EcoStatic SlickyBoard and SlickyNotes from Shoplet

I have been dreading to make a back to school post but  seeing all the  encouraging  articles in  other blogs gave me the courage to do one.  There's nothing really  I can do but to embrace the fact that in few more weeks, the kids are going back to school.  We  haven't  buy their school supplies yet but  we will do that ver soon.  I am so glad to have some stuff I could use  to post reminders of what I need to do.  

I received the  EcoStatic Inc. Beginner Kit Glue Free WhiteBoard Sheets and SlickyNote Note Pad for review nd I am quite pleased to have this as it is very easy to use.  These glue-free white board sheets can be used as a flip charts, white boarding, easel pad, or bulletin board.  These are 100% re-writable and re-usable.  

I also love these  EcoStatic Inc. Recycled Glue Free SlickyNotes Note Pad because they are a little bit bigger than  regular  post it notes and the great thing is, it's double sided so you can use the other  side  as well.  I love the fact that these products are  from recycled  materials which makes it a lot worthy of buying.  Shoplet offers a fast a free shipping for orders $25 and more so check them out for your back to school supply needs.

We received the newsletter  from the school and I took notes of the important figures and dates and other important notes that we need during  registration day.  Compared to regular sticky notes, I would purchase this  more because you get more use  of the money you paid for .

The school tuition fee have increased this year.  For both of them, we will need $3,945 for the tuition fee, books, and other miscellaneous fee.  I have saved 4 grand from blogging  so we will be using  that for their tuition fees.  We still have to buy their new school  uniform and shoes, buy their school supplies, pay for their lunches.  Education is  pricey but it's a necessity and a very important  thing that  we could give to our children.  

Shoplet have everything that you need for your business and home including office supplies, office stationary, promotional products,  and many others such as medical supplies .   Thank you once again Shoplet and EcoStatic!

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the products mentioned  in exchange of my honest  opinion which may differ from yours. 

Kandle Flex

I got this Kandle by Ozeri Flex for a friend who loves to  read.  She is an avid ebook reader and thought it would be nice for her to have this.  This  features a fully adjustable flexible neck that is infinitely customizable for positioning of the lamp head.  Since it is powered by 3 surface mounted lifetime LEDs, it optimize to distribute light evenly without creating glare or eyestrain.  This would make  her reading a lot  safer for her eyes.

The newly designed power button features soft light and ultra bright settings for the perfect screen illumination.  Technology  is really soaring high when it comes to delivinring great  stuff for us to use.  The new wideLip design attaches to the Kindle, Sony  Reader and other eBook readers without blocking the screen.  This also includes 2 CR2032 batteries that are already  installed plus an extra set of  batteries  to replace the ones  installed if it wears out.  The protective pouch is an added bonus too.

You can buy this here.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Need To Make Some Extra Cash? Here's What Works For Me

We'd all like to have some extra cash from time to time. Sometimes, the money we earn from our jobs doesn't leave us with much spare after we pay our bills. To solve that problem, most people supplement their income by doing other work on the side. For instance, they might get a second job. Or they might do something based from home.

When you've got a family to feed like I do, money can sometimes be a bit of a struggle. And it's also hard to work elsewhere when you have to look after your kids at the same time. That's why, for me, the home working option is a better one. If this paints a familiar picture, there is some good news for you. It's easy to make some money from home!

Of course, there are plenty of different things you can do. The challenge is usually finding the methods that offer the best results. To save you some time and hassle, I've listed the ones that work well for me. Check them out:

Blogging

As you can guess, one way that I make some extra cash is to blog in my spare time! I love writing and talking about all kinds of stuff. Having said that, you have to  build quality backlinks to help your blog's traffic.  One of the reasons my site is so popular is down to the product reviews that I do.

If you set up a popular blog, you will soon have companies asking you to review their products and services. In return for your efforts, you will often receive financial compensation. Sometimes, you might get a discount on the product you've got if you want to keep it. If you're lucky, you might even get to keep it for free!

Product reviews aren't the only way to make money from your blog. There is also affiliate linking. This is where you get a commission for referring visitors to other sites. Examples include Google AdSense and Digital Window.

