Monday, January 28, 2013
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Happy Wife, Happy Life?
Most of you may or may not know.. I am a military wife. My husband is a Submariner assigned to a "boat" (I still don't get that) here on the Subbase Kingsbay. What you may not know, is that I have a new-found respect for military wives everywhere. The shit they go through (sorry for lack of a better word) is insane. This shit gets real, deep and real deep. In fact- had you told me before becoming one, how hard they do have it. I might've scoffed at you. I think it's just one of those things that you have to go through, physically, emotionally, mentally-- to fully appreciate and understand.
Now I know- the way they work my husband well- it ought be illegal. He literally has no off days for months while he deployed, and even worse, when hes home (in port) he works so much I barely see him. Submariner wives will tell you (well most) that having them home and working like that- is worse than them just being gone.
Keeping all this in mind- it's a safe bet to say most of us wives (I know me, in particular) can get super stressed out. I mean think about it, marriage itself is stressful anyway. Then add a mortgage, a couple of kids, the fact that you've picked up and moved across country away from everything familiar to deal w all this (by yourself more than half the year) catty navy wives, DRAMA, missing family and friends (gross understatement) then there is the holidays which just passed, TRAVEL, ugh. Perhaps wives with none or one child might not get as stressed, I don't know. But as for me? Well, I'm seriously ready to bust up out of here!
I wrote an article last year about how they force you to be seen on base, and they cant even do anything there.
Not really. They have to refer almost everything out. The issue there is, your going to the subbase to make an appointment to MAYBE get a referral to a REAL doctor to make an appointment. In fact- one time, I make an appointment, go down there, request my referral get told that it will arrive in a week or so (bear in mind- my husband is deployed and I have TWO kids in tow) a few weeks go by, no referral. (Dermatologist) Call up at the Subbase docs, get told they cant just redo it for me, Oh no- that would just be too easy for me huh? I have to make ANOTHER appointment to get my referral. Well aint that doofy as all get out? That was 8 months ago I still haven't seen a dermatologist, simply for the fact that I refuse to make another appointment for a referral. It's the point.
Moving on, they will tell us our appointment is at 3:30, but you have "to arrive 15 minutes early"
Then, once you get in a room, the doctors are short with you! I even had one, a "Gracia", not listen to the heath issues I had with my daughter, tell me she was going to check on a medicine I asked about. She just never came back. 10 minutes go by and two of her nurses usher me back to the waiting room to "wait for her, because she had moved on to other patients" I was VERY angry naturally, and expressed that... I was told by the nurses I needed to make another appointment to finish my discussion with her, because she only had ten or 15 to talk to me. WHAT? So if I have several issues I need several appointments? How is that fun to drag two kids while my husband is deployed to three separate appointments? Seriously? Real doctors offices would NEVER turn you away for being on time. I was not "15 minutes early" one time, and arrived right at my appointment time, only to be turned away to make another for another day. Even worse? The doctors offices are almost always EMPTY. Tell me-- what REAL doctors offices would treat their patients in this manner?
Yes, I was breathing fire!
This is the same doctor that I go to, and sit for however long, sick as all get out, and get handed a "prescription" for Mucinex and Tylenol.
I do realize that viruses have to run their course and (so they say) antibiotics will not work, but couldnt you give me some prescription nasal spray, or something worth getting dressed for? Hell there is a CVS across the street from my house, I could've saved us all time & heartache and bought the damn Tylenol and Mucinex myself! What did/do I come/go here/there for!?!?
So being stuck in this house as SAHM and a Navy Wife with little to nothing to do, I have put on a little bit of weight. Before I got married I was a skinny/trim 130, a size 7, and healthy. Now I am a size 10/11 and about 150.
It's depressing and doesn't look right on me, so of course I go to the gym and work on it when I can. I get no results (not really) but at least it is something to do to work out my frustrations and boredom.
This is where I came into my newest "base issue"...
THE GYM ON BASE: Kingsbay
Now, you'd think the Navy would know how utterly stressed out we wives can get and they would make our lives as simple as possible when they can. But really- they make the simplest things even more difficult, by attaching military like rules (were not enlisted!!!) and regulations. Now I get it-- a lot of the services they provide us with are free, and some people who might not get them, would value them. But in this case, you get what you pay for- and what you are paying for is nothing, and you get nothing. No you get stress, that's what you get.
The base has a fantastic gym. I love their gym. I prefer it to the city's civic center/REC center that I have a paid membership for.
