Finally...

Post contributed by Noah Schmidt

Comparing dish vscable has been a full time job for me lately and it’s because I want to get this TV thing right. Watching BRAVO is the closest thing to a hobby I have since I work so much and I want to ensure I’ve got all the channels I need as well as DVR so I’ll never miss an episode of Housewives or Millionaire Matchmaker. My boss is running me ragged lately with all the new clients but you know, there’s something to be said for putting in your dues young so you won’t have to worry about doing it once you’re older. I don’t have time to get out and meet people the way things are so me and Andy Kohen are going to just have a TV relationship at home – that’s good enough for me! One day I’ll want to get in a relationship and have kids and all that but for now I’m going to keep working my butt off in hopes of that promotion I hear rumors of.

Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Slim-Fast has a new plan, and I am super excited to try it out.  It's called their 3•2•1 Plan.  Simply put, you can have two shakes or meal bars, one 500 calorie regular meal, and three snacks.  For your snacks, you can choose from Slim-Fast's 100-calorie snack bars, fruits, nuts or veggies.  As an overweight woman, I can tell you that being able to eat is a big factor in sticking to a meal plan. 

I tried Slim-Fast years ago, and back then, you could only have one meal a day and two shakes.  I found it hard to drink two meals.  I never felt full.  Plus, the shakes were kind of gross.  I was given the opportunity to try one of their new shakes for free, and I have to say, it was pretty good.  My kids liked them, too.  Brandi tried one, and said it tasted like a chocolate shake.  There are five different flavors now, as opposed to the basic chocolate and vanilla of years ago.  The new flavors are:

• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Rich Chocolate Royale
• Cappuccino Delight
• Strawberries N’ Cream

We tried the Rich Chocolate Royale, and like I said, it was really good.  I am looking forward to trying the rest. All the Slim-Fast can be found nationwide at Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger, and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

Just like everything else these days, Slim-Fast has a facebook page, and I encourage you to "like" them, especially if you are looking for encouragement in your own weight lose journey.

Decorate Your Home With PartyLite

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever attended a PartyLite party?  My sister hosted one several years ago, and I bought the most beautiful candle.  I believe it was their Gemini candle.  It was two candle holders joined together by brass rings.  I loved that candle.  I think I still have it somewhere around here. My sister got a bunch of free stuff when she hosted her party, which is one of the many benefits of hosting a party.  I would love to get my friends together for a night of candles and fun to earn free stuff for myself.  I mean, who wouldn't?

PartyLite just had a sweepstakes, called the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes, where they gave away five $500 PartyLite gift certificates to people who registered to host parties.  I would have loved to have won one of those.  I could have finished all my Christmas shopping!  Instead I have to fight the crowds Friday and go shopping after work.  Crazy, I know.  I would have loved to have gotten all the women in my life one of these:

It's a ScentGlow warmer, and it makes your house smell wonderful.  You just add some Scent Plus™ Melts, Aroma Melts™ or Scented Oil, plug it in, and an electric warming plate spreads the fragrance throughout the room.  

They have several different ones to choose from, but I like this Holiday ornament one.  I am big on decorating for Christmas, and this would make a wonderful addition to my collection.

Make sure you "like" the PartyLite Facebook page to find out about special monthly offers online for party hosts and guests.  They also just released their Winter/Spring 2012 Catalog on December 16, which is full of beautiful candles. You should check that out, too.

Beautify Your Yard With Tips From Dig. Drop. Done.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am super mom!  Seriously.  I always knew I was a good mom, but here lately, I have discovered that I really can do it all.  I work, I cook, I clean house, I get the kids up and off to school every day, I make sure they get to all their performances and rehearsals.  Sure, I need a little help now and then, but everyone does.  Right?

I want you to meet Marcy.  She's a super mom like me. 

She has all these super tips about gardening, and when the best time is to plant all the beautiful bulb flowers you want to grow in your yard.  Right now, I don't have a yard to plant bulbs in, because we are living in an apartment complex.  But if I did, I would want to grow these beautiful purple crocus bulbs. I bet I could probably grow them inside in a planter.  I used the Garden Guru Tool at Curbside Chaos to find out when the best time to plant these bulbs would be.  The tool was simple to use.  Al you have to do is:

Step 1 – Pick your Country
Step 2 – Pick your location within that Country
Step 3 – Choose the type of bulb you want to grow
Step 4 – Check out the Planting Guide that shows you how to plant your bulbs.

