My Opinion Counts

What a great Sunday this has been. I have been working on organizing some projects and getting rid of some clutter. Hubby made chili so that meant no cooking for me! I looked in the sewing room and decided to just close that door. It needs some major re-organizing. It will take more than one day to get it into shape. Maybe I will get the kids to help me while they are home. I need to ask Greg if it is ok to make the room completely mine. He has stuff in there from when he graduated from high school! These are bags of mementos like old napkins and paper parasols. I think he will agree that it is time to purge.

We are enjoying the Colts win in Baltimore tonight. Kinda funny that Baltimore won't put "Colts" on the reader board. They call the team Indy. It's been over 20 years since the Colts packed the moving van and headed to Indianapolis. It is time to get over it Baltimore!

Oh wow! The stores were crowded today. Lynn dropped me off at one store because he couldn't find a place to park. I tried to get in and out but the lines at the checkout were long. Everyone seemed happy and helpful. I hope that doesn't change the closer to Christmas we get. I am convinced that gift cards are the way to go.

Why search and search for the perfect gift just to find that it doesn't fit or isn't the right color? You can put a picture on the gift cards from giftcardlab.com and personalize them! These cards are better received than anything you could buy at a brick and mortar store. Gift Certificate's from www.giftcardlab.com are special because you can make them fit the occasion. Take a picture of your sister's new baby and put it on a gift card. Can you imagine the smile she will have when she opens that envelope? You might decide to find a sentimental picture of you and your grandmother. A gift card with that picture will be special!

Do yourself a favor, order gift cards from www.giftcardlab.com. Aren't you glad I saved you from having to enter a mall?

Have you been watching all the Hallmark movies that have been on television? I love them. During the holiday season, Hallmark shows great movies. The other night we watched Hannah's Pictures or something like that. It was about a little girl in the foster care system. It also emphasized how Alzheimer's disease can mess up one's life. Sissy Spacek was in the movie.

I took Stacy to the airport and I got her there on time! Yay!(Yay about getting her there on time, not on her leaving.) This has been a problem. LOL So, I am about 40 minutes away and she calls to let me know she is on the plane and they said they will depart in an hour. What the heck! Why do they have to get them on the plane and then tell them? My mom said it is because they can push the airplane back and the FAA considers that they left on time. That stinks.

I think the reason the flight was delayed was because of the icy runway. The roads began to get very icy as I drove home. There was an accident that had traffic backed up. I took a country road detour and avoided the mess. I had to go very slow because my car fishtailed every time I tried to go faster. I crossed a bridge and the back end of my car started to go around. That is an awful feeling.

If you are trying to decide on a place of travel, you need to check out all the possibilities that Hotel Reservations.com has to offer. Their website is full of fun destinations. Hotel Reservations knows how to find the best prices for you. You will have more money to spend on excursions when you use Hotel Reservations to book your next vacation.

If you know that our daughter is home then you know we have been watching movies! We have watched Drew Barrymore in Ever After and Nicholas Cage in Next. Last night, we went to the theater and saw Enchanted. It was an adorable movie. I recommend it to everyone. Your kids will love it. Your husbands will tolerate it. The story is about a fairytale princess from the past who is thrust into present-day by an evil queen.

Susan Sarandon makes a believable evil queen. It was fun to watch her in this part. I'll bet she had so much fun with the role. The costume she wore was amazing! You will have to check out the shoes. Amy Adams, the actress who played Giselle, has the most beautiful skin. Looking at her made me want to go home and get out all my cleansing products!

The thing that I miss when winter hits here in Indiana is the chance to swim. All the pools close up over labor day weekend. I know that it is a good thing that it gets cold here because we don't get all the critters that you see in the south. I'm not sure that I could live where there are lizards!

My sister lives in Texas and I know that she loves being able to use her pool most of the year. There is a website that is fun for all those Texans to design their pools. Many customers of this pool builders league city texas have come up with some unique and beautiful pools through Decorativepools.com.

While they can have fun designing a beautiful pool, I can dream while I am wearing my parka!

Today, Taryn and Stacy went with me to run a few errands. I returned dishes to my sister in-law that I didn't want to have sitting around my house all winter. They go to Arizona in the winter and if I didn't get her dishes (that she brought food over in for Thanksgiving dinner) back, they would be put out of sight until spring.

We also got some ribbon to finish a purse I made. I made 2 purses this weekend and I got mom's and my snowman wall hangings ready to put on the binding.

We watched Live Free or Die Hard tonight. It was very good. I am leery of Bruce Willis movies because I usually don't like them. This one was action packed and had a lot of humor in it.

When it comes to our vehicles, we only want the best service. That is why we rely on AAMCO for quality service. They have been around for years and I know that it is because of their dedication to quality service and their commitment to their customers.

AAMCO is offering a fun Drive Hard / Die Hard Hollywood promotion. I would love to win the chance to win a four-day trip to Hollywood and spend a day with the Live Free or Die Hard movie stunt man. I entered my name on the website that tells about the promotion so I sure hope I'm the one they pick! I'd love to learn how they do all the stunts and how they make it look so easy. I want to find out what they do to stay in shape and how they deal with injuries. A trip to Hollywood sounds like a lot of fun!

AAMCO offers great deals on their services. They offer free towing when you need a major repair. That will save you a ton of money! All of their technicians are certified so you can be sure you will receive the best work on your car. They have over 800 locations in the US and Canada.

Check out AAMCO and sign up for a chance to win a trip to Hollywood!

When we came out of the bookstore on Sunday, something struck me so funny. The dog in my picture is wearing sunglasses! At first glance, I thought the dog was a dummy or decoy to keep people from bothering the car he was in. As I neared the car he moved. He was real, in the car alone and was wearing sunglasses! I've never seen a dog leave glasses on for more than a few minutes. This dog was so cool!

As a somewhat "crafty" person, I am always looking for ways to make my things look different from everyone else's things. I like to put a little bling on my jeans or on a chambray shirt. Bling makes the ordinary become special!

It is so easy to play with Bling and spice up your things by visiting the blingitoneverything.com website where you can choose from all the Bling pattern kits. BLING pattern kits contain over 500 crystals per kit. Imagine all the fun you will have. You can put bling on your cell phone, notebook, and anything you want to spice up.



