No more.

Well, Shawna's finally made peace with the fact that her insurance is full of bureaucratic assholes and that more than likely she won't be getting infertility coverage. I think at this point the best thing we can do is focus efforts on the here and now.

At least over the summer we can sit back, have her do the clomid, hope it works and enjoy the summer.

Of course, if fall comes and still no baby -- it might have to come up with a different strategy.

I love to drink.

There's nothing better than coming home after a hard day's work and drinking a cold beer or glass of red wine. I've really grown attached to my afternoon beverages and even Grammy gets in on the action!

Now I have found the perfect website that will direct me to the best Champagne and wine for my tastes!

Champagneswines.com is a great place to order alcoholic too! Just last year we sent Alex and Dominic a case of our favorite upstate New York wines and it was a royal pain because we had to ship them from the liquor store. But they don't have shipping materials there! Plus, it cost a fortune.

This is a one stop shop and the prices are really reasonable.

This post sponsored by: http://www.champagneswines.com/

Is it over yet?

I'm talking about the work day. I feel like I've been up since the butt crack of dawn and I'm exhausted!

We're due to have a pretty low key night tonight and L&L are coming over. I'm thinking we'll do an easy meal and then plant our asses in front of the tele for some good trashy shows.

Real Estate in Boston!

Real Estate in Boston is constantly in high demand. In fact, I have friends that were looking for a house for over a year and they had quite a bit of money to spend on the perfect house.

They ended up purchasing a house in burbs of Boston for a mere 1.2 million dollars!

If you're ever looking for South Boston real estate then Seaport Reality Group is the perfect match for you! They have many agents that have practiced for years and really know how to get you the house in your dreams.

The also have a great website that's easy to navigate and you can even search open houses and MLS listings.

They make buying a house as easy as it gets!

FRIDAY!

I'm so glad it's a weekend and it looks like either I don't have to go into work or if I do just for a few short hours.

I hope the weather's good and we can get out and play!

I'm not too hopeful though since I just ran out to start the cars and although it's beautiful outside it's only 26 degrees.

Poo.

We've got a fast car...

Just joking. We have a 2000 Honda CRV and a 2006 Toyota Matrix. Both cars are great and we love them dearly but they are far from being fast!

I found this article interesting on the Top 10 Fastest Cars in Production. I was shocked not to see the Toyota Matrix!

I really love the Pagani Zonda F. It's not just sporty on the inside but the outside has a great flair to it. It has round headlights and even a great back end too.

Of course, the Porshe Carrera is an all time favorite. Who could have a Porshe without it being red? I'd want a candy apple red Porche and a convertible of course!

I've always been really good at identifying cars and I can spot a car from miles away and most of the time tell you the make, model, and year. But these new fast cars really throw me off and I can't seem to figure out who the makers are!

Vcars.com has a great website that's easy to use and has tons of information for the car lover in you! Not only does it have reviews but it also has some great portfolios and pictures of the cars too!

This post sponsored by: http://www.vcars.co.uk

Hop into my my car?

Just if it would run!

My dad has a sweet Mercedes that he's been renting for the past few years. The problem with his car is that it's always in the shop! If it's not one thing it's another. I think the only part that they haven't had to replace is that Mercedes Radiator. Thank God, it's a rental car and he can turn the piece of crap in after this year!

Radiator.com offers over 150,000 parts in stock and has an easy to navigate website. You can purchase your radiator online and they will ship it to anywhere in the United States. The staff is professional and always willing to answer your questions.

Milk.

Graem drinks so much milk! Even though she's 2 1/2 she drinks about 5 sippy cups of milk a day. What that means for us is about $20 of milk a week! Of course, we buy the organic milk too.

I guess that doesn't help matters!

Looking for something?

We are constantly looking at our local paper classified ads. We've been able to find some pretty great stuff including our dog!

Now UK has a hot new spot for free classifieds. The classifieds are easy to find and the website is really a great resource for people in the UK looking for just about everything!

ItsMyMarket.com also offers many other great features like community blogs, weather, and even online dating!

This post sponsored by: http://www.itsmymarket.com

I love cuthroat.

Luckily for us, we have not had to engage the services of an attorney many times in our lives--just for our wills, power of attorney, living wills, health care proxies, and most currently, our second-parent adoption for Grammy. In other words, just to protect the rights already afforded to heterosexual couples.

In the past, we've needed advice on real estate issue--our neighbors were getting a zoning variance for an oversized garage they decided to build within the zone-required setback, in an already undersized parcel.

If we had known that the local zoning board of appeals was going to be a bunch of pushovers, we might have consulted with a firm like Simmons Jannace & Stagg, a firm that specializes in real estate, zoning and land use law.

Maybe then we could keep our neighbors from building on our property!

Wii tonight?

It's been a while since I've played Wii so I feel obligated to keep up with my Wii Sports and even Cooking Mama. Then again, I'd have to hook it up to the television.

Maybe, I'll just sit my ass on the couch and watch tv.

Thank God.

I'm home! I walked in and Shawna had dinner ready for us. Of course, I had to stop by the Russian store to pick up some carrots, beets, and meat. I absolutely love AJ's Delights. They always have what I'm looking for!

Where in the heck am I listed?

My current website has a page rank of 2 and even though it's better than 1 ... I still feel worthless. Just joking!

The most important goal for most bloggers is to get a higher page rank and more visitors so that they can make some serious money blogging.

Unfortunately, since this page is so new and I haven't been able to build the traffic like some of my more established blogs.

Search Engine Ranking is quite the discouraging thing for the little guy who ends up coming in on google page 57 when someone tries to look up their website!

One company that specializes in marketing and placement on search engines is CustomerMagnetism. They work with the big web search engines to get your listing on top! Not only will this drive up traffic for you and possibly sales --- but this will help with your google page rank!

Leads, leads, and more leads.

Our business is constantly getting new clients. We don't do marketing and we just have a small regular business listing in the yellow and white pages.

Most of our business is repeat business and we also get new clients every once in a while.

I've tried to focus more of our marketing efforts on branding and creating a professional image through marketing materials. However, I think it's equally important to continue marketing to our existing clients as a whole.

At some point it would make sense to purchase a program where we could enter contact information, send press releases and information, and keep track of our clients needs via a database. Not only would this be ideal for the whole office to use ... but it would really help with customer satisfaction and making sure that we delivery everything we promise and go beyond!

A sales lead management tool would be the perfect solution for us. AIMPromote seems to offer a really good product that helps with lead management while letting you integrate services with online and paper. It can also monitor traffic on your website and allows you to see the demographic and where your traffic is coming from.

The great thing about AIMPromote is that it offers some of the same features as other programs and MORE! Plus, they are offering a 14 day trial period so that you can see if you like it before purchasing.

Check it out!

This post sponsored by: http://www.aimpromote.com/features

Sunny out and I'm stuck indoors.

It's absolutely beautiful out and I'm stuck behind a desk in a muggy office! I wish I could walk out, pick Grammy up early and take her to the park.

Just a few more hours, right?

One hot Russian.

Margot and I met online over ten years ago! It was quite the experience and one that I think was perfect for both of us.

When I met Margot her dad was dating a Russian lady that he had met in New York City. She was actually one of his patients and he had done plastic surgery on her. She was an exotic dancer!