Online trading

Are you lucky enough to have some cash burning a hole in your pocket? Well, one thing you could do is go and put it in a savings account. The only thing is, you won't get paid much interest. So, how can you make your money work better for you?

Let me introduce you to the world of online trading. The Internet makes it easy to buy and sell stuff; there's no denying that fact. One method that works well for me is currency trading. Sites like ACM Forex Trading make it easy to trade currency online, as long as you know what you're doing!

You don't need a degree in economics to work out changes in market trading conditions. All you need is observation skills and a good memory. The good news is you don't have to trade hundreds or even thousands. That makes online Forex trading almost risk-free.

Drop-shipping on eBay

Another thing you can do with your spare time from home is to set up a business account on eBay. You can then set up accounts with suppliers, and have them ship direct to your customers.

Drop-shipping suppliers are "private label." In other words, there are no details about their company in any items sent to your customers. The way it works is simple:

• You sell something on eBay;
• You then "buy" it from your drop-shipping supplier;
• The supplier then ships the goods direct to your customers;
• Any queries get directed to you rather than your supplier.

It's a good way to sell volumes of items without the need to buy or store them anywhere.

I hope you've found these tips useful. Give them a go; I'm sure you'll start making money soon!

Snagged Shopping Deals in June

Hubby and I took the kids to the mall on JUne 20th to  buy a gift for our daughter's friend's birthday that was coming up that weekend.   We have a  mall  nearby (Steben Mall) but we chose to go to Robinson Mall as they have far more selection than the one in Steubenville.  It's a 35-40 minutes from our home so it isn't that far.

 If you are in the area, these are some of the restaurants that you can  enjoy a bite or two.  We don't really go to these though.

We seldom shop these days. We only go if we have a special thing to get for special occasion or if we have   some extra cash to spend  on deals.

 These two are always happy to go  somewhere so it's not a hassle for us.  Now keeping them with us while we shop is a different scenari.  It's tough to shop around sometimes.

 Anyway, here are the  deals we have found from different stores in the mall.  We got our son a pair of pants and a pair of  slippers.  He also grab sunglasses which he used during our  road trip.

 We also found him a pair of shoes  which become his favorite to wear almost everyday.  He said that  it is so comfy that it makkes her feet "dance", lol.

 Since we were attending a pool party that weekend, our daughter wanted a new swimsuit so we got her a new one.

 I also found great deal on  brassieres.

 These Joe Boxer  were on sale as well so I  took the opportunity to get me  some while on sale.

I also found great deals on some pieces of cute clothing at Charlotte Russe.  I only paid $10 for both of this.  

 Our son, just like his sister is  fanatic of  minecraft game, he wanted this shirt so we bought it for him.

 We  don't know what to get for   our daughter's birthday gift so we got her a personalized bag with her  nickname embroidered on it.

So that's a wrap for the  shopping deals that I found last month.  How about you, do you shop a lot?  Do you go thrift hunting or you just buy whatever you want?  Do you have some shopping tips?  Please share it here, thank you!

Summer BBQ Ideas for a Meatless Diet

When the weather warms up, it is time to heat up the grill. Just because you choose to follow a meatless diet doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a BBQ just as much as someone who eats meat. With a little creativity and some help from meat substitute products, you can create healthy vegan recipes that are delicious, wholesome, and that even the biggest carnivores will enjoy.

 

hallmarkchannel.com

Burgers

No BBQ is complete without a big, juicy hamburger, but the patty doesn’t have to be ground beef or another animal product for it to taste good. Try replacing the patty with a vegan-friendly option in order to get the same taste without ruining your diet. Meat substitutes can be found easily on-line and make for a quick and easy meal. If you really want to wow your guests, whip up a flavorful sauce to top your burgers with, like a rich and smoky BBQ sauce that is the perfect complement to a tasty burger, such as the one found on the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family website.

Pizza

Traditionally, pizzas are topped with melted cheese and lots of processed meats – two no-no’s for vegans. Grilling your own pizzas is easy and as a plus, they are completely customizable, giving all of your guests complete control of their toppings. Make or purchase whole wheat pizza dough and sauce and chop up a variety of healthy toppings, including:

• Tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Bell peppers
• Herbs
• Onions
• Mushrooms

 

The topping possibilities are endless and you can create some one-of-a-kind pizzas that are free from any animal products.

