Ditch the Generic Gift Card

Will anyone remember what you gave them, or what they did with it?

Gift cards began as a simple way to buy a gift for the one or two people on your list that you did not know well, or for who were particularly difficult to shop.  We had to actually put enough thought into the person to know their interests, and then go to that store to purchase the card.  Not true anymore.  Today, gift cards can be purchased for virtually any store from the mall to the grocery store.  If you want a Barnes and Noble card, or a Victoria’s Secret card, you can purchase one right at the checkout line of Safeway.  Further depersonalizing the gift, you can also purchase a Visa, MasterCard or Amex right alongside them. 

While I understand that there are times when a gift card is appropriate, I find it sad that it has become the “norm” in gift giving.  Rather than put time, thought, and energy into picking, or creating, a gift that someone will enjoy, we just rush through the grocery line and come out the other end with a handy catch-all gift card.  While most of us like to pick out our own gifts some of the time, it is a nice surprise to open an actual item.  Perhaps it is something we love, but would never buy for ourselves, even with the gift card.  Perhaps it is something given to us that will trigger a memory of the giver every time we use it or look at it.  Many of us end up using those cards on impulse purchases or necessities, rather than something we truly want.  I am even guilty of being caught at the last minute without a gift for someone, grabbed the unused card, and re-gifted it.  I am certain that is not the reason it was given to me. 

My last “gripe” about gift cards is that we do not always want someone to know exactly how much we spent (or did not spend) on them.  With a gift card, there is no sale price, no special deal, no discount.  We all know exactly how much was spent.  Sometimes that is acceptable; sometimes it is not. 

Next time you need a simple gift, whether for business associates or clients, acquaintances, for the hostess, friends, or family, try something more personal. The personal thought will mean a lot to the recipient.

Gourmet candles are a fantastic and personal way to show your appreciation for everyone on your list.  Did you know that 86% of all people burn scented candles in their home, and that number is going up.  Mia Bella Gourmet Candles can be ordered online and shipped to you, or to the recipient.  They are available in over 90 true-to-life fragrances, including several different product lines, including our Signature Line, our brand new Orchard Line, and our ever-popular Spa Line.

 We even have Bakery Pies and Cinna-buns, which come in their own tins for burning, and smell just like the real thing--without the calories!!

Our candles are made with a proprietary vegetable wax, and they contain no lead, zinc, or other toxins.  They are natural, clean burning, eco-friendly, and are incredibly long lasting. The scent lasts from the first light to the last flicker and when the candle is done, all that is left is a clean, empty jar. 

We even take the guesswork out of choosing a fragrance.  We have our most popular scents by season, which keeps it simple when buying for someone else.  To simplify it even further, you can choose to purchase the “Fragrance of the Month” which is always one of our top sellers. 

So the next time you reach for that Gift Card as you are running through the grocery store, stop and ask yourself if that is what you really want to give, or is it simply the easier thing to do?  Ordering a candle online takes only a few minutes and is sure to be remembered long after the gift card is used on who-knows-what.  In fact, I keep several jars in various fragrances on hand just for those purposes.  Tie a nice ribbon around it, and you do not even need a gift bag! 

Tune in tomorrow as I highlight more of our most popular products and fragrances--for everyone on your list!!

Until Next Time, Dream Large....

Independence Day--Remember what it stands for!!!

My family got up at 4:00 am to take the kids to the airport.  They are visiting my parents in Oregon for a couple of weeks, and, would you call me a terrible mother if I said I barely kicked them to the curb before my husband and I hustled back home?!  If so, that's cool.....I only get away from my kids one time a year, and the older they get, the more of a break it becomes!  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  "Give me diapers anyday--Teenagers are far more work than potty training!!"

The fact that they left on the 4th of July gives a whole new meaning to Independence Day for me this year!!  Now, you might think we'd be out doing something exciting with our free time, but we have actually chosen to spend a quiet day at home, doing absolutely nothing! 