Ten years later, Dr. Chiuten and Gala are happily in a relationship!

Russian Women make very devoted spouses and the relationship really works for a lot of people. LoversPlanet offers a great website that has profiles of women located in Russia. Many of the women are bright, educated, and beautiful!

Through LoversPlanet you can actually check out the women's profiles, see their pictures, and write them messages!

If you're looking for that special someone and haven't met them yet...check out the internet!

Meds.

I called my friend Amy today and her partner just finished going through infertility treatments unsucessfully and they are giving up. She's offered her meds to us and so we're going to pick them up this evening.

Maybe it'll be enough to at least get us through one round of IUI.

Here's hoping right?

Blue sky.

The sky is so blue out and most of the snow has melted, however, it's still absolutely freezing outside.

We were going to stop at the playground on the way back from the Fertility Center but when I stopped to pull over for gas Grammy was complaining that it was cold and to shut the door --- so I figured she'd probaby not make it out of the car!

Open up wide, Charles Brown!

I've always made it priority to get my teeth cleaned and checked every 6 months. I have a pretty good dentist and really nice dental hygenist.

However, if I lived in Alexandria I wouldn't have access to Dr. Gardner and Chris and I'd probably have to switch over to another fine doctor.

I've heard great things about Hayfield Dental Care. Most recently Margot's brother talked about his experience with Charles Brown DDS PC.

Dr. Brown has preformed thousands of procedures including crowns, root canals, and surgical procedures. So I'm sure he could probably handle my simple cleaning and x-ray every 6 months!

Something that's very important to me and speaks volumes of Dr. Brown as a dentist is that he has ZERO complaints with the Virginia Board of Dentistry. That's absolutely amazing!

Charles Brown has received numerous awards locally and even as a Resident.

Another great thing about Hayfield Dental Care is that they are accepting new patients and also open to emergency situations.

Give them a call and remember that you only have one set of adult teeth - so take care of them!

Laundry.

No matter how much laundry I do --- we always have a basement full of dirty clothes. Yesterday, I managed to conquer about 5 loads of laundry and only had one more. Then I was a slacker for a few days.

I look downstairs and you can barely walk there's so many clothes down there.

We need to think about getting a maid.

NO POO POO ON FLOOR.

Today Graem had to poop and so she brought me a diaper. All of a sudden she starts screaming "NO POO POO ON FLOOR."

Poor kid.

She gets so worked up when she has to pee and poop and it's so sad if she has an accident because she starts screaming.

Take me away!

We just booked our trip to Cancun but I wish I would have checked this out!

This has already been one hell of a year. We've lost a baby and now Margot's dad's been diagnosed with cancer.

We really need a vacation. I'd love an all inclusive resort offered through Vacation Resort International.

It feels like over the past few months we've been focused so much on getting pregnant and having a baby that we've forgot about being kind to ourselves and just taking a needed break and getting away!

I'd love to go somewhere sunny that has cold drinks and a warm beach and of course daycare for Grammy!

When we went to the Caribbean it was so much fun and we loved the hotel, food, fun, beach, and all the fun water stuff available.

Vacation Resort International offers some great all-inclusive vacations at savings of up to 50% off!

Baby Down.

Graem is finally sleeping. She got so tired this afternoon and she also has to poop. She has one diaper with runny skids and she's been complaining of her tummy hurting all today.

Poor kid.

Dinner tonight.

Well, it looks like Shawna's going to take my offer up afterall and we're going to check out some Thai food tonight. I didn't realize it but they need the laptop at work and so she has to bring that up to me anyway.

I hope things work their way out. It just seems so bleak right now.

We might be getting married...

due to the fact that's the only way that Shawna can get on my insurance! We were involved in the Ithaca 50 marriage case that went to the NYS Supreme Court but they ended up backing down and agreeing with the other courts to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry.

Now we're talking about going to Canada and getting hitched! Unlike our friends who had nice ceremonies here in Ithaca we'd probably just do the paperwork in Canada and maybe over the summer do a nice little get together.

Of course, no wedding is complete without wedding cameras! We went to a wedding a few years ago and they had cameras on the tables so we could all take pictures. With the whole idea that there'd be some great pictures of the guests from all different points of view.

What a great idea - and one I think we'd like to do at our ceremony or wedding!

We need this!

We have been talking about starting our garden in the basement for the past few months -- but we have yet to start up the seeds! More than likely, we'll do what we did last year and buy the seeds already started.

The one pain in the butt is actually watering our garden. Our water hose is a pain in the next and the garden is 1/2 way across the property. Which means that when we're done watering we have to roll up the hose.

Our hose reel is a nightmare and constantly gets stuck or knots up the hose! Take a look at these hose reels!!! You don't have to crank them up and you can have them rolled up within minutes - and without spraining your wrist!

This post sponsored by: http://www.no-crank.com

Work.

I just want to be home with Shawna and Graem. Work is extremely overwhelming lately and I know I should put in the hours. It seems like I constantly have a pull from both home and work and I don't always choose the best thing.

Why does this all have to be so difficult?

Maybe vacation will help ease my mind and help me reconnect with the fun in life.

Brr...it's still cold!

I keep thinking that spring is just around the corner. I look outside and our crocuses are starting to come up and so our the tulips.

But I look at the temperature and it's still 40-50 degrees outside!

We've still had the heater pumped up. Last year we learned our lessons about the heating bill and purchased space heaters for a few of the rooms in our house.

This year we've noticed quite the different with our gas bill! It's almost half of what it was last year. We figure it's due to us being able to only heat the rooms we are in!

I wish we would have known about Desatech when we were looking for our space heaters because we spent an arm and a leg on them at the local stores. Desatech specializes in heating appliances and accessories - not to mention they have a an inventory blowout on many of their heaters!

This post sponsored by: http://products.desatech.com

Got the hook up.

So not only did we get a kick ass computer tonight from Dell at a killer price. But I must say I'm extremely happy that I got some great PPP opps!

Of course, I still have to go into work tomorrow and wake up early.

Damn.

We love our cars!

We constantly rave about our great cars. Knock on wood we haven't had any issues! Our Honda CRV just got a tune up and a big work up at the mechanics. We figure it's much cheaper to put a few hundred dollars into the car than to have to pay for another car payment monthly.

Then there's the Toyota Matrix. The Matrix is a fun car and it's like driving a sports car but has all of the functions of an SUV.

I'm guessing that the next car we buy is going to be a minivan! We've looked at Toyota Sierra minivans and we'll probably have to go used since they're way out of our price range.

Used Car Classifeds offers a great website where you can view used car and van listings. The search engine is easy to use and you can find the perfect car for your family and personal situation!

This post sponsored by: http://classifieds.carforums.net

So damn tired.

Okay, so I'm so tired I can barely move. Not that I'm complaining - this weekend we had a great time in New York and actually got out of the apartment and did something!

I think I'll save my bitching for tomorrow morning at 5:30am when my alarm clock goes off.

Need a little help?

Many years ago when we just entered the work force and became financial "adults" we had the hardest time making ends meet. We were constantly living paycheck to paycheck and many times we'd bounce checks or miss deadlines for our bills.

