Noddin’ & dozin’

I’ve developed a bad habit the last few days… or is it a bad symptom? Dozing while driving. Originally I think it was because I wasn’t getting enough sleep then I thought it had to do with some medicine I took and then I remembered I always get extremely exhausted around PMS time (in addition to the normal daily tiredness that seeps into exhaustion from the fibro). Now, I’ve concluded that it’s a combination of everything.

Regardless of the reason being sleepy enough to be able to doze off is a serious problem. Drinking coffee doesn’t help ‘cause I think my body is immune to the caffeine high that’s supposed to happen. The solution seems like I need to sleep eight to 10 hours a night.

How in the world does a freelance writer and editor who is the single mother of four and the happy girlfriend to R.P. (ha! surprised you with that one, didn’t I?) find the time to sleep more than eight hours?

If I figure it out you’ll be the first to know. In the meantime, can someone go get my blanket and pillow?

On the move

There is one thing that a lot of individuals really dislike doing and that is moving. All of the packing, organizing, throwing away, giving away and transporting only to do the same thing in reverse at a new place is not appealing.

However, there are companies that can specifically take the stress of one way rental off of homeowners/movers. One of those companies is ABF U-Pack, which offers a variety of packing and moving services to assist its customers. Services include storage, cross country, door-to-door, moving containers, etc.

Try U-Pack and see if they make moving a little easier.

Photo Tag: I'm it. Who's next?

Isn't she adorable?! I think this is when Amber (who will be 19 in a couple of months) was in the 9th grade. Andre looks about 3 there (see him in the background?) and he's 6 now. Wait, that would mean she was in the 10th grade, wouldn't it? Oh well, IDK... I just think she's the cutest ever!

I think this was over a Christmas holiday and we were taking a picture 'cause it was the first time she'd worn that outfit or sweater. I think she received the sweater as a gift.

It was a picture I chose because Tammy at Mom Knows Everything got me with a Photo Tag. It's been quite a long time since I've done one of these and I'm happy that she tagged me with an easy one. Here are the rules:

1) Go to your photo files, select the eight photo folder.
2) Select the eighth photo in that folder.
3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4) Then challenge eight blogging friends to do the same!

Who am I gonna tag?
Lin (Because she doesn't like to be tagged, but she has awesome pictures.)
Valerie ('cause I don't think I've ever tagged her.)
Lisa (She doesn't have anything to do.That's sarcasm, by the way, read about her life & you'll see.)
Henrietta (Just because I haven't been around lately to bug her.)
Renee (She's so busy and famous now that I want to see if she can find time to do it! :D)
Jocelyn (She always has fun stuff going on at her blog, but I think she needs a little fun.)

I am definitely outta the blogging loop 'cause it took me way too long to think of who I wanted to tag. Sad. So sad. That's why there are six names instead of eight. Hey, someone has to break the rules. :-)

Resorts Rescued Reviews

A friend of mine went on a mini vacation with some friends and returned talking about the beauty of the timeshare. It's nice to be a part of a
travel,Leisure, Entertainment network or Vacation Network.

Resorts Rescued is one of those nice networks to be a part of. They have a
New Corporate Location, 4 Research Dr. Suite 402 Shelton, Ct 06484 Phone: 860-770-6621. We have 1,000 location globally, in 450 cities, and 75 countries. Reservoir Corporate center is located in the crossroad section of Connecticut. Resorts Rescued continuously setting industry standards.

Up and running again

I am so super excited about finally replacing my laptop, which has been slowly expiring for months. This is a test run as I play and set it up… It should be faster, smarter and help me to be more productive. Fingers crossed.

Well, enough of being random for right now. I’ll be back a little later with some real blogging. For now, all I can think about is sleep.

Problems & perfection

Today I became privy to some information while hanging out with a friend. Some very interesting facts regarding people that I don't know. While sitting there listening I had the desire to pull out a pad of paper and a pen or activate the recorder on my phone because others' lives are so interesting, entertaining... and sad.

I learned of a young lady who is about 25 years old with two young children ages 4 and 2. She works in the "entertainment" industry, doesn't have her own home (stays with her sister) or car and continues to do unwise (read: stupid) things that put her ability to raise her children in question.

There was another woman who needs more than a month to come up with a little more than $100 to pay a fine. She said, "I'll have to save it up."

An individual was caught DUI and his 12-month sentence (not counting the fine and community service) was ordered as weekend jail, which means reporting on Friday evenings to the county jail. He'll do that every weekend for 12 months.

I discovered that regardless of right or wrong some individuals appear to be automatically believable because of their status. We live as individuals who believe that everyone makes mistakes, but we belong to a society that supports organizations made up by people who are supposedly perfect. Did you have to read that again?

