HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mission Foods is a proud supporter of Share Our Strength, a movement committed to stamp out childhood hunger.  Share Our Strength reaches out to communities by educating families on how to cook healthy, budget friendly meals, and assists local organizations that assist children and families concerning poverty related hunger issues.

What is the Mission Menus Challenge?  Aspiring chefs submit creative recipes incorporating Mission products. The stipulation? The recipe must include Mission Flour Tortillas, and in the spirit of Share Our Strength, the recipe must feed a family of 4 for $10 or less. With so many cooking challenges revolving around foods that require a large investment or that are not available everywhere geographically, it is refreshing to see. Perhaps the menus will also help families when the winning recipes are released to make a budget friendly nutritious meal for their families, and will choose homemade instead of fast food.

Winners will have a chance to compete in a Los Angeles cooking challenge hosted by Chef Sarah Moulton, whom you may know from the Food Network. Other prizes include a kitchen makeover. Submit your recipes starting TOMORROW, July 28, 2010. Entries must be received by August 9th.  To be eligible, entrants must be 18 years of age or older and be permanent legal residents of the United States, excluding territories.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

Off and on I have been continuing to explore the idea of online degrees, only the costs are much high, it seems, than a community college or regular university. Apparently, the cost of materials is figured into the price rather than figuring it separately, so that may be partially why. The bonus is that you pay as you go and don’t accumulate student loans. Credits for online schools can culminate into a degree or can be transferred. Ashworth College, out of Georgia, is one such school where the fees seem to be competitive. Other online schools typically accepts these credits, as do some community colleges and universities.

There are many stay-at-home moms and even folks who run online businesses that are going for degrees because the schedule is flexible, as long as you have the self discipline to set aside time to study. It doesn’t matter what hour of the day or week it is, but it still has to be figured in. An hour or two after bedtimes or before taking photos for your online store is enough time.  I was pretty much trapped in the house a few years back and struggled to keep myself motivated. Tele-learning can help someone who feels a bit isolated feel in control and work towards the next step.

However, before you enroll, think about what you are doing down the road. If you are trying to knock off some classes to get into a degree program elsewhere, make sure that the receiving college does not only accept credits from regionally accredited programs. Schools offering an Online degree are often nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and their degrees stand on their own. However, some courses of study, institutions and employers requiring continuing education in some states demand coursework from REGIONALLY accredited schools if you intend to transfer into their program.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am always looking to stretch a few dollars and shave my grocery bill or pet care bills when I can. I want to be a better steward of my money in general, but a few extra dollars means that I can donate to a cause that I care about versus refraining or that can collect interest in the bank for a rainy day. There are some areas where corners just cannot be cut for quality or health reasons.Walletpop offers a list of 10 Products to Always Buy Generic. The list includes:

• Over the counter medications, such as aspirin and cough medicine.
• Cereal
• Pantry items, such as flour and baking needs.
• Soda
• Gas
• Beauty Products
• Batteries
• Cables (computer cables, electronic cables)
• Produce
• Baby formula. Not some mystery label, but store brand formula.

The biggest surprises for me?  Gas and baby formula. I didn’t know that there really was such a thing as generic gasoline. However, its not really generic in the manner that I thought. There is no small family business refining their own oil on a small scale. It just means to simply hit up the Costco or Meijer gas station or try the local single-location place in town. Check prices vigilantly, however.

Baby formula is not something you want to mess around with. I was surprised that store brands have comparable ingredients.  I know, some of my readers will ask me to take the opportunity to promote feeding babies the way nature intended, but some moms don’t have that ability or have medical complications that create separation from baby and preclude them.  Store brands and generics must meet the same FDA health standards and nutrition guidelines as the pricier brands. Also, families using WIC can stretch their dollar farther that way, as it is a WIC item.

For produce, make sure you check the country of origin on conventional produce, and also remember that locally grown items from farm stands support local families.  I have noticed that if you buy the 365 brand, which is the Whole Foods Store brand, you can score some good deals on items that are just as well monitored as juices and crackers made by the big names. I know I have.  In fact, the 365 brand nutrient water is sometimes less expensive than conventional Vitamin Water.

Which one of these items do you always buy generic or store brand? Are there any local small-name companies you buy from that have value instead of boutique pricing. Also, were there things on the list that surprised you that you now are going to check generic’s on?

Every so once in awhile, some sort of new spam software seems to come out. I am not on any sort of notification list. Rather, I notice patterns in spam comments.  A year or two ago, it was about a little incomprehensible text followed by a list of links for enhancement pills or casino sites.  About six months ago, there was a bigger influx of comments in broken English, such as.

