Make a Wish

Here is the new short story called Make a Wish. It's around 3,000 words so it's not as short as the other one. You can get it at Amazon for 99 cents by clicking here or if you don't want to pay it's on Smashwords, here.

Outside of our Window on the Cruise

Forgot Some Photos

Here's the photos of the hotel, leaving port, etc. I totally forgot these but there's only a few.


Cruise 2011 (hotel, birds, cruise ships)

Our Photos

Cruise 2011 (Bahamas & Key West)

You Wouldn’t Keep Your Pet in Substandard Conditions: Why Buy From Someone Who Would?

You Wouldn’t Keep Your Pet in Substandard Conditions: Why Buy From Someone Who Would?

Going to the mall can be a drag. Except, after a long day of shopping, that pet store with all the cute little puppies and kittens sounds like a nice place to stop in before heading home. The puppies are tiny and rambunctious, the kittens wide-eyed and curious, and they could be great spirit-lifters. Yet, how do you know these animals are well taken care of? Recent investigations have shown that pet stores, especially major corporate chains, often, even usually, get their stock of puppies and kittens from horrible places called “puppy mills” or “breeding farms.” It’s very important to understand, why, if you’re looking to add a bouncing new ball of energy to the family, puppy mills are the very worst sort to buy from, and how to avoid them.

Puppy mills started after WWII, when crops in the Midwest weren’t producing as well as they used to. The U.S. Department of Agriculture began encouraging failing farmers to start breeding pedigree puppies instead, and when this turned out to be a huge source of income, the craze caught on. Yet, mass production doesn’t work as well for animals as it does for, say, potato chips.

The problem with most puppy mills is that, like a farm or a factory, the biggest factor is the bottom line, and other factors, like the animals’ safety, well-being, health and happiness are often disregarded. Puppy mill puppies and breeding mothers aren’t loved, they aren’t taken to a veterinary technician, and they aren’t given adequate nutrition, living spaces or exercise. Puppy mill puppies generally live in miserable conditions, sometimes never seeing the light of day, sometimes infested with disease, and sometimes stuck in a tiny wire cage that cuts up their tender paws. And once a breeding mother is no longer reproductively viable, she is either killed or sold to an even lower-quality mill to try and squeeze one more litter out of her.

Though it’s not always easy to tell which puppies come from where, major pet stores often buy their puppies at a low cost from large-scale commercial breeders. In 2008, the Humane Society tracked 17,000 puppies bred in illegitimate conditions to 21 Petland stores across the country. Because it’s highly likely for puppy mills to be in cahoots with corporate pet stores and national chains, it’s best to avoid buying animals from them altogether.

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) defines a puppy mill as “a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs,” but unfortunately, there is no legal definition, making persecution of perpetrators especially difficult. There are also very few laws regulating breeding facilities; these are divided between the federal government and states and often riddled with loopholes. For example, it’s just as difficult to trace online puppy retailers to their breeding source as it is physical retail stores, because puppy websites often fall into a regulatory loophole, where they are classified as “retailers” by the federal government and “breeders” by states, leaving them regulated by no one.

The best option, in order to avoid supporting puppy mills altogether, is to adopt a rescue animal. There are currently about 3.7 million unwanted pets euthanized every year in the U.S., mostly because they could not find loving homes. Worries of behavioral problems or poor health of rescue animals might be easily quelled by the sobering fact that puppy mill puppies often experience these problems themselves because of inadequate living conditions and poor socialization. By adopting a rescue animal, you would be giving an ill cared for pet a loving home to thrive in, and simultaneously moving business away from large-scale puppy mills.

Also, some, usually smaller, local, pet stores make it a point to announce where they get their animals. One such business is Jack’s Pets, which claims 27 stores throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Though they were never suspected of being linked to puppy mills, they have just recently stopped selling animals, and instead offer in-house adoptions from nearby animal shelters. This sort of humane awareness on the part of pet stores is exactly the sort of thing to support when looking for a new pet to bring home.

