I decided, life is too short to be stuck doing something you hate. So I put my two weeks in yesterday.
Without a second thought on money or bills. I talked to the Husband and he agreed, so I did it.
It's quite the rush, really.
What this all means, is if you know of anyone hiring part-time, especially in the chocolate or cupcake industry, let me know. :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dammit, I'm not wearing waterproof mascara. Remind me to not watch these things after I've done my make-up.
With tears streaming down my cheeks from laughing so hard, as I sit in my lonely house because Husband and Punk are in California (yah, let's not talk about that right now), I would like to share something with you.
O. M. G.
I haven't laughed that hard since, well, yesterday at lunch with the girls.
O. M. G.
I haven't laughed that hard since, well, yesterday at lunch with the girls.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Wordless? Let's be real with ourselves. WordFUL Wednesday.
I'm going about my day, eating M&M's the only way I know how, and I get comments like "Wow, you're even crazier than I thought", and "what did you do to the candy?", and "so, you decorate with M&M's?" from my co-workers.
It's a DISORDER, gosh! I don't see why people can't just leave me and my OCD alone.
It's a DISORDER, gosh! I don't see why people can't just leave me and my OCD alone.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Another post about how to get free cheese. WOOT! Are you sick of me talking about cheese yet?
Tillamook is holding a contest that starts today called “Make, Review, Win Tillamook!” Basically, you make something from their website and review it. Easy, peasy; right? Here's the details:
Between February 14 – February 25, visit the Tillamook Kitchen on our new website.
Browse our new recipes and pick any one of them that you’d like to try.
Gather ingredients and start cooking!
Eat what you whipped up (best part).
Review it! An area to write a review for the recipe you made is located at the bottom of each recipe page.
All entries must be received before noon on Friday, February 25. You can review as many different recipes as you’d like!
Each person who writes a recipe review will be automatically entered into a drawing to receive a free Tillamook Baby Loaf Love gift box! We’ll select 10 winners total and announce them on the Loaf Life Blog on Friday, February 25, before 5pm. At 5 p.m. on Friday, February 25, come back to the Loaf Life Blog to see if you’ve won and find out how to claim your prize!
Between February 14 – February 25, visit the Tillamook Kitchen on our new website.
Browse our new recipes and pick any one of them that you’d like to try.
Gather ingredients and start cooking!
Eat what you whipped up (best part).
Review it! An area to write a review for the recipe you made is located at the bottom of each recipe page.
All entries must be received before noon on Friday, February 25. You can review as many different recipes as you’d like!
Each person who writes a recipe review will be automatically entered into a drawing to receive a free Tillamook Baby Loaf Love gift box! We’ll select 10 winners total and announce them on the Loaf Life Blog on Friday, February 25, before 5pm. At 5 p.m. on Friday, February 25, come back to the Loaf Life Blog to see if you’ve won and find out how to claim your prize!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Need a little help with taxes this year? H&R Block Tax Software Giveaway!
So, I had the video with Farnoosh with a ton of suggestions for everything finance. Most of my questions are centered around taxes, because what's the main point of keeping your finances straightened out? Easier tax-time. Here are a few tax tips for those of you, like me, that haven't done the tax thing yet. (Read these, and keep going, because there's a surprise giveaway at the bottom.)
Good news is you have three EXTRA days this year to file, due to April 15 falling on a holiday in D.C. this year.
1. File Online. Go green and save time and money. Choose from a variety of affordable online software to help you file your taxes [like H&R Block At Home Deluxe & At Home Business]. Note that taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less in 2010 can file electronically for free through the IRS web site at freefile.IRS.gov.
2. Boost IRA Savings. Contributing to a traditional IRA is one of the last ways to really reduce your 2010 taxable income before April 18. You have until the very last day to contribute to this retirement account and deduct the amount from your taxable income. The dollar limit contribution for 2010 is $5,000 is you’re 49 or younger. $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older.
3. Remember the Basics. Be sure to sign and date your 1040. Review your personal identification – social security, address, business ID (for business owners), etc.