We figured just if we were able to get our paychecks a few days early! Now there is!

Many people tend to use a payday loan. The whole idea is that it's a short term loan with a high interest rate. As soon as you get the money to pay the loan - you pay it back.

It's a perfect solution when you just need to buy a few days! Plus, you really have to weigh the financial costs of late fees, bounced checks, shut off electricity/phone, verses a finance charge!

PayDayLoanLowDown.com offers a great website that educates people about payday loans. They also offer other financial information to help people with debt relief and every day financial tips!

This post sponsored by: http://www.paydayloanlowdown.com/

Glad to be back home.

Although, we had a great time in New York visiting my brother I'm so glad to be back home. I'm also reassured that I'm glad not to be with a man.

These guys are just dirty! I can't imagine living with one again in filth. This morning they ran out of toilet paper and we had to resort to using napkins, and papertowels.

Den said that always happens and at one point they started using a pocket dictionary.

Good thing it didn't get that bad and we left before they had to start using books for wiping.

Why can't I be rich?

I grew up with two parents as doctors. Despite, their long hours and advanced degrees -- we really didn't live a luxurious lifestyle. My parents really never saved for the future.

Most recently my father purchased a house for over a million dollars and is putting a million dollars of investments into the house. He's worked hard all of his life and I'm glad he's able to do something with the money that he enjoys.

Of course, this all comes at a very unstable time in his life where he's been diagnosed with cancer.

I wish I could help him out financially - but the reality is - we have a very small savings and more than likely it wouldn't even pay for a months mortgage of a 2 million dollar house.

I've been looking into many different ways of gaining money. I've ruled out killing and murder and instead I'm looking towards millionaires giving advise.

Years ago I read "The Secret". It was referred to me by a friend who was in love with it. I thought it was pretty good - however, I wanted something more from it!

Some of the biggest fans of the book are Oprah Winfrey and Larry King. They constantly refer to it in their speakings.

They've now devised "The Secret Science of Getting Rich" Seminars! They cost $1,995 and are suppose to give you so much information that you can go out and start your own wealth instantly!

This might be the answer I've been looking for! God knows, in a few years --- I'd love to be able to help my family and maybe even retire early!

Leaving for NYC tomorrow...

and we have absolutely nothing done. Shawna's in charge of all of it and I hope she can pull it together! It looks like she might actually be spending a longer time in NY than me.

She's going to hang out and wait for ovulation and then do the home insemination using my brother's sperm.

Of course, I have to get back to work by Monday so more than likely I'll just take the bus back to Ithaca.

A Mother's Day Gift already?

Well, I wanted to get Margot something because she's been putting some mad hours in and I've been searching all over for the perfect gift.

Today I walked into the video game store and spotted it -- Cooking Mama! It's a game for the Nintendo Wii and it looks awesome!

Of course, I wouldn't dare open it up and start playing it before she got home.

Or would I?

Sleepy Baby. Sleepy Family.

This house is so sleep deprived it's not even funny. Mama is sleepy because she woke up so damn early this morning. We had to woke up Grammy this morning at 6:45am to be out of the house by 7:30 for a 9:00 appointment in Syracuse.

Now - naptime.

Things to do before getting pregnant...

Take prenatal - check!

Get annual exam - check!

Discover Maternity Health Insurance - CHECK!

Lately, with us feuding with the insurance company to get Shawna's infertility coverage we have talked about cutting off the insurance all together. It seems like it hardly ever covers anything and with copays as high as $50 for meds -- what's the point?

MaternitySavings is the perfect solution for expecting parents who do not have insurance coverage, do not have maternity coverage, or are private pay insurers. The whole idea is that you pay into a system and your doctor's visits, labs, hospital stay, and tons of other services are available under the plan.

Why give the big insurance companies your money for them to dictate your care and what they will/won't cover. Support an organization that only wants the best for you and your unborn child.

There's absolutely nothing to lose! If you are not satisfied with the program they over 100% customer satisfaction - they will pay you the difference between what you would have spent and what you did. They will also give you $200 and allow you to keep the membership for 12 more months for free!

This post sponsored by: http://www.maternitysavings.com

Moving internationally?

We've always considered moving cross country to California. In fact, a few years ago we actually went there, found housing, worked on a housing resume and considered moving! Not to mention - we got jobs!

In hindsight, I guess it's not that big of a move.

Our friends Alex and Dominic moved from the United Kingdom to California. I'm not sure if they hired international movers or if they did it by themselves. It makes sense to go with the pros!

Not to mention, they will make sure that your items are secure, get through customs, and are handled in a respectful way.

That's more than I can say for our friends who helped us move last time!

Tom and Jerry!

Oh boy...it's a night of Tom and Jerry! Graem loves these old cartoons and I must say that it actually makes me happy that she appreciates the oldies. That's not to say that she doesn't love "The Backyardigans" too!

Financial smarts.

A few years ago we looked into mortgage refinancing. It just made sense! We were actually able to shave off fifteen years of our mortgage, get a better rate for just a few hundred dollars more a month!

California Mortgages and Florida Mortgages are hot right now! The real estate market is tight and there are special incentives and interest rates available now.

Check out PersonalHomeMortgages.com for more information and education on home financing and refinancing! Make sure you know what's out there. By doing our home work we'll own our house 15 years sooner!

This post sponsored by: http://www.personalhomeloanmortgages.com

Home again!

Work is getting better. I feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel. We actually hired two people today and I think that's going to help us so much. Hopefully, it'll take some of the workload off of me and distribute it a little more!

HOT! HOT! HOT!

That's what real estate in our area is! Our friend Mary Stoe is a relator and always trying to talk us into buying a new house so that she can sell our current house!

I wonder if she uses Real Estate Management Software. Siterra offers the perfect solution for online web integrated management of all of your real estate properties.

You can actually plan, manage, build, and watch your assets grow with this amazing software.

If you have retail stores, cell towers, oil rigs, or outdoor displays this is the deal for you!

This post sponsored by: Siterra.com

Work.

Work as usual is killing me. It looks like I might have to work late tomorrow. The good thing is that I'll easily be able to get in 40 hours this week - even if we do leave early Friday for NYC.

Only 6 more weeks til vacation?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Of course I say that now because I don't have to go to work or school tomorrow and I love being stuck in the house!

What would make that whole idea so much better would be if we had a fireplace! Growing up we always had fireplace with gas logs. It was safer, cleaner, and my parents couldn't set the house on fire! (Except that one time...)

When we were looking at houses many of them had fireplaces and that was the one thing I absolutely loved. We ended up choosing a house that doesn't have a fireplace and figured that when we remodeled that we could easily install one.

Desatech makes that easier than ever! Not only do they offer a great website online with tons of products for your fireplace and heating situations. They also have an inventory blow-out that could save you big bucks!

You can even go on their website and design your whole fireplace. From mantle to logs -- it's that easy!

This post sponsored by: http://products.desatech.com

I love me some gold!

One thing that never loses it’s value is us gold coins! Even when our stocks are floundering you can always look to silver, gold, and precious metals to maintain their value.

Monex Deposit Company offers silver, gold, and other precious metals for delivery or they will make arrangements to have your metals stored privately and securely at a bank or depository.