Grilled Chicken

Many people enjoy grilled chicken at their BBQs and you can as well with a little creativity. Chicken substitutes give you all the flavor that you want and you can create some interesting dishes using them as a base. A marinade that uses oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle chilies, and jalapeno peppers is a zesty, spicy option that can serve as the basis for a delicious scaloppini dish cooked up right on the grill.

Sides

BBQs are well known for their sides, and luckily for vegans and vegetarians, meat-free sides are often on the menu at most events. A simple salad of black beans, fresh corn, tomatoes, and herbs is the perfect complement to any entrée. Some other easy vegan side dishes include:

• Cut fruit
• Sliced tomatoes
• Quinoa salad
• Grilled vegetable kabobs
• Corn on the cob

By keeping your sides basic, you and your guests can really focus on the main dishes that you have created.

Desserts

A BBQ dessert is the perfect time to offer something cool and refreshing to your guests and it doesn’t have to be ice cream. Sorbet is a yummy option for vegans, especially when you use fresh fruits that are at the peak of ripeness. A creamy option involves mixing lime juice and zest with avocados and a little sugar to create a frozen treat that everyone is sure to enjoy.

Don’t give up on hosting summer events because of your vegan lifestyle. Your dinners can be just as delicious as ever by incorporating good quality meat substitutes with tried and true BBQ recipes that will stand the test of time.

Samsung French Door Refrigerator with Dual Ice Maker

On May 18, our  GE refrigerator has stopped working.  I mean it didn't completely stopped but it was messing up  our veggies and fruits, they got frozen then the  food in the freezer were not freezing anymore.  We had it  for nine years.  We bought a set of GE appliance in 2006 at Lowe's which includes  the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave.  The first one that  stopped working was the  microwave, then the refrigerator.  The dishwasher is  having a little travel now too so  I am expecting it to stop working as well even though I seldom use it.  

On May 19th, we  went to  Sears and  looked for some options.  We didn't find one that we like there so we  proceeded to Lowe's.  There we found this three door Samsung  with french doors and a freezer at the bottom.

 Anyway here are the side doors.  I like it that the  compartments have different sizes and height.

 The water filter is in the middle of the  vegetable and fruit drawers/compartments.  I love that you can  adjust the humidity control of each drawer.

 There is a foldable shelf on the right side to put tall   stuff like milk, wine, and other beverages.

 It has a big freezer  drawer bin  with a divider in the middle.

 This is an auto pull drawer on top of the freezer drawer  where you can put your frozen stuff and on the left side is the ice bucket.  The ice maker  is  located  on top of the refrigerator.

 The only problem I have with this fridge is the fact that the water is not  coming out.  I tried to  follow the direction on the manual but still nothing is happening.  Even though we don't really use water from the fridge, I still want it to work out.

 So here's our new  refrigerator that cost almost half of what we paid for when we bought the whole kitchen appliances  9 years ago.  Below is the full  details of its feature.

• 28.07-cu ft total storage: 19.14-cu ft refrigerator, 8.93-cu ft freezer
• ENERGY STAR® qualified products help you save money on utility bills without sacrificing performance, style or comfort
• Filtered water and cubed/crushed ice settings are easily managed through LED-lit controls. Dual ice makers mean you'll never run out of ice.
• Twin Cooling Plus™ maintains separate humidity levels in the refrigerator and freezer for optimal food storage conditions
• Sliding, spill-proof glass shelves adjust for bulky and odd shaped items
• Gallon door storage holds beverages or other large containers, freeing up valuable shelf space
• Bright and energy-efficient LED interior lighting makes it easy to find what you need
• Temperature-controlled CoolSelect Pantry™ full-width drawer is optimal for storing deli meats, cheese and snacks
• EZ-Open™ Handle lifts up and glides out the freezer drawer effortlessly, even when it’s fully loaded

 But, what can you do, when the  appliances is out, there's nothing you can do but to buy.  We'd rather buy a new one that have the old one fixed as it cost ads much as buying a new one.  I asked the  delivery guys what they do of the old ones and they told me that  a company  picks them up from Lowe's and pay Lowe's for it.  IN return,  Lowe's use the money for charities, which is nice to know.

