Some Giveaways are Becoming Too Complicated to Enter

I have stopped following a whole bunch of blogs because they are making their required entries just a bit too ridiculous. I don't require anyone to follow my blog, if you want to fine, if not that's fine too. When I first started entering blog contests and giveaways the entry was easy..just make a comment on the post.

Then it was follow their blog through gfc, make a blog comment, then rafflecopter and the amount of different things they want you do to on those forms is sometimes ridiculous. I've seen rafflecopter forms with 20 different blogs on them and they want you to follow all of them on fb, twitter and gfc. I won't do it unless I actually like what's on your blog and want to get updates but more likely than not, I don't.

Now because GFC is going away for those not on blogger...blogs are wanting you to follow them through Google+. I don't have Google plus and If I see that's going to be a required entry for giveaways...I deleted them from the blogs I follow and won't be going back.

I liked it a lot better when all we had to do was make a blog comment. All these other forms have gotten out of hand.

My ratty boys

My daughter snapped this picture after the boys had their turkey dinner on thanksgiving. That's right, they had a little turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing right along with us. Looks like the Tryptophan got to them as much as it gets to all of us. lol I finally have a picture with all 4 of my little cuddlers in it.

What to Get..what to get..

I do a lot of surveys for points that I can turn into Amazon gift cards and just cashed in a few and now have $50.00 to spend on Amazon.com...but what to get?

My wish list is over run with books, I put books in my wish list all the time. I have pages upon pages of books to buy and since these gift cards are pretty much free just for answering some questions I feel like I am getting books for free most of the time. But I just got an email that I will be getting another gift card for $25 for being picked to test a product for the next 6 weeks. I'm not allowed to say what the product is but it's something most people use everyday. :)So I am thinking I should save that money and wait until I have all my gift cards and then make a large purchase. Hmmm, what to get.

The last purchase I made with my gift cards was for more toys for the rat cage and some chew sticks for them, some of which they liked and some of which they ignored. I ended up giving the small rawhide bones I bought for th rats to my dad for his dog. lol I'm better off just putting a cardboard box in their cage and letting them tear that up instead of spending money on chew toys they won't even sniff.

My Hope For Next Year

I can only hope next year is better than this year was. This year really sucked for me. I don't know why I always think because of all the bad things that have happened to me in my life that nothing else bad can happen to me, I've had my fair share, I've lived through hell and come out on the other side singed but otherwise ok and things have to be better form now on, right? But it just doesn't end up that way.

My Year In Review.
Starting in January I had a horrible case of Hives. I have agoraphobia and every time I had to go outside I broke out in hives. It was just ridiculous. I dealt with a bout of depression so bad I didn't think I was going to make it through...I really didn't.

I've had several packages stolen or never delivered because my mail person is too stupid/lazy/ignorant to care that leaving the box or envelope in front of my apartment door without knocking to let me know it is there is an invitation to other people to take it/steal it. Even after I told them, they don't care.

My mother in law passed away in March.

My mom passed away in June. I still can't believe it.

I ended up having to call an ambulance in April because I was having chest pains and a weird heartbeat. I was afraid I was having a heart attack. After 2 days in the hospital I found out that my heart is fine but I now have an abnormal heartbeat. Most people who have this don't feel it and so it doesn't bother them...I can feel mine when it skips beats so it freaked me out. It's something I'll just have to live with now, there's nothing they can do about it and it won't hurt me but it is really weird.

Ken hopped over a fence and didn't realize that the other side was a long way down and when he fell...he broke his arm in several places and had to have surgery. Thankfully it all went fine and he's all healed now.

My older brother was arrested but after a week in jail the charges were dropped. It's hard watching a family member self destruct and using really lame excuses for the things they do. After my mom died my older brother said he wanted her dog, even though my younger brother had already said he wanted to take her home with him. Younger brother relented and older brother took her home...then he gave her away to someone else because she supposedly wasn't getting along with his other dog..even though he knew younger brother wanted to come and get her. He did this without discussing it with us and I'm still so pissed I can't even see straight. Why he didn't give away his other dog and keep his mother's dog is beyond me. Once again lame excuses for the things people do...