I didn’t realize this but Monex Deposit Company (MDC) is an industry leader. They sell gold in two forms: coin or ingot. The world demand now exceeds the supply demand for gold - which makes it a pretty smart investment

So Pissed.

Lately, I've felt so pissed over everything that's going on. I'm pissed over work and also the fact that we're dealing with the whole infertilty thing again.

Why us?

I know every couple has their struggles...but why do we have to deal with this one yet again?

Can't we just get a damn break?

Work.

Well, it's Monday and I'm back to work. To say the least there's still way too much for one person to do. I woke up this morning at 1:00am and couldnt' go back to bed. I almost contemplated going in to work ... but figure that's a little on the insane side.

I guess I'll just try to play catch up through the week.

Why do I feel guilty when I take a weekend off with my family?

Go with the best.

When I set up my website for my business I had no idea what in the world I was doing. Margot got it hooked up on the search engines. But I'm not even sure that it actually comes up!

I ended up not getting any business from it - due to the fact that it wasn't getting exposure for the right words.

San Diego SEO helps with web exposure. They can market your website like no other business can and find those hot links that will get you tons of exposure to your online website.

A little money towards your business could go a long way. If you're going to invest in a website and getting it up and running...make sure that people can find it!

Hire a good SEO company to market your product effectively.

Find that special man or woman - OR BOTH!

Margot's brother, Dennis, has turned into quite the mack-daddy. (That was the old school term we used when I was a kid, not sure what the equivalent is these days!)

He had two dates with one girl last week and mentioned that he might have another date with one of his co-workers in the upcoming week.

The hard thing for him of course is that he's spending way too much money on these girls! For the first two dates he dropped close to $200.

One thing that I have mentioned to him is that he should try online dating. That way he can talk to a girl online for a little while decides if he likes her and doesn't have to spend a dime.

If he does like her he can then take her out and wine and dine her.

It's kind of like doing a phone interview - then if the company likes you they call you in for a face to face!

JustSayHi offers a free online dating service. The great thing about it is that you can sit back and talk to someone while wearing your pajamas and if they are crazy just don't reply to their messages!

They never had this stuff...

when I was a kid! These days kids have absolutely everything! I can't imagine being a middle school kid or high schooler with a cell phone! The other day when Shawna subbed she taught 7th graders and she said that they all had their own cell phones.

Who would have guessed?

We have cell phones and most of the time we end up using them for work so that they can get a hold of us. So I guess the fun that teenagers find with cell phones is no longer there for adults with responsibilities!

One thing I'm sure that the kids are into is Avatars for their cell phones! You can get these through UDOO and Wirefly. Now you can devise your own characters and have them animated to say funny phrases and do funny things!

You can have them respond when your phone rings and you can even use them to send text messages or emails to friends or family! It's easy and fun to do and something that I'm sure the young kids will love! (Okay, so adults might love it too!)

It really is funny and of course just another thing that I'm sure Graem will want in a few years time!

This post sponsored by: UDOO and Wirefly

Maple festival.

We were going to go to the Maple festival today but Shawna's been a thug and doesn't feel like leaving the house. It looks like we're probably going to go tomorrow though. They have a magician and a petting zoo. They also have snacks and other activities for the kids.

I figured it would be great for Grammy to see how Maple Syrup is made and they actually tap some of the trees at the Cayuga Nature Center to let the kids see the process.

Snow.

Right when we thought we were getting rid of all of our snow we're hit once again! Last night we were warned of a snowstorm and this morning we woke up to about 8 inches or so.

Shawna went out this morning and snowblowed but it just keeps coming down.

I thought spring was just around the corner??

Naptime.

I love weekends. Today it's snowy out and we aren't leaving the house. We haven't done much except eat, Grammy painted, and watched a little television.

Thank God, it's 2:30pm and time for the afternoon nap!

Check this out.

In a time in age when stocks are shaky it's good to do a little research every once in a while and go with a new company that's on it's way up.

That's what the writers at the Washington Times seem to think about InPhonics!

InPhonics brings you online sites like Wirefly.com. Wirefly has become the leader in selling cell phones, cellular plans, and cell phone accessories. They advertise all over the web from big websites and they even pay bloggers to write about their services.

They not only offer a website but they are offered through eBay too.

This has grown to be a very popular way to do business for so many people. For busy people it's so much easier to check online for a service or product than it is to go to a store and then wait in line. Not to mention, they might not have what you want a store and you might have to shop somewhere else anyway!

InPhonics looks like a promising stock these days in a time of turmoil. You never know what the stock market is going to do. One thing is for sure -- technology is here to stay. So is Wirefly.com and InPhonics!

This post sponsored by: InPhonics

Don't waste your time!

Lately we've been pretty obsessed with YouTube but find that we're constantly spending time watching bad and broken videos!

Now there's a new website out there that picks out all of the cool videos and puts them in one place for your viewing pleasure!

Check out CoolVideoClips.com today!



This is just what I needed after a pretty lousy day!

I-Cream?

The other night we went to the store and purchased 2 big things of ice cream. We've made sure to consume a little each night in order to keep our sugar intake consistent.

Of course, last night we had key lime pie, brownies, and then ice cream. But we considered it was alright since our friend Jen C. was visiting. Plus, we were celebrating it being Thursday!

Need a loan?

Are you a small business owner and looking for a short term loan?

When Shawna started her business we debated taking out a small loan. You'd be amazed at how much money is involved in starting a new business! Luckily, we were able to use some money that we had saved up.

Business loans are perfect for many merchants and vendors that need a jump start. ARF offers short term loans for small to medium size merchants.

Most banks locally won't take the risks on small businesses -- that's why you have to go through a bank that specializes in small business loans.

Another great thing about business loans is that you can write off all of the interest you pay on taxes!

Check out ARF online. They have a really informative website and will contact you if you are interested.

This post sponsored by: http://www.advancerestaurantfinance.com/

We're getting sleep!

It seems like lately we've all been going to bed at a decent hour and we've been getting some good sleep in. I'm not sure if it's because we've all gotten to the point of being so sleep deprived or if it's that Shawna has been going to bed before me.

The great thing is...I haven't been cursed at by her for 2 straight days due to my snoring.

That must be a record!

I have a dumb phone.

I have had my cell phone for four years and in cell phone years -- it's a dinosaur! The good thing is next year our contract expires with Verizon and I plan on getting a new phone.

I'm not sure if we'll be able to afford the I-Phone. But a girl can always dream!

They have some great smartphones at Wirefly these days and the prices are really reasonable. I looked at the plans offer the other day on Wirefly and I like the fact that you can see all of the providers and plans on a grid. It's easy to be able to find the plan that will work with your cell phone needs.

I actually like the Blackjack from Samsung. But I'm holding out for the Apple!

This post sponsored by: Wirefly.com

Chaotic.

That's how I feel right now. As I'm sure you've read...Shawna's insurance has denied her infertility treatment and we're looking for one of the forms that they sent us stating that if we had three more IUIs that the procedures would be covered.

Well, we can't seem to locate it *anywhere*. We've looked at old files and in all of our closets, cars, basement.

Nothing.

I thought you knew where we were going!

This is the common theme when I'm driving with Shawna! She constantly gets lost and then blames me for not knowing where we're going. Of course, along with her I've never been to the destination either!