Why are we considered human and capable of error when a group says their members' words, actions, etc. are always right? Isn't that contradictory? There are always three sides of every story: Yours, theirs and the exact truth. The fact that none of these things matter in certain situations is beyond frustrating.

What do you think? Are a certain group of people more trustworthy and believable than the "average person?"

“Not in My Yard” Blog: The Gloves Come Off as Havahart® Launches New Nuisance Animal Control Blog

This is a sponsored guest post written by Theresa Flavin on behalf of Havahart. Post powered by Sponzai.

 Ahh, spring: The season of new life, new beginnings and, for many, utter frustration as a host of furry critters help themselves to our tender springtime blooms. It’s a near-universal problem for home gardeners, so Havahart® (http://www.havahart.com) has launched the new Not in My Yard blog (http://www.notinmyyard.com), where you can contribute posts, interact with other gardeners and get expert advice on taking your yard back from hungry wildlife.

Not in My Yard blog focuses on total yard protection through trapping and repelling animals humanely but effectively with Havahart products. Do you have a helpful or interesting experience protecting your yard and garden from the onslaught of hungry raiders? Submit it to Not in My Yard blog and let others know what worked. Top contributors are listed on the blog, so the more guest posts you submit, the better chance you have of seeing your name in lights. Chances are, there will be other Not in My Yard blog regulars with pest control problems similar to yours -- and even other gardeners from your region. You can choose to show only their posts so you don’t miss the tips most relevant to your situation.

If posting on blogs isn’t your thing, Not in My Yard blog is the perfect place to learn about total yard protection. Expert and guest bloggers discuss controlling wild (and not-so-wild) animals of all types, including chipmunks, deer, dogs, feral cats, groundhogs, rabbits, raccoons, rodents, skunks and squirrels. You’ll learn about live trapping and using non-toxic, organic repellents to keep wildlife from viewing your yard as a trendy neighborhood eatery. You’ll enjoy interesting -- and frequently humorous -- stories about wildlife in other gardeners’ yards. And perhaps most importantly, you’ll see you’re not alone in your fight to protect your landscaping or garden.

 Not in My Yard blog also features the live Havahart Twitter feed with helpful tips and promotional discounts on total yard protection products. You can subscribe to the RSS feed or submit your e-mail address for live updates whenever a new post is added to the blog.

 “We’re excited to launch Not in My Yard blog,” said Havahart marketing associate Theresa Flavin. “This is the blog for everyone who has ever watched their tulips become rabbit food, lost their hostas to deer or wished the neighborhood skunks would find a different path to walk every night. We enjoy hearing the lively, fun and informative stories submitted by home gardeners just as much as the Not in My Yard blog readers do!”

Want to become an active part of Not in My Yard blog? Visit http://www.notinmyyard.com and join the conversation. Learn more about Havahart’s humane traps and repellents at http://www.havahart.com. And this spring, watch what Havahart total yard protection products can do to keep your home and garden beautiful.

Announcing winner of "Forget Me Not'

Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog won the novel "Forget Me Not" by Vickie Hinze. Congratulations Valerie! Although I'm happy when anyone wins this makes me particularly happy because Valerie is one of my favorite blogging friends. I hope you enjoy the book!


Here's what Valerie said in her giveaway entry, "My favorite book is The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. What a fun giveaway! Thanks for the chance!"

Valerie, I'll contact you via email in a bit and you'll have 48 hours to respond with your address.

Green it up a bit

How did you enjoy your Earth Day? As the day comes to an end I am finally getting around to posting. I didn't really get the chance - or take the chance - to do anything in honor of Earth Day besides talk about. I think I've told you in the past that throwing away so many things causes a little guilt for me. There's the two to ten bottles of water I drink per day, the Styrofoam paper plates that I must use and the one million used jars, bottles, packages, etc., that all get thrown away on a regular basis.

So when it comes to things that I can reuse, re-purpose or recycle, I try to be sure to do my part. Old magazines and newspapers are first used for school project and then when the box gets too full the majority are put in the recycle bin that's a couple of blocks away from here. Most of the copy paper that is flat and only used on one side is put into a paper tray and reused to write notes, draw pictures or print on the reverse side. To extend the life of ink cartridges, I try to print in draft so as little ink is used as possible. If a Styrofoam plate can be wiped off or shaken off without cross contamination or down right disgust then I reuse that as well.

There are a few other things that I try to do on a regular basis, but I think you get the point. That's why when I get information about a company or individual that seemingly is being very wasteful I am extremely bothered by the lack of effort. And that's where I'm going with this.

