Are you an armchair traveler?  I must say that I am.  I basically travel vicariously.  But unlike me, my niece has circumnavigated the globe like the explorer’s of yesteryear.  By the time she was 21, I think she’d had accumulated more frequent-flier miles than any Baby Boomer I know!

My niece graduated the University of Vermont, and did a study-abroad in Adelaide, Australia.  During her time there, my lucky sister-in-law and brother-in-law ventured to see her and spent some time touring the country.  The photos they brought back were spectacular!  Unfortunately, I don’t fly well, not even to Chicago!

There was a movie many years ago when I was a kid called the “Time Machine.” ~ I remember the original, 1960 version, so please don’t laugh.   That’s how I prefer to travel ~ walk me in one door,  close it ~ open the other door, and poof ~ I’m there!

I have a new friend from Australia on Mom Blogger’s Club.  Annette Piper writes Under the Loupe.  Annette lives on a cattle ranch in NSW, Australia with her husband and 3 children, and has a background in gemology.  You just have to visit her site to see the magnificent hand crafted artisan gemstone jewelry creations that she makes!  Annette’s writing style will just mesmerize you, and makes you definitely want to visit her country!

I was “tagged” by Annette with this Meme where I am supposed to list six of my quirks and then tag six other people.  Only six?  Ha ~ you my loyal readers know I have more than six quirks, as I’ve done this Meme before.  But here are my latest ones:

Here are the rules:

1. link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1.  I long to live a simpler lifestyle.  I’m tired of ’suburbia,’ which is no longer ’suburbia’ in Connecticut.  It’s just one big metropolis and the traffic is horrendous.  Even though I try to pace myself and slow down from living in the fast-lane (i.e., work commute; dinner; online biz; some sleep; commute again) I still flip out when someone is doing 25 mph in a 40 mph zone;

2.  Why am I the only one in this household who has to bag the trash and take it to the garage?

3.  I like to cover books I’m reading with a brown paper bag when I read at lunch at the office so no-one knows what I’m reading (no, it’s not dirty, it’s just I don’t think anyone needs to know my business unless I feel like sharing it with them);

4.  I go to Dunkin Donuts for my Coffee Coolatta fix.  At the drive through, I order “Medium French Vanilla Coolatta ~ Whip Cream ~ Senior Citizen.”   I get to the order window, and I get No Whip Cream, and get charged regular price.  So I have to say it all over again ~ Medium ~ Whip Cream ~ Senior Citizen.  What’s up with the hired help these days?   They can’t even count change back without a computer to tell them what is owed.  A sign of the times in society.  Geez.

5.  I’m a list maker.  Even at my cubicle job, all I think about is my online businesses and my blogs.  I make lists of what to put up on eBay; what to post on my blogs; links to change; emails I have to return; Memes I have to respond too!  Lists ~ Lists & More lists!  The more I cross off, the more I add!

6.  Every Saturday it’s the same routine (at least for my DH who should have a Bust of himself at the State Capitol in the Land of Steady Habits ~ breakfast at the same coffee shop; grocery shopping at the same grocery store we always go to ~ even though I can’t stand it anymore because they’ve discontinued all my favorite products and promote their own store brands which I can’t stand.

I don’t hit the ground running any more, and how about I skip breakfast on a Saturday and just putz around in my PJ’s for a change?

Ok.  And there you have it for this time around.  My Hot-Flash rantings.  And my lucky victims friends I’m tagging are:

1.  Matt ~ Meltwater.  Torrents. Meanderings. Delta.  ~ Just to see if guys are willing to fess up.

2.  April ~ That Crazy Mom (Sorry hon ~ I see you’re super busy!)

3.  Original G.R.I.T.S. ~ just because I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

4.  Dianne ~ WAHM Cafe ~ See what happens when you’re my top dropper?

5.  Nessa’s Place ~ This should be interesting!

6.  Midlife Misfit ~ hello new friend!  Let’s see what you have to add!

“Toot Your Own Horn”

What does that mean? Well, it means every Tuesday, we get to post a Meme of an accomplishment that we have done. As Moms sometimes, we are quick in praising our kids and others about their accomplishments but we are “shy” when it comes to our achievements so … here’s our chance.

I’ve been officially honored as a “Drop Star” and awarded a badge by my friends Tina of Mummie Diaries (across the Pond in the U.K.) and Tammy (Canada) of Mommy Knows Everything! Yippee!

It’s absolutely amazing how many new friends ~ SAHMs, WAHM, Grandmoms, Baby Boomers that I’ve made, and the variety of talented bloggers I’ve met through Entrecard!