My results were:

You really should check out the website right now, because they are having a contest where you can win a $5,000 yard makeover including a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter).  Taniya will go through and give you tips on the best way to update your yard! She will give you creative ideas for incorporating flower bulbs into your landscape. All you need to do to enter is submit a photo of your yard at CurbsideChaos.com.  You can visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more.  You can also help donate money to Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Simply share about Dig. Drop. Done. on twitter.  Easy enough, right?

So, which bulbs do you plan on planting this year?

A Great Stocking Stuffer

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My kids want cell phones for Christmas.  Ryan has one, but all it does these days is text.  I have to buy a card for it every month, which is sometimes hard to so considering money is really tight around here.  I have been thinking about switching to Sprint and getting all of us new phones, including the girls. 

I need to make up my mind soon, though, if I want to take advantage of this awesome deal Sprint has going on right now.  From December 12 through December 14, Sprint is giving away their Android™ powered EVO 4G devices for free!  This offer is only good online, but they are also offering free shipping, which is awesome. 

It gets even better!  I can have the activation fees waived for new lines.  I am pretty sure I will have to put up a deposit, but free phones and free activation is hard to pass up.  I can already see the smiles my kids will have on their faces Christmas morning if they wake up to cell phones.

I think my girls would prefer the one that has the slide out keyboard.  I know that will make texting easier for them.  And we all know how much girls, especially teenaged girls, like to text!

I'm Not Moving Anymore

 In the past sixteen years, I have moved more times than I care to remember.  In the past three years alone I have moved three times.  I have become quite the expert packer, but I do not want to have to do that again for a long time.  Thankfully, I like where we live now.  The kids have friends, and I am friends with several of my neighbors. It's when the kids get home and all they want to do is go outside and ride their bikes with their friends. I am hoping that I will be able to find the money before Christmas to get each of them a new bike.

If I ever have to move again, it will be somewhere new.  I was looking online, and I found sites like rentedmonton.com are so helpful. I can look at properties in all kinds of locations and find the perfect place for me and the kids.  When we moved into this apartment, I had never set foot in it.  I knew it was a three bedroom, but I didn't actually view it until after I signed the lease because it was being cleaned.  I wish the apartment complex had a website so I could have seen it first, but they don't.  I was thrilled when it turned out to be the perfect place for us.

For now though, I am going to stay put right here.  The rent is reasonable and I can pay the bills on my own.  And that's important for us single parents.

Norton For Small Business Owners

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Norton Small Business by Symantec for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How do you know which anti-virus software is right for you?  There are so many options available, and it can be confusing trying to find the right one to fit your needs.  I have heard really good things about the products Norton offers, and if you own a small business, it is even more important to have the right software on your computer.  You should check out Norton Small Business by Symantec.  This past September, they launched both the Norton 360 and the Norton Internet Security 2012.  You can even get 30% off Norton Small Business Products now.

I am not good with all the technical stuff, but from what I understand, having good malware protection can save you money in the long run, especially if you have to hire an expert to clean your computer of viruses.  I know I have had my share of computer viruses, and I am so thankful that my computer experts are relatives, so except for lost time online, it didn't cost me anything to have my computer restored. 

So even if you don't own a small business, it is still important to protect yourself online.  I am sure Norton has a program that can benefit you, no matter what your anti-virus needs are. Please leave me a comment letting me know which Norton product you think would work best for you and why.  Thanks!

LG Doubleplay

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I want one of these phones!  Check out how cool it looks:

I do a lot of texting, don't you?  Whenever I stop to do a delivery and am waiting to either be loaded or unloaded, I spend my waiting time texting and checking my Facebook.  My problem is that I have an old flip phone and it does not have a full keyboard.  I really want a full keyboard.  This LG DoublePlay™ phone, which is available exclusively t T-Mobile, has a full keyboard as well as two different touch screens.  Talk about being able to multi-task! 

There are a ton of features this phone offers, most of which I do not understand.  The one thing I do understand is that it has a 5 megapixel camera (with a flash!) and the ability to record video.  Both of these can be uploaded to Facebook right from the phone.  Awesome, right? 