Typically, we have a domestic every time we go to New York City to visit my brother and my dad. There's constant road work that's being done and you have to go a different way every time because of the construction. On our last trip, Shawna made me write the directions on the map itself - as to avoid confusion for future trips. Smart idea, I guess...but I'll never tell her that!

When looking for maps for business and pleasure take a look at LocationMaps.com.

The website is just starting up and so far I think it looks really great. It's a pretty simple layout that I think really works for the product and service being offered.

I like the fact that it has a green background because I think that color lends itself to the idea of maps! The pictures and clipart really work well and you can tell that the website was designed by professionals tht know what their doing.

I didn't get any error messages and all of the links seemed to be working too. One thing that I can appreciate is that I didn't see any spelling errors.

Also, I like the scroll at the bottom that lists the clients that this company has worked with. Sometimes, scrolls can appear to be obnoxious if they move too fast -- but this one works perfect. Plus, it seems to be viewable with all different types of browsers.

One thing I would change would be to put the contact information on the front page. Plus, you might want to put a seal or something on the front page noting "Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed". I think it's nice for online purchasers to see that --- it builds online confidence!

The free online mapping service is really cool and something that we might even use in the future! Who knows I might even hop on there for the next trip to New York City to get information and a nice, clear map!!

This post sponsored by: LocationMaps.com

Dinner.

Well, our friend Jen C. called at the last minute (as usual) and cancelled coming over tonight for dinner. It's probably for the best because I know Shawna is pissed off and probably doesn't want to be around anyone.

Now we just have to figure out what to make for dinner.

Maybe, we can just go out.

Get educated !

I've heard of people involved in currency trading but never really knew what was involved. Now there's a website that offers some great insighte into the world of currency trading!

Sign-up is free and they even offer a beginner's tutorial. Forex currency trading website is informative - plus it offers TONS of information for the average joe!

This post sponsored by: http://www.fxinfo.com

A good day turned horrible.

Shawna's extremely upset, and rightfully so. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass has one again denied her infertility benefits stating that she didn't meet the minimum requirements.

After doing these three injectible IUIs - spending $45,000 of infertility and bending over backwards.

What more could be done?

How wired are you?

We have cell phones, wireless computers, and a PDA and still I feel like I'm disconnected!

Now KONKAN TV is introducting video sharing for cell phones. This would be a great way to transfer information and at times even do presentations with clients instead of driving 4 hours each way!

Keep an eye on the South Asian (INDIAN) Video Distribution Website. They have currently teamed up with over 85 cell phone providers to offer the video sharing service and are making great leaps to create widespread growth.

Who knows...a few years from now I might not even have to go into work!

This post sponsored by: http://konkan.tv

Tonight's festivities.

We think that one of our friends, Jen C., is going to join us for dinner tonight. Of course, we don't know what time she's coming or what we're even having for dinner!

She's our one friend who does not own a cell phone. Communications are almost impossible because she also doesn't have a landline! She's a graduate student who lives in a house with other people and it seems that the three of them share a landline.

I would be lost without my phone.

Movin' on up!

We are constantly looking for good deals on savings accounts. Right now we have accounts with Emigrant Direct, ING, and our local credit union. The best rate we have is 5.05% and that's with Emigrant.

It's hard to figure out where the best interest rate can be found because the numbers are constantly changing! But in the long run it pays to move your money around and have it work for you!

Now you can Compare online banking, find a savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com

The website is really good and I've bookmarked it under my "banking favorites". I like that it has the institutions outlined on the front page with the terms of the accounts.

This post sponsored by: http://savingsaccounts.com

Snoring.

Last night was absolute hell. Shawna kept yelling at me for snoring and I feel like right when I'd go to sleep I'd wake up again! I've had a hard time getting ahold of someone at the sleep lab to schedule my observation --- but I figure at this point I've got to make it priority.

Graem is the only one getting sleep at night!

Let's get it on!

Many people use the internet as a way to pick up dates. Of course, I've never done that before. *wink*wink*

There are tons of online dating services that charge a lot of money per month to use. However, I just came across one that allows members full access and it's absolutely FREE!

That's right!! JustSayHi never asks for a credit card number and you can look at all of the profiles and even make your own! True.com is a great website but it costs a fortune! You could be spending that money on your date!

If you're looking for some action --- look no further. Check out JustSayHi!

This post sponsored by: JustSayHi

I love to make money!

Most of you know that I've become a money making machine lately. I love blogging for cash and every little bit counts. Especially, since the money that I've been making is now going to our Cancun vacation fund!

One site that I stumbled across that is going to help me bring in the big bucks is DoshDosh.com. It's pretty easy to make money online but you really have to know where to look and sometimes getting started isn't the easiest thing.

DoshDosh offers information on new and upcoming blogging sites and also gives information on how to not only make money but support your favorite organizations in the process.

I love a good, thought out, and helpful website! Even better -- one that helps me make more money!!!

This post sponsored by: DoshDosh.com

SUNNY!

It's 66 degrees out and I can't believe how warm it is outside! I think when I get home I'm going to take Grammy to the park and play outside.

There seems to only be about 2 inches of snow on the ground and I'm surprised that it didn't melt today.

Maybe tomorrow.

Rehab.

Unfortunately, I have had to deal with addiction in my life. A loved one of mine has been in rehab numerous times and it's been very draining emotionally and physically.

The first time that this happened I didn't know how to respond and the best thing I knew to do when I got the call was to ignore what was going on. I was just starting as a business professional and not only did I financially not have the money to support someone going into rehab but mentally I felt that I just couldn't do it.

My loved one was discharged after being in the program for a few months and was fine for a while. He was drug tested every week and remained clean.

Or so we thought.

Then we went to visit when Graem was just a few months old and realized that something was not right. Not only was he not acting like himself but he was acting different, defensive, and manic. When we questioned him he denied using.

At that point we had an intervention and was guided by a social worker on how to make him admit to his addiction and seek help. Without this social worker we wouldn't have known how to go about finding a drug rehab so that he could get clean.

After we approached him with the social worker he still denied useage and the social worker insisted that he get tested at the rehab in Pennsylvania. (Where he had been before.) That night, we drove from Albany, to NYC, to Scranton to admit my loved one.

It was really so much to take in ... not only was I trying to find the best thing for him...but mentally I was also trying to take care of my family too. Toting a 6 month old baby around New York state is not very easy!

I wish when we were looking we could have ran into 4rehabilitation.com. They offer some great information on addiction, seeking help, and also offer referral services for rehab centers around the United States.

Had I known then what I know now...I would have been better able to deal with his addiction and support him and myself better.

This post sponsored by: http://www.4rehabilitation.com

WOO WOO Cancun!

I'm so excited to be getting away! We haven't really had a vacation since Graem was 6 months old and we went to Provincetown with Alex and Dominic. Last year we went to Las Vegas but we were so wrapped up in getting pregnant - I'd hardly consider that a vacation.

We're staying at a 4 star hotel and it's all inclusive. Shawna worked all morning on getting flights, deals, and a rental car.

So the big dates are 5/11-5/17.

I can't wait.

Get your groove thing on!

I'm a huge fan of online dating. It could be since I had an amazing experience and met the love of my life - I'm a believer!

