Things You Will Find at an Auto Parts Store

At a parts store, like Highway Auto Parts, you are most likely to find almost everything you need to fix up or accessorize your vehicle. They will carry all the major vehicle manufacturers’ products as well as some of the more minor manufacturers. The stores are clean and well organized so that even someone who knows nothing about cars can find what they need. All you have to do is walk into the store or call before you go, and let them know the specific information about the part you need and they can check for it in their inventory software program and should be able to tell you in seconds if they have it or not. They can also tell you if they can get it and when it will be in.

Parts and Interior Accessories

They have things like gaskets, driveshafts, engine mounts, mufflers, air filters, spark plugs and spark plug wires, fog lights, wiper blades, oil filters, oil, timing belts, water pumps, seat belts, distributor caps, brakes, and clutch kits, to name a few of the items you will find as you walk through the aisles. They will also have floor mats, steering wheel covers, shift knobs, cool looking gauges, panel clips, compasses, ignition switches, dome lights, and stereo components that will make you vehicle sound like a million bucks.

Exterior Accessories

For the outside of your vehicle, they will have window tinting film and replacements for your vehicle’s lights, signals, and reflectors. Antennas, lights for your license plates, beacon lamps, tire chains of all kinds, racks for the tops of cars, and racks to put on trucks for hauling things around on are some of the other items found at an auto parts store. You will find license plate frames with all kinds of sayings and artwork, top carriers that come in a hard shell version or a soft shell version, winches, reflective strips for those that need to be seen, and mirrors for those of you whose mirror might have fallen off or gotten knocked off. Stop in a store like Highway Auto Parts, and you are sure to find something you need.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

Storage Dilemmas: Plastic or Cardboard?

A self-storage unit is the perfect solution if you are in the process of moving, need extra space to store holiday decorations or furniture, or if you need to hold onto important documents without having them underfoot. Whenever you begin to pack and store your possessions, you probably wonder whether it’s better to use plastic bins, cardboard boxes, or a combination of both. What works best in your Cabot storage unit? Here are some things to consider.

Cost

There is no doubt that plastic storage bins are going to cost you far more than cardboard boxes—especially when it’s possible to get some or all of your cardboard boxes for free from a helpful supermarket produce manager or liquor store manager. So if your budget is slim, go with cardboard. There are other advantages to cardboard as well (see below), but a cardboard box is always the choice of those who don’t want to spend a fortune on filling their storage unit.

Durability

You might think plastic always wins the durability contest, but that isn't the case. While plastic doesn't degrade quickly, it does get brittle with time. Rough handling can cause cracks, as can exposure to heat and sunlight. Cardboard boxes, though made of glued layers of paper, can be surprisingly strong, lasting for years if kept dry and with adequate air flow. Choose the highest quality you can afford of either plastic or cardboard. The big advantage that plastic has in terms of durability is that it is also waterproof. Where cardboard will eventually being to grow mold and mildew before turning into a smelly, mushy mess, plastic will simply and stalwartly keep your possessions dry (barring any leaks from cracks or ill-fitting lids, of course).

Stackability

If you’re going with cardboard boxes, you've got great stackability, even if the boxes are different sizes. Just be sure that heavy boxes are on the bottom of the stack and that you fill any empty space in a box with a filler that will help the box retain its shape and strength. Plastic boxes are often designed specifically to be stacked, and as long as you keep heavier boxes on the bottom, you won’t have to worry about filling up empty space.

Purpose

The final consideration for your Cabot storage unit plans is for what purpose you are storing something. Documents are best stored in sturdy plastic for its waterproof qualities, but clothing and textiles might be happier in cardboard, where air can circulate around and within the box. For items like dishes, the choice is yours, as long as you wrap each dish in paper or cloth to keep them from breaking. If you are a college student on a limited income, cardboard boxes you glean from stores or friends are perfect for your needs. If you have the money to spend, a well-organized selection of plastic bins is easier to label and stack with ease. Or you can use a combination of both to protect the things that matter to you most.

This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

How to Create Cookie Gift Baskets

It’s often a nice gesture to give your neighbor, co-worker, teacher, or boss a goodie basket. It lets that person know he or she is appreciated and gives them something yummy to munch on. Cookies by Design gift baskets and other cookie baskets are something a whole family can enjoy. Cookies are small, subtle, and sweet, so unless you’re diabetic or on a diet, you can enjoy them to your heart’s content. You can order a gift basket of cookies, or you can make cookies to put in a basket you decorate yourself.

