Independent World For You

Bills, Bills, Bills...

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:53:00 +0000

The end of the year/beginning of the year brings a time when the 'big bills' are due. I used to dread this time of year - but not anymore. When I say big bills, I mean, the yearly garbage bill, vehicle insurance and life insurance.

First of all, I found the best deals shopping for insurance online rather than looking around locally. I know that sounds bad but the insurance field is a very competitive field and I wanted the best possible prices - who doesn't? I also found out that if I pay my garbage bill as soon as I receive it, instead of by the due date, which is sometime in February, they will give me a 10% discount.

I don't stress over these big bills anymore because I know I am getting the best deals AND I put money aside every month throughout the year so when these bills are due, I have the money.

Yay for the feeling of financial freedom!

The Train Set Was a Hit!

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:47:00 +0000

We got this train set at Toys R Us for a steal! It was a gift for my son, Dante but of course all 3 kids love playing with it.

My husband screwed down the tracks and also put a piece of plywood underneath it to keep it sturdy. A great deal and a great gift!

What Does Your Debt Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:50:00 +0000

I have been pondering the details of my life quite often lately. One huge issue is our finances. We are lucky in that we don't have too much debt. Unfortunately, we have debt though. We have a mortgage and a car payment. It floors me how some people don't consider a mortgage 'debt' so to speak. Yea I am $146,000 in the hole when I consider my mortgage!

The car payment, well, that's not so bad, at $333 a month. Credit cards - there is where we almost got into a b it of trouble. With a $6,700 credit limit, it was easy for us to spend, spend, spend! Debt Management Plans force you to really take a look at what is going on and enable ways to avoid a serious financial hardship.

I am really glad my eyes were opened to the reality of our finances. It's very important to put money aside, first for savings, then for bills and then for recreation. Now that I'm doing it 'right' I am able to pay for another Disney World vacation! A vacation without the worry of 'how am I going to pay for this once we get home" It's all paid for and we will also have money aside for spending while we're there, no credit cards needed!

About That Weight Loss Thing...

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:52:00 +0000

I've decided to keep track of my weight loss 'journey' on another blog of mine. You can follow along by subscribing to Just One More Makes 4 - I figure, trying to conceive includes becoming fit and healthy so it seemed appropriate to put the two on the same blog!

As I am going on day 3 of this lifestyle change, I have already run into problems! I swear, what's next?!

Great Deals at Kmart!

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:32:00 +0000

The holidays aren't over just yet - at least that is what I have been told! Apparently it is acceptable to give gifts for the entire week between Christmas and New Years, that is when many people go visiting family and friends. That being said, if you're one of those people who still need to buy gifts, you can get some awesome last minute gifts from Kmart - some for even $25 or less!

My mom has shopped at Kmart ever since I can remember and she still does today. I have followed in her footsteps. There is a Kmart about 10 minutes from me so I shop there quite often. I can honestly say, I have never been let down buy their selection or the quality of the clothes, products and other items I have ever gotten there. In fact, next on my list is a toddler bed for my son.

Back to gift giving! Here is a sample of some of the awesome gifts you can get a Kmart for UNDER $25:

• Craftsman® 23-inch hand tool box with comfort handle
• Martha Stewart Everyday tall nickel pillar candleholders
• Route 66 girls fashion hoodies and embellished jeans
• Joe Boxer men’s and women’s two- and three-piece cozy sleep sets
• Just Kidz® Deluxe soft-bodied 16” doll set with stroller
• LeapFrog Leapster Learning Games, various titles

Even if you don't have holiday gifts to buy - there's bound to be a birthday to buy for in the near future!

Weight Loss Ticker

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:29:00 +0000

I put a weight loss ticker at the bottom of this blog. I would LOVE to lose a grand total of 60 pounds but I want my goals to be small, which will be realistic for me.

