Busy Mom by Charity Adams

12Apr
0

Potatoes are Planted Cross Your Fingers and Toes

Yesterday the kids and I planted potatoes.  This is my first adventure into planting potatoes.  I am not positive that they will work out.

My grandmother said always plant your potatoes on Good Friday.  Well life took over and no potatoes went in the ground on Good Friday but the little devils are in there now.

After a little research this is what I came up with to grow a successful crop of potatoes.  I will let you know if this actually worked when harvest rolls around.

1.  Prepare the soil by tilling  7 to 8 inches deep.  I have a rototiller but I think a shovel and a sharp hoe would do the trick.

2.  Buy seed potatoes from your garden store.  When you get them home cut them in cubes.  The rule of thumb is 3 eyes per cube.  I have to confess that I didn’t see enough eyes on my potatoes to get 3 per 1 inch cube so my seed are just a little larger than that.

3.  Place them cut side down about 7 inches deep.    7 inch diameter for each seed should be about right.

4.  Next get straw and cover your area.  in 10 days to 2 weeks we hope to see sprouts from our potatoes.

Here are a few of the websites I found that will give you the best advice for growing potatoes in your garden.

The Garden Helper

Growing Potatoes

The Organic Gardener

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Posted by admin in Gardening and tagged with ,
09Apr
0

Making a Few Extra Dollars at Home

I have really had a ton of freedom to explore other ways to supplement the family income since selling my own business and being told by my darling husband that I don’t need to work full time.  (Don’t be surprise if I mention this again.  I am really proud of his ability to take care of us and he deserves the credit now and again.) With that kinds of freedom to explore I have found a few fun ways to make just a few extra dollars.

Way number one is blogging.  Blogging is the act of acquire a place on the internet and spill your guts in one form or fashion.  I have a couple of blogs one is purely about crafting and then this one which I started writing for just recently.  It has been really enjoyable to write without giving a rats behind about keywords or topics or anything else.  Just the freedom to share my thoughts as they come into my twisted little brain is very liberating.  Of course along the way I hope I share with you somethings that have real value.

Once you start writing a blog and people start to stop by there are a couple of ways to make that blog buy you a new pair of jeans or take the family on a mini vacation.

One of the ways is getting paid to write and include an advertisement.  A service that helps does the work of finding the advertisers for you is called. Pay Per Post.  What you do is sign up for an account, free of charge.  You tell them a little about your blog.  They use some fancy technical method of determine your blogs worth.  You will need to claim your blog.  It is a piece of cake they give you a sentence like “The minor towers next to the citizen.” You publish the sentence on the blog and press a button.  That is it.  Next they match you up with different advertisers.  When you have an offer you write as directed and receive a payment for your efforts.

With pay per post types of services you have the benefit of getting paid for your words as well as get the benefit of a pre determined topic.  This is really handy when you draw a big fat blank about what to write about.

So if you are in the market for a few extra dollars and you want to try your hand at blogging Pay Per Post would be a great way to go.

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Posted by admin in Work From Home and tagged with , , ,
07Apr
0

This Tune Brings Back A Ton of Memories

I had my mp3 player shuffling through my collections while I was on my excercise path the other day.  One song stopped my in my tracks for just a minute reminding my of a funny story.  The more I listened the more I realized that my whole music collection was weaving the stories that made up my life.

Weird Al Yankovic.  Oh My Word I don’t want to put this one on the list but it brought me to one of my bestes girlfriends in the whole world.  We were about 12 and 14 when this guy played our local fair.  We were limited in transporation and funds so this is what happened to be playing the night we were dropped off at the fair.  To this day we laugh our butts off about this concert.

Michael Jackson – Thriller Album – I remember this being one of my first cassesttes.  I played it over and over on the tape recorder while riding with my Grandparents to Sioux Falls, SD.  My grandparents must have had incredible patience or their hearing aids shut off because I think I played this until the tape was shot.

The Boss  -  Thank you to my Uncle Cary for being the coolest bachelor uncle in the whole world.  He had the most incredible sound system in its place.  I laugh because the thing took up the entire wall and now I carry the entire collection on a 2.5 X 4 inch uncle of metal and plastic.

Kiss –   I was never into heavy metal but I will never turn down the volume on a Kiss tune for as long as I live.  It will forever bring back memories of Saturday nights and a black Fiero.    Just memories now, of a incredible young fellow the world will never know as an incredible older man.

Back In Black – Were were the coolest or what.  Our high school basketball team’s anthem as they prepared for State tournaments.

Garth Brooks – His songs hold more memories than I can count.  I will forever remember a concert I took in with two of my favorite guys.  Garth flew around the rotating stage hanging from a rope dowsing the crowd with water.

