CPA experts

Starting a business can be an exciting challanging experience, you have your idea, your location, your staff and it all can go so well if you have a good plan and control of your finances. There are many aspects of your business you can look after on your own but it is also advisable to have some help from Las Vegas CPA the expertise of a Certified Professional Accountant should not be discounted in anyway. They can help you form your business plan, work on your cash flow and many other aspects involved in your day to day business activity. It's important to your business and financial security to have expert advise to ensure you have a good plan.

Passing the Torch

I had the opportunity to pass the Olympic Flame onto Ed, a lung transplant survivor, it was an exciting moment for both of us. With my family there at the transfer point along with all of "Tappy's" grandchildren it was very exciting. The overall experience was so exciting and I was very glad to have been a part of it.

Hold the torch high

One of the biggest tips given to me before I went off on my Olympic torch relay by "Dave" the relay event co-ordinator for my leg of the run was to hold the torch high and keep the Canadian Emblem facing my heart. It was a great experience and I loved the fact that my two oldest kids jogged along the sidewalk beside me and talked while I was running. What a great experience, more fun than I could have imagined.

school fun

My youngest son went off to school this year and while I was worried about how he would adjust to school as he was the baby of the family. My wife and I were both surprised to just how well he has adjusted to school and how much fun he is having there. He loves his teacher and is a born little leader of his class, what a wonderful young man he is turning into, we are both very proud.

The ultimate kitchen makeover contest

When we moved into our home a couple of years ago I pretty much commited to my wife that we would redo the kitchen. Our Fridge/Freezer wouldn't fit in the space available in the kitchen so before we even moved in I began removing cabinets to make room for our appliances. We managed to patch our kitchen back together for now but at some point we will have no choice but to get new cabinets installed. I recently discovered a contest that could allow us to win a new kitchen. The contest is open to all Canandian Residents so if you would like to take your chance at winning check out the Dr. Oetker Kitchen Makeover Contest. If we were so lucky as to win we would obviously start with new cabinets and a new beautiful marble counter top. We have pretty new appliances so I would skip that but we need a new sink and new flooring as well so those would be high on the agenda. To enter you uust get a PIN from specially marked packages of Casa di Mama Pizza and go to the online site to enter. You can also get a bonus PIN by signing up to be a Savoury Moments Member. There are also many different secondary prizes including whirlpool appliances like Fridge/Freezers, microwaves, ranges and many more. Also available are 2000 Casa di Mama Prize packs including pizza and pizza cutters. It would be so great to make over our kitchen to make it so much more functional.

A great adventure

We had been deliberating the fate of our old apple tree all summer, we were so tired of the apples falling on the ground, thousands of them, they start the first of June and will cover our entire yard until the end of October. It would be one thing if the apples would mature enough to use but they don't. This year we actually got some that were good enough and it appeard as though the tree would survive another year. On the weekend though we discovered the trunk had split and we were left with no choice but to bring it down.



Here is the tree on day 1 and you can see the pile of apples, this is after just raking apples 2 days earlier.

Here we are starting to take limbs out of the tree.


Getting towards the end of the day we are making some progress.

Here we are the end of the second day, the yard is almost back to normal, now we are beginning to shovel around the roots to see if we can get the trunk out.

U can't See Me

It's not your typical toy gun but the new line of airsoft rifle are available and they are an upgrade from your typical BB gun. These are very realistic in their style some are even created from the same mold as their real counterpart. While the ammo is made of plastic it can still pack a strong hit so it is very recommended to wear heavy camo gear while in mock combat and to wear protective gear over your face. The ammo still travels at speeds up to 400fps and while it won't cause heavy bleeding injuries it will definitely welt. Think safety when you are out enjoying your "skirmish" and you will have a great time but be cautious and play safe.

The days are getting shorter

I really don't like this time of year, it can start to get depressing as the days get shorter. In only another month it will be dark in the morning when we go to work and dark at suppertime when we head home. We go through that 3 month funk when it seems that we have all turned into Vampires and belong on the set of Twilight. Oh well it is what it is so I'll curl up with a good Laptop and do some surfing.