Displaying the Cookies

First, make your cookies. You can buy cookies, but homemade treats often taste better and add a more personal touch. Cater your recipe to the tastes of your recipient, or go with a popular recipe if you’re unsure what he or she likes. Then take out a basket that you are sure will accommodate all the cookies you wish to store. Wrap each cookie or a set of cookies in cellophane or plastic baggies. Next, add to the basket filler paper made out of shredded construction paper or tissue paper. Add a centerpiece if you so choose. This can be a toy, figurine, book, or a decoration that will remain after all the cookies are consumed. Line the cookies one stack at a time starting in the back and build on one another. Try to layer and angle the cookies so they are facing the viewer in the front. Another way to display cookies is to put them on a stick or around a foam ball. It’s all a matter of preference and creativity when setting up these cookies. Just be sure that your cookies are lined up and look neat and orderly. Otherwise, they may crumble and may not be so enticing to eat.

Wrapping the Basket

Now that your cookies are securely placed in the basket, you may wrap the package. Cut out colored cellophane so that it will wrap entirely around the basket. You will secure the top part with a ribbon. Feel free to add a bow or any other decorative elements. You can attach a tag to the ribbon to let the recipient know who the basket is from. For more ideas, go online to learn more about Cookies by Design gift baskets.

This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

The Role of Search Engine Marketing Tools

Getting a website to rank high in the search engines for a keyword that results in enough of the right kind of traffic to convert into sales requires a lot of information. Professional Internet marketers using search engine marketing tools gather this information. There are many tools that do many different things. From determining potential keywords and their search volumes to seeing what kind of links a competitor has, it is all gathered using tools designed specifically for Internet marketing.

The Role of Keywords in Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is done in many different ways. Whether through search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, or banner advertising, they are all based around keywords. The first step in any Internet marketing campaign is to find the best potential keywords. Different Internet marketing professionals have different viewpoints on which kind of keywords are the best to go after, but they all agree that the process begins with keywords. If the wrong keywords are utilized to base any marketing campaign on, it will struggle to be successful.  To help make sure good keywords are chosen, professionals use tools designed to tell them the different combinations of words and phrases that people have searched for before, along with the average monthly search volume of each one and the level of competitiveness of each.

Spying on the Competition

One key way to get a website to the top of the search engines is to look at the website currently in that spot and determine what is being done differently with that website compared to the one being worked on. Again, tools play a large role in that process. One key factor in ranking in Google and other search engines are links from other websites pointing to the website trying to be ranked. In order to find out where competitors are getting links from, professional online marketers use search engine marketing tools that are capable of telling them where the links to that competitor are coming from. This allows the marketer to try to get the same links, thus leveling the playing field. It takes some time to get the rankings, but the right tools can make it easier.

This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

How Fencing Can Improve Your Home

You recently moved into a new home. You are excited to begin your new life in your house, but there is a lot of work to do. The home was very cheap, but this is because it requires a lot of work. The home is older, and it hasn't been fully renovated. It may take time to make it the home of your dreams, but you and your husband are willing to put the effort into it. As soon as you moved in, you renovated the kitchen and main bathroom. The bedrooms will be next, and then you want to work on the yard. You are the most excited to fix up your yard, since you are fascinated by landscape design. You've thought about planting a beautiful garden, but you are also considering building a nice fence around the yard. Here are some ways that Riverside fencing can add to your home.

Keep Things In

A fence can improve your yard by keeping things safe. Practically, this applies mostly to children and pets. Without a fence, it can be difficult to have a pet, as you have to take it in and out of the house frequently. With a fence up, you can let your dog out into the backyard by itself without worrying about it running away! A fence also allows you to let your children play outside without fear of them wandering off.

Keep Things Out

Fencing is a good way to keep things in your yard, but it is also a good way to keep things out. A fence helps you maintain your privacy while also keeping your family safe. A burglar is less likely to want to break into a home if they have to climb a fence along the way. Fencing can also be used to keep people or pets out of specific areas, such as gardens or flowerbeds.

Aesthetic Value

Riverside fencing not only keeps your home safe, it also makes it look good. Many people dream of a home with a white picket fence. Fencing can be a great addition to a well-maintained yard, as it comes in a variety of styles and heights. From vinyl, to wrought-iron, to wood, a fence can make your yard look more complete!

