Food For Nothin' and Your Dinner For Free

No this isn't a new version of the song by Dire Straights but with our economy it could be.
I copied this right from Oprah.com after watching todays' show about saving money. What better place to put this than on my blog. :)

Here's ways to save on groceries. There are only three of us in this house and somehow we spend a ridiculous amount of money on groceries each month (around $1200). Sadly much of it goes in the trash.

Ok so I'm game. I'll play along and for the next month see how much I can save at the local grocer. Anyone who wants to take the challenge with me I would love to have the company. Here's what to do:

5 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

By Stephanie Nelson

Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, says it's possible to fight the rising cost of groceries without sacrificing your favorite foods. Try her simple coupon saving strategies the next time you go to the grocery store:

Plan your meals and shopping lists around featured sale items.

• Use your store's weekly sales ad flier to plan your menus for the week. Then, write your shopping list around the items and brands that are on sale.
• Taking a few minutes to make a detailed plan will save you the time of making unplanned trips to the store during the week—which can ruin your budget.
• Planning ahead also helps you avoid impulse shopping during your trip.

Know how your stores' savings programs work.

• Do they have "buy one, get one free" deals?
• Do they double coupons?
• Do they offer a store discount cards that gives you automatic discounts?
• Do they have special store coupons?
• Once you know your stores' rules, you can combine them to pay the lowest possible prices for your items, such as using two coupons with a "buy one, get one free" deal. Combining strategies can result in free items.

Use grocery coupons, ideally when the item is on sale.

• Buy the Sunday newspaper—75 percent of grocery coupons come from the newspaper. Buy two to three copies per week to save dramatically.
• Go online—grocery stores often have their best deals and printable coupons on their websites.
• Many stores offer electronic coupons that go directly on your store discount card.

Stock up on common items when they hit their lowest price.

• Don't buy a year's supply, just enough to last until the next sale (two to three weeks).
• Boneless chicken is on sale every other week at Stephanie's grocery store, so she buys two weeks of boneless chicken every other week to store in her freezer. This habit saves her family of four $325 a year on this one item.

Be flexible about brands and stores.

• Buy the brand that's on sale with a coupon, or get the store brand if it's less expensive.
• Shop at the store with the best prices for your items that week.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Abundance awareness

Fulfillment is not a matter of acquiring something. Fulfillment is developing the awareness that you already have access to whatever you seek.

There is no need to ask or to beg for anything from life. Instead, you can lovingly accept and express what is already available to you.

Even now, there is a connection to whatever you may dream or desire. Know that connection, feel that connection, live that connection and the dream is real and present.

Though there are challenges and obstacles, they do not separate you from your dream. On the contrary, they connect you to it and give it value.

Achievement is the expression of what you already know to be true. Achievement is a state of awareness that you can enter whenever you choose.

All that you could ever imagine is available to you at all times. Open yourself to the possibilities, and joyfully accept the limitless abundance that is.

-- RM

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Learn and know

Knowledge is one of the greatest treasures you can ever have. Each day is filled with countless opportunities to obtain more of it and to make good use of it, and no one can ever take it away from you.

In fact, the more you share what you know the more valuable that knowledge becomes to you. In knowledge there is great and continuously growing power.

Do not be content to hear secondhand from others how the world works. Take the initiative and make the effort to learn for yourself, and gain real, useful knowledge.

The amount and quality of knowledge you have will determine to a large extent the quality of your life. When you know what you need to learn, and when you know how to find it, anything becomes possible.

You already have great knowledge and you have access to much, much more. Achievement comes from using your knowledge to drive your actions toward the goals you have chosen.

Every day, every situation, every experience is a learning opportunity. Make good, purposeful use of what you know and learn, and there is no limit to what you can achieve.

-- RM

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Priorities

You've had many successes in your life and you'll have many more. In matters large and small you have a history of achieving what you have truly chosen to achieve.

The question to focus upon is this. What will you now choose to achieve?

How will you make the most meaningful and fulfilling use of the time and resources available to you? Which of the many opportunities will you now decide to follow?