So tell me, how many hours do you spend every day texting?  How about on Facebook?  Don't you think a phone like this could make doing those things easier? Trust me when I say you need to check out all the other features of this phone.  I wish I could explain them to you, but it's probably better if you check the out for yourself.  I'd never get all that technical stuff right.

Cheap Eyeglasses

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The other day my mom and I were talking about our eyes.  She needs new contacts, and I want new glasses.  I don't need new glasses, I just want them.  I have had the same pair for a couple of years, and I am ready for a change.  I don't have a lot of money to spend, so I need to find some cheap eyeglasses that I will be able to afford.  After a quick online search, I discovered Zennioptical.  They have complete sets of eyeglasses for under ten dollars.  That is definitely a price I can afford!

I browsed around a little and found this pair of purple eyeglasses that I love! Check them out:

They had several other pairs that I liked as well, so it's going to be hard deciding which pair of eyeglasses I want.  The good thing is that at these prices, I can get two or three pairs. Heck, I could get six pairs for the same amount of money I spent on the pair I am wearing right now.  With the money I save, I might just be able to buy myself some clothes to go with my new glasses.  I used to live in sweats and t-shirts, but now that I am working (which I am so thankful for with the economy the way it is these days) I like to look pretty every day.  New glasses and new clothes would help with that.

I am curious if any of you have ordered eyeglasses from Zenni,  What was your experience like?  Did you love Zenni's glasses?  Would you order from them again?

I Vote Babies!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am going to be an aunt again very soon to who I am sure will be another beautiful niece.  To me, there is nothing more amazing than a brand new baby.  If I could, I would have more kids, but money and the thought of being pregnant again and having to give up sleeping again keep me from doing it.  Oh, and the fact that right now I am a single mom plays into that as well.  There was a time when my ex and I discussed having another baby, and from where I am right now, I am glad we decided against it.  I am having a hard enough time with the three kids who are fairly self sufficient.  I don't know what I would be doing right now if I had an infant or toddler.

But that doesn't mean that I don't love babies.  I love the way they smell and coo and smile.  I will never forget the first time each of my kids laughed.  It was the sweetest sound in the world.  Right now, there is a Puppies vs. Babies online contest going on, and you can have your say as to which is cuter.  All you have to do is visit the website and cast your vote before November 23rd.  The winning puppy or baby will win $5,000!  That could either go towards a child's college education or a lot of chew toys. 

Let me know how you voted in the Puppies vs. Babies contest.  There are a lot of cute puppies out there, but to me, there is nothing cuter than a baby!

Dig. Drop. Done.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love flowers.  There is something so beautiful about the look and the smell.  I find it difficult to see a beautiful bloom and not smile.  But if you are like me, you have a hard time knowing which kind of flowers to plant when, and in what light.  There is this website called Curbside Chaos and they have all the information you need to plant a beautiful garden.  They have this garden guru tool which lets you know exactly when and how to plant the bulbs you love.  Simply follow these four easy steps:

Step 1 – Pick your Country
Step 2 – Pick your location within that Country
Step 3 – Choose the type of bulb you want to grow
Step 4 – Check out the Planting Guide that shows you how to plant your bulbs

Here's what came up when I tried it out:

Right now "Bulbs. Dig. Drop. Done." is giving away a $5,000 yard makeover, and all you have to do to enter is submit a picture of your yard.  In addition to the yard makeover, the winner will receive a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter).  She will go through and give the winner tips on the best way to update their yard, including ideas for incorporating flower bulbs into the winners landscape.  You can visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more about this contest and to check out all their tips. Also, for every share on Twitter, "Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done." will donate $1.00 to Rebuilding Together - the nation’s leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities.

They also have several different women on their site who offer their tips for gardening, and after reading their profiles, I discovered that I identify most with Marcy, the super mom.  Like her, I would rather spend time with my kids than gardening, but that doesn't mean I don't want beautiful flowers in my yard.  (or flowerbox since I technically don't have a yard right now) Simply and easy is perfect for me like it is for her.

Which women do you most identify with?

