2011 is finally here

Sadly, my last post was in October. I can't believe how I have let this thing go!!!! I am such a writer that when I don't write, it makes me feel really lazy!  So my new year's resolution is to take care of this blog and get to 30 followers by December. I know you are thinking, that isn't very many. But I am setting my goal low so I don't put it out of reach. I am currently at 14, so that is almost double what I would have now.

I guess the biggest thing is to make sure I pick a theme and write about it. My blog has kinda gotten out there and really just pushed everything together. I have surrogacy, my family, work, free stuff, work at home stuff. I don't have things organized and the reason I don't and can't get any followers is because I don't offer anything really of importance.

So to start off the new year right, I think I am going to sit down tonight and really think about what I want to write about. I am passionate about many things. This blog will be for my life, my family, my friends, work and everything else that goes with being a mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend. I am going to setup a new blog linked with this one for the one thing I am going to write passionately about. So hang on for the ride, 2011 is finally here!!!!!!!!!

Back again

I know it has been awhile since I have blogged. Things kind of took over in my life that were more important, school, work, kids, family and me time. I have missed blogging like crazy. I tried to journal for a while, but I hate writing. I can type much faster, and I can type pretty much anywhere I go. For example, this post I am doing from work! I get bored, have a few minutes and quick punch out a few paragraphs and by the end of the day, I have a full post that I can just put on when I get home. I think this is going to be my daily routine now.

So to catch up on family......

Ryan is doing very well. He has enjoyed a summer and so far, a fall full of amazing days to ride his motorcycle. We have gone on a few rides that have really been fun for the two of us to enjoy together. He has kept himself busy with the kids and with extra work on the side. He loves to be outside and I know this winter is going to drive him nuts if it is as bad as last year. But he has his Netflix movies he can watch this year, so I am sure that will keep him occupied during the long cold months that winter is going to be bringing us.

Damon is now in 1st grade.  He is growing up so fast, it takes me by surprise to really see how much he has grown in the last few months.  We finall got school pictures back and to look back at the growth with his three year preschool and now the 1st grade, he has matured from such a little boy, to such a little man. He reads so well now and can really pick up on things like signs and words on boxes at the grocery store. He is constantly reading and trying to learn as much as he can about everything. He loves to play the Wii and the DS. But he would much rather be outside riding his bike! He will be turning seven in a few months, and it is just amazing how my first born is turning into such a good person.  Damon also has a new journey this year, he is starting Boy Scouts! Well, Cub Scouts really, but it still is boy scouts.  I don't approve of the Boy Scout leaders that say certain people aren't allowed to participate, but I want my son to really understand the joys of a troop, the fun they can have using nature, instead of just sitting around playing games all the time. I want him to use his imagination and really have fun with this. He also is starting wrestling this fall and I can't wait to see how well he does with that. I know he has a lot of energy and I think this is something he could easily do to really harness the energy and use it towards a goal.

Lili is now in kindergarten. She is my diva, my princess and my baby. She has grown so much as well, transforming into such a little girl.  She does so well at school and I am so proud of the person she is becoming. Sure, she can be difficult, but boy is she just like her mother. She is very independent and I am proud of that. I don't want her to be dependent on other people. I want her to stand on her own two feet and know the world is hers for the taking. I want her to be proud to be herself and for the most part, I think she is. She is very attached to her cat, Purrsia. She starts Girl Scouts this year and proudly, I am the leader of her troop!!! I am excited for this journey together with her, even if it only lasts for a few years. She played tball for the first time this past summer, and I can already tell she isn't going to be much of a sports person, like Damon. She likes it, but not near as much as her music and dance. Even though I didn't put her in dance class this year, she still does really well at dancing around the house. Maybe this spring I will enroll her.

And now for me.....

Well, I guess for me nothing really has changed much. I am going to keep a surrogacy blog, and will attach it to this one, but I am not sure how I want to do that yet. The journey is so amazing. I really am helping two people who couldn't be more amazing and perfect for me. As much as it sucked, the first try ended in a negative beta. It has been very difficult to deal with that, but things are getting better. I just want this to work so badly for them....that when things don't go as planned, it has been making it harder and harder to push through, but I keep pushing because I didn't have to struggle to have my children. My children were born naturally, with no medications, and it was all really easy.  I push myself because this is not my dream, I want my guys to be dads. I want to see the look on their faces when they are handed their children for the first time. 

So now that I am back to blogging, I can't wait to really tell my story, really get out how I feel instead of just holding it inside. I miss blogging and hoping that I can do a post every day. This is the first, not the last......

Working from Home Series, part 2 Surveys C-E

Two weeks has passed since my last blog post. For that I apologize. Life has been hectic, I work 12 hours a day, come home to TBall or swimming for the kids, then supper, baths and bed for them. Then I log into my online college courses, do homework and crash around 1am. Only to get up at 7 and do the same thing again the next day.

Finally things are starting to slow down and I am able to catch up where I last left off.  So in the second part of the series, I am going more into the world of surveys.