So, I set it for 20 pounds. My 'goal date' is set for February 14th. I wanted to make that date something obvious so I don't forget, LOL

Tomorrow starts the 'routine' so I need to gear up for this. Wish me luck!

Stop Making Excuses!

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:47:00 +0000

That is exactly what I need to focus on. I have every excuse in the book for certain aspects of my life, the biggest one being my health. There's always some reason why I can't exercise or why I eat poorly. NO MORE!

Over the holiday I watched more tv than usual and I caught an episode of The Facts of Life - remember that show? Geri Jewell was on that show, she has cerebral palsy and yet she made something of herself. I was watching her and thinking about all the accomplishments she's made since then and I feel ashamed. Here I am, healthy and able and I can't even find time to get my ass on the treadmill that is sitting in my bedroom.

I know it's cliche but I have to gt healthy in 2009. We're going to Walt Disney World at the end of April and I DON'T want to look and feel like I did during our last trip - I cringe when I see those pictures!

Maybe a 'weight loss' ticker needs to be on this site, to keep me motivated and honest.

We Made It!

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:45:00 +0000

We made it through another holiday season - well almost, I know we still have to get to the New Year. I'm just glad Yule/Christmas is done with. It's nice now that my kids are older but we still don't want to bombard them with gifts. I don't want them to turn into those kids that have no clue what the meaning of the season is all about.

I need to ponder a bit about what I want to accomplish in the upcoming year. What do you have planned?

Improving Study Skills

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:05:00 +0000

So many children fall behind in school and many times it's because they do no know how to study. Students are trying to memorize things and they're not actually learning them. Study Skills are such an important tool to have and master and sometimes help is needed when it comes to mastering these skills.

There is one place where these skills are being taught -Club Z! Tutoring Services. It is the world's largest one-on-one tutoring program and the tutors have helped over 100,000 students improve their grades, raise their test scores, learn productive study skills, build their academic self-confidence, and reach their full potential.

If you feel your child could benefit from such a tutor, I encourage you to give them a try.

Holiday Budget

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:22:00 +0000

We stayed within the holiday budget we set for ourselves! I am so happy!

It's difficult to do, especially for me. I see so many things I would love to give my kids but I must remember the budget AND the Disney trip I'm saving for!

We only got a few things for each child and stayed under $300. My husband and I don't exchange gifts now that we have kids to buy for. Same with other family members - we don't buy for anyone except my mom's boyfriend, he does a lot for us throughout the year. He's our house sitter and dog caretaker when we are away =)

How are you doing with your holiday budget?

The Hottest Products

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:34:00 +0000

Sometimes the products labeled as the hottest or latest are not always so hot' and unfortunately most of us find this out after we spend money on the product. Wouldn't it be great if there was a site dedicated to reviewing these products so you would know what was hot and what was not?

Well, there is! Hot product review is something many of us look for before we take the plunge and buy. Sure, going to forums and asking friends and acquaintances for opinions is a route you certainly can take and you'll get honest opinions, usually. That's just it though, you'll get opinions.

What about the facts? What about product details? Many times when people have a good experience with something, they will rave ab out it and forget that one little thing that might not be so great because it's not a big deal to the but that one little thing just might be a big deal to you! The opposite happens too. A bad experience results in nothing but negative talk - surely everything has good AND bad, right?

At hottestproducts.net is a site where you can get the hottest reviews on the web for ALL online product. This is a website you will definitely want to check out before making that next purchase!

Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:17:00 +0000

Today I decided enough was enough. I have been back and forth to the gym since April and still, no change in weight, clothing size or in the way I feel. I was going with my neighbor (and good friend!) and she dropped weight and inches big time! Yes, she was/is more dedicated than me.

I work from home. I sit in front of this computer 80% of the day. We have a treadmill and a stationary bike in the bedroom. I have decided that if I can't make it to the gym I will use what we have here. Even if it's only 20 minutes a day, that is better than nothing!

