I have way to many ideas floating around in my brain these days!  Really!  Ask my husband.

I am constantly finding new things that I want to do and I just don’t have enough time to do it all!

One thing that I AM going to be doing a lot more of in the very near future is making videos.  I bought a new flip camera that I am very excited about.  It’s a Kodak Zi8, which I have been told is quite hard to get a hold of these days because they don’t make them anymore.  But it is in demand because the newer versions don’t have the option of adding an external microphone, which I really

Kodak ZI8 (Photo credit: cattias.photos)

like because then you can filter out all the white noise.  It is the same flip camera that Pat Flynn uses and I’ve seen some really good demos on YouTube, too.  I’ve bought the external mic to go with it and a tripod and a remote so I can pause and turn it on and off from where I’m sitting.

I’m super excited about that because I’ve been talking with my niece about some cooking videos and I want to make more videos to promote my site.

I think it is going to be fun and, hopefully, profitable, too.

Ok – maybe I won’t get one up every day.  I’ll try for a couple times a week.  How does that sound?  I’m not as good at the photo thing as my friend Tara (who I’ve just noticed is way behind on her own challenge!)

So, here’s a couple photos that I’ve done in the past couple days (click on them to make them full sized):

Kitty Love

Pizza - we love pizza at our house!

My little angel!

Ok – I’ve decided that for the next month I am going to post a new picture every day.  Why?  Because I can.

I like taking pictures.

I’m not very good photographer though.

But we’ll see what I can come up with.

Stay tuned!

One of the biggest things that leads to success when you are trying to make changes in your life (like losing weight) is planning ahead.  Since tomorrow we start our 90 Day Challenge, I need to make sure that there is some food in the house that I will cook and that we can have as snacks in between or along with shakes.  I love the shakes – they do taste pretty good – but sometimes you just need a little bit extra to make you feel like you’ve actually had a meal.

My husband is a specific eater (he doesn’t like it when I call him picky) so there are a few foods that are on the must have list.  But I like a bit of variety.

So I’m heading off to the store so that I can get a few things to keep us happy for the next week.

I like to have things that crunch and have lots of flavor.  I like foods that make me feel like I’m having a treat.  But not too much of a treat otherwise I start craving things like donuts and pie and cake.  I don’t need that.

Whole green beans in a carton. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So here’s a few things on my list:

• apples
• bananas
• oranges
• snap peas
• cashews (in moderation – my husband will have to hide these)
• broccoli
• asparagus
• green beans
• turkey breast

My biggest challenge is going to be pasta because I really could eat pasta with every meal!  But I think I’ll manage.  And when I absolutely have to have it I’ll get whole wheat pasta.  They even make it so that it doesn’t taste like whole wheat.  I can deal with that.

Are you joining me?  I’d love to hear from you!  And if you need help getting started just go here and then fill out the form and I’ll be in touch soon.  You don’t even have to live near me to get going!  I’ll be ordering some samples soon so I can send you some if  you just want to give it a try.  And if you live in my hometown you can either come by my house and chat and enjoy a shake or you can have me come over to your house!

I know deep down that there is a huge correlation between health and life satisfaction.  So why am I not taking care of my health?  I’m not eating right, I’m not exercising, and I don’t do the things that I want to do (like training to run a 5k).

So what am I waiting for?  Good question.

I’m done waiting.  I’m starting now.

And my first step is to get back to doing the 90 Day Challenge with Body by Vi.  I can’t just sit around and do nothing and I don’t believe in most weight lost gimmicks and I know that I SUCK big time at planning and making meals.  I do believe in this product and really – how damn hard is it?  Make a couple shakes each day and move your butt a bit!

I have shake mix still so I’m going to get using that.

I’m going to move my butt a little bit every day – even just half an hour.

I’m going to make drinking those shakes and having a healthy dinner a priority.  With a few snack in between (some fruit and stuff like that), there is no reason I can’t do this!

Want to join me?

Then just click on that banner below.  Watch the video.  Then fill in your contact info so we can get in touch.  Doesn’t matter where you live.

Just do it – for you, because you’re worth it!

Who isn’t looking for great deals these days right?  And more and more people who are looking for great deals are heading to online stores to find them.  Online stores often offer great discounts because they have lower overhead.  As a result, you benefit.

One of the places that I have found to buy clothing and find some great deals is Light in the Box.  This is an online store that features great women’s clothing selections.  You’ll find some super spring deals to help you start the warmer season off right.  You can even find great prices on maternity clothes that will make you feel pretty and stylish – just like the pregnant celebrities that are so trendy these days.

