PopStation Contest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Popstation. All opinions are 100% mine.

I grew up with people that love to sing off-key into the microphones to some weird song. As a kid, I never really liked hearing them and I always thought that adults do the weirdest things! As an adult, my tune has changed and I'm the weirdo behind the mic belting out an 80's rock number to willing and unwilling audience members. It's a great thing I found people who love it just as much as I do. There is nothing like good clean fun to end the week off right. And for those of my friends who insist that they DO NOT karaoke, they are usually the ones we have to fight with over the mics. No matter how bad we sing and how many times the neighbors might call the police to our door, in our minds, we ARE the next American Idols! And Hey! All of you aspiring music artists out there! Guess what? There is a huge opportunity being offered to you by PopStation. PopStation is an online music & entertainment singing experience that gives music artists the chance to be noticed by the public. The prize you are going to sing for is called: The Big Deal, A VIP album recording experience.

How does that work? It's really simply actually. Just register for free and head over to the practice rooms. There, you can download the Popstation Studio software, practice and download your song, record your song and finally, upload your recording to join the contest. Songs will get voted by the Popstation audience – no celebrity judges or panels.

If you are #1 on the charts you win "The BIG Deal" where "The Artist Formerly Known As You" and a guest will enjoy an all expenses paid three night stay in NYC at a ridiculously hip hotel. You will be picked up in a luxury car service and whisked off to a professional recording studio where you will spend two days recording your very own album with the help of a professional production team.

I was so surprised today!

When I went into my garden. The garden is edged by rose bushes, some of them are about 20 years old and very well established. Some of them were lost last year due to some hard freezing. I had gone into the back yard last month and did the weed eating (some of the weeds were four feet tall!). In among the weeds was one of the rose bushes trying hard to start over. It was one tiny little shoot that was about 6 inches tall. I was so proud of the bush for trying to come up again. As I worked my way through the weeds I tried hard to remember to be careful around the little shoot, but I was getting tired and my bad leg was getting very weak. Suddenly I toppled over and accidentally weed ate the little shoot. I was crushed and felt really bad about the little shoot and my cutting it off.

Today I was fertilizing the garden and happened to look at the fence where I had chopped down the shoot...and I was so surprised to see that another shoot had grown in its place. Even through adversity the rose bush was determined to grow again. It made me stop and re-assess my life and what I was doing with it. Even when I am hurting so badly and feeling sorry for myself, I need to look at the tenacity of that rose bush and keep going.

How about you? Do you have things happen to remind you that you need to keep going?

FREE weekend stay at any Hampton Hotel

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

All my friends like to travel and I have a dream to go for a trip together with two or more of them. So we should decide where to go ‘cause they all prefer different places…one of my friends prefers wild nature... another wants to be in a centre of a big city life… this Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes might be the answer. What could be better than winning a free stay at a Hampton Hotel for one weekend with my 100 friends and me? I would be a pretty happy girl to be surrounded with everyone I like to party with for a weekend of fun, not to mention, the winner will also receive $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend.

Imagine all of the different things that you could do with a hotel that is full of all of your friends. From running massive indoor games, to having a giant pools party, to making sure that none of your friends need a designated driver, there limits of what you can do with a hotel full of your own friends is almost endless.

The Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes is open to residents of the U.S., Canada (except Quebec), UK and Mexico. I have already entered and you should too but HURRY because it ends on September 4, 2010! This sweepstakes is sponsored by Hilton Worldwide.

Traveling with friends is one of the fastest ways you can get to know someone really in depth. You will learn more about someone from traveling with them for a week than you might from hanging out with them for a month.

Wire wrapped pendant, made by me, for a friend in Nevada.

Wire Wrapped Pendant

As I have posted previously, I am now learning to wire wrap. My mom gave me her rock tumbler, to tumble some rough gemtsones, for wire wrapping projects. I hooked it up last night, and have some stones currently tumbling. I just purchased some rubies to tumble, and have some Amethyst rough already. I am excited to see how they turn out. They take a very long time. Here is a Picture Jasper pendant I wrapped for a friend in Nevada. She donated to me a bunch of stones, she tumbled herself, and I made this for her to thank her. It is not real fancy, but I didn't want to hide the picture on the stone.

Making one choice and diversing on another

I am sitting here about to turn off the light and get some sleep when I heard a crash in my newly cleaned lower car port. I spent today cleaning and cleaning and cleaning the darned thing so that we can cut the scrap wood that was given to me to help heat the house this winter...and it will be stacked in the cleaned area. Seems to be a no brainer, no being irritated kind of thing, right?