A company, who shall remain nameless, implemented a program that required a lot of materials. At the end of that program much of the materials had gone unused. The section labeled discard, after clean up, was massive and I wasn't clear on what the plan was for the disposal. Someone said a company was coming to take the materials away, "I think they're going to recycle them," she said.

My hope is that more companies get in on the green bandwagon and do what they can to minimize the items they're contributing to the landfills. I recently read an article about a biodegradable ink pen and was surprised that the Sun Chips that I recently obtained (through a get one free coupon) were packaged in a recyclable bag. The details of the pen and the bag prove to be very interesting and something I think is a good and easy way to teach children on the subject.

The pen and bag wouldn't breakdown in a landfill, but are designed to be reintroduced into the Earth. They should be "planted" in soil where they can receive oxygen and water to assist in the degraded process. I saw pictures of it (and if I'm not too lazy when I'm finished typing this I'll find them for you) and it's quite cool to see. The products can be dug up periodically to see the degrading process. What if everything we threw away could be degraded that way and each individual was responsible for their own waste? Do you think our soils would be rich and the landfills reach a standstill in growth? Would it even make a difference in our environment and world?

I'm sure someone somewhere has done a study on it. For now, share with me what your favorite green activities are and enjoy the rest of your Earth Day! Oh, by the way, make everyday Earth Day, okay?

Car donations to help in the fight against cancer

There's a way to help find a cure for cancer that you may not have thought of: Donate your car to Cars Fighting Cancer and the fight against the leading cause of death in the US will continue with research, education, advocacy, service and support.

Believe it or not it's easy to make car donations; anyone interested can visit the Cars Fighting Cancer website for easy-to-follow instructions on what to do or call 1-888-950-CURE (2873) to talk to someone who will walk you through the donate car process.

After you fill out the donation form, or speak to a customer service person over the phone, you'll be contacted by a reputable towing company that will arrange a convenient pick-up date and time. They'll do it for free and provide you with a receipt - it's that simple.

I know you're wondering what happens to the vehicle donations, right? Well, once your donation is received it is sold at the highest price and the proceeds from the sale will be used to bring hope to cancer patients in your community as well as throughout the nation.

Donating a car, which is tax deductible, is easy to do and it's just one way you can make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Wooweeee, I am in a BAD mood

If I don't stop it soon the frown on my face will be there permanently. My son, who is supposed to be putting on laundry, is talking, playing and singing to himself. My two youngest daughters, who are supposed to be in their beds laying quietly, are playing and giggling. All it means to me is disobedience. They have not listened since they got home from school today... that's not the only thing that's contributing to my stinky mood: there's the part-time temporary job that ended today (Did I know it was going to end today? Nope. But that's another story), there's the friend that was supposed to be here by now (I was really looking for the relief! Having another adult present really alleviates the child-induced aggravation), there's the regular, everyday things that I need to do that are looming over me. And I can't focus on them because my ears are being blasted with the sounds of children who just - not 10 minutes ago - got into major trouble and should be humbly and obediently doing what I said.

Unfortunately for them, and for me, they're about to get a not-so-nice reminder that they're in trouble and were told to quietly get ready for and get in bed. Then I'll cut myself a piece of Sara Lee chocolate fudge ribbon cake, grab a cup of tea and sit here frowning at the computer and waiting for the moment when my head hits the pillow.

Pray for my children that they quiet down soon or you'll read about me in the newspaper. This is what it'll say:
Georgia woman pitches tent in yard in protest of naughty children. I think me living in a tent is a perfect solution; less for me to clean up and only the sound of nature and... uh, cars passing by. The children can have the house...

Uh, Lin? Is your kerchief still packed?

Book giveaway deadline extended

There aren't any excuses for my being absent around these parts; just the fact that my time has been so crunched that blogging has temporarily taken a back burner. It's not all stressful things that have taken over, however, I have been having a little fun. Just being a woman. I mean, it is my world, right? ;)

The giveaway for the book Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze was scheduled to end several days ago, but because I didn't get the word out like I should have I am going to extend it until Sunday the 25th.

So, you have until April 25th to enter to win a copy of the novel Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze. The post to enter through is directly below this one or you can click here.

Thanks and good luck!

Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze - Book review & GIVEAWAY!

The deadline to enter to win has been extended to Sunday, April 25th. Enter today!

I am about a chapter and a half from finishing the book "Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze, and I get irritated every time I have to put it down to do something else. If it wasn't for my hectic life I would have finished the book by now because I think it's really interesting. It's a novel about Benjamin Brandt - a man whose wife and child were killed - and a mysterious woman who lost her memory during a carjacking and subsequently finds out she's been targeted for murder.