However, if a particular breed of dog is something you are looking for, some breeding facilities are perfectly legitimate. Responsible breeders are ones that ensure both parents and litter are loved and cared for, raised with plenty of food, water and space to roam, and taken to the veterinary technician to administer the appropriate shots and vaccinations. Locating responsible breeders may seem daunting at first, but local kennel clubs, ads in newspapers, dog shows, human societies or even friends may be able to pave the way to finding legitimate breeding operations.

Whether opting to do the research necessary to find a responsible breeder, visiting a pet store with in-house adoption, or going down to the local animal shelter, anything is better than buying puppies from major pet stores, where it is more likely that you would be supporting a puppy mill operation. The reason why puppy mills continue to operate is because they prey on unsuspecting consumers; just being aware that these practices are ongoing is the first step to lessening the power of puppy mills.

Author Bio:

Nancy Woo is a freelance writer covering various topics from art and music to health, media and technology.

Universal Life Insurance

It can be hard to think about needing life insurance but what would you do if one of your loved ones passed away or you left behind a ton of bills for your own loved ones?

That is what it is good to be able to find out about universal life insurance and what options are available for you. Maybe you think that you have something set up with your job and that's all well and good but many people don't think to change the situation if they change jobs or lose their current job. By having an outside party take care of your insurance needs then you either have more life insurance or can be sure that you have some at all.

You can click here and find out how to get life insurance quotes online for term life insurance and whole life insurance. By taking care of the future, you won't have to worry about the present.

Last Day and Ship Life

We sailed home on Wed and came back Thursday. During our time on the ship we saw some shows as usual. The variety show had the cutest dancer but don't they always have one very hot dancer? He was adorable! We saw a couple of comedians and that was fun. At the R Rated comedy show one of the comedians told Rich he looked like Ron Jeremy. Poor Rich! He doesn't but it was still funny.

The last day the waves were pretty high but not super high, just high for what I like. I never got sick since I had my patches but the first day I was a tad woozy. Once you get used to it it's fine. I took some video of the waves and will post it when I have time. And again, they weren't that huge but big enough that it was hard to walk on the boat at times but it's always like that in the Atlantic when we have gone.

The food was good as usual but it seemed like on other cruises there was more to do. Maybe they changed some stuff. They still had variety shows, comedy shows, game shows, etc just not as many it seemed. The private party for past cruisers was nice because you get free hors devours and drinks. I think I had like 6 drinks and I rarely drink anymore. Rich had a couple or so but made the joke that he was the designated driver. That was fun. I also finished the new Stephen King book on my Kindle. I could barely put it down!

We drove home today and it's sure nice to be here. I have a ton of stuff to get caught up on but it's nice to be back. Pictures to come when I have time. :)

Day Three - Key West

We have never been to Key West and Monday that is where we went. I would honestly move there if I could afford it. The homes are gorgeous but a fixer upper with no paint will cost you around $3 million. One reason they don't paint is because there is a tax loophole there where painting is the last thing you do so if you don't paint, you don't pay property taxes cause your house isn't finished.

We saw the Hemingway House with the six-toed cats, the southern most point in America, a Key West sunset and took a tour of the city. Duvall Street alone has 300 bars on it and that was neat. We had key lime pie and a key lime float and watched the sunset at the marina where there are street performers.

We learned that most of the trees are from other countries and how Key West was so rich because ships crashed at the rate of 2-3 per month back many years ago and once you salvaged it the stuff was yours so people would wait till one sank and go get all the stuff from it. We also learned that on this one street the houses are so close and must have tin roofs so if there is a fire it won't jump from house to house.

The people are very casual and in full party mode but not too friendly to be honest. However, that was not a big deal since we had such a good time there. It's actually cooler there than Miami due to the trade winds, which we had plenty off. It made the temperatures a pleasant 70 - 75 or so degrees. Oh and Key West seceded from the United States in 1982. Here's a link about that. It is also the only city in the USA that has never had frost. On a side note, Key West is closer to Cuba than to Miami.

I can't wait to go back there sometime and have more time to visit. We had quite a few hours but coming from a foreign port to the US, we had to go through Immigration before disembarking and that took a while. Then we had to take a shuttle from the port, through the military area and into the city.