Now why in the world would I have a paid membership to the rec center in town, when I can workout on the bases gym for free?
Good question!!!
I workout at both actually. I pay for the REC center membership to the tune of almost 40$ a month, because they have a tot drop room, with babysitters. The maximum workout time is 2 hours to leave them, and there are glass walls, so you can peek right in and look. Its quite nice.
BUT -- I like the equipment on base better-- but when my husband is ALWAYS at work.. I cant leave them with him. Being that we wives are ALL away from all of our friends and family, and my friends here have their own issues and lives and children.. they arent' willing to keep them everyday for me to workout. So, if he is at work, I cant go on base. But when he's not at work, I take advantage of it- and I will leave them with him to go on base to that gym.
When hes at work (and he always is) I go to the rec center and use their babysitting service.
Even then, the rec center hours are fishy- they are closed Sundays their tot drop is only open half of the day, closed for hours in the middle of the day, and open again a few hours at night. Plus they are constantly changing these hours as they see fit, so it's kinda hard to keep up with.
Last but not least- some of the older women who were so sweet and gentle and kind that worked there are gone, and replaced by snarky middle aged women, who I'm sorry- you can just tell they hate their job, and possibly children. But I am speculating. So they are supposed to open the tot drop for the civic center BACK up at 4. I have sat there NUMEROUS times with my kids, one time I sat there for 30 minutes waiting on the tot drop girl to even show up. A few other times it was 5 and 10 minutes late. This never happened when the older ladies were there- but I guess they retired. :( IDK?
My workouts were looking pretty bleak at best.
Sooooooo....
I was tickeld when I overheard that the base's gym would be adding their own "tot room". When I came back from Christmas vacay (my daughter had a 3 week stint out of school for that, I took advantage to visit back home the full 3 weeks, and try to forget my stressful life here) I was delighted that it was done. The room had been made over and it is fabulous.
I was so excited, since this solved 2 problems. One- the issue of the negligent tot drop sitters, and two paying a membership every month. The difference with the REC center and the Bases "tot drop" is big though. The room the tot drop on base is in, can hold at maximum 13 people. That's children and adults, and there is only 2 elliptical machines, some hand weights a few balls (medicine and exercise/sit up) and 3 exercise bikes. Basically 5/6 women at most could work out there There is no day care worker, it's you and your kid(s), so you cant move around the gm and use all the equipment, you have to stay in that tiny room with your child, but it's better than nothing, and like I said, really cute.
But, there is no strength training machines in the new "family" room, so I would be totally lacking this very important part of my workout. Essential to weight loss really.
But never-mind that- I was just glad to be able to workout again for free and not worry about tot drop workers being late, paying a membership, etc etc.
The new room on base has a plastic partition up with very soft floor, and play toys, such as: dinosaurs play food, a kitchen, legos, puzzles, and all the likes. It even has 2 sides, one smaller and even softer, for infants to be separated from the older "tots".
VERY NEAT, and very appreciated.
I have been in there several times, about 9-11 times now. I always take a friend with me, because working out alone is so damn boring I can't even force myself to go alone.
My friends that workout with me are Billie & Karema,. Neither of which has their own child.
Nothing has ever been said at sign in about them not having kids. We sign in, we go back- we workout and hour or two, we leave. In fact (and maybe it's simply the hours I go) there is never anyone else back there. Just me, my kids, and my workout partner.
So we get about 20-25 minutes into our workout and I'm just getting warmed up. This lady busts in on us, like she caught us doing something god awful Fussing at us saying "there is 2 of you and only one child!'
Ummm.. ok?
Nice observation there, grasshopper.
So after trying to dig out of ther what the heck she is even talking about. She is fussing that "the rules state" that if you don't have a child, you cannot use the room.
HUH?
So what about the other 10 times I've been in and noone has said a damn thing?
I could understand this, if I had a bunch of women in with me, and none of them had kids, or if there was even anyone waiting to use the room (like I said, there is only 5 machines)
But noone was!
I look at the "RULES" which are HUGE btw, posted plainly up on the wall. Nope. Nowhere up there does it say ANYTHING about if you do not have a child, you cannot use the room. I was offended, tossed out mid-workout for no reason.
I even tried to talk to the gyms manager, a Georgia-- about this ridiculousness, and not only was she just as foul with me (which I was already mad btw, DUH!) she was extremely unapologetic, "well these are our rules" umm.. no they are not. The "Rules" paper I signed said nothing of this sort on it.