This is the time of year when teens dread visiting the relatives. They think it will be boring to sit around with people they hardly know. Now, you can engage them in a fun activity! Everyone will want to join in on the fun when you start playing with your Bling kit! The teenagers will no longer be bored and they will think you are so cool!



During their special promotion, when you order Bling kits, you will be put into a giveaway. If you´re lucky you can win something on blingitoneverything.com. Every 100th purchase will receive 1 Hannah Montana concert ticket! Wouldn't it be cool to win a much sought after ticket?

Get over to blingitoneverything.com and get your Bling kits ordered!

I met some wonderful ladies while in Vegas. I have blogged with Robyn and Peggy for a while now and I am thrilled that we were able to meet. They are as nice in person as they come across in their blogs. Now, I can hear their voices when I read their blogs.

From the left: Robyn, Peggy and me.

While visiting Las Vegas, I noticed that where the hotels had water fountains it gave an aura of tranquility. The flowing water muffled out sounds of people and machines and so it was easy to relax where the fountain was. There is something about a beautiful fountain that adds beauty to a foyer or family room in a home setting. They offer mind soothing tranquility in the waiting area of a business where a hectic atmosphere is the norm. Wall Fountains are easy to maintain and add so much to the atmosphere of a business or home. Wall Fountains from Garden-Fountains.com are very easy to maintain. They require no special plumbing so it is an easy task to intregate a beautiful foundatin in your home or office. You simply hang the fountain on your wall in the same way you would hang a picture! Add water to the fountain and you have a beautiful addition to your room. There are many types to choose from so check them out as you prepare your gift list. They make wonderful gifts!

Las Vegas is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. I don't even gamble and I enjoy Las Vegas. The hotels are spectacular. Lynn and I spent a whole day going in and out of the hotels just so we could look at how they were decorated. I think it would be fun to be the decorator who got to choose the wall paper, paintings and vases etc. that made the hotel theme what it was. To start with a blank slate would be so much fun.

The flowers at each hotel was another wonderful sight to see. The Mirage Hotel even had orchids in their walkway. I would thing they would need a large team of landscaping specialists to water and care for all the plants in each hotel. I think that would be a fun job.

Las Vegas is more than a gambling site.

My kids are getting to the age where they want the "really cool stuff." They pick out their own clothes. I have attempted to buy clothes for them but I never get it quite right. They aren't that particular but they know what they like. I think something looks the same as what they have picked before but there is a small detail that makes the difference. So, I don't even go that route any longer. I would rather look for "really cool stuff."

There is an online site where everything they have is "really cool stuff." At Cool Stuff Express, they have everything from plasma disks to sand hourglass timers. Plasma disks produce the beautiful lighting effects that we have seen at cool clubs. My kids would love to have one to enjoy when they have their friends over. These disks create awesome lighting effects by carefully combining a mixture of specialized gasses. At the Cool Stuff Express website, I read;

These gasses control the color and effect of the electrical discharge of the plasma effect. By creating a special formulated mixture of argon, krypton, xenon, helium, neon and other inert gases, the effect of a plasma globe is created. This is then sealed typically in a solid clear glass globe.

They have science kits that enable you to learn about space and stars. They are great educational tools to learn about dinosaurs and solar power.This site has all that fun & cool and unusual stuff that you see in museum gift shops. Now you can order that cool stuff online.

There are all sorts of fun things at Cool Stuff Express. There are very funny hitch critters like a bass that shows everyone that you love to fish. There is even a bad dog that looks like it is attacking your hitch. LOL You can add a light to the critter and make your vehicle safer!

Cool Stuff Express is going to help me get my grown kids something that they will truly love for Christmas.

Today we were able to see the classrooms and other areas where Stacy has spent the last eight months learning all sorts of things. She has told me many things that she has been doing but it was hard to comprehend until I could see what she was describing. I am so proud that she received the soldering award. After talking to her instructor today, I realize what an honor that was for her to achieve. He told how it was important to be precise and accurate. He said that others who had soldered before had not done as well as Stacy. It doesn't surprise me since, I know how well she does with intricate things. She wires car radios so I know that she is used to detail work. I sure am proud that she does well at what she likes.

Isn't it cool when you receive flowers? No matter how my day is going, when flowers arrive it perks me up. The Tulsa Flower Shop, Flowers By Sally Ann, has the most beautiful arrangements of flowers I have ever seen. This family owned shop goes the extra mile to make every floral arrangement special. They offer friendly and prompt customer service.

Thanksgiving is approaching and I want to remind everyone to order your table arrangement. Having a beautiful flower arrangement will make your table special and might help when Uncle Harry starts getting on your nerves! Just glance over at your beautiful table arrangement and smile.

I took the dogs to the doggie hotel this morning. We are leaving this afternoon for North Carolina. Stacy is graduating from Petty Officer School on Friday. It will be so good to see her!

Brody was so funny when we got to the kennel. There was a big yellow cat in the office at the kennel. Brody would not go into the office! I suppose he had never seen a cat before! He didn't know what to think and would not go where he needed to go! Mister nosy was playing it safe. LOL

I had an unusual experience yesterday. I was in the fabric store and a lady walked in and was asking the clerk for help. I didn't hear what she was saying until the clerk spoke to her mother. Her mother was waiting on me. It seems as though, the lady was looking for a way to make something out of a picture. I didn't want to appear nosey but I suggested she check online. I got her email address and today I sent her a link to Fotofix.com. Fotofix.com is a wonderful website for working with pictures. Their site allows anyone to do simple things like remove red-eye from a photo. It also allows more involved editing. It is possible to enhance images in ways that make teeth whiter, skin more even and make a body look slimmer! That slimmer part is the one I am interested in.

At Fotofix.com, you can improve on a picture. It is possible to smooth out skin and remove blemishes! High-quality digital enhancing can turn a crappy picture into one that can be displayed with pride. The team of professionals at Fotofix.com are trained to work with photos. They have experience with airbrushing and retouching techniques that make a work of art out of a poor quality picture. It is amazing. The best part about this great photo enhancement service is that it is very affordable!