This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

What to Know about Your Heating System

Problems with your local Woodbridge heating system can result in large issues for you and your entire home. The cold temperatures that affect most areas of the United States during the winter can be extremely dangerous, especially if you do not have the proper amount of protection. Your heating system is designed to be able to protect you from the lowest temperatures, making it so that you can be comfortable in your home without having to wear extremely heavy clothing. Your heating system can also help to protect your home from cold temperatures. Many of the different systems in your home are sensitive to the cold, especially your plumbing system, which can freeze and break when it is exposed to cold temperatures. Here is a quick look at what you should know about your heating system, which can help you with any problems or issues.

Basic Maintenance

While your heating system will be able to run automatically without any problems, it is still important to perform regular maintenance on this system in order to avoid larger problems and issues that can be expensive to repair. The first step of basic maintenance is to regularly replace or clean your filters. This can help to keep your heating system clean and free from problems that are caused by dust and dirt. It is also important to make sure that all of the cords and pipes that are running into your heating system are free from damage and any apparent problems.

Professional Help

When you have a problem with your heating system, it is important that you use a professional Woodbridge heating company. Heating systems can be extremely dangerous since they will use volatile fuel and possibly electricity. A professional company will be able to not only safely repair any issues or problems that you have with your system, but they will also know when it will be best for you to get a new heating unit. Another benefit of using a professional company is that they will be to provide expect maintenance for your heating system, being able to catch small issues that you might not have ever noticed.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog.

Explore the Magic of Steel through Steelies

Remember when you played marbles as a little kid? The best one to have was a huge masher. That was the one that knocked all of the other marbles around, but the second best marble was a steely. These were the ones that were made out of metal. They were shiny even after being flicked into the dirt and smashed by the masher. It was never really clear what other properties there were that made the steely better than any of the glass marbles. It just seemed like they were futuristic, and in the logic of childhood, metal was heavier than glass, so they were probably harder to move than the other marbles. Now that you are older, you do not have to live with just little balls of steel, you can get a Miami steel distributor to deliver all sorts of great steel constructions.

Artists
Someone who might need access to steel is an artist who specializes in outdoor art installations. Steel stands up well to weather issues and even brings some life to the sculpture as its patina changes with the light, the time of year, and finally with age. As anyone who has taken a metal shop class, working with metal is very primal. Even with the safety gear, there is heat, fire, and sparks that speak of times past, even if they never really occurred that way for our ancestors. Wouldn't it be cool to see an installation of giant marbles in glass and steel?

Nostalgia and Family Memories
Now, that you are older, you may see the ridiculousness in child logic, but pick up a steely and compare it to some glass marbles and see if you do not conjure of the same magic that these toys had when you were young. A Miami steel distributor might not actually deliver steelies to you unless you request them in bulk, but wouldn't it be cool to teach your kids an old school game? Memories are made from the time spent together doing things not from the time spent in front of a monitor of any type.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog.

Everybody Needs Great Relationships and Love

Everybody agrees there is not enough love in the world. The problem is obvious, but what is the solution? Relationships are what make love possible. The functions of society seem to keep some people’s thoughts far away from their relationships. Many people are extremely busy with work and taking care of their home. Some people are too busy to even make time for relationships. People are too busy to call old friends, relatives, even parents. When a break comes along, busy people feel such a need for peace and stillness that they decline doing anything social. Staying home and relaxing is all they can think about after so much busy activity and hard work. Sadly, this type of lifestyle can lead to depression and feelings of loneliness. Fortunately, companies like Cookies by Design help people send messages of love without much hassle or time commitment. People need relationships in order to fill their need for friendship and love. Making time for relationships can help anyone improve their outlook on life. Even if it is just a few minutes, a portion of every day should be devoted to relationships and the love that comes from having them.

Too Much Stress and Not Enough Love

Living a lifestyle where your focus is too far away from relationships is less than ideal. So how can you tell if you have a problem? You may notice that you care more about your home or other material things than your own friends and family. For example, you may decline having company over because it always makes the house a mess and you don’t have time to clean. You might frequently forget special events like holidays, birthdays, and generally avoid going out to see people. You might feel a bit depressed because your lifestyle allows little to no time for fun with friends and gives you tons of stress.

