Category: Family

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Jokes and Pranks

April 1 is always going to be a date that makes me paranoid. My family is always loving jokes and pranks, and April Fool’s Day is like the Super Bowl of practical jokes to them. Every year they try to out do each other on April Fool’s Day. The only restriction is that a person or animal cannot be physically hurt during or as a result of the prank.

Sometimes my brothers go to incredible lengths to plan out complicated pranks. I know one year my youngest brother plotted his prank for over a month and was able to get cooperation from several people outside of the family to help him pull it off.

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The printing industry

Earlier this month I was talking with Uncle Dave, who is a retired bookbinder. He was telling me about how he used to work for a book publishing company, and his job was to apply glue to the bindings of the books. I wish I had asked him for more details about the job because now I find myself wondering if he actually applied the glue by hand with a brush, or if there was any kind of machinery involved to help him with the application process. I wonder what his reactions would be if I showed him the web to print storefront business website that I found that does so much of the work digitally and mechanically that used to be done by hand. Progress can be bittersweet sometimes. The conveniences are great, but sometimes the workforce has trouble adapting, and a lot of people end up underemployed, and that can cause a lot of hardship if the workforce is not properly retrained. Thankfully my Uncle Dave is retired, and not looking for a job, so that has not had a negative effect on him.

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Gifts for loved ones

When it comes to buying gifts for my loved ones, I am always looking for sales on good gifts. Sure you can rely on online Black Friday deals, but they are only once a year. I much prefer finding my sales on a daily or weekly basis. I have a budget and I do my best to stay on it. Sales are the best way to save money when you have a family. My family budget is not static, but I do try to keep it within certain limits. The kids helps as much as children can, by conserving on that kiddie stuff, but it doesn’t always do the job.

As frustrating as it can be to create a budget and stick to it, we do our best. It always helps to have the children involved in the budgeting and saving. There are many ways to achieve this. Coupons are one of the best ways to save money. You can find coupons for just about any product out there. Weather you are buying diapers or formula, it doesn’t matter. If you work together on your budget you can actually have a better marriage. Money is the one thing that every couple argues over. It is actually the easiest thing to overcome.

Once you have decided on what kind of lifestyle you want to have, you can agree on how to save your money. There are green lifestyles, as well as the I am not involved kind of lifestyles. No matter what you are into, you can save money.

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What’s your favorite chip?

My favorite is Munchos potato chips. I am completely and totally addicted to them. Which is probably why I have such a hard time losing weight. My kids have their own particular favorites and I usually buy a bag per person. One son loves Dill Pickle Chips, the other likes Salt and Vinegar or Funions. The others in the house will eat just about anything, but if I don’t buy them each their own bag, they will get into mine and “nope” that is not happening. lol

I know, this is a stupid conversation, but I am bored. =)

yummy
Munchos FTW !
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Movie night tonight

Movie night is definitely tonight, but we are watching old movies that we haven’t seen in a very long time. The Matrix entire series is on OnDemand, so we decided to watch them all. I doubt we get through all of them tonight, but we are going to try. I forgot just how good these movies are. They have apocalyptic scenario, coupled with high tech and lots of shooting and action. They are almost perfect. The only thing missing is outer space. Obviously, you can tell that we like action and scifi type movies.

I am already thinking about the next series of movies I want to watch on our next movie night. Series movies are the best. I don’t care if it is The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter or the Pirates of the Caribbean. They are all amazing partly because they don’t just end. Not for a long while in any case. Waiting for the next one to come out was a little annoying, but totally worth it in the end. The Avenger, Thor and Iron Man series are definitely awesome as well and I am glad that they are continuing, the next one of those I have to see is the new Thor. It looks like it will be even better than the first one.

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Real Estate is more than selling houses.

Real estate is about more than just selling houses. It is about community and a better life for everyone who lives within it. Being a real estate agent takes dedication to that community, not just making money. As agents, we live within the communities where we work and building it up is as important for our own families as it is for those who have less than we do. It is an investment in our town, our neighbors and our families.

New agents must make a name for themselves and there are ways to do that and help people at the same time. Joining clubs and organizations can not only help build your business, but will also help build your reputation as a community leader. If you only join to help you make money though, people will be able to tell, so you have to mean it. Join something that actually means something to you.

Here is a list of organizations for those agents who wish to help out.

  • Boys and Girls club
  • Boy Scouts or Girl scouts
  • Coaching team sports
  • Historical society
  • Board of Realtors
  • Local politics
  • American Legion
  • American Veterans
  • Red Cross
  • Crisis centers
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Volunteer for hospitals, fire stations, food banks, Food kitchens or even toy and food drives

All of these and many more are great ways to give back to your community and make connections at the same time.  ZMG Construction is a perfect example of giving back to the community. They are involved in several organizations, like AMI Kids, which helps troubled youths, as well as the Boy Scouts of America. From Crime Stoppers to CECO, an education center for disabled children, ZMG leads by example. It is precisely this kind of giving back that makes for a really good company. Some of these organizations can be a lot of fun and everyone needs a little bit of fun in their lives. Enjoy the experience and make new friends.