I have a dorky picture that my husband insists on hanging in our family room. I am holding a big fish. I look so dorky and I have on big 1970 glasses frames. I would love to have those glasses removed from the picture. I am checking to see if they can do that at Fotofix.com.

Sheesh. I did not need a problem this week. I am super busy getting bookwork done ahead so we can head to Vegas tomorrow night. My dog's groomer just called to let me know that Brody has fleas! Ugh. What do I do about that? Will they multiply while we are gone? I don't know what I am supposed to do.

Aw! Take a look at Drew's picture in my sidebar. That is his new baby's foot. Being up against his hand makes it possible to see how tiny her foot is. That is such a great picture.

(scroll down for picture) Last night I had the girls over for card club. It was fun having it in the lodge room. That room is so big that I was able to have both tables in there. I hate missing any conversation!

I served apple dumplings. They came from our local bakery. They were so good. The apples were sliced with an apple corer. The corer cuts the apple into spirals. There was just enough cinnamon to make them taste yummy. I added vanilla ice cream to each dish. It was vanilla bean flavored and even though it was the cheaper, store brand, it tasted really good. Dessert was a hit!

We were able to see our cards because hubby put up a new light over the table.

How many of you are dreading Christmas shopping? Is it because you don't like to shop or is it because you have not paid off the Christmas bills from last year? There is a new saving site on the Internet called savebuckets.co.uk. Savebuckets.co.uk knows that many are strapped and are trying to do something about it. They are searching over 700 retailers for the best prices on over one million products. When you use their site you will find what you need at the lowest prices possible. The following press release explains it:

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST HAUNTS INDEBTED BRITS

- New price saving site launches to save Brits up to 20% this Christmas -

As the nation approaches the final countdown to Christmas, new research rings alarm bells over the financial impact of Christmas in credit crunch Britain. The research from the new money saving website Savebuckets.com reveals that as Brits prepare for Christmas, many are still paying off last year’s festive spending.

With 41 per cent of Britons paying for Christmas on credit last year, almost one in five are still paying for last year’s festivities (17%), fewer than one in three having cleared their Christmas debts when their January credit card bill arrived (29%).

Following a year of consumer confidence in 2006, Christmas spending soared 52 per cent in two years (from an average £548 per adult in 2004* to £837 per adult in 2006), with over one in five Brits spending over £1,000 on Christmas last year (22%). This year, with spending power at its lowest level for 10 years**, consumers are feeling the financial hangover from a more confident Christmas enjoyed on the credit card and loans.

Alarmingly, it is cash strapped youngsters and low income earners who, having spent the most on last Christmas, are most likely to be feeling the repercussions of last year’s spending spree (see figures below).

The research into the financial impacts of last Christmas amongst a GB representative sample of 2,000 British adults was carried out by the new money savings website Savebuckets.com which launches this week to enable Brits to get more for their money this Christmas.

With these alarming figures in mind, Savebuckets.com will give shoppers the opportunity to save up to 20% on their Christmas shopping. Putting consumers back in control of their spending, the site searches over 700 retailers for the best price on around one million products. The site includes a unique price checker which allows consumers to set the price they want to pay for items, notifying them when the price of a product falls to within their budget.

I am so glad that I live in a small town. I just had my hair done and it cost $70.00. I think that is a lot of money and yet I have heard that it is a cheap price to pay. In larger cities, it costs a lot more for a color job and a trim. Yikes! I think I would have to go gray!

What do you pay to have your hair colored?

What is it about children moving out of our houses? It causes me to cry yet I like that they have their own place. Maybe, as moms, we are never satisfied.

My friend went to her son's apartment and it was all she could do to not tell him to please do his dishes. LOL I have been there! I was proud of her for not telling him. He must have noticed her discomfort because he mentioned that he was going to be off from work on the weekend and planned on doing his laundry. LOL It was as if he had to let her know.

I have been wondering what recourse customers have when they buy flooring online. Most places would want satisfied customers and would go out of their way to solve a problem. Of course, there are always the few retailers who take advantage of situations and are just in business for the money. What is really bad is that some of the manufacturer's of flooring are not wanting to stand behind their warranties if a product is purchased online. iFLOOR is concerned about that and is offering to warranty the product themselves. They want all of their customers to be happy and satisfied when they buy from them.


The following press release answers many questions for potential customers and existing customers who buy flooring online.


iFLOOR, America's largest online flooring retailer, today announced a $1,000,000 limited warranty designed to protect its customers from predatory manufacturer policies that exclude warranty coverage from online purchases.

The policy, which goes into effect immediately, offers up to one million dollars of coverage in the event that a customer's warranty claim is denied specifically because they made their purchase online. It is complimentary for every iFLOOR customer, and protects the buyer under the same terms as the original product warranty.

iFLOOR, Inc. CEO, Steve Simonson, came up with the program to combat "scare tactics" used by manufacturers of hardwood floors and laminate flooring. "Their idea is to discourage you from buying at a discount!" wrote Simonson in his blog "It's About Flooring". "This is not right! You deserve to save money! So we're going to take care of this problem once and for all."

And it would appear that federal law is on his side. Section 108 of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Act, states that, "In general, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty."

Under iFLOOR's new warranty, a key provision allows for iFLOOR to "seek justice" on behalf of the customer in the event of legal action. According to Simonson, "I'm putting iFLOOR's money where my mouth is."

About iFLOOR, Inc.
Since 1998, iFLOOR.com has been the leading online and retail flooring company, with 36 local retail stores nationwide offering more than 70,000 products, including hardwood floors, laminate flooring, bamboo flooring and cork floors. iFLOOR.com is the largest online flooring retailer according to Internet Retailer Magazine, and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States for the past three years. Committed to quality customer service, superior selection and friendly expert advice, iFLOOR.com enables customers to buy flooring both online and in its retail stores at a substantial savings over traditional retailers. For more information about iFLOOR, please visit www.iFLOOR.com.

I felt like I was walking into a casino last night. We visited a friend who was in the hospital. I was thinking about Caesar's Palace because the walkway has a voice telling you things as you ride along. When we walked up to the door of the hospital, this voice welcomed us! It struck me as being so funny. I guess, I didn't expect it.