4. Opt for Direct Deposit. Another perk to filing electronically is that if you're expecting a refund, you can get your check sent directly to your savings account. And because you avoid snail mail you can probably get paid a week early.
5. Add Up All Your Write-Offs. Deductible expenses here and there can add up to big savings come tax day. Job hunting-related expenses such as relocation (50 miles away from current home), travel and meals, copies, faxes, are eligible for a tax deduction. Also, if you are self-employed you may receive deductions for insurance paid out of pocket and any self-employment taxes. Don’t forget deductions for student loan interest and medical savings accounts, too.
6. Make a Copy of Your Return. It will come in handy when filling out next year’s return. Plus if you apply for a mortgage or a refinance, banks will want to see your tax return. Keep returns for an average 3 years from when it was filed, during which time the IRS is most likely to audit (if at all).
7. Stay Organized. As soon as you’re done filing make sure you keep all your paperwork organized. Your return, your paystubs, your receipts, will all come in handy down the road if (and I hope this doesn’t happen) the IRS decides to audit your return or if there is a discrepancy between the IRS records and what you claimed and you need to prove that, indeed, you filed everything correctly.
8. Out of Time? Get an Extension. If you absolutely can’t make the April 18th deadline this year, you can request a six-month extension by filling out the IRS Form 4868.
If you've still got questions, you can check out Office Depot's tax site as well.
Ready for the giveaway? Here it is! TWO of you lucky people are going to win your choice of H&R Block’s At Home Deluxe or Business tax software (thanks to Office Depot for sponsoring the giveaway). Free tax software! Sweet, right? Here's what you have to do to enter:
First entry - leave me a comment. (Simple!) Really, really want to win? Get some bonus entries; just make sure to leave me a comment for each thing you do!
--visit Office Depot's tax site and give me a tip for my taxes
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
You can do as many of these things as you want to enter, just make sure you comment before midnight MST on Saturday, February 26th. I'll draw the winners using random.org and will post the results as soon as possible after that.
Good news is you have three EXTRA days this year to file, due to April 15 falling on a holiday in D.C. this year.
1. File Online. Go green and save time and money. Choose from a variety of affordable online software to help you file your taxes [like H&R Block At Home Deluxe & At Home Business]. Note that taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less in 2010 can file electronically for free through the IRS web site at freefile.IRS.gov.
2. Boost IRA Savings. Contributing to a traditional IRA is one of the last ways to really reduce your 2010 taxable income before April 18. You have until the very last day to contribute to this retirement account and deduct the amount from your taxable income. The dollar limit contribution for 2010 is $5,000 is you’re 49 or younger. $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older.
3. Remember the Basics. Be sure to sign and date your 1040. Review your personal identification – social security, address, business ID (for business owners), etc.
4. Opt for Direct Deposit. Another perk to filing electronically is that if you're expecting a refund, you can get your check sent directly to your savings account. And because you avoid snail mail you can probably get paid a week early.
5. Add Up All Your Write-Offs. Deductible expenses here and there can add up to big savings come tax day. Job hunting-related expenses such as relocation (50 miles away from current home), travel and meals, copies, faxes, are eligible for a tax deduction. Also, if you are self-employed you may receive deductions for insurance paid out of pocket and any self-employment taxes. Don’t forget deductions for student loan interest and medical savings accounts, too.
6. Make a Copy of Your Return. It will come in handy when filling out next year’s return. Plus if you apply for a mortgage or a refinance, banks will want to see your tax return. Keep returns for an average 3 years from when it was filed, during which time the IRS is most likely to audit (if at all).
7. Stay Organized. As soon as you’re done filing make sure you keep all your paperwork organized. Your return, your paystubs, your receipts, will all come in handy down the road if (and I hope this doesn’t happen) the IRS decides to audit your return or if there is a discrepancy between the IRS records and what you claimed and you need to prove that, indeed, you filed everything correctly.
8. Out of Time? Get an Extension. If you absolutely can’t make the April 18th deadline this year, you can request a six-month extension by filling out the IRS Form 4868.