I got suckered

While visiting with parents on the weekend, my dad decided to spring a surprise on us. He needed some help working on his sheep and volunteered me to help him with the job. It brought back lots of memories of growing up on the farm. We managed to make short work of it, about 1hour and figured we could wasth

Controversay Medical Practices

We hear so many different ideas out there now a days about different treatments for all kinds ailments. One of the most controversial and talked about ideas is the use of Medical Marijuana to assist people dealing with pain associated with many treatments and diseases. There are arguments for both sides, for the use to assist these people in coping with their pain and suffering and those whom believe it is an illegal drug and should be treated that way. I am with those that feel under certain circumstances it should be an acceptable treatment form if it is the most effective and best alternative for the individual. If the Doctor and patient both agree that this is the best option available it should be ok under strict supervision and doses. I would be very interested to hear your opinion on the matter.

Getting an awesome piece of Tail

I got to experience one of the best pieces of Tail I have ever had this weekend while we were away and my wife shared it with me. We never tried a "Beaver Tail" before and decided to give one a try. We picked the REESE one and it was super, It was a cooked pastry covered with Chocolate, drizzled with Peanut Butter and covered with Reeses Pieces. Yum just thinking about it.

Summer's over

It was only 5 degrees this morning and it isn't going to be any better tommorrow. The kids are happy to finally be able to wear their new BTS clothes for the cooler days. Seeing that it is getting colder and the kids haven't used the pool all week it is time for us to start to bring it down.

Hot Vacation Destinations

My wife and I are beginning to plan an exotic vacation for just the two of us to celebrate our upcoming 10th anniversary, we have never even had our real honeymoon yet. We both decided that we would like to have an exciting vacation filled with romance, great food, beach, sunbathing and starlight nights. It was important for us to find an option that could meet all these conditions. The Karisma Hotels offer various vacation options to meet every ones desires and wants. One interesting option is that they also have a site dedicated to families with activities focusing on kids needs and interests while still having interesting things for the parents to do as well. We have begun to look into family vacation for a wonderful exotic opportunity, for the entire family as well if we decide we like our adventure.

Blake was pretty happy to spend some time with Riley to get to know him. I think they will be best of buds once they spend more time together.

How could you not love this face, he is a lot of fun. He might get into a lot of mischief he is a hoot almost all the time.

Breigh took her time warming up to her little brother.

As another year passes in our journey together
I begin to reflect on the years that have gone by
and dream about the years still ahead for us.
Through all the trials and tribulations life throws our way
some things will never cease.
As I think about you, I feel so lucky the fates brought us together
I can’t imagine any other partner I would want to spend this crazy life with.
Although this anniversary we find ourselves apart I can still imagine you and your love.
I love you more and more with every day
For better for worse, richer and poorer
We have seen them all and yet you are still the rock that keeps me grounded
I am truly looking forward to our best years ahead for us,
As we work towards similar goals and plans together.
Wishing you a Happy Anniversary for this year and many more to come.

Love Always,

Matt
XOXO

Summer time blues

What's the Summer like in your area, it has been such a depressing time here with the Rain coming almost every day. One thing for sure is that it really makes you appreciate the little bit of Sun that we do get. I am going on vacation again next week and hoping for the best, the last week I took in June it literally rained for 7 days and 7 nights. It was great for getting jobs done around the house but sucked for having any fun with the kids.

The countdown is on

It's only 2 more weeks until my girls go on their big trip to NYC. It has been in the planning stage since September last year and we never thought it would actually get here but as the days count down they are getting more and more excited. They are booking their dance classes booked in and we will pretty well have everything finished up. The tickets are ready, passports have arrived and we are getting the last of our spending money gathered together. We have a little bit more fundraising planned for the next couple of weeks to finish up and away they will go. I can't wait for the daily updates to arrive so i can see all the cool sites and sounds that they take in.

Girl time

My wife and daughter are going on a trip with their dance school to NY this summer and they have a full week of events planned to keep them busy. One of the most exciting events they have planned is a Fine Dining Diner Cruise. They are planning their outfits and for this one they wanted to get some beautiful costume jewelry to accent their dresses. I am so time crunched so shopping online is a great time saver for me, with a little research I found Holsted Jewelers, they are a designer of exclusive jewelery, accessories and gifts. They have shipped to millions of customers and strive to have everyone of them excited about their special package when it arrives. The best thing to save a little extra they offer free shipping and a secure shopping environment. It will be exciting to send my two beautiful girls looking their best.

Enter the Family : Riley

We met our new pup "Riley" this weekend and here are some great pictures of our little guy interacting with the new family. Here he is with Breigh, and Carrie and we were having a great time with this little fella. We can't wait until we can get him home with us in a few weeks.