 The only downside of buying at Lowe's is their customer services isn't that great.  When you go to the store, no one wants to help you really.  You are on your own when you are shopping there.  I mean, when you are shopping for this   kind of  merchandise, you expect  that someone would offer to help you as they have the  expertise of what they sell.  We love the customer service at Sears but unfortunately, they don't have what we were looking for.  

This was on sale for $1,998 but with hubby's 10% discount as a veteran, it  went down to $1,798.20 plus $107.89 tax.  So we  ended up paying for $1,906.09.  I am just glad that  the delivery was free.

NOT sponsored.

My Grandfather's Musical Abilities

Our daughter  wanted to start taking violin lessons to the place where she is taking piano lessons but when I asked the  owner    when she can startm she told me that  they no longer offer the  violin lessons because the teacher is no longer associated with them.  However, she recommended a place where  our daughter can take it.  She said that the family  teaches different kinds of instruments.  Seeing the ukulele gcea remind me of my grandfather.  He was quite a musician, he knew how to play different  instruments including banjo, violin, ukelele, and guitar.  My father never got  any musical ability that my grandfather had.  

Unauthorized Purchases and Our Resting Place When We Go

When "Santa"  decided to give each of our kids an iPod, I was against it because I know that it could pose a problem.  But since "Santa" said that it  can help  the kids' creativity, I went with it.  I told "Santa" that whatever games is in the iPod that it should be what they will play because I don't want additional purchases.  However, on special occasion, hubby would reward the kids and buy them a game like  $1.99 which is okay as it doesn't cost much.  I have noticed that my son  is getting so addicted playing these games that I started to  limit his  use of the iPod.

 The day before Father's Day, my fear came true.  I  got so many  notification from iTunes of game purchases.  I alerted my husband  so we  talked to our son and he admitted  downloading the games  thinking that they were free.  The charges   otaled to $142.20 I was upset but my husband was quiet.  He said that he would pay for it since it was him who  showed our son how to do app  on his iPod.  As a Mom who does all the budgeting in our household, that was not okay for me.  I contacted  iTunes and informed them that all those purchases  are unauthorized.  They agreed to refund  us the money and my husband was very shocked that I managed to get it back.

As a result, we  confiscated our son's Ipod and he is not allwed to play  with it  for the rest of the summer.  We told himm that if he  does good in school, he can get it back  by New Year.  He was okay with it and understood that what he did was wrong.  It turned out to be the best  decision because he became  more creative again, playing with his   other toys like the lego and other things.  On the first day of this month, I got another  charged for $22.20m ugh.  IT was the same date as the  other purchases, tried to contact them again but to no avail.

Another  issue I had with unauthorized purchases/charges is my paypal card.  I had multiple  attempts of charges from GNC in California but it never went thru since I did not authorized  them.  Another charge was from Utah, they bought something from Overstock.  These transactions are freaking me out which  make  me want to close my paypal card.  I just don't understand how they could use the card, do they just randomly  put  numbers to see if it works?  It's scary.

On another note, we decided to purchase 4 grave plots at St. Paul Cemetery.  It might be a bit odd to you  but this is something that my husband and I talked about for a long time.  It's funny too because  we are thinking of moving to my former country  to retire although our kids are against it.

But anyway, we  chose this cemetery because it is very well maintained.  My husband's family members who have  passed already are buried in another cemetery.  Hubby said that his parents purchased a plot for him there but  since his other  brother have passed, they used it for him.

Buying your own grave is something that not a lot of people do.  Even the caretaker of the cemetery told us that we are  too young to be purchasing grave plots.  Our thing is,  we never know what our future holds  so it is  better to be prepared.  Below is the place where our reserved plots are.

The good thing is, if we decide to move, we can sell these to other people who needs it.

It cosat $900 per plot and we have to pay 10% upon signing the paper.  The rest is payable  within 12 months at $270 monthly.