If you've still got questions, you can check out Office Depot's tax site as well.
Ready for the giveaway? Here it is! TWO of you lucky people are going to win your choice of H&R Block’s At Home Deluxe or Business tax software (thanks to Office Depot for sponsoring the giveaway). Free tax software! Sweet, right? Here's what you have to do to enter:
First entry - leave me a comment. (Simple!) Really, really want to win? Get some bonus entries; just make sure to leave me a comment for each thing you do!
--visit Office Depot's tax site and give me a tip for my taxes
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
You can do as many of these things as you want to enter, just make sure you comment before midnight MST on Saturday, February 26th. I'll draw the winners using random.org and will post the results as soon as possible after that.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Day 23. I wish the music industry would come out with some new bands that are good. I'm sick of everything on the radio.
day 23- something you crave for a lot
Ohh, CUPCAKES! I crave them constantly. The problem is, Husband doesn't like frosting and I love it so when I make cupcakes I am the only one that eats them and I end up throwing half of them away. And that is sad.
Also, Pepsi and cherry cordials and pizza and Italian food and Panda Express and the french onion soup from that one place in Disney's California Adventure and candy and chocolate. Sometimes. And fresh pineapple and cantaloupe and grapes.
You think I'm crazy don't you? See more reasons why to think that here.
Ohh, CUPCAKES! I crave them constantly. The problem is, Husband doesn't like frosting and I love it so when I make cupcakes I am the only one that eats them and I end up throwing half of them away. And that is sad.
Also, Pepsi and cherry cordials and pizza and Italian food and Panda Express and the french onion soup from that one place in Disney's California Adventure and candy and chocolate. Sometimes. And fresh pineapple and cantaloupe and grapes.
You think I'm crazy don't you? See more reasons why to think that here.
Day 22. You only need two things in life - WD-40 and duct tape. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40.
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
Oh boy. This question is awesome. I think it would be a shorter answer if you asked what makes me the same as everyone else.
I am double-jointed. I am a grammar nazi. I have OCD, ADHD and depression and it makes me just a lot crazy. I am ridiculously tall for a girl. I'm not LDS. I am not fake and I do not sugar coat things, even if it means I might hurt your feelings. I'm not typically sorry for it, either. I have angry kidneys. I love getting dirty.
That's a pretty good start.
Feed the addiction. To me. Click this. No one likes a quitter.
Oh boy. This question is awesome. I think it would be a shorter answer if you asked what makes me the same as everyone else.
I am double-jointed. I am a grammar nazi. I have OCD, ADHD and depression and it makes me just a lot crazy. I am ridiculously tall for a girl. I'm not LDS. I am not fake and I do not sugar coat things, even if it means I might hurt your feelings. I'm not typically sorry for it, either. I have angry kidneys. I love getting dirty.
That's a pretty good start.
Feed the addiction. To me. Click this. No one likes a quitter.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bambi. The deer. I hate deer. Except for Bambi.
I love Bambi. Such a cute movie. In anticipation of its release from the Disney vault, coming out on Blu-Ray and DVD March 1st, I've got a few fun things for you! First of all, the trailer:
(This took a minute to load on my computer and if it does the same for you, I'm sorry!) Second, the clip from the movie where Bambi meets the Opposums:
AWW, cute! And last, but not least, click on the following to download some fun activity sheets, all Bambi-themed of course!
I'm too good to you, aren't I? Just kidding. Have fun!
(This took a minute to load on my computer and if it does the same for you, I'm sorry!) Second, the clip from the movie where Bambi meets the Opposums:
AWW, cute! And last, but not least, click on the following to download some fun activity sheets, all Bambi-themed of course!
I'm too good to you, aren't I? Just kidding. Have fun!
Day 21. Have you heard about the new pirate movie? It's rated ARRR. Hardy har har.
day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy
Conveniently, that's all I have pictures of.
Want to see more? Clickity click clacker.
Conveniently, that's all I have pictures of.
