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This has been my summer to learn how to conquer yard work. It has never seemed as difficult as it has been this year …. And I still have two months or more to go!! I started early and decided it was time to trim my hedges. The plant is known as Variegated Chinese Privet or Ligustrum sinensis ‘Variegata’. In just reading about it to be sure I spelled this information correctly it was noted as a fast grower, growing 4-6 feet tall and equal in width.

Hedges to be Trimmed

I would like to add my two cents on this statement. The hedges that I trimmed were at least 12 to 15 feet above my fence! I trimmed these back to below the fence line and they have already reached a substantial 3 feet above the fence! I have more of these lovelies (do not get me wrong, they are beautiful bushes/trees) in another area of my front yard and they have grown past my second floor bedroom window. I think it is fair to say they grow much higher than 6 feet. This pivet would be a welcomed addition to any yard. It is especially great as it grows in full or partial sun. However, if you choose this hedge, be sure you own a very aggressive hedge trimmer or you have a good tree saw (or a landscape service)! As my “hedge” had grown to a height of about 15 feet I chose to tackle the project with my trusty tree saw. These hedges grow many limbs from each plant. You will want to keep them trimmed back as they tend to get bare on the bottom if you do not. I have 18 of these hedges along the fence in my backyard, each with approximately 6 offshoots. I hope this gives you the picture of a totally overwhelming project for a 64 year old retired, single grandma! Needless to say, I have never met a task that I was not willing to tackle and this was not going to be the first time. I did start out with the hedge trimmer, but soon discovered this was too big of a job for that. So I resorted to my tree saw and worked on cutting each limb. Now my job was complicated somewhat as I live in Georgia and we are overtaken in the summer by a plant called kudzu. It has a way of winding its way into your yard and throughout your trees and bushes. You really have to keep an eye out for it. I was just reading that kudzu came over from Japan and now covers over 7 million acres of the southeastern United States. I am blessed with a lot of aggressive plants.

Kudzu Covered House

As I would cut down a limb I would pull it down and put it in a pile. In some cases the growth was entangled with other branches and this was no easy job. And then when you throw kudzu into the mix of things it got really hard! One time I had cut the limb at the bottom and was trying hard to pull it down and the kudsu had tightly wound itself throughout the top of the branch. I backed up and pulled with all my might and after a few moments it loosened, and then loosened some more and before I knew it I was traveling at a pretty quick pace backwards in my yard. I hung on for dear life and had visions of what lay behind me. I was either going to fall just short of my concrete patio, or land in the blackberry bushes around my bird feeders. With a loud oomph I landed flat on my back just short of the patio. This is where I must tell you, that if you are going to do these tasks, you have to approach them with a sense of humor. I laid there flat on my back laughing. Thankfully my yard is quite private and no one had caught sight of my antics. Laughter truly is the best medicine. Another word of advice I would like to offer is make sure you have your cell phone in your pocket. You never know when you might need to call for help. I learned that lesson one year as I was on a ladder cleaning out my gutters and the ladder decided to fall to the ground. My life crossed before my eyes as I fell to a standing position with the ladder sort of wrapped around my legs. Other than an increased heart rate and scrapes and bruises I was okay. But the thought crossed my mind that if I had fallen on the ground and been unable to get up no one would have known I was there. My family was out of town and would be gone for days. Hence, my advice about carrying your cell phone at all times. The hedges got trimmed and they have grown back beautifully filling in on the bottom. No matter how hard I try to keep these under control, it seems to be a full time job. Before the summer is over they will need trimming again. I have learned a lot about how to conquer yard work this summer. As this article has become quite lengthy, I will be back shortly to tell you about my bout with poison ivy and a run away lawnmower! The most important tool you need to conquer yard work is the ability to laugh at yourself. Heaven knows I will be a stand-up comic by the time this summer draws to a close! Keep Smiling, Judy Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com http://homebusinessinatlanta.com http://beadazzledejewelrycreations.com http://fullservicemarketingtools.com Skype ID: judy.conway

Category: Birds, gardening, health, Helpful Hints, home, Inspirational, Mother Nature, Uncategorized | Tags: cell phone, hedge trimmer, hedges, Judy Conway, kudzu, laughter, lawnmower, tree saw, yard work | 2 Comments

Woodworking Projects

Author: Judy Conway

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Recently my daughter and her husband started on another one of their renovations projects. This time it is putting laminate flooring throughout their entire upstairs (3 bedrooms, two baths and a hallway). Being around this type of activity always makes me want to do something creative and gratifying. The woodworking projects I have found in the Woodworking4home package gives me the incentive and direction to get busy and start building!

This package provides step-by-step plans, photos, diagrams and instructions for 14,000 various woodworking projects including, but not limited to, plans for arbors, beds (headboards, bunk beds cribs and more) dressers, benches, chairs, coffee tables, gazebos, greenhouses, bird feeders, boats, children rooms projects, computer desks, dog houses, pergolas, sheds, playhouses and the list goes on. This is the most extensive list I have personally come across.