Millions of people are looking for love and have tried many of the online dating websites out there. They feel cheated because they haven't met the right person and they've spent a lot of money in monthly fees.

Just to end up lonely and broke!

That's why I suggest looking into getting a sugar daddy! No, really. The whole idea behind sugar daddy mentality is that an attractive woman takes care of a man and in return the man not only takes care of the woman financially -- but also loves and pampers her. The way that a woman should be taken care of.

One thing that I can appreciate is that there aren't any mind games or jealousy. All of your cards are laid on the table and it really is a win win situation.

There's a new website out there - that is a perfect way to meet your sugar daddy - In.SugarDaddyForMe.com .

The website is very easy to use and I appreciate the fact that it is gay/lesbian friendly! It provides searches for gay sugar daddies and sugar mamas!

Maybe, I'll forward this on to my single brother in law who is always looking for a free meal and a sugar mama!

This post sponsored by: http://in.sugardaddyforme.com

Looking for a diverse employer?

Being a female I'm constantly looking for a place that recognizes and celebrates diversity in the workplace. That's why I think it's important to go through an employment agency that caters to minorities and their needs.

Not only are employers seeking out diverse employees to add to their companies and organizations - but people are realizing that they deserve a fair and supportive work environment.

DiversityJobsNetwork specializes on placing professionals in comfortable settings where their skills will be utilized.

I already have this page bookmarked for when I start looking for a job again! The great thing is that employers pay all of the fees to post jobs on the boards and prospects can submit their resume and view postings for free.

I love a place and company that treasures diversity as much as I do.

Just what I need.

With summer just around the corner and us planning our vacation to Cancun, Mexico I think it's only right for me to order a new pair of reef flip flops. THey look so comfortable and I've wanted a nice pair for a while now.

Active-Sandals.com has a great selection of sandals at really affordable prices. I also like the fact that they offer free shipping on orders over $75 and satisfaction guaranteed!

This post sponsored by: Active-Sandals.com

Check it out, girls!

Finally, it seems that there has been a website created for women - by women! Inchicks.com launches it’s new website and already it is turning heads! It’s currently a beta site — but looks pretty darn good!

They make it easy to catch up on some of the big stories out there. I like the way the website is set up not only is it easy to follow but it gives you all of the important information without any advertising!! (God knows, we get enough website on our own personnal website!)

They also offer celebrity gossip, coupons and specials, family, funny stuff, healthy and fitness, movies and television, music, news and politics, odd and bizarre, opposite sex, shopping, and style and fashion.

That’s just about anything and everything a girl could want in an online site - shopping, movies, television and I love how all of the articles are rated - so I don't have to waste my time!!

Are you losing your hair?

We were just talking the other day how Shawna's biological son is going to be doomed when it comes to losing his hair. Her dad started having hair loss at the age of thirty and last time we saw him about 8 years ago he only had hair on the sides.

For Christmas this year maybe we'll send him some Procerin. He's tried everything on the market and it really hasn't seemed to work. He used to buy Rogaine and even had some prescription stuff years ago that cost an arm and a leg.

Procerin comes in a tablet form and a topical form that you apply to the balding areas. The one thing that I like is that it's all natural and a hair supplement. Compared to all of the chemicals and pharmaceutical products that he had been putting on his scalp...I'm sure this is much healthier.

The best thing about Procerin is that if it doesn't work they offer a 90 day money back guarantee.

You can't go wrong there!

This post sponsored by: http://www.procerin.com/

Dinner.

The past two nights we've had salad and steak with a nice Vietnamese dressing. The dressing is made of limes and chili sauce and a touch of fish sauce.

It's a nice and light dinner, despite the steak. Plus, we figure that all of the iron can't be too bad for us!

Even Grammy has started eating steak and spinach!

I love a good sauna!

At the new Island Health and Fitness club in Ithaca they have an amazing cedarsauna! I feel so nice and rested after a good sauna and whirlpool and I love the smell of the cedar. It gets so warm and feels so toasty!

CedarBarrelSaunas.com offers some top notch cedar saunas and hot tubs.

Just check out these great sauna and hot tub galleries. They make me want to hop right in!

Thank God our friends Laura and Lydia have a hot tub and they live close by!

Of course they don't realize how lucky they are to move into a house already furnished with a nice cedar hot tub!

NorthernLights Cedar Saunas has an easy to navigate website and you can either shop online or they offer a 1-800 number for all of your sauna and hot tubbing needs!

This post sponsored by: CedarBarrelSaunas.com

Mommy home!

It's so nice to be home again at a decent hour. Of course, it helps that by the time I get home at 5:00pm it's not pitch dark outside.

I think the Daylight savings time is really messing up Grammy's sleep. She was pretty restless last night and didn't actually go to bed til around 11pm.

This morning she didn't wake up til 9:30am and didn't nap til 3:00.

Hopefully, at some point she'll get back into the swing of things!

So hot.

Well, it's not actually hot here yet. But I have faith that springtime is just around the corner. Every year I try to get a new pair of sunglasses and either they end up breaking or I end up losing them!

This year I'm going to invest in a pair of polarized sunglasses. They are the *in* thing these days and the most important part is that they protect your eyes from terrible UV rays.

OpticsPlanet.net offers some great specs at really reasonable prices. I like the fact that it's a one-stop-shop. You can pick up sunglasses, binoculars, telescopes, radar guns, and flashlights!

Not only do they offer great prices but they also ship free!

The perfect spot to pick up your Mother's and Father's day gifts! (hint, hint).

This post sponsored by: OpticsPlanet.net

That silly girl.

Today Graem didn't wake up til 9:30am! Of course, during that time I didn't bother to get anything productive done! She's been helping me all day "clean up."

I've been working on getting some of our area rugs cleaned up and sorting through her toys and books.

She's outgrown a few of them or hardly plays with them so I was going to move them down to the basement.

Of course when she sees that I'm puttng stuff away she instantly goes for the bag and starts unloading it and putting it back on the shelf.

Maybe I should do this when she's at daycare!

Brrr...is spring here yet?

I think I see light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps in the next few weeks we might even see spring in upstate New York! Today it's sunny out and almost 40 degrees.

This is a perfect time to think about shopping for winter items for next year. We were just looking at getting Graem a new jacket, ski pants, and boots because they have tons of clearance items.

This time last year we also purchased our portable heater. All portable heaters were nearly 50% off because it was the end of the season and they wanted to make room for new shipments for next year.

Desatech has an inventory blowout and is offering great deals on portable heaters, gas logs, and other items to help on chilly days! They also offer free shipping!!!

This post sponsored by: Desatech.com

This is a well needed website.

Finally, there's a website out there that's just for the girls!! WomanSavers is a great website that offers just about everything!

The topics include: Entertainment, Message Boards, People, Shop, Read, Donate, Rate a Guy, and Video.

The website is lively and the whole idea is to rate men! It's a good way to get a "background check" on a guy that you might be interested in. The whole idea is to give other women then heads up if a guy is a major thug in hopes that another woman won't get hurt. This is so that other women like you can avoid being in a physically, mental, or otherwise bad situation with a man.

You can do a search on men using their first and last name. The more women that become involved with the website and submit information -- the better the website will become.