My younger brother got Pneumonia and Bronchitis and ended up in the hospital for a week. My daughter got the flu and was sick for almost 2 weeks. And hubby has been feeling down right bad all year, dealing with an ongoing health problem.

I don't mean to sound whiney but some days I just shake my head and hope the next day is better. Let s hope next year is better for all of us.

The flu

The flu feels like you get kicked in the head, the stomach and the back.

I had the flu 2 years ago and it was bad but my doctor said next time I get sick to stay home take over the counter meds and drink plenty of fluids. Only come int to see him if it lasts for more than 10 days because there's nothing they will give you or can do for it.

So my daughter has had the flu for the past week and she was really sick. hasn't been able to eat more than applesauce for a week and now that the getting sick and fever is gone, her throat is raw and she is having a hard time eating. Poor thing, at least it is going away.

I'm so glad I didn't get it this time, I hate being sick.

Snuggle Exhilarations® White Lilac and Spring Flowers

I received my free full bottle sample of snuggle fabric softener from this survey site. It's a legitimate site and they really send you samples of products to try out as long as you follow through and let your friends know about it.

Snuggle Exhilarations® White Lilac and Spring Flowers: Thx Snuggle 4 my free Exhilarations White Lilac and Spring Flowers sample! Like 4 ur chance to win! http://on.fb.me/SnuggleSweeps *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

smiley360.com—Be Heard. Be Happy.

smiley360.com—Be Heard. Be Happy.

Nellis Air Force Base Air Show

My hubby (red head), my brother and his wife all went to the air show yesterday at Nellis Air Force base. Here's a few of the pictures.












My hubby and sister in law at the air show.

My brother standing in front of a plane.





My brother and sister in law at the air show.

My Morning

I thought I would share with you what happened during my morning today...such as it is. I knew as soon as I got up and came into the living room where my rats cage is that they needed a cleaning. They tore up their new bed...little bits of stuffing looked like it exploded all over the cage and they tore the top blanket off and pee'd everywhere up there. ewww stinky.

So I moved the cage over *It's on wheels Wheeee* and that's when I saw it...they had also dumped the food bowl out on the side of the cage and little bits of this and that rat food was spread all over the floor. Good grief they are messy little brats.

So I took out the rats *except for Ares and brodie who choose to cower in their beds on the top shelf* they only like coming out for a few seconds at a time and being able to jump right back in their cage. Jasper and Hades love being out.

I took all the baby blankets an fleece from the cage and put it in bags to wash later and wiped the whole cage down. Now I think my largest rat, Jasper has taken up stalking me when I'm not looking. Because I turn around to make sure they are fine on the couch and he is hanging on to the side of the cage and trying to climb on top on the cage to come over and stare at me while I clean. Being the good rat momma I am and not wanting him to go splat on the floor, I pick him up put him back on the couch and move the cage over so he can't get back on it. But he comes over to the side of the couch and looks anyway. Then gives me the "Well that wasn't nice" look.

Anyway I finally get all the clean fleece in the cage, put the baby blankets on the cage and fill the food bowl up and I see that Ares is inside the new bed and shredding the fluff stuffing. lol Well, I guess it won't be long before that's in the garbage, but for now it's holding together and since they like to sleep in it I'll leave it in there. Good thing I kept the big plastic igloo...I have a feeling I'll be putting that back in there pretty soon.

Chance for a $25.00 gift card

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Old Pictures

My older sister found a picture of our grandparents holding my dad and my aunt when they were really young.


I love finding old pictures of family members that I haven't seen before. But when I showed this to my dad he was completely surprised by it because he'd never seen it either. My sister found it in her things and when my mom passed away this past June, I inherited her photos and have been going through them all.