Change and Progress with Your Relationships

Fortunately, there is always a way towards change and progression. You will start to feel better, even with a small amount of time devoted to relationships every day. Your friends and family will always forgive you for being antisocial. If you’re afraid of jumping back into the mix of your relationships, you could start with a kind gesture. Have Cookies by Design or some flowers shipped out to all of the friends you’ve been missing and start filling up your love bucket today.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

Getting Great Air Conditioning Service and Repairs

When it comes to having an air conditioner, it is a wonderful invention, but is a huge hassle when it isn’t working correctly or is broken. That is how most conveniences are—convenient and wonderful until it stops working. To help ensure that your air conditioner is enjoyed more than endured, it is a great idea to have a repair service company that you like and trust with your property and money, like Petrocelli Services Inc., or another service provider in your area. Any company you hire should provide great customer service, while having many years of experience and training with all brands and models of air conditioners, and budget-friendly services that you can pay back with ease. It is worth it to take time from your life and find a company that you trust.

Budget-Friendly Services
One huge pain with conveniences is how much it ends up costing you to keep them up and running. A great option that is being used more and more by companies is the service of financing. They allow you a certain amount of time to pay back what you owe for their services so that you will call when you need help because you know that paying those bills is something you will be able to do. It is like a mini-loan, so it has its downsides, but for the most part it is just helpful and takes a lot of stress off of you when you need your air conditioner to be back up and running smoothly so you and your employees or family members can be comfortable and productive.

Experience Is Key
Another great thing that Petrocelli Services Inc. and other great companies have is experience. Lots and lots of experience is what makes a great repairman. Training is essential and so important, but training is only the beginning. Experience means that they have had practice doing the different repairs and services that they were trained to do for customers, meaning they can do it more efficiently and in less time. This makes your experience a lot more pleasant when it is a quick repair job and it is done correctly the first time so they don’t have to come back. Experience is something you never want to go without when hiring the right repairman to help you.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog

Three Suggestions to Find a Garage Door Repair Company

Most homes in Indiana today are equipped with garage doors that operate with the punch of a button or the entry of a code. When the garage doors are broken, they are designed so that you can still lift and lower the doors manually. However, this is not only a cumbersome process, but if you are not very strong, it can be difficult to handle. Until the garage door actually goes out, you might not even think about the need to find a company that can handle a garage door repair in Fishers. The following three steps can help you find a good company that can repair your door:

• Get referrals
• Call the company and ask questions
• Check the Internet for reviews

Get Referrals
To get a garage door repair company, start by asking for referrals. Check with your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They might not have specific experience with a company, but they might be able give you the name of others who do. When you talk to people, ask them describe what went well with the company and what the company did that impressed them. Once you get others talking, your job is to listen and take notes. Use the notes as a resource for collecting more information.

Call the Company
Once you have one or two companies that you think you might want to work with, make contact with them. If they have a shop, go visit the shop and sit and watch what happens. You can get a good feel for a company and how they will be to work with by watching their interactions with others. If you can’t visit them, be sure to call them. Remember that the best indication of future performance is past behavior. Therefore, ask them questions that will allow them to describe events and experiences rather than ideas and opinions.

Check the Internet
The Internet is a great place to go for more information about a company that can handle a garage door repair in Fishers. Search for the company’s website to get more information about their policies, hours, and prices. You can also look at sites that allow people to post reviews about their experiences with a company. Be sure to read the negative comments as well as the positive to get a more complete picture of a particular garage door repair company.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in part by Bucks2Blog.

This Journey Called Weight Loss

It seems like my whole life I have struggled with maintaining a healthy weight. In fact, all of my siblings and I have struggled with weight issues. I would probably visit Weight Loss Flower Mound for help with losing and maintaining weight but since I have been doing well on my own, I won't. Today, I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks that have really helped me to lose weight steadily and successfully in hopes that it will motivate you to do the same. I think most of us could stand to lose a few pounds here and there so here are some ideas to hopefully get you started.

1. Cut back on sweets. This one is hard. Especially since I recently reviewed a gigantic box of ridiculously delicious cookies. Yeah, I ate quite a few of those. :( Anyway, that just goes to show that you MUST NOT over eat when it comes to sweets. I am not a fan of completely cutting out things from my diet so I don't. It isn't realistic to expect yourself to completely eliminate certain foods that are always going to be there to tempt you. Now, some people CAN do this but I am not one of those people. I just limit my intake of those foods and only eat them on special occasions.