Day Three- Nassau Bahamas

On Monday we sailed to Nassau. Again, we have been there numerous times but I absolutely love the Straw Market. The only deal I could not make was this one lady had Gucci shoes and wanted $70 and that was way too high. However, we got the usual Rolex watches, a couple of Breitlings and an awesome Louis Vitton hand bag I liked. Rich got some hand carved sharks that are gorgeous and again, we had to head back on board. We did have time to stop by the Starbucks there and have some much-missed coffee. I always forget how many different languages you hear while in another country and that is pretty cool.

Day Two - Freeport Bahamas

On Sunday we sailed to Freeport Bahamas. Now we have been there three times but this time we went to a different beach area than we normally go to and the water was breathtaking. I got in for a few minutes and after I was out Rich spotted a big sting ray swimming by. He took pictures but they are hard to make out. The other pictures are beautiful though. I love Freeport's beaches but you have to take a long cab ride into town. So $20 poorer and 20 minutes later we got to the main area of Freeport. The beach was a long walk but totally worth it and the weather was gorgeous. We were there a few hours then had to board to set sail to Nassau Bahamas. Pictures coming soon when we have time to get caught up.

Trip - Day one, etc.

We finally made it back off of our trip. The day we drove down was a pain because I hate that long drive but we made it. I think we left around 1 or 2 and got there about 10 pm. That's with stopping here and there too.

Our hotel was beautiful. They had upgraded us to a King suite so we had a jacuzzi, separate living room and dining room and all for the same price. We were able to park there and take a shuttle to the port. The Orlando port is my favorite (other than the drive) but this time we were at a temporary port area since they are building a new one.

We got on the ship and was supposed to sail out at 4 PM but there was a lot of port traffic so I think we didn't leave till around 6 PM or later. After we got our luggage we had one bag missing and come to find out it was confiscated by security. It turns out that we had brought bottled water, which is fine. They had tagged it to make sure it wasn't liquor. LOL I was annoyed though cause they go through your bag then you have to pack it back and take it to your room. Let's just say that security was a little over zealous this time.

Border Wars

Authored by Oswaldo Blackburn

My husband and I are totally into our new direct TV service. We can’t get enough of this show we started watching, Border Wars. The show is mainly about crime on the U.S.-Mexico border. We live in San Antonio, so we aren’t right on the border, but we’re pretty close. It’s amazing to see that only a few hours away there are people risking their lives to cross the border illegally. Sometimes when they catch people, they tell their stories, and some of them are really interesting. The show doesn’t focus on that though, it mostly shows drugs being trafficked across the border. On one episode we saw the El PasoPolice department seize a whole eighteen-wheeler filled with marijuana and cocaine! When we moved down here I thought it would be fun to be so close to Mexico and experience another culture. Once we started meeting people and asking about places to go, they started telling us that it wasn’t safe to cross the border. I had no idea how bad it has gotten down there. It’s sad to see that our southern border has become so dangerous.

The Devil's Double

I found this movie, The Devil's Double while watching trailers on Apple and was intrigued. It turned out to be absolutely awesome. It's about the "double" of Uday Hussein, son of Saddam Hussein. A double is a person that helps ensure that the person is not assassinated, kind of like extra security. This guy had no choice in becoming the double and really saw horrific things.

Back in the 80's I was quite younger and I remember when I heard that Saddam Hussein's sons were killed I thought it was sad that they were killed over their father. Well, who knew that Uday was just as bad, if not worse than his father? He would torture people, kidnap very young girls from school and rape and murder them and was just your basic psychopath. He deserved what he got and too bad it wasn't sooner. In my defense, I was young and didn't know his history.

If you like movies like The Last King of Scotland, you'll most likely love this film. Be warned, it's full of depravity included scenes of torture, rape, murder, graphic nudity and violence. It's not rated R for nothing.

Awesome Scrubs

You all know how I feel about Blue Sky Scrubs but honestly, if you work in the medical field then you really must check them out. They're not only professional looking and affordable, you can't go wrong with the product line since they are of the best quality. You get gorgeous scrubs or just about anything you need to wear in a doctor's office or even the ER.