I am a retired, single grandmother and I will be investing in these plans and putting them to use. With the economy the way it is today, I am always looking for ways to save money and building my own tables, cabinets, etc. will not only be fun, but also help me stretch my social security payments!!

With this Woodworking4Home package you will have instant access to 14,000 plans and projects of high quality that are suitable for beginners. (This means a lot to me!) These plans have been tried and tested.

You will also receive free bonuses and free future updates. This is a one-time charge. The sale price of $49.00 provides you with a lot of information. This product also comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If for any reason the product fails to perform exactly the way it is described to you, you have 60 days to receive a refund with no questions asked. You basically have nothing to lose.

I hope this information will be helpful to you. Please stop back and let me know how your projects are coming using this Woodworking4Home package providing you with woodworking projects.

Happy building,

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

How to Be Prepared for Hurricanes

Author: Judy Conway

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We all know that this is the time of the year when we start hearing about hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from June 1^st to November 30^th. Now is the time to learn how to be prepared for hurricanes.

It is time to batten down the hatches and make sure we are prepared for what lies ahead of us during this year’s hurricane season. As we have seen in the past, hurricanes can be dangerous killers. By learning the hurricane warning messages, planning ahead and being properly prepared we can reduce the chances of injury, major property damage and even death. I would like to take this opportunity to share some information on this subject with you. This information is somewhat lengthy, but I have tried to cover all situations. Print this out and go over it with your family and use it as a check list.

Plan an evacuation route.

Contact the local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter, and request the community hurricane preparedness plan. This plan should include information on the safest evacuation routes and nearby shelters.
Learn safe routes inland.
Be ready to drive 20 to 50 miles inland to locate a safe place.

Have disaster supplies on hand.

Flashlight and extra batteries
Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
First aid kit and manual
Emergency food and water
Nonelectric can opener
Essential medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes

Make arrangements for pets.

Pets may not be allowed into emergency shelters for health and space reasons. Contact your local humane society for information on local animal shelters. Please do not tie your pet to a railing or fence and leave it. It broke my heart watching animals in these types of situations during Katrina.

Instruct family members.

Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.
Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.

Protect your windows.

Permanent shutters are the best protection. A lower-cost approach is to put up plywood panels. Use 1/2 inch plywood–marine plywood is best–cut to fit each window. Remember to mark which board fits which window. Pre-drill holes every 18 inches for screws. Do this long before the storm. Home improvement stores have been known to run out of storm supplies. Do not wait until the last minute.
If you can’t put up plywood or storm shutters at least put strong tape on your windows.
Trim back dead or weak branches from trees.
Check into flood insurance. You can find out about the National Flood Insurance Program through your local insurance agent or emergency management office. (There is normally a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes effective. Homeowners polices do not cover damage from the flooding that accompanies a hurricane.)

Develop an emergency communication plan.

In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family contact.” After a disaster, it is often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

You will encounter two types of “alerts”:

A HURRICANE WATCH
A hurricane watch is issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24-36 hours. Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for hurricane progress reports.

Check emergency supplies.
Fuel car.
Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys, and garden tools and anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
Secure buildings by closing and boarding up windows. Remove outside antennas.
Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly.
Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils.
Review evacuation plan.
Moor boat securely or move it to a designated safe place. Use rope or chain to secure boat to trailer. Use tie-downs to anchor trailer to the ground or house.

A HURRICANE WARNING

A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions (winds of 74 miles per hour or greater, or dangerously high water and rough seas) are expected in 24 hours or less.

Listen constantly to a battery-operated radio or television for official instructions.
If in a mobile home, check tie-downs and evacuate immediately.
Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container on the highest level of your home.
Avoid elevators.

If at home:

Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.
Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy. Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.
If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power “surge” when electricity is restored.

If officials indicate evacuation is necessary:

Leave as soon as possible.
Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve.
Tell someone outside of the storm area where you are going.
If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture to protect it from flooding or better yet, move it to a higher floor.
Bring pre-assembled emergency supplies and warm protective clothing.
Take blankets and sleeping bags to shelter.
Lock up home and leave.
Avoid flooded roads and watch for washed-out bridges.

AFTER THE HURRICANE
Stay tuned to local radio for information. Help injured or trapped persons.

Give first aid where appropriate.
Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

Return home only after authorities have advised that it is safe to do so.

Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.
Use caution when entering your home.
Beware of snakes, insects, and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.
Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
Check refrigerated foods for spoilage. (when in doubt, throw it out!)
Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents and for insurance claims.

Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.

Use telephone only for emergency calls.

INSPECTING UTILITIES IN A DAMAGED HOME

Check for gas leaks–If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
Look for electrical system damage–If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
Check for sewage and water lines damage–If you suspect sewage lines are damaged avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid the water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

Here is a compact list of items to accumulate and put together in one place ready to use.