Although it's a novel that is filled with mystery, uncertainty and the necessary love interest it also goes much deeper than that. It creatively introduces (or reminds) readers to faith in God. Amidst the tragedy of losing his family, Ben has also loss his faith and finds it slamming him right in his face when the mysterious woman who looks like his wife and has no memory of who she is comes into his life. That woman, to Ben's amazement, has tremendous faith despite her near-death experiences and uncertain future.

Explosion, carjackings, memory loss, murders and everything in between make Forget Me Not a novel that's interesting, exciting and easy to read. You'll want to get a copy of your own - I promise. And you can if you enter to win!

 WIN a copy of Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze.

The giveaway runs from today, April 12th, to April 25th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Mandatory entries: 1) Leave a comment on this post telling me the title of the book you're reading now or the title of your favorite book. 2) Publicly follow this blog. (Link is in the right-hand sidebar.) If you don't have a blogger profile that includes your email address, you must include your email address in your comment. Leave a separate comment for both entries.

Optional entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry.)

1. Read another one of my posts and leave a relevant comment on it then come back to this post and leave a comment here telling me which one you commented on.
   
2. Subscribe to my blog by clicking the "subscribe in a reader" at the top right of the page. If you're already a subscriber, please let me know that in a comment.
3. Write a post about the giveaway and link back here. Leave the exact URL (not the main page) in your comment.
4. Follow me on Twitter.
5. Tweet about the giveaway and leave the link in the comments to let me know that you did. (Click the time link under your tweet to get the exact URL.)
6. Friend me on Facebook. Leave me a comment telling me who you are on Facebook so I can keep up. 

If you do each entry you'll have a total of eight. Everyone who enters should have a minimum of two entries to qualify to win.

Who is eligible?
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents.

As I mentioned, the contest ends on April 16th at 11:59 p.m. EST and the winner will be announced Monday, April 19th in a separate announcement post. The winner, who will be chosen by Random.org, will receive an email and have 48 hours to respond. If a response is not received in that time then a second place winner will be chosen.

Now, come on, get to commenting for your chance to win.




Buy it now

Can't wait to see if you've won a copy? Then hop on over to WaterBrookMultnomah to purchase a copy for yourself or a friend.
I received a review copy of "Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze to facilitate my review and no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed here are my own. Click to review my complete disclosure policy.

BuboMe

Get unlimited hilarious and mind-boggling mobile video from BuboMe's more than 6 million users and those chosen by the bubome staff. mobile bubome is the "in thing" so if you haven't already tapped in then now would be a good time.

Not quite my style - BOOK REVIEW

If you know anything about me then you know I like to read books and I really like telling others about them especially if they're good. When I received information about the book "Fragile" by Chris Katsaropoulos I was excited to read a copy.

Here's information about the book from the back cover:

Amelia Geist, Holly Schenck, and Tris Holloway are all broken - in one way or another. In a lifelong act of penitence and defiance, Amelia Geist has remained a virgin and saved herself for Tris, her first love, who abandoned her more than fifty years ago. A few weeks from retirement, Tris Holloway has led a separate life of his own in the hills above Silicon Valley, sealed by inertia within the confines of a loveless marriage and shattered by his decision to leave Amelia. The only person who can repair the rift between Tris and Amelia is Holly, a single mother without means, who is trying somehow to mend her life while laid out in a hospital bed, a victim of her own suicide attempt. The stories of Tris, Holly, and Amelia are presented in Fragile as broken fragments, woven together by profound truth and an astonishing connection that transcends the boundaries between this world and the next.

Sounds good, right? I agree.

Unfortunately when I began reading the book I couldn't really get into it because of the writing style, but a lot of people who follow Katsaropoulos like the fragmented and sporadic style. The flipping back and forth between characters, sometimes mid sentence, is bothersome to me.

If you're like me you'll want to read the book to find out for yourself. I think the premise behind the book is great and I would love to know how it turns out. If you get a copy, please let me know. The author has more than 600 followers on Twitter so obviously this is a problem with the type of books that I like and not with the author. :-)

You can get more information about Fragile at Luminisbooks.com or follow on Twitter @fragileck. The books is also available for purchase at Borders and Barnes and Nobles online stores.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Fragile in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Click to review my entire disclaimer policy. 

Find an apartment you love

A little over a year after I went into the Air Force I moved off base into my first apartment. The apartment, unfortunately, was the not the brightest spot on the map, but I was glad to have found it. My second apartment was a dream come true. Now had there been an apartment ratings site then I would have easily found the apartment I wanted.

My second apartment had cathedral ceilings, redwood doors and molding, on-site storage and laundry room, kitchen island, dish washer and just about every amenity renters are looking for. The one downside - smaller bedrooms - was totally worth the hassle to live in such a beautiful building. There was a huge porch on the floor that I lived, which I only shared with one other tenant, and there were quaint window seats and hallway decorations that made it feel like home.