I read all about their wonderful families, contests, money-savings ideas, recipes, share in their gripes, musings and more. No matter what part of the planet we’re on, we all share a common denominator ~ seeking out friendship, and writing about our experiences.

If you want to know more about Entrecard and how you can join this vast community, read my post here.

Also, be sure to visit Tina & Tammy’s sites to see how you too, can become a Drop Star! Thanks ladies!

I’d like to acknowledge special thanks to my recent Entrecard and Red Hot Drops Advertisers! If you missed them the first time around, please take a moment to visit these special Blogs!

Make Money Online ~ Work At Home
My Two Cents Worth
Up the Hill Gang
The Sewing Mom
Roxiticus Desperate Housewives
Confessions of an Organized Mess
Life and Me
This Side of Eternity
The WAHM Blog
Crayon Writer
Mommy’s Little Corner
Mom Reviews
The Mom With Brownies
Moms ~ Check NYO
Is 8 Enough?
My Thousand Loves
Regina’s Family Seasons
Thinking Outloud

When my DD was pregnant with ‘Lil Moomette, she developed preeclampsia and was relegated to bed rest for the remainder of her term. Now, mind you, when this child was 2, I purchased the book entitled “The Difficult Child” for my easy reading pleasure. To envision her on total bed rest doing puzzles or watching TV…I have to say I’m glad she was finally induced.

I belong to several networking forums, and one of the gals indicated she is somewhat of a shut-in and recovering from surgery, on bed rest and is looking for a way to pass time. Forum members wished her a speedy recovery and mentioned that we’ll be looking forward to her posts on her progress. I suggested she start a blog or ezine to promote her eBay business!

Why The Most Popular Home Based Business Opportunity These Days Involves A Blog

by Carael Knight

Today more than ever, chances are that if you have found a successful home based business opportunity, then most likely it involves either the heavy use of a high traffic blog or two or alternatively you’re making use of some effective classified ads to generate your targeted traffic.

It is no secret that popular search engines love blogs because of the fresh and constantly updated content found in plenty in this amazing new medium. Most bloggers have no problem enthusiastically updating their content daily or on a regular basis because they love their blogs since they give them “a voice” and a unique chance to publish their views and comments on a subject that they are usually crazy about. This powerful combination of factors has ensured that blogs have grown in leaps and bounds. The result has been the emergence of a powerful and effective medium that is by far the best for promoting any home based business opportunity.

In actual fact what happens is that the blogger uses the blog to work their home based business opportunity by directing some of the huge traffic to appropriate affiliate programs they have already signed up for. They mostly do this by making good use of affiliate links pasted at prominent and very visible positions all over the blog site.

So what happens is that the blogger has lots of fan blogging while at the same time working their home based business opportunity.

But blogging admittedly is not for everyone. And that is why there are those who use carefully selected effective classified ads to direct targeted traffic their home based business opportunity site.

Why just about anyone can make money online

Most people think that making money online is one of the most difficult things in the world and yet the reality is that anyone can make some serious money online. It really is easier than you think.

What makes it difficult is the attitude and the approach of most people. Many have plunged in blindly and inevitably the have failed. The net is full of these failures and they are constantly busy telling others that it cannot be done, just because they themselves failed.

Actually one of the biggest hindrances and obstacles to folks making money online is that most of us want to do it overnight and without having to learn anything first. This is a really strange mindset when you think about it because doctors train for years before they can be allowed to practice and commercial airline pilots also train for years before they can be allowed to fly passengers. So why should you expect to start an online business today and start making money tomorrow. Is that really realistic? Is it any wonder that so many people have failed in their efforts to make quick money online?

The big secret here that should not even be a secret is that anyone who takes a little time to learn the ropes and takes their minds off making money for a short time only will quickly find that they can earn much more than doctors and airline pilots after just a few months (instead of years) of learning. In other words anyone who is prepared to take the time to learn can make money online.

Carael Knight is a very aggressive Internet marketing expert.

MajorEnterprise is an Independent Internet Marketing And Advertising Company That Specializes In Boosting Website Sales.
Article Source: The WAHM Shack Article Directory

I’ve been Tagged with a Meme by Kim, over at Accidental Mommies and What’s That Smell ! Kim is my new friend, and comments on my Mama Mentor Blog that she thinks she and I may be twins! I’ve often felt that way when I see other writers. I actually feel that way about Sue Reimer’s columns over at the Baltimore Sun. Sue is one of my all-time favorite columnists.