Amazon.com Widgets

Battery operated flashlights are fine if the power is out for a short time. The new LED flashlights work well, as long as a spotlight isn’t needed. Target, Amazon.com and other stores have good ones in the $10 range that drop into a pocket and run on AA and AAA cells. They’re great for personal lights, and the batteries last five to ten times as long as with regular incandescent flashlights. Additionally, LED conversion bulbs are available on the Internet for more popular brands of flashlights.
After a couple of days you will need candles for light. Buy big decorative candles that will burn for days. Keep lanterns/candles in frequently used locations, such as the bathroom counter, next to the door, and on your bedroom nightstand. IF there are gas leaks, explosive chemicals in your area, do NOT use candles, if you do, watch them to prevent fire, especially if children are with you.
“Self Powered Lights” and “Self Powered Radios”. This equipment is either solar powered, and/or has a “crank up” generator built into the light and the radio. Find the lights at Amazon.com, or if time does not permit your placing an order check out Walmart or your local Radio Shack.. This will save you money on batteries, If you can find any, since they’ll be sold out WEEKS before a storm hits you. Some of these models will also charge cell phones.
Glow sticks. found on Amazon.com and in sporting goods dealers. Safer than candles, in case there are gas leaks, explosive,flammable chemicals in your area.
Solar powered garden lights. You can charge them up in the sun by day and use them indoors for lighting at night.
Battery-operated radio
Canned goods and can opener, fruits and vegetables and other foods that do not require refrigeration.
Water (at least one gallon daily per person with a seven-day supply). You can also fill up bathtubs if you close or seal the drains.
Bleach. In the event that water enters your home, you will need to get it out and then kill any microbes that remain.
Take highly-valued items with you or, for those items staying in the home, wrap in plastic or place in plastic bags. Even if you are riding out the storm, consider placing photos, insurance papers and other important papers in sealed bags.
Corded phone. Even if your electricity is out, your telephone may still work. Cordless phones still require electricity, so plug in a corded phone, and you may be surprised.
Cell phone and extra charged batteries. Some of the “Self Powered Radios” and “Self Powered Flashlights” allow you to keep your cell phone charged. IF the cell phone towers are damaged, destroyed, cell phones will be no good.
A DC to AC inverter.
Pre-moistened towelettes.
Battery-powered fans will be very appreciated if the power is out.
Lots of batteries of all sizes (you can always use later what is not used during the storm). Consider buying a car battery to power battery operated devices in the home.
Make sure each person has their own flashlight and battery supply, in case you have to separate.
A good supply of all prescription drugs.
A first-aid kit. (I have included anticipated items for a first aid kit below)
Optional but helpful is one pair of wading pants for each member of the family, or at least the adults of the household. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you do not want to be walking around with your skin exposed to contaminated water if there is a need, after the storm, to walk from the home.
Plenty of large plastic garbage bags to dispose of human waste and other garbage.
Supply of toilet paper, and other toiletries as needed.
At least one 5-gallon bucket and cat litter (the bio-degradable kind) for toilet use.
A pocket knife for cutting things.

Items for a first aid kit. Place these items in a waterproof box with a lid.

A minimum of two pairs of Latex gloves for the smallest kit. Remember, it may be a stranger who needs your help and having a latex barrier will help prevent infection.
- Use vinyl gloves if you or a family member is allergic to Latex. Latex allergies can be severe.
- Keep ore pairs in your disaster kit that will evacuate with you. You may go through several pairs in one emergency.
- Check the integrity of the gloves if they’ve been stored in changing temperatures. They may become brittle. Sometimes gloves deeper in a box may still be good so don’t toss the box because the first few pairs are bad. Look through them all.
Sterile dressings to stop bleeding. (Look for bulky dressings called surgi pads in health supply stores)
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
- Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Burn ointment to relieve pain.
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Gauze pads
Micropore tape
Tweezers
Scissors
Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or sterile saline as general decontaminate. Sterile saline is available in liter bottles in health supply stores.
Thermometer
Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers.
- You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates and have a plan for refrigerated insulin.
Over-the-counter pain medicine (Like Tylenol and Advil) and an antihistamine (Like Benadryl).
Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.

Seven hurricanes and four tropical storms are predicted during this year’s hurricane season. I hope that this information will help you on how to be prepared for hurricanes. In preparing this article I have learned things myself that I will most definitely be adding to my checklist.

I wish you a safe hurricane season!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

Category: Children, family, health, home, Hurricane Preparedness | Tags: evacuation, first aid, hurricane preparedness, hurricanes, storm preparation Judy Conway | Leave a Comment

Goodbye to Molly the World Famous Barn Owl

Author: Judy Conway

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People in fifty different countries around the world bid Carlos and Donna Royal goodbye last night. They have done a most excellent job of hosting The Owl Box in San Marcos, California since February 2010. It was truly an amazing experience to watch Molly and McGee (the parent owls) mate, hatch and nurture four owlets. There were six eggs, however one egg broke and one never hatched. We were able to watch this process from day one. Molly was a very nurturing mother and McGee was a good provider. Did you know that owls can swallow a rat or rabbit whole? The owlets grew too quickly and it was not long before they were leaving the box. Now they have all left the box and can be seen residing in a nearby palm tree. Research shows that barn owls will reside within a five mile radius of where they were born. It was very difficult to say farewell.