We will climb up on the roof later on to watch the firework display that is put on by Luke Air Force Base, which is right across the street.  How appropriate to be celebrating Independence Day watching the show put on by the men and women in this country who protect our freedoms?!

I am honored to be able to watch these fighter jets every day from my home.

I decided to post a few notable quotes and poems about Independence Day that I appreciate.  I hope you like them too.  As you are out watching the fireworks and BBQ'ing with family and friends, please take a moment to remember the meaning of this day!

"There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream." ~~ Archibald MacLeish

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~~ Thomas Jefferson

"Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it." ~~ Mark Twain

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." ~~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

 "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~~ Benjamin Franklin

and my personal favorite:

"Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it." 

~~ Mark Twain

I'll end this post with a poem I found that I think is poignant and beautiful, yet simple:

The American Boy

By Author Unknown

SON:
Father, look up, and see that flag!
How gracefully it flies!
Those pretty stripes, they seem to be
A rainbow in the skies.

FATHER:
It is your country's flag, my boy,
And proudly drinks the light,
O'er ocean's wave, in foreign climes,
A symbol of our might.

SON:
Father, what fearful noise is that,
Now thundering in the clouds?
Why do they, cheering, wave their hat,
And rush along in crowds?

FATHER:
It is the voice of cannonry,
The glad shouts of the free;
This is a day of memory,
'Tis FREEDOM'S JUBILEE!

SON:
I wish that I was now a man,
I'd free my country too,
And cheer as loudly as the rest;
But, father, why don't you?

FATHER:
I'm getting old and weak; but still
My heart is big with joy;
I've witnessed many a day like this,
Shout you aloud, my boy!

SON:
HURRAH, FOR FREEDOM'S JUBILEE,
God bless our native land!
And may I live to hold the boon
Of freedom in my hand.

FATHER:
Well done, my boy, grow up, and love
The land that gave you birth,—
A land where Freedom loves to dwell,—
A paradise on earth.

Toxic Relationships

Toxic Relationships.  We all have them.  Whether it is a family member, partner, co-worker, or friend--we all have relationships that bring us down.  The question is "What to do about it?"  Of course, the answer is not as simple as the question.  A spouse or family member needs to be approached differently than a friend or co-worker. 

The reason I am writing about this is that yesterday I had to make a painful, yet necessary, decision to walk away from what started out as an incredible friendship, but ended up being toxic to me.  It was such a hard thing to do, but after a week of feeling sick to my stomach and worrying about it, I had to choose what was best for me.  I would like to say it didn't get ugly, but the truth is it was not pleasant.  It is a lot like getting a divorce--if we could do it happily and without upset, why would we have to do it at all?  So, while it was not nasty, it was very uncomfortable.  

I took the day to let myself grieve the loss of what was once such a close friendship, and then got up today and moved forward.  I am a firm believer that God brings people into our lives at specific times for a reason.  And when that reason has resolved, there is not always anything else holding the relationship together, except time.  And time isn't always enough. Things had started going wrong in this friendship a long time ago, and it was not until very recently I realized that the friendship was adding more stress, tension, and drama than it was worth.

I am thankful for the awesome gifts I received as a result of the relationship, and am hopeful that one day, we will both be able to look past the bad times and be friendly.  But, whether that happens or doesn't happen, is out of my hands right now.  It is time to concentrate on the relationships that are working in my life today.  And be grateful for the wonderful things God has planned for me. 

Until Next Time....

At Home Spa Recipe -- Brown Sugar Body Scrub

No Need for an expensive trip to the spa with this fabulous and simple body scrub!!

Create a Spa in Your Home

I went to a Culinary Meetup Group on Sunday, and the theme this month was "Spa at Home."  Each woman created a home-made spa recipe to share.  I went with my stand-by:  Brown Sugar Body Scrub.  It is incredibly easy to make and is versatile, depending on what ingredients you have on hand.  And did I mention that it is FABULOUS!!