Want to see more? Clickity click clacker.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
On a related note. To the financial interview. Sort of.
I've been thinking of ways to keep myself organized this year. Anyone that knows me is shaking their head and throwing fists of confusion at me because if you know me well, you know I'm incredibly organized. Something to do with that whole OCD thing. BUT, if there is one area I can improve on it's definitely my method of organizing our finances. I keep a checkbook and keep all my receipts and balance my checkbook and all that, it's not that I have struggles with. It's the bills and insurance stuff and business stuff and all thta jazz. I've been watching my interview over and over and trying to figure out how I want to set this all up to cater to what I need.
The first thing I think I need is a new desk. The desk I've got now in my office space is good but I don't have any drawers. Drawers seem pretty important to the organization.
Once I've got that sorted out, then comes desktop organizers, a filing cabinet, a fire-proof safe, and then some cute desktop filing things (that's the part I like because it allows me to be creative with it).
Any suggestions? Any ideas? I'm totally and completely open right now because I'm starting from scratch.
The first thing I think I need is a new desk. The desk I've got now in my office space is good but I don't have any drawers. Drawers seem pretty important to the organization.
Once I've got that sorted out, then comes desktop organizers, a filing cabinet, a fire-proof safe, and then some cute desktop filing things (that's the part I like because it allows me to be creative with it).
Any suggestions? Any ideas? I'm totally and completely open right now because I'm starting from scratch.
Day 20. Two-thirds. 66.666666666667%. Ten days to go.
day 20- someone you love.
How the crap am I supposed to narrow it down to just one? There are quite a few people I love in this world. Husband, Punk, Turbo, my family, my whole three friends...
Yah. The question is really vague and it's more of a statement so I'll just leave it at that.
Apparently, day 20 was a rough one on the question-maker.
Want to see the first two-thirds of this mess? Click here.
How the crap am I supposed to narrow it down to just one? There are quite a few people I love in this world. Husband, Punk, Turbo, my family, my whole three friends...
Yah. The question is really vague and it's more of a statement so I'll just leave it at that.
Apparently, day 20 was a rough one on the question-maker.
Want to see the first two-thirds of this mess? Click here.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Day 19. Why did the skeleton cross the road? To get to the body shop! Hahahahahaha
day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them
Kendi: this is the first nickname I had and I hated it when I was little. I love it now though. I think it's the easiest "shortening" of my name (some call me Kend but that seems too un-ended).
BooBoo: my Daddy started calling me this when I was tiny because Iwas am accident prone. It's what he has always called me, but only him. One day, without knowing that's what my Dad calls me, started calling me BooBoo. I don't know why, but apparently that's the nickname meant only for the two most important men in my life.
Panduh: honestly, this explanation would take 20 minutes. So I'll spare you.
Barbie: this is what the girls I work with call me, and also my Mom sometimes pulls this one out. I am pretty sure it's because I'm tall, blonde and skinny.
I really have tons of nicknames but I'll not go into the rest. Those are the main ones you would hear after spending a day with me.
Check out the rest of my 30-day fun by clicking here.
Kendi: this is the first nickname I had and I hated it when I was little. I love it now though. I think it's the easiest "shortening" of my name (some call me Kend but that seems too un-ended).
BooBoo: my Daddy started calling me this when I was tiny because I
Panduh: honestly, this explanation would take 20 minutes. So I'll spare you.
Barbie: this is what the girls I work with call me, and also my Mom sometimes pulls this one out. I am pretty sure it's because I'm tall, blonde and skinny.
I really have tons of nicknames but I'll not go into the rest. Those are the main ones you would hear after spending a day with me.
Check out the rest of my 30-day fun by clicking here.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Do you eat gluten-free? French Meadow Bakeries is here to help!
I reviewed some bagels awhile back from French Meadow Bakeries. They were gluten-free but still pretty good. They just came out with two more products that sound delicious - gluten-free tortillas and brownies! Mmmm, brownies.