Boy, this could have saved me a lot of heartache when I was younger!

Down with the G.O.D?

I have a few single, Christian, friends who have a really hard time finding dates! My friend, Shannon, goes to church every Sunday and even works at the church.

She's all but given up on dating. She says it's because her church is so small and she doesn't want to become involved with someone who goes there because it will be the "gossip" of the week.

I'm going to suggest to her the new Christian Dating website that is designed for single Christians! She can search by location and even email or chat with the person before actually going on a date.

I think this will be perfect for her!

This post sponsored by: http://www.christianlifestyle.com

My little cowgirl!

Graem looked so cute today. She's wearing her acid washed jeans, and her "CowGirl" t-shirt. Of course, people see the shirt and think it says COGIRL because it's kinda written funny.

I guess that's what you get for buying clearance items from Gymboree?

She also had a matching hair clip...but she has since lost that somewhere in our travels.

Get your Greek on!

I went to a very Greek oriented school. Southwest Texas State University is known for it's Greek parties and their wild rush.

When I was a freshman in college I decided I wanted to rush to a business sorority - so I looked into Phi Chi Theta. It was a reputable sorority and my friend Holly was a member.

Every Thursday we had to wear out Phi Chi Theta t-shirts. Unfortunately, the only one I had was one from rush. I wish I could have picked one of the greek shirts from greekt-shirts.com!

You can pick out everything on the shirts from color, to lettering, even the stitch on the lettering!

There are tons of choices to choose from and the website is really easy to use.

If you want a good deal on greek t-shirts and a huge selection to choose from check out GreekT-Shirts!

This post sponsored by: http://www.greekt-shirts.com

I really ...

need to get some new clothes. It's been ages since I've actually gone to the store and purchased clothes for myself. Shawna typically picks things up for me here and there. I'm in desperate need for some nice work pants that are machine washable!

I like the ones at Banana Republic and Gap but I can't justify spending $55 - $85 for a single pair of pants! What happened to the good ole days when we could find clothing for $9.99 at the Gap?

Weekend?

I know that a weekend's right around the corner...but I'm not sure that helps me today! I have so much work and although, my deadlines have all been pushed back I can't decide if that's better or worse!

It just means that the stress is going to be lingering for longer!

Gee, THANKS!

Do you wear contacts?

Years ago I tried wearing contacts but it was just too much of a hassle and I used to forget to put them in! My prescription was for astigmatism and so they just made my vision clearer.

Just the other day I read that they had a ReNu Contact Lens Solution Recall. I believe this happened a couple of years ago too.

Here's a photo of the contact lens solution that has been affected in the recall:



If you wear contacts and use lens solution - make sure to check out the website!

If my vision ever gets worse I'll probably consider Lasik surgery. I think at this point they've pretty much perfected the surgery and it's outpatient so it doesn't sound like it's that invasive.

This post sponsored by: http://www.usaeyes.org

Home at last!!

Well, after being in a car and meetings all day I'm so glad to be home! Grammy is in good spirits, and Shawna's happy after having her massage!

I guess you could say it's the simple things in life that I appreciate the most?

Cause God knows it's not the "clean house"!

I want to camp!

When we went to EMS last night I told Shawna that I wanted to go camping this summer and take Graem. I think she'd love it!

When we went to Cape Cod a few years ago we camped out in tent and Shawna absolutely hated it! I'm not sure if she hated the outdoors part of it or the whole tent experience.

The only way that I'd be able to talk her into it again is to look into renting or buying a motorhome!

CampingEarth.com is a great, organized website that talks about camping with Class A Motorhomes. They offer a camping forum, camping tips, a blog, newsletter, and even recipes for when you're on the road!

The website allows you to become part of a very tight community who love their motorhomes!

Maybe if Shawna sees that camping doesn't have to be in a tent and she can still have access to amenities -- she'll go camping with us this summer!!

This post sponsored by: CampingEarth.com

No more snow?

Well, it's been a few days since it snowed out and I must say that if it weren't for the bitter cold days...it'd almost be summer!?!

I can't wait til the summer gets here and we can hang outside. It feels like it's been a 9 month winter already and we have some major cabin fever going on!

Who says global warming isn't real?!?!

My kind of website!

I stumbled across this awesome website that's just for parents and parents tp-be!

Just Parents - Pregnancy and Parenting advice is a website filled with tons of information. I like the layout because it's easy to follow and not cluttered like many new websites.

I also like the fact that it has a lot of different topics. For parents, like us, with a 2 year old daughter it has information about finding the perfect nursery school.

Another topic that pertains to us is an article on the site titled "Signs and Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy." Since, we are trying to conceive again and Shawna just had a miscarriage in December it's important to know the signs of an ectopic pregnancy because it can be very dangerous and tends to happen frequently with infertility treatments.

This is a website that I have bookmarked and hope to look at frequently!

This post sponsored by: http://www.justparents.co.uk

I'm so tired!

I'm on my way back from Buffalo and I can't wait to get home. I feel like I've been driving most of the day and then the meeting was pretty tedious. I don't know why in the world we can't just do video conferencing or phone conference for these meetings.

I can't wait to go home and be with Grammy and Shawna! 3 more hours on the road.

Give me back my damn chips!

My grandmother *loves* cards. She has a group of women friends that come over every week and they get down and dirty playing poker. What a better gift for her than her own personalized poker chips!

God knows, it can get pretty brutal when a bunch of 70 year olds fight over who's poker chips are who's!

The chips on E-PokerChips.com are very reasonable in price and I like the fact that you can customize your chips to have pictures, words, or anything you want!

I'd probably want the saying "Don't mess me my, Maw Maw" on my grandmothers chips.

This post sponsored by: http://www.e-pokerchips.com

Sleep.

This morning I woke up at 3:30 and I just couldn't go back to bed. I feel like I'm so overwhelmed with work that I can't even relax enough to get the needed sleep.

This morning I'll be leaving to have a 16 hour day and a road trip to Buffalo. At this point I can't even look forward to the weekends because I'm working.

I want my life back.

Genius.

Have you ever dated someone who was a jerk and wish you had known before? Or wish you could warn other women?

Well, now there's a way! WomanSavers is a website where woman can go and rate men. The whole idea is to build a network of women who can communicate about their experiences with men who have been jerks: verbally/physically abusive, cheating, or just not a nice person.

Of course, the one way for this whole idea to catch on is for women like you to become a member, add input, and check your dates on the website before you go out!

Plus, GET THE WORD OUT!! This could save many woman heartache and frustration in their personal lives.

We've got our Grammy back!

Today is one of the first days that it seems like Grammy is actually acting like herself. She's still pretty stuffy but she's funny and happy!

I think more than likely we're going to stay in today because the weather's so crappy.

Tomorrow is Margot's long day and more than likely Grammy won't get much time with her. I'm not going to sub tomorrow and more than likely just catch up on some around the house stuff.

Gotta love it!

This one's for the ladies!

Finally, there's a website out there that's just for the girls!! WomanSavers is a great website that offers just about everything!

The topics include: Entertainment, Message Boards, People, Shop, Read, Donate, Rate a Guy, and Video.