Good share. I search internet whole day for it. This day is Wednesday.

Then, it was the march of the really, really generic comments.

This is the best article ever. I was saying to may friend the other day that this is the best website ever on such an important subject like the one you write about.

In the past week or two, many comments have actually related somewhat to the article in a very general way.

I really like cats! They are my favorite.

While a legitimate reader may make a general declarative statement, watch the “name” and the homepage of the poster. Some editors and bloggers do not accept comments from folks with keywords for names.  I don’t always abide by this because there are many people that use “handles” or the name of their blog or website as their name.  I do watch when their name is long or quite sploggy, such as ‘buy pharmaceuticals direct on the internet” or their homepage url is long and suspicious.  One other observation is that spam comments often include an asterisk “*” or a dash at the end.  Of course, real people can do this too, but more often than not it denotes spam.  In the past week or so, the symbols has been disappearing. Maybe whatever software spammers use is getting “wise.”

Either way, be careful out there.

When there is a fire, sometimes a well meaning neighbor tries to break in to save the day. Unfortunately, precious minutes are wasted when 911 could be called if the helper does not know what they are doing.  While it doesn’t make for a Hollywood-style rescue, rescue workers use a Bump Key to free people and pets. Bump Keys are like skeleton keys that firefighters and locksmiths use to open doors in emergencies. If you see a neighboring house on fire, call 911 first, insure the safety of your own family. Then, be prepared to provide a safe haven for displaced pets and people.

There are numerous folks crawling the web, offering to buy established websites.  One of them approached me. At first, I deleted the email assuming it was spam, but they persisted. Just a heads up that there are legitimate people out there buying websites, but thoroughly check them out. Do a search to find out if they are who they say they are, and just know that there is no way to take your site back once sold.  As for me, HoundsGood.com will not and will never be for sale. So save the digits and send a sales pitch to someone else.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

From time to time, different chains and organizations give away a night at a hotel as a prize. While its nice, it usually involves a hefty investment as it does not include transportation costs. Winners almost do not want to win, unless they have a trip coming up outside of the blackout dates, or can find someone to watch the kids as the room is only suited for double occupancy.

The Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes goes against the grain by giving away a weekend hotel stay for you and 3 lucky friends every day. Of course, they don’t have to be friends. They can be your kids. The grand prize winner wins 100 hotel rooms for a weekend to reconnect with every single person the know (all most). That sounds like a spontaneous family reunion to me. Or what about a convention?

Several grass roots organizations I am familiar with have volunteers scattered throughout the country. Some have only “met” on the internet or have spoken on the phone and have never met in person, despite having worked together for years. The prize would certainly help everyone come together and meet face to face. The trip could certainly act as a major think tank.

Many Hampton Inns accept pets, but check call the indvidual property first. Each hotel has its own weight requirements and fees.

In 3 hours, a special fundraiser will be held for a vibrant young woman named Zarina.  Due to a tragic accident. She has broken her neck and has been in months of rehabilitation to regain control and movement to her lower body.  This type of therapy is costly but extremely necessary and life-changing.

Real estate agents typically act as independent contractors unless they work solely in-house for a model home manufacturer, for instance.  If they are paid by commission, they source and pay for their own health coverage, just like other small business owners. I do not know her situation, but often Realtors like Zarina and other small business owners do not receive pay for missed time. They do not bank sink days.

Friends are throwing a fundraiser from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Pacific time today in Carlsbad, California, to lend a helping hand. If you cannot make it, donations are accepted made payable to:

The Windermere Foundation, Zarina Rahman
125 Lomas Santa Fe
Solana Beach, CA 92075

Alternately, call Holly at (858) 369-3405.

If you are out and about in Carlsbad, or know someone who is, tickets are $20. Head on over to the Sheraton at 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008.  Enjoy music, entertainment by the band the Rip Currents (Who “covers the Rock and Roll you love to hear, but not the stuff you have heard WAY TOO MUCH”), food and a cash bar. Instead of heading to a restaurant or going to buy concert tickets for next weekend, head to the Sheraton and your money will go to help a deserving young lady get back on her feet…hopefully literally.

I always like to pass on ways to save money, or to at least take the responsibility of your health and welfare into your own hands.  Recently, a reader alerted me to the trend of opticians and ophthalmologists not wanting to give patients their Pupillary Distance numbers.  Apparently, that number is used to help fit someone for eyeglasses.  At first, I thought it was the result of doctors and eye care professionals not wanting one to go elsewhere for glasses, especially on the internet.