Crazy Talk

This guest post from Lenny Mcknight

I know it sounds crazy but I’ve developed a whole business around gift wrapping. I live in a really affluent community and there are lots of people here who give gifts for just about every occasion and they like for those gifts to be incredibly fancy when they give them. That’s why I’ve opened a website up that sells my wrapping services for a fee – I’ll even go to the store and pick up their gifts for them! Anyway, it took more effort than you’d think to get this up and running – I had to look into small business xo for all the technology and hire a graphic designer for the site and generally just do a lot of background. But at the end of the day I wanted to be sure I was getting it right – it had to be professional and aesthetically pleasing or it wasn’t going to attract the kind of customers I wanted it to, you know? I just hope this continues and business is just as good for years to come!

Tristan Trains As A Therapy Dog

I love to read, and there was a time when my girls showed signs of the same thing.  Recently, though, I can't get them to read anything unless they have to for school.  I am hoping that if I get them some really good books for Christmas, I can ignite that spark in them once again.

Brandi has recently showed a love for dogs, which is weird since up until recently, she has been terrified of them.  I thought that if I could find some inspirational books about dogs I could get her to read them.  I found this book, Tristan Trains as a Therapy Dog: A Tristan and Trudee Story, and I think it is something she will love.  It is the story of Tristan, a fluffy white bichon frise dog, who learn how to become a therapy dog.  Brandi will be able to read along as Tristan learns how to be a good therapy dog, and cheer as he takes his test. It's weird that I found this now, because my therapist is actually training her puppy to be a therapy dog, and Brandi has shown such a interest in that little puppy.

The book is geared towards kids a little younger than her, but I think she will enjoy it nonetheless.

Have You Heard About Straight Talk?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you tired of getting your cell phone bill in the mail only to find extra charges for going over your monthly minutes or for texting a little too much?  My money is precious to me, and every cent I bring into my home goes towards keeping the kids and I afloat.  I can not afford to have surprises every month, which is why I love Straight Talk.

Straight Talk offers pay as you go plans for their phones, and depending on your needs, you can really save money over contract phones.  For instance, I love their $45 unlimited talk, text, and web cards, which is what I buy every month for my phone.  I will admit to being hesitant in the beginning when I was looking for a cell phone, because I didn't know anyone who used Straight Talk personally.  But let me tell you, after the first month, I was sold on them, Hook, line and sinker.  I have never dropped a call, and there aren't many places where I can not get a signal.  I can Call a friend or send a text whenever I want, and not worry about if I am roaming or if it's after 7pm.  I hear that you can even get Android on Straight Talk.  That's pretty awesome.

I think I might need to upgrade my phone soon!

Untitled Jersey City Project

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Untitled Jersey City Project for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Watch this:

It's the second episode in a series of eight episodes titled Untitled Jersey City Project.  I watched it, and quite honestly, I don't have a clue what is going on, which I think might be the point.  The storyline is pretty simple.  A new city is being built on the Jersey Waterfront, and everyone has something to gain.  Or lose.  I guess it just depends on who you are.

I have been known to give even the worst shows the benefit of the doubt, and this one did peak my interest a bit.  I am curious about the bigger storyline, since each mini-episode is part of a larger story.  The episodes air on FX, which unfortunately is a channel I do not get.  Heck, we don't get anything but Netflix around here.  I'm hoping the episodes will air on their website so that I can watch them all. 

Take a minute (or two) and watch the episode above.  Make sure you let me know what you think.  Is it something that interests you?  Would you watch future episodes?  Why or why not?

Yeah, I know, that's a lot of questions.  But I really am curious about what others think of this show.

Dry Shampoo

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TRESemmé for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

A couple of weeks ago, I let Kasi cut my hair.  I had so many split ends, when I washed my hair the ends just completely frizzed out.  My hair is all one length, so she just needed to trim the dead ends away.  Turns out, she had to cut off several inches because my hair was so damaged.  It was own fault, really, because it's been at least a year since I've had it cut.  Washing and blow drying it every day (and some days more than once) really takes a toll on it.  Most days, I wear my hair in a pony tail, because the van I drive all day has issues with it's air conditioning, so I drive with the windows down, which causes my hair to blow all over the place.  I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the cooler weather coming so that I can leave my hair down occasionally.