Schools out for Summer

Summer is finally here, the kids have been counting down the days all month and it is finally here the first day of the summer vacation. The kids had a great year of school with Jay finishing with a 94% average in Jnr. High and Trin and Kohl both had a lot of progress this year with a bunch of A's and B's. I'm really proud of all of them and we are all waiting for next year when Blake joins the gang at school too.

Vacation Planner

With the kids starting to get a little bit older we are at the point that we are starting to plan a big family getaway. We wanted to wait until they were all school age and could really remember the trips. The plan right now is to travel within two summers to a tropical resort. The kids all love the beach and would live in the ocean if you would allow them to. For a family vacation we have discoverd the line of Karisma Hotels and resorts on the Mexican Riviera Maya. The Karisma line actually offers 5 different vacation destinations some suitable for a family vacation while others are designed specifically for Adults. We are planning on getting a feel for the quality of the resorts and than hopefully planning a seperate vacation to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in 3 years.

Spaz Dog

After a great swim in the pool with the kids, the dog decided to dry herself off. She completely spazed out spinning around on the ground and really getting herself dirty. It was so warm out you could actually see the water evaporating right off of her. She was hilarious in the pool and enjoyed her time on the kids float boards.

Mystery Men

The boys had a great time playing in the back yard at Grandpa's house, they have a hay field. The boys went sneaking into the field and dissapered, I eventulally found them hiding in the bush. They really did a great job I could bearely see them, I thought these cool pictures would be great for us to look back on and show the boys getting along and having fun.

Maximizing Earnings

In my current career you can increase your earnings depending on your qualifications and education. For me it is difficult to find the time to fit in extra education because I work all day and my wife works all evenings so we basically meet at the door and switch off the kids. I did some research and discovered an accredited online degree program from Capella University. It is a fully online university that offers masters and PHd's programs to working Adults just like me. With their online programs you can work your study around your life and other commitments allowing you to achieve the education you deserve but life has stood in the way off.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Horsing Around

Boys will be Boys now won't they, the boys were using Grandpa's truck for some entertainment and were pretending to be army men. They would bunch up with their toy guns and imagine themselves in a battle. They even did a big leap out of the back of the track, Kohl did a cool roll when he landed and jumped up like nothing ever happend and went back to the hay field on the side

Movie Day

With the kids on summer vacation and me on a weeks holiday from work we are filling the day up with some fun activities. It is supposed to be rainy and miserable tommorrow so we will be taking in a movie at the theatre for the afternoon. The kids have been very excited about getting to Transformers 2 so that will be our plan for tommorrow. The kids really love going to the movies, and I really like to take them.

Easy online shopping

Shopping online has become very common place these days and you can virtually buy almost anything online. In searching to build a reliable first aid kit I spent sometime looking online and discovered a site dedicated to medical supplies. Allegro Medical has been in the online distribution of home health care and medical supplies since 1998. The site offers a wide variety of health products such as latex exam gloves, diabetic supplies, maternity care products and sexual well being just to name a few. Their site is easy to use and offers great features like the ability to order by condition and also to set up automatic re-order so you can set your deliver interval for re-occurring orders. It's a great way to take the worry out of ordering your medical products and supplies

Where you at Dad?

I was supposed to meet my wife and Blake at the kids school last week and somehow managed to miss them outside and was looking around the shool looking for them. After searching through I decided to give them a call on the cell phone. When my wife saw my number on the phone she told Blake I was on my way and to look for me. Here is his searching for Dad pose, what a cool looking dude.

Rehearsal Night

Here's my boy getting a rehersal in with the girls before their big show, it's pretty cool to see him get up and stage with all the girls and do his thing. He was so proud to be able to get on stage this year and have a blast the same as his older sister and brother have been able to do the last few years. The show went great and he had a blast we were so proud of hime.

School Fun Day

The kids school had a fun day last week at school and Kohl had a great time. He got to play all kinds of games and bought this stuffed animal at the flea market. He won a bunch of little prizes and enjoyed a yummy lunch. He was especially proud of his face painting which was done at school too. This is an annual event to celebrate the end of the year and the kids look forward to it all year long.

Another satisfied customer

What an exciting event when we take on a project all by ourselves and it works out. We decided to get rid of our rotten front door this spring and after trying a couple of times to get someone to come and install it for us we ended up doing it ourselves. The great thing by doing it ourselves not only were we able to change this door but we did the side entrance as well and added a screen door all while staying within the budget of the original door. It's an intimadating thing starting a project like this for the first time but it really wasn't that hard and it turned out just like we wanted it to, another satisfied customer in my wife.