This is a recipe that I created myself after spending $15 on a store-bought scrub.  After reading the ingredients, I figure their profit margin had to be around 1000%, and rather than give anyone that kind of money again, I'd recreate the recipe myself.  I have been using it for over a year now, and still love it!

Here goes:

Brown Sugar 

• Excellent to exfoliate dry skin from head to toe.  
• Sugar scrubs also tightens pores and adds moisture to the skin leaving it smooth and soft. 
• Sugar contains glycolic acid that works to protect and moisture the skin and help the body maintain a natural balance.

Honey

• Incredible antiseptic and is rich in antioxidants and flavanoids
• Cleopatra as an anti-aging remedy.
• Promotes healing of cuts and abrasions.  
• Because it is a humectant, it attracts and maintains moisture balance in the skin, without being oily.

Coconut Oil

• Safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin.
• Delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age.
• Helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin conditions.

Almond Oil

• Improves complexion and retains glow
• Moisturizes deeply
• Soothes skin irritation and inflammation
• Delays the again process
• Lightens dark under-eye circles
• Relieves dry, itchy skin
• Cures chapped lips and body rashes

If you do not have Almond Oil, you can substitute Olive Oil, which is also an excellent moisturizer.  Secret Ingredient:  I love the smell of vanilla, and sometimes will put just a dash of pure vanilla in the mix!

I do not have the amounts written down anywhere.  Start with one cup of brown sugar and then add equal amounts of honey, coconut oil, and almond oil.  Mix it with your fingers (they'll thank you for the scrub!) and add additional ingredients until you get the consistency of cookie dough (?)...I can't think of a good comparison for the consistency.  You want it to be wet enough to spread evenly, yet solid enough to scoop out of the bowl.

I use the scrub 2 - 3 times a week and this amount should last about that long.  If you plan on keeping it longer, I suggest keeping it an airtight container in the fridge.  I use the scrub right before I am done showering and apply it in a circular motion with your hand, a washcloth or a loofah. It is great to use from head to toe--I even use it on my face!  

Let it sit for a minute or two so your skin can absorb it, and then rinse....No Need for Additional Moisturizer!! 

I love home-spa recipes....

What is your favorite???

Summer Pasta Salad

So, this is my first recipe I've put up...but since my family "begs" for this pasta salad, I figure maybe it's worthy of a post!  Now mind you, I like to cook, but not bake.  The reason for this is that in cooking, I can be more creative.  I rarely measure, and hardly ever cook the same thing the same way twice!  This is what I love about cooking!!  Baking, on the other hand, demands attention to detail.  Not my greatest strength!  I have a very limited amount of patience, so I leave the baking to my daughter, who will be studying pastry arts this fall.

FRESH VEGETABLES ARE THE BOMB!!!

TRI-COLOR PASTA ADDS INTEREST

Pasta is NOT the enemy!! 

Now, On to the Recipe!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 boxes tri-color rotini
2 bottles of your favorite Italian Dressing--Do use one with lots of flavor like Newman's Own.
1-2 cans black (or green) olives, sliced or halved
1-2 small jars of marinated artichoke hearts, sliced
Marinated sun-dried tomatoes, sliced

And any combination of these veggies (diced)  in whatever amounts you want!!  NO RULES!!  =)

Celery
Green, Yellow, Red, and/or Orange Bell Peppers--adds color, taste, & nutrients, so use them all if you have them
Green Onions (Salad Onions or regular onions if you don't have these)
Carrots
Brocolli
Cherry Tomatoes, halved
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boil the noodles until JUST SOFT--do not overcook!! Strain them and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Toss in some of the salad dressing to keep the noodles from sticking.
Add your veggies and the rest of the dressing.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste
Stir, Stir, Stir
Cover and Refrigerate for an hour or two to let it chill and allow the flavors to blend.

And for an extra kick:


Fresh Basil, and Parmesan Cheese also really Rock this Salad!!