My daughter introduced me to Molly’s adventure on the Sportsman’s Paradise website. Molly the Barn Owl became one of the top sites viewed on UStream and she even has her own “room” there. By the time it was all said and done there were over 14 million views.

Carlos and Donna have dealt with all of the technical paraphernalia in their dining room, entertaining the news media people, national television for the Morning Show and virtually taking this experience worldwide. Carlos is retired but probably worked harder than he ever has. He scheduled time via Skype for classroom discussions across the country. The children learned a great deal about barn owls. If Carlos did not know the answer the first time around, he would do his research and knew the answer the next time it was asked. In fact, we all have learned a great deal about barn owls. They are beautiful caring creatures.

Carlos has been on duty 24/7 making sure that the cameras were adjusted properly and everything was working properly. He provided viewers with night vision cameras and day time cameras. There have been times when the owls have landed on the cameras sending what we saw askew necessitating Carlos climbing a ladder in the early morning hours in his pajamas making the necessary adjustments so we could all have a “bird’s eye view”!

Most people left their Molly webpage up and throughout the day and evening you would hear Carlos’ voice as he would bring up up to date on the latest developments with the owls and activities. I will certainly miss that.

Carlos definitely went above and beyond what most people in his position would have done. When people in the chat room were concerned that the owlets might fall out of the box, he built and added on a little porch type attachment. And then he added a platform that the owlets were able to fly to close by the owl house and play.

Austin, Carlos and Donna’s grandson, was a big help with setting up the technical aspects. He is still working on putting all the videos and photos that have been taken (and believe me there are a lot) for people to purchase copies of.

Eric Blehm, a renowned author and personal friend of the Royal’s is currently finishing up writing a book, “Molly the Owl” detailing the entire experience. The book is illustrated by Christopher Adams. John Atkinson has kept us rolling in laughter by creating ecomics of Molly, McGee, the owlets, Carlos and Donna. We all grew to love these owls. You can read more about Molly the Barn Own of San Marcos, California and see photos at http://mollysbox.wordpress.com/blog/. On this site you can actually see a photo of the actual owl house which sat 15 feet above the ground.

Besides being able to purchase the book, “Molly the Owl”, ecomics, and fine illustrations, we have also been able to purchase many other items of memorabilia. A portion of all of the sales will go to barn owl habitats in the area.

Carlos and Dona put their vacation on hold to share this experience with the world. We are all hoping that there will be another episode in the future. The night before we said goodbye, Molly and McGee were seen in the owl box “bonding”! Who knows there may be new little owls in the near future. We are all hoping this will be the case. There are many people who are currently suffering owl withdrawal!

In closing, on behalf of many people, I want to thank Carlos and Dona for opening up their home to all of us for these past four months. Also, much appreciation goes out to Austin, Eric, Chris and John. Thank you all for making this all possible. I can honestly say, “Gee that was fun, and I was part of it!”

Happy, safe travels Carlos and Donna!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

Category: Birds, Children, family, home, Inspirational, Mother Nature | Tags: Austin, barn owls, Carlos and Donna Royal, Christopher Adams, ecomics, Eric Blehn, John Atkinson, Judy Conway, Max, Molly the World Famous Barn Owl, Pattison, Skype, UStream, Wesley | 4 Comments

Obesity in Children

Author: Judy Conway

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The news has been laden with the fact that obesity in children is reaching overwhelming percentages. I hope the following information will be helpful to parents seeking solutions to this situation. I would like to preface this article by saying I was an obese child. At the age of 13 I was around 5 feet tall I weighed in at 160 pounds. My heart goes out to children in this category as I know it was not a happy time in my life.

As was my case, research shows that the root of the problem with our children, as with adults, is that we are suffering from emotional eating. My mother, unfortunately, was not well versed on healthy nutrition and if I was having a difficult day or feeling upset her usual solution was, “Go get a dish of ice cream.” Now truthfully, that was the last thing I needed!

Childhood and adolescence obesity increases the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes as a youth. One disease of particular concern is Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and has increased dramatically in children and adolescents, particularly in American Indian, African American and Hispanic/Latino populations.

Family environment can definitely add to emotional eating problems. With the divorce rate on the rise as well, a lot of children are dealing with split custody situations. Or, if the parents are choosing to stay together for the sake of the children, the increased tension in the household between the parents does not promote a healthy environment.

Lack of healthy communication and support between parents and their children creates insecurity within the child and only adds to the challenges they are facing in their lives. Quality time spent with your children is much more important than quantity of time. With a lot of parents having to work two jobs to make ends meet with our economic crisis it is difficult to spend quality time with their children. Let’s face it by the time you get home after working two jobs you barely have the energy to climb into bed let alone have a good one on one conversation with our children.

While on the issue of time this prompts another issue. Fast- food, or prepared foods you pick up at the grocery store are not going to be as healthy as meals you personally prepare taking into consideration the nutritional value of what you are eating. Remember excessive calories and lack of exercise is going to result in stored fat!

Children who come home after school and spend hours alone may not be making the healthiest food choices. Be sure that the snacks that are available are not going to sabotage a good eating program. It might take some extra planning on your part, but it will definitely be worth it. The internet is full of tips and suggestions for making right food choices.