Now, renters can find out all of that information before they even get to the site by visiting Apartment Grade for information.

Potty breaks & random observations

In my travels with the elusive part-time temporary job that I keep mentioning I have visited quite a few restrooms that I would not have the pleasure of seeing otherwise. My area of travel is Clayton County and during my travels I drink tons of water. Well, eventually that water manages to need releasing (seems quite frequently) and I must avail myself to the restroom at the local libraries and churches. I, thus far, have not been impressed. One restroom in the most beautiful, peaceful and well-kept Catholic church I've ever been in (well, the only one I've ever been in) had the stinkiest, yuckiest bathroom ever. Go figure. There's a public library (and I'll keep to myself which one it is) that needs a deep cleaning with some bleach, peroxide, Formula 44 or something similar.

I'm sitting on the love seat in my living room while I click away, glance out of the window and watch television (seen two Bruce Willis movies so far). I've seen playful squirrels, a tiny bird with a red patch on its head and a sneaky, lurking cat prancing around in my yard. A few cars and a couple of people walking and enjoying the day. It's the girl on the motorized scooter that keeps capturing my attention. That motorized scooter has reminded me of how lazy and overweight a lot of people in today's world have become. The girl was overweight. I felt sad that her parents and/or guardians had chosen to purchase that for her. She's sharing it with a sister, a friend or someone and they other girl is slender.

That's the last observation... that I didn't have any negative opinions about the slender girl riding the scooter. I may have still thought that this generation is so lazy and different than kids were when I was growing up, but it probably would have stopped there.

I suppose I should get off my lazy butt and get some housework done. Maybe I should get my children dressed and take them to the park or something. (No, I'm not dressed either!) I don't really want to get dressed. Even though the sky is a beautiful blue with scant white clouds floating by, the leaves are shimmering in the Spring breeze and the temperature is inviting, I think I prefer to sit here and not feel good. (The pain today is quite unpleasant.) I'd rather sit here and hope/wish/pray for some mysterious something or someone to come and pick up my children to entertain them and tire them out.

Don't worry, it's the headache talking. A migraine has started to brew, but I'm going to take something to see if it'll subside. Then maybe do something that brings a little joy to my heart (water color or coloring with children) and stuff that I must do... Maybe I'll come back later and tell you about other random observations.

It's time for another party!

I've finally found a little time, and energy, to get some blogging done. I happened over to 5 Minutes for Mom and discovered that the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 has started. Wow, I can't believe it's that time already. If you haven't experienced a 5 Minutes for Mom party then you don't know what you're missing. There are prizes, socializing and everything you find at a regular party (well, minus the prizes, I guess); just in the comfort of your own home. Or wherever you're blogging from at the time.

I found a link to my post from last year's Ultimate Blog Party and think it's cool to be participating again. It's a fun way to meet new blogging friends and, of course, win something. I keep talking about that, don't I?

If you're new to my blog, please feel free to click around some to get to know me. Let me tell you a little bit about myself, my blog (It's a woman's world!) and why I started. I'm a 40-something writer and mom of four children ages 18, 6, 5 and 2 1/2. I'm a bit overwhelmed with my life right now, but find solace in blogging because it involves a few of the things I like to do: reading, writing and socializing. :-)

It's a woman's world cover a myriad of different topics, but all of which I think are relevant to a woman's life. Well, at least this woman's life. There are book and product reviews, paid posts (gotta make some moolah), creative and random writings, updates on my children and my health and few other things here and there.

I look forward to meeting all of you and hope to see you around after the party is over. Here's to new friendships... party on!

Liquid vitamins do a body good

Individuals today are looking for ways to make their bodies healthier and stronger, but they want quick, easy and proven ways to do that. They may find that in TruWell’s LMV Gold, which is a complete liquid multivitamin and mineral supplement that's touted as containing 29 essential vitamins and minerals such as Coenzyme Q10, Whole Grape Extract, Bioflavinoids, Phytonutrients, Antioxidants, Essential Fatty Acids and 72 Trace Minerals.

Our diets don't always contain the vitamins and minerals we need so taking a multivitamin in the form of liquid vitamins is a way to get all the nutrients needed. Just a little sip once a day; it's as easy as that.

Strengthen a young woman's resolve with Revolve 2010

One of our jobs as parents is to lead our children in the right direction. That includes all kinds of topics including when it comes to your religious and moral beliefs. That's why I introduced my 18-year-old daughter to Revolve 2010, NCV REVOLVE NEW TESTAMENT BIBLEZINE 2010.

