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Table for Five Gets A Fresh Look For Spring 2012!
February 28, 2012 · by · 6 Comments
This morning I took a look at Table for Five and decided it needed a Spring makeover! I’m already using the Genesis Framework from StudioPress, which I absolutely LOVE and would be happy to answer any questions about, and I had already purchased the Modern Blogger Child Theme to use on my blog MomReviews, so my first step was to upload Modern Blogger here, and then I rolled up my sleeves and got to work!
I replaced the default header graphic with one of my own by using the Windows snipping tool and then uploading the sample header to Picnik. Some stickers, some text, and the very helpful list of hex colors so I could make sure mine would match, and I had myself a bright, shiny theme!
It makes me feel like Spring is coming 
Seriously, if any of you have questions about how the Genesis framework works, how child theme works, or how to tweak a child theme you already have, please feel free to ask in the comments or email me. I love helping other bloggers!
Guest Post: Uncle Bob’s Retail Storage
February 27, 2012 · by · 1 Comment
Self Storage (Photo credit: afagen)
As demands rise, so does the need for efficient organization. Modern day businesses share this in common, and it is without a doubt that as the sense of survival and competition play against each other, innovative business skills are called for. One of the best ways to keep up with demands and supply would be to keep a decent sized stock of your products. These days, lots of businesses opt to rent some retail storageoff site in order to minimize clutter and the need for bigger business space on site. There are many reasons that warrant the need for some rental space, and this could range from businesses wanting to scale down the size of their operational business, to the need for businesses to temporarily rent some space in between shipments or if your business is in transition from location to location.
Depending on the purpose, you might need to look for some office warehouse for rent, and there are certain parameters that you’ll need to look into. Uncle Bob is an excellent example of a company that provides warehouse space and rental units for storage. However, you’ll need to have a rough idea of the amount of space you’ll need, and the rest will be pretty clear cut from there. There are various sizes of storage space available for rent, and rental is based on a monthly basis without the need for messy contracts; you’ll just need a one year lease and you’re good to go. The company offers rental space in many states in the US, so regardless of your location, you should be able to find a warehouse for rent near your locality. As part of basic business deals, you’ll have to put down a one-month deposit and the space is yours to use for the entire duration for the assigned lease.
disclosure: this article was written for me and I was compensated for publishing it.
Related articles
- Why a Storage Unit is a Large Family’s Best Friend (table4five.net)
- Best Storage Unit Rentals (ruralstops.blogspot.com)
- Self Storage – Not Just An Office Based Business Solution (bayintegratedmarketing.wordpress.com)
Guest Post: Mascara Tips from EyesLipsFace
February 27, 2012 · by · 5 Comments
Image via Wikipedia
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and they’re not really far off the mark there. One of the most dramatic ways to alter your look would be by focusing more on the makeup you apply around your eye area. You’d be surprised at the wonders that an eyelash curler and a really good mascara can do to widen your eyes and accentuate the color of your eyes as well as help bring out your best features. You may be new to all this and find it a little confusing, but the good news is that you could get loads of different mascaras online at a really reasonable price minus the hassle of having to run out to the stores. Different products are available in order to suit your varied needs and these are great for both outdoor, day use as well as night use.
Makeup kits are a good place to start for people who are new to makeup. These kits are usually sufficiently equipped for casual day use with makeup that is both suitable for school as well as the office. For night use, you might need to settle for a mascara that is darker with perhaps a volumizing effect. On the other hand, if you live in more humid climates, you might have to opt for waterproof mascara so that the mascara stays intact all day long without running. Waterproof mascara could prove challenging to remove, so you need to invest in a good supply of makeup removal cloths. These have a higher content of oil on them so that it’s easy for you to remove stubborn mascara without the need for vigorous scrubbing of any sort.
disclosure: this article was written for me and I was compensated for publishing it.