You have a way of reaching those goals that you've authentically committed to reach. When something is important enough to you, when it is a priority, you know how to make it happen.

So what are the priorities you choose to have on this day? Upon what will you focus your considerable powers of achievement?

Whatever you make into a priority will surely become an achievement. Choose your priorities today with care, because you are indeed choosing how your life will soon be.

-- RM

Farewell Butch Cassidy

Paul Newman has passed away at 83.Younger generations remember him as Butch Cassidy, my son knows him as Doc Hudson from "CARS". I know him as one of the most inspiring and talented, good looking men ever to grace the silver screen. He will be missed.

IT PASSED!!!

In the midst of all this national financial crisis, the primary debates and gas prices it was hard to not worry everything else sitting on our governments plate of responsibility was going to get pushed aside.

I'm happy to say that yes, our senators and congressmen can actually do more than one thing at a time.

When the nation and the news were concentrating solely the "bailout" and the power struggle between Obama and McCain, the senate passed bill Senate Bill 1738 - The Protect Our Children Act

Thanks to everyone and the 6 million people that emailed their senators in the last week telling them there was no other option but to pass this bill.

As long as the president signs the bill, which it's said he has every plan to do so, this will be a law and the machine will be turned on to start putting an end to these scumbags that are lower than shit on flees.

When the law was passed to regulate and track pseudoephedrine products (Claritan-D, Advil C&S etc.) it reduced Meth labs, production and crimes by 75%. Pseudoephedrine was/is a primary ingredient in the production of Meth.

It is my sincerest hope this law will have an even greater affect on child pornography, rape, molestation and expolitation.

Personally I think we should be an unihabital island in the south pacific somewhere, stick them all on it and let them rape and kill each other.

Cheers!
Tara

My Blog Made it To Congress

As many of you may know I posted a blog asking everyone to contact your Senators to support bill

1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act

Which will put a huge chunk of change towards fighting child pediphiles, pornographers and cyber scum.

The vote was supposed to go to the Senate floor yesterday.

I did a little web search to check the status of the bill and clicked on www.OpenCongress.org.

Scanning down the page I noticed a rather familiar headline:

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

The response letter I posted from my Senator Mel Martinez was picked up by their web crawler (I assume) and posted on their website. Albiet this wasn't my Multiply blog but my Directors Review Blog on blogger.

It truly amazes me the the expanse of the web-universe. You never know where your stuff will show up. :)

This motivation is dedicated to my dear friend here on Multiply Teena!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Bring new value to life

It's natural to be negative. But that doesn't mean you have to let negativity control your life.

It's normal to worry. But worry accomplishes nothing, and you have much better ways to use your time and your energy.

The situation you're in could get a lot worse. And yet, it is just as likely to get a lot better.

You don't know what the future will bring. So your best strategy is to make full and positive use of the present.

The way to do that is by allowing your positive expectations to guide and to focus your positive actions. The best opportunities often arise when it seems that there won't ever be any more opportunities.

This is a day when you can make real progress. Turn toward the goal, let your expectations put a smile on your face, and bring new value to life right now.

-- RM

Monday, September 22, 2008

Imagine your life

What can you imagine? What would you most like to imagine?

Your life flows out from your imagination. Whatever you choose to become, you have first chosen to imagine.

No, life does not come to pass exactly as you have imagined it. There are many surprises and distractions along the way.

And yet, your most persistent and consistent imaginings do indeed set the direction for your life. Though it is impossible to foresee every pebble in every road, you can certainly choose which roads to travel based on where you know they lead.

Let your imagination be the pioneer that explores exciting and fulfilling new worlds. From the best of those worlds, find the one for you.

Imagine a great and wonderful life for yourself, with passion and loving detail. As soon as you imagine it, you begin the process of truly living it.

-- RM

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

When was the last time you received a personal reply from your Senator? Me, never until today.

Last week I posted an important blog post regarding the Predators to Prey - Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.

I personally emailed both of my Senators asking them to support this bill. Today I got an email back from Florida Senator Mel Martinez (R).

Here is his response:

Dear Mrs. Conklin:

Thank you for contacting me regarding child exploitation. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.

