washer and these are amazing - just toss one in with your clothes and that is it. Clothes come out looking and smelling great.

Win an IPad 2 or Kindle Fire with Rafflecopter

Help Rafflecopter name their cute little mascot….and you could win a Kindle Fire or an iPad – Here is what they put on their site…

To celebrate the new year, we’re going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and several Kindle Fires. The giveaway starts Monday 1/9 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts for a month. To enter, simply tell us who referred you to this giveaway! (Sandra Mounts) You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following us on twitter, and giving us feedback. In addition, we’re doing something a little special to make things more fun:
Suggest a Mascot Name – You’ve seen the Rafflecopter smiley-face dude hanging around the web. The poor guy needs a name, and we want to leave it up to you to decide what his (or her?) name should be. For an additional entry, suggest a name! After the giveaway is over, we’ll go through the list of names and pick out our favorite suggestions (be creative!) and bring it to a vote on Facebook. If your name is chosen, you’ll win a Kindle Fire and be immortalized in Rafflecopter history
This giveaway is open for the US and Canadian residents and will close February 9th at 12:01 a.m. EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soldier's Silent Night.wmv

Safety Cutter

I just reviewed the Slice™ Safety Cutter and found it’s also great for opening CD/DVD wrappings, scrap booking and pretty much anything you need a quick easy straight cut on.

The Slice Safety Cutter is great for clipping coupons, recipes, opening DVDs and CDs (y’all know what a pain that can be!)
It has a finger friendly ceramic blade so it’s a safe substitute for scissors and won’t cut you.
It also has a built in magnet and key ring hole making it convenient to take with you.
It can be for righties or lefties (you know how hard it is for left handed people sometimes to use regular scissors).
The ceramic blade won’t rust, stays sharp and lasts longer than steel blades.
Check them out online at sliceproducts.com
Like SliceInc on Facebook


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Financial Stress Relief Using Self Hypnosis Review

Got a financial problem that worries you?

Self hypnosis is an easy way to get rid of the stress that goes along with your money problems. Put your money worries to rest so that it doesn't overwhelm the rest of your life. Focus on taking practical and effective responses to your situation with this easy to use downloadable self hypnosis mp3. Price: $10

This self help hypnosis audio was so relaxing and comforting. The hypnotist, DJ Frost, has such a soothing voice during this session. I would highly recommend this mp3 to anyone who is currently experiencing any financial stress, money difficulties, etc. Thank you DJ Frost for a magnificent experience.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

My Caring Cross Review & Giveaway

I would like to introduce you to My Caring Cross. Caring Crosses^TM are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. My Caring Crosses are designed to fit comfortably into the palm of your hand as an aid to prayer or meditation. Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly.

When I am afraid. I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

I was very excited when I received the package. I took the cross out and just held it in the palm of my hands, for a few minutes. I love the way it feels in my hand. My Caring Crosses are nice and smooth and truly feel comfortable in the palm of my hand.  I have a son who is currently deployed and I focus my prayers on my son. I took My Caring Cross into my hand and just prayed. To some, this may be just a piece of wood in the shape of a cross. To us Christians, it has a whole different meaning. The cross came in a burgundy velveteen bag along with an authenticity card. Also included, was a cream colored velveteen bag and a personalized card, which can be used when given as wedding favors.

My Caring Crosses would made great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. They also make for a great fundraiser at your local place of worship, or to distribute to hospice patients at your local hospital and nursing care facility.

This is a great aid to prayer or meditation.

"The wood is from the tree of life, those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed."

Proverbs 3:18

Right now MyCaringCross.com has two specials going on till Christmas. Eight Caring Crosses delivered Priority Mail within the US for just $36 or $4.50 per cross or two Caring Crosses delivered within the US for $12.

My Caring Cross would love to give one of my readers the chance to win a Caring Cross of their very own. This contest is open to the US and will end on December 01, 2011. Many thanks to My Caring Cross and good luck to all!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Our New Home

So we are almost all settled in to our new home. It took a few years but I knew with a lot of prayers and faith I could have this again. It is so nice not living in Flagstaff anymore, away from the college kids and all their parties. We live on several acres giving our dogs lots of land to run around on. We are getting our horses soon too and that by far will be the best. 