Related articles
- Try It: Colored Mascara (Don’t Be Scared!) (refinery29.com)
- 5 Tips For Major Eyelashes A La Adele (thefrisky.com)
- My review: the best and worst mascaras (thisismysoapbox.wordpress.com)
Friday Fives 2-24-12
February 24, 2012 · by · 19 Comments
1. This picture of Kaitlyn with marker on her chin like a beard:
2. This drawing Kaitlyn made for me (“I heart you, be cute”):
3. Last week’s “REALLY? With Seth and Amy” on SNL’s Weekend Update. I’m still snickering over getting upgraded to “Lady Business” on “TransVaginal”:
4. Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls, which I love every day, not just on Fridays
image credit: Pillsbury
5. Stefon’s Illustrated Guide to New York’s Hottest Nightclubs.
image credit: http://splitsider.com
Related articles
- Friday Faves 2-10-12 (table4five.net)
The Pros And Cons of Setting Up A Home Bar With Young Children In The House
February 22, 2012 · by · 17 Comments
If you’re like most people the thought of setting up a home bar may have appealed to you at one time or another. Now that you have young children you may be wondering whether it is a smart idea to set one up or whether you should wait until they get older. Setting up one of these bars does have both pros and cons when you have young children in the home.
The pros:
While of course the first pro would be that you are fulfilling perhaps a dream of owning your own bar or just putting something in place that you’ve wanted to do for a while. It’s always nice to be able to make a new addition to your home and set it up just so. For some people, owning their own bar is a luxury that they’ve been looking forward to for quite a few years, and were just waiting to get enough money together to make it happen.
It’s also nice to have a gathering spot in your own home where you can invite guests over to spend an evening. This is definitely a pro when it comes to having young children since you’ll save money on babysitters and can keep an eye on your kids while entertaining. Most children enjoy seeing company come into the house since it adds excitement and usually creates quite a happy atmosphere in the home.
The cons:
Of course, there are quite a few cons to setting up your own home bar. When the children are young you’re going to have to keep everything under lock and key to make sure that they don’t get into any of the liquor. Once your children become teenagers you’ll still have to keep your stock locked up. Various teens will be invited into your home and it’s not unheard of for some teenagers, who are testing the waters, to walk off with your wine coolers or at least take a drink while they are there. You don’t want to keep a constant eye on your wine coolers, stock of liquor or even your mixers.
This is not to say that all teenagers act this way, of course, but after raising a few teenagers of my own I have learned that trust is a very big word, especially when it comes to their friends. Plus, friends sometimes bring other friends and you don’t want to play around with liquor in the home.
All in all, you’ll have to go through the pros and cons listed above, and any others you may think of, before setting up a home bar with young kids in the house. It’s much like having an outdoor pool. With both bars and pools there goes an added responsibility of keeping safety first, and you’ll have to decide if you’re ready to take on this responsibility to have your own bar in your home.
disclosure: This article was written for me and I was compensated for publishing it.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Coupon Giveaway and Red Carpet Viewing Party!
February 21, 2012 · by · 10 Comments
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
The Oscars are this Sunday, Feb. 26th, and you are invited to an online viewing party streaming live from the Toast to the Red Carpet – LIVE, presented by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Facebook page. Hollywood stars Brooke Burke, Molly Sims, Carson Kressley will discuss the stars and the fashions. Foodies will appreciate watching culinary and entertaining expert Katie Lee prepare best picture themed recipes you can serve at your own Oscar viewing party!
I’ve worked with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter through my association with MyBlogSpark, and I’ve learned that it can be used to make breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizer, and snack recipes that have great taste. This recipe for Chili Parmesan Popcorn and Peanuts created by Katie Lee and inspired by “Moneyball” would be great to munch on while you watch Toast to the Red Carpet – LIVE, presented by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
Ingredients
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18 cups plain popped popcorn
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1/4 cup I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Spread, melted
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2 Tbsp. chili powder
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1 tsp. Kosher salt
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3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
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2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
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Instructions
Put popcorn in large bowl. In small bowl, combine melted I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Spread, chili powder and salt; drizzle over popcorn and toss until evenly coated.
Add peanuts and cheese; toss.
WIN IT:
Enter to win a coupon for a free tub of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!. Leave a comment on this post telling me why you want to watch the Toast to the Red Carpet LIVE. Is it for the stars? The fashions? Or for the food? Leave your comment by 11:59 pm on February 26th. I’ll pick a winner using random.org, email them for their address, and mail them the coupon. Thanks for entering and good luck everybody!
disclosure: The giveaway coupon is provided by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.