Through my daughter I've learned that teenagers enjoy magazines and books that are colorful, engaging, artistic and full of design savvy articles, information and photographs. They also like quick reads that give them complete details in as little words as possible with the option to read more if they like. That's what Revolve 2010 offers.

This is the 6th edition and includes new sidebars and features while continuing to make the New Testament relevant to a teenage girl's life today. Here's a list of some of the current features:

* The truth about guys from Chad Eastham (featured speaker on Revolve Tour and author of The Truth About Guys)
* Behind the scenes of The Word of Promise: The Next Generation, with stars Jordin Sparks, Cody Linley, and Corbin Bleu
* Celeb Drama-Trauma
* Q&A with Jenna Lucado
* Quizzes aimed to increase self-awareness and point readers to Scripture
* Free music downloads from Group1Crew, Stellar Kart, and Britt Nicole

Revolve 2010 is a book that teenage girls can read a few pages at a time each day or spend extended time studying. My daughter, who is somewhat picky about what she absorbs, has added this item to her current reading selections.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze <> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <>: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Click here to review my entire disclaimer policy.

Tasty changes

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

I remember the days of pulling out a can of hormel Chili from the pantry, heating it in a saucepan, filling a bowl, sprinkling it with cheese and settling down for a hearty, tasty, filling and warm meal. It was simple, easy and yummy. That used to be my favorite way to eat it, but there are more varieties and ideas nowadays that I must try. The all-time favorite also has Hormel® Chili Master® Chili. It's a bowl of chili, and way more, housed inside a jar.

Here are the varieties available:

• Chili Master Chipotle Chicken no Beans
• Chili Master Chipotle Chicken with Beans
• Chili Master Roasted Tomato no Bean
• Chili Master Roasted Tomato with Bean
• Chili Master White Chicken with Bean

You can gobble them "plain" or get a little creative by wrapping your favorite one in a pita, spoon it over rice, have it with noodles or make a dip for your corn chips. The options are endless for this new premium style chili. If you need ideas then check out the Hormel Foods Recipes pages to find something to tempt your taste buds or share an idea you've already tried.

And for even more spice in the kitchen, the simple Dinty Moore® cans have also advanced and improved to the new Dinty Moore® HeartyMeals™ varieties such as chicken pot pie and noodles and beef. Sounds tasty, right?

The changes in the products have grown with the changes in advertising and marketing. Do you remember any of the previous years' advertisements? In the 1930s, there were two characters Jiggs and Maggie, from "Bringing Up Father," who were used in Dinty Moore® advertisements. There was another ad using a lumber jack guy who said, "First name's Dinty, last name's Moore." What about the pro football player, Fran Tarkenton, in the 1980s who promoted the Hormel® chili. That's just the beginning.

As the brands evolve so does the product with the end result still being a family favorite. That's what I like about the changes. And, there you have it, another instance where change is good.

Let's catch up...

There are about three more weeks of my part-time temporary job and I must admit that I can't wait until it's over. You may be thinking, "Girl, I know you aren't complaining about having money?" But it's definitely not what you think. In fact, working part time has taken away from my Internet/blogging income. I'm so busy and exhausted that I've made less money. The "extra" income that I'd planned has partly replaced what I do here so - in essence - getting the job has defeated the purpose.

I need something that is in addition to what I am already doing. So, these last few weeks of the job I am going to try and push myself to make up the income as well as obtain another client or assignment so I'm not struggling and fretting in three weeks. Make sense? I think so.

In about a month or so I'll probably have some other things to share with you. Things are not so good, but - like the old saying goes - "change is good." (Or is that a slogan from a commercial? LOL)

Getting behind with blogging means I'm behind on posting commitments like book reviews, etc.
(BTW: Look out for a review and giveaway of the book "Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze on or about the 11th, k?)

Now on to the good stuff:
I've been wanting to share some of the freebies, goodies and wins I've gotten in the mail. ...

One of my most favorite wins is the Sapphire Crystal Heart Charm Bracelet from Charm Factory that I won from the Growing a Baby in Seattle Reviews blog. Imagine my surprise when Carrie told me I won. Talk about thrilled! I've been trying to win something from Charm Factory for eons; every time I see a blog hosting a giveaway I enter and my persistence has paid off. Thanks, Carrie, for hosting the giveaway - I've been rocking the bracelet on a regular basis and getting tons of complements on it.

I was one of the 200 winners of the Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner. I received that from Mom Central Consulting. I enjoyed that as much as the bracelet (uh, you know what I mean) because it made cleaning my old tub easy and quick. There's nothing like using a cleaning product to perk up a busy mom. :D

Just the other day I received a sample of the Purex Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets and I can't wait to use it. The commercial makes it seem like the best thing since sliced bread. So, I'm going to find out. I don't recall who's blog I clicked on for the freebie.