Being overweight causes self esteem problems amongst peers causing self-induced pressure and leading to a child feeling very overwhelmed. Overweight children lack popularity with other children. It is sad to say, but it is true. They end up feeling “different” and alone.

When children are experiencing these situations they turn to something to lessen these feelings. Some children turn to “comfort food”. This is a real problem. Instead of being able to sit down and talk over what is bothering them, children turn to a dish of ice cream, a bowl of cookies and a glass of milk, or other less than nutritious food choices.

Before dealing with the food issue, it is important to recognize if there are other issues involved. Create a healthy communication and support system for your child. Once that is established it will be a lot easier to get the message about healthy nutrition and exercise across and show them the process that will benefit them, not only now in their younger years but even as an adult.

Healthy, fit bodies fill our air waves putting more stress on those of us, children and adults alike, whose bodies are not picture perfect. Vitality takes second place to physical appearance.

Living a healthy life involves much more than just your appearance. Exercise, healthy food and nutrition choices will play a big part in the quality of your child’s life now and later. It is important to get your child’s attention by sharing with them the illnesses mentioned previously in this article that can be directly related to obesity. Choose the tactics you will use with your child before you delve into your conversation. Perhaps there is a family member that suffers, or suffered from illnesses related to obesity.

There are many mixed messages out there. It is important for parents to be involved with proper education in helping their children. Too often the blame is placed on the school lunch program or someone else responsible for caring for the child.

In closing, I personally feel that a good way to approach a situation with an overweight child is to make it a family effort. Everyone in the family can do well to learn better eating habits and a healthy exercise routine. Our children have an overabundance of video games. Unlike the “days of old” when kids were out playing ball or other outdoor activities, many children sit for hours in front of video games. The Wii System can be an asset with its many programs that get children up and moving.

Yes, obesity is a hard thing to deal with. As I am finishing up this article the thought crossed my mind that this is a situation that can be challenging to deal with, but the same situations that cause emotional eating habits can also drive children into much more serious problems, like drugs.

Our children are valuable human beings. God has put them in our lives to raise and help them grow up to be individuals that will add value to this world. I hope that you will find the time and joy to develop a happy, secure lifestyle with your children. I wish you success in dealing with obesity in children.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

Ways to Cut Expenses and Save Money

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image by voobie via Flickr

I am writing this article to provide you with some suggestions for ways to cut expenses and save money in your daily life. For those of us who have been laid off, had to take lower paying jobs or been faced with not being able to find a replacement job and opted to take an early retirement … corners need to be cut for sure.

I do not think that many people are prepared for the day when they find themselves with an almost empty bank account and the pantry in a shape of hungry despair.

It is amazing how much you can save at the grocery store if you choose not to purchase prepared foods. Not only do you save money, but in the long run it is healthier for you.

Check your supermarket sales for the week and plan your meals using items that are on sale. If there is a really good sale on chicken, seafood, or whatever, perhaps you may want to stock up on these items. You could spend a little bit more one week, but the next week you would have already purchased your meat items, so it averages out.

The internet contains a wealth of information for cutting food costs. I just Googled “recipes that allow you to cut food costs”, and the page that came up provided me with recipes for when you are on a budget, how to cut food costs, cheap and healthy (15 nutritious foods for about $2.00), a website that provides a weekly inventory management system to cut food costs and even a site to guide you on making your own baby food. One of my daughters made her own baby food. She saved a lot of money and her children are not picky eaters and are very healthy.

Be sure to sign up for the coupon sites. It is absolutely amazing how much you can cut off your grocery bill if you take the time to clip coupons. You can even go to a specific site, like Kraft, Maxwell House, or many others, and get additional coupons that you do not find in your weekly newspapers or at other coupons services. I have saved at least half of my total grocery bill just by clipping coupons. Nowadays, clipping coupons should be a requirement if you are trying to save money. Get your kids involved. They love to clip coupons.

Make it a family project and plant a garden. It is a fun experience to see the plants grow and be able to harvest your “crops”. I bought a spaghetti squash last fall and dried and saved the seeds. I planted the seeds last week and I already have the plants coming up. Spaghetti squash is healthy and tasty. If you were to buy this in your grocery store it could be costly at $1.50 a pound and for one big enough to feed your family could weight three to four pounds. Just by taking a few minutes to rinse and dry the seeds you have saved a lot of money.

The wildlife (birds, squirrels, chipmunks) are a big help in spreading the seeds of various plants in your yard. A couple of weeks ago while cutting my grass I discovered there were many little blackberry bushes sprouting in my lawn. I have two bird feeders and thanks to the birds this year I have a many blackberry bushes that will be providing fruit this year growing under the bird feeders. I am going to dig up these new little plants and plant them in a more appropriate place than the middle of my lawn! These bushes will provide blackberries for eating, or making preserves and pies. The best part is I did not even have to purchase these bushes.