Ever since I was 12 years old, I have been collecting the family's photo albums. It started with just one...and then there were 2 and 3 and 10. When I had my daughter we took countless pictures of her and us and I ended up with more than 20 full size photo albums full of pictures. Now that my mom passed away and I now have all of her pictures, I had to buy 2 more huge photo albums and I still need at least two more to be able to fit all the pictures into them.

But as I was going through the pictures I noticed I didn't know who some of the people in the pictures were. There are a lot of black and white pictures of people I don't recognize. So because my daughter wants to inherit all these photo albums when I pass on, I started writing the names of every one in the pictures on the back of all the photos who I know they are. That way my daughter will know who they are and how they are related to her.

How I Get Free Stuff...

*I thought I would share this post again for those of you that didn't see it the last time I posted it.*

I tell my friends and family all the time how I get free things coming to me and some of them have tried it and they don't have the same results that I have. So I am going to tell you the websites that I belong to in order to get free stuff and maybe you'll be able to get free stuff too.

Swagbucks Sign up here and search like you would on Google or yahoo to earn swagbucks periodically. Turn in those swagbucks for Amazon.com gift cards or other merchadise.

Inbox dollars sign up with Inbox Dollars and click on the emails they send you and shop with them for points that you can turn into real money. This one takes more time to do but in the past 2 years I have gotten $120.00 from them.

The Tasters This is from Nescafe tasters choice coffee. Sign up and if they pick you to be a taster, you will get free samples of coffee to host Coffee parties with. Take pictures of your party and submit them for points that you can then use to buy gifts cards like Amazon.com. They also have a bunch of other surveys and activities for you to do that will also give you points that you can turn in for Gift cards.

Free Grabber This is where you will find a bunch of free samples to sign up for.

Free Silver Jewelry On this page they show you a few pieces of pretty silver jewelry that you can get for free...All you have to do is pay $6.99 for shipping and handling. I have bought earrings, rings and pendants from them and they are really pretty and good quality for the price. I'm wearing one of the rings right now.

Vocal Point Sign up with them, comment on the message board and other topics on teh site and periodically they will send you free samples and coupons for full size free products as well as coupons that you can share with your friends and family. But you have to comment a few times a week on the boards and topics in order to keep the samples coming, but it is well worth the effort. I get samples and coupons all the time.

Actual free Samples A site full of free samples to sign up for.

Hey Its Free A site for great free samples. The guy that writes about the free samples is totally funny too.

Samples FromTarget Target gives out samples periodically. But they go quickly.

My View This is a survey taking website. You sign up, take the surveys they send you and get points for the ones you qualify for. Then turn them into cash or prizes.

My Survey This is another survey website that you take survey to get points which you can turn into prizes and gift cards.

Harris Poll Another survey website to take survey and earn points that can be cashed in for prizes and gift cards.

Zoompanel Another website that has you take surveys and gives you points for them that you can cash in for prizes or gift cards.

American Consumer Opinion Sign up with them and when they send you surveys that you qualify for, you get money that you can cash out after you have accumulated $5.00

Just Some of the things I have gotten so far this year for free.
Cheryl Dragon T- shirt
1 Pair of EZ Sox
Sample of Purina Smart Blend
4 free business cards from StarBucks
Button- I'm Human
Charisma Carpenter T-shirt
Beneful Dog food sample
Cybdi bands hair tie sample
Crest white strips sample
seattles Best coffee sample
Herbal Essences shampoo sample
Tylenol stress kit
Prilosec OTC sample
Sample of valspar paint and mini roller
Kirkland Brand Antibacterial wipes sample
Tide Stain release 10ct. sample
Sample of Tide Detergent


Coupons for full size freebiesBreve Creme
Nestle Pure life Multi Pack
2 Buitoni Meal packs
2 Hot pocket boxes
2 Boxes of Lean pockets
1 package of Nestle toll house refrigerated cookie dough
2 Bottles of Nestle Juicy juice
1 Stouffer's party size meal
1 Canister of Nestle Tasters Choice coffee

Books I have gotten for free.
I have received over 50 books for free from entering blog contests and giveaways.
Amazon.com gift cards
I have received $90.00 in Amazon.com gift cards from giveaways and contests on blogs and over $500.00 from cashing in the points I had on the different surveys.