On June 28, 2007, Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) introduced the Combating Child Exploitation Act (S. 1738). This measure would require the Attorney General to appoint a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction to coordinate policies and strategies for the prevention and investigation of child exploitation cases. S. 1738 would establish an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to address on-line enticement of children, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases. S. 1738 would also establish a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data Network Center to assist the ICAC Task Force program and federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. S. 1738 was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further approval.

In any just and moral society, it is essential that we do all that we can to ensure that children are protected against exploitation and abuse. Please know that I will keep your views in mind, and should S. 1738 come to the Senate floor, I will support it.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any other further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

What a stand up guy. He's definitely got my vote for whatever he runs for in the future. :)

The vote goes to the floor today. I do hope you voted!

Tara

Predators to Prey - Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.

It's time to stop talking and time to start doing something.

Copy this blog post on your own blog and spread the word. Send it as an email to everyone in your address book. There truly is power in numbers.

Time is short, we only have until the end of the month to get legislation passed to help put and end to child predators. Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year in our country.

In the physical world, a predator or child molester is usually someone a parent or child knows—someone who might even be trusted by the family. Online, however, it can be a different story. Predators can use the Internet to seek out children they don’t know. When they succeed in establishing and maintaining contact, the informal nature of the medium itself is partly to blame. The usual caution that kids might exercise away from the computer—walking to school, for example—can gradually erode. By the time a child agrees to meet a predator face to face, he or she no longer thinks of that person as a stranger.

The Internet can sometimes seem like the Wild West for child predators—a place that largely operates outside the law. While trading in pedophile pornography is illegal, lack of adequate funding means law enforcement officials are able to investigate just 2 percent of their leads. And, according to Interpol statistics, only one-half of 1 percent are ever prosecuted.

"What you are going to see is going to shock you to the core, but I'm asking you to please don't turn away," Oprah says, "because this is happening in our country to our children in the United States every day."




The map behind Oprah shows how quickly one pornographic image of a child being molested can spread. It starts with the large red dot from a computer in Washington, D.C. Within 24 hours, it has spread all across the United States—from coast to coast and north to south. "This is just an average day in America—24 hours," Oprah says.

"We're seeing sexual abuse including oral penetration, vaginal, anal penetration," says Michelle, another analyst at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children "We see children with dog collars on their necks. Kids with plastic bags over their heads. Foreign object insertion with these children." The demand for new videos and photos is so high that authorities report tracking increasingly brutal pornography with younger and younger victims.

"For once, you and I can do something about it!" Oprah says.

Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

• Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
• Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
• Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.

Act Now!
Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.
Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!

Choose your senators and sort by "State". Fill out the form for each senator. Under issue or subject choose "Crime" or "Judicial" or "Justice"

Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."

Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.


Dear Senator:

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Many of these child victims are infants. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

Thank you for listening and acting!

[Your Name]

Here are some links to get educated:

Net Safe Kids
Family WatchDog
Child Predator Busters
National Sex Offender Registry

You don't even have to get off your butt to do anything. Here are the steps to take:

1. Copy and Paste or send a letter to your senators NOW.

2. Get Informed, check out the links above to see what you can do to protect your children.

3. Copy this blog post on your own blog and spread the word. Send it as an email to everyone in your address book. There truly is power in numbers.

Please don't delay. Millions of children are depending on us!



(content provided by Oprah.com)

Saturday, September 20, 2008

All of now

The bright sun shines in the clear blue sky. Shimmering waves glisten on a restless sea.

Beauty fills the world. Possibility fills your life.

The problems are real. Yet in each one is the opportunity to move forward.

This sparkling moment is one of a kind. Take it in with love and with gratitude, and remember to live it fully.

This magical mystery that is your life knows only the limits you choose to give it. In the heart of your spirit you can experience anything you decide to experience.

Life is in all of now. See it, feel it and know it as it fills you with wonder and joy.

-- RM

Friday, September 19, 2008

Now is the time

It's time to get busy. It's time to make a difference, and just think of how great that will feel.

This day is a golden opportunity to bring your dreams to life. You're in a position to have a positive impact on your world.