Make use of the internet to save on other items you need. Amazon has very reasonable prices on many items. In most cases if you spend over $25.00, your shipping is free. Please check out the Amazon link on this page to compare prices.

eBay is another site that can save you considerably. I recently found a seller for the ink cartridges for my Cannon Pixma 530 printer. We all know how expensive these cartridges can be. I have ordered cartridges from various suppliers. I have even used Staples, who provides good service. However, I found an eBay auction and have been extremely pleased with the product. I discovered that you can order directly from the company.

I know we are all apprehensive about trying “other than manufacturer’s brand” of ink cartridges. These cartridges come with the chips in place. You simply have to take them out of the box, remove the plastic wrap, usual tab and cover from the cartridge and you are good to go! They come with a one year money back guarantee. I have saved a remarkable amount buying my cartridges from this company. Check out their products at compandsave.com. I recently ran out of one of my cartridges and was pleasantly surprised at the great customer service and speed in which I received my order.

You can cut your utility bills. If you have ceiling fans be sure they are running 24/7. In the winter you will save on your heating expenses and in the summer you will save on air conditioning. Be sure your blades are set to go in the correct direction … counter clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. I have vaulted ceilings and when I first moved into my house my electric bill was outrageous. I called the electric company and was told the tip about running my fans. It has made all the difference in helping me cut costs in this area.

I could go on and on about saving money. You see I had to learn this talent when my children were nine and ten and I got divorced and became a single mom. There are some every day expenses that are pretty much fixed but if your search hard enough you will find ways to cut costs.

I hope this information will be helpful in ways to cut expenses and save money. If you have other suggestions please contact me at Skype (my Skype ID is listed below) and I would be happy to share your ideas in future articles.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
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Skype ID: judy.conway

Information to Show You Ways to Achieve Debt Consolidation

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image via Wikipedia

With the state of our economic crisis today, many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. This is causing an increase in our credit card debt. It is much too easy when you do not have the money in your bank account to charge your various bills. This article is being provided to give you information to show you how how to achieve debt consolidation.

If you have reached the point where you are overwhelmed with your overall debt, consolidation may be the answer. There are many ways you can legally alleviate your debt.

You can find many ways online to achieve your end result. This post will serve to put many options at your fingertips in one location. To find many articles writen by people with expertise in this area, please visit: http://howtoachievedebtconsolidation.blogspot.com.

The object of this article is to provide you with information that will lighten your financial burden and give you information to show you how to achieve debt consolidation.

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

Category: Debt Consolidation, family, Helpful Hints, home, Uncategorized | Tags: Credit card, debt, Debt Consolidation, Financial services, information on debt consolidation, Judy Conway, money, Money Management, Personal Finance | Leave a Comment

Your Past Goodbyes Can Add Meaning to Your Future Hellos!

Author: Judy Conway

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We all have been faced with having to say goodbye. Saying goodbye usually produces great heartache. I hope this post will help you reflect on your past goodbyes and help them add meaning to your future hellos.

I was born in Nyack, New York. I only lived there for approximately 6 weeks. My dad was an operating engineer for Esso, working in Aruba. So I spent the first 5 years of my life living on the “non-tourist” end of the island. When we left for another job assignment I can remember saying goodbye to all my friends. I especially remember saying goodbye to Billy, the black goat in our Kindergarten class!

As we grow older our goodbyes get harder. With the nature of my dad’s employment I spent 17 years of my life traveling worldwide. I attended many schools, and said goodbye to many friends. Looking back, it was an education in itself being able to travel worldwide, but it also meant that I missed out on the normal growing up functions of life. Longtime childhood friends, school activities, such as a prom, and your high school friendships rank on the top of the list. I became a pro at saying “goodbye.” I truly believe that leaving so many friends is the reason I place such importance on relationships.

I recently received a notice about the death of one of my high school classmates. He had lost his battle with cancer. This prompted me to reflect on my life and thus wanting to share my feelings with others.

Goodbyes are an integral part of our lives. We all go through changing jobs and saying goodbye to people we have worked with and grown close to. My relationships with people are very important to me. I can remember one job in particular. I worked for SMRT, Inc. in Portland, Maine. On my last day I managed to sob my way around 42 desks saying goodbye. These people still hold a warm place in my heart. This was my most gratifying, favorite job, other than being a mom!

Being a mom of two girls who loved animals, as do I, I have said many goodbyes to parakeets, dogs, cats, fish, rabbits and the list goes on. I am one of those people who gets extremely attached to a pet so these were hard times. I had a dog, Benson, I got as a puppy right after I was divorced who was a true, loyal friend. He was always there to listen to the hard times I was going through. After twelve years he became very ill, lost control of his bodily functions and was going blind. I could not see him suffer any more so I had to have him put to sleep. That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I still to this day get teary-eyed when I think of him and that was 18 years ago.

It is a devastating goodbye that we say to our parents when they die. When our close friends pass away it is very hard. I feel when we lose these people we suffer more from our loss. These special people have gone on to a better place!