Some free samples require you to sign up for them on Facebook and for that reason I have another FB account solely for freebies.

This is not a complete list of the things I have won because I forgot to write some of the things down when they came. But you get the idea. All of these freebies are just in the last 6 months.

Rant: Headless Romance Book Covers

Let me begin this post in saying my rant of these book covers is in no way against the author of any of these books, I know from having talked with some authors that they have very little if anything to do with the design of their book covers. This is just my opinion/rant of a trend I keep seeing that is driving me nuts.

So here we have a sample of the type of covers I am going to be talking/ranting about. Can you see what I am talking about? They are all headless. There is a torso, but the face and or head is gone. I like the faces to be attached to the torso's I am looking at and therefore this new trend is driving me batshit crazy.







I think this new trend is fairly hard to miss...am I right? Do they have a valid reason for not adding the heads and faces to the torso's? I don't think so, not in my opinion they don't. I am an eye person and a lip person not to mention an arm person. lol I like looking at a man's eyes and lips. So not having a head on the torso of a cover makes it hard for me not to think of said torso being a headless corpse.

I believe that we've come a long way from the creamy bosoms, men's long hair blowing in the wind and floral colors on the front of romance books, but this new trend is irritating me to no end. I want to see a face! For an author to say that she wants us to envision what our hero would look like instead of giving us a face, is a cop out. Why make us imagine what he would look like, pick a cover model and tell us what he looks like. it's much better for me than seeing what looks like a headless corpse on the front of my romance book. I really don't want to be reminded of the headless horseman. Headless torso cover's make me think that someone came along and lopped off the heroes head with a sword...people this isn't a Highlander movie!

I blame the publishers so I hope I have gotten their attention.

My Babies

Here are some pictures of my 4 rats. All Males and they are about a year old now. Yes, they are large rats. lol All except for Brodie who is the smallest of the guys.


Here you have Hades, Brodie, Jasper and Ares in the background.


Jasper squinting and Brodie up close.


Ares is sniffing the camera. lol


Hades on his back sleeping. His little feet up in the air. Jasper and Ares are in the bed with him.


Hades sleeping on his bed/pillow.

My Published Articles

Hi to all my new followers. :) I love having new followers and to all of those who are reading my blog and not a follower...thank you for visiting me. :)Hopefully I've made you laugh, think or just shake you head at my strange posting and weird pictures. lol I love finding pictures that are a little out there and posting them.

I also wanted to share something about myself that you might not know. I am a Freelance Writer and write article about small animal care for The Yahoo Contributor Network.

You can find my profile here and just scroll down to see what articles I've written. I have more than 200 articles published right now and am always adding more.

If you read any of my articles, I would love to know what you think about them. :)

Our Pumpkin

Sharing smiley 360 Mission

Sharing Smiley360 Mission: I signed up for Smiley360! http://smiley360.com *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

My brother in law is going home today!

Read the full story here.

Here's a little bit of the article...

After four years in the hospital, Mike Stanzione is going home.

A rare disease left him dependent on a ventilator, barely able to walk and in need of constant medical care. He was told over and over again he had no chance of leaving Bergen Regional Medical Center and getting home to his wife and young son.

Yet the 53-year-old refused to give up.

Armed with his cellphone and laptop, he found a doctor willing to try a groundbreaking surgery. It required a harrowing ride to Florida and back and a painful recovery and rehab.

And today, he'll finally rejoin his family at his Saddle Brook home, where friends and neighbors are expected to be on hand to welcome him back.