The other amazing thing to living in the country are the amazing sunsets and sunrises. Not alot of noise out here is the best.

Life could not get any better.

Supporting Our Troops

So my project for this weekend was to make several Cakes in a Jar and decorate them for our Troops. This was not just a project in my household but several other households, a group project. Since hearing of the recent news we decided to join together and send our guys something from home. Not too many are supporting our troops and it saddens us. So many forget what is truly going on, spending time just thinking of themselves and not so much on how so many men and women have given up spending their days with their families to protect OUR COUNTRY! Please take a moment to Thank those who have been injured, or KIA and Most of all Please Pray for those that are still over there that they may all come home safe and sound.

My next Blog will show you how to make them yourself to send to your family member who may be serving our country.

God Bless each and every one of them!

Our Soldiers

As each of you go on about your day please dont forget about our soldiers who are currently deployed still fighting for us, those who are getting injured. I belong to an amazing Army Mom's Support Group and one of our fellow moms received that unwanted phone call - her son has been seriously injured. Please take a moment to read her story and to pray for her son Derek who is fighting for his life. This brings tears to my eyes each time I read her updates. As a Mom with my own son over there it scares me all the time. When my phone rings I am scared to answer it, when an unknown car pulls in front of my house my heart skips a beat. Living in fear is not how one wants to live their days. I cannot wait for my own son to be back on US Soil and safe. Please pray for each and every one of them

My youngest turns 16

So seriously where did the time go? My youngest just turned 16 today. It is so unreal that my baby is at driving age already ha! He is going into his Sophomore year in High School, and is already close to 6' tall too. So he is not my baby anymore ha!
He gots lots of stuff from the family today. Even though Greg is so far away in the Stan he told me what he wanted to get him and I went and picked it up. Needless to say Trevor had an AMAZING 16th Birthday. He wanted to have dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings so that is where we went. He got a Hard Drive for his new XBOX 360, XBOX Live with a nice headset, several games and of course the all time favorite - MONEY lol. All in all it was a great day for my youngest son. I am so proud of all my sons, that have all grown to be such amazing Men.

A Military Mom

I wear no uniform -- no blues or greens -- but I am in the military, in the ranks rarely seen.

I have no rank upon my shoulder.

Salutes I do not give, but in the military world is where I live.

I am not in the chain of command; orders I do not get.

But my son is the one who does, this I can not forget.

I am not the one who fires a weapon, who puts his life on the line,

but my job is just as tough, I'm the one left behind.

My son is a patriot, a brave pride-filled man.

And the call to serve his country not all can understand.

Behind the lines, I see things needed to keep this country free.

My son makes the sacrifice, but so does the rest of his family and me.

I love the man I call my son. Soldiering is his life.

But I stand among the silent ranks know as ........ The Military Mom

Things You Should Not Say to the Family Member of the Deployed....and some that you should.

Some of these are my own, some are taken from others, but here are the top things that you should not say to the family member of a deployed person.


 Aren’t you afraid he may die or be injured?
This one has always really perplexed me. Of course, I’m scared. I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t. But being reminded of the fact that something may happen to him doesn’t help me out. What kind of idiot would even ask a question like this? People die over there, often..and people are trying to kill our loved ones......of course we are scared you idiot!

I don’t know how you do it. I don’t think I could.
We don't know how we do it either, if we did know we would write a damn book about it, and we would be rich, because everyone with a loved one in harm's way would love to know exactly how to do it.....You just do it, because you have to.

I could never deal with it if my ______ was gone for that long.
Hmmm…how does hearing how someone else can’t deal with it help us to deal with it? And you do deal with it when it happens to you, what are the alternatives pray tell? Should I decide I cannot deal with it is there some magic words I can say to make it all go away or do I have to just shoot myself?