A natural Relaxation

I have been having a rough time getting settled down to a good nights sleep, I find myself stressing out about many different aspects of life. I have been doing some research to find a natural supplement I can take to relieve my anxiety and relax my tense muscles at the end of the day. I discovered a potent kava kava which treats all the tough issues I have right now. You can click on the link above to get more information about Kava Kava, it's uses and where it comes from. You can also order some for yourself to see if it will work to help you with your concerns.

Faster and more Furious

I was taking the boys to DragonBall Evolution the other night but when we got to the theatre it wasn't showing anymore. What do you take 2 boys to one 13 and the other 7 when all there is horror or girl movies. We settled on the Fast and Furious movie, now I have to say it was better than the other ones in this series and the guys liked all the action but Kohl felt there was a little bit of language he didn't like. I have to say it wasn't too bad and really the only objectionable moment which I have to say had absolutely no importance to the plot was a moment in the club when Vin walks buy this group of 3 or 4 girls making out in a hallway. It made no differance to the story at all and was there only for show. We are waiting for next weekend when Wolverine comes out for our boys night out.

Investment Options

How do you pick your investment choices, it can be pretty hard to make the best investment choices to protect your investments and your families future. You can leave it to chance and hope you make the right choices or you can turn to the experts like the team at Power Options, they have developed patented technology that can sort through all your stock options to help you decide which ones will actually maximize your investment returns. The team at Power Options offers you technical support every step of the way and helps you make informed decisions. They have many customers that ask about covered calls portfolios and they can help with that too. Every step of the way you can make informed decisions and to be sure you can have 14 days of free trial to see what this technology can do for you.

The Helpers

Me and the boys got out and did some work in the yard yesterday and the first order of business was chopping down some dead branches out of the trees. They had a great time helping to cut down and break off the branches. They both especially loved taking down the thorn bush around the side of the house, everyone hated that one as we had all had a run in at some point or another. It was a celebration when it finally came down.

The wedding day

The wonderful part of the wedding is of course all the planning, the days of thought and work to get ready for the one big day. With luck we only get one chance at getting it right so we guys need to get involved in the planning to support our girls in the process of getting to the big day. One thing I liked to take over when it came to the planning was the decorations and unique personalized wedding favors for the reception. I got my group of guys together and we did the lighting, decorating, balloons and everything for the reception. It gave us an opportunity to hang out and get away from all the hussle and bussel while still making a significant contribution to the wedding. We found some great websites that offered all the decorating items we needed to make things perfect. We were able to find everything from glasses, decorations, personalized napkins and hershey kisses.

One happy "B" Baller

While my wife was away this week I got to hang out with the boys, we kept busy all week. With Spring finally arriving we got out to play some B Ball, we quickly discovered we had a problem with our balls. They didn't weather the winter too well so I had to go find a new one for the little fellow. He picked up a cool black, blue, red and grey Jnr. sized ball. It worked out great for him and he had a great time making shots with his older brother who picked up a glow in the dark basketball for himself.

Studying from Home

Looking for options to your education crisis, there are more options than ever for people to get the education they deserve but can't get due to financial, family or distance problems. Capella university is a fully accredited education facility that is currently serving over 24,000 students from all over the US and even the World. They are currently offer over 111 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs to meet everyones education needs. It provides employers excellant opportunites to offer upgrading to their employees while working around their employment duties. What an exciting opportunity to be able to maintain your current life style while taking online college courses towards your degree.

“This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

Hockey Madness

It is that particular time of year when people all over the country hunker down and watch Hockey games on TV until the early hours of the morning. Using toothpicks to keep their eyes open the next day at work and wearing the jersey or colors of our favorite team proudly, that is until our team gets humiliated or just beaten in the playoffs similar to what happened to the Habs and the hands of the Bruins this week. There were many proud Hab fans around here until the series turned sour and it became apparent the Mighty(Big) Bruins were too much for the Little Habs to handle, sorry guys put the red/white and blue away until next year and hit the golf course.

The Lumberjack

I made it outside yesterday finally after many days of rain it was time to get some work done around the yard. I had my helper wanting to follow me out and get his hands dirty too. This bush was pretty hard to get down becuase it was full of thorns, which was the main reason it was coming down in the first place. We made pretty quick work of this nasty little fellow though and now it is chopped up and waiting for wood collection day this week.