Not only did the manager of the gym handle the situation all wrong (she should've apologized) and possibly even if empty promises, promise to "look into it" and see about changing the rule, since- as I pointed out to you and to her, there was not one person/mother even waiting to use the room, Is there no gray area?
But she was so unwilling to even hear me out, so I asked Georgia to talk to her manager. I said, is there someone else I can talk to about this?
Her reply? Verbatim "Not really"
OH REALLY?
I beg to differ sweetheart.
I marched my butt on foot (since my workout was interrupted) across the base to Fleet and Family Support, and asked the lady there if I had a compliant about the gym, and the gym was unwilling to help, who do I go to next? She was super nice and helpful, thank goodness. She gave me the number for a Bob who is the head of the MWR here, and he was VERY apologetic, very nice, and very willing to help.
I guess the point of this long ranting blog, is only to get some of the stress of my chest.
Dealing with the kinda stuff we deal with here, it only serves to make our lives more difficult. I have adapted this attitude here that if you make my life difficult, I will in turn show you personally how the golden rule works. Don't expect any breaks from me when your rude to me.
Perhaps the old me, back in the day, a BRAND new Navy Wife (with that new Navy Wife smell!!!) upon arriving at this base.. I probably would have never even went into the mangers office. Even if I would've I probably wouldn't have taken it any further than that. I guess I am just fed up with the hoops we have to jump through here. The Navy has all these silly rules which they have for their protection BUT at what cost to us?
They end up making doing something that should be extremely simple, such as going to the doctor, going grocery shopping getting a workout, the list goes on and on and on SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT than it really should be.
Almost the point where I am broken by them. Like an unruly husband. I wave the white flag of surrender. Screw it! I give up! YOU WIN! I am so miserable here, that I have been talking about moving back home. And soon.
I just don't know mentally how much more I can handle. My neighbors are less than friendly, my husband is GONE 80% of the time, since his boat is in dry dock. I'm bored out of mind, stressed to the max. The instances mentioned here, and not the only issues I've dealt with here. Merely the tip of the iceberg, especially when it comes to the base's "health care", or in my opinion lack there -of. I know I received better (more importantly, less stressful) healthcare when I was on medicaid.
Diving into the issues of Tricare prime and standard would take up a whole 'nother blog. Like this one: The base will approve certain people to be seen off-base, and they do it all the time.
But you have to submit it in writing, and mine has been denied 2x. Yet I meet women, who are seen off base and keep their prime without paying for standard, and their children do too. And I'm not gonna lie, it's infuriating, to be so miserable with the "care" you receive and try to intervene, and show them where they are doing wrong. Ask to be seen off base, only to get denied then to meet women who didn't get denied, is really a slap in the face. Its gotten to the point to where we will be sick for a week before I will even call to go down there.
It is always something at the military base. Whether it be at the gates, the grocery store, THE DOCTORS OFFICE (hands down the worse) and now, even my scared workout times has been disrupted by these silly rules. I'm not gonna lie to you- there is nothing they could say to get me to go back to that base gym with my children ever again. I don't have time to stop what I am doing, get dressed get kids ready, pick up my GF (who is carless) both of us ride up there, only to be tossed out not even halfway into our workout..
Its just a little much. How much more does the navy expect me to endure here?
I have had it with their silly rules.
Now I know- the way they work my husband well- it ought be illegal. He literally has no off days for months while he deployed, and even worse, when hes home (in port) he works so much I barely see him. Submariner wives will tell you (well most) that having them home and working like that- is worse than them just being gone.
Keeping all this in mind- it's a safe bet to say most of us wives (I know me, in particular) can get super stressed out. I mean think about it, marriage itself is stressful anyway. Then add a mortgage, a couple of kids, the fact that you've picked up and moved across country away from everything familiar to deal w all this (by yourself more than half the year) catty navy wives, DRAMA, missing family and friends (gross understatement) then there is the holidays which just passed, TRAVEL, ugh. Perhaps wives with none or one child might not get as stressed, I don't know. But as for me? Well, I'm seriously ready to bust up out of here!
I wrote an article last year about how they force you to be seen on base, and they cant even do anything there.