Laurie Morgan – Except for Mondays – I remember playing this in a trip back from somewhere bawling my eyes out.  By the 3rd or 4th play the world would again be alright.

Waylon Jennings – Luckenbach Texas – If you knew me you would know that I have not always taken a traditional path.  I fell off the path completely by featuring “Luckenbach Texas” as my wedding dance song.  My husband is a huge Waylon Fan.  The wedding was for me, the party was for him so Luckenback Texas was really not a sacrifice and I can guarantee the crowd will never forget it either.

Belly Belly Button – Personal Rendition – After all the party songs the babies came and my need for popular music was over rode by Twinkle, Twinkle and I’m a little Tea Cup.  I always sang little tunes I created mostly because I couldn’t remember the words to the traditional so this is mine that the kids still ask to hear every now and again.

Belly Button, Belly Belly Button

Belly Button Friend of Mine

Stuck Here in the middle

right where I can diddle

belly button friend of mine.

I know it is truly corny but it made them laugh.

Then They Do – Trace Adkins – This song sent me into yet another flurry of emotion.  I was driving the kids to school laster year.  The youngest going to kindergarten and the oldest in her last year of elementary when Trace Adkins started to sing “Then They Do,” then I did.  I cried like a baby.  I was just lucky that the school was about 10 miles away so I could compose myself before I waked them in.  On starting and one on her ending.

I hope this musical montage helps you remember some of the great times helps your create your own musical story.  Please leave your music triggered comments below.

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Posted by admin in At Play and tagged with
06Apr
1

You Are The Best Thing

You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontane is my new ringtone and it should be yours too.  Especially if you are a woman.  We women are harder on ourselves than we really should be or at least I am.  I can make myself feel worst than any bully on the planet.  So for a little pick me up Mr. LaMontante  is my ringtone.  It is a little reminder that always makes me feel better.

If you need a little pick me up play the video below.  Get out of your chair and do a little dance if you feel like it.  I do.

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Posted by admin in At Play and tagged with
31Mar
2

Can I Play Now, I Read “New Moon” Too

Last December “The Girl,” decided, for her birthday she wanted to take her friends to “New Moon.” I really was not really caught up in the whole “Twilight” phenomenon.  I rarely get caught in those kinds of things.  I am a  tech nerd and a craft-a-holic.  I get more ramped out about new smart phones and what Martha Stewart is doing on TV.

Before the movie in the theater one of the girls decided everyone should be on the same page and watch “Twilight” on DVD first.  I started to watch it and trailed off shortly.  It really didn’t grab my interest.  I have been poked at for being so, not with it.  Everyone knows about, “Twilight.”  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.  I have never been one of the cool kids so I am not worrying about it now.

So recently “The Girl,” brings home the “Twilight” book and drops it on the counter.  She was poking me about her being about to read such a thick book in such a short amount of time.  She was conning me into reading the book is what she was really doing.  ”I can read a hundred pages tonight” yada, yada, yada.  Well I took the bait.

Twilight in 2 days.  I said,  ”bring home the “New Moonie” book or whatever you call it.  I will read it before you can even finish Twilight. ”

Ok so 2 nights about I read about 100 pages before “The Girl” cobbed it and took it up stairs.  Then last night.  I poked her every 5 minutes about going to bed just so I could get the book back.  I pulled the mommy card.  Hey I am entitled, once in awhile, to use my powers for my own good.

So I sat down and started to read.  D was in the field.  Being the beginning of farming season I figured I had until about 1AM before he would roll through the door wanting a little conservation and something I will call a farmer’s supper. Farmers supper occurs anytime between the time I feed the kids supper and 7 AM the next day.

So he eats we chat all the while I am actually trying to read this stupid book.  At 2AM D has finished eating and chatting and heads to bed.  ”Are you not coming.”  ”Yeah I will be there just let me finish this chapter,”
which in turn meant I was going to finish the book.

I finish the book and I wonder where time has gone and I summarize the following in my practical brain.

Why in the hell would she want to go with beautiful, a future of damnation and consistently miserable rather than go with young and handsome making her happy all the time. She definitely needs therapy.

Next question where is social services this minor has appeared too many times in the ER. I think there is a major cover up going on by the chief of police.

Chief of police is obviously on crack. He is totally unaware that everyone he knows is lying to him about who they are. He must be just a figure head and taking bribes under the table to support his habit.

My guess is her sleep deprivation caused by werewolves, vampires and nightmares coupled with her consistent lack of being able to finish or start a meal will cause her downfall long before a vampire or a werewolf finishes her off.