Scoring Brownie Points

It has been said for generations that the way to a girls heart is through their jewelery. I was thinking about getting a gift for my wife and thought what would be better than some new jewelery. She has been falling terribly low on ear rings so I thought I would shop for some on online jewelers sites. What I found was an incredible assortment of all kinds of jewelery. I was able to find not only beautiful earrings but some fantastic rings as well. Just when I thought I had found the perfect gift, I came accross the selection of pendants and necklaces that fit the bill. The best part as usually I have bad taste the site I found offers a no hassle return policy so if my wife doesn't like the gift I get her, she can return it with no questions asked. Just remember dear, it's the thought that counts.

Cadbury Easter Bunny

It's one of my favorite times of year, the return of the Easter Cream Egg from Cadbury and the cute little bunny that hops around in the commercials and deposits these wonderful treats. I think I could literally sit and eat these things by the handful. I can still remember being 5 years old and coming out the local Zellers with my egg in hand the my parents just bought me. I couldn't wait to get into the car so I could rip the wrapper off and get a taste. It was a great sugar rush for a little fella like me and I think back to that night every time I bite into one of the Cadbury easter eggs.

Tim Hortons Rim Roller (Roll Up the Rim)

Have you seen the new Rim Roller device to help you roll up your rim on your favorite Tim Horton Coffee Cup. I saw these today at the local Zellers Store and they are being sold for 2.49, this is an interesting marketing gimmic on one of the best marketing promotions in Canada. Everyone loves RRRRRoll up the RRRRRRim to win. This little divice goes down over the side of you cup and when you pull it up it cuts the sides and pull up the rim to reveal your play again (oops I mean prize). What do you think of this idea, I'd love to hear your opinion.

Where would you go

We have been thinking about taking a great family vacation that the kids will remember. To make it a lot easier to budget we need to find an all inclusive special that will allow us to focus on the entertainment and shopping with our budget. We all really want to get to somewhere warm so when thinking about booking a family vacation. The Karisma line of resorts offers beautiful accomadations with warm beaches and beautiful weather. They pride themselves on provided excellant service and atmosphere and offer a variety of different resorts to match your lifestyle needs. They offer a fabulouse variety of meals to match your culinary desires and special needs.

Jon and Kate???

I read an artical today on the computer and I can't believe it would be true but I guess anything is possible. The artical discussed in detail the adventures of Jon from Jon and Kate plus 8. In the aritical it talked about him sneaking out on the weekends to an area campus and having wild drunken parties with the school's volleyball team. It accused Jon of having make out sessions with these girls and many other things I wouldn't have expected. Perhaps the fame is getting to him and he is rebelling. If any of this artical is even remotely true I would expect Kate would be kickin his a** all around their new property.

take out crisis

We are having a terrible time fighting our take out cravings, we decided to make a stand and cut back and only have take out on the weekends. We found ourselves eating take out every day, we would have it for lunch or even worse eating late at night. Summer is coming and we want to watch our weights a bit more. This is day 3 and so far we are doing alright, we haven't had any take out. We have had the odd snack around the house, a cookie here or there but we are even trying to make sure we are eating healthier snacks, with fruit and yogurts being the favorite snack and water the beverage instead of pop or juice.

Shopping online

Being so completely time starved can be very frustrating so if you find you don't have time to keep up with your medical supply shopping you can turn to online shopping at sites like Allegromedical which have been the industry experts since 1996 and are now serving over 1 million clients. The site offers a great variety of medical equipment and home health care supplies. I was recently shopping for blood glucose monitors for my dad and found a great assortment online. They offer a safe and secure shopping environment and even have great specials, save 15% right now on your order with no minimum purchase required.

Weight loss tips

I certainly have hit a stall point on my weight loss, I found these tips on my MSN news today and thought it was pretty usefull, check it out it might help you kickstart things.

Still can't seem to shed the pounds? You could be sabotaging your weight loss success.

Avoiding Real Change
Too many of us view dieting as a miserable short-term solution, rather than a significant change in the way we live. Commitment to a healthier way of life necessitates more than just diet and exercise; it also requires a little soul searching. “Just ask Oprah, who’s been very open about the fact that her weight has shot back up again,” says Vancouver-based health and wellness expert and life coach, Dr. Susan Biali. “There’s really not much point in going through the intense effort of losing weight, if you don’t have a realistic, and enjoyable plan for sustaining that weight loss over the long term.”