Not really. They have to refer almost everything out. The issue there is, your going to the subbase to make an appointment to MAYBE get a referral to a REAL doctor to make an appointment. In fact- one time, I make an appointment, go down there, request my referral get told that it will arrive in a week or so (bear in mind- my husband is deployed and I have TWO kids in tow) a few weeks go by, no referral. (Dermatologist) Call up at the Subbase docs, get told they cant just redo it for me, Oh no- that would just be too easy for me huh? I have to make ANOTHER appointment to get my referral. Well aint that doofy as all get out? That was 8 months ago I still haven't seen a dermatologist, simply for the fact that I refuse to make another appointment for a referral. It's the point.
Moving on, they will tell us our appointment is at 3:30, but you have "to arrive 15 minutes early"
Then, once you get in a room, the doctors are short with you! I even had one, a "Gracia", not listen to the heath issues I had with my daughter, tell me she was going to check on a medicine I asked about. She just never came back. 10 minutes go by and two of her nurses usher me back to the waiting room to "wait for her, because she had moved on to other patients" I was VERY angry naturally, and expressed that... I was told by the nurses I needed to make another appointment to finish my discussion with her, because she only had ten or 15 to talk to me. WHAT? So if I have several issues I need several appointments? How is that fun to drag two kids while my husband is deployed to three separate appointments? Seriously? Real doctors offices would NEVER turn you away for being on time. I was not "15 minutes early" one time, and arrived right at my appointment time, only to be turned away to make another for another day. Even worse? The doctors offices are almost always EMPTY. Tell me-- what REAL doctors offices would treat their patients in this manner?
Yes, I was breathing fire!
This is the same doctor that I go to, and sit for however long, sick as all get out, and get handed a "prescription" for Mucinex and Tylenol.
I do realize that viruses have to run their course and (so they say) antibiotics will not work, but couldnt you give me some prescription nasal spray, or something worth getting dressed for? Hell there is a CVS across the street from my house, I could've saved us all time & heartache and bought the damn Tylenol and Mucinex myself! What did/do I come/go here/there for!?!?
So being stuck in this house as SAHM and a Navy Wife with little to nothing to do, I have put on a little bit of weight. Before I got married I was a skinny/trim 130, a size 7, and healthy. Now I am a size 10/11 and about 150.
It's depressing and doesn't look right on me, so of course I go to the gym and work on it when I can. I get no results (not really) but at least it is something to do to work out my frustrations and boredom.
This is where I came into my newest "base issue"...
THE GYM ON BASE: Kingsbay
Now, you'd think the Navy would know how utterly stressed out we wives can get and they would make our lives as simple as possible when they can. But really- they make the simplest things even more difficult, by attaching military like rules (were not enlisted!!!) and regulations. Now I get it-- a lot of the services they provide us with are free, and some people who might not get them, would value them. But in this case, you get what you pay for- and what you are paying for is nothing, and you get nothing. No you get stress, that's what you get.
The base has a fantastic gym. I love their gym. I prefer it to the city's civic center/REC center that I have a paid membership for.
Now why in the world would I have a paid membership to the rec center in town, when I can workout on the bases gym for free?
Good question!!!
I workout at both actually. I pay for the REC center membership to the tune of almost 40$ a month, because they have a tot drop room, with babysitters. The maximum workout time is 2 hours to leave them, and there are glass walls, so you can peek right in and look. Its quite nice.
BUT -- I like the equipment on base better-- but when my husband is ALWAYS at work.. I cant leave them with him. Being that we wives are ALL away from all of our friends and family, and my friends here have their own issues and lives and children.. they arent' willing to keep them everyday for me to workout. So, if he is at work, I cant go on base. But when he's not at work, I take advantage of it- and I will leave them with him to go on base to that gym.
When hes at work (and he always is) I go to the rec center and use their babysitting service.
Even then, the rec center hours are fishy- they are closed Sundays their tot drop is only open half of the day, closed for hours in the middle of the day, and open again a few hours at night. Plus they are constantly changing these hours as they see fit, so it's kinda hard to keep up with.
Last but not least- some of the older women who were so sweet and gentle and kind that worked there are gone, and replaced by snarky middle aged women, who I'm sorry- you can just tell they hate their job, and possibly children. But I am speculating. So they are supposed to open the tot drop for the civic center BACK up at 4. I have sat there NUMEROUS times with my kids, one time I sat there for 30 minutes waiting on the tot drop girl to even show up. A few other times it was 5 and 10 minutes late. This never happened when the older ladies were there- but I guess they retired. :( IDK?