Tagging is a great way to network, meet new friends, and get acquainted with other bloggers!

So here goes on the tag:

Here are the rules:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1 ) What was I doing 10 years ago?

* I was working full-time; raising my family; going to college part-time to finish my degrees;

2 ) What are five things on your to-do list for today?

• Clean my house (sorta done)
  

• List items for my eBay Store & Shoppes Site (not done, too busy blogging)

• Organize my Bookmarks folder so I can find things on my computer (another day)

• Continue to research ways to try to retire

• Remember to eat

3 ) What snacks do I enjoy?

• A real weakness for white pistachios, and of course, anything divinely chocolate!

4 ) Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

• Quit my Full-Time cubicle job (in a heart-beat)

• Pay of all my debt

• Buy a vacation Condo down South where it’s warm! - a definite subject of a post to come!

• Buy a vacation Condo up North in Vermont - for ourselves, DD & fam

• Get my DH the motorcycle he always wanted but I never would ever let him get (maybe another boat, too)

• Hire a house-cleaning person

• Travel, for real, and not vicariously this time

• Donate to several charities I’m grateful to and fond of

5 ) Three Bad Habits

Only 3…. ( agree with you here Kim, only 3?)

• Opinionated

• Slacker in my house cleaning (OK, so I don’t entertain as much as when I was younger)

• I still bite my nails and pay a fortune for gel tips

6 ) 5 places I have lived…
(this is a real joke)

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• Longmeadow, Massachusetts (when I was a Freshman in College, but then left to come home and continue college in CT

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

7 ) 5 Jobs I have had

• Desk Clerk in a Dry-cleaners

• Farm Shop Ice Cream Fountain Waitress - scooped ice cream up to my elbows (armpits, I’m short)

• Lingerie Sales Clerk in a Major Department Store

• Paralegal in various Law Offices

• Chief pooper-scooper of the cat litter box (this one’s a freebie & thrown in for good measure)

• Wife, Mom, Grandmother

And the lucky people I’m tagging next are:
* Vicki at Simply Vicki

* Shera at A Frog in My Soup

* Rox at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives

* Lynne at Sewing Mom

* First Time Dad

* Tina at Mummie Diaries

* Christine at From Dates to Diapers and Beyond

Stephanie @ Home with the Kids has tagged me. This meme is a wonderful way to “get to know you” and discover other great blogs. It does come with some basic rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know they have been tagged and comment on their blog.

I can’t believe someone wants to know more about me! I consider myself your pretty average gram. Ok, I’ll give it a try.

1) My favorite foods: Anything sinfully Chocolate; really good well-prepared Pasta; and ~ Seafood (especially Fried Clams - a New England favorite, and even more so when being consumed down at the shore, with the smell of salt water waifing in the air.

2) Things I Miss: The smell of burning leaves that signaled Fall when I was a kid. Most towns don’t allow it anymore.

3) Some Places I’ve Never Been to: Well, most places about cover it ~ The West Coast, Europe (except England, I’ve been there) & I have to include Hawaii. Someday, maybe.

4) Some of my Favorite Places I’ve Been to: Cape Cod, Massachusetts ~ I never tire of it. Sometimes it can be so nostalgiac. Block Island, RI ~ again, nostalgiac & tranquil. Same for Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, and I loved Hilton Head, SC and riding bikes on the Beach.

5) Most Unluckiest Moment: Arriving in Bermuda on a Saturday afternoon, and falling off a scooter on a Sunday morning. Broke my wrist. Got to see Bermuda’s finest orthopaedists in action, put me right under anesthesia. Spent the rest of the week in a cast, and more surgery followed at home. Physical Therapy for 5 months afterwards. I have a souvenir tetanus shot certificate from Bermuda in my scrapbook.

6) Luckiest Moments in my Life: the births of my healthy, 2 daughters; the birth of my healthy, beautiful granddaughter; the marriage of my oldest daughter and her wonderful husband-I couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic Son-In-Law (Karma) ~ and I got a BONUS ~ SIL has a twin brother!

7) And lastly ~ Now that I’m older, my feet don’t hit the ground running in the morning anymore ~ I do most of my best creative thinking at nite!

And now the really hard part… tagging. Who, oh who shall I tag? Need to find some folks who I don’t think have done this one, at least in recent times. Let’s go with…

University Mama

Vintage Goodness

Internet Shop Girl

Work at Home Mom

eBiz Parent

Frugal Franny

Chef Michele’s Adventures

Now that was fun! Happy Reading!