What’s an enjoyable and healthy way of life for you? That’s a good question to ask yourself, and one that can help you set your overall goals. “I think the most fundamental, helpful change that will help people lose weight, is by seeing it as a gradual process, based on their natural likes and dislikes. Go with what you’ve already got. Use who you are as a guide for the most successful way to reach a healthy weight,” shares Dr. Biali.

The Quick Result Cult
We all want to lose ten pounds yesterday; hence the popularity of the juice fast or detox diet. “Shortcuts rarely, if ever (I’m tempted to say never), translate to anything lasting or worthwhile,” says Dr. Biali. “People need to let go of the temptation to want to find the “fastest” way to reach their goals – that’s actually a form of self-sabotage.”

Remember the story about The Tortoise and The Hare? Well the moral - slow and steady wins the race - can prove helpful in making a smart lifestyle change too.

Going to Extremes
No carbs, no sugar, no dairy! It’s the battle cry of the extreme dieter. It’s also an extreme path that more often leads to frustration. In Dr. Biali’s experience, people take on too much at once. “They’ll try to simultaneously cut out the two litres of pop they drink a day, stop going to fast food restaurants, stop snacking in front of the TV at night, and join a gym. Talk about a huge emotional, physical, and psychological shock! Drastic changes or programs will set you up for failure.”

Be gentle. Take the “one step at a time” approach. Week one: make a goal, like 'no late-night eating'. Week two: limit yourself to one small pop a day. Week three: join a gym. Incorporating slow lasting changes over time will ease the shock of withdrawal.

Following Diet Trends
Don’t fall for celebrity diet secrets or the latest diet book on the market. Most dieters “try to follow a diet regimen rather than working on creating new healthy, enjoyable habits that work for them,” shares Dr. Biali. And that’s counter productive to individual change. “They don’t really learn to incorporate practical changes into their pre-existing life, habits and preferences.”

Make your health and wellness a personal concern. Your program should reflect your strengths and weaknesses. “Identify simple changes that aren’t too hard for you to make. If you drink eight glasses of pop a day, rather than trying to go cold turkey, try substituting a diet version of pop instead, and see if you even notice the difference. I once even had a client start breaking her fast food habit by ordering a hamburger, instead of the usual cheeseburger (it’s a step!). Small changes, over time, make a huge difference.”


Conceding Defeat Too Soon
You didn’t go to the gym for a week. You snuck a can of Coke and a bag of popcorn at the movies. Big deal. Don’t let tiny bumps in the road become insurmountable obstacles to your overall success. “People tend to try an extreme diet or lifestyle change, and then give up when they find themselves falling back into old habits. It’s important to understand that change usually happens by taking two new steps forward, and one old step back,” says Dr. Biali.

Immune system boosters

I found this cool information on my MSN today, check it out it just might help you beet the winter downs.

Eat right this winter and you might just reduce your chances of falling victim to the common cold.
For your health: Five immune system boosting foods to add to your weekly grocery list.

Garlic
Garlic may be stinky but it just may help stave off the winter sniffles. A 2001 study found that people who took a daily garlic supplement that contained the compound allicin (allicin is produced when raw garlic is crushed or chopped) decreased their risk of cold by fifty percent. That’s not all. Those in the study who did have cold symptoms: sore throat, sniffles, etc sped up their recovery time significantly faster than those who took a placebo. Get allicin from the real deal: raw chopped or crushed garlic, anywhere from one to three cloves daily.

Shellfish & Beef
Oysters, crab, beef, even poultry and pork provide the body with the much needed mineral zinc, which in addition to its potent antioxidant power, also plays a significant role in cell growth and development and healthy immune response. Women should aim to get 9 mgs of zinc daily, men 11 mgs. Other zinc-rich foods: red meat, eggs, nuts and seeds, and wheat germ. For vegetarians, legumes, whole grains and nuts are good plant sources of the mineral.

Oranges
Oranges like many other fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of vitamin C. A number of studies have illustrated vitamin C’s beneficial effects on health. Though there’s no conclusive evidence to indicate that it can prevent a cold, vitamin C can support a healthy immune system and aid in your body’s ability to recover better if and when you do get sick. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C further enhances health by taking on cell-damaging free radicals. Aim to eat 7 to 10 fruits and vegetables daily, or take a daily vitamin C supplement (500 mgs). Vitamin C-rich foods include: red pepper, cantaloupe, kiwi, orange juice, broccoli, kale and spinach.

