Fall is in the air

The weather is getting cooler, and leaves have started to fall. I love that I live in a area that 4 seasons bring a new beginning to my yard! I don't like seeing the trees without their green leaves in the winter but the ice or snow make them so beautiful, especially at night. And the freeze helps me get a head start on the weeds that beat me to the punch.
This time of year has so many beautiful mums that give a flower bed so much color. You can put up a Fall display with pumpkins and dried corn shucks,on top of a bale of hay! Maybe even throw in a homemade scarecrow.
Before you know it Christmas will be here. I hope to get started with shopping soon, maybe get a gift here and there so that I can enjoy the season. Ethan said the other day that he was ready to put up the tree...little to soon for that! He said "when I get my own place, I'm going to leave mine up all year in a special room. That way I can be in the mood all year round. It gives me a special feeling at night when you light it up and turn all the lights out". Oh to be young again!
I loved Christmas when I was younger too. Not that I don't now, but everything was so much simpler then. Looking forward to being with family that we didn't get to see much of...those winter vacations from school seemed like a month, even though they were only about a week. We use to take turns "spending the night" with cousins,and Grandmaw and would have so much fun! Especially if it would happen to snow!

Rambling on...

It's been a long time since I have been here rambling on, seems like my life is never simple. But then again, if it was what would I do with myself? I have been so busy with everything that I haven't had time to even think.
I have worked on my pond, almost have it finished now...all that is left is to plant the flowers around that I got over 2 months ago on sale. Lost a few,that should have been planted as soon as I got them, but what can I say. My garden let me down, had the most beautiful cantaloupes that, after I waited forever to pick, only to find that some creature decided that they would eat them before I could, same with the big tomatoes that I have been waiting on.
Have 5 new kitties that think they are suppose to eat every time I walk in the door! And they want canned food, not dry!
Been dealing with school, high school and college...had to give the high school that the boys go to a piece of my mind, and let them know that they are not dealing with a Mom that will just sit back and watch my child that is already struggling, just get run over by a certain teacher. And there is my daughter's college! I know that times are bad, and didn't realize that the school is the one that gets the "last say" of a pell grant, after you have been approved by the government! Had to prove to them that, yes I didn't make enough to pay for her classes, every time I thought they had enough information, they wanted something else. But, thank goodness she will get help for her fall semester!
And there is "death", "cancer"...I have lost 2 Uncles this year with the dreaded C word! One that gave it his all and dealt with the dreaded disease for over 4 years and finally his body could take no more. Then another one that found out 4 months before he passed away. My Granny on my Dad's side, 92 years old, mine you, found out she had breast cancer and went in last week to have her breast removed.
Then there is work! Job. Income.
My job at the hospital...a dream job that after working in a major retail chain, being watched like a 1st grader at every move I made...thought "I have finally found an adult place to work". (if there is such a place!) You know, no matter where you work, there is always a snake in the grass, just setting there, waiting to strike! Even if they have no say so, no connection in what you are doing! A few of the nurses thought maybe I should come in at a different time, a little later, certain days, this and that. The reason was, they thought I was missing a few patients that really wanted photo's taken. Well, my remedy for that is...when I stroll in your room, and tell you when I will be there, what time, what day, and you are interested in photo's...get up off your butt, get your baby ready and let me take the picture while I am there...or you can decline! Or, you can bring the baby back to the hospital after you make an appointment and I will be glad to take it then! That's the option you have! But I know you can't please everyone! Don't get me wrong, there are some great nurses there that do "their" job and let me do mine without sticking their nose in what I do. But no matter where you work, somebody has to be a "busy body" and think they can do your job too. One even told me that the hospital was looking for a different company, which I learned was not true at all! Well, if that was the case, then I wouldn't be there now, would I? So, I have learned who these people are, keep my thoughts to myself and carry on...I'm great at this job, not to "toot" my own horn, I take some great photo's! And I have quiet a few that decline to even have them taken. They say, "well, they are too expensive", "I have coupons to Olan Mills", "I'm going to walmart". But nothing is like getting that very first portrait of your little angel! And, they aren't required to purchase any if they don't want them, and even have a whole year to get them! An option I did not have when I gave birth to my kids. But that's their decision.
With merchandising, man what a job! I won't get rich, by no means! But working on my own time, my own days, not having to answer to anyone...I can live with that! I'm pretty darn good at merchandising too! A lot of traveling, which I am usually finished up by the middle of the week. And then there is my Usborne Book Business, which I have put on the back burner for now. I still network, tell everyone about it, and still have my website. I just can't seem to give it up, not that I have to...as long as I sell at least 1 book, I am considered active. So, still hanging in there.
Networking in the summer for me is rough, with all the things I have around here to do. I have a few "ning" sites that I have been on for a few years, and try to visit at least a few times a month. There are some wonderful ladies that have become friends that I check on every chance I get. We seem to be on most of the same ones, so that makes it easier to keep up with them.
Haven't really been anywhere special this summer, as far as vacations go...we did go fishing on Father's Day. And went to the mountains one day with my sister,Mom,Dad and the kids. Spent the 4th of July at my Mom and Dad's camping spot (a story in it's own, haha)with a movie, food and fireworks! Had a great time and I think they did too.




