Get Rocked With BlogRock!

Today, I want to do a big shout out for Mary of Blog Rock Graphic Design. Several of you have commented on how much you like the look of my blog and wanted to know who the talent behind my fun design is.  I wish I could take the credit but I'm one technically-challenged mom. I'm lucky to manage adding the odd button or link. So for those of you who are curious, I have to give all the credit for my snazzy looking blog to Mary.

And being as techy challenged as I am,  Mary has continued to be an absolute doll and still helps me out when I click something I shouldn't and mess up my blog or if I need help downloading something. Hell, the other day, she even helped out a fellow blogger who had her design done somewhere else! All this support she gives willingly and quickly.

For anyone who lacks computer skills or wants a completely original design, Mary is your gal and will work with you to create a fresh and fun look for your blog. She can create custom buttons or anything else to jazz up your design. And hey, she even drew my personalized cartoon from a photograph of me, how cool is that!

Keep on Rock'n Mary!! You're the best!!!

Parking Lot Fails Miserably!

I wish I could say I was happy with the parking lot of that grocery store I blogged about last month. If you missed those posts, you can view the photos of the garbage I had to wade through just to get to the front door Here. The photos taken after the cleanup are Here.

That was last month.

Today I headed over there to pick up a few items and just like before, garbage was blowing everywhere, shopping carts full of paper and used coffee cups, plastic bottles rolling around and a newly emptied garbage can at the entrance with crap not only blowing around it but stuck under it.

It REALLY pissed me off.

The manager had promised me that his staff would be taking more responsibility in the cleaning and tidying up of the grounds and here it was looking like a damn garbage dump AGAIN!

Well, you can't argue with perfect timing. As I was standing there fuming at the mess, a middle-aged man came out of the store wearing a grey business suit and tie and sporting a name tag for the grocery store.

Well you know I just had to stop him!

I asked him if he was the manager hoping he was but couldn't believe my luck when he told me "No, I'm from Head Office, Is there something I can help you with today?"  

JACKPOT!!!!

"As a matter of fact there is. I am so disappointed in the state of this entrance and the parking lot, the garbage that is blowing around in YOUR yard, the rubbish in the carts that I am expected to put the food I feed my family in blah, blah, blah" oh and I just had to mention that their competition only a few blocks up the street keep their grounds as neat as a golf course. I asked him if he would please take a look himself before leaving.

He thanked me for my concern and headed out to his car.

Well, I was still in the first set of doors strapping my daughter into one of the only "rubbish free" shopping carts left when I see him come barreling back in through the doors.

I stopped him and said "I hope you are going to do something about the garbage. I've called the manager about it twice"

Looking none too pleased, he said, "I'm on my way back up to his office right now to address it!"

Fingers crossed this is the guy who can bring down the hammer!!!

I'll let you know because if he's not, I'm going back with my camera and their head office is getting photos!

Let's "Go Green" With A Cute New Button!!

With the warmer weather finally here, you can bet that Yard Sale and Garage Sale signs will be popping up all over your neighborhood.

It's such a fun way to spend a morning or entire day and every sale you stop at is an adventure all on its own. You never know what you're going to find and most of the people hosting the sales or treasure hunting are outgoing and friendly.

And of course, don't forget that "Green" factor.

When you buy or sell pre-loved items, you are not only keeping them out of the landfills but you have saved the planet the resources and energy required to create a "new" one to replace this "gently used" one.

Sometimes it can be as simple as a coat of paint or a new fabric to dress up a vintage find and sometimes you can find the exact appliance or item you are looking for at a fraction of the price you would pay for new.

Want even more reasons to shop at Garage Sales and Thrift Shops?

Take a look at these pretty hoop earrings I picked up the other day at our local thrift store. I thought they were good quality but I got a hell of a shock when I used my magnifier and found the European stamp for SOLID 14K Gold on them. Talk about buy them on the spot!! Only $7.99 and these are NOT tiny, they are more than an inch in diameter, a hell of a bargain!!!

And this exquisite Victorian Mourning Necklace with genuine Seed Pearls and genuine Aquamarines all set in Solid Stamped 14K yellow gold? It was found at a yard sale in a plastic baggie mixed in with costume jewelry all for $1.00. Another wicked bargain!!!

It doesn't matter what you love, collect or are searching for, Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Thrift Shops can be a great resource!

"One Man's Trash REALLY is Another Man's Treasure!"

And don't forget to take along your own reusable shopping bags!!!

Oh, and did you happen to notice that darling little "Go Green Stamp of Approval" button that was designed by our friend Lee? Talk about being "Cute as a Button!" Details of how you can show off this little beauty on your own blog can be found at Erin of The Mother Load so head over for a peek at her "Go Green" post to find out how Here.

And Tracie of Stir Fry Awesomeness is showing off this adorable button on a "Go Green" Post of her own. This gal's got talent and you can see what it is Here!