Yogurt
Bacteria are good for you, or the active bacteria in yogurt and kefir appear to be anyway. A great source of calcium and protein, yogurt also contains healthy bacteria that some researchers believe contribute to a healthy digestive tract. These gut-friendly bacteria are believed to bolster the immune system’s response to unhealthy bacteria and increase resistance to immune-related diseases and infections. A yogurt a day or a daily probiotic may indeed keep you in cold fighting shape.

Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A, specifically a group of compounds known as provitamin-A carotenoids. In addition to keeping bones and eyes healthy, vitamin A supports the immune system’s ability to fight bacteria and infection. Vitamin A-rich foods include carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach. Aim to get five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Need flowers fast

There are many occasions in life that call for flowers when you think about it and knowing the right flower to get for every occasion takes some knowledge. What occasions do you buy flowers well let's take a look at that through life cycles. The very first occasion for flowers would be BIRTH, of course celebrate the new life with flowers for the Mom. Next life stage would be the prom or dance when you buy flowers for "the date". Of course than there is the Engagement flowers, the wedding flowers. Next there would be the "your pregnant" flowers. End of life stage would be death, which brings us full circle. There are also occasions that call for flowers, let's review guys. There is Valentines day, Mothers day, Easter, Birthdays, Anniversaries and of course the "I'm a jerk" flowers, this covers about the whole flower times. Now if I forgot any drop me a comment so I can add them to my list. If you are looking for flowers for any occasion you can order flowers from Fifty Flowers, an online direct from the flower farm distributor, they have been the experts in direct flowers for over 10 years. These distributor specializes in working directly with DIY brides, wedding planners and coordinators. They will have your flowers shipped direct overnight to have them as fresh as possible for your big day. The quality is guaranteed to be as good as your local florist.

Puppy surgery

Next week our puppy will be going off for her "no puppy" surgery. She was in and got needles this week and met her new vet. She wasn't too sure about him but warmed up to him, he was very disciplined and taught us some good ways to control the puppy and keep her in line. It was a very informative trip with some good tips on how to make her a good puppy and to get kids involved in her training. Here's hoping her surgery goes well and we will have a bit calmer puppy afterwards. Good Luck Breigh.

Fun time

Well last night I decided to get focused and get some things done around the house. I made a list of all sorts of little things that needed to get done and started crossing them off. I found this was very productive as normally I would do a couple of things and then sit down infront of the tv and get sucked into a show, but alas I had a list, had to keep going. Supper for the kids, done. Feed the dog, done. Clean up the kitchen and the days dishes, done. Kids homework, done. Laundry caught up, done. Hook up our new emergency phone, done. Get things ready for tommorrow, lunches and clothes for the kids, done. Pick up daughter at dance, get her home, get her to have a shower, done. Get everyone off to bed, done. OOPS, here it got off track, wife called and was having a pizza craving because one of the other teams at work were having it from her favorite place. I got the booty call to go get pizza and take it down for her supper time. It was kind of fun having a romantic pizza down at the end of the parking lot. Unfortuently the 1/2 hour passed to fast and she had to go back to work. Oh, by the way my oldest son is old enough to babysit so he stayed up while I was gone. Now back home to get back on track, did a bunch of computer blogging and jobs which kept me busy for a couple of hours. Almost time for wife to get home so I went and made a nice treat for her, her favorite strawberries dipped in sugar and put them down by the bed for her, with some nice music and the lights low. All is well, I'm off to bed, too bad wife had a long day and was worn out but that happens, Strawberries were good, naked cuddle, priceless. Thanks for the cool night hun.

Feeling worn out

It never seems to fail lately I have been having a hell of a time staying awake. I'm not sure what the issue is, well I guess I do know, I have been staying up late and have been extremly busy with work, running the kids to their stuff and trying to stay on top of projects around the house. I am off for the weekend so I am looking forward to possibly catching up on all of those things by Monday, wish me luck.

What a game

I haven't made it to my son's basket ball games in about a month, they were a rough team and weren't working very well together. They had a tournament over the weekend and I was able to get to a couple of the games and I was shocked. I wasn't sure if I was watching the same team. They played fantastic, good passing, shooting, ball sharing. They actually won the 2 games I went to and my son won the MVP for the second game. I was very proud of him and the team. They have another tournament this weekend so I am excited to see the next game.

