Archive for October, 2014
Hello friends,
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to exercise I have to admit that I don’t get enough of it. I don’t run or jog but I do like to walk both outdoors, weather permitting and in the evenings on my elliptical, energy permitting – lol.
However, my favorite exercise of all times is working outside in the yard. During this time of the year hubby and I spend our Sunday afternoons outside doing yard work. He mows the lawn, trims and edges the walkway, while I cut back the Spring and Summer foliage and pull those weeds which never seem to stop growing!
Autumn is the best time of the year to work outside because it’s not too hot nor too cold, and listening to music makes it even more enjoyable. While hubby rides the lawnmower, he is listening to music from an iPhone in his pocket and headphones on his ears.
While I trim trees and hedges I’m listening to music with an iPhone nestled securely in a Limm iPhone Armband with buds in my ears. The Limm iPhone Armband keeps the iPhone safe and secure with an adjustable and stretchable strap that doesn’t interfere with my arm movements.
The Limm iPhone Armband is made of a material that keeps the phone protected from sweat and has a built in pocket to hold a single key, so if you are out for a run or walk, just tuck your house, desk or car key inside. If your exercise regiment also includes working outdoors and you want to listen to music while you work, try this Limm iPhone Armband, which would also make for a great stocking stuffer, you can order one today from Amazon.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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Hello friends and welcome to Money Monday.
If you are off from work today due to the Columbus Day holiday, you’ll probably be hitting the stores in search of some great bargains. In case one of those stores is Target make sure to load up your Cartwheel before loading up your cart.
If you don’t know about Cartwheel, you can read more about it here, then download the free mobile app because it will help you to save even more money on your in-store purchases at Target.
Cartwheel is an app on your Smartphone where you can select offers after signing into your Facebook account then going to the Cartwheel website via their Facebook page. (select “visit website”) or just sign in with your own Facebook account directly on the Cartwheel website.
Tap to add the discounts that you’ll be using, then show your phone with the SCANShow barcode to the cashier at checkout. The great thing about using Cartwheel is that there are discounts in each department from clothing to groceries and there’s no need to cut coupons or wait days to get a gift card refund. You can use Cartwheel and stack it with other coupons, sales as well as your debit or credit REDcard for even more savings. Try it – you’ll Like it!
HAPPY SHOPPING!
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Hello friends, I trust you all had a wonderful weekend, mine was quite busy and it’s going to continue late into the night.
This evening I will be heading up to Wilmington to cover the Gordesi Launch Experience – Summer 2015 Collection as part of the VIP Press corp. I am really looking forward to attending this fashion event and I can’t wait to bring you all the exciting coverage.
Speaking of fashion, here is last week’s outfit roundup.
I am going to title this outfit “All in the Family”. Reading through fashion blogs I learned that if you are going to mix patterns, make sure the colors are all in the same family. So with this maxi skirt and black and white shirt, I chose to wear leopard print shoes and purse, I surprised myself with how it all came together.
The belt, purse and top were all thrifted from Goodwill, the flats were purchased at Citi Trends and the skirt has been in my closet forever. What do you think?
This outfit I am calling “Black and Blue Block”. You know how much I like my sleeveless sheath dresses and this one from Ross is no exception, and with it are my favorite Mia heels and Buddah Bag.
Necklace is Avon and bracelet is Old Navy. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best thing about a sheath dress is that you can wear it all year long by just adding a blazer or cardigan when the temperatures dip. Speaking of Avon, check out my latest YouTube Video, it’s an Avon unboxing which includes beauty supplies that will be part of my Holiday Spa Day Giveaway coming next month!
Here I am in a bright Autumn orange. Orange is definitely a color that works well with my skin tone, not only in the summer but also during the fall. I like this top because it is so colorful and I think it was purchased at Rugged Wearhouse, can’t remember, but the wedge heels were.
I love to mix and match my bangle bracelets as well as the multi color necklace. This Pumpkin floral arrangement was a free find at work, it almost got tossed in the trash but it’s the only thing I use to decorate the house because I donated all the other Halloween decorations a few years ago. Now that my sons are older, we don’t really celebrate it anymore.
Do you decorate the house and yard for Halloween?
My only Halloween Decoration
This last outfit is entitled “Wild Wednesday”. Unfortunately, hubby didn’t get a good view of the peep toe wedges as they also have the “wild stripes” along the bottom.
This purse has been in my closet since 2008, it was one of those “I have to go back and get it” finds at a Flea Market in Orlando. Unfortunately, it has been on the top shelf in my closet for years but I just won’t get rid of it. I love the Egyptian pattern but it’s too small to even hold my wallet!