Hope everyone else is having a great summer and enjoying time with their family, because in the end that is who counts! They are the ones that are always there when you need them, through thick and thin!

Earth Day is April 22

And Usborne Books is giving away 5 Going Green Kits!



Tell us how your family, school or classroom recycles in 100 words or less, and if your story is chosen to be published in the newsletter, you will win a Going Green Kit ($18.99 value).
Click Here to enter.


The Going Green Kit provides a recycling activity that is fun for the whole family. It includes the Usborne book: Why should I bother about the planet? plus tools, materials & instructions for how to make your own recycled art paper. All our Kid Kit boxes are made of recycled cardboard with environmentally friendly PVC free windows, cotton hangers, and printed with flower or soy ink. (8 yrs and up).
Click here to see more Kid Kits

I'm a Danger to myself!

OK, anyone that knows me, they know that I can't stand staying in the house when the sun is shinning. So, today the kids were sick and at home from school, so forget doing anything in the house!
It is cool outside, but after I went to feed the animals decided to stay out and do some productive yard work. I have been putting off trimming some hedges along my fence and thought today would be a good day to get ahead of the growth. As I was on my 4Th bush, for some unknown reason, the clippers suddenly came crashing down and hit me on the eyebrow. I didn't think anything about it, all I know is, it hurt like hell! I wasn't going to let that stop me because everything I do, being a klutz something usually happens, and let's face it I have become use to it by now.
Then I got to thinking about having to go to work at the hospital tomorrow, and thought I might need to "feel" to see if it was starting to swell. Oh my, I felt liquid! And sure enough it was blood. I didn't think that I had hit myself that hard. I mean, the clippers are so dull that I'm surprised they even cut the branches that I was cutting!
So, I came in to see the damage. Yep, cut my eyebrow!
Won't I be a pretty sight at work tomorrow! Should be fun trying to explain that one!

Sugarloot, NOT one of my favorite sites:(

If anyone is familar with this site they know that it is all about getting people to sign up and place your votes for your favorite photo. Let's face it that's all they are after...getting hits on their site and getting people to join! Customer service? Well, I don't think they care!


My daughter is into photography and has been every since she got her "plastic" camera at the age of 2. She has since upgraded to a more expensive one. LOL! No, really she loves her camera and uses it every chance that comes along and hopes someday to hit it big. :)

She entered this contest with "Sugarloot", back in Oct and WON!
She spent a lot of time voting on other peoples photo's to get them to vote for her. The site, however lets people "down vote" other pics, and this throws your photo in another bracket. The higher the vote the higher your score is. Some of the participants that can't take it, delete their photo and start all over, which if they get all 10's then they get in the lead.

Ok, not my site, not the way I would run it, but here is my complaint about the whole Sugarloot experience...
She was suppose to get this as her prize...

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera, a $100 Jack's Mannequin merchandise shopping spree and a CD from Jack's Mannequin

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera--not the camera that was promised
took em let's see...5 months to get it too her after several emails that were never answered, several post on the site...which by the way were deleted...I guess they didn't want anyone to see people were not getting their prize!

$100 Jack's Mannequin merchandise shopping spree--suppose to have been a $100 gift card...but got 4 XS T shirts that unless you were 6 years old would not have been able to wear...know a 6 year old that needs some T shirts with "Jack's Mannequin" all over the front of them?

