Archive for the ‘Sponsors’ Category

Travel Plans: Mexico

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

There are many places around the world that I’m interested in visiting. Oddly enough, I’d like to go to Mexico. Right now, booking through vacations.net can offer you all inclusive resort in mexico with savings up to 50%. Their site is pretty cool too, some of their features include:

  • Compelling visual images & virtual tours.
  • In-depth information on the destinations including amenities & recreational activities.
  • Thorough information on accommodations with detailed room options.
  • All-Inclusive vacations sorted by vacation style and related preferences.
  • Resort ratings from travelers who have experienced the resort first-hand.
  • Hot Deals and much more?¢‚Ǩ¬¶

Don’t think this is only for a resort in Mexico. Vacations.net covers places all over the world. It doesn’t matter where you’re looking to visit, this site will help you out with all of your vacation needs. Check them out, you may be surprised with the kind of savings you’re going to get.

Remodeling: Kitchens

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

With all the plans that Baby and I have been making, it’s obvious that the house we’ll eventually purchase is going to be a big project for both of us. We both want different things that will kind of blend well together. I want a large bedroom and an even larger kitchen with loads of counter space and storage. He wants a big office and a game room with a huge TV, surround sound, the works. Me, on the other hand, I just look for things of major importance. He loves to eat and I love to cook, obviously a kitchen is a big deal – for any Italian respectively.

I know, for a fact, that I’m not going to get the kitchen of my dreams from the get go but that’s when you call in Kitchen Remodeling Contractors to do the work for you. It’s just hard to find a trustworthy and dependable contractor. A lot of them do horrible jobs and come with a huge price tag. The worst ones don’t even give you what you want out of purely being too lazy to do it. If I’m going to be spending top dollar on something I’ve always dreamed of, I want to go with a company that’s going to get my kitchen to where I want it to be.

Home improvement projects can be stressful, especially when it comes to finances. Selecting the right general contractor can be challenging but getting yourself tapped into a resource like OnCallContractors is a pretty cool idea. They’ve setup an elite group of contractors to assist homeowners based on their home improvement needs. I just minutes they can connect you with a pre-screened contractor to ensure that they’re skilled to handle every one of your home improvement needs. All of their contractors are licensed and insured. That’s the best kind of person to work with. Don’t depend on your cousin Joe to do the work for you, go with a professional. In the end…you have to live there and professionals make it a point to make you happy, no question about it.

Investing, Stocks, Trades

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

When my grandmother died, many years ago, my father, aunt and uncle were all left with stock in AT&T. She worked with them for many years, and the many different names that they went through before it branched out into god knows how many companies. My aunt is actually assistant director of one of their Long Island branches (now it’s Verizon). While she doesn’t consider herself to have the inside take, I know she’s got enough shares from both work and personal that if she cashed out, she’d be worth quite a bit of money. I told my father many years ago to invest in Google, he didn’t listen and now it’s too expensive to even get a share, let alone cash out on them.

Knowing that I’ll eventually get myself into the game, I’ve been looking for ways to keep track of what’s going on and who to go through. There are programs out there that are considered an option screener where you can find, compare, analyze and just plain make money in stock option trading. It’s the only internet-based data provider that actually gives investors something called SmartSearchXL, a patented decision support technology that identifies the highest return option trades. With the click of a button in this program you can automatically sort, filter and analyze all 3,000+ optional stocks and 195,000+ options online to find investments to meet your profit goals. I think it’s a program worth checking out, based on those stats alone…don’t you?

Travel Plans: Orlando Vacations

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

Vacationers are always looking for great places to spend their Christmas, spring break or even their summber break. Thousands of people flock to places like Orlando because Orlando Vacation rentals are a pretty hot item. You’re not going to find many places in the world that have 52 theme parks, beaches within 40 minutes of a drive and outstanding resorts and vacation homes to stay in for much less of a price tag than other popular destinations. Sure, Disney World is the biggest draw to Orlando but that’s not all they have to offer. They have more top rated golf courses than anywhere else in Florida. There’s also the second largest convention center in the world and since Disney World IS their biggest draw, almost every recreational activity in Orlando is family friendly.

Parks around Orlando are constantly adding new attractions and I’ve heard that they have a very, very sweet nightlife. I know a few people whom live in and around Orlando and they couldn’t be happier with their location. Beautiful beaches, warm sun and everything you could ever imagine are only a few of the top reasons why I’d visit Orlando, let alone Florida – any day of the year.

Bassabid

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

There are many people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by selling things online. It’s absolutely no surprise to me when you see other bid sites come up like bassabids.com to jump on the bandwagon. It’s not based on user bids, however. It’s a lowest bid wins kind of site. The cool thing about it is that you don’t get someone’s old items, you receive factory direct items without the store based prices. This is a pretty common thing, especially on the internet. Users send in their lowest unique bid over their cellphone or through a form online and whomever sends in this bid, gets the item.