The website is lively and the whole idea is to rate men! It's a good way to get a "background check" on a guy that you might be interested in! The whole idea is to give other women then heads up if a guy is a major thug in hopes that another woman won't get hurt. You can do a search on men using their first and last name.

Boy, this could have saved me a lot of heartache when I was younger!

Burn, baby, burn!

It's absolutely freezing right now! Literally, it's 14 degrees outside and snowing pretty heavily.

Heating our house is extremely expensive and so we've resorted to using kerosene heaters. It's actually cheaper for us to pay for the kerosene and the cost of the heaters than it is for us to pay for natural gas.

The whole idea is that we only heat the areas we are in! When we use our centralized, forced air heat it heats the whole house. Very honestly, it doesn't do a very good job either!

Desatech offers a great variety of space heaters, kerosene heaters, and other accessories to help keep you and your family warm this winter!

This post sponsored by: Desatech.com

Let's get it on!

Many people use the internet as a way to pick up dates. Of course, I've never done that before. *wink*wink*

There are tons of online dating services that charge a lot of money per month to use. However, I just came across one that allows members full access and it's absolutely FREE!

That's right!! JustSayHi never asks for a credit card number and you can look at all of the profiles and even make your own!

If you're looking for some action --- look no further. Check out JustSayHi!

Mmm...Philly Cheese Steak!

My brother used to live in Philly and we used to visit every couple of months. When we were there we'd always have a great weekend and eat way too much at the awesome restaurants!

Most of the time we were always looking for a good delivery place. We should have looked to Philadelphia Flower Delivery! They deliver flowers, chocolates, teddies!, and gift baskets. That way we would have never had to leave the apartment and could have stayed in all weekend, played video games, and had our chocolates delivered!

This post sponsored by: DigitalFlowers.com

I almost forgot!

When we were in the hospital and after Grammy had her nebulizer treatments she felt great and they make her VERY hyper!

On the day of our departure from the hospital she put on her oxygen mask (without oxygen) and started driving in the play car that they had for the kids.

It was the funniest sight and we knew she was starting to feel better!

Baaah - ston!

We've been to Boston a few times and have really had a great time! Both times were pre-Grammy. We enjoyed great food and there were really some cool outdoor areas there.

Next time we go I really want to do it in style. I'd love to have a romantic weekend and order flowers from Boston Flower Shop.

It'd be so romantic to walk into a nice hotel room with a large bouquet of flowers and chocolates waiting for us.

Now, just to find a babysitter for the weekend!

This post sponsored by: DigitalFlowers.com

The day of rest.

Today we are just taking it easy, doing laundry, and resting. I only have 3 more loads before I'm completely caught up and our house is so messy!

Laura and Lydia are coming over this afternoon and we're going to watch the movie "Jesus Camp." We might do some chicken salad for lunch and Marg's been marinating ribs for dinner.

YUMMY!

Good times in Seattle!

Just the other day when we were at the hospital we saw a show on the television about a weekend in Seattle. The show highlighted all of the great food, fun, and hangouts in Seattle.

It looks like an amazing place to live and visit. Not to mention the seafood is fresh and savory!

It's always good to know at all times where your nearest floral shop is. I highly suggest the Seattle Flower Shop!

They specialize in flowers, gift baskets, teddies, balloons, and gifts for every occassion!

This post sponsored by: DigitalFlowers.com

She's feeling better!

Graem seems to be doing so much better. We watched a movie last night and she went to sleep around 9:00pm. We woke up in the middle of the night and gave her the nebulizer treatment.

She's doing really well with the nebulizer and you can tell a difference because she's not wheezy at all.

She seems happy today and overall in good spirits. When I'm giving the nebulizer treatment during the day I've learned to turn it on one of her favorite cartoons and she's really good!

I want to go to Italy!

Our friends Kim and Chris just got back from Italy. They said that everything was absolutely amazing! They took their two kids and they had a great time too. They did the sightseeing and also went to all of the best restaurants and cafes.

They said that there is some amazing property in Italy. In fact, they saw a few old vineyards that were the classic Italian style and said it was breathtaking.

I can't wait til Graem gets a little bit older and we can go on foreign vacations!

This post sponsored by: http://www.italianventure.co.uk/

Work again.

Well, I'm at work today trying to work on some upcoming deadlines. Only to have more deadlines right behind it! I was planning on doing a long 50 hour work week and that was before Graem got sick.

Now, of course, I just don't know how much I'm going to be able to squeeze into a day. I already feel tired, worn out, and I just want to be home with Shawna and Graem.

I need a break.

I love a good Rainbow!

And Rainbow Sandals are no exception!

I've never been one for flip flips but I really like the look of these sandals. They are dressy and I like the fact that they are not tacky and have wild colors. I would more than likely get the brown ones.

Active-Sandals offers some great sandals and many at 20% and more off the retail price! I like the pair of Keen Sandals that they have listed at almost 50% off.

Mother's Day is just around the corner!

This post sponsored by: Active-Sandals.com

Praise the Lord.

Well, we finally walked in the door. Shawna went to go fill the prescriptions for Grammy and get some groceries and I am responsible for feeding her.

We are all so tired after not sleeping very well at the hospital.

Not to mention, poor Grammy is still sick with pneumonia. I just want her to get back to normal and life to calm down a little bit!

To really love a woman?

Or our friends Alex and Dominic. They live in Los Angeles and we are always struggling with the perfect gift to buy them for Christmas!

Just today I stumbled across The Los Angeles Flower Shop. They deliver beautiful flowers, chocolates, teddies, balloons, and gift baskets.

What spectacular gifts for the queens that have everything!

This post sponsored by: DigitalFlowers.com

My brain has officially rotted.

Good thing that our friends Laura and Lydia will be stopping over at the hospital tonight to say "hello".

Our hospital room is 8x8 and smells like old people and stale farts. It reminds me of Shawna's old place of employment.

Will you marry me?

Are you looking for that special someone? Are all of the women you meet not worthy of your love?

Well, I've got the answer for you! You need a Russian Bride!!

LoversPlanet offers some beautiful Russian women just looking for love from American men. The women are devoted and looking for a serious and loving relationship.

You can check out Russia's top 100 women by going to LoversPlanet. These are the women chosen by viewers and are the most looked at profiles. The profiles provided offer full information and even Russian Brides Photos!

Check it out! You might be saying "I do" in time for a spring wedding!

This post sponsored by: http://www.loversplanet.com

In the hospital...

so I posted on our original board all of the details but right now Graem is sleeping and we are just trying to catch up on all of the missed sleep from last night. With them coming in every few hours to check and give treatments --- we are all exhausted and can't wait to get back home.

On a good note, not being home means that Shawna isn't tempted to do home pregnancy tests all weekend long!

Looking for lady love?

As most of you know, I'm a pretty big fan of online dating. That's where I met my "better half." We met through a chat group over ten years ago!

These days they have chat groups and online dating sites all over that focus on a special clientele of people. They have Millionaire Dating, Jewish Dating, and most recently Russian Brides!

http://www.loversplanet.com/ offers a great site that focuses on meeting beautiful and devoted Russian women for the purpose of making them your bride. You can view thousands of profiles and even email and talk on the phone with the beautiful women.

Different strokes for different folks, right?

This post sponsored by: http://www.loversplanet.com/