Instead of complaining about what's wrong, build upon what is right. Instead of arguing over who is to blame, figure out what you can do to make things better.

There are ideas you've been meaning to pursue. Now is the time to get started on them.

There are projects you've been needing to finish. Now is your chance to bring those achievements to fruition.

Give the gift of your own smart, focused, enthusiastic action to the world today. There's immense value just waiting to be created, and now is the time to make it happen.

-- RM

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Always something

There is always something positive that you can do. On the best of days, or in the most challenging of circumstances, you can choose to move forward.

Conditions are not as bad as they seem, nor are conditions as good as they appear. Conditions are whatever you choose to make of them.

It's up to you to take the energy of this day and give it a specific direction. Though circumstances are constantly changing, you can always choose to move in the direction of your dreams.

Of course there are complications, challenges and obstacles. And you can use them all to create your own path forward.

You are in control of your thoughts and actions. That's a powerful place from which to operate, no matter what the outside circumstances may be.

There is always something positive, productive, enriching and fulfilling that you can do. Get up, get going, and make a difference in your own special way.

-- RM

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

A different angle

You can learn many things from those who agree with you. You can often learn even more from those with whom you disagree.

Your own perspective is important, for it enables you to make sense of the world. Always keep in mind, though, that yours is not the only perspective.

You can listen to others, learn from them, and successfully work with them even though you may not agree with them on all issues. If everyone held the exact same opinion on every subject, then knowledge and wisdom would become stagnant and outdated.

Your own perspective will grow stronger and more useful when you regularly allow it to be challenged. When people respectfully agree to disagree, everyone benefits from the diversity of opinion.

Living a life of success and fulfillment does not depend on always proving that you're right and that others are wrong. To make real progress you must let go of the assumption that you already have all the answers.

Stay true to the values you treasure, while thoughtfully considering the different perspectives of others. Look at life from a different angle, and you'll always find new richness.

-- RM

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Offer real value

There is always much work to be done. There is always great value to be created.

Plenty of problems are waiting to be solved. And each problem represents opportunity.

All kinds of dreams are longing to be realized. Those dreams add incalculable positive power to life.

Choose to tackle the difficult problems with effectiveness and persistence, and you will gain great rewards. Learn to deliver the real value and substance that the world seeks, and your efforts will always be in demand.

Conditions are constantly changing, and yet some things will always be true. Those people who make themselves the most useful will enjoy life's richest treasures.

Choose to be creative, flexible, productive, effective, efficient and generous with the best that is within you. Offer real value to the world, and the world will surely return the favor in abundance.

-- RM

Monday, September 15, 2008

Living purpose

Your purpose is not to fear or to frighten. Your purpose is not to control or to be controlled.

Your purpose is to live, to love and to experience life in a way that is uniquely yours. Your purpose is to be open to the newness and reality of every moment, giving joy a living expression.

Your purpose is to give the miracle of life a distinct voice. It is to know and to treasure moments of pure beauty for which there are no words.

The challenges may be profound, and yet they cannot challenge or diminish your purpose. On the contrary, those challenges help you to understand and express your purpose more clearly.

The world can at times distract you into caring about mere shadows of life that have no real meaning. Yet always, beneath the surface, your living purpose is there.

Remember that purpose, and let its value flow freely from you with each thought, feeling and action. Live from your purpose and be fully alive.

-- RM

Saturday, September 13, 2008

The next step forward

Adversity is only adversity. Choose not to make it anything more.

Adversity will affect the circumstances in which you live and work. Yet you do not have to let it affect who you are, or where you're headed, or what you're able to do.

Take note of the setbacks and adjust to them. But don't expand on them by making them a part of you.

Instead, use each instance of adversity as a reminder of why you have chosen to move in the direction you are moving. Use each setback as an opportunity to redouble your positive, forward-looking efforts.

Every day brings new value and new possibilities. There is always a way to take the next step forward on the path you have chosen.

Find that step today and take it. No mere circumstance can stop you from moving steadily and joyfully forward in the direction of your dreams.

-- RM

What Steps Are You Taking?