Do you miss him?
No we do not miss our sons, our daughters, our husbands, we do merry little dances all day long rejoicing, Yeh.....OF COURSE WE MISS THEM!

I know just how you feel. My husband was on a business trip last month for three days and I just thought I would die.

Were there IED's in the hallways, were they lobbing mortars at him in his bed? Did you have the opportunity to talk with him each and every night...Yeh sure your hubbies business trip is nothing like a deployment.


How can you sleep at night knowing your _____ has killed people ? Won’t you be afraid when he comes home?
This one sets me off more than any other. They are not murderes, they are warriors. Have they had to kill someone? Quite possibly. But there are a great many soldiers who never have. It’s not something they talk about in daily conversation. Regardless of what they do overseas, it does not make them a murderer. They are in a war zone and following orders. Fear them? NO if anything we sleep better knowing they are here.


I was so lost when my child went off to college; I know just how you feel.
Really? Are people trying to kill your child in college? I would have thought your biggest worry would be whether they are studying or partying. I was not aware that college was as violent and hostile as Afghanistan.


If you truly supported your loved one, you would be protesting so..he wouldn’t have to deploy again/could be brought home/the war would end.
Really? My definition of support must be much different than the definition of support by these people. Supporting my loved one means supporting him in what he does and what he believes in. It does not mean disrespecting the men and women who volunteered to defend our country and our rights. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have the right to protest in the first place. I’m certainly not putting myself in a position where it could be construed as anything other than 100% support for our troops and their families.

Well at least he won't have to go to Iraq anymore, we are all done fighting over there.
Can you tell that to the families of the 14 men killed in Iraq last month? I wonder if all those Infantrymen over in Iraq know that they are not combat troops....ever try telling an Infantryman that I guess he must be a POGUE now?

Were you excited at the Presidents recent speech about Afghanistan? Now your son will not have to go! Isn't that wonderful.
Yeh it is awesome, can someone tell the Pentagon now, as they seem to still be intent on sending him, and yeh I am thrilled, thrilled that these brave young Infantry troops will now fight in Afghanistan with less support now. I am sure the moms and wives of the ones there now, and the ones slated to go are just thrilled also. Grrrrrr

Well it is almost Christmas, they let them come home for Christmas don't they?
Yes the entire armed forces shuts down for Christmas..sheesh do you people know nothing?

How much longer does he have until he can get out?
This one is annoying to many of us whether deployed or not. Many of our loved ones aren't counting down the days until they "can" get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because (gasp!) they love what they do.

This deployment shouldn't be so bad, now that you're used to it.
Sure, we do learn coping skills. And we figure out ways to make life go smoother while the guys are gone. But it never gets easy and the bullets and bombs don't skip over our guys just because they've been there before. The worry never goes away.


If you truly want to help, some suggestions are

I know it is hard, but we are here for you, and we are praying for your loved one.
When we voice our fears, or when we are really missing them, we just want someone to listen, we do not expect you to make it better, nothing can make it better, it is what it is, so just listen, and understand, and come along side in prayer and support.

Please thank your loved one for me, I am so grateful for men (women) like them, who are willing to go in harms way on my behalf.
Let us know that you appreciate what our loved ones are doing, you do not have to support the wars in order to appreciate the men and women who volunteer to defend this nation.

You guys are on my daily prayer list, and in my thoughts.
It helps a lot to know people have not forgotten our loved ones. Most times it feels like they are forgotten as the majority of our support comes form the families of the deployed and veterans.

If I can help, please let me know.
Chances are we will never ask, but knowing you are willing to be there if we need you helps a lot.

Is there anything I can do to help make it easier?
Same as above.

Does he/she need anything? I would love to send them a package to say thank you.
Out of all the family and friends and people who said they supported my son on his deployment, only two sent him packages. The church and one of his many aunts.

He is all grown up now and you have to learn to let go.

Like that helps us cope.....yes he is grown up and we have let go, we watched him board a plane, bound for war, to a place where people want to kill him, for a cause he believes in........Can you let go of yours like we let go of ours?