VOILA!!!  You have enough pasta salad to feed the neighborhood--Trust me, they'll be coming back for more!!

Tweak this to fit your family--and use what you've got in the fridge!!  Like I said, there's no "wrong" way to make this.  To me, the goal is to use as many fresh veggies as I have on hand!!  So add some, remove some, play with it, experiment and have fun!!

Let me know what you think!!  And, if you try something that really works that isn't here, send me a shout-out--I'm always open to new ideas!!

New Blog is Ready to Kick Off "Featured Business Friday!!!"

When Lindsay (who runs Happy Housewife Designs) was putting together my blog--no easy feat, I am sure--she asked me to come up with the titles for my pages.

Because I am a woman of many words, I wanted to be able to create a blog where people could come and easily find the information they were looking for--whether it be to laugh at my crazy family life, commiserate with being a mother of a teenager, check out pics of my zoo, learn a biz tip or two, read about the Featured Businesses I support, learn about my favorite designer discount sites & links I love, or perhaps find out more about my home business.

I am one of those impatient ADD kinda people who, if I cannot quickly find what I am looking for, will either give up, or, more likely, get distracted by another feature of the blog, and forget why I was there in the first place!!  I figured there might be more people out  there like me, so I am trying to keep it as simple as possible.

Like my Tagline suggests, this blog, which started out for my home business, has quickly evolved into a place for me to write about "Life and The In-between!"  If there is ever a subject you would like me to research and blog about, let me know!!  I am always open for ideas!!

Also, I would like to remind you all about Featured Business Friday!!!  It will kick off this coming Friday with the Lovely Lindsay, who designed this blog...and then will feature one, possibly two, small businesses per week (largely depending on the response from my readers!!)

If you would like to have your business featured on my blog, here's the scoop!!

Leave me a comment with your name, your blog name and url, a sentence or two about what your business offers, and another sentence or two about why you believe supporting small business is so important, and what you do in your life to promote that, either in your community or online.

***Deal Breaker:  Because I am doing the Featured Business promotion in order to remind others how important it is to support the small business owner, if you do not tell me why you believe supporting the little guy is important to you, and what you do personally to support the little guy, I cannot feature your business.  I cannot stress how important this is to me, so please don't forget to add that info in your comment!!***

A Slight Detour from My "Working at Home" Series...

The Continuing Saga of "To Work..." has been interrupted

by a week-long fight with pneumonia, but will

 continue soon!

 

For those of you who have been tuning in to my blog about working from home, I apologize for the delay.  For those of you who are tired of the topic, it's your lucky day!  I'm on my 8th day with pneumonia that shows no sign of going away, and I'm off to the doctor for an antibiotic shot and possibly a chest x-ray.

So rather than tax my injured brain cells, and risk writing a useless article, I decided to give myself the day off and try to sleep this off.

I hope you'll tune in tomorrow ....with any luck, I'll be feeling like a human again!!

Thanks for stopping by...leave me a comment and I'll stop by and say hello back!  Have a Fantastic Friday!!

Thank You to Soldiers....Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

Thank You Soldiers & God Bless

While Memorial Day is now associated with the start of the summer season, family barbecues, pool parties, big summer sales at the malls, and, of course, a paid day off work, let's all take the time to remember the true meaning of this day...

Living right next to Luke Air Force Base, I have the honor of seeing our young servicemen and women around my community, and I get to watch and hear our amazing jet fighters doing their practice runs directly overhead.  What an awesome sight that is!!  I also am close enough to hear their horns, which are played 4 times every day.  I cannot express the feeling of pride and humility I get being able to experience all this first-hand!
                                                                            

Red Poppies are the official Memorial Day flower

Here is some trivia about this day that I borrowed from Purple Trail.