Blue Sky Scrubs are all tested three times before they are shipped out so that you know the quality is the most important feature in their custom scrubs. Combined with impeccable, stylish scrubs, you have a product line that is top notch. Why not make an impression in the hospital, doctor's office or ER and show your colleagues that you mean business when it comes to healthcare. Check them out! http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/

Calgary apartments and houses for rent

If you live near Calgary, Alberta then you may be looking for Calgary apartments and houses for rent. Don't worry, there are plenty of apartments and houses to choose from. Whether you want to live near High River or Bragg Creek, there are almost 20 convenient locations in the North West, North East, South West and South East areas.

What is really convenient is that you can search a variety of ways. Let's say you want to look by price first because that is what is important to you - you can do that. Or you can search by the size such as with square footage and even the number of bedrooms that you need. Check out Rent Calgary and see how easy it is to find the home that you want.

My New Job

I started my new job at Lowes on Wed and Thurs. Those two days were spent in training classes but for the most part, those were pretty fun. Everyone there seems friendly and nice and the benefits are pretty awesome. I haven't worked in my section yet except for a little over an hour so I'm not sure how that will go but years ago I worked in retail and loved it. I go back to work on Monday through Thursday and we leave out for our trip on Friday. It'll sure be a busy week but followed by some pretty relaxing time.

Shenandoah Junk Removal

If you live in Texas and live near the Shenandoah area then you may be interested in Shenandoah junk removal services. We all sometimes end up with a lot of extra stuff in our homes that is not needed but is hard to get rid of. In fact, I think we have all seen shows like Hoarders where the junk seems to take over. Why even have that in your life when you can have it easily and affordably removed?

They offer convenient pick up, pricing that is given up front, junk removal and disposal. For instance, they will take things like appliances, furniture, mattresses, leaves and garbage. There is no need to rent a dumpster when you can have someone do it all for you and yes, they even pick up the junk and take it away; you don’t even have to throw the stuff into a bin or find somewhere that will accept what you have. 

Another thing to consider is that your junk is not part of the problem in our environment. The junk is recycled or donated as often as possible so you do not have to think about things going to waste. Check them out and have them stop by for a free and friendly quote on your junk.

Blue Sky Scrubs

If you're in the medical field and need uniforms then you need to check out Blue Sky Scrubs. Blue Sky Scrubs carries a gorgeous variety of scrubs, mens lab coats, nursing scrub pants and more!  The scrubs are treated with a teflon protected 100% cotton material and are trimmed in signature white or slate gray piping. If you want to look like a professional then these are the scrubs for you.

You don't even have to be a doctor or nurse in order to use their scrubs. Blue Sky Scrubs are perfect for veterinarian offices, healthcare offices and more. In fact, if you have anything to do with a health care environment then you should check out Blue Sky Scrubs. Why not look as professional and well dressed as possible? These scrubs make you look your best without spending a fortune and who can't use that kind of product? Check out Blue Sky Scrubs at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

Our cruise

Back in January we paid for a cruise we are taking in December. In less than two weeks as a matter of fact. I'm getting pretty excited too. We're going to be going to Nassau and Freeport, the Bahamas and Key West, Florida. I've been to the Bahamas twice and Rich has been three times but neither of us have been to Key West.

I love the Bahamas! Not only are the beaches beautiful but the shopping is awesome. I love visiting the straw market and yes, I love buying knock offs. Sometimes we do a shore excursion like a boat ride or something. I wanted to do the swim with the sting rays excursion but I guess that is only in Mexico because I can only find the dolphin one and those are like $199 per person - way out of my budget.

Anyway, it'll be nice to get away for a week and just enjoy things instead of worrying about everyday life stuff like bills, cleaning, work, etc.

A New Job

I finally start my new job on Wednesday and I'm kind of excited about it. I've worked for myself for the past 7 or so years and it was so much fun. I said I'd never work for anyone else but that was long before the economy tanked. Now I cannot seem to make it just on what I've done in the past and rather than staying behind on things, why not find a job?

The original problem was that although I need a job, we have a trip coming up on Dec. 9th. What job is going to hire you only to let you be gone a week? Well, as it turns out, they were totally fine with my trip and I will work the week before, go on the trip then work after that. The benefits are awesome too and that's one thing I never had working at home - insurance and benefits. Heck, I even had to pay my own taxes.