Now tell us in the comments, what are some of your favorite pre-loved finds and what are you doing to "Go Green"?


Pssssst - If you haven't already entered my Giveaway of a 2-DVD Set "Menopause In An Hour" and "What's Up With You Know Who?" you can enter Here. Winner will be announced Friday, May 7.

Menopause In An Hour - Review and DVD Give Away!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to review the DVD set "Menopause In An Hour" and "What's Up With You Know Who?"  with Dr. Tara Allmen, a National Certified Menopause Practitioner and Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist.

As someone who faced menopause within two years of having their first child, this DVD  would have answered all my questions when that transition began. Being up to my neck in diapers at the time would have made this DVD an ideal solution. It's the next best thing to a one-on-one appointment with a Menopause Specialist with the added benefit of me choosing when that appointment was going to be.  

If you are a woman, this is the information you need whether you are facing a surgical or  natural transition into menopause or are now post menopausal.

In "Menopause In An Hour", Dr. Allmen covers what you need to know so you can enjoy more health and happiness regardless of where you fall within that cycle. If you are experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, this DVD is a must see!

The most up-to-date treatment options are explained along with simple lifestyle changes that could help reduce or eliminate your symptoms. You will learn when to seek medical treatment and the latest information on the pros and cons of prescriptions and bio-identical hormones.

Also included is a segment on how to prepare for an appointment with your own physician, what you need to know and what questions to ask. Everything is presented in an easy-to-understand and humorous manner by Dr. Allmen herself and all in an Hour!

The inside cover of the DVD case holds a 45-page companion guide "Symptoms & Solutions" where you can record and keep track of your symptoms and activities and easily review the information contained on the DVD.

The second DVD, "What's Up With You Know Who?" is for your family, mainly the man in your life. Dr. Allmen walks them through the ups and downs of menopause, what they can expect and better yet, how they can be supportive!

Want more information?

Visit www.menopauseinanhour.com where you can order these DVDs

Better yet!  You can win them here! The kind folks at Menopause In An Hour have offered to ship a copy of both DVDs to one of you. Here's how you can enter to win:

Leave one comment for each of the following entry requirements:

Be A Follower of my Blog - 1 Entry/Comment

Grab My Button with a link back to me - 3 Entries/Comments

Blog about this Giveaway with a link back to this post - 5 Entries/Comments

Giveaway begins NOW and ends Thursday, May 6 at midnight CST. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Open to USA and Canadian residents only.


GOOD LUCK!

Go Green GiveAway Winner!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered our "Go Green For Spring" Giveaway that was sponsored by Norwex. If you haven't checked out their eco-friendly products, you can find them Here.

Before I announce the winner, I wanted to take a minute and tell you about my experience using the Antibac Enviro Cleaning Cloth.

I LOVE IT! We have polished black granite in our kitchen and absolutely nothing has worked until now. For the past three years, I've just accepted the dull streaks and finger prints knowing that I would eventually get around to resealing the granite someday. Well not anymore, I used the Antibac Enviro Cleaning Cloth with only tap water and the granite looks like new! No Kidding! Perfectly polished without a streak or fingerprint in sight! Trust me, I was bending down and checking from every angle in direct sunlight and couldn't find a mark!

Oh yeah, and hubby decided to clean our flat-screen TV with the cloth that came with our IMAC computer.

BIG mistake!!

It caused big streaks that even he couldn't get out with spit and muscle. He growled and then asked where the Norwex Antibac Window and Polishing Cloth was (okay so he got the name of the cloth wrong but I had to correct him here so you can find one!) Guess what? A couple of quick swipes with that thing with a few drops of water and the TV screen looked like new! Not a streak or speck of dust. Hubby was so impressed, he ran over and cleaned the computer screen! Now there's a benefit I didn't expect, having hubby want to clean something for a change. I should have mentioned that it works on mirrors and windows too!

So now on to announcing our winner, we need a DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!

Using a Random Number Generator
 the winner of the Norwex
  Antibac Enviro Cleaning Cloth and Antibac Window and Polishing Cloth
 is #43:

Tammy of Tammy's Two Cents

Congratulations Tammy!! Email me at menonewmom@yahoo.ca with your mailing info so we can get these out to you and you can get cleaning!!

For those of you who want to "Go Green" and kick your regular household cleaning products to the curb, you can buy the Antibac Cleaning Cloth and Antibac Polishing Cloth Here along with a huge range of other eco-friendly products. Trust me, they are worth every penny and you won't be spending your money on cleaning products that will end up getting washed down your drains!

And of course, a big Thank You goes out to Marg Vines of Norwex who made this "Green Giveaway" possible and to all of you for entering!

Celebrate Earth Day Everyday With Our Norwex GiveAway!!

Thursday, April 22nd is officially Earth Day and I can't think of a better time to introduce you to a fantastic line of environmentally-responsible products.