The hospital entrance is beautiful. It has a fountain of water that flows over a granite statue. The roses that are planted around the fountain are absolutely gorgeous. It makes a beautiful place to sit while worrying about your loved one. It also makes a relaxing place for employees to go and unwind a bit during their hectic work day. I enjoyed it.

Make gift giving easy. If you have guys to buy for, check out the gifts for guys at CarGuyGarage. This website has solutions for storage as well as all those neat gadgets that guys like. If your honey hasn't already told you about CarGuyGarage, I will tell you now. It is the best place to buy gifts for guys that they will truly appreciate. No more ties, please.

Tonight is the night when all the little ghosts and goblins go from door to door to get their moms candy! You know it is true. I used to dig out a few pieces of chocolate for myself. Too much candy isn't good for the kiddos!

We live out in the country, so we don't get too many kids knocking on our door. The housing addition across the street is a busy place for trick-or-treaters. We took our kids over there to get their treats.

Happy Trick-and-Treating!

I have just spent the past hour trying to figure out what size film to order for my fax machine. I thought I had the information saved but heck if I can find where I put it. Cartridge Finder makes it easy to figure out which cartridges are required for more than 10,000 different models of printer, copier, and fax machines. They even showed me which cartridge had the best price by checking merchant listings at PriceGrabber.com Why didn't someone tell me about them an hour ago? All I had to do was type in the manufacturer of my fax machine and then choose the model number and my cartridge was there to order. Ahhh!

Can you imagine being imprisoned for something you did not do? It would talk a lot to keep me from slitting my wrists if that were to happen to me. Talk about hell on earth. I just read an article on CNN online that talked about a man who had been wrongly imprisoned for 22 years.

The first years in prison were angry ones for this man. He was in many fights and had trouble coping. He got involved in a gospel choir and that helped him cope. He is a free man now and is still adjusting.

I doubt that the state of Georgia will reimburse him for time lost while incarcerated. He heard about his friends having careers and getting married. Some of those friends now have grandchildren. He is just beginning his life.

Thank the Lord for DNA. How many people are sitting in prison who were wrongly accused. It is scary to think if it could happen to me or you.

Many of my blogger friends are making a big effort to use a different search engine. I have been listening to the discussion about how we get used to using something and when there are better options, we forget to use them. This is true in my case. I am resistant to change. When I finally try something, I could kick myself for not utilizing it before! So, with that being said, I am trying out a new people search engine.

I typed www.spock.com into my browser and oh my goodness, I am having so much fun! It is easy to use Spock and it is free! You can search for people by using a "tag" that gives information about the person or you can search using a name. As Spock gains members, it will be easier to find people.


I searched for one of my favorite singing artists. Diana Ross has been a favorite person of mine for many years. I gained new information about her by using Spock. I had no idea that she has two middle names. Her middle names are Ernestine Earle. Wow! The website had cool pictures of the old singing days as well as a more recent picture of Diana. She is so pretty.

Sometimes, when you go to a person's page, there are people listed because they are related in some way. In Diana Ross's case, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard are listed. Of course, I had to check out both of their websites. On Florence Ballard's page, I saw where I could check where she is buried! This is my kind of people search! I love delving into personal stuff. From one persons site, I would find another person to check out. From that person's site, I would see another one! Needless to say, I did not get much else done today! It is a fun and informative site. It is in my favorites!

Today has been a bit hectic! I thought it would be simple to move our cable from one side of the room to the other side. Ha! It meant that someone would have to crawl into the icky dirty crawlspace. The hole is not very big to get into our crawl space. Maybe the builder thought that little people would always live in this house!

What started out as an easy project turned into a big deal. I didn't know I was asking for the moon!

It has been a little chilly in our house today. I do not want to turn on the heater and start paying those heating bills! The coolness is actually helping to keep me awake. I have not gone to bed before midnight the past two nights!

This is great sweatshirt and sweater weather.

I have been drinking more coffee lately. I love the smell of a brewing pot of coffee. I need to stock up on some flavored coffee. Do any of you have any favorites I should try?

I was introduced to a floral site online and now I know why my friend told me about it. Greer South Carolina florist has the most amazing flowers. They have been known for their beautiful flowers and floral arrangements for some time. Now, you can order their arrangements online! That means you do not have live in their area to take advantage of their talent for beautiful floral arranging. Check them out. You will love their products and their service.

I was talking about how I ran our business while having small children. I thought I would tell a funny story about what happens when you leave kids alone while they are decorating cookies.

My nephew, who is a year older than my daughter, came over so we could bake and then decorate Christmas cookies.

We were having a lovely time and the cookies were all baked. We were ready to start frosting. I laid out all the supplies. I was putting the frosting onto each cookie and the kids were sprinkling the decorations.

I got a customer.

When I got back to the kitchen, the kids had done a great job of decorating. The only problem was, the kitchen floor was wall to wall sprinkles. They purposely set out to decorate the floor. Little hands just do things a little erratically when Mom or Aunt Karen isn't there to keep things under control! It was so funny!

When I need help, I need help NOW! I am not a patient person and it is hard for me to have something broken and not know how to fix it. When my blog was down a few days ago, I waited to chat with a technician online. I could have emailed for support to help me but I like the idea of live chat. With live chat, I can be sure the technician understands my question. I can also give more information if they need it. I think live chat brings about results much faster.

Now, for a small monthly fee, any online business can have the same type of chat with their customers. By adding a single line of HTML to their site, they can offer LiveHuman support chat with customers! LiveHuman live chat is a great service to allow your customers to feel like they are buying from a real person and not a machine. Live Chat is a great feature to help potential buyers check out a product by asking questions. You can test drive LiveHuman for 7 days for free. When you see that the system works for your business, you can sign up for as low as $13 per operator for a yearly contract.

More and more people are working it out with their employers to be allowed to do their work at home. I was reading a blog a few days ago and found that the writer is going through some rough times. He is a stay at home dad and working from home as well. He has discovered that nap times are not long enough to get in a quality amount of work time.

Working at home can be a challenge. There certainly have to be rules that set up boundaries of time and space. It can be a challenge to meet those boundaries.