Not so. I plan each day’s activities on my dry erase board. I have lists of things to do around this place that don't quit. Everything from cleaning the leaves from the neighbor's oak tree out of my yard (I ABSOLUTELY HATE, LOATHE, DETEST, OAK LEAVES WITH THOSE LITTLE PRICKLEY THINGS ON THEM!!) to special cleaning jobs I want to get done in the house. I feel so much better when I can wipe a chore off the board. Anyhow two days in a row my boy friend has come in with something to do other than what I have scheduled to do. Friday afternoon in the 100 degree heat it was getting a load of the wood and bringing it to my house and unloading it. (That really helped my aches pains and feeling sick) Saturday it was going to another neighbor's house and getting another load of wood, in the heat, and unloading it at the house. (That shot the crap out of that list) The he said after we finished unloading the wood that Sunday "WE" needed to clean out the lower carport so "WE" can start cutting the wood and stacking it. So, I cleaned the carport today and shot the list all to you know where, AGAIN!

My question for all of you is: Do you make plans to do one thing, and the person you love or are involved with changes them for you? Does it aggravate you as much as it does me?

My love has a new job

We got great news yesterday. My love has a new job. We were very happy with this news because we are moving and the job is in area where we will be living. The mill he had been working was not a great place to work. It was taking a toll on him physically and mentally.

Today we learned that the job we thought would be first shift is actually a second shift position. The upside is that the money is really good. The downside is that my evenings will be without him by my side. I actually cried when he told me this news.

We are hoping that he will be able to move to first shift soon. Until then I will travel to his place of work every night to have dinner with him. I will nap during the evening so I can spend time with him when he gets home. We will adjust.

Love this man and am happy that he has a better job.

How would you adjust to having someone you love having around not be around?

USC Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

The USC Rossier School of Education which ranks no.22 in the United States, and no.9 among all private universities by US News and World Report offers current educators and those aspiring teachers the privilege of earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an elite research university with the convenience and flexibility of studying online.

USC has been a perfect solution for my need to further my education. It is possible to study, no matter where you are. If you go on vacation or have to work away from home, you can still get your class work done.

USC Rossier School of Education’s also features an Accelerated Program perfect for those who are in a hurry to finish the course in as little as 12 months. Not only that, this school of education has distinguished USC faculty well known for their contributions to modern education. You can also hear insights about the program from actual students through their Student Blog. Moreover, it has a Technology video that will show the bird's eye view of the interactivity of the program.

As an older female and out of the work scene for many years, USC has been the perfect solution. I am able to work full-time, care for my family, and attend college all at a respectable pace. I have found the on-line college community to be the best fit for my busy lifestyle. In case you are thinking of the fees, this school has scholarships and a groundbreaking tuition reimbursement program designed exclusively for MAT@USC graduates. The school also provides free lifetime Alumni Association memberships and full USC student status and benefits, Most of all; students will have the opportunity to become part of the elite USC Trojan Family and the first cohort of the MAT@USC graduate in May.

Read more program information here.

old clothes

What do you do with old clothes? We all have to clean out our closest eventually! I find myself doing it more and more these days because on average I have moved once a year over the past 5 years! So for each move, I try to lessen my stash of clothes. I usually move anything out that I did not wear in the past year. Once I've cleaned out my closet, I try to sell the clothes that I want to get rid of , in a lot, on Craigslist. I usually put all of the clothes in a box and ask like $25-$40 for the whole box of clothes. All of course depending on how much and what was included. I've had great success doing it this way!

How often do you clean out your closest? And what do you do with the clothes that you have cleaned out and no longer want/wear?

Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation, also called augmentation mammoplasty or breast enlargement surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that uses implants to enlarge and shape the breasts. This procedure can give you a greater sense of freedom with fashions and may also help improve your self-confidence. Breast Implants New York has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any plastic surgery procedure.

Lipozen

Lipozene guarantees you will lose weight and body fat, or your money back! Lipozene is 100% natural and there are no known side effects if taking Lipozene as directed. Lipozene contains Glucomannan, a 100% natural fiber from the Konjac Root.

Dogs love mealtimes!

Dogs love mealtimes! They are a real pleasure for him, and help reinforce your special bond. But more than that, your dog needs to eat a nutritious, balanced diet to maintain his health and well-being. Give him best dog food

Productive Computing

If you are looking for a strategic partner that can bring a tream of FileMaker developers, consultants, programers and computer IT professionals who posess a broad range of skills and experience to service your FileMaker database and/or your computer network, then give FileMaker Pro a call.