I just think it’s cool that you can get yourself a mac notebook, $2400 value, for 57 cents. A few winners on bassabids have one iPod shuffles for $0.92, $0.70 and even $0.51. Considering it’s a $100 item, I’d say that’s not a bad deal at all. There are currently bids for a 17″ Mac Notebook, Sony 46″ TV, Mini Cooper S Convertible, iPod shuffle and even an AppleTV.

If you’re looking for a place to pick up a very cool item, without the freakishly high price tag, bassabid.com is the place to go.

VOIP for Small Business

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

There are many people out there using the traditional calling methods. With internet based calls on the rise, getting VoIP Small Business Phone Systems is never a bad idea. A new company, Xpander Communications, specializes in small business phone solutions with a corporate feel, without the corporate pricing.

VoIP phone systems have a lot to offer the small business world, the possibilities are endless. Xpander’s small business solutions covers 1-32 users who now have the power to enjoy a level of functionality that only large businesses (up until now) have been able to take full advantage of. Your business partners can be located all over the country but you can call them with a simple 4 digit phone number that’s free of charge with your plan. This means you can talk to the president of your company by just dialing 1-2-3-4, or whatever number you happen to choose. And it doesn’t matter how far away from you they are, the sound quality is crisp and clear as though you were talking on a regular land line.

It’s worth checking out, especially those who run freelance based business with employee’s located around the country. If I had a setup like this with source-1, I’d probably still be there…heh.

Diamonds are a girls BEST friend!

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Baby and I have been talking about marriage quite a bit. We have both agreed to hold off on it for a little while so we can get our lives in order, but I also know that he’s full of surprises. During my usual daily surf I came across a site for Engagement Rings and I have to say I’m pretty impressed with their database. They have everything from simple Diamond Rings to Wedding Rings.

Now, I grew up with a jewelry store in the family so I know a thing or two about diamonds and I have to say that the quality of rings on this site should be held in pretty high regard. They have a great section from .5 carats to 4 carat rings, every possible shape and beautiful cuts. Even the clarity options are gorgeous. You can completely design your own ring on this site, most jewelry stores will give you this option but sometimes you’re limited with what you can do. This site gives you full control no matter what you’re looking to setup.

Engagement Rings Platinum/Diamond Me, being a girl, obviously I’m dropping hints about which would be the best one to have, I’m also very picky about what I put on my finger. Oddly enough, however, one that was previously designed is the one that I absolutely fell in love with. I couldn’t figure out how to design it myself though. The ring I found is a diamond/platinum combination that’s very nicely put together. Some may think it’s a bit over the top but any girl who was handed something like this would probably swoon, no matter how simple they were. It’s a very clean line ring that gives you anything you could ask for.

The Bonsai Gardener

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

There are billions of people in the world, each of which have something unique about them. I personally find anyone who understands the serenity of bonsai to be on the top of my list of people to get to know. This evening I came across a link, bonsaigardener.org, it’s filled with over 200 articles about this hobby. It includes individual, species-specific tree care guides, a free bonsai email course. There are articles showing you essential bonsai tools that you must purchase and there is also an article teaching you how to prune a bonsai tree.

Every time I’m at a store, or in a garden for that matter, if I happen to come across one of these little tree’s I can’t help myself from smiling. There’s something so absolutely relaxing about the lines and the intricate work that went into them that you can’t help but feel refreshed. This is a hobby that I would recommend to anyone.

Lap of Luxury

Friday, May 4th, 2007

I like nice things, there’s nothing wrong with this. Every woman is entitled to something that makes her happy, no matter how big or small it may be. The thing I love the most is knock off designers. Yes, I know I’m not paying full price for Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Dior, or even Chanel (drools) – but I also know that most ‘replica’ or ‘knock off’ bags are actually the designers they claim. See, most designers hold their product in such high regard that any single imperfection causes it to be ‘void’ of any real value. I own legitimate Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton purses but since there is a small issue with each of them, their price tag dropped from $600+ to $20+. That’s a huge drop, but all of the serial numbers and certifications are in tact (yes, they’re real.) The one bag I am proud of, however, is my $1500 Louis Vuitton bag. I drool over it every chance I get. See, I get nice things too (it was a gift, one that I couldn’t help myself from accepting.)

I was lucky enough to grow up with aunts who saw the importance of designers. One of my aunts won’t wear anything unless it’s a designer and that’s because she makes enough money to do it. She can tell you where every designer is in New York City and then, even if she’s not in the market to purchase something, she’ll buy something that probably costs more than two months rent for the average person. This is the wrong kind of influence on someone like me, but I’m still walking around with a designer handbag and you’re raiding the rack at Walmart, figure that one out.