And now my rant about the men. They are all a bunch of sick bastards who can’t find a real woman who is capable of standing on her own two feet without passing out every 5 minutes or hurling. Their overwhelming need to take care of this pathetic wuss to make themselves fell superior is also a series of sessions that any greedy psychotherapist could make a fortune on.

Now am screwed I am hooked on the Twilight Saga and I going to have to finish it.  Even if the rest of them suck I will not feel complete unless I  read them all.  This is exactly why I don’t pick up books like this.  I get obsessed even when they suck.  Absolutely have to eventually finish movies, Twilight included, and books.

If you don’t hear from me in awhile I will be in “Forks” for the next few days

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Posted by admin in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,
30Mar
0

Busy Moms Star Gaze with Google Sky Map Droid App

For Christmas “The Girl,” received a telescope.  She has become fascinated with the night sky.  The Nebraska winter has not been to kind to outside star gazing.  But lately spring has sprung so when the temperature started to warm we found ourselves out on the deck with the telescope.  It is amazing to see the moon up close and personal.

We can all pick out the moon out of the night sky but what about the stars.  They are wonderful to look at but without a little history or knowing what you are looking at you might as well see them in a book.

Google Star Map changes all that for us.  This is one cool sci fi application.  You install Google Star map for free from the Android Market place.  I am using it on the Motorola Droid.

When you open Google Star Map your phone will scan to find your location.  Point it to the sky and see the sky come to life.

If you are looking for a particular object use the search feature.  This will aim you to the right coordinates with a simple arrow.  Perfect for the naked eye or use with the telescope.

In the settings you can toggle for night sky which illuminates the screen with red dots.

In the settings panel you can also choose from several displays.  I am not an anstronomer by any stretch of the imagination so I really don’t have a clue about all the options but I will say this if you want a particular map with particular coordinates it is on Google Star Map.

This is a fun droid app for you and the kids.  I can’t wait to take it with us when we camp this summer.

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Posted by admin in Smart Phone Apps and tagged with , , ,
25Mar
0

How To Find the Time To Do They Things You Want

Busy, busy, busy that’s what we all are.  We live in one faced paced world.  We seem, especially as women, to be obligated to everything.  Yes you have to bake for the kids bake sale, yes you have to do those extra things to keep your boss happy, yes you have to keep your hubby happy, yes you must have a sparkling house, yes you must be on committee a,b,c and d and if you don’t who will.  Then there are those things that you do that you don’t plan but they suck the life out of your productive time.  If the TV is running there is that drama or comedy that sucks you in.  If the computer is on then there is Twitter and Facebook to find a few or a few thousand conversations to get into.  If the social networks don’t get you the ability to window shop for hours does.

If you are interested in developing a second career whether it be in the blogosphere or a hobby turned into business you need to carve out time in your already busy day to do it.  One system you can use to find extra time in your day is the PERK system.

Here is how it works.

Take time to track your life for a few days.  I mean track it all, sleep, tv, kids, activities, work, drive time etc.  The better you track the better you will be able to weed out the tasks that are not helping you reach your goals.

Now let’s get down to it.

Take your diary and label it as follows:

P – Postpone:  These are items that you can postpone.  They don’t need to be worked on at this time.

E – Eliminate:  These are items that suck you in that you really don’t need to reach your goal or really add a ton of value to your life.  They may be enjoyable but really don’t get you to your goal.  For instance watching “Repo Men” or “Judge Judy,” can probably be eliminated.  You can also review some of the committees you are on or some of your volunteer work.

R – Reduce:  These are tasks that may not be helping you to reach your goal.  Again committees, volunteer work, extra work, TV or play.  Review the items and decide if you can reduce the time you spend on them.

K – Keep:  These are the items that you absolutely, no doubt about have to do.  You must do the dishes,  you must play with the kids, you must fold the laundry, you must eat.  You get the idea.

Once you get a handle on where you time is going you can learn how to control it and funnel it into the tasks that are going to get you to your goals.

You can read more about the PERK system in Robert Paglaiarini’s Book,  The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose

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Posted by admin in Life Management and tagged with ,
24Mar
0

Ham or Turkey Stromboli Recipe for Busy Moms

A few weeks ago I went on a mini vacation with the kids to my girlfriends.  We had a great time.  She is always a pro at putting together quick, budget and kid friendly meals for us.  This time she made ham strata with some very simple ingredients.  The prep time was about 20 mins.  Baking time was about 20 to 25 minutes.

Ham or Turkey Stromboli

1/4 lb ham (I tried it with turkey and it was just as good)

1 tbls butter

1 Pilsbury french loaf

2 cups mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Unroll the bread dough.  Cover with mozzarella cheese.  Cover bread dough within a half inch on all sides.  Layer on your thinly cut ham or turkey.  Roll.  Place seam side down on a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.  Melt butter.  Brush butter on entire loaf.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes.