This khaki skirt was thrifted and the top is a one-piece twin set. In keeping with the wild theme, I am wearing brass earrings, beaded necklace, multi metal bracelet and oversized handmade ring – it was a wild and crazy day! So which outfit did you like the best?
Enjoy the rest of your day and we’ll chat tomorrow at Money Monday.
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Hello friends and welcome to this week’s feature of “Wellness Wednesday”.
October is more than a month of falling leaves, trips to the Apple Orchards and Crock Pot meals. For me it also signals the time to put my legs in stirrups and to have my boobies mashed between two metal plates. Yep, it’s time for the annual exams for the hooters and the tooter, which means I will also be scheduling my first colonoscopy. Hubby’s recent diagnosis and ultimate surgery for small intestinal cancer made it even more of a priority for me.
After checking both my work and home calendars I try to schedule my annual Pap Smear and Mammogram appointments on the same day. It’s so easy to get caught up with work and family, not to mention the holiday hoopla then forget to make an appointment.
Oftentimes, I will mix the day of appointments with a day of pampering starting with the dreaded pap smear, followed by lunch, then the mammogram and finally a pedicure ~ works for me!
I don’t care how old I am how long I’ve been having these procedures done, I never look forward to either. However, it doesn’t matter how uncomfortable they are, these vital exams must be done, no if’s, and’s or butt’s about it!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so if you haven’t made an appointment for your annual mammogram, please use this as a reminder to do so. We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer which is more of a reason to schedule an appointment ~ no excuses.
To get a FREE copy of the eBbook The Top Ten Superfoods for Preventing Breast Cancer, just click on this link
Have you ever taken part in a Breast Cancer Walk?
I did this one in memory of my cousin Debra and Aunt Hazel.
“Cancer Don’t Care!”
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: I am not a medical professional and these posts are not designed to promote or give any medical advice. Please check with your personal physician if you have any questions regarding your own health.
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Hello friends,
Now that the heat of the summer is over the Stink Bugs have started looking for a warm place to call home, and I need to make sure it’s not mine! We used to have a screen door installed in the laundry room but last year the wild Winter winds grabbed and tore it off. Not wanting to install a new door I decided to try the iGotTech Magnetic Screen Door.
After ordering and receiving the Screen Door from Amazon.com, I watched the installation video and read a few of the reviews. Here in Delaware, we have some seriously cold winters and hot humid summers so the Velcro strips and tacks that were included may not be strong enough to hold the screen in place for more than a season. If we still had an awning, which was also torn away, (see the frame pieces in this picture), it would provide additional protection over the screen making it last longer.
Our house is also located in a “wind tunnel” so we will need to add metal strips around the door frame before attaching the screen.
Hubby agreed to help me with the install, but he had to leave town for the weekend, but if you want to see how to install the iGotTech Magnetic Screen, watch this YouTube video.
I just want to keep the Stink Bugs out of the house!
Is this something you might find useful for your home?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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Hello friends, Happy Money Monday
Several months ago I attended an AARP Seminar and one of the topics of discussion was collecting Social Security benefits. A few women in the audience were concerned because they believed that when the time came for them to collect Social Security, the system would be bankrupt.
The speaker tried to reassure them that that would not be the case, but one woman was not totally convinced.
So let’s debunk some of the other myths to make sure the sky is not falling.
Myth 1: Social Security payments are based on your last 5/10/15 years of work — False
Your Social Security payments are based on your lifetime average earnings. For retirement payments, SSA uses your best 35 years of work, indexed for inflation. (Fewer years are used for mid-career death or disability.)
You can get a Social Security estimate by signing up at ssa.gov/myaccount
Myth 2: You should postpone Social Security to get the most retirement income. —Maybe so, maybe no.
Taking your retirement payments later, up to age 70, gives you a higher monthly payment. But will you survive long enough to reap the benefit? Will you drain your savings while waiting for Social Security to start, short-changing your later years? If you withdraw from tax-deferred retirement accounts, will you pay more in taxes than you would if you drew Social Security instead?
Myth 3: You have to die for your family to get Social Security on your work record. —False
Your spouse and children (and yes, your former spouse) can be eligible for Social Security, even while you’re alive. Make sure to take family benefits into account in your retirement planning.
By the way, it is true that your family can get Social Security if you die. Just don’t wait that long!
Myth 4: If you work and earn over $15,000 while on Social Security, your payments stop. – False
It’s true that there’s a threshold earnings level set every year; it’s $15,120 in 2013. What’s false is that if you earn anything over the threshold, your Social Security will stop.