French Meadow Bakery is the oldest, continuously operating, certified-organic bakery in the United States. French Meadow Bakery is internationally recognized as a leading provider of naturally delicious and nutritious bakery products and desserts that suit a variety of needs from organic and gluten-free products to vegan, yeast-free, and kosher items. The company's best-selling breads are endorsed by nutrition experts Dr. Barry Sears, Dr. Andrew Weil, and Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman. Its trend-setting products are available nationally at mainstream grocers and independent natural food stores.
French Meadow Bakery’s gluten-free products are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility and carry the seal of the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO.org). French Meadow Bakery products can be found in stores nationwide including, Whole Foods, Safeway and natural food markets.
So, whether you eat gluten-free because of health reasons, or just because it fits your lifestyle, French Meadow Bakery is a good go-to option for gluten-free food that tastes good.
French Meadow Bakery is the oldest, continuously operating, certified-organic bakery in the United States. French Meadow Bakery is internationally recognized as a leading provider of naturally delicious and nutritious bakery products and desserts that suit a variety of needs from organic and gluten-free products to vegan, yeast-free, and kosher items. The company's best-selling breads are endorsed by nutrition experts Dr. Barry Sears, Dr. Andrew Weil, and Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman. Its trend-setting products are available nationally at mainstream grocers and independent natural food stores.
French Meadow Bakery’s gluten-free products are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility and carry the seal of the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO.org). French Meadow Bakery products can be found in stores nationwide including, Whole Foods, Safeway and natural food markets.
So, whether you eat gluten-free because of health reasons, or just because it fits your lifestyle, French Meadow Bakery is a good go-to option for gluten-free food that tastes good.
Day 18. Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? Yah, I don't really care either.
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
This is one of the most open-ended questions I've ever read. Plans? I plan to make cupcakes today. I plan to list more in my Etsy shop. I plan to eat some Sour Patch Kids. Dreams? I dream of being able to sell scrapbook supplies and bows for a living. I dream of someday living in my dream home. I dream of having an air hockey table. Goals? I want to trade in my car for an IS-F in the next two years. I want to work from home in the next two years. I want to be a good stepmom. I want to get back on a full-sized motorcycle before the end of this summer.
I could go on for days with this question, but I won't. You're welcome. :) Here are the first 17 days.
This is one of the most open-ended questions I've ever read. Plans? I plan to make cupcakes today. I plan to list more in my Etsy shop. I plan to eat some Sour Patch Kids. Dreams? I dream of being able to sell scrapbook supplies and bows for a living. I dream of someday living in my dream home. I dream of having an air hockey table. Goals? I want to trade in my car for an IS-F in the next two years. I want to work from home in the next two years. I want to be a good stepmom. I want to get back on a full-sized motorcycle before the end of this summer.
I could go on for days with this question, but I won't. You're welcome. :) Here are the first 17 days.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 17. I bet you thought I had forgotten, didn't you?
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
I would love to switch lives with a celebrity for a day or two or seven. I don't know that I would want the attention and publicity they always get, but it would be nice to be pampered like one for just a while. I would love to wake up and have my trainer there to work out with, then shower in a bathroom big enough for a football team, then have someone else do my hair and make-up while I play my handheld Sudoku. What a life.
Just in case you forgot how, here's where to check the rest of this monstrosity out.
I would love to switch lives with a celebrity for a day or two or seven. I don't know that I would want the attention and publicity they always get, but it would be nice to be pampered like one for just a while. I would love to wake up and have my trainer there to work out with, then shower in a bathroom big enough for a football team, then have someone else do my hair and make-up while I play my handheld Sudoku. What a life.
Just in case you forgot how, here's where to check the rest of this monstrosity out.
Something pretty cool. If you're into donating to charity. Which you should be. I like giving.
By show of hands, how many of you out there use coupons?
*my hand held high*
Okay. And now, keep your hand up if when using the coupons, you are also donating to charity.
*chirp*
Huh?
Check this site out - KindCoupons.org. They have coupons for you to print out. Coupons for all sorts of stuff that you might use. And, they donate 50% of their profits to charity. You can see right on the front page what charity they are currently donating to, and it will change from time to time.