2. Drink a LOT of water. So, this one is not so hard for me because I just love water. People used to call me a camel at my previous job because I brought a 1.5 liter water bottle to work and refilled it many times throughout the day. Within the past year though, I seriously cut back on my water intake and it showed greatly. Can you believe that when I increased my water intake to over 100 ounces a day I actually lost alot of bloating? Water can get rid of water retention by flushing out the system. The body is such an incredible machine and NEEDS water to function properly. Once I started incorporating more water into my diet, the weight started to come off very quickly. So, please cut the pop and sugary drinks and go for the best diet beverage that was ever created...WATER.

3. Exercise. After you reach a point when eating right just isn't getting rid of the excess poundage, it is time to start exercising. Now, in the beginning I didn't do a lot of cardio workouts, but I focused on doing push-ups  sit-ups and worked with exercise bands. This was really good and helped strengthen my body a lot. Now that I have plateaued in my weight loss, I am doing aerobic workouts daily in hopes that I will get the weight moving off again. Exercise also helps reduce stress and increase your metabolism...which is key to losing weight.

So, while I am not an expert, I am very pleased that I have lost 20 pounds this year. I am trying to lose another 20 but need to push beyond my current plateau, which isn't easy. Hopefully these tips will get you motivated to try and get fit this year and become a bit healthier than you are right now!

This is a sponsored post however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Driving a Sporty Car

Why is it that when you get your driver's license you are ready to run out to to a car dealership like the one here: www.chevymalibuwheelingil.com and buy a car? To me, buying my first car was a huge deal and I got away with an oldie, but goodie. My first car was a candy apple red Chevy Beretta. I paid $500 for this gem and it was the epitome of sportiness. It was a two-door sedan and was complete with a sunroof. I was warned by so many people that the police like to pull over red cars but I don't think I was ever pulled over once in that car. It had just about everything a girl could want and I loved that car. Well, it finally bit the dust and I ended up looking for a different car.

I didn't really get a nice car until several purchases later but when I finally got the "car of my dreams", it was well worth the wait. The first time I saw the 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo I fell in love. It was a tan colored car with gorgeous tinted windows the whole way around. On each door window, there were sporty rain guards that looked so great and they worked well too! When I took that car for a test drive, it rode like a dream and truly, it fell in love with me too. :) My dad was very cautious (as he typically was when it came to me buying a new car) and had the car put on a lift so he could look at the undercarriage. Once my dad had given his approval, we went into the small dealership to sign the paperwork. Oh boy, was I excited. I still remember the day we went to pick up the car. When I finally got behind the wheel of MY CAR I felt so proud. 

My Monte Carlo was a really good car for highway driving and we (my car and I) could leave any car in the dust. Actually, the dust we left some in got us pulled over one day for speeding but that was my one and only speeding ticket I ever had gotten...and still is my only speeding ticket to this day. :) Driving a sportier car is definitely fun but you do have to be careful to not let it go to your head. 

When I finally had to sell that wonderful car, it was a sad day. I traded it in for a leased vehicle and leaving that beautiful Monte Carlo behind was bittersweet. Two door vehicles are great...for a single person but not for a family. We needed a four door for our growing family but I would go back to that Monte Carlo in a heartbeat. What a great car!! :)

This is a sponsored post however; all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Loving Our Van!

When I was still working at the car dealership, I was eyeing a cute little car on the lot. I had never had a brand new car before and had always wanted one at some point. So, I decided to lease a vehicle because leasing would give me a brand new car without having to make payments for the rest of the life. I still had to make payments and it would work really well for me because I didn't do alot of driving at the time.

Once I started to have children we quickly realized that we would be needed a bigger vehicle. This was shortly after our second child was born. Trying to squeeze two car seats into a four door sedan was challenging and we were doing alot of travelling and needed space for luggage. You all know how that is...when you have babies, you have gear. LOTS of gear. Strollers, Pack N' Plays, etc. Well, we knew we had to get a bigger vehicle and if we lived down south, we probably would have gone to Car Dealers in Greensboro NC for a bigger car but since we are here, we shopped locally.

We began to search at different dealerships and at last, we narrowed down our search to Dodge Grand Caravans. We loved the roomy features that those vehicles offered and were impressed by the overall look of the van. I remember the day my inlaws came  to visit and on a whim, my husband and his dad took a quick drive over to our local Dodge dealer. To my shock and utter surprise, hubby drove the most beautiful cranberry red van into our driveway. He was taking the van for a test drive and wanted my opinion. I thought "There is NO WAY we can afford this gorgeous van!!" Well, guess what. We could, and we ended up buying it!

