And if that doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://km.email.wendys.com/wen/?nDdY.1jg4JlJw0m90HevgCLDWFZRUOLVn
I came across this post via my Twitter follow stream. It’s an article by a company called Stepcase Lifehack that talks about practical ways we can make our world a better place. I loved the advice so much that I thought I’d share at least the top 5 with my readers:
1. Tip generously.
2. Compliment someone.
3. Be totally open with someone.
4. Teach someone how to do something.
5. Let someone shine.
Read the entire article here to get the rest of the list. Then go out and practice kindness!
Well, I was reading in either this month’s edition of Men’s Health or Women’s Health magazine (both are great resources, BTW), and learned that one thing you can do to help get rid of stress is to smell one of three scents:
1. Lemon
2. Mango
3. Lavender
For some reason, these scents calm your nerves, which I’m sure all single parents need from time to time. :) So the next time you go to the grocery store, add a lemon to your list. Then as you’re cleansing your outside with gentle products, be sure to sniff the scent of a cut lemon to help trick your inside into not producing more acne-producing hormones. Cheers!
It’s the one staple we all have in our closets: jeans.
The writer of MSN Lifestyle has come up with 9 easy ways “to make your favorite jeans look a little more glam.” I’ve tried 3, 4, 6, and 8 and will attempt 1 and 9 over the holidays (I have a hot purple blazer from Banana Republic that needs to be put to some good use.) :)
Oh, and be sure to try out the new AG Skinny Jeans. I just used my amateur modeling pay (i.e. boutique gift card) to pay for a pair, and I have to say that they are worth every penny! I’m of the athletic/slim build with a butt and thighs, and I swear these jeans fit me like a glove (kind of like how they look on Fergie below). :)
Anyway, here’s the link to the 9 tips: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/everyday-style/staticslideshowglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=22625513>1=32002.
If you’ve recently gotten married or divorced, this handy name change guide will help you cover the major bases. It walks you through the following:
Here’s the Web site: http://newlastname.org/. And be sure to check your state’s statute for the time you have to notify legal entities. (In some cases, you are required to update your driver’s license within 30 days.)
I was over on YouTube recently and found a few insightful videos for those of us who have suffered with adult acne. This first one offers 2 secrets that have worked for her. And guess what? They’re actually affordable!
This second acne video offers advice for what NOT to do when trying to clear things up:
And if you’re interested in my tried-and-true advice on how to rid yourself of adult acne, read my first and second posts. If you have any specific questions, drop me a line!
I absolutely love The Office! Have you seen this clip of Jim and Pam’s wedding dance? Right before they say their vows, Michael and their office mates surprise them with this wedding dance to the song "Forever" by Chris Brown. Hilarity!
Click to watch the official Office Wedding Dance and then hop over to http://www.bestweddingdances.com/ for some more laughs!
Couponing works. I know this to be true because I’ve saved over $1000 since February because of my clipping skills. I pretty much do what this Massachusetts mom does, which is
What I haven’t done is ask the store if they will double my coupons. Guess asking never hurt. :) I did found out just a few weeks ago that Albertson’s grocery stores offer $0.05 for every recycling bag you use to pack your items instead of the plastic ones. So that saves me at least 10-15 cents each trip. Hey, every little bit counts!
Read the entire Good Morning America story here and then watch the video.
I recently came across this story of how a self-made millionaire went from earning minimum wage to financial freedom by age 40. BY AGE 40!
Jen Smith shares her recipe for success, happiness and financial freedom on a blog post adequately named “Millionaire Mommy Next Door.”
I was inspired not only by the fact that her family and she are financially independent, but because they only work when they want to and spend quality family time exploring our beautiful world (without having to wak up to an alarm clock). Wow . . . God-willing, I’ll join the ranks before the first signs of gray hair. :)
Without any further ado, meet the original Millionaire Mommy Next Door, Mrs. Jen Smith!
I was reading today’s devotion by Os Hillman titled, “Created for His Good Pleasure” and thought I’d share:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
"Eric Liddell was an Olympic runner from Britain who won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was a man who had a deep commitment to the Lord and had future plans of being a missionary. In the meantime, he knew God had given him a special gift to run, and he often said, "I feel God's pleasure when I run."
He spent years training for the Olympics. He passed each hurdle and qualified for the Olympics. Finally, the day came for him to run in the games that were held in Paris. There was only one problem. One of his running events was held on Sunday. Liddell refused to run on Sunday, believing it dishonored the Lord's Sabbath. He held to his convictions and brought great persecution on himself. He made a decision that even if it meant losing his opportunity to compete, he would not run. God's laws were greater than man's applause. Just when the circumstances seemed hopeless, another situation arose that allowed Liddell to run on a different day. So often this is the case in the spiritual realm. God tests our hearts to see if we will remain faithful to Him at the cost of something important to us. Once He knows where our loyalty lies, He opens a new door that meets the desires of our hearts. God takes pleasure in seeing His creation used for His glory. Liddell understood why he was made to run; he used his gift of running to bring pleasure to his Creator. Later, Eric Liddell went on to serve God on the mission field.