So, check them out. Coupons are never a bad thing, and in this case, they can turn out to be a good thing for a charity.
*my hand held high*
Okay. And now, keep your hand up if when using the coupons, you are also donating to charity.
*chirp*
Huh?
Check this site out - KindCoupons.org. They have coupons for you to print out. Coupons for all sorts of stuff that you might use. And, they donate 50% of their profits to charity. You can see right on the front page what charity they are currently donating to, and it will change from time to time.
So, check them out. Coupons are never a bad thing, and in this case, they can turn out to be a good thing for a charity.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tillamook cheese! What else?
Guys. This is serious. I mean, seriously good. Tillamook just redid their website. Go on, take a look! It seems to me they made it more user-friendly and also, the pictures make me hungry. I'm a sucker for food porn. Want to know the best part? They now have recipes for lots and lots of stuff, using not only their cheese but also their yogurt, sour cream, butter and ice cream. Did you know they had all that stuff? Yah, me neither.
There are also a bunch of cool things to do on their site, like the "What's your cheese I.Q.?" quiz (found here). BONUS: if you get up to 100 points, you get entered into a contest to win a Tillamook cheese gift box. And you can enter as many times as you'd like. Sweet! Oh, and want to find ways to win more cheese? Check out their Facebook page.
And just in case you were wondering, I'm not getting any compensation for this post. I really just like Tillamook cheese.
And now I'm craving cheese and crackers. Just great.
There are also a bunch of cool things to do on their site, like the "What's your cheese I.Q.?" quiz (found here). BONUS: if you get up to 100 points, you get entered into a contest to win a Tillamook cheese gift box. And you can enter as many times as you'd like. Sweet! Oh, and want to find ways to win more cheese? Check out their Facebook page.
And just in case you were wondering, I'm not getting any compensation for this post. I really just like Tillamook cheese.
And now I'm craving cheese and crackers. Just great.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
One of the coolest things I've done since I started blogging - interview with financial expert Farnoosh Torabi
When I first got the e-mail about this opportunity, I figured it was going to be one of those 'group interview where your questions don't actually get answered because there are too many people' type of things.
Boy, was I wrong.
A lovely lady named Allie from a company called MultiVu contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing an interview with financial expert Farnoosh Torabi, who contributes to Glamour magazine, among other things that I don't pay much attention to (you know, like the Wall Street Journal and Moneywatch.com). I figured it was a great opportunity to ask some questions I had, so I went for it. I wasn't able to do the phone interview (pesky job anyhow) but my list of questions was sent to her. And what I got back was completely unexpected - she sat in front of the camera and answered my questions. ONLY my questions. And even referred to me by name. Wow! So, check it out. My questions relate to me and my life but I have a good feeling a lot of this will relate to a lot of you, too.
In case you can't see it above, click here to be taken to the video directly.
And here's the small print. This was sponsored by Office Depot and I will be getting a gift card from them for doing it. BUT, I would have done it anyway - I got some serious advice from it.
A big thanks to Farnoosh for the tips! I'll be checking out your blog for sure.
Boy, was I wrong.
A lovely lady named Allie from a company called MultiVu contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing an interview with financial expert Farnoosh Torabi, who contributes to Glamour magazine, among other things that I don't pay much attention to (you know, like the Wall Street Journal and Moneywatch.com). I figured it was a great opportunity to ask some questions I had, so I went for it. I wasn't able to do the phone interview (pesky job anyhow) but my list of questions was sent to her. And what I got back was completely unexpected - she sat in front of the camera and answered my questions. ONLY my questions. And even referred to me by name. Wow! So, check it out. My questions relate to me and my life but I have a good feeling a lot of this will relate to a lot of you, too.
In case you can't see it above, click here to be taken to the video directly.
And here's the small print. This was sponsored by Office Depot and I will be getting a gift card from them for doing it. BUT, I would have done it anyway - I got some serious advice from it.
A big thanks to Farnoosh for the tips! I'll be checking out your blog for sure.
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