I often meet those same challenges. I certainly met my share of challenges when my kids were small. My children are grown now but when they were small it took a lot of patience from them and me to make the stay at home thing successful. They had to learn to wait while mommy was on the phone and sometimes had to make their own sandwich if I was with a customer. On the other hand, I could take time to play games and be with them. We baked a lot and they learned about cooking. I think that their love of reading may have come from seeing me read so much. I enjoyed being home when they walked in the door from a busy school day. It is all about finding a good balance.

I am always looking for ways to improve. Whether it be in marketing or finding a new way to manage a hobby. That is why I am excited to have found that AIM Promote has added an important customizable upgrade to their CRM program. AIMPromote is offering this new feature in addition to features highly used by those in the competitive arena of marketing. The following press release will fill you in.

Traverse City, MI October 19th 2007 -- AIMpromote, provider of lead management and customer relationship management software, has launched a significant upgrade to their CRM offering. The newly added white-label CRM software feature enhances the value that lead aggregators can offer to their lead purchasing customers. The enhanced reselling functionality provides an intuitive interface to completely manage the selling of a privately labeled CRM as their own.

Lead aggregators operate in the highly competitive B2B space, and need ways to add value to their offerings. Michael Myles, President and CEO of AIMpromote said "The significant added value provided by the AIMpromote white-label customer relationship software gives lead aggregators a way to differentiate themselves in what has become a highly commoditized market." He went on to say that "this product also provides an easy way to leverage existing client bases to more rapidly increase sales."

The close tie-in between the selling of leads and the powerful sales management functionality of the AIMpromote customer relationship software enables the end-users of the system to easily purchase leads that are then available to be worked directly in the system. There is no importing necessary. Billing is also consolidated, providing an easy way for the end-user to manage their funds and billing profile. The system has been designed from the ground-up to offer high levels of customizability and advanced functionality for everyone involved, while requiring little investment in time.

The CRM reselling and lead sales functions functionality includes the ability for lead aggregators and CRM software resellers to completely customize pricing, including setup fees, discounts, and free trials. This flexibility empowers the resellers of the system to enhance their profit margins as they see fit. The CRM reselling system allows lead aggregators and consultants the ability to brand their system with their own logo and contact information. Integrated Authorize.Net payment processing gives an interface to take credit cards automatically, and have the funds deposited directly into their bank accounts. The advanced accounting and reporting pages in the AIMpromote system give a top-down view of the business as a whole, as well as for each individual account.

The tiered approach that AIMpromote has taken to the reselling of their powerful customer relationship management software gives even the end-user clients the ability to also resell the system. The billing and accounting system automatically takes care of everything for them, even automatically setting up accounts. "The ease of use and flexibility of the AIMpromote CRM for those providing business-to-business consultation services and those selling leads has created an opportunity to significantly improve the bottom line, with very little time or expense," said Matt Wolfe, Vice President of Operations for AIMpromote. Wolfe added, "The service and functionality of the system is unique in that customers are supported through an integrated support ticket system by their parent account. The end-users of the system will never know that the service they are using is being resold, or that the company from which they are licensing the software are not the actual manufacturers of the software. To them, it won't be AIMpromote at all, it will be 'ABC Software Company CRM', or whatever name the company reselling the software chooses."


About AIMpromote
AIMpromote leads the market in growth and technology for on-demand lead management and CRM reselling solutions. AIMpromotes enterprise lead management software empowers companies in any industry to more effectively generate, delegate, and report on leads and the teams that manage them. AIMpromote is the only solution that integrates detailed web analytics with sales and marketing analytics to provide a complete closed-loop view of the sales process. The AIMpromote lead management software offers a completely customized solution that can be tailored to fit any organization's customer acquisition workflow. The unique combination of having the most functionality, and the lowest total cost of ownership, AIMpromote is the most cost effective solution for improving close rates and marketing efficiency.

The thing about taking naps in the evening is that they make you feel rested. So much so that you do not want to go to bed until one in the morning! This is not good when you work a full time job and have to get up early. It is important to be cheerful and bright in the morning! LOL Surprisingly, I feel pretty good this morning! It will probably hit me tomorrow.

My fingers are sore from digging in the dirt yesterday. I know, I should wear gloves. I cannot stand the feel of wearing gloves. I pulled all the tall grass from around the hollyhocks. We can actually see them now! I hope they get a better start next year. By the time they attempt to bloom this year, they will get hit with frost. I am happy they lived. We put chicken wire around them to keep the rabbits from eating them.

It is plain ridiculous to live as close to Chicago as we do and not see everything that city has to offer. I want to check with Trustedtours.com and let them plan a nice week where we see more than just the regular places we visit.

Trustedtours.com is a great service to use. They are very dedicated to making sure you have a great visit wherever you decide to visit. They have tours to some of the greatest cities in the U.S. They offer New Orleans Tours, Charleston Tours and Boston Tours to name just a few. They have been the favorite tour company for so many satisfied customers.

We have been to the John Hancock building but it was many years ago. We ate dinner in the restaurant called the 96th Floor. It was very elegant. It is time to revisit Chicago.

I see that Trusted Tours offers a tour of Chicago on Segways! What a fun tour that would be! I like getting exercise while sightseeing. That just means you can eat more of the good food Chicago has to offer. What a great way to see the Windy City! In case you were wondering, a Segway is a two-wheeled sports vehicle. It uses high-tech gyroscopes that automatically respond to your body's movements. You stand on it and use your body to make it go.

I am so exicted! I think it is going to be fun. The price of the tour is very economical. I know we will something new and find out more information about Chicago.

Today was such a beautiful day to be outside. Hubby and I worked on the yard. I used the push mower and did the trim work. He rode the riding mower. I do not want to attempt to learn to ride the riding mower. It moves too fast. I'd probably injure myself with it.

It was the perfect temperature to enjoy working outdoors. I pulled a few weeds and watched our two dogs play. I gave Brody a bath yesterday so of course he had to find something to roll in.

I got a good scare when I went to mow over by the sandbox. A lovely snake showed himself to me. I screamed like a hibanchie. I am not really afraid of snakes it is just that it startled me. Ugh. I'm glad I didn't wet my pants!

Ha! Are you getting more and more of those spammy emails that tell you how much you are needed? Supposedly, some wealthy businessman has died recently and left a sizeable fortune unclaimed. Not a very smart businessman was he? You only have to fill in the blank with how he died. You may choose from the following: Plane Crash, Car Wreck, Train Derailment. Now, there is some banker in some other country who needs you to be this guys next of kin! Hey! There is a bunch of money on the line here! What should I do?