It'll be a huge change for me since it's a daytime job and you all know how I'm a night own but maybe it'll get me on a different sleep schedule that is more normal.

The Weather

The weather has been absolutely perfect the last few days. Right now it's 74 outside, cloudy and pretty darn windy; my perfect mix!  I hope it stays this way for quite some time. I don't mind the cold if it snow and I don't mind the heat if I can go into the pool but it never snows hardly and pool time is only in the summer so I'll just keep this weather instead.

Here's the problem though. The reason it's so nice outside is that there is a storm coming. After that storm the highs will only be around 55 so that means the cold weather is coming. If only it could stay like this I'd be so happy. At least we'll be on our way to a nicer climate in a couple of weeks. :)

My Short Story Downloads

My short story is on Amazon and Smashwords. What is odd is that the other day my download count on Smashwords was at 36. Not bad I figured. After that, I added my story to a few sites that have free eBooks, etc and something must have worked. Now my download count is at 296 as of a few minutes ago and yesterday it was at around 250. I'm getting 50-100 downloads a day. It's weird! First I thought it was a fluke or glitch in the system but the downloads just keep going up higher. I'm sure not complaining though.

I'm working on another short story but boy is it much harder than this one. For one thing, it's about quadruple the words and I'm just having a hard time making it flow right. I know how I want it to end but having a difficult time getting there. I'm about 3/4 done though so we'll see.

Online Casino Canada

If you're looking for an online casino Canada locations especially, you should check out the site I've found. Not only can you find Canadian online gambling but you also have a choice of online bingo and sports betting sites. They have no deposit poker, which is rare to find and especially with Canadian online casinos.

I checked out the site and what they strive to achieve is to bring to you the best experience possible while you play at your choice of Canadian and International online casinos. They include a lot of resources so that you always know what you're doing. You can find gambling articles and news, faqs, and reviews that will help you make an informed decision. They even show you which online casinos will help you make money such as ones that don't require a deposit or give you a 150% sign up bonus!

Check out their site and see for yourself how informative it is if you enjoy online casino gambling.

Post Thanksgiving Dinner

We always have dinner on the weekend after Thanksgiving. It's a tradition of ours and it's fun. On Thursday we spend it with family and then on the weekend we make our own. Here's our dinner list for today and for those that have already read this on Facebook, sorry for the repeat.

• Cajun Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes
• Gravy
• Squash Casserole
• Dinner Rolls
• Deviled Eggs
• Whiskey Apple Stuffing

I think that's it or at least it's all that I can remember. I've included links to the stuffing (not our recipe) and the squash that is our own recipe. In fact, I made that blog post. :)

Catalog Printing

If you need any kind of printing done then PrintNinja is the place for you. Not only do they offer awesomely low prices but you can get online quotes without any hassle. Their staff isn't some huge call center where you get shoddy service but instead, you get down to earth, real agents that print and graphic design experts that know the business inside and out. Whether you need a little help or a lot of help with your printing needs, they are there to hold your hand throughout the entire process.

So, if you need catalog printing, brochures, flyers, booklets, envelopes or magazines, PrintNinja is your one stop shopping area for all of your printing needs. Check out their helpful website where you can get free samples or simply check out their many accolades.

Eyeglasses Online

If you are looking for eyeglasses online or even prescription sunglasses, I've found the perfect place for you. LensesRX Discount Prescription Glasses has everything you need without the high costs you'll find at a brick and mortar store. They have all of the popular brands such as:

• Roberto Cavalli 
• Timberland
• Ed Hardy
• Affliction
• DKNY
• DiCaprio 
• and many, many more!

With free shipping on domestic orders of $75 or more and you can even send them your own favorite frames and have lenses added in.

They sell men's, women's and kid's glasses at a fraction of the cost you'd find elsewhere. Check them out and see all of the great styles you can choose from where you'll get eyeglasses or sunglasses with an attention to detail and prime customer service.