First, the threshold applies only to those under Full Retirement Age (FRA, currently 66). Once you are over FRA, you can work all you want and still get full Social Security. You’d have to earn quite a bit, perhaps $30,000 to $50,000 to lose all your Social Security.
Finally, remember that only work income — wages or self-employment earnings — count against your Social Security. Pension, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc. don’t count.
Myth 5: Social Security is losing money/is broke. — False
Social Security is still running a surplus and banks the extra money they bring in each year, so their reserve funds are growing.
Counting all three revenue streams shows SSA running a surplus ($54 billion in 2012), and surpluses continuing until 2020.
What happens after 2020? SSA’s reserves provide full payments until 2033. After that, tax revenue alone will provide about 75% of needed funds. Yes, Congress will have to increase revenue and/or cut benefits before then to close the gap.
The bottom line is that you’ll make better retirement decisions with accurate information. Best wishes for an abundant retirement, and as always, keep on planning.
Information reposted from: www.marketwatch.com
Do you have questions regarding Social Security Benefits?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014
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Hello friends and welcome to another week of Sunday Stylin Roundup. The last two weeks of summer were fantastic in Delaware, as a matter of fact the entire summer season was fantastic and Autumn is starting out just as nice.
The four outfits being featured this week include a lot of black, but who doesn’t have a lot of black in their closets?
In this outfit there is a mix of black, beige and steel grey. The skirt is JCPenney, tank and shoes are thrifted and purse is from Burlington Coat Factory. The choker has been in my jewelry box for a long time, as a matter of fact, I believe it once belonged to my grandmother.
I hadn’t done much shopping during the summer, however, this dress was one that I did buy at Ross. The Buddha Bag was purchased last year during Shop Small Business Saturday, and the Mia heels are from The Shoe Dept in the Exton Mall. The necklace was a Flea market find and the bracelet was $1.25 from Burlington Coat Factory.
Leaves falling on the pool deck made for a perfect backdrop for this Blue by the Pool outfit. This is another skirt from JCPenney, top from Marshall’s and I won the necklace from a fellow blogger. The thrifted beige pumps and bracelet from Old Navy completes the look.
I love turquoise blue – how about you?
In the last outfit you can tell that the temperatures are beginning to change as did my wardrobe. I will be wearing more long sleeves, blazers and cardigans so I spent more than 6 hours last Saturday in my closet, check out these before and after pics.
Unfortunately, I still have the spare bedroom to clear out – I had bags and bags of items to be donated to Goodwill – “Donate Stuff Create Jobs!”
I am not ready to cover my tootsies or wear tights, so I will continue wearing peep-toe shoes until the first snow fall.
How about you, are you ready to pull on the boots or shop for more summer styles? If you want to shop for more, go check out the sales at Shoedazzle or the BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SALE at JustFAB
Which outfit did you like the best?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
17 Comments
Hello friends and welcome to the first post of my new mid-week feature, Wellness Wednesday. Each week we will be talking about a health and wellness topic, but not always in a clinical way, sometimes it will be comical and fun, so enjoy and join in on the conversation!
Autumn brings about a lot of changes one of which is fewer hours of sunlight, it gets darker earlier but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to bed earlier or getting more sleep. Long gone are the days of working from sunrise to sunset.
If you are anything like me, oftentimes you find yourself up late catching up on paperwork, paying bills, working on your blog or watching a late night talk show. We all know that not getting adequate sleep interferes with our ability to function properly or concentrate while driving, completing daily chores and staying alert at work. So how do we get a better night’s sleep, here are 8 tips:
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The bedroom should be a place for sleep, relaxation and intimacy only, no exercise or office equipment in the room.
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Colours can be stimulating make sure to choose colors that are soothing and relaxing like blue or green.
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Be comfortable, wear loose clothing or nothing at all, consider purchasing a new mattress and pillow. The room should be properly ventilated and slightly cool so that you can breathe well at night.
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Sleep in complete darkness and install dark curtains or use an eye mask if necessary.
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Try to sleep by 10pm and wake by 6am these are the hours that are ideal for melatonin secretion.
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Take a hot bath right before bed. A hot bath will calm you and it’s a perfect time to relieve some stress. Try adding essential oils like lavender or chamomile to promote relaxation.
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Limit EMF exposure. All electronics including TV, iPod, laptops and cell phones should be removed from the bedroom with the exception of an alarm clock but turn it away so the LED light doesn’t interrupt your sleep.
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Keep lights off when using the bathroom at night. Instead have a night-light in place to prevent stopping the production of melatonin.
Come on join in on the conversation, what are some of the ways that helps you get a good night’s sleep?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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