Our Dodge Grand Caravan has been a dream vehicle for us. The back seats fold down completely for travelling with all of our "stuff" and there are cool compartments under the floors for extra storage. I cannot tell you just how much we enjoy our van. Even if we do not have a lot of gear with us it is so roomy and the children each have their own little place in the van. I am sure looking forward to many more years in this van and hopefully, we will have it paid off in the next year or so. :)

This is a sponsored post however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Help Our Veterans

I remember back when my oldest brother was still in high school. He had always talked about being a police officer when he graduated but as a child, had constantly talked about how he wanted to be a soldier. You know how children are - they want to be something different every day! Not my brother, he wanted to be a soldier. Period. So, when he graduated high school he joined the Marine Corps. As his sister, it was very hard to see him leave home and go to basic training but I knew he was living his dream. If you go to  www.vetsvehicles.org  then you can see how you can actually help Veterans continue to live their dreams by donating a used vehicle to a Veteran's charity.

My brother joined the military to become a stronger person physically and to also help his country...for which I will forever admire him for doing. When he returned from boot camp, he was physically "ripped", for lack of a better term and was so incredibly focused and mature. Having gone through boot camp made him grow up in so many ways...I was astonished  I remember waking up really early one morning and looking out my bedroom window. There was my brother, doing exercises (sit-ups, push-ups, etc.) in the front yard with our dog sitting next to him. He was so serious minded about his fitness and was so regimented.

Part of me was sad to see him so serious but the other part of me was so proud of him. After several tours overseas and being stationed in Germany, he was discharged from the military due to medical issues. Now, he is married and a father of two gorgeous little girls...I am still proud of him to this day. Sadly though, many of our military men and women return from service and are damaged physically, emotionally and psychologically and honestly need our help. This is why it is so important to give to Veteran's charities. They can help our Veterans in so many ways that we will never know. If you have the opportunity, please do check out some local charities that are dedicated to helping our Veterans ..you won't be sorry that you helped to make a difference. Say "Thank you" in a very special way.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Those Crazy Push Mowers...

My parents have always raised my siblings and I with a good work ethic. They wanted us to know how to work and to not be lazy...something we did not always appreciate. Now that I am an adult, I am thankful for the opportunities they gave us to do jobs around the house. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and I also learned so much from them.

I was thinking back to one particular summer when I was younger. My parents have a house in the country and they own over 30 acres. When they first moved to this house, the back yard looked like a hilly field...tall weeds, huge rocks and overgrown brush. My dad wasn't even able to mow it (he didn't own an ExMark but if he had, it probably would have worked great!) because it was too overgrown. So he got to work on it and leveled a good portion of the back yard area and totally revamped it into a wonderful back yard. There were two huge hills that made for fantastic sled riding in the winter and also a great place to ride a bicycle down the hills.

This particular summer though, my dad's riding lawn mower broke down. He was having serious issues fixing it and while he was tinkering with it, the lawn was looking very overgrown. So, he went out and purchased 3 self-propelled push mowers. His bright idea was to have my siblings and I mow the entire back yard with the push mowers. We were all VERY excited and got right to work. Well, the fun wore off after about 1/2 hour of pushing those stupid lawn mowers in the hot sun and the humidity. However, because there were three of us doing it, it really didn't take too long at all.

Even though it was hard work we learned how to enjoy it and the exercise was wonderful. I remember when daddy finally fixed his riding mower...we were all SO excited!!! My dad was smart though, and didn't always use the riding mower. Occasionally, he would tell us to go out and mow the lawn purely for the purpose of teaching us that hard work is important and sometimes, a necessary part of life. To this day I am thankful for my dad and how he taught his children about working. In today's society there are far to many people who are lazy and are looking for handouts all because they were never taught and don't care to learn.

I am now a parent and am teaching my children the same thing my father taught me...that learning how to work and do a job right is important and will one day yield wonderful benefits!

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Being a Receptionist...

Waaaay back when I was in college, I landed a great job working for a car dealership. I like to think I have great people skills and as soon as the office manager and I met for a job interview, we hit it off right away. She was impressed with my project portfolio, personality and professionalism and after the interview, we sat and chatted in her office for quite a long time. When I found out that I got the job, I was elated! I had been searching for a job like this one for a while and was so thrilled to finally have the job I had always wanted!