Button Down Shirts

Button down shirts are an excellent look with just about any style and for any situation. Many people love them because they are versatile. For instance, you can wear a button down shirt with a pair of jeans for a casual look or pair it with a nice khaki pant for a less casual outfit. Capri pants and a button down shirt work great for the girls too! 

The great thing about these shirts is that you can choose from a variety of fabrics such as corduroy, cotton or flannel. Add to that the choice of a myriad of colors and blends and you have a wealth of options when choosing your wardrobe.

So whether you want to look stylish for a casual get together or simply want to be comfortable, button down shirts give you so many options. You can wear your sleeves long when the weather is cool or roll them up when it warms up; you cannot get more versatile yet simpler than that.

Therefore, the next time you are looking to expand your wardrobe, consider choosing a few button down shirts that will compliment any style.

New Book Cover

Some of you have already seen this but I wanted to share it here too. I have a new cover for my short story on Amazon. It looks much better than the homemade one I had up there prior. I'm still working on that second short story but it's already double the words, which some people will like since a few folks thought it was too short. But hey, it's flash fiction. However, I've had nothing less than a four star review on both Amazon and Smashwords so I am thrilled. Anyway, here's the new cover and remember, this short story is adults only! It's extreme horror flash fiction so while it's not over the top, it may offend certain demographics.

Indoor Signage

Indoor signage is imperative if you want to show off your product, services or business in general. Think about the last time you were in a cellular phone store, a theater or even a large retail store. The displays you see that carry brochures or show off a new movie are called indoor signage or otherwise known as, soft signs.

These are fabric displays that are made out of polyester, canvas or cotton. Typically you may see signs made out of PVC, paper or vinyl but these particular soft signs are not only environmentally friendly but they can be recycled since fabric is what is used.

They're durable and the weight isn't heavy so they are easy to maneuver from location to location. Think of them as an easy way to show off your product or service that is easy to move from place to place. The fabric displays not only look classy but there are many options available.

Custom Zund Cutting

Zund cutting is "The precision made cutters with the patented i-cut enhancement produce the most accurate digital prints from the most demanding graphics."

What does this mean to you as a business? What it means is that you get digital die cutting that is the most accurate possible. Whether it is vinyl lettering you need on a trade show sign or anything with vinyl lettering, this is the tool that gets the job done with the best results possible. This is especially great for trade shows and places you want to display your business in a way that is professional and eye-catching.

When you use custom zund cutting that is available at 858 Graphics, your San Diego business will be something others are all talking about.

Making Bird Seed Cakes from Scratch for Your Pet Bird

Bird Seed Cakes

If you enjoy feeding your bird special treats that he'll love but don't want to spend a fortune at a pet store, you may want to learn about how to make bird seed cakes. It's easy to create these special little cakes out of bird seed without having to buy one that is pre-made.
The ingredients are simple and the process doesn't take long at all. So whether you have a pet bird at home or you want to treat the wild birds around your neighborhood, you may want to try to make bird seed treats all on your own -- before you know it, you'll be a pro.

 

Materials Needed

In order to make bird seed cakes you'll need a few simple items. The first thing you want to consider when you are making a cake out of bird seeds is what type of bird you are feeding. You'll want to use the right seeds for each type of bird. For example, you wouldn't want to use large corn kernels or sunflower seeds for a small bird such as a parakeet. When it comes to larger birds such as a macaw or cockatoo, you can use both small seeds and larger seeds, but they may prefer to have a few large treats in their bird seed cake.
There are a couple of recipes that you can use; one uses gelatin and the other uses flour. This particular recipe calls for flour and requires no cooking at all, unlike a gelatin based recipe.
What you'll need:

• 3/4 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water
• 4 cups of birdseed
• 3 tablespoons of corn syrup
• Optional nuts and raisins (for larger birds)
• Sheet pan
• Rolling pin
• Non-stick spray or parchment paper
• Cookie cutters

 

How to Make the Bird Seed Cake

Once you are ready to get started on your actual preparation, it's not that hard to become efficient in making your own bird seed cakes. In fact, it doesn't even take any heating or cooking preparation so it is a perfect project you can do with your children. Here is how you will prepare your ingredients.