So, today is day 1. I managed about 30 minutes on the treadmill before I thought I was going to die. I can't say I will be updating my progress every day - but I will update! Wish me luck!

Weight Loss Help

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:55:00 +0000

Okay, I know I am usually giving the advice but now I need some input from my readers. Anyone know of a safe and effective weight loss pill to aid in losing weight in conjunction with diet and exercise?

I wrote up a post today about how we have so much exercise equipment yet I am unmotivated to use it because I feel like I've hit a wall when it comes to losing weight.

Ideas?

The Planning Has Begun

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:09:00 +0000

I finally booked our next trip to Walt Disney World and I can't tell you how excited I am! This time around there will be 3 adults and 3 kids going. Me, CJ (husband) and his mom, Fawn. Our 3 kids of course! We're staying at the Polynesian Resort again - we LOVE it there! The room we will be staying in has a small daybed and 2 Queen sized beds. This means we will need a pack n play for Wyatt, our youngest, who is 2.

We had this same kind of room last time but my daughter, Olivia, stayed in my mom and grandma's room. So, one more kiddo this time shouldn't be a problem - I am just hoping Wyatt sleeps in the pack n play, if not, we'll have to squeeze him in a bed. This is why we thought about staying in a villa instead. They're obviously roomier but the price, OH MY GAWD! These las vegas suites are more affordable than a villa for a week at Disney!

So, we'll manage. I love planning!

Time to De-stress - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:32:00 +0000

Here are the last few tips I have to relieve some stress:

Practice acceptance. Ask yourself what stresses you have the power to change. Those you cannot you must accept.
Spend some time with a person or people who make you feel good about yourself.
Be "temporarily selfish." Reserve a little more time just for you.
Find a hidden treasure in your day. Search for one positive thing that you may have never noticed before.
Replace "I have to" statements with "I choose to" statements. It will relieve pressure and give you a whole new perspective.

The Stress Institute®

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:08:00 +0000

It's easy for me to read up on stress management and then offer up my findings to my readers. It's even easy to try the things I mention. The tough part is sticking to it and really changing my mindset. I am betting many people have that problem.

We live in a world that is full of all kinds of stress. From every day living stresses like family issues, jobs, money and relationship issues to much bigger worries, like the economy - which is on a downward spiral and the big issue of terrorism. All of this is a lot to handle and some people just don't handle things well at all.

It's a good thing there are professionals available to help us manage stress. In fact, one company in particular is exceptional at helping people handle and manage stress. The Stress Institute® is a lifestyle company that provides solutions and practices in the fields of stress management, work/life balance, sustainability and mindful living to corporations, non-profits and individuals. This company was founded in 1997 by Dr. Kathleen Hall, a world renowned expert in stress and work-life balance.

The website is extremely informative. You'll find stress reducing tips, products and even be able to attend stress reduction seminars - which I happen to find to be a very useful tool when trying to understand and learn how to cope. When you go to a seminar, you meet other people who are in a very similar situation and just meeting others like you can help put things in perspective.

Time to De-stress - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Here are a few more tips to relieve stress:

Sit in total silence for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and transport yourself to another environment. (beach, sailing, cruise ship, etc.)
Remind yourself that even when you have no control over certain situations, your attitude is always within your control. It's our attitude that shapes our experiences.
See problems & stressful events as opportunities. Problem solve and grow from them.
Try acting or responding in a way that is the exact opposite of your usual behavior.
Practice "pace, not race." Do everything (walk, talk, etc.) at a more relaxed tempo.
Analyze your stresses and frustrations. Know what most affects you and try to avoid them.
Develop a list of things that make you happy. Read it to yourself several times.
Don't hold your mistakes against yourself. Focus on what you're doing right. Start fresh and let them go.
Change your routine for the rest of the day or the next day.
Spend 15 minutes listening to classical or other soothing music.