Do you have children? Are you concerned about the possible affects of the chemicals used to "clean" our homes? The fumes our families inhale every time we open or spray a typical cleaning product? The toxicity of what we are washing down our drains or flushing down our toilets?

If you want to "Go Green For Spring" with Me and Erin of The Mother Load, why not take it a BIG step forward and Go Green Indefinitely!!

When it comes to cleaning our homes, I have and so can you!!

I was thrilled when Norwex agreed to sponsor a Green GiveAway to help us get the word out on how we can all make a positive difference on the environment. Any company whose mission statement includes "radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning" is going to get the "D&E" (Deb and Erin) Stamp of Approval (yes, we are working on a cute little button).

Norwex has introduced an entire line of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products and today, I want to share with you information about their superior Microfiber cloths.

Their unique microfiber formula uses silver and regular tap water to clean surfaces as close to their original condition as possible. Traditional cleaners leave behind broken-down, dried on dirt and grime which over time, will attract unwanted bacteria and future dirt but Norwex microfiber cloths leave surfaces residue-free and clean.

And no fumes! The one thing the cleaning industry has done well is convince us that clean has a "smell". Nothing could be further from the truth.

To be truly clean, absolutely nothing is left behind - no strong or harsh odor, no "fresh" artificially-engineered scent, no residue, no nothing.

So guess what!!  Norwex is sponsoring our Earth Day "Go Green GiveAway"!

Here's what one of you will receive!

Antibac Enviro Cloth

This multipurpose microfiber cloth can be used dry for dusting or damp to remove dirt and grease from any washable surface like walls, tiles, bathtubs, counter tops, metal surfaces, your children's toys and  anywhere you would normally use a damp cloth.


What makes this cloth unique is its antibacterial properties that will remove more bacteria than bleach! This cloth will prevent the transfer of germs to your hands and cross-contamination between surfaces, all while using ONLY tap water!

And this same lucky winner will also receive:

Antibac Window Cloth (polishing cloth)

When it's time to clean windows, mirrors, jewelry and other shiny metal surfaces, all you need is this cloth and tap water to polish them to a streak-free shine. A little more dirt than usual? Just use the Antibac Enviro Cloth above first and then follow up with this Antibac Polishing Cloth.


Cleaning our homes doesn't have to harm the environment or the health of our loved ones. Norwex has a complete line of products for laundry, dishes, unclogging drains, oven and grill cleaners, skin creams, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners and even car-cleaning products just to name a very few. Visit the Norwex Website to view their complete range of products so you and your family can Go Green!


Now here's how you can enter our "Go Green" Earth Day Giveaway:

Mandatory for First entry/comment

you must follow me and Erin 

Want More Than One Chance To Win? 

Visit the Norwex Website and tell me which product you love
(5 entries/comments)

Tweet about this Giveaway and send us a link to your tweet

(1 comment/entry plus you may tweet once daily)

Become a fan of  The Mother Load on Facebook. 

(1 comment/entry)
Follow Erin on Twitter (@erinlynn76)

(1 comment/entry)

Post links to this Giveaway on Facebook

(1 comment/entry)

Blog about this Giveaway

 and link up to our Earth Day posts within yours

(5 comments/entries)

Giveaway begins NOW and ends one week from today, Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 7 a.m. CST.

Winner will be announced shortly thereafter.  Open to USA and Canadian residents only with colors chosen by Norwex.

And please don't forget to go over to Erin's Place to play along in her fun Earth Day Poll!!

Overboard! Tales From A Claims Department

I haven't blogged too often about my "previous life" as a nine to five employee but every once in a while, something will remind me of a funny situation or story that happened while I was an office worker.

Here's one of them.

One of the jobs I had within the large insurance company I worked for was in the claims department. Part of that job included processing dental claims.

I'll never forget the time I received a claim form requesting reimbursement for a set of dentures. Some of the questions on the form were left blank so I couldn't process it. Back in the "Stone Age", we used to have contact with claimants so I picked up the phone and called "Buddy" for the missing information.

He was very nice but became a bit evasive when I asked why he needed new dentures when he had made a claim for a set only a few months before. His contract had a five-year limit on new chops unless this claim could be processed under the special "Accidental Dental" clause.

So after going back and forth with him and not really getting an answer, I finally got right to the point and asked "Where are the dentures we just paid for?"

Hesitantly he replied, "They're somewhere in Smith's Lake".

Okay, that's the last thing I expected to hear so even though I had the information I needed and told him I couldn't pay the claim, I just had to ask "How in hell did they end up in a lake?"

Being the good sport he was, he told me he had gone on a fishing trip with his buddies, had a little too much to drink, got a little seasick out in the boat and yep, while puking over the side, had those sparkling pearly whites we had just paid for fall right out of his mouth and sink to the bottom of the lake in front of his bloodshot eyes.

And no, I didn't keep a straight face, I laughed into the phone and had a good chuckle which, unfortunately, was at his expense.

Claim denied!