Another good win was the Sade Soldier of Love album. Listening to her new CD made me flashback to when I used to jam to her music "back in the day." Her voice is just a sultry and mysterious, and I really like it. My one critique is it's a little serious and way too short, but a true product of the Sade I remember. I got that from an online promotion and, unfortunately and not surprisingly, I don't remember who, where or what. Sorry.

One of the most interesting giveaways (hosted by One Savvy Mommy) that I won, which I didn't think I would, was the SKOY Earth-friendly cloth. I was a bit skeptical at first when I received the cloths, but I am pleasantly surprised at their usefulness. The cloths replace paper towels and sponges, they're 100 percent biodegradable and natural, they're machine washable or you can sanitize them in the microwave, and they're sturdy. They have reduced my paper towel usage, but have upped my laundry levels with the amount of dish towels the kids are using to wipe their hands. The SKOY doesn't work well for that, in my opinion. One minor downfall is the way they dry; they don't drape well over faucets or sinks. Anyone have a creative, neat way to store them? Other than that I love love love them.

I vaguely remember ordering a sample of a Scentsy Wickless Authentic Product and I received it (an air freshener) along with a catalog not too long ago. Love the products featured in the catalog and enjoyed the scents in my car.


Today I received a Glade plugIns scented oil fragrance refill and warmer courtesy of SC Johnson and Right@Home. The scent they sent (tahee!) is Hawaiian Breeze and it's not too bad. It isn't a "flavor" I would choose for myself, but I think it's something I'll get used to. I plugged it into the kitchen 'cause it just seems to make sense there. I like the way it "puffs" out a scent that lingers, almost fades then puffs again. Keeps a constant, clean scent. With this one it seems as if I entered a Right@Home giveaway or something, but - once again and not surprisingly - I don't remember.

I think that's about it. There are books that I'd like to share and a few other things, but I think this is enough for now. Now that you're mostly caught up on what's going on over here let me know what you've been up to. Okay?

A Sneak Peek at "Date Night"

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard about Date Night? No, not the "to do" that couples put on their calendars, but the Date Night Movie, which opens this weekend on April 9th.

The movie Date Night tells the story of a couple (played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey) who venture out on their weekly dinner date. What is normally a pretty boring affair turns into an intriguing night that involves breaking and entering, a car chase, a shootout and an interesting encounter with a not-so-legal strip club boss. Despite the scratches, scrapes and scares, the husband and wife get out of the adventure with their love renewed.

Some guys may deem it a chick flick, but if it's a film that both sexes will enjoy. Funny, interesting and fast moving, maybe you'll leave the theater with your loved re-enforced.

Get a little peek at the movie trailer to tempt yourself a little more. Then make sure you mark your calendar for April 9th (that's this weekend!) and check out the movie on opening night.

Pollen clouds & showers

I was waiting in my car one morning (I don't even feel like explaining why) when I saw puffs of smoke floating across the road. I kept craning my neck trying to see where the smoke was coming from. It whipped around then soared across the road in huge, round clusters. It amazed me. I stared intently then realized it was pollen. There were - and still are - clouds of pollen blowing from the trees and grass.

As far as I remember this year has been the worse pollen wise. I've never seen this much pollen so early in the Spring. Today, I was about to get out of my car and paused. I was surrounded by trees and pollen filled the air. I couldn't avoid getting out of the car so I stepped out into the storm. I felt pollen on my face, arms and legs. It blew behind my eyes and my glasses got a yellow tint. Even as I sit indoors now I feel like I can still feel it swishing around me.

There's no way to avoid it. It's been swirling and blowing for a few days now. Seemingly increasing in count - 1600 last time I heard.

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain and although rainy weather is my least favorite; I can't wait. I hope it washes away the yellow that clings to my van, my driveway, the mailbox and any and everything including my skin.

I was too lazy to get up close to the van so I zoomed in from my front door. 

Can you see the yellow haze on top?

See the yellow dirt on the tire treads? There are some pollen filled 

thingamagingies on the ground too.

A yellow tinted trash can. Great. Don't you love the trash next to the fence? 

That's thanks to my neighbors... They're the best. Uh...not.

Puff, fluff, straighten, braid and twist

About a decade ago (give or take a month or two) I asked Shelley of Naturi Beauty if I could sample her Naturi hair products and do a review. I explained to her the battle I've been having with getting my hair to do what I want it to do. I think I've even told you about my hair dilemmas and the different styles I've had over the years. I wrote a post about the hairstyles quite awhile ago and then I found one that had some more pics of me in a meme that revealed even more hairstyles. I've worn everything from braids and cornrows to two-strand twists and locks that grew pass my waist.