Two more hard goodbyes to express are those at the time of a divorce (or an intimate relationship), and also when your children grow up and get married and you say your goodbyes and wish them well in their new lives. That is a bitter sweet goodbye because as parents it is our goal to raise our children to be independent and be able to leave home to start on their own journey.

Yes goodbyes are difficult. Hopefully, we learn something from each one of these losses (or changes in our lives). As with my dad, he was the one who truly taught me the meaning of love. I lost him when I was only 22 years old. That left an enormous void in my life. He never got to see, know and impart his wisdom to my children. These losses have helped me grow stronger in my life.

Because of my goodbyes I look at the new people that come into my life in a whole new light. I wonder why I have met them, what I can learn from them, and how can I make a difference in their lives? I always ask, “Why has God brought this person to me?” when I meet someone new. Nothing happens by accident. I look forward to where this new relationship will take me. I want to add value to the time spent with people in my life. I want to leave a loving legacy behind me. I do not want to live my life thinking about what I could have, would have or should have done!

Life goes by much too quickly. Never miss the opportunity to tell someone how much you care for them. Never miss the opportunity to help another person. Live your life making a difference in other people’s lives. Remember to live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God.

I wish you a life full of opportunities to share your love with others!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
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http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
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Skype ID: judy.conway

Category: Children, Christian, family, home, Inspirational, Uncategorized | Tags: animals, death, divorce, family, home, Inc, Intimate relationship, Judy Conway, legacy, love, opportunities, Saying goodbye, Skype, SMRT | Leave a Comment

Remember Your Mother on Mother’s Day!

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image via Wikipedia

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching. I hope that you will take the opportunity to remember your mother on Mother’s Day for all that she has done.

This year it is observed on May 9th. I would like to offer some recognition to mothers and state some facts about how Mother’s Day was started.

Mother’s Day is celebrated to express our appreciation for our mothers. Although it falls on a different day each year, it is always on the second Sunday of May.
Research shows that the Greeks were the first to celebrate Mother’s Day. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe it became a celebration to honor the “Mother Church”. Then England in the 1600’s started celebrating “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of lent to honor mothers in England.

In 1872 the United States, through the devotion of Julia Ward Howe began celebrating a day honoring peace and motherhood. The idea did not catch on until 1907 with a campaign by Anna Jarvis for national Mother’s Day. Unlike the endeavors by Julia Ward Howe this was now celebrated in almost every state. In 1914 there was a Presidential Proclamation by Woodrow Wilson stating that the second Sunday in May would be celebrated as Mother’s Day.

Originally Mother’s Day was spent going to church and writing letters expressing sentiments to mothers. Throughout the years this has evolved to include cards, presents, flowers and dinner. Mother’s Day now ranks as the second highest gift-giving holiday in the United States. Many restaurants have their busiest day on Mother’s Day. Many cards and e-cards are sent. In addition it is the busiest day for long distance calls. Sons and daughters take this opportunity to call and express their love and gratitude to their mothers.

On this day other countries, such as Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Italy and Finland, also celebrate Mother’s Day. Other countries honor their mothers but do so on different dates.

A quote by Anna Jarvis, “Mother’s Day is in honor of the best Mother who ever lived – the Mother of your Heart.”

Mothers (and mothers-in-law) have various meanings to us all and are the basics of many jokes. No matter how good, bad, loving or not so attentive you think of your mother we do owe much to our mothers for bringing us into this world. We would not be who we are without our mothers.

Think of all a mother does. She sits by your bedside when you are sick. She is always there to listen to your problems, share in your excitement, teach you good manners, keeps your clothes clean and ready to wear. The list goes on and on. I was a single mother and I know personally there were many days there were not enough hours in the day to get all I had to do accomplished. My two daughters were the glue that held my life together. I was truly honored to be their mother.

I would like to share a story I came across many years ago. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

“The Meanest Mother”

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate
candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast. When others
had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can
guess, my supper was different than the other kids’ also.
But at least, I wasn’t alone in my sufferings. My sister and two
brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You’d
think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were and
where we were going. She insisted if we said we’d be gone an hour, that
we be gone one hour or less–not one hour and one minute. I am nearly
ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each
time we had a mind of our own and did as we pleased. That poor belt was
used more on our seats than it was to hold up Daddy’s pants. Can you
imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed? Now
you can begin to see how mean she really was.
We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath. The other kids always
wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of insults because
she made our clothes herself, just to save money. Why, oh why, did we
have to have a mother who made us feel different from our friends?
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night
and up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our
friends. So while they slept-my mother actually had the nerve to break
the child-labor law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make
beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid
awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.
She always insisted upon us telling the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, even if it killed us and it nearly did.
By the time we were teen-agers, she was much wiser, and our life
became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car for
us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates
and friends come to the door to get us. If I spent the night with a
girlfriend, can you imagine she checked on me to see if I were really
there. I never had the chance to elope to Mexico. That is if I’d had a
boyfriend to elope with. I forgot to mention, while my friends were
dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old fashioned mother refused
to let me date until the age of 15 and 16. Fifteen, that is, if you
dated only to go to a school function. And that was maybe twice a year.