I found coupons for the Pillsbury French bread at Pillsbury.com

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Posted by admin in Recipes and tagged with ,
23Mar
0

There’s a Bird in the Toilet!!!!! What????

“There’s  a Bird in the Toilet!”  This was the statement “Little Boy,” was shouting at blood curdling pitches.  I was on the phone with my aunt when the announcement came.  I gotta go, I gotta go I replied as I tossed the phone on the bed and headed for the bathroom all the while my son still screaming about his discovery.

Let me preface this by telling you I live in a house built in 1895.  It has had several renters over the years, one of them being my best friend before I knew she was my friend.  This house wit,h 11 acres came up for sale about 8 years ago.  It borders my in-laws farm as well as our other ground.  Let me say there was limited discussion about the purchase.  Location, Location, Location!  I toured the house for the first time and was less than impressed but again location, location, location.  My husband, the farmer, said in a few years we will build a new one.  Well if you have ever been married to a farmer, and I glad I am, you will soon learn that farm ground makes money houses don’t.  So a few years is now 8 and I suspect a few more.

No worries we have our own private road to Grandma’s house.  The kids are blessed to have Grandma and Grandpa right next door.  Believe me they take full advantage of it too.  Grandma always has snacks, is willing to read a book and play games.  You really couldn’t ask for a better set up for your family.

Back to the Bird.  Well being a house that has not always had the best care and being that it is 110 years old it is bound to have a few quirks but a bird in the toilet is one I definitely did not expect.   I peered around the corner like I was about to encounter a bear not a poor soaked bird.  I didn’t see anything.  I inspected the toilet and the surrounding area.  No Bird.  My first thought.  ”Little Boy,” is at it again.  He tends to tell some pretty tall tales.  I went back to folding laundry, when I heard it.  The Flutter of a paniced Starling.  He was just as freaked as I was.  Imagine if you were the Starling.  He certainly took a trip that I wouldn’t want to go on.

I tried to pull the poor helpless woman act.  ”Honey there is a big bad bird in the bathroom please come and get it.”  That didn’t work.  My husband knows me too well.  He knows exactly what I am capable of.  He instructed me to hit it with a towel and haul it out.

After swatting at  it repeatedly the bird and I were both about to have a heart attack.  He finally gave into my wrath and dropped into the tub.  I draped him or her in the towel and hands inverted in a Walmart sack scooped it up and pointed at Duff to get the door.    Out the poor bird went.  Crisis averted.

Needless to say another issue on the to do list.  Put a screen on the vent that accesses the toilet.  I continue to keep telling myself that these are character building episodes and will make me eternally grateful when I actually do get to turn the key in my new home, whenever that happens.

Have a Great Day

Charity

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Posted by admin in At Play
22Mar
1

Calorie Counter Excellent Droid App for Busy Moms

Calorie Counter is an excellent droid app for busy moms. If you an android phone search through the market place and install Calorie Counter. This is a free app.

The Calorie Counter app syncs with the FatSecret.com website as well fully tracking your calories and nutrition throughout the day. This app is superior because the of the enormous database of food and nutrition data. After using the app for 2 weeks I have found most items are included even calorie counts for a few of my favorite cocktails.

To begin using Calorie Counter install from the Droid App Market Place found on your android phone.
You can search for food items by using the quick and easy search function at the top of the screen. You can also search using your recent items function, quick pick and brand name database. If you happen to have the bar code handy simply point your phones camera lenses at the bar code and let the Calorie Counter scan your food item. I have tried this several times and it works like magic. If you do not find the food item, like my famous spaghetti pie casserole, you simply enter the nutritional information in. Your item is now saved to the database for future reference.

Beyond tracking your food entries and their nutritional value for each meal the Calorie Counter also tracks your weight as well as your exercise entries. If you are following the Weight Watchers plan the calorie counter also displays the points values for each of your meals.

The exercise tracker lets you choose between several different traditional exercises. It adds your calorie burn to your daily totals. The exercise database also includes calorie burns for other activities like desk work and house work.

The reports for Calorie Counter are excellent you can see your daily totals on one 1 screen. If you go over your the predetermined calories you get a little red arrow next to the date. If you are under you get a green arrow.

A few nice additions to the calorie counter are the quick picks which are items it see you entering regularly as well as a meal saver. This way entering an entire meal is quick and easy.

I like the calorie counter because it is very easy to use. It has an enormous database of food items to you are not switching to a book or another website to find nutritional values.  You can see your exact progress one screen.

You can read more about Calorie Counter at  Android Market

Calorie Counter also syncs with the Fat Secret Website.

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Posted by admin in Smart Phone Apps and tagged with
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