Becoming Betty: Tastefully Simple Salsa

One of my friends had an online Tastefully Simple party with a portion of the sales going to a charity.  I figured what the heck.  I haven't had the Oh My Chai! in awhile, so I might as well order it.  I was looking through the catalog and saw salsa mix.  You KNOW I needed to try that.

The ingredients

Finished salsa.

I let it chill for a couple of hours and tried it.  It was a little hot.  Maybe next time I won't use as much mix, but let me just say, it works!  I like it better than the jar stuff (tastes fresher), but not as well as the fresh salsa I can buy in the produce section.

Still, I think I would buy this again.

The Daily Zed: Mini-vaca

Zed stayed with his Aunt Donna and Uncle Bill this weekend while Dan and I went to the M3 Festival.  It was really weird not having him around, even though we weren't home that long on Friday night or Saturday.  Sunday, we had brunch with Donna and Bill before picking Zed up at their house.  We got to the house before Donna and Bill so I went around back to the glass door to peek in on Z.  This is what I saw....

What an awesome watchdog.  I was even tapping on the door.  He probably would have had a fit seeing me through the window and not being able to get to me anyway

Adventures: Can Dispenser

So, you all know I stockpile (if you didn't, you know now!).  I've been wanting a can dispenser forever, just so the cans we do have don't expire.  After doing the crown molding, Dan asked "what's next?"  So, I gave him a project and he did it!  My own can dispenser!  I found the instructions online and he made it.

Adventures: DIY Reupholstery

So our bench by our front door has been looking a little worn.  I think Zed threw up on it because there was a stain on it.

I've been thinking about reupholstering it for a while.  Especially since we decorated the living room and dining room.  Originally, I thought about a solid gray, but didn't have too much luck.  However, I found an even better fabric!

I finally pulled the fabric out and reupholstered the bench.  Looks much better!

The Daily Zed: I got into Daddy-o's Bag

No need to go geocaching, we can just have the snacks!

This is what I came home to after getting groceries.  I was gone less than 2 hours, and Dan's bag had been sitting on the couch for days.  Sunday, we were gone for about 6 hours and nothing.  Plus, Zed ate his breakfast this morning too!

So, the extra snacks were two peanut butter granola bars and a strawberry cereal bar.  He did leave one of each in the bag.  Oh, that pup.  Good thing they weren't chocolate!

Adventures: DIY in the House

so, I've been posting about how scared Zed has been with the DIY going on in the house.  It's time for the big reveal!

I posted when we (or should I say, Dan) painted the living room.  The next big makeover was the dining room which included a chair rail and crown molding with the crown molding in the living room too.

For weeks, Dan has been trying to figure out measurements and what was needed.  We were at Home Depot every single weekend trying to figure out what we needed and getting a plan together.

Step One:  Painting the dining room:

Step Two:  Getting the crown molding:

That's right, got it into the Jeep.  Good thing Home Depot is only 4 miles away!

We thought about renting a nail gun, compressor and saw, but ended up loaning it from family.  It was a good idea, that way Dan could take his time.

Step Three:  Putting up the chair rail and crown molding

WOOHOO!  I am so proud of Dan.  He did a GREAT job.  I knew he could do it.

Now, onto the next project.

Adventures: Celebrity Interaction on Twitter!

So, I finally changed my Twitter to public.  For the longest time, I kept it on private, and I have it automatically to Facebook.  I have only friends on Facebook (except for maybe two or three people who are associated with companies/products that I use).

I use Twitter a lot for Public stuff - contests, online income, and now, my business.  Since I changed my profile to public, I also updated my bio to include my business.  I think this has lead to more people following me.

Anyway, I love using Twitter to follow celebrities.  I'm sure most of the time it is not them posting, but that's cool.  Some people are lucky enough to have some interaction.  No me - usually.  That changed 2 weeks ago.

I watched the first episode of Chasing Maria Menounos.  One of the main story lines is that her parents want her to get married and have kids.  So I sent a tweet, and next thing I know, it's retweeted by Maria!

Then last week, I was watching Buying and Selling, and I sent a tweet to Jonathan and Drew - never expecting a response, but I got one!

Woot!  This is what Twitter is about.  Interacting with fans/customers.  If your business is to the consumer, Twitter is great to have that quick interaction.

Speaking of which, we recently changed from Verizon Fios to Xfinity.  We never had issues with Fios, but Xfinity was a better deal money wise.  Anyway, this last weekend, I woke up around 3:30 am and went downstairs and put on the TV.  A little after 4 am, the cable went out.  When I woke up around 7 am, EVERYTHING (cable, internet & phone) was out.

I posted a tweet and sure enough, I got a reply late in the day, but still, it was a reply.

So there you go, the power of Twitter.  Thanks for brightening my day, and letting me interact with celebrities!

Adventures: Jamberry Nails

So, a friend of my invited me to an online nail party for Jamberry Nails.  It was all done on Facebook.  I decided to try having my own party, since it was all online.  Success!  My party was a lot of fun, and I ended up getting 4 sheets of Jamberry nails for $25 with my hostess gifts (regularly $15 each). 

My first application was a little tough to do.  Just because it was a new process, but definitely worth it.  I loved the fact that my nails were protected, and they stopped me from chewing my nails!  

First application of Jamberry Nails

While I had the wraps on, my nails grew and I tried a 2nd application (no picture).  Both wraps lasted about 1 1/2 weeks.  It was great.  Until I took off the 2nd application.  Look what my nails looked like yesterday (3/31/14), and I took the wraps off on Wednesday (3/26/14).  

UUGGHHH!!  Since Wednesday, most of my nails have chipped and I ended up pulling off the nails.  Some of my nails totally bent back.  This sucks.  I REALLY like the Jamberry products!

Anyway, just go off Facebook messenger with my consultant (Janelle Frick).  This may be all user error.  I hope so.  I used olive oil, which is supposed to be heated up - and I didn't do that.  I also didn't soak the nail until the wrap totally came off - I used an orange stick to push it off.  So, I will wait a few weeks, let my nails grow a little and try it again.