My mother introduced me to surveys before I had kids. I was bored at home with just a part time job and needing something to keep me busy while I was at home. So I started doing the surveys that she did. I created accounts of my own and doing surveys every day for weeks. I had points racked up, got some great prizes and even won a GPS unit from one of them.

So here is the next set of survey sites that I think you should check out if you are looking for some extra income or some great ways to earn things like gift cards or gear for your house.  I do not belong to all of these, but most I do. Some pay with cash, some pay with points in which you trade in for things like gift cards or gifts. This list will go from the letter C to the letter E.

om ©
Clear Voice Surveys
http://www.clearvoicesurveys.com/
Clarion Web Panel
http://www.clarionresearch.com/webpanel.htm
Clorox Advisors
https://www.cloroxadvisors.com/login.aspx
Caregivers Advisory Panel(TCAP®)
http://www.caregiversadvisorypanel.com/panel_portal.htm
Consumerviews
http://www.consumerviews.com/
Digital Research Panel
https://digitalresearch.com/digitalr...anel/join.html
Doggie Fun Product Testing Site
http://www.doggiefun.com/critiques/criticsignup.html
Drug Voice
http://www.drugvoice.com/
Datatelligence Online
http://www.datatelligence.net/
Elite Opinion
http://www.eliteopinion.com/index.html
e-focus
e-Rewards Survey Site
http://www.e-rewards.com/home.do
E-Poll
http://www.epollsurveys.com/epoll/cl...q.htm?cid=3465
Esearch
http://www.esearch.com/
Epinions
http://www.epinions.com/ T

Working From Home Series, part 1 SURVEYS

 Many people have asked me how to find the work at home things that I participate in. So I thought I would put something up for all you mommies out there in cyber-land to get you in on the goods!!!

First things first, never EVER pay to work. If it is legitimate, you shouldn't be paying to work. In some cases like Avon or Beachbody you have to pay monthly dues to have access to their marketing tools and websites. But in cases of mom's wanting to stay at home, you shouldn't be paying a website to work.  Also, never give out any information unless you can verify that the information is going to a source that is important and trustworthy.

So this post will be the first in a series of work at home ideas.  I will start simple, only because I don't have a huge amount of time tonight. So this series is going to be based on surveys and the ones that are worth taking, the crap ones and the really super amazing ones to get in on.  I of course, will be benefiting from this post because all links that I will be providing are my personal links. So when you click and sign up, I will get something in return. This is a huge impact in the survey community and this his how many people get so much out of these survey companies. By signing up everyone on their Facebook account gives them tons of points and all of that. Many survey companies will only give you so many referrals now so I will post my links and no matter what they will give you access to the information, and I will get my maximum amount of referrals to the company.

Okay so here is the list of current survey companies who allow you to sign up and take surveys. These surveys are sent to you via email, postal mail and some are even over the phone. This list is from A-B. I am trying to break it into groups so my posts aren't lost in links!

4myopinion
http://www.4myopinion.net/
20/20 Research
http://www.2020research.com/
Advanced Focus
http://www.advancedfocus.com/index.htm
AC Nielsen's Homescan Consumer Panel
http://www.homescansignup.com/homescan/index.html
Avery Advisors
http://www.averyadvisors.net/avery/index.html
Alpha Buzz
http://www.alphabuzzgroup.com
Advantage Research
http://www.advantageresearch.net/home.htmcom ©
Altests
http://alatest.com/pages/about/en_GB/
American Consumer Opinion
http://www.acop.com/information.aspx©
Acronis Beta Testing
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/su...ing/index.html
AnswerNet MRC
http://mrc.answernet.com/
Adept
http://www.giveusyouropinions.com/
Atkins Research Group Inc.
http://www.atkinsresearchinc.com/
Adler-Weiner Research • Focus Groups in Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA.
http://www.awres.com/
Amplitude Research
http://www.ampupnow.com/
AOL Opinion Place
http://www.opinionplace.com/main.adp?
Advocate Advisory Panel
http://www.advocateadvisorypanel.com...6&hf=17331.txt
African American Voice
http://www.theafricanamericanvoice.c...mmtx&cid=CD713
Boulder Focus Center • Focus Groups in Boulder, CO.
http://www.boulderfocuscenter.com/Baker Street Solutions
http://www.bakerstsolutions.com/
Big Fish Games ~ Computer Gaming Surveys & Research
http://bigfishgames.signup.sgizmo.com
Brand Institute
http://www.brandinstitute.com/
Beta Research Corporation
http://betapanel.com/Panel/BRC/ix.asp?Force=True
BeginSurvey Inc.
http://www.beginsurvey.com/beginsurvey/
Blarry House Research
http://www.blarry.com/home_f.html
Bellwether Surveys
http://www.bellwethersurveys.com/
BuzzBack
http://www.buzzback.com/
BRX Research
http://www.brxresearch.com/
Buzzsponge
http://home.buzzsponge.com/

Start Rite Shoes!!!