1. Mix all of your ingredients in a large bowl, except for your bird seed and optional ingredients. Make sure it is all combined well.
2. Add in your bird seed and optional ingredients, if chosen, and cover the seeds well until they have a sticky consistency.
3. Pour the mixture on a sheet pan that is either greased with non-stick spray or lined with parchment paper. Roll it all out into a layer that is about a half of an inch thick.
4. Use cookie cutters to press into the mixture, but do not remove them. Simply leave the cookie cutters in the mixture in order to stiffen.
5. Let the cakes made of bird seed dry for about 5-6 hours then flip them over. Allow those to dry for another 6 hours then remove the cookie cutters.

 

Using Your Bird Seed Cakes

Now that you have learned how to make bird seed cakes you can use them as special treats for your bird. Simply place one in a food dish, or tie it to the cage with a natural type of stick such as a millet seed strand or a ribbon that is non-toxic. For outside birds you can also use a ribbon or string to tie the cakes made of bird seed onto trees or bushes and wait for the birds to enjoy their treat. Keep in mind that your homemade treats have no added preservatives or harmful ingredients and best of all, they're made with love.

 

Resources

Resources: http://natural-kids.blogspot.com/2010/06/make-birdseed-cakes.html

 

Photo Resources

Photos:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quaker_Parrot.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bird_seed_mixture_in_feeder.jpg
Creative Commons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons

Puppies vs. Babies

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We all know how I'm going to answer this query - I love puppies! However, ask anyone else and you'll get a 50/50 chance on them answering either way. The cool thing is that there is a Puppies vs. Babies online contest  that is going on.

As far as I'm concerned, puppies win hands down. I mean sure, babies are cute but puppies are furry, cuddly and they rarely spit up on you. As an added bonus, no messy diapers. Okay, so you have to house train a puppy but at least they go outside after a while! Take for instance our dogs. All three were the cutest little puppies you'd ever want to see. The twins were a bundle of furry goodness and Swan, well she was just adorable. Honestly, I'd always pick puppies when it comes to a Puppies vs. Babies contest but I'm sure that many of you will think I'm nuts.

Right now you have up till November 23rd to choose the cutest   and decide the winner. But hey, you all know which side I'm on. Why not let me know who you voted on? The winning photo gets the entrant a $5000 award but I'm personally hoping it's a cute little puppy; no offense to the babies.

Trade Show Displays

858 Graphics has light table top displays for all of your trade show needs. Think about how you'd like to display your product or service at a trade show. Not only do you want it to look appealing and professional, you also want to outshine the competition and have people flock to your display. With a lightweight table display, you can do all of that.

Why let the competition get a heads up on your company by having a display that draws a crowd when yours looks less than perfect? With lightweight table top displays, not only are they easy to move but they will put you ahead of the rest by making potential customers want to show up at your table. Check them out and don't let the rest outshine you at the next trade show.

This Year

This year sure has had its highs and lows. I lost two friends recently so obviously that was a very low place. I've stopped something I wanted to so that was a high. We have a trip coming up in Dec so that's a high. I went from having a lot of money to hardly any so a very high and low place. I guess this one has been all over the map. Of course, even when things are bad you can always know that they'll get better, which is evident all of the time. It's hard to see that when you're experiencing one of the low points but just from my perspective alone, look how much this year has flip flopped back and forth. Honestly though, I'd rather it was all on a high note but hey, you can't have it all. :)

San Diego 3 Dimensional Signs

If you live in San Diego and own a business then you definitely want to check out San Diego 3 Dimensional Signs. What they have are ways to display your business that looks professional and lasts for years. Whether you need business signage lettering installation San Diego locations of course, metal letters for business signs or need anything to do with signage, 858 Graphics has it all.

Imagine how your business would look with a custom made sign with 3D lettering or even a custom lobby sign. Now matter how you look at it, your business sign really makes a difference in how people perceive your company so go to the best! When it comes to business signage lettering installation, they're your experts.