My workouts were looking pretty bleak at best.
Sooooooo....
I was tickeld when I overheard that the base's gym would be adding their own "tot room". When I came back from Christmas vacay (my daughter had a 3 week stint out of school for that, I took advantage to visit back home the full 3 weeks, and try to forget my stressful life here) I was delighted that it was done. The room had been made over and it is fabulous.
I was so excited, since this solved 2 problems. One- the issue of the negligent tot drop sitters, and two paying a membership every month. The difference with the REC center and the Bases "tot drop" is big though. The room the tot drop on base is in, can hold at maximum 13 people. That's children and adults, and there is only 2 elliptical machines, some hand weights a few balls (medicine and exercise/sit up) and 3 exercise bikes. Basically 5/6 women at most could work out there There is no day care worker, it's you and your kid(s), so you cant move around the gm and use all the equipment, you have to stay in that tiny room with your child, but it's better than nothing, and like I said, really cute.
But, there is no strength training machines in the new "family" room, so I would be totally lacking this very important part of my workout. Essential to weight loss really.
But never-mind that- I was just glad to be able to workout again for free and not worry about tot drop workers being late, paying a membership, etc etc.
The new room on base has a plastic partition up with very soft floor, and play toys, such as: dinosaurs play food, a kitchen, legos, puzzles, and all the likes. It even has 2 sides, one smaller and even softer, for infants to be separated from the older "tots".
VERY NEAT, and very appreciated.
I have been in there several times, about 9-11 times now. I always take a friend with me, because working out alone is so damn boring I can't even force myself to go alone.
My friends that workout with me are Billie & Karema,. Neither of which has their own child.
Nothing has ever been said at sign in about them not having kids. We sign in, we go back- we workout and hour or two, we leave. In fact (and maybe it's simply the hours I go) there is never anyone else back there. Just me, my kids, and my workout partner.
So we get about 20-25 minutes into our workout and I'm just getting warmed up. This lady busts in on us, like she caught us doing something god awful Fussing at us saying "there is 2 of you and only one child!'
Ummm.. ok?
Nice observation there, grasshopper.
So after trying to dig out of ther what the heck she is even talking about. She is fussing that "the rules state" that if you don't have a child, you cannot use the room.
HUH?
So what about the other 10 times I've been in and noone has said a damn thing?
I could understand this, if I had a bunch of women in with me, and none of them had kids, or if there was even anyone waiting to use the room (like I said, there is only 5 machines)
But noone was!
I look at the "RULES" which are HUGE btw, posted plainly up on the wall. Nope. Nowhere up there does it say ANYTHING about if you do not have a child, you cannot use the room. I was offended, tossed out mid-workout for no reason.
I even tried to talk to the gyms manager, a Georgia-- about this ridiculousness, and not only was she just as foul with me (which I was already mad btw, DUH!) she was extremely unapologetic, "well these are our rules" umm.. no they are not. The "Rules" paper I signed said nothing of this sort on it.
Not only did the manager of the gym handle the situation all wrong (she should've apologized) and possibly even if empty promises, promise to "look into it" and see about changing the rule, since- as I pointed out to you and to her, there was not one person/mother even waiting to use the room, Is there no gray area?
But she was so unwilling to even hear me out, so I asked Georgia to talk to her manager. I said, is there someone else I can talk to about this?
Her reply? Verbatim "Not really"
OH REALLY?
I beg to differ sweetheart.
I marched my butt on foot (since my workout was interrupted) across the base to Fleet and Family Support, and asked the lady there if I had a compliant about the gym, and the gym was unwilling to help, who do I go to next? She was super nice and helpful, thank goodness. She gave me the number for a Bob who is the head of the MWR here, and he was VERY apologetic, very nice, and very willing to help.
I guess the point of this long ranting blog, is only to get some of the stress of my chest.
Dealing with the kinda stuff we deal with here, it only serves to make our lives more difficult. I have adapted this attitude here that if you make my life difficult, I will in turn show you personally how the golden rule works. Don't expect any breaks from me when your rude to me.
Perhaps the old me, back in the day, a BRAND new Navy Wife (with that new Navy Wife smell!!!) upon arriving at this base.. I probably would have never even went into the mangers office. Even if I would've I probably wouldn't have taken it any further than that. I guess I am just fed up with the hoops we have to jump through here. The Navy has all these silly rules which they have for their protection BUT at what cost to us?