Since my children could walk the biggest problem we have had is finding shoes that not only fit, but look good and last a long time.  I am never worried about brand names with my kids, but more worried about quality. My kids are constantly on the go, outside riding bikes, playing at recess and taking walks with me and Ryan.  And trying to find shoes that are not only comfortable but last a while is such a hard thing to do especially in Ida Grove.

We have one shoe store and the prices are unreal. I can't afford $70 shoes for my kids, especially when they out grow them in less than 6 months and the shoes just don't stay nice enough to spend that much money on.  The only other place in town that sells shoes is a place called Pamida. This is like a pre-Walmart type of store. They have nice shoes, but the quality is not great and the prices are not really that great either. Sometimes you can get them on sale, but they last like four months and start to fall apart.  I cannot have my children's shoes falling apart when they are constantly on their feet! I need strong support for their growing little toes!!!

So I was told to check out this website: http://startriteshoes.com/
These shoes are AMAZING!!!! Just check out some of the cute styles they have for not only girls but boys as well! And the selection is just awesome. You can find shoes for every event, from school shoes to rain boots! The prices are great, the selection is even better and they have these awesome sales that really get you some good deals. Right now there is even a contest to win free shoes for a YEAR. I am not joking, free shoes for a YEAR!

As a mom, you can't get better than good shoes at great prices with the best selection around! You can order shoes and have them shipped to just about any part of the world you want! So if you are looking for some great shoes, great prices with great quality, check out the website.  I am glad that I did and I can't wait for the shoes to get here! Lili even picked out her own pair to wear. Oh yea...and if you worry about sizing, they even have a tool that you can get to size your child's feet at home!!! No more sitting in those uncomfortable end booths trying on pair after pair of shoes with running, screaming children all around.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SECTION JUST FOR LITTLE BOYS!!!
boy's shoes

Father's Day

Growing up, Father's Day always meant Dad getting to get up early, and go fishing all day long with nobody bothering him. And when he arrived home, a huge meal was ready with his favorite foods and we all had to leave Dad alone the rest of the night. The day was his.  But his alone.  We didn't celebrate except for the early morning gifts made at home or bought by Mom on our weekly grocery shopping trip without Dad.

Now that we have kids of our own Father's Day has such a different meaning. My husband doesn't get to run off all alone on that day.  We celebrate with a huge breakfast while he is getting to sleep in.  Then we spend the day together as a family celebrating the joy of him being a father.

I have noticed that Father's Day like many other holidays has gotten to be so commercialized. Huge electronic gifts, grills or cars for dad. What happened to fishing lures or a box of his favorite candy?  And people wonder why they are broke all the time. 

If more families took out the gifts, they could save THOUSANDS of dollars a year.  Birthdays, anniversaries, or special holidays like Mothers/Fathers Day are not meant for giving extravegent gifts. They are meant to be celebrated with family and friends. They are meant as a celebration of life. Not about gift giving.

This year my husband is getting a package of his favorite licorice and homemade cards from the kids as well as a nice big breakfast.  And then we will spend the day enjoying our family. Sure he might get to lay in bed and watch a movie, but he deserves that. He works 50 plus hours a week and still comes home and finds time to play with the kids or do a load of laundry.

I love him for being such a wonderful father. I couldn't ask for more!

T-Ball and the FENCE

So Damon had another T-ball game on Friday night.  The teams are getting to be such good players, remembering to throw to first base, running home when the last batter hits and the most important part, teamwork.


Being my son, we always knew that he would be the one to get hurt, somehow, no matter what the event, he would be the one to get hurt.  So far he has not let us down!  And Friday was no different.

Now you may be thinking, oh the ball must have hit him or he fell down running the bases. NOPE!  The poor child was chasing after the ball and ran INTO the fence, splitting open his forehead and leaving a nice little bruise as well.  Of course he was upset that he didn't see the fence and was embarrassed but he got up, shook it off and went back to first base.

Everyone clapped for him and he felt a little bad that he completely missed the ball.  But the game continued and he forgot all about it.

Going to my children's activities has always been so much fun. The only downer about going to these activities is the other people that are there.  Some who bring family drama, some who come already drunk or some who don't show up at all but we hear about their non-presence throughout the entire game.
As a parent, I am ashamed of all the parents who come to these games to socialize and not cheer their child on.  Why put your child into a sport if you aren't going to support them.  Stand up and cheer when they are running bases, know when to keep quiet, like right when they are getting ready to swing the bat you don't scream something at your child.

Growing up I never realized how inconsiderate other parents really are and always wondered why my parents didn't have many friends in the town we lived in. But now as a parent, I realize that how people act in public really makes or breaks a friendship.  Some of the people at the ball game were not even paying attention to the game and their children were playing.  I am not asking parents to get right up to the fence and cheer and scream loudly for their children.  But just standing around talking to your friends while your child hits the ball doesn't show the child you care. It shows them that you care enough to come, but only because you have to.