1. When bad things happen, do you dwell on them? Do you let them define you?

2. Has anything bad happened to you recently that you haven't let go?

3. Why are you holding on to it? What can you do to let it go and move forward?

4. Do you invite adversity or sickness into your life?

By holding onto sickness, anger, adversity you give it power over you. You enable the bad to make you more sick, more angry and the bad to steal your bliss.

Oy My Achin' Head

My pillow sucks. All of my pillows suck. I have 12 pillows and they all suck. I'm beginning to think perhaps it's the bed. Yes maybe that's it, maybe it's time for a new bed.

I woke up this morning and couldn't help but wonder if I had actually spent all night with my neck in a winch. It was stiff, felt crooked and boy did I have a headache.

Sadly it must have effected my logic because I didn't think to take anything for until 3:30 in the afternoon. Headaches do that to you I guess.

Brandon and I were supposed to drive down to spend the day with Dad. He painted his bathroom last week and wanted me to help him pick our curtains. Mom had settled on the color she wanted in the master bath a few months ago but taking care of her 24 hours a day Dad never got a chance to paint it.
Well the Universe sympathized with me. Dad called and said it probably wasn't a good idea to come down this weekend. With a hurricane, Ike, forcing the shutdown of the refineries in the gulf Florida drivers did what they do best. They made panic fill-ups by the millions yesterday.

I just love how a little fear and the possibility of disaster brings out the best in people, don't you?
Name calling, insults and even a few neighborly fist fights broke out at gas stations all over the state. But station owners understood and in the understanding they had the power to bring about some benefit from all this panic they so generously raised gas prices anywhere from .60 to $3.00 over night.
How nice of them. In some places gas went from $3.40 to over $6.00 a gallon.

I just love when the humanity shows it's best side. No wonder so many countries love us, like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea. How nice.

I hung up the phone with dad completely disgusted, not with him obviously, my headache noticeably increased.

What better excuse to be a couch potato all day. I snuggled up with my comfy throws and couch pillows, which were not much better for my neck, and Brandon and I vegged on movies all day.

First up was "Flushed Away". No relief to my neck or head after this movie, so I took a hot shower. Nope, not much help. Resume my position on the couch and the program already in progress, "Ant Bully". Bringing up the tail end of our triple feature "The Spiderwick Chronicles". All were quite entertaining and Munchkin thoroughly enjoyed them.

Here's a little piece of advice if you have a chatty child. Don't buy them video games for movies they haven't seen but you are planning on watching. Two minutes into "The Spiderwick Chronicles" I hear a little voice speak,

"The honey is for the goblin that live in the house."

"Sh Brandon, don't tell me."

"Oh sorry," pause " his name is Thimblethack, he's protecting the book".

"Sh Brandon, don't tell me."

"Sorry, sorry."

A few minutes pass. In the movie there's a knocking sound coming from the wall. My son assumes the frog position in his chair and bounces up and down. Just as I'm expecting him to take a leap into the air,

"It's ok, it's Thimblethack! He's in the wall."

"Sh Brandon, don't tell me."

"Simon can't see him unless Thimblethack let's him".

"Sh Brandon, don't tell me. All will be revealed in time."

"Sorry, sorry".

Moments later...

"It's in the chest, the book is in the chest."

"I thought you hadn't seen this movie yet?"

"I haven't but I have the game. This level was easy to beat."

"Ah, yes of course it was. Well if possible please try not to tell me everything. It takes the fun out of the watching."

Of course this didn't help and it wasn't until I threatened to turn the movie off if he told me one more thing, we were able to watch without the addition of a 10 year old's play by play.

My headache lasted through all three movies and I inevitably came to the conclusion sitting lifeless on the couch all day was contributing to my agony. I had no choice but to force myself to get up. I started laundry and it was by this time it dawned on my to take some Aleve.

I took four. That should do.

Being up, keeping my head centered over my shoulders to relieve the pull on my neck muscles, 2 loads of laundry later and of course the drugs all seemed to have helped. My head still hurts but it's tolerable.