However, I have found that most professionals want patients to be properly educated.  If the PD is not taken every time a person goes to get new glasses, the prescription might be off.  Prescriptions that are not strong enough may not be correcting eyesight to where it can be, and prescriptions that are too strong may cause disorientation and eye strain.  Sure, it may be frugal to replace recently broken glasses from internet sources.  However, if your ophthalmologist isn’t faxing them your prescription and you are just reordering year after year, you could be costing yourself money in the long run from not taking care of your sensitive eyes the way you should be.

Before you claim a conspiracy against your eye care professional, ask if they will fax our prescription into the store or internet site of your choice. The downside of saving a few bucks is that if the prescription is off, you won’t be able to receive complimentary adjustments to the prescription.  Also, if the company makes an error, the prescription from the doctor holds more clout to leverage a remake rather than numbers you may have transposed if you haven’t educated yourself on the ins and outs of the short hand.  As someone who has battled sensitive eye issues, I trust their years of expertise, in this case.  An eyeglass lens is not something you ingest inside your body – there is an art to cutting a lens to such a minute specification and an art to differentiating which minute change you need.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

A van or truck fitted with special levers to assist an amputee can open a world of opportunity and independence.  In times past, someone that was missing a limb to reach the brake pedal or hand to trip the turn signal was housebound or relied heavily on others.  Now folks who have served our country and suffered the loss of a limb, or have limited mobility due to a medical condition can live quite independently.

There are numerous companies that provide solutions to those with limited mobility, such as specialized driving controls for vehicles, lifts and seating restraints.  NMEDA, or the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association, serves as a trade association to the industry as well as serves as an education source to consumers. There are more than 600 member dealers worldwide.  Dealers may produce or sell and fit vehicle modification equipment.  NMEDA also has a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers that have passed a rigorous and recognized accreditation program.  QAP dealers satisfy customers with a systematic approach to the quality of the product and the entire experience for the customer top down.

If you are exploring the idea of a fully equipped van, or merely retrofitting a van with straps or a lift for a loved one, use NMEDA to find a dealer in your area.   Wouldn’t it be a great gift to pool money and buy something to give independence to someone in need, too? What a great fundraiser that would be.

Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, Georgia, is looking for Cameron Downing of Calhoun, Georgia. He or she is not in trouble. They just want to return their dog. This sweet dog named Bella is registered to Cameron Downing and appears well cared for, but the number listed in conjunction with the identification and rabies registration is out of commission. It is not disconnected but “not accepting calls.” It is unknown whether the listed number is correct or not.

If you know Cameron Downing, could you please send along this blog post to them or have them contact the shelter immediately?

Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100

Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570

If Bella and Cameron are reunited soon, it will save lives. Another dog may have a few more days of time to live because a spot in a kennel will open up. Strays are held for 3 days. If the owner is identified, they get a little more of a chance to come claim their dog, but time is still of the essence.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of SEO 5 Consulting. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’ve all seen them, the commercials featuring teary-eyed announcers urging us to sponsor a child in a faraway land, while a slide show of emaciated children or kids living in lean-tos scrolled across the screen. I have often wondered how it really worked to sponsor a child There just would be way too much paperwork and room for error if an individual’s money went to help one child. If it was something done independently, yes it may work, but since the money is handled through the mail and undoubtedly has several stops along the way, it seems a bit improbably.

According to Plan Canada, “More than 70 years of experience has taught us that helping families and communities become self-sufficient is the best way to secure the child’s future.” When someone sponsors a child, the child is assisted through pooled funds. The funds go to improving the community around the child – supporting a school for them to intend, clean water for them to drink and the like. When a sponsor is matched with a child, they indeed communicate with a real individual child that is being helped by the program and the funds go to assist that community.

Plan Canada’s goal is to get as many Canadian residents to join the program as possible. A $35.00 per month donation is put into the hands of local grassroots programs that build communities and improve life for impoverished children. Granted, there are many nations where the level of luxury is far below Canada and the United States where children may live in different dwellings than what is the norm here, and are well nourished and thriving. The programs do not target those children, but those that do not have access to clean water, proper nutrition or resources.

If you are a Canadian resident and wish to help children internationally in addition to children close to the home, it is a plan worth considering.

There is a simple way to bust through excuses when moving day approaches. Moving a household or small organization to a new home or office is difficult enough without the liability of outside help handling sensitive paperwork or prized heirloom. The alternative used to be one way rentals, but in that case, there is liability for the volunteer driver who thinks they know how to maneuver a a heavily laden truck. An ABF ReloCube® is a new alternative. Order one, pack it up for three days, and unpack it at the destination. Three days of unpacking are allotted, so rooms can be set up without climbing over boxes for months. A professional driver delivers it and takes it away. Friends have six days to choose from to help. Excuses beware!