Do people fall for these scams? These people are out to get our names, social security numbers, and bank account information!

Our country has been trying to find ways to bring the cost of fuel down. There are many arguments about drilling for oil. We have to find fuel produced in our own backyards. It would be nice if oil and gas investment and production could be realized in our own country. Unfortunately, the oil producers in the US have not come through for us. I am skeptic when I read their reasons for low amounts of oil production.

I was hoping that ethanol would be the solution. Living here in the midwest, we hear about ethanol plants popping up in nearby counties. Mom was telling me that she heard on the news that there is a surplus of corn being stocked for ethanol production. It seems as though not enough people are buying cars that use ethanol. I was surprised to find out that ethanol is more expensive than unleaded gasoline! What is the deal?

I suppose it would be nice to show our patriotism by buying an American made product. If enthanol isn't going to be less expensive at least we can feel good about not being dependent on foreign oil.

I just found out who took all those cool pictures of Jack-O-Lanterns I keep seeing on the Internet. Lerick Johnson, 51, of Alliance, Nebraska, says he and his friends like to send funny photos and messages to each other and forward them on to friends and family. A few years ago, he went looking for Halloween pumpkin carving ideas and ended up sending photos of the more unusual jack-o'-lanterns as a mass e-mail. The photos are circulating again this year. In fact, I put one up on my blog a few days ago! My picture shows a pumpkin carved to look like a hamburger. It is so cool! I'm glad someone has time to play. We all need a diversion from time to time. LOL

There is a product that I just discovered called invisibleShield. The invisibleSHIELD is a clear film that protects your cell phone, iPod or iPhone from scratches. I can finally get some help to protect my precious cell phone! I am so hard on my stuff. I am so busy and find that my cell phone is constantly falling out of my purse or gets thrown around in the car. Now it will have some protection. InvisibleShield works better than an ipod case for your ipod and I know it will be better than some bulky cell phone case! It will be nice to not get strange looks at the cell phone store when they look at my beat up phone!

Oh wow! I told you I was going to check out Baby Gone Baby, the new movie directed by Ben Affleck. It does sound like a good one! His brother is in it! I thought that was cool. So, about the movie.

Gone Baby gone is definitely an adult thriller. It is sure to bring up some discussion!

A private eye team sets out to solve a case that involves abuse and the abduction of a child. My stomach is clenching already.

We should all make smart credit choices. What better place to help us do that than Smartcreditchoices.com! They have a credit credit card offer called getmyvisa.com and would love to tell you about it. Card offers at getmyvisa.com offer the types of interest rates that can actually help you get out from under those big credit card bills. Anyone knows that when the interest rate is high, you just pay and pay and never see the balance go down. Getmyvisa.com will save you money!

It sounds as if Ben Affleck has a winner on his hands. He directed the new movie, "Gone Baby Gone."

Ben Affleck has not had many great things to write in his resume lately. I am glad to see that this adult thriller might be his ticket to getting back on the road to success. He co-wrote the script with Aaron Stockard.

I am checking out what the movie is about. I'll get back and let you know!

Did anyone watch Dr. Phil the other day when he talked about pedophiles? He talked on the phone with the woman who's child had been raped and the rape was videoed. Can you imagine? Dr. Phil gave some important reminders for everyone to use to keep their children safe. One of the most heartbreaking reminders is that most of the time, when a child is molested, it is by a family member or close friend of the family.

I just saw on CNN online that Thai police have arrested a suspected Canadian pedophile following a global manhunt launched when computer experts unscrambled digital photos allegedly showing him sexually abusing young boys. Christopher Paul Neil was taken into custody early today.

I hope they throw him in prison where the other undesirables can deal with him.

It is important for all of us to know everything we can about our finances. We can get into some deep trouble if we are not aware of how this whole credit thing works. At The Truth About Credit Cards.com, they can provide credit help. Let's go over some things to, hopefully, prevent some credit problems.

Everyone should know how to find a credit report and know how to read it. The blog at The Truth About Credit Cards is full of great information on how to go about finding your credit report. They have dispelled some of the myths about how many times you can look at your credit report etc. This website is helpful for those of you needing to know how to make a balance transfer. That could save you from a costly overdraft charge. Not that I would now about those! LOL

The website has excellent advice on how to raise your credit score. Let the folks at The Truth About Credit Cards help you keep your credit in good standing. They might help you from a costly mistake! Check out their website.

In my previous post, I told how we were under a tornado warning last night. The wind is still fierce here today. A great big limb just fell out of a tree in our backyard. I just happened to look up to see it fall. I am so glad one of the dogs wasn't standing in that spot. They would have been squashed.

My sister, Grace, has awesome tastes in jewelry. She buys some of the prettiest things! I think she would like to know about the JR Dunn website. This business has the highest standards and scruples. You should read their story. They have overcome some hurdles.

JR Dunn is an awesome jewelry site. They have some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry. They carry pieces from John Hardy, Mikimoto and Roberto Coin. Don't let my hubby know about the Mikimoto! He has been looking at a Mikimoto piece for me for a few years now!

They also maintain a large selection from the collections of Breitling, Chopard, Tag Heuer and Philip Stein watches.

They would love to be your source for that special piece of jewelry!

I had the lovely job of cleaning up dog doo doo this morning. I suppose, because it was storming, Brody didn't want to venture outside to do his business. Then hubby stepped in it and got it all over the carpet. He didn't know he had stepped in it. Ughh.

Why is it that when I clean up stuff like that, the smell gets stuck in my nose? Phhewwy!

I sprayed some odor out stuff that Mom got for me at Petco. Brody has a tendency to lift his leg on things that intrigue him. I am not taking a chance on him thinking that poo poo smell is something he needs to mark. ANIMALS!!!

One of the best things anyone can do for themselves is to start their own business. This is especially true for those in the IT field. Check out MBO, MyBizOffice, to see how easy it is! You will be on your way. You know you can do it! The clients are waiting. They have the projects in the working and need your knowledge to make it work. MBO has an added benefit that allows you to get group benefits you cannot get on your own. Self employed insurance benefits are very expensive. MBO can help you with that.