I have an appointment on Thursday with the cracker-practor and the masseus and I am definitely looking forward to that. Until then it's nightly rounds of pillow-swap and Aleve will be my best friend.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Purposeful determination

What is the difference between desperation and determination? The difference comes from having a positive, meaningful direction.

The energy of desperation is wasted on self-pity and negativity. That can lead to destructive behavior, which only makes the sense of desperation worse.

Yet by choosing a positive orientation, you can always transform the self-defeating energy of your desperation into solid, potent determination. By applying that energy toward a positive purpose, you can make great and valuable improvements in your world.

If you become dismayed, discouraged or even desperate, recognize that there's a positive opportunity. For it signals that you are ready and willing to be genuinely determined.

And when determination fuels your actions, those actions bring real results. Persistence, effectiveness and power flow naturally and solidly from purposeful determination.

Just one step away from desperation is the energy of determination. Take that step, and put all that energy to good use.

-- RM

Your Purpose

1. Have you tried and tried again? Keep trying

2. Have you given up on something lately because it was too hard or seemed impossible? Was it too frustrating? What was it?

3. Get back to it - today! You can do it.

4. Are you wallowing in the self pit of excuses? Get out!

5. Take a look at the attitude you approach something. Be determined, not discouraged. Be determined, not desperate. Slow and steady wins the race.

Dating and Mating - Part I - Physical Attraction

It's always amazed me at how some relationships start, some last, some don't. Regardless it just seems like some people are totally clueless why they can't find that special person or keep the one they have.
Sometimes it's a matter of avoiding Mr. or Mrs. Wrong all together.

It all comes down to some basic principals.
Since it all starts with a look and a physical attraction, that's where we'll start.

I. Keep yourself clean.
A. Body odor is never acceptable. If you get dirty and sweaty from working, always take a shower after.
B. Wear deodorant always!!!!! You have no excuse to stink.

II. Smell good.
A. Wear body spray, perfume or cologne - in moderation! No need to bathe in the stuff. People should be keeling over from toxic inhalation when you pass by. See number 1.
B. Always wear it though!

III. Take care of your teeth.
A. It's never too late to get braces or get your teeth fixed. (I did at 37. Have 9 months to go).
B. Keep them clean at least! A healthy white smile says you care about yourself and is one of the first things people notice.

IV. Don't dress like a slob - EVER.
A. Stains, ratty worn clothes etc. should only be worn for yard work and cleaning the toilet!
B. The following are NEVER acceptable in public and rarely in the company of your sweetie-pie.
1. Sweats
2. halter tops,
3. muscle shirts,
4. cut offs,
5. g-strings peeking through,
6. bra straps,
7. rock tee-shirts,
8. bathrobes,
9. super-may-as-well-be-wearing-nothing short mini skirts
10. backwards and, definitely never, sideways baseball caps.
11. PULL UP YOUR PANTS!!!! They’re called UNDERwear for a reason.

V. There is no need to wear every piece of jewelry you own. “Rings on her fingers and all” is only acceptable if you’re name is Mary Mary Quite Contrary. 2-3 rings, 2 necklaces and 1 pair of earrings - MAX. THAT’S IT!
A. bling on your grill (teeth). Come on what planet did you fall from. Have some pride! It’s not cool, does NOT look good and makes you look like you belong in a circus. Not too mention you’re just asking some big guy named Spike to knock your teeth out. See number II above.

VI. WOMEN: If you don’t have legs like Tina Turner or abs like Beyonce SPANDEX IS FORBIDDEN! I give you 60 seconds to throw them out or burn them!

VII. Dress nice when you’re with your better half. Remember how nice you use to dress when you were trying to get a date. Why the heck wouldn’t you want to do it to impress them every day? Duh?

VIII. MEN: “Every girl IS crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man”.
A. Don’t just save your button up shirts for work. Remember what ZZ Top said Yes they understood women! We do. If you don’t own a few button up shirt – go get some!
B. Every woman is different but most women go ga-ga over a man in a nice suit and EVERY man looks good in a tux. Put a man who’s followed all this advice in a tux and women go weak in the knees.