Planning the perfect date

With Valentine's day right upon us it's crunch time for all the guys out there to come up with that special plan to show the love of their life their appreciation for putting up with us on a daily basis. Now most guys have no idea how to wine and dine a lady, we basically get lost if it's not turning at the golden arches so it's important for us to know where to look for help when looking for New York Restaurants. The team from villagevoice have developed the must have tool to help us guys out. This site allows you to search for restaurants based on Neighborhood, budget, type of food and even the atmosphere which is a great help. They also provide you with thoughtfull, honest reviews of the various restaurants to help you plan the perfect date night and score some brownie points with the lady.

Renovation Heaven

I have spend the last 2 weekends doing renovations on the kitchen area, well actually I have replaced the doors to the bedroom and bathroom that are off the kitchen. It was really needed as the doors were original house equipment, probably 50 years old and looked and worked aweful. I know my wife really appreciates all the time I take in doing these projects even if she doesn't say it or show it in so many words. I find it satisfying doing these improvements myself and having them turn out.

Time for Shopping

I have been wanting a new TV for my entertainment room for a couple of years but it has always taken a back seat to the other bills in the house. With a bonus from work this year I am trying to budget a new television into the plan. I was amazed at all the different tvs that are out there these days. I am excited to be able to make some changes to my room with a new flat screen TV that will mount onto the wall and takes up so much less space. It seems like the logical thing to go to a the new format tv with all the digital tv channels that are available I have to get out and start looking for what I want in a TV. The starting point is trying to decide between an lcd tv and a plasma TV. I can't wait to sit back and watch my favorite movies and shows like CSI on my new TV. I am lucky to be off this weekend so I will be looking to do some price comparison shopping to see if I can make up my mind on what TV to get.

Valentines is coming!

What will you be doing for your sweetie this year for Valentines, are you traditional and go with flowers and candy?. There is a lot of discussion around this year that many people will be conserving funds and trying to be romantic at home. I'm sure this is to the disappointment of all service industries like restaurants and theatres that are used to a big night out for couples. I'm curious, let me know what your plans are for this year.

A different Education

During these tough economic times it may be time for you to look for ways to make yourself more attractive to potential employers or to make you more of an asset to your current employer. There are alternatives to traditional universities that allow you to maintain your current address and job while getting higher education from an accredited online University. Capella University offers programs in a variety of programs including a school mba program for Business Administration. Currently serving over 24,000 students from over 45 countries shows they can serve you no matter where you live. Capella has been serving students for over 15 years and have developed many great programs to help you with your quest. These programs are offered online and still offer great support to their students.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Snow, snow go away.

It has snowed here everyday this week, it seems like all I'm doing is going to work and shoveling the driveway. It's going to continue the next few days to going through the weekend. I guess it's just one of those things you can't control, one good thing is that the kids have been enjoying the sleding hills and their cabin in the back yard that we built under the trampoline.

My dog is driving me crazy!

I have a wonderful beagle pup, she is about 8 months old and while she is a very loving pup she is a big pain in the a**. She is always digging in the garbage looking for things to rip apart or eat. She also likes to chew everything fabric except her toys. She has eaten blankets, pillows, clothes, socks, my wife's sneakers errrr. One night she even ate a hole through my wife's electric throw, probably got a good shock from that one as it was plugged in and warming at the time she chewed through it. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do with this little wonderful dog.

Saving money, looking great

With the economic condtions we are all facing in these troubled times it is important to find ways to save a little money without sacrificing our lifestyle. There are many ways we can cut back without cutting back so to speak. If you enjoy the finer things in life like beautiful jewelery but don't like the price take a look at Discount Jewelry from Holsted Jewelers, they have been experts in the field for over 30 years. Shipping products to millions of people every year is proof that they know how to deliver quality products. Their products are a hit everytime and even the experts would have a hard time telling genuine products to this discounted jewelery. If you want quality products that look beautiful but don't break the bank check out the assortment from Holsted.

Movie Night

After being away for Christmas break for a couple of weeks things are starting to get a bit back on track here at home. Tonight after the younger kids got to bed Jay and I stayed up and watched Hancock which he got for Christmas. I had to stay up to pick up my wife so I needed a action movie to stay up. It's pretty good laugh to see this point of view from a Super hero in a regular world.