A Fall, A Mini Stroke, and Pneumonia – My Dad Could Use Your Prayers And Thoughts
February 21, 2012 · by · 11 Comments
A week ago Saturday, my Dad was taking a load of laundry out of the dryer, stepped backward, lost his balance, and fell straight back and down. The result was a fractured pelvis. The treatment for a fractured pelvis is six weeks of moving as little as possible. Which means that my Dad has been spending almost his entire day just sitting in the recliner. The problem with not moving is, he wasn’t taking deep breaths, which allows fluid to accumulate in the lungs, which then led to pneumonia.
BUT, before he knew about the pneumonia, he had told Jean on Sunday morning while they were still laying in bed that he was freezing. She put a doubled up comforter over him, but he was shivering. He started to get up to go to the bathroom, but his legs wouldn’t support him and she realized he was going down. She wrapped her arms around him and put her knee in his back and by doing that was able to slide him down to the floor so he didn’t fall again. Then she called 911.
My Dad has a history of TIAs – Transient Ischemic Attack, a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, also known as a mini-stroke. Jean suspected he was having one when the paramedics tried to get him to put his hands up on the handles of the walker to help pull himself up, and he couldn’t coordinate his arms. And, when he was answering questions, his speech was slurred.
At the hospital, not only did they discover he has pneumonia and the TIA had occurred, but a nurse also told Jean he was septic, which means infection had gotten into his bloodstream, and could have caused his organs to start failing. I mean, holy crap, right? How much can one person’s body take? He’s on antibiotics and blood thinners, and his team of doctors is going to meet to discuss how to treat the fractured pelvis but also figure out a way for him to be able to move around more to prevent the fluid build up.
My Dad is such a happy person, he never complains, even when he’s being poked and prodded, even when I know he’s in pain. I know he would appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery, or being added to prayer circles at church. His name is Warren Culver. For those of you who don’t pray, I’d sure appreciate you sending your positive thoughts his way. I’ll update when we know more about how long he’ll be in the hospital. Thanks, everybody.
Why a Storage Unit is a Large Family’s Best Friend
February 18, 2012 · by · 12 Comments
Image via Wikipedia
When you have a large family, space is a hot commodity – and very rarely does it come free and easy. It seems like every closet, nook, and cranny is packed to the brim with odds and ends, and the basement and garage has room for nothing but boxes. Quite honestly, it is a nightmare.
However, to better maximize the space in our home, we recently decided to get a storage unit at the local StorageMart. For a few extra bucks a month, we have been able to clear our closets, park our cars in our garage, and have even been able to free up the space for our kids to have an entertainment area in the basement. A few of the great ways we have decided to use our self storage unit include:
Clothing Rotation
With a large family, seasonal clothing can quickly overrun closets and make it impossible to find anything. However, swapping out clothes isn’t a much more effective space saver if you are simply packing them up and placing them in your garage or basement. To save space, and to keep our clothes safer from mold and mildew, we have chosen to regularly rotate our seasonal clothing and store those we aren’t using in our storage unit. Not only do we save space, but we also know the clothing is better protected than it would be in our own home.
Holiday Decorations
Holidays decorations are only needed once a year and even then only for a brief period of time so why let them take up space in your home for the rest of the year? We definitely don’t now. Instead of packing our decorations into our garage after Halloween or Christmas is over, we take them back to our storage unit and don’t worry about them until next year. By storing our decorations elsewhere, my husband has finally been able to use our garage again, allowing that honey-do list to finally shrink a bit.
Summer Fun
When winter comes all of our fun, yet often larger, summer fun items cease being used. Bikes go unridden, the inflatable pool has to be packed away, and sports equipment simply leans all over the garage. To free up space and keep our items safely stored, don’t keep those items packed at home. Put them in a storage unit instead. They will be safer from the elements and you won’t have to worry about sacrificing the space in winter – a much needed commodity when you’ve got everyone cooped inside.
When you have a large family, you need all the space you can get. While a storage unit does give a family an additional monthly expense, they are often relatively inexpensive and definitely pay for themselves with the extra space they provide you.
Wordless Wednesday – Valentine’s Day 2012
February 15, 2012 · by · 17 Comments
edited to add: I came back in to center the posts (this is a really wide theme, isn’t it?), I realized I had put two captions on the photo of the chocolate for the boys, and had left out the photo of the chocolate I bought Chris. Whoops! Fixed now.
Chocolate for Kaitlyn - because she loves sprinkles
Chocolate for the boys - Target had a bunch of "guy" chocolate.
Chocolate for Chris, who likes Red Hots.
From Chris - Chocolates and Cute Socks!
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