Photo taken by Alex Jones

Shelley agreed to let me try her products and I was more than excited when they arrived. I began using them on my middle daughter's thick, long hair and was pleased to see how the Naturi Quench Intense Moisturizer worked in her hair. It leaves her hair, and that of her younger sister's, shiny and healthy looking. The other product, the Naturi Curli Define/Hold Curl Cream product is made to help the natural curl of your hair burst through... at least that's the way I understand it. :) Here's how it's described on Shelley's site: "A holding cream that defines natural curls and waves and eliminates frizz. Combines the nourishing and moisturizing properties of coconut oil and aloe to produce healthy, bouncy, glowing curls and waves. Apply to freshly washed, wet hair for optimal hair definition. Air or hood dry and style!"

This is the last time Amareah's hair was straightened for the Black History Program

at her school. It had never been this shiny before when straightened. 

Thanks to Shelley's product, the style and moisturize really lasted.

Here's Amareah the next day. Fabulous hair, right?

When I first tried the curl cream I was excited and couldn't wait to see the results. Well, imagine my surprise when my hair was filled with flakes after it dried. I tried it again another day. Same results. I tried it on Amareah who has the most beautiful natural curls in the world. Same results.

Oh dear, I thought. I gave in and sent Shelley an email asking what I was doing wrong. I was using de-tangler and moisturizer (another brand) on my hair before I used the Naturi Curli. I wasn't supposed to do that. Oops.

After I take the current braids out of Amareah's hair I'm going to try it on her again. I, on the other hand, gave up and got kinky twists. (I really like them. I've had them almost four weeks and I need to get the ends re-curled. In another three to four weeks, give or take, I'll go back and get another style.) I'll probably wear braided styles throughout the summer and try the curli product again when I'm "done" with that. I would show you a few pictures of my hair freshly washed, un-dried but I am a bit embarrassed by them. It's not a very attractive look so I'll spare you.

The intense moisturizer is now my favorite hair product and I use it on myself and the three youngest children. It's almost gone so I'm going to have to order some. It should be here just in time for when I'm going to try coaxing my natural curl. Maybe by then my hair will have grown.

Stay tuned for future entries to my hair journal, a new addition to It's a woman's world.

Disclaimer: I received Shelley's Naturi Beauty products in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Click to review my entire disclaimer policy.

Stranded in Clayton County

A couple of days ago the Clayton County public buses (C-Tran) shut down. The reason, from what I understand, is the lack of a budget to keep it running. More than 5,000 people relied on that public system and, according to interviews done by local media on the last day, a lot of people didn't know what they were going to do. Here's a link to an article that our local newspaper the AJC posted about the situation.

The day of the shut down, and for the past two days, as I've driven the streets of my community I am saddened even more than I was before. It has already bothered me to see so many people waiting for the bus or trudging along with children in inclement weather as I zoom along with the other cars seemingly taking my transportation for granted. Now I see a few people walking - no more than normal it doesn't seem - and I'm reminded of what "they" say: The more affluent, northern communities shuttled the po' folk to this southern county and have been trying for years to keep us here. That's the reason "they" give for why MARTA (the main public transport system) doesn't venture pass certain areas in all directions.

Whether it's true or not is still up for debate and it's relatively unimportant given the very real and current C-Tran situation. I am saddened that an entire county of people has been left to fend for themselves. Personally, I don't know anyone who was relying on the bus, but I wish that I did because I feel like I should be doing something to help.

What is the solution to this problem and how can we make it right?

Munching Mrs. Paul's

Have you tried Mrs. Paul's 100 percent whole white fish fillets? If you haven't then you're missing out. I'm not really a fan on fish sticks, but when it comes to Mrs. Paul's new fish sticks and fillets there's a big difference between the regular variety and this genuinely fresh-tasting choice.

Really! It's not hype. I've always purchased fish sticks (I won't mention the brand. LOL.) to keep on hand for late dinners or those I haven't planned or even when the children ask for them. My three youngest children love them. Each time I tasted one I couldn't figure out what was so popular with them, but when I received a coupon to try them I jumped on it right away and was more than pleasantly surprised. Then BzzAgent.com started a BzzCampaign for them and excitedly I signed up. I received a coupon to purchase a free box and some coupons to give away to family and friends. It's probably one of the few times that I've tried a product before BzzAgent told me about it.

One of the best parts about this Mrs. Paul's product is that it's an excellent source of protein, a natural source of Omega-3 DHA and has zero grams trans fat.

If you've already tried them then let me know. I would love to read a comment about it.

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a BzzAgent who signs up for various campaigns to receive free products and coupons to use for myself and share with family and friends.. The opinions expressed here are my own and were not influenced by the company. No monetary compensation was received.