Your Credit Score

If you were to be a victim of identity theft, you could become worse off financially than you may be now. That is why it is a good idea to find a place to check for your free credit score. By checking your credit score, you can be aware of any changes that are suspicious and keep an overall eye on what is going on with your credit score. By keeping up with your credit score, you can keep abreast of events that may adversely affect your credit. 

We all know that a good credit score is helpful in anything you will do financially. For instance, if you want to purchase a home, rent an apartment or buy a car then you will need a good credit score. However, did you also know that some employers and insurance agencies actually check your credit score as well? So don’t just think that your financial history and credit score is only good for purchasing things, it can very well affect the next job you get or if you can get homeowner’s, renter’s or automobile insurance.

By looking at your credit score, you can watch for changes that adversely affect it so that you can find a remedy fast.

Countdown Widget

If you like to count down when something important is going to happen, you can now get a countdown widget for free. Of course you can upgrade for more options too! You can create the online countdown clock and then embed it into your site, blog or any place online that accepts the HTML that you simply copy and paste.

For instance, we have a trip coming up and I am including a countdown clock here. The countdown script is easy since the site simply creates it for you. As long as you know how to cut and paste, it's that simple. All I had to do was add in the date and choose my time zone and it's all done. You can choose different colors and shapes as well as the text color that you want. I love mine! Check it out and get one of your own. Great for vacations, trips, pregnancies, etc.

Get your countdown widgets

Abandoned Stuff

Sunday we went to this area that has an abandoned truck. I don't think it's truly truly abandoned after we got there since it had the keys in it but it is still sitting out in the middle of nowhere. It was fun though because we had to find said truck after trekking through the woods for about half a mile uphill. That's not fun going uphill but it was fun being somewhere where no one else was. We had to ask a park guy how to find it and he told us. This included going around the posted gates but we had his permission. We got some good shots though, which I'll post on here.


Abandoned Truck

The Steam Team

If you live in the Austin area and want the best there is in steam cleaning then you want to choose The Steam Team. Not only can they help with wet carpet, water restoration and more, if you have wind damage to roofs Austin area homes especially, they can help!

In fact, http://www.thesteamteam.com/ pretty much covers it all. Got wool carpets that need cleaning? They can help. What about hardwood floors that are water damaged? Yep, you guessed it; they cover that as well. In fact, if it has to do with steam cleaning, The Steam Team is on it and you'll get professional service that can't be beat. They haven't been in business for over two decades for nothing!

Stand Up For Family

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Family Insurance for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 American Family Insurance has the right idea. Their Stand Up For Family Comedy Special, hosted by Bill Bellamy has some of the hottest comedians around. From Rodney Perry and Mark Viera to Donnell Rawlins and Tony Roberts, it is family friendly comedy that everyone can listen to enjoy. You won't have to worry about the kids being exposed to something that is controversial or for adults only.

My favorite is "Not Leaving My Wife" by Mark Viera. I can totally relate to this video because not only was it hilarious but it was husband and wife topics, which is something many of us can relate to. I also enjoyed "Rock Music" by Donnell Rawlins because it was so on point exactly. I mean, who hasn't listened to a song thinking it was going along nice and fun and then bam, the craziness starts. Of course, Bill Bellamy is always funny so that's just an added bonus.

I think this is a great concept by AmFam and who doesn't need comedy in their life? American Family Insurance wants to keep in mind that families are the most important thing in life and this comedy special is just their way of giving back.

Memorial Plaques

commemorative plaques or a commemorative plaque are a lasting tribute that can memorialize or commemorate a special person, business or entity. They're durable and typically draw attention to themselves by anyone passing by. What better way to show tribute to someone or something that has gone above and beyond? Not only are they professional and elegant looking but they display a memory.

Made out of aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel and bronze, these memorial plaques are long lasting and durable. There is no need to worry that they will not be able to last in inclement weather and outside conditions. In fact, you can even add a photo to these and not have to worry about it fading, cracking or being lost to the elements. 

There are many ways you can use a commemorative plaque. Remembrance of a certain person, displaying a historical event or notating a special place such as a park or street are all ways they are useful. The memorial plaques are versatile and will last for many years.

So whether it's for businesses or for corporations, showcase something important in a memorial plaque that will last for years to come. Don't let your special memory fade away.