This is something you have dreamed about. Let MBO show you how to act on that dream.

We had tornado warnings near us last night. I did not always pay attention to the warnings until our town got hit with a tornado two years ago. There is no rhyme or reason to what a tornado hits. They can flatten a house and leave the one next to it standing. I head for the basement when I hear a warning.

Needless to say, I did not get a good nights sleep last night. Sigh...

As a small business owner, I am aware of the dedication involved in operating a brick and mortar business. I would like more information about how to have a successful online business.

There is a helpful website, www.StoresOnlineWebsite.com, that has established important rules for operating a successful online business. Many dream of having an online business. Do you see yourself checking sales and stats on your online business? If you want help in making that your dream, let Storesonline™ help you achieve that goal. By utilizing their 7 rules for Operating a Successful Online Business, you will be informed and empowered to make your online business a success.

There are a few stars that seem to have vanished out of the limelight. Has anyone heard anything about the magician, David Copperfield, lately? We saw him when we were in Vegas. His show was awesome. Yes, I kept saying, "How did he do that?" At one point he was on the stage, the next minute he was right in front of us. It was amazing. I always loved his choices of music. He did many of his acts to songs by Sting. It made the whole trick very dramatic.

Did anyone watch his specials on television? Did you see him make the Great Wall of China disappear? I taped most of his specials.

I had so much fun getting together with the card club girls. We play Euchre. I should say that we talk and "attempt" to get a hand of Euchre in here and there. We had not met all summer and we had so much to say. One gal's son and daughter in-law are expecting a baby! Some in our group are becoming grandmothers!

Something that I noticed is how casual we have become. We have played cards before we had children. That means that we have been friends for over 30 years! We talk about new coffee pots and how to get spots out of our carpets. We also let each other know when we run across something new that has worked well in our own experience.

ORIKI Cosmeceuticals makes a wonderful skin care line. Some of us have fought with our skin for so long we have wanted to give up. There are so many skin types. You need to find a skin care product specific to your type of skin. Especially, if you have pigmented skin. Using the wrong product can cause redness, dark spots and many other problems. ORIKI Cosmeceuticals have developed products specifically for those with Asian, Mediterranean and other Olive (AMO) skin types. Those skin types are particularly sensitive to hydroquinone and products with that ingredient should be avoided. ORIKI makes a gentle product that many with pigmented skin have found to be great for them. Try it and then let your friends in on this wonderful skin care line.

Tonight, friends of mine got together with me to play cards. We had not seen each other all summer and we barely got through a few hands when we decided to just forget our card game and talk.

It seems as though a couple of the girls are having a tough time dealing with aging parents. One friend's mother is settled into an assisted living home and although she is 97 years old, she gets along splendidly. The setting reminds me of what I read in the brochures for Worcester Nursing Home. This Massachusetts Nursing Home is known for its compassion and support.

My other friend is experiencing problems with the care of her mother. Unlike the atmosphere of skilled professionals who care about their patients as if they were family, her mother is treated like a number. They could take lessons from the Knollwood,
MA Nursing Home and offer

Why is it that our bodies play tricks on us? My friend's daughter is a healthy college graduate. Her daughter has always been active physically. She participated in sports and was also active in theater. She was in many plays in our local theater group. She has a beautiful voice and is asked to sing at weddings.

Recently, this young lady has developed a tic. She cannot control the impulse to draw her head to her shoulder. It may not happen for days and then begins again. It is disconcerting and annoying to say the least. She has been to neurologists and psychiatrists in hopes of finding an answer to her malady. I feel so bad for her. Could this be caused by stress? Is something wrong physically?

I know of a lady who, when in her late thirties, experienced this problem. She was unable to find an answer. She dealt with it for about three years. Suddenly, it stopped happening. I hope my friend's daughter gets relief quickly.

I used to have dial up. I know what slow is. Now I am interested to know how my computer compares to others in terms of speed. There is a utility that you can use to perform an Internet Speed Test. The great folks at PC 911 have the technology to help you get your computer where it needs to be. Their friendly staff can help you with slow connection problems and other issues. Check out PC 911.

There is a strong possibility that when you crave chocolate it is because you need it! Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems. It is true! So, pass me that fudge. Now!

My friend is so excited! A grant has been approved for the college at which he teaches. They are getting much needed equipment. The equipment he uses to teach with now is antique. It is awful to try and teach new ideas when you have to show how it is done on old equipment. The two don't mesh.

He is appreciative of the person who wrote the grant request. It is not an easy task. Free government grant programs and benefits search is a wonderful site to find over 3,000 financial assistance programs. Users can use the site to determine of which grants they might qualify. The compilation Government Grant Search makes the task easier. The site is easy to use. Check it out!

Do your parents teach your kids things? We have these grandiose ideas about what our children's grandparents will leave them in the way of lasting impressions. I wonder what my kids will say.

Will it be the time my mom taught them to recite a poem?

Will it be the Easter when hubby's mom hid eggs in the yard?

What do you remember when you think of your grandparents?

We go about our lives doing our jobs and enjoying what we do. After a time, we decide to make a change. That is what happened to Kevin Koss. He worked long hours in a field that he loved but wanted a change. He and his friend, Joe Rivera joined the team of San Francisco Real Estate Agents known in the industry for meeting the needs of buyers and sellers. Helping individuals, couples and families buy and sell real estate is their main objective. Kevin Koss has a broad understanding of real estate transactions which makes him the best in the field of buying and selling real estate. Let Kevin Koss show you how to make your transaction flow and make money.

Does birth order matter? According to an article on CNN online, it does.

"Norwegian scientists analyzed test results and birth data from more than 241,000 military conscripts and found that oldest children had an average IQ of 103, second children came in at 101, and third-borns were at 100."

I disagree! I am a middle child. That means that I have put up with a lot. I won't start listing the ways it has affected me. My sisters would argue the facts anyway.

I would be so frustrated to have purchased a great cell phone only to have to purchase a different one when and if I go with a different service provider. Cell phones become a part of us. I get used to the feel of my phone. I can find what I need in the dark!