I recently, as in a few minutes ago, learned of a product called TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo.  Basically, you put it on your hair when it is dry instead of washing it, and it helps to keep your hair looking and feeling fresh by absorbing excess oils and odor.  Check out this video of Julia Allison, showing how to use  it.  (make sure you enter to win the $500 Target gift card, too!)

For best results, follow these tips while using it:

- Do shake vigorously before use and in between spray bursts for best results.

- Do lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots

- Do spray in short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head

- Don’t spray it like hair spray (all over and continuously)

- Do leave in for 1-2 minutes.

- Do use fingertips or a brush to distribute product evenly

- If clogging occurs, remove nozzle and rinse the nozzle under warm water, then reattach.

Let me know if you try this, and what your results were.  I really am curious as to how well it works.

Crime Show Paranoia

Contribution by Kennith Griffin

I have always loved crime shows. Well, I did until it started to become a problem. I don’t know why I got so obsessed with them, but I did. Recently, there were several that affected me differently than they have in the past. I normally would just watch the show and when it was over it was over. I did not think about it again and nothing in the show ever crossed my mind. However, lately I have been walking around the house on edge. I keep thinking someone is going to jump through a window or knock down a door. I finally had to have home security install an alarm system. I know you are probably thinking I have lost my mind. Perhaps I need to see a therapist instead of have an alarm installed. Honestly, I never would have thought a simple television show would make me so paranoid to be in my own home. I would have never thought I could go from loving crime shows to fearing them, but this seems to be the path I am currently on.

TracFone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

These days, everyone has a cell phone, eve little kids.  My youngest daughter is nine, and most of her friends already have their own cell phones.  Personally, I think that's a little young.  I made my son wait until he was 14 before he got his own phone. 

I ended up buying him a TracFone, and it has worked out pretty well.  He's big on texting, so I was hesitant to sign a contract with someone for fear of outrageous phone bills every month.  The phone he has has So many features and the best one is that there are no contracts or surprise bills.  I pay one low price every month, and he's good to go.  They even offer an option to pay for an entire year of service.

You can check out this video to see how Real TracFone customers feel about these phones, and all that they have to offer:

Trust me when I tell you that buying one of these phones for Ryan was a wise decision.  When my girls are old enough, I will probably get them each one s well.  Kasi is 14 now, so she is ready for a phone.  Brandi still has quite a few years to go before she is ready.

Dreams

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Everyone has a dream.  Ask each of my kids what their dreams are, and the answers are so very different, but each is within their grasp.  Ryan wants to be a mechanic, and is taking classes this year in high school that will help him reach his goal.  Kasi wants to be a fashion designer, and I am sure she will be a great one.  Brandi wants to be an actress, and anyone who knows her will tell you she is already a very talented one.  I will do everything in my power, as their mother, to help them each achieve the goals and dreams they have.

Right now, Upromise is celebrating its 10th Anniversary by giving away $20,000 to users who share a story that tells how a parent has supported a child's dream.  I am sure many of you have stories of your own that should be submitted.  All you have to do is visit www.upromisetodream.com and share you dream.  After doing so, encourage everyone you know to go and "like" your dream.  Make sure to check out the dream wall official rules so you can be entered to win one of the cash prizes that will be awarded.  Upromise will give away $1,000 to 10 winners and a grand prize winner for $10,000 will be selected from the participants as well.

Good luck, and let me know if you enter so I can "like" your dream!

Let's Talk Cell Phones

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

These days, everyone has a cell phone.  My daughter is nine, and a bunch of her friends in the neighborhood run around with cell phones in their pockets.  In my opinion, that is a little young to have their own cell phones.  I am going to make Brandi wait until she is a teenager before she gets her own phone.  Kasi, however, has been bugging me for a while now for a phone, and at 14, I think she is old enough for one.

I plan on getting her a Straight Talk phone like mine.  I have had mine for months now, and I love it.  It has everything you need to call a friend, send texts, and even get online.  I pay $45 every month for unlimited talk, text, and web.  I go to Walmart and buy a refill card, and it so easy to load it into my phone.  The best thing is that I am not getting a phone bill every month with hidden charges and overages.  II had to pay per text, my phone bill would probably be a few hundred dollars every month.  Yes, I do text that much. 

I believe in this instance. mom knows best about cell phones.  I wouldn't change mine for anything.