IX. WOMEN – Men are creatures of site, more so than women. Make yourself look pretty every day. Wear some nice clothes, put on a little makeup and do your hair. You don’t have to be rich to care how you look.

X. HAIR, Hair Hair - shave and style
A. MEN – clean shaven face is always nice, particularly if you have a strong jawline.
B. If you do have facial hair, keep it neat and trim even if you prefer long beards. They don’t have to look like a birds nest.
C. Eyebrows – yes men wax too. No bushy unibrows allowed!
D. Back, nose and ear hair – ewwwwwwwwww. Nair for men, shave it, wax, laser it, mow it. There is a treatment in your budget!
E. If you have more head than hair, shave the rest.
F. WOMEN – This is not Italy (or maybe it is) whatever, Shave your armpits and your legs. Keep other inconspicuous areas neat and trimmed.
G. Oh and that bleached white hair is so not pretty. It’s even worse with dark roots. It doesn’t look good on anyone!

XI. Don’t bite your nails. Men and women should keep a small file and/or clippers around. They come in handy.

XII. Feet do talk. Ugly, dry, callused, feet say a lot about you and it’s not good. Home pedicures do in a pinch. Men, here’s a hint, it’s highly impressive to see a man get a pedicure. Women LOVE men who are comfortable with things like this. It oozes confidence. It’s sexy.


Let me know what I missed.
This is a prelim list. Remember, your style may differ. What's important is that you find out what you and your partner find attractive and go with it.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Authentic

There is great power in truth. There is great power in authenticity.

It can be comforting for a while to overlook or deny who you truly are, in order to go along with the crowd. Yet it is a false comfort that never does last.

There is no person you can pretend to be who is as powerful and effective as the person you really are. No identity you might try to manufacture will ever work as well as the identity that has always been a part of you.

With authenticity, no effort is needed to maintain your sense of self. It flows easily and naturally through everything you do, freeing you and enabling you to live life fully.

You are real and you are unique and you are of great value. It is in your best interest to mine the magnificent treasure of the authentic you.

Do not merely go along with life. Be authentic, and you will make it great.

-- RM

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Good and tired

Being tired from doing something feels a whole lot better than being tired of doing nothing. If you're going to be tired at the end of each day, then make it really count for something.

If you're weary, perhaps it's not because you're doing too much. Perhaps it's because you're not at all invested in what you're doing.

A difficult challenge that's aligned with your purpose will generate far more energy in you than an easy task that has no real meaning for you. You can accomplish much more when what you're accomplishing is what you care about.

When your body is tired, a good night's sleep will revive you. When you're spirit is weary, you'll need something more.

You have a unique voice and a unique purpose that are longing to be expressed. Start living that expression and you'll find an endless source of energy flowing through your life.

Get yourself good and tired with focused, disciplined work on a purpose that connects with who you truly are. And you'll find that each day you have even more energy than the day before.

-- RM

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Two to one

There's a job that must be done. Will you get busy and do it or will you just sit there and avoid taking action?

The way you prevent yourself from taking action is to have a set of reasonable and believable excuses. The way to get the work done is to replace those excuses with clear and meaningful reasons that are far more compelling.

Every delay is a wasted opportunity. For time is a most precious and irreplaceable resource.

Each time you think of an excuse for not taking action, overpower it. For each single excuse, quickly come up with two good, solid believable reasons for moving forward.

Yes, if you choose you can talk yourself out of doing what must be done. Fortunately, you are just as empowered to talk yourself into taking any necessary action.

Decide to blast away every excuse with two good reasons for going ahead and moving forward. And the odds are two to one that you will indeed reach whatever goal you choose.

-- RM

Monday, September 8, 2008

Turn toward peace

Peace is not a circumstance. Peace is a feeling, a powerful, wonderful and desirable feeling.

Peace does not depend on any particular set of conditions. It can be any place, at any time.

Remember how peace feels. And by so remembering, you make yourself available to peace.

Peace is what remains when you've surrendered your ego and your fears. Peace is always there, patiently waiting for you to turn your awareness toward it.

The same part of you that longs for peace is the part of