After some initial protocol "new hire" procedures, I began my new job (I didn't have to use Dialogic Boards, which was something I had never done before). My shift was part time and I worked from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM on Monday - Friday. I would also work on Saturday from 9 - 4:30 PM. This was a perfect schedule for me because I was in school during the day...being a college student makes it difficult to find an accommodating job. Well, I began my training soon after being hired and loved everything that my new job entailed.

One of the main responsibilities that I had was to answer phones. At first, learning the phone system was confusing and difficult. I had to learn a standard "Thank you for calling..." greeting and sometimes I became tongue-tied. It was funny to hear my self sometimes. I also had to learn how to page people to their phone calls. Getting the phone calls to the right person in the right department could also be difficult, but that was a VERY important part of my job as well. Intimidating? You could say that. :) But, according to the girl that was training me, I was a quick learner and by the third day of training, I was ready to go solo.

Oh, those first few days were a roller coaster of fun, excitement and terror. Dealing with customers on the phone was not always pleasant but I loved my new position and learned it well. That job was one of my favorites...doing what I loved and being around people. I could not ask for anything more!

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Back Pain and You

If you or someone you know suffers from Back Pain then you know exactly how annoying and uncomfortable it can be. It can really mess with your quality of life and that is the part that I hate. Some of the worst back pain I have ever experienced stems from an accident I had as a child. My brother was pushing me on a huge tire swing in our front yard and the swing was about 4 feet off the ground when the rope snapped and the swing smashed to the ground...with me on it. At the time, that huge THUD didn't seem all that bad. I had a twisted ankle but nothing more that I could tell. Several years later I had horrible lower Back Pain and it was to the point where I needed medical attention. After being evaluated by a chiropractor and getting some xrays done, I was diagnosed with a deteriorated disk...caused by a blunt force impact - the accident with the swing.

So, here I am many years later and still dealing with on and off back discomfort. I wanted to share some tips with you all on how to help your back pain and how to keep it from defining who you are. 

The first thing that can really help is seeing a chiropractor. They are specially trained physicians that specifically deal with back problems. It is really amazing how they can manipulate the body to put it back into the proper alignment. I have even found that during my pregnancies, my chiropractor helps with pregnancy-related back problems too. At first I was scared to go when I was pregnant, but after learning that it is safe and totally find to have adjustments while you are expecting, I was excited to get my back adjusted. It made pregnancy so much easier.

My other tip is to make sure you are wearing good, supportive shoes. When I had an office job I love to wear heels. However, my body didn't like the heels and I was experiencing back fatigue and pain like never before. Shoes have a huge impact on how your back feels because they are supporting your entire body. Now that I am a stay at home mom I only wear flats...even when I go out. It is so much better for my body and I have some really nice shoes the are gorgeous even though they aren't heels.

So, those are just a few tips that I have when it comes to back pain. I am no expert and certainly am not a physician but if you can prevent back problems, please do!!  It is such a horrible way to live and taking care of yourself is key to good health and a pain-free life!

Slow Drains?

Ahhh memories. Of the old house, that is. Some of them are WONDERFUL memories, and then there are those other memories. When we first put the house up for sale, I cried. This was the home I had come home to after my wedding day, the home we brought our first baby home to and the only home I had ever known as a wife. Yes, it was a small house but it was home. I was so worried that I would be homesick after our move, but just the opposite happened. I fell head over heels in love with the new house! The best part...this house is newer than the last one! AND, it has a newly renovated bathroom! That is a huge deal.

In our old house, I was cook, laundry lady, dishwasher and head plumber. :) Plumbing issues were never ending there because all of the plumbing was the original from when the house was built in the 60's. If Roto-Rooter knew the talent I possessed, they would probably hire me in a heartbeat!! :) Actually, I was OK at plumbing. I guess I am more of a problem solver than anything. If I see something not working right, I want to know WHY it isn't working and I will try to fix it myself. If for some reason I really cannot fix it, I will call my daddy because he is smart. I tell him all the time that his brains are very valuable.