They end up making doing something that should be extremely simple, such as going to the doctor, going grocery shopping getting a workout, the list goes on and on and on SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT than it really should be.
Almost the point where I am broken by them. Like an unruly husband. I wave the white flag of surrender. Screw it! I give up! YOU WIN! I am so miserable here, that I have been talking about moving back home. And soon.
I just don't know mentally how much more I can handle. My neighbors are less than friendly, my husband is GONE 80% of the time, since his boat is in dry dock. I'm bored out of mind, stressed to the max. The instances mentioned here, and not the only issues I've dealt with here. Merely the tip of the iceberg, especially when it comes to the base's "health care", or in my opinion lack there -of. I know I received better (more importantly, less stressful) healthcare when I was on medicaid.
Diving into the issues of Tricare prime and standard would take up a whole 'nother blog. Like this one: The base will approve certain people to be seen off-base, and they do it all the time.
But you have to submit it in writing, and mine has been denied 2x. Yet I meet women, who are seen off base and keep their prime without paying for standard, and their children do too. And I'm not gonna lie, it's infuriating, to be so miserable with the "care" you receive and try to intervene, and show them where they are doing wrong. Ask to be seen off base, only to get denied then to meet women who didn't get denied, is really a slap in the face. Its gotten to the point to where we will be sick for a week before I will even call to go down there.
It is always something at the military base. Whether it be at the gates, the grocery store, THE DOCTORS OFFICE (hands down the worse) and now, even my scared workout times has been disrupted by these silly rules. I'm not gonna lie to you- there is nothing they could say to get me to go back to that base gym with my children ever again. I don't have time to stop what I am doing, get dressed get kids ready, pick up my GF (who is carless) both of us ride up there, only to be tossed out not even halfway into our workout..
Its just a little much. How much more does the navy expect me to endure here?
I have had it with their silly rules.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
OUT on DVD today!!!! Preview Clips: Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures
Read my review: http://1caseycolette.blogspot.com/2013/01/littlest-pet-shop-blythe-and-gang-come.html
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Intro
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 1
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 2
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 3
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 4
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 5
READ MY REVIEW! Click HERE!
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Intro
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 1
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 2
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 3
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 4
Littlest Pet Shop: Little Pets, Big Adventures Clip 5
READ MY REVIEW! Click HERE!
Monday, January 14, 2013
#PictureKeeper #EasyasPie #soSimple *8GB #giveaway 1/30
Picture Keeper is a revolutionary flash drive that stores your pictures all on it's own. Just plug it in!
We actually have a ton of pictures. I have included some of our favorites over the last few years, and a few of our trip to Savannah GA, which isn't too far from here.
Savannah was really beautiful, and I plan to visit again VERY soon!
Easy as peezy! 3 steps.. plug it in, click backup, wait. All done.
Cool, right? I like that it's not too little, as some of the newer flash drives are. It seems really quality and sturdy, love the big red light when you plug it in,and also the cord, since I like to hang mine up, that's perfect for me.
I was sent the PK8, which holds around eight thousand photos.
Since I am a blogger I have to save the images and upload them to Picasa, so I have a lot of cleanup that is necessary Since I don't want to delete them all, a tool like this is perfect for me. But I would need 2 or 3 of this size. We take a lot of vacations, and a lot of pictures when we go on vacation. It found almost 20,000 pictures on my computer! I love how Picture Keeper is helping keep my memories safe!!!
Before you use your Picture Keeper, there are a few steps you should do. Remember, Picture Keeper copies your files just as you have them. So if you have duplicate files on your computer, don’t like your file architecture, etc. then you need to do some cleanup.
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| It sadly, wouldn't hold all of my images. |
To use Picture Keeper (for PC) just insert the device into a USB port and when the AutoPlay window will appear. Double click to open the program and click on “start backup.” It’s that simple.
From this screen you can also set up reminders and view your pictures. Have more questions about Picture Finder? Check out their FAQ section.
Buy It: Picture Keeper is currently available in over 4000 U.S. retail locations including Walgreens, Archiver’s, Hobby Lobby, RadioShack stores and many independent Photo retailers and Scrapbooking stores. You can purchase a Picture Keeper from PictureKeeper.com! They offer great online support as well!! I have photos everywhere! This really helps with storing and organizing! I lost a bunch of pictures when my hard drive crashed. This would have prevented that loss!!
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You can also buy just the software for $30! Use your own flash drives!