I like big bags though, the one thing I absolutely can’t stand are the small hand/clutch bags that make no real sense to the world. Women carry a lot around in their purses, especially mothers, so how they can cram everything they need into one tiny change purse is absolutely beyond me. I like to have a place for everything and a larger bag plays a big roll in it. I can always be found with a bottle of water, my cigs, and a rather large prada wallet (matches one of my purses) so it’s hard for me to even use a bag that’s smaller than that. Everything has a place and there’s a place for everything. When I go to A.C. I can guarantee that I’m bringing a larger bag with me for the chance that I do win some big-cash like I did before. I made the mistake of bringing one of my smaller bags and could barely fit anything in there. This time, I’m making room for it all.

It’s all about preparation.

Travel Plans: Orlando, Florida

Friday, May 4th, 2007

Traveling can be fun for anyone. Going to places like Universal Studios, Disney World, even Orlando theme parks is a huge tourist attraction for families all over. Getting Universal Studios Tickets is much easier than some may think, no matter what the season. Orlandofuntickets.com is the ultimate source for discount tickets for Disney World and all Orlando theme parks. When you plan your vacation, the most expensive and intimidating factors in your planning process are the endless options for admission tickets. Walt Disney World has a lot to offer with four theme parks, two of which are water parks and there’s so much more. When people travel to Orlando, most people tend to visit Universal Studios as well, they’re great for night-time fun, including dinner shows.

Planning your next vacation shouldn’t be a scary thing. The resources available to you online are close to endless. You can find out information about all theme parks, hotel rooms, travel options, and much more just by the click of a button. Location specific sites offer you a lot more than just surfing the web because these sites were designed specifically for the area of interest. OrlandoFunTickets.com shows you everything you need to know about Orlando, Universal Studios, Disney World and many other areas including Arabian Nights, Medieval Times, Pirates Dinner Adventure and many other theme parks including Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, etc.

For the lowest prices and the best personal service, go with orlandofuntickets.com. You’ll be happy with your choice.

Moving ahead in life

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

Many people don’t realize the importance of higher education. A few people that I’ve spoken to feel that their high school diploma is just about all they’re going to need in order to get by in life. With technology on the rise, that diploma isn’t going to mean much for very long – unless you intend to be a life-long cashier at your local supermarket or a professional waitress making less than minimum wage and pushing for tips. The problem with most people these days is the ability to balance school with work. The cool thing is, here comes the technology reference, you can go to school online and work at your own pace towards the degree of your dreams.

I’ve been working towards enrolling just to get my associates degree. There are online schools, however, that will give you your bachelors degree. While that does look better on a resume, you’re really not learning that much more about web design in four years than you would in two. Most books are based on the internet up until 2002 and as we all know, things have changed. Now everyone is working with Web2.0 which I find to be extremely easy considering I’ve always depended heavily on CSS/DIV setups but Web2.0 won’t be available for you to learn in school.

Getting a degree online doesn’t mean that you have to choose an internet based field. You can get anything from an associates to a bachelors degree in any field of interest you please. Accounting, Business, Counseling, Health Care, Human Resources & Training, Human Services, Information Technology, K-12 Education, Nonprofit Management, Project Management, Psychology, Public Safety, Social and Community Services, and so much more. The possibilities are endless.

There’s no age limit, you can be in your 60’s and still earn your degree the same way your 20 year old grandchildren are. So for someone who’s been out of high school for a few years to feel as though they can’t accomplish it, that’s certainly not the case at all. Schools like Capella University can really help you reach your goals, try checking it out for your higher education needs.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com

Lasik Surgery

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

Over the course of the last few years, my father’s eye sight has dramatically decreased. He claims it’s just old age, but for the past two years he’s had to upgrade his prescription quite a few times. He’s not going blind, he just can’t seem to focus his eyes. First he was far sighted, now he can’t see that either. I’ve recommended, a few times actually, that he look into Lasik but unfortunately his insurance doesn’t cover it. I’ve heard that the procedure works very well, but it’s not that cheap either. If it’s worth it, in the end, however – I think he should go for it. But hey…that’s just my take on it.

Baby has eye problems as well. While I think he’s hansom with or without his glasses, I think that looking towards a life without them, considering I’m sure his eye problems are 100% fixable with this surgery, he should consider looking into it. He doesn’t hate his glasses, I know this. But by the end of the day he can’t wait to get them off his face so his head can hit the pillow and he can drift off into a dream world.

After doing some research I found that USAEyes.org concluded that, after Lasik, 90% of patients achieved 20/40 vision or better ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú good enough to drive without glasses ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú and 65% achieved 20/20 vision, after a review of US Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, peer-reviewed data, and individual patient outcomes.