Through the years, things didn’t improve a bit. We could not lie
in bed, “sick” like our friends did, and miss school. If our friends
had a toe ache, a hang nail or serious ailment, they could stay home
from school. Our marks in school had to be up to par. Our friends’
report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for
failing. My mother being as different as she was, would settle for
nothing less than ugly black marks.
As the years rolled by, first one and then the other of us was put
to shame. We were graduated from high school.   With our mother behind
us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the
pleasure of being a drop-out.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four
children, a couple of us attained some higher education. None of us
have ever been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate.   Each of my
brothers served his time in the service of this country. And whom do we
have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You’re right, our
mean mother. Look at the things we missed. We never got to march in a
protest parade, nor to take part in a riot, burn draft cards, and a
million and one other things that our friends did.
She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.
Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three
children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my
children call me mean.
Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest   mother in
the whole world.

written by Bobbie Pingaro (1967)

In remembering my mother (she passed away in 1997) I do not remember someone who expressed great love or concern. Nonetheless, I remember her as my mother and thank her for all she did for me. Do not look at the negative things you remember or think of your mother or your growing up years. Take those things and turn them into positive aspects in your life. You can still embrace your mother with love. It is your choice how you want to deal with those memories. Because of my mother I have become the person I am. I value the importance of loving my children and grandchildren and finding beauty, excitement and blessings in every day of my life.

I hope that you will take the opportunity to reach out to your mother on Mother’s Day. There will, unfortunately, come a day when she will not feel your touch, nor will you feel her touch. Be sure to remember your mother on Mother’s Day!

I wish a very happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere. Thanks for all you do!

Judy Conway

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Category: Children, Christian, family, holidays, home, Inspirational | Tags: Anna Jarvis, Children, England, family, grandchildren, holidays, home, Julia Ward Howe, mother, Mothering Sunday, Mothers Day, Parenting, The Meanest Mother, Woodrow Wilson | Leave a Comment

Tips on Creating a Raised Planting Area

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image via Wikipedia

Creating a raised planting area may be the answer to your drainage problems. If your current planting goals involve sufficient water drainage, I am sure you are aware of how frustrating it is to have a yard that has soil that just won’t cooperate. A few plants can deal with the surplus water that occurs from existing in an area that doesn’t drain appropriately. In some cases, it might just prompt them to bloom more lushly. On the other hand, other plants don’t cope as well, and it will make them to die a ghastly, bloated death. You should always find out about the drainage necessary for every plant you purchase, and ensure that it will be appropriate for any of the areas you are considering planting it in.

In order to test how much water your chosen patch of soil will hold on to, dig a hole around ten inches deep. Fill it with water, and check back in a day when all the water had left. Fill it back up once more. If the 2nd hole full of water hasn’t drained off in 10 hours, your soil has a low saturation point. This means that when water soaks into it, it will stick around for a long time before dissipating. This is unacceptable for almost any plant, and you are going to have to do something to fix this situation if you want your plants to last.

The typical way for improving drainage in your plot is to build a raised bed. This entails making a border for a small bed, and adding sufficient soil and compost to it to boost it above the rest of the yard by at least 5 inches. You’ll be very surprised at how much your water drainage will be enhanced by this small modification. If you’re setting out to build a raised bed, your potential area is either on grass or on dirt. For each of these cases, you should build it to some extent differently.

If you desire to start a raised garden in a non grassy spot, you won’t have much difficulty. Just acquire some sort of border to retain the dirt you will be adding. I’ve found that there is not anything that works quite as good as a few two by fours. After you’ve formed the wall, you must put in the right amount soil and steer manure. Depending on amount of time you plan to wait before planting, you will possibly want to regulate the ratio to allow for any wasting away that may occur.

If you’re setting out to set up a raised bed where sod already exists, you will have a tad more difficult time. You will want to cut the sod around the perimeter of the garden, and flip it over. This may sound uncomplicated, but you will require something with a very sharp edge to trim the edges of the sod and get under it. Once you have turned it all upside down, it best to add a layer of straw to discourage the grass from growing back up. After the layer of straw, simply add all the soil and steer manure that a ordinary garden would require.

Planting your plants in your new spot shouldn’t present many problems. It is essentially the same procedure as your normal planting session. Make certain that the roots don’t extend too far into the first ground level. The whole point of setting up the raised bed is to keep the roots out of the soil which saturates easily. Having very long roots that extend that far totally destroys the project.

Once you have plants in your new bed, you’ll see an almost direct improvement. The added soil facilitates better root growth. Simultaneously, evaporation is prevented and decomposition is halted. All of these things added together makes for an ideal environment for almost any plant to grow in. So don’t be intimidated by the thought of adjusting the very topography of your yard. It is an uncomplicated task as I’m sure you’ve come to realize, and the long term results are gratifying to say the least.

Happy planting in your new raised planting area. I wish you prosperous crops or beautiful blossoms, whatever the case may be!

Judy Conway

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Category: gardening, home, Uncategorized | Tags: Drainage, Garden, plants, Raised bed gardening, soil, soil drainage test, summer garden, water | Leave a Comment