I Found a Gift

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:54:00 +0000

My family knows how much I love candles. Not only do I love the ambiance they bring, I love the scents. Yes, I am a scented candle fan. Unfortunately, with having 3 small children in the house, I just don't feel safe having candles lit. I mean, I do have a few, which are definitely out of their reach but still, it is something I have had to cut back on.

I found out my mom got me these Votive candle holders for Yule. I am going to have to find a safe place for them!

'Superfoods' Everyone Needs

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:52:00 +0000

There are foods that EVERYONE NEEDS to stay healthy and in balance. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer.

Top Superfoods Offering Super Health Protection

* Beans
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Oats
* Oranges
* Pumpkin
* Salmon
* Soy
* Spinach
* Tea (green or black)
* Tomatoes
* Turkey
* Walnuts
* Yogurt

Leeds University - The Best Accommodations

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:27:00 +0000

I am in the US but I know several people all around the world. I also know many who live here in the US and are looking into going to school abroad. The biggest problem I hear people running into is finding a great place to reside while away at school.

I've heard wonderful things about Leeds University in the UK. If you haven't heard about Leeds, it is among the top ten universities for research in the UK and is internationally acknowledged as a center of excellence in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. Choosing to attend this school is a great decision and there are excellent student flats in leeds so no worries about finding a great 'home away from home'

Time to De-stress - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:24:00 +0000

I feel very stressed lately. I know it's due to some personal drama going on right now. So, in a effort to 'de-stress' I have decided to post a few tips as a way to remind myself how to relax! Hopefully this will help you to!

Continue to remind yourself that this day will pass and tomorrow is a new day.
Be realistic about your expectations. Reduce your disappointment factor.
Appreciate yourself. Think about all the positive things you are able to accomplish each day.
Just smile! The simple act of smiling makes you feel better automatically.
Share your stressful day or event with a colleague, friend or family member.
Breathe to the power of 10. Take a deep breath to the count of 10.Exhale the same way. Repeat several times.
Find something humorous (movie, comic strip, etc.) and laugh. Laughter helps you relax physically and psychologically.
Treat yourself to a favorite food.
Find something positive in your life to totally focus on for 15 minutes.
Decrease stress by learning to talk to yourself in a reassuring way.

Re-thinking Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:28:00 +0000

We've had the same insurance company for years and I thought we were getting a good rate. It's pretty common that if you have all your insurances through one company, you'll get a discount.

However, lately I was looking online at different home insurance rates and I was surprised to see I do NOT have the best rate. Now I'm on a mission to redo everything. Who do you have? Do you have a good deal?

Garden Grocer!

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Since my Walt Disney World trip obsession started last year, I have made it a priority to visit the Mouse House Magic Forum on a regular basis for trip tips.

I cannot believe I just read about Garden Grocer! You order things from the site and it is delivered to your hotel room within a 2 hour time frame. This saves people, like me, from having to pack all kinds of extra diapers, water, snacks for the kids, etc.

We Met Online

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:41:00 +0000

My husband and I met online a few years ago. Looking back, I can't believe how lucky I was. I mean, let's face it, there are a lot of not so nice people out there. I was much too trusting - I never even thought to do any kind of background check on him.

Now that I have a daughter, even though she is only 5, I think about things like, who will she wind up with? As a parent, do I have the right to 'research' her friends? What about you? How do you feel about the issue?

Did you know you can look up inmate records online now? For Free? Even if the person you are searching for is not in your state, say you're in NJ and they're in CO - you can utilize the Colorado Inmate Locator tool and get information on them. I'm glad more and more of these useful websites are becoming available.

I Have a Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (MoonStorm) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:21:00 +0000

I am addicted to blogging. There, I said it. Over the last few months I have begun to start more and more blogs than I realized, until today.

I manage 22 blogs! 22 blogs, people! I couldn't believe it myself until I looked at my Squidoo Lens, 'Just Blog About It!' and counted!

Wow, what is wrong with me? How do I keep up? I have no idea. I drink a lot of coffee!