Memorial Day Trivia:

• Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who have died serving our country.
• General John Alexander Logan ordered the Memorial Day holiday to be observed by decorating the war dead.
• On Memorial Day, the flag should be at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
• Red Poppies are recognized as the Memorial Day flower.
• “Taps” is often played at ceremonies on Memorial Day.
• Memorial Day was first called “Decoration Day” because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers.
• New York was the 1st state to officially recognize Memorial Day.
• Flowers and flags are the two most popular items people use to remember soldiers.
• The south refused to honor the dead on Memorial Day until after World War I when the meaning of Memorial Day changed from honoring civil war dead to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
• Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971.

If you enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans, please take the time to thank a soldier or the family who has lost a loved one who served.  Remember that today, perhaps more than ever, these freedoms are being threatened in so many ways and from so many directions....and that in order to maintain the lifestyles we have come to expect, we must remain united and fight to protect our liberties!!

Whatever your plans for the day, please take the time to say a prayer for  those who have died for our freedom, and those who continue to fight for us every day!!

God Bless America!!

In My Next Life....

It's been a week since school let out, it's 100 degrees outside, I've had the flu (or something resembling the flu) for a better part of the week, I've been working to build my business, done a lot of networking events and such, and then.....


I woke up this morning to what looks like a war zone!  My house has literally "gone to the dogs!"  Ronda and I spent the evening here working, so I didn't clean the kitchen after dinner, the clean clothes are piled feet-high on the living room couch, there are blankets everywhere (despite the hot temperatures!!), the stairs have so much stuff piled on them that it's a miracle no one has plummeted to their death trying to navigate around all the clutter, and....well....I could go on, but I think you get the point!!  If the doorbell were to ring, I would not even let my closest friends inside!!

And amongst all this mess, I have animals--lots and lots of animals--laying around, seemingly oblivious to the chaos that surrounds them!! 

Tweak, our Hunter...she's always bringing me presents

like dead birds or lizard tails.  She's so thoughtful!!

 Montana--our resident crazy lady!  She has to take prozac cuz she always tries to kill Max, the cattle dog....when you see the pics of Max, it will probably make sense!

This is Baby, I used to really like this one.....until.......

 .......this.......now?  Well, let's just say I will like her more after I get her spayed!!

 Peaches....our old cat and reformed hunting champion!  Now he is only interested in 2 things--eating and sleeping, in no particular order!!

 Did you really think I was limited to dogs and cats???  These are two of our tortoises...Tank is the big guy.  He'll get to about 75 pounds.  And the little one is a baby sulcata.  He'll get even bigger than Tank!  

To their credit, they do not bark, meow, growl, bite, or bug!!

 Woah...almost forgot Hogan....God forbid, he's such a sensitive guy!!

 This is Max...don't let him fool you with this sleeping in the basket trick!!

 He's usually somewhere in the middle of the chaos!  Right now he and Jaxon are trying to figure out why there are still toys in the basket!

 Heck, we even have Monkeys that hang out in the trees!!

 But Wait!  Here is the Star of the Show...Jaxon!! 

 Jax and his toys!  He sleeps in his basket so no one will take his stuff!

 And another one of Jax just cuz he's the baby!!

I would like to state that this is far from ALL of our animals, but I just didn't want anyone to think I was exaggerating about having a zoo!!

Now back to my story about my disaster of a house!!!

Maybe the normal person would look at the mess surrounding them and their first thought would be to get up and start shoveling through it all....but my first thought???

IN MY NEXT LIFE, I WANNA COME BACK AS ONE OF MY PETS!!!

Do any of them look stressed?  Embarrassed about the state of their surroundings?  Worried about whether HAZMAT is going to come in and condemn their home?  No.....none of them seem to care.....or even notice!  They just go on about their day, sleeping, playing, eating....all of their needs & most of their wants are given to them.....and they don't even have to clean up after themselves, much less everyone else!!

So, I ask you.....


Do you think I'm crazy for wanting, in my next life, to be one of my pets?  Looks like a good life to me!

But for now, I guess I better clean...cuz they sure as hell aren't going to!