I found a service that can unlock the code that restricts me to my current provider. Hallelujah! When I am finished with my service contract, I can switch to a better one but keep my phone. I keep my phones until they die! I hate getting used to a new phone. When I search for my phone I want to be able to find it quickly. In the new purse I made, I put in a pocket that fits my cell phone. I do not want to change the size of my phone.

You can find Unlock To Talk at their easy to use website, unlocktotalk.com. Unlock To Talk, cell phone unlocking service can unblock the restriction set on my phone. When I bought my phone, that service provider put in a code specific to that company. After Unlock To Talk unlocks my cell phone, I can use it with a different service provider!
I won't have to remember how I programmed all of my ring tones to fit with specific callers. My phone book full of my friends numbers will still be there! They can also reset forgotten user codes and debrand most phones to remove service provider logos. Yay!
Cell phone unlocking is legal in most countries, including the US. As long as the IMEI or ESN numbers are not tampered with they may be unlocked.

You can find out all about Unlock To Talk at their website or call their toll free number, 1 800 891-0625.

and so she got it. Pleasant Rowland, creater of the American Girl doll, decided she wanted a town and she set forth to purchase and make it her own. It sounds like she went in like a bulldozer. Read the CNN online story. She needs some lessons in tact.

American Girl dolls are another thing that get to me. Those dolls are so expensive.

did you know that there are pens you can buy that cost over $500.00. I must not be up on the current trends. I had no idea there were pens that could cost that much. Why would they cost that much?

Do they have a tag you can hang around your neck to advertise that you paid that much for a pen?

It is their proven results that have made Kolbrener, the agency that clients return to for strategies that work to make their businesses better. Their award winning creativity makes their clients relax when a big change is about to be made. Kolbrener takes the information specific to that particular company and works to achieve the goal desired. Check out their website to see the many, big name companies they have helped. Sales goals were achieved and global notoriety was reached. Considering the past and now their future, clients are very pleased with the results through Kolbrener. Kolbrener is the branding company that turned things around to increase their exposure and focus on new possibilities. Happy clients mean everything to this company. Customer retention is a top priority at Kolbrener and that is why they have been in business for over twenty years.
Their Brand Evolution methodology chart looks like something out of a chemistry book. It shows how the agency uses strategic thinking and how they look outside the box. Their unique Brand Evolution ProcessSM consistently delivers superb results. Winning new business, client retention, managing growth are all major goals for every type of business. Kolbrener aligns those specific goals with their marketing and management skills. Time and time again, their strategic and tactical marketing efforts result in a positive outcome for their client.

I just read where Drew Carey is engaged. The article doesn't mention how old his fiance is but says that Drew is 49. Neither has been married before. That is refreshing! I wish them good luck and a long and happy marriage. Oh, it says that she recently graduated from culinary school.

I finally found out when Drew Carey will begin hosting The Price Is Right. He begins his debut as host of the CBS game show on Monday.

Many changes for Drew!

I am always looking for great websites that help me save money. Online Discount Shopping Product Search Engine & Marketplace, dealful.com, is my latest find. The thing I like about dealful.com is that it gathers information about all of the sites for discounts, promotions, coupons, offers, sale, free shipping, clearance and seasonal deals. That means I only have to go to one place to find the best deals. That saves me so much time and energy.

The blog, Value Pipe, offers a new function to allow users a rich database of millions of products, search features, sorting features, and individual product record look up.

These great features give us the best sources for saving! Check it out!

A black Louisiana teenager at the center of the racially charged "Jena 6" case was ordered Thursday to spend 18 months in a juvenile facility, after a judge ruled he had violated his probation for earlier juvenile convictions, a source with knowledge of the court proceedings said. This is so sad. I wonder what he did. I do not understand why he would risk going back to jail. Sad.

Congratulations to Frank Warren, whose 4th Post Secret book, A Lifetime of Secrets, is out and is climbing up the best seller list at Amazon!Wow! A blogger makes it big. Well, another blogger makes it big. My friend has a book on Amazon too! In fact, I am getting to know many prolific writers through my blog. The Internet expands your life on many levels.

I am so excited for a young couple we have been working with. They got a price for their carpet, picked out kitchen cabinets and have made a lot of plans for their new house. They even got a great deal on their roofing by getting it at an auction.

They were devastated when they were turned down for a home loan. They used their heads and saved more money over the summer and went to a mortgage broker. He was able to look over their personal finances and get them the information and a mortgage rate they needed to make building their first home a reality.

Our friend, the contractor, has already marked off the property and the foundation builders will be starting soon. Dreams can become reality.

I think Brody is over is potty in the house spell. I think he was showing his owner that he does not like it when his Mom goes away for a few days. I guess I will have to take him with me from now on. I wonder if they have doggy daycare in Vegas.

Today is mammogram day! Everyone needs to get their mammograms! Also, be sure to click over at the Breast Cancer Awareness website. Help fund mammograms.

Yesterday was a productive day in the store. Sold a bit of merchandise and got some bookwork done.

Quilt guild was fun last night. Not too many of the ladies were there though. I guess they were home huddled under the covers. It was cold here and is again today. Time to start wearing sweatshirts! My untanned body is ready!

Are you ready for the newest television show, Gossip Girl? You better get ready because it is going to be a huge hit. Gossip Girl was created by Josh Schwartz, creator of The O.C., and Stephanie Savage. I just know I am going to get caught up in the lives of all these hotsy totsy 20 somethings. Their elitist personalities are sure to get the best of them. Gossip Girl keeps us informed of the goings on. Gossip Girl only tells the truth. Do you believe that?

Wouldn't you be the first on the phone if you knew the dirt on someone? You know how we all love gossip. The thing about the gossip I learn about is that it is mundane. Let me think. What was the last gossip I ran over to my friend's house feeling the need to tell all? Maybe it was the time Sue's cake fell. She is always raving about how she is the best baker and so deserves a failure!

Always on her computer, Gossip Girl keeps us in the know. Sometimes I don't need to know buy hey! Based on the novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl on The CW will is sure to become a favorite show. It is listed as one of the top ten on the CW already. Sex, drugs, spoiled young adults, what's not to love!

The first season of Gossip Girl will premiere on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Check out the website and join other Gossip Girl fanatics in the forums set up for all you Gossip Girl fans. You can go to the site to check out the cool music also.