This online store will also help you complete your fashion statement with a great selection of handbags and accessories.  You’ll find loads of unique handbags and purses and satchel to choose from so you can always have something to suit your needs.  And don’t forget all those little pieces that complete an outfit like scarves, headbands, and belts.  These things might seem little but they are what pulls an outfit together.  And of course, don’t forget the jewelry!  Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings are all just waiting for you.

Of course, one of the best things about shopping online is finding coupon codes that can drastically decrease your spending.  You can get better prices than the already great prices just by using a coupon!  And Light in the Box has some great coupon codes out there.  You still get great products and great service but for a smaller price tag.  If you’ve filled up your shopping cart at Light in the Box and you’re ready to check out don’t forget to use Lightinthebox coupon to cut the cost down a bit.  You will be glad you did.  A Lightinthebox coupon is so easy to find that there is no excuse not to use it!

Click the picture to get great coupon codes from Light in the Box!

How many of you make an effort to bring in residual earnings? What is your preferred method? Article marketing? Blogging? YouTube?

It is something that has been on my mind more and more lately. I hit my first payout for Adsense and it has encouraged me. So I’ve been looking at where that money is mostly coming from and I’ve found that there is one blog in particular that stands out (not this one!).  That blog gets posted to almost daily and it seems to be set up to encourage the use of adsense.  So I’m definitely going to continue working that blog and maybe if I can get it updated into the future I’ll start another one like it.

Image via CrunchBase

The other thing that stands out is YouTube. I have one video that has 11,000+ views. I’m trying to replicate that.  Generally I like making YouTube videos.  I especially like the tutorial style videos and I’m thinking of doing a series.  Either a Blogger 101 series or a Facebook Pages for Local Business series.  Or maybe both.  I think they both have the potential to be useful for people and interesting.

I’m also remembering that I don’t control adsense and you never know how long that is going to last. I lost it once because of something that was beyond my control and if that happens again I don’t want to lose my only source of residual income. So I’m also writing for SheBudgets and Examiner, which are based on views, not clicks. I want to find another source of income for my blog, too but haven’t been looking too hard yet. Suggestions? (and yes, I know about Amazon, they just don’t work great for me yet).

I have a friend who suffers from anxiety and depression.  People don’t realize what she is going through.  Their comments hurt her and they make her very sad sometimes.  Because of this she has taken a break from Facebook.  So the next time you leave a comment on someone’s status or reply to a tweet, think about what you are saying?  Are you being hurtful or judgmental?  Do you have any right to say what you are saying?

anxiety (Photo credit: FlickrJunkie)

This is for my friend, a beautiful soul:

• People who have anxiety can’t always control it so don’t expect them to “just get over it”
• People who suffer from depression can’t always just get up and go and do something so they can forget about it.
• Yes, exercise can help both of these but when you feel like you are weighed down with the weight of the world on your shoulders it is not so easy to “just do it”
• They are not choosing this.  Trust me when I tell you that depression and anxiety are not a choice.
• They would change if they could.
• Despite the things you might have said they would not wish this on you for the world – even though you might deserve it.
• They are good people.  Take some time to get to know.
• Don’t act like you understand.  You DON’T!
• Listen and be a friend.  Understand only one thing – that you will never really understand.

This is also for another beautiful soul.  I hope he knows I love him very much.

If you love someone that suffers from anxiety or depression please share this!  

Have you noticed that there have been a lot of teenagers having babies lately?  Maybe it is just my perspective but you hear about it a lot these days.

As you know, my daughter had a baby at 16 (pregnant at 15).  She has three friends that had babies before her.  One that had a baby just after her.  And two more that are pregnant!

Now is it just me or is that a lot?

Psychologists would likely say that it is due to low self-esteem.  And that would make sense.  But girls are taught to have a healthy respect for themselves now.  The girls I know (including my daughter) don’t come from poor families.  They aren’t abused or treated badly.  They were involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities to build up their self-esteem.  So I can’t say that is true.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the past, there were less cases of teen pregnancy but women did not have all the self-esteem encouragement that they do today.  Girls were taught to cook and take care of their husbands. They weren’t taught to be strong women in the way they are today.

So what is different?  I wish I could tell you but I can’t think of what it is.

The only thing I can think of is that our society has taught them that it is ok to be teen moms.  They’ve grown up believing that if they have a baby they have the right to choose what to do with it (and don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong advocate of a woman’s choice). But how come little girls who aren’t allowed to drive and aren’t allowed to vote ARE allowed to be parents and to make this complicated decision without any real knowledge of what being a parent is like?

I don’t know what the answer is but somehow we need to start teaching our daughters that being a teenage mom is not easy and that it is a choice.  It isn’t an accident or a surprise – not if they aren’t protecting themselves!