Does your life work bring pleasure to the Lord? Do you understand that God instilled certain gifts and talents in you so that He might find pleasure in His creation of you? Take pleasure in the gifts God has given to you this day. And let His glory shine through you.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
If this were my cartoon, it’d say, “This is terribly embarrassing – I’ve kept my married name for so long that I’ve almost forgotten who I am.”
But no longer! As of Tuesday, November 10, 2009, I am ME again!!!! (Who knew something so small could feel so good?) The actual prove-up in front of the judge took all of 5 minutes, but the time it took to wait for the FBI, IRS, and other Homeland Security agencies to vet my identity took about 7-8 months.
During my 2003 divorce, my attorney asked if I wanted to revert back to my maiden name. At that time, I said no. My rationale was that I didn’t want my son to have to endure embarrassment because he had a different name than his mother. But lo and behold, I’m not the only single mother out there! Who’d a thunk it? Funny now that I think back on it, glad that I finally came to my senses and went through it. :)
The only roadblock I ran into was actually with my little one. My son asked if I would still be his mom when I changed my name. :( I told him that nothing would ever change my love for him or the fact that I’m his mother. Nothing. *tearing up* After that, he was good!
To those of you who may have gone through a divorce and never included the reversion back to your maiden name in the final decree, here’s a good eHow.com step-by-step guide for changing your name back to your maiden name: http://www.ehow.com/how_5030992_change-name-back-maiden-name.html.
So now begins the arduous task of changing EVERYTHING from my married name to my maiden name—Driver’s License, SS card, bank accounts, bills, etc. But oh, is it worth the hassle! ;)
I noticed that ever since I posted about adult acne last month that many folks have been reading that blog entry. Glad to see you find it useful! So I thought I’d share a few more tid-bits I’ve learned to help keep acne at bay:
1. When washing your face, WASH with warm/hot water and RINSE with cold. Washing with warm water helps to open your pores, allowing the cleanser to penetrate deeper. But be sure to rinse with cold water so that you close your pores back up.
2. Wash your face twice a day, especially before you go to bed. . . seriously, this makes a world of difference.
3. We all know that stress can cause “facial formalities.” :) The next time you feel stress welling up inside, trick your body by closing your eyes and taking 3-5 deep breathes. (Honestly, this works wonders.)
4. Don’t use so many products on your face and think you’re actually making headway. At one point, my personal cleansing regimen included 5-6 items—a cleanser, Evoclin (prescription), a moisturizer, Epiduo gel (prescription), a cream, and some eye stuff. Whew! I WAS SUFFOCATING MY SKIN! What I learned was that simplicity goes a long way.
5. It goes without saying, but keep your hands OFF your face.
6. Drink plenty of water. If you don’t work out regularly, take your weight and divide by 2. That will give you the number of ounces you need to have every day (NOTE: 8 ozs. equal 1 cup.) If you do exercise, drink more water. ;)
If anyone has any specific questions about getting rid of acne, just let me know. I’d love to help someone bypass the pain I went through.
Hope these tips helped! Don’t forget to read Part I of “How to get rid of adult acne.”
I just learned the “shoe secret” from watching the Oprah Winfrey show. :D Apparently, there are only 6 pairs of shoes every woman needs. (That’s according to O, The Oprah Magazine creative director, Adam Glassman.) I agree with the list but would probably add a note about color. I believe every woman should make one shoe purchase in a lifetime that doesn’t make sense—and to add spice to your feet with a burst of color!
Anyway, here are the suggested “secret 6.” Do you have these in your closet?
1. A little black pump (the 2-inch kitten heel is a no-brainer for most women)
2. A comfortable (and colorful) flat
3. An evening (aka “going out”) shoe
4. A sleek comfort sneaker
5. A tall boot (agree x 100!)
6. An all-weather boot (eh, this could depend on where you live)
See the examples of Oprah’s 6 must-have shoes in action here.
Would you add any to the recommended list?
Yes, I am a BoyMom. And I wear the badge with pride.
All these 8+ years I’ve been thinking that as a boymom, I’m pretty daggone cool. And now there’s a site that designs super-cute Tees to help me shout that message from the rooftop! :D
If you have yet to visit http://boymomdesigns.com/, go there now! Some of the Tees are a bit pricey IMO, but they do offer a sales page. (Gotta stick to the family budget!) ;) Here are some that are on sale now for under $20:
Don’t miss the “stay-at-home-mom” one in green. It’s simple, yet chic! Can’t wait to don my very own pink Tee (and the black one) to my son’s playoff football games. w00t! And if that wasn’t enough, they even have a blog! Check it out here: http://boymomdesigns.blogspot.com/
Now get to shopping!
Our team finished up 2nd place overall during regular season. And now it’s time for single elimination playoffs. w00t! Bring it!