"I'm happy I didn't give up," Stanzione said. "I just wasn't going to accept being on a vent and in the hospital for the rest of my life — I heard about the diaphragm pacemaker and went after it."

Stanzione has Pompe disease, an often fatal genetic illness that causes degeneration of muscles, including those that control the diaphragm for breathing. He is the first Pompe patient to get a diaphragm pacemaker, which stimulates the muscles and nerves in his chest so he can breathe periodically — sometimes for hours — without a ventilator.

It was the ventilator that shackled him for years to a hospital room at Bergen Regional in Paramus. The machine requires a medical professional be on hand around the clock in the event it malfunctions or the patient needs assistance.

Stanzione's insurance company, Aetna, and Medicaid and Medicare refused to cover home health care costs. It appeared the former computer programmer would have to spend the rest of his life in a long-term-care facility.

Birthdays, holidays and seasons came and went. His son, Brian, who was 4 when Stanzione was first hospitalized, is now 8. They used Skype daily and tossed a ball on weekend visits at the hospital, but it didn't come close to watching his son grow and change every day.

"The hardest part has been being away from Brian," Stanzione said. "I missed so much. I just want to be home with him — I used to read to him every night, now he can read to me."

His wife, Debbie, admitted she and Brian had resigned themselves to the idea that her husband would spend the rest of his life in a hospital room.

"I never admitted it to him, but after a while we really didn't think he'd ever be able to come home," Debbie Stanzione said. "It was hardest on Brian — he's had his hopes dashed so many times."

But Mike Stanzione refused to accept that this would be his life. He had once been an active husband who played ball on weekends with his friends. He searched for a way home.

Review: Companion Caterers Lixit Space Pod 2 Large

When I first brought my 4 boys home I thought I had all the accessories I would need for them. I bought an igloo that they refused to use for sleeping, they used it for food storage so we dubbed it "The refrigerator". I also bought them a stuffed Alligator which was supposed to be a hidie place to snuggle into the middle of, but they tore it to shreds in less than a day.

Then I bought a Lixit Critter Space Pod 2 Large and they fought over who was going to get to be inside it. I hung it from the top of the cage as it states you can and at first I was really scared it would come crashing down but it didn't, it stayed put. My 4 male rats were always trying to squeeze themselves into the Space Pod so I decided to buy another one for them and I bought it from Companion Caterers on Amazon. They have a wide selection of toys, food, treats and other accessories for your pets and they shipped my box out to me really fast, which I really liked.

Companion Caterers prices are comparable with others who sell some of the same things on amazon but knowing I can get fast shipping and nice customer service if I need it, has made me a customer when I am looking for things for my 4 boys.

I've Got Great News!

My brother in law who has been in the hospital for 4 1/2 years..is getting to go home this month...for good! Last month he had a pacemaker like machine implanted into his chest that shocks his chest muscles and makes him take a breath. He got this so he could be weaned off the ventilator and hopefully go home. It's called a Breathing Pacemaker.

Diaphragm (Breathing) Pacemakers

A breathing pacemaker consists of surgically implanted receivers and electrodes and an external transmitter with antennas worn directly over the implanted receivers.

The external transmitter and antennas send radiofrequency energy to the implanted receivers just under the skin. The receivers then convert the radio waves into stimulating pulses.

These pulses are then sent down the electrodes to the phrenic nerves, causing the diaphragms to contract. This contraction causes inhalation of air. When the pulses stop, the diaphragms relax and exhalation occurs. Repetition of this series of pulses produces a normal breathing pattern.

A breathing pacemaker can provide ventilatory support for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency whose diaphragm, lungs, and phrenic nerves have residual function. Typically, these patients have high spinal cord injuries, central sleep apnea or other central neurological disorders, or a paralyzed diaphragm.

My brother in law has Pompe Disease and I did an interview with him for Yahoo Contributor Network, last year.

Read article here.

I'm happy for him, my sister in law and their 8 year old son. I know they must be beyond happy right now.