Anyway, our bathtub drain was always slow. The tub was an ancient, ceramic tub and looked like the original tub. The drain stopper flapped around and would not always drain the tub and I had to take it all apart to clean the hair and junk out of it. It was a royal pain. I finally found a way to rig a bucket to sit under the tub faucet and press on the stopper handle so it would drain. Well, one day I had taken it all apart to clean it and even after cleaning the drain, it was still going super slow. I got some professional strength drain opener that was a gel/foam variety. I thought I would be able to dump it right down and walk away. Nope. The drain opener foamed up and took forever to work its way down. Unfortunately, I had a whole bottle to dump down the drain so guess what I did that night...yep...I sat by the tub dumping tablespoon by tablespoon of drain opener down the drain until the bottle was empty.

The good news is that the next morning, the drain was working like new!! Phew! Although it was a ton of boring work, it was a success! Boy am I thankful for a new bathroom. :) What about you...has this ever happened to you? Fun, isn't it? :)

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Adventures in Plumbing at the New House!

I am LOVING my new house. Everything about it fits our family so nicely. One of the rooms I love the best is my kitchen. I tend to spend alot of time in my kitchen so liking it is pretty important. My kitchen is big and open, but doesn't have a whole lot of cupboard space. Hopefully, we will put in some additional counters and cupboards at some point down the road.

If it looks cluttered, it kind of is right now but I am still working on organizing and putting things away. :) Hopefully, it will look like an organized kitchen soon. So, our new house has a sump pump and a dishwasher. These are two items I have never had before so it has been an adventure learning about them. If I am ever in need of Sump Pump Repair by Roto-Rooter, it is good to know they are local to my area! I have heard the sump pump kick on quite a bit with all the melting snow we have been having. Glad it works!! :)

When we first moved in, we had some issues to resolve with the plumbing and some of them are still issues that we are working through. None of the issues are non-fixable, which is a good thing. The first problem we had was an extremely slow drain in the kitchen sink. We aren't sure why, but the water would trickle down the drain. So, my dad used a sink plunger and went to work on it. It was really funny to watch because the suction was so powerful, it was practically lifting the sink right out of the counter top! Needless to say, the sink is working better now than it probably ever has. HA HA!

The second issue we have (and I would love to hear your suggestions) is that when you use the shower, the water runs down the door and out onto the floor. It is almost like the door frame was put on backwards. Anyway, I have to put a towel down on the floor to sop up the water when I am done showering. My dad thinks that we should put a strip of silicone on the frame to re-direct the water back into the shower. I have also read that the only way to fix this type of problem is to re-install the frame...yuck. What do you think?

Other than those few issues (and water seeping into the basement crawlspace), we are LOVING our new house! We feel so blessed and are thankful that we picked this one out of all the other houses we looked at. :)

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Internet Marketing and How It Helps Me

Since I have been a review blogger (2+ years now) I have been able to try so many fantastic and fun products. Being a review blogger is not easy...many people see what I GET and want to know how they can get free stuff too. Folks, I hate to break it to you but it is not that simple. It takes work and many times, lots of frustration. However, the frustration is quickly dissipated once the product has been reviewed and I see how great it really is. Every now and then I hit a "blogging block" and don't know where my next product will come from and things slow down a bit. Or, I need a break simply because life is busy. I hope you all understand that when you don't see a post from me for a few days it isn't because I am leaving you...I simply had to step away for a time.

When it comes to finding products to review I find that most of my products come via a click of my computer mouse. If it wasn't for the many products that are seen on different websites, I probably would not review half of what I have written about on my blog. I have to tell you that seeing a product in a store is one thing but visiting the online store can be a totally different experience. How a company markets their product makes all the difference in the world. Not only HOW they market it but others think about it. (This is where a review blogger comes in). I conduct reviews and from the standpoint of a consumer, I am important. How many times have you gone to purchase a product or service and have changed your mind after reading a review or multiple reviews about it? When we were getting ready for our move we purposely looked up reviews for moving truck companies before choosing one. Why? Because honestly there are some bad companies out there and we wanted to be prepared to pick the best one possible.

When it all comes down to where the rubber meets the road, Internet Marketing is important. Companies need to realize that the Internet can be a great source of traffic and sales...it is just how you put your product out there. People want to see a professional, fun and easy-to-navigate site. I myself stray away from websites that look terrible because honestly, it reflects on the potential product.

So, those are just my thoughts on the topic of Internet Marketing and how it helps me to be a good review blogger. I hope I have helped you understand a bit better where I come from and what it takes to do what I do.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.