If you can improve your vision by that much, why aren’t more people getting it done?

Dream Homes: San Diego, CA

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

When the topic of marriage, owning a home, having children, and other things are factored into a successful relationship, I find myself going into detail about the house of my dreams. I want beautiful hard-wood floors, I want a huge kitchen with plenty of counter space and stainless steel everything. Marble, large stair cases, huge master bedroom, big living rooms. The kind of things you’d see in San Diego Homes considering I’ve seen “The real housewives of Orange County” enough times to drool over the gorgeous homes they live in.

Southern California is known for luxury homes. The market is pretty strong in communities like San Diego, La Jolla, Coronado, San Clemente, Rancho Santa Fe, and Laguna Niguel. There is an increased number of million dollar homes because of the increased number of wealthy people looking to retire in a beautiful place, San Diego County and Orange County respectively. Tropical and moderate weather year round allows for a very healthy lifestyle with plenty to do as far as sports and other recreational activities.

I’m not one for ritzy areas, but based on what I’ve seen of Orange County, I have to say that I’d definitely love to stay there for a few days and feel it out. It’s a beautiful area and having sun like that all the time, with loads of beaches, you can’t help but want to be there.

Camping

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

PPP Baby likes the idea of traveling, as do I. The one thing I’m not too keen on is the woods. While I do love animals, I don’t like ones that can skunk you down or rip you up. I also don’t like the idea of bugs bigger than my face. But, he likes to camp and has gone to Pennsylvania a few times to do it. He runs down his list of supplies and is so proud of his leica binoculars it’s kind of funny.

I had no idea what he was talking about but when I came across Eagle Optics and looked them up, it kind of made sense. It’s easy to be proud of a pair of binoculars when you spent over $1,000 on them. That’s kind of pricey for me, I’m used to the Fisher Price ones I was using until recently (Yea, those puppies last!). I did find a few cheaper pairs in the $30 range on this site, that’s more of my cup of tea. :mm tea:

Eagle Optics is a good source for buying things like this because they have low prices, great customer service, an excellent selection and free financing on orders over $200. So if you’re dropping over $1,000 on a pair or two of binoculars, this is the place to go.

So looking through here for a while, I may wind up going with a simple pair from Audubon. They seem to be pretty decent and they’ve got one that’s even waterproof. Oh joy, I can watch the sharks appear closer than they really are…lol

Damn!

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

So I kept pretty close watch on the opps today and didn’t see anything big show up. I was expecting to see a post that had like $1,000 listed to it the way people did in April, but that wasn’t the case. They’re getting trickier now. They’re giving away an AppleTV and on the last Tuesday of the month, it’s going to be a big screen HDTV.

Last month, I assume that the $1,000 posts were completely visual. This month the posts could be $5 or even $100, that’s their choice. It’s based under a completely random topic and now someone can click a link thinking they’re going to be blogging about plastic cups, the way Jade did, and have an AppleTV being shipped to their door.

Changing things around like this seem to be cool, especially how they’re doing it now, but my sleep schedule is pretty messed up because of staying up the way I have on Tuesday’s. I just can’t wait until it’s my turn : taps foot :

Welp, since I didn’t win a TV I guess I can run down the PPP ops and bring in something today. There were pretty high paying ops popping up this morning that I’m pissed at myself for not taking now.

Outside Help

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

As far as statistics go, there’s a 10% chance that you WON’T be in debt at some point in your life. With the cost of living going up, and pay checks remaining the same, it’s hard to live within your means without some kind of outside help (loans, credit cards, etc) or even the ability to just break even. Unless you have a joint budget with your wife/husband/mate, you’re most likely spending more than you’re bringing in. Savings accounts are dwindling and no one is really happy with where they currently are.

I’m a saver, while I do binge on random items, I penny pinch. It’s how I was raised. There’s no point in dropping money on items that you don’t really need. Money earned is meant for bills, food, etc. Sure, sometimes you can find me at either Wal-mart or Kmart looking for clothes but that depends on the status of my closet. I don’t intend to be making any immediate purchases considering I’ve been losing about 5 pounds a week for the last few weeks. My goal is to drop quite a bit and there’s no point in spending money on clothes when I’m going to have to keep buying more.

I like nice things, I won’t deny this. I just don’t see the point in spending money on them when they aren’t really necessary. Yes, I don’t need two computers but when you work online as much as I do, it’s nice to have a bit of variety. I can’t sit at a desk all day, I need to move around. I’ve been on the desktop all night while my laptop takes a break, you can find me on that more than half of the time.

I just think it’s important that people start living within their means, and not depending on the banks/government to pay their way. It’s sickening to me.