Helping your community to be more sustainable is also a great way to give back. After all, you live there too and want to make sure that it is preserved for future generations. You can suggest ways for your clients to “green their home” and make it more attractive to buyers. Upgrading outdated appliances is a great way to start, as well as “heat as you go” water heating system. If they are going to replace a floor before selling, suggest that they use bamboo for a wood floor. Bamboo is much more sustainable than regular wood as it grows much faster than trees.

No matter what way you decide to join in, make a difference. People will notice that and your business will see the difference as well with more referrals. You will feel good about what you are doing and be successful at the same time. Your reputation will grow and people will know that you have roots in your community as well as a deep feeling of responsibility for it.

 

 

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Peace of mine

Peace of mind is the first thing every parent and homeowner wants. Whether it is knowing that the toys your child plays with are safe, or that your home is protected against mishaps, you don’t want to stress over these things. Toy safety is relatively easy to assess.

  • Buy age appropriate toys for your children
  • Make sure there are no small parts that can be a choking hazard to the smaller children.
  • Make sure the toys are well made (cheap toys break and can harm your child)
  • Never buy toys with lead paint as they are a health hazard.
  • Electrical toys that plug in should not be bought for children under 8 years of age to prevent burns
  • Toys with strings, cords or straps are a strangle danger and should be rigorously avoided.
  • Always throw away packaging as soon as the toy has been opened.

These rules are basic parenting knowledge, but what about your home? How do you protect your home and your family from the many disasters that can happen? Homeowners insurance is the answer. Many mortgage companies and banks require homeowners insurance when you buy the house. Finding a good insurance company that suits your needs and doesn’t completely empty your wallet can be daunting.  homeownersinsurance.com is one way to find what you are looking for the easy way, but why should you buy insurance besides needing it for the banks approval? That is easy…

  • Peace of mind
  • Protection for losses due to robbery
  • Protection from natural disasters, which also covers you if you cannot live in the home while it is being repaired. (will pay for hotels and living expenses)
  • It will protect the equity in your home should something happen to it
  • Protects you from lawsuits and will pay medical bills in the case that someone is injured on your property
  • Replaces personal possessions lost due to disaster or theft

All of these reasons are rolled up into one big, “I don’t have to worry” ball and your stress level will definitely come down a few notches. Make sure to study your policy carefully so that you know what your home is covered for and what it is not. You will be surprised to know what your policy covers, such as spoiled food in your refrigerator should your electricity go out. This is standard with policies. Your child’s belongings while they live in a dormitory on a college campus is also covered.

One of the things that is NOT covered in a regular policy is flood insurance. You have to buy a separate policy to cover flood damage. Nor will it pay for earthquake damage or jewelry past a certain amount. These are separate and should be taken into account depending on where you live as far as earthquakes go, and how much your jewelry is worth. If you need these types of policies, you will need to add them to your existing one or buy it separate, so make sure you are in the know.

 

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Cooking it up

Recently I have found that the same old foods we are used to eating are getting boring. I have been trying a lot of new recipes lately in an attempt to freshen up our dinner menu. Occasionally I end up with something that none of us like, but this one is just flat amazing.

mozzarella stuffed meatballs

 

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs!!!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork or mild Italian sausage
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
3 eggs
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 lb mozzarella, cut into cubes
Olive Oil
Marinara (jar or homemade)

Directions:
In a large bowl mix beef through pepper. Form into 2″ balls. Press a cheese cube in the middle and seal the meat around it.
Heat 1/2″ olive oil in a large skillet. Brown meatballs and then set aside on plate.

Pour marinara sauce into pan; bring to a simmer. Add meatballs and simmer until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
Serve over spaghetti or on top of a hoagi!!

 

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Labor Day weekend

How was your Labor day weekend. Ours was fabulous. We spent time with family and friends at BBQ’s and out on the water as well one day boating. The kids had a blast learning to waterski and water board. We found a great spot to BBQ on an island in the middle of the river as well as play some volleyball in the water. By the time the weekend was over, we were all slightly burnt (even though we used lots of sunscreen) and totally beat. I guess you can say we played hard this past weekend.

 

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Telling me all about it

My son is so excited about his new job, that he comes home and tells me every little detail. Last night he was telling me about the chainsaws that his uncle bought from www.sherrilltree.com. He says they are the best chainsaws ever built and work so good that they cut through the toughest trees. Well I am glad that he is so excited about this and equally happy that he is taking an interest in everything about it in order to learn more. It is just great that he is happy even though it is a tough job working out in the sun and heat like that.

I know a lot of men who wouldn’t be able to handle it. While I know that he is interested in the chainsaws and such, he is not allowed to run one, before you ask. The extent of his cutting is with a small hand saw or hatchet to help make everything fit into the trailer. I trust his uncle implicitly and know that he would never allow him to do anything like run a chainsaw at his age. Maybe in another couple of years when he is like 16 or so, will he teach him how to do that, but not now.