To win your very own PK8, comment below that you want to win, and like/follow these 2 pages:
Be sure to leave an email address in your entry/comment.
Giveaway will be drawn via comment # from Random.org. Giveaway will be over on 1/30 at Noon eastern. Please read all rules. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to a winning email before another winner is chosen.
Thanks for reading & entering at Locomotion of Expressions!~
#ChickenANDwaffles?!?! @Torani syrups are soo good. #Torani.#holidayFlavors #review #coffeeLover
My friends who know me well, all know that I am an avid coffee drinker. It should also then, go without saying I have a sweet tooth. These two traits combined make me an expert in the areas like coffee syrups. I know all of the best places to buy it cheap from online, and am proud to say too, that I know about all of the flavors that any brand would make. I like most of them. Coffee & Coffee Syrups are my diets kryptonite.
I was too excited and jumped at the chance to review two full sized bottles of Torani coffee syrups. I know Torani, from purchases on Amazon as being one of the more affordable QUALITY syrups offered.
Torani Has NEW Holiday flavors!
Enjoy these holiday flavors: Gingerbread, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Italian Eggnog and Peppermint. Right now, two of their sugar free syrups are on sale for 6.76 Sugar Free Vanilla & Sugar Free Salted Caramel. I am interested in the Butterscotch and the Cupcake!
I got sent a sugar version, and a sugar-free version. The regular (sugar) syrup was in the flavor of Gingerbread. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Gingerbread coffee from anywhere, but syrups can have too much nutmeg, or not enough cinnamon flavors... This syrup was delish! I preferred it over the sugar free syrup (Salted Caramel) that Torani sent.
I like to also combine a peanut butter syrup that I homemade with Peanut Butter Extract to make a peanut butter gingerbread iced coffee.
Here is the recipe.
2 TBS of Torani Gingerbread Coffee Syrup
2 TBS of Peanut Butter Syrup.
12 oz of iced coffee.
4 TBS of half/half OR creamer
What if you don't have Torani Gingerbread? Go out and buy some! it's just a few dollars for their small bottles and under 10$ (or around ten) for a large like I received I guess for a bottle of sugar it seems high, but for a bottle of syrup, you'd be surprised. Thats relatively cheap. (I would know) PLUS + you end up paying to ship these bottles, and it's not cheap! BUT Torani syrups are widely available on the coffee & tea aisle at your local walmart (They are at mine!)
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Now, as for the peanut butter syrup?Any tall bottle will do, I like to re-use my Torani Bottles or even old Belvedere vodka bottles, really your imagination is your limit, since you could put syrup into a number of different size/shape containers. Even though I make my own, Torani also has a Peanut Butter Syrup. And even though I love Toranis syrups, I much prefer SAUCES over syrups anyday! I have a 64oz of Torani Pumpkin Pie Syrup in the fridge as we type/read.. speak.. lol.
Here are average prices when shopping online w Torani:
750 ml bottle
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$7.95
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3-Pack (3 x 750 ml bottle)
$7.35 per bottle - SAVE $1.80!
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$22.05
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12-Pack (12 x 750 ml bottle)
$6.95 per bottle - SAVE $12.00!
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$83.40
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Dont forget to buy the pump!!!
Homemade Peanut Butter Syrup Recipe
Buy Watkins Peanut Butter Extract from your local grocers spice/extract aisle. Use 3 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar and slowly melt sugar into water, stirring the whole time, usually about 10 minutes, then turn the eye off, pour the whole bottle of extract in, and let it sit for about 20 minutes stirring every few minutes. Once it has cooled, pour it into a bottle and enjoy.
I suppose peanut butter coffee doesn't sound good, but you'd be surprised.
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| Chicken N Waffles Syrup? What the heck? |
Doesn't sugar-free syrup sound like an oxymoron?
Besides that one issue, the syrup itself was quite tasty! I usually don't always like sugar -free syrups some have a nasty aftertaste, or just don't taste right. I did enjoy this syrup, but could tell it was sugar free.
In a pinch I would use it, but I'm not sure. The salt is very salty, and perhaps it would be good in a ginger ale, or a root beer, or a cream soda, or especially VANILLA ICE CREAM (I tried it, YUM!~) But being that I consume coffee 50% of the day (Everyday!) I do need a tasty COFFEE syrup.
1 tbsp Sugar Free Salted Caramel Syrup
2 shots espresso
1/2 cup skim milk, foamed
Sugar free salted caramel syrup
Recipe Instructions
Steam milk and Torani together. Pour into a cup and add brewed espresso*. Spoon a thin layer of foamed milk over top of beverage. Garnish with sea salt. *Can Substitute 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee.
Here lately brands are coming out with salty sweet items, and to me they don't really belong together. I did find that the Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate w Sea Salt was very tasty, so I assumed I would enjoy the salted caramel syrup immensely as well, but I actually just found it to be OK. It tasted better though, when I added chocolate syrup to it in my coffee, but the chocolate syrup I have is Hersey's, and not sugar free.
I am terribly interested in your thoughts if you have tried any of the Torani Flavors, or even what your favorite recipe for coffee is! Please share it here, in comments below, or on my blog's Facebook Page: Locomotion Of Expressions My favorite coffee drink recipe is called an Almond Joy, with Almond, Coconut, and Choclate (So yum!~)
Thanks for reading Locomotion of Expressions!!!
Facebook.com/I.Like.Torani
Facebook.com/shespeaksup
@shespeaksup
@torani
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks & Torani. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment and will be shipping the winner(s) their prize(s). For more information read my rules/disclosure policy.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 : DOG DAYS (review)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!
I watched this with my 7 year-old girl and husband. It was O.K., and I would recommend it as something that you can share with a young child without having to be concerned about crude humor or bad language.
I even found it to be funnier than I expected, which I didn't even expect my daughter to like it. She has always been weird about boys & boy movies, but the movie kinda sucked her in, and she was laughing hysterically!!!
$14.96 on Amazon and eligible for FREE super saver shipping!!!
book is also for sale for $13
CONNECT WITH THE BRAND!
I have TONS of pages from the concept's social networks, pages of authors, movies, books, characters, etc!
FACEBOOK connection pages:
Twitter connection pages:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment and will be shipping the winner(s) their prize(s). For more information read my rules/disclosure policy.
Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!
I even found it to be funnier than I expected, which I didn't even expect my daughter to like it. She has always been weird about boys & boy movies, but the movie kinda sucked her in, and she was laughing hysterically!!!
$14.96 on Amazon and eligible for FREE super saver shipping!!!
book is also for sale for $13
CONNECT WITH THE BRAND!
I have TONS of pages from the concept's social networks, pages of authors, movies, books, characters, etc!
FACEBOOK connection pages:
- Facebook.com/wimpykidmovie
- Facebook.com/pages/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid
- Facebook.com/pages/Zachary-Gordon
Twitter connection pages:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment and will be shipping the winner(s) their prize(s). For more information read my rules/disclosure policy.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
I See ME! My Very Own Name + Very Own Fairy Tale Coloring Book + Personalized Theme Placemats from your favorite stories!
I See Me has become quite a regular feature here on L of E!~ They are an award winning childrens company that makes stationary and personalized books too! I recently got to review their BRAND NEW Placemats and Coloring Books.
See my other reviews for I See Me here:
- I See Me - My Very Happy Birthday review
- I See Me - Personalized Book review
- I See Me - My Royal Birthday review
- This makes #4!
I love their products because they are all personalized and unique to their website. I love how detailed the designs and images are, you can tell quality work from shabby work. And when it comes to our kids, of course we want to give them the best! Kids can be rough and tumble on their clothes, their toys, and their books & whatnot. My kids can tear up an item that claims to be indestructible in record time.
The new products I See Me are offering are inspired by all of their popular stories like:- My Very Own Name
- My Very Own Pirate Tale
- My Very Own Fairy Tale
- God Loves You
- ABC What I can Be (NEW)
- My Royal Birthday Adventure (Boy & Girl versions)
- My Very Happy Birthday (Boy & Girl versions)
- Super Incredible Big Sister (& BIG Brother version available)
- Who Loves Me?
- and others, even Christmas stories.
The personalized coloring books are around $10 for one.The personalized placemats are around $12 for one.
We received the My Very Own Fairy Tale coloring book and the My Very Own Fairy Tale Placemat as well. Cute little matching set has the retail value of $21.90. (+ S&H) I do believe these item(s) would be perfect gifts for your friends kids, or your nieces or nephews. I would include them in my Easter basket when I make them every year!
Facebook.com/ISeeMeBooks
@ISeeMe_Maia
Pinterest.com/iseemebooks
Youtube.com/user/iseemebooks
I See Me Blog