CD from Jack's Mannequin--Now this she did get! Not long after the contest ended.

After many emails to the person that is suppose to be running the site "Liz" I believe her name is...
No answers until my daughter told her that she didn't get a response, and soon, that she would contact the media and see what they thought about it!

Well, she finally got her camera, mind you, not the one that was promised to her but a camera. That she gave to me as a gift.(but I'm sure she will use it more than I do!)


We both have deleted our account with Sugarloot, and hope that this will teach us something about "customer service". I know you can't please everybody, but don't promise something that you can't deliver on! And don't ignore your customers!!
A response after the first one would have been nice;)

Spring ;)

Ok this week has really got me wanting to be outside!

This week I have planted 3 rose bushes,cleaned a flower bed out and have started on another, cleaned my garden patch and plan on starting some seeds in a few days.

I also, got the truck stuck in the yard, and with the help of the kids finally got it out! Took me 2 days! No way was I going to tell my hubby that his truck was stuck. hehe. Now I have to fix the ruts that it left.

Has anyone else got Spring Fever?

Dave Ramsey on the Economy

I know in the News, every time you listen, someone is talking about the economy! On my Sunday (only day off) I spend time checking my site and reading my emails.
On UBAM site, we have a message board I check from time to time and I found this post very interesting and thought I would share it with you! Hope to give you all some hope and get you motivated, to not let the government or the media tell us how "bad" the economy is, but do something about it! I know times right now are bad, the media telling us about every store,business or how many jobs are lost. But there is hope;)
My family too has been effected by the slow down, my husband is very worried about his job that he has worked, going on 11 years and was 1 of the very first to be hired. When it started there were only 2 employees, the owner and himself. He has health issues and is afraid that if his company is no more, that he will never be able to get another job and the health insurance he needs to "fix" his problems.
I lost my job almost 3 years ago, decided that it was a blessing and went into my own business Usborne Books found a Great job as a photographer and No Way would ever give it up.
Since my husbands work has slowed down, I also have taken on a job as a Merchandiser and enjoy doing that as well. He tells me that I need to find a "job with benefits"?! Sorry, but I might not have a 401K? Insurance? Vacation Time? Sick days? I consider myself as having the best benefits around! I have something that I don't stress over doing, I'm not afraid that I will be laid off, don't have to punch a clock, no camera watching every move I make, and I love my work!
With that said I wanted you to read what Dave Ramsey thinks about the economy...

Dave Ramsey on the Economy
I’m tired of hearing all the gloom and doom coming from the media about the economy and unemployment—I bet you are, too! Let’s take a minute to look at the true reality of the situation and what we can do about it.

Yes, many people have lost their jobs and houses. You may be one of them. But guess what? People have lost their jobs and houses even in a bull market. About 93% of people are still employed. That is pretty good! I was alive in the 1970s when unemployment hit double digits, and we’re nowhere near that right now! I’m not making light of the fact that some people are struggling; I’m just putting the situation in the proper perspective.

Even though you may be currently unemployed, that doesn’t mean you have to participate in the recession. People like me who have chosen to not participate acknowledge the reality of a slow economy and suffering people. However, we have decided that we’re not going to form our lives around the negativity coming out of the media and government. We’re intensifying our efforts and going to have the best year of our lives in spite of things slowing down.

Some people who find themselves unemployed will go into new careers or start their own businesses where they have the best year of their lives—professionally, financially and emotionally. Their current job losses are actually blessings in disguise. They believe this and are formulating game plans based on it. I guarantee there are men in their garages right now starting their own mechanic shops. The next Mary Kay Ash is writing up a business plan for new products she’s just created. College students are developing “the next best thing” in their dorm rooms as you are reading this. This is reality!

So think about your skills and interests. How can you leverage those passions into something you enjoy doing every day while earning money for it? If you haven’t lost your job but dread going to work, maybe it’s time to fire your employer and go in a new direction. When you have a game plan for your money and career, you will have a sense of empowerment because you aren’t a slave to the lender (or employer).

When employers start hiring because they believe their businesses will grow, recessions end. Many who have stopped hiring a healthy amount have been paralyzed by fear. They’ve lost hope. People who continue going about their lives in normal ways (without being irresponsible and buying stuff they can't afford) believe in the future. It’s called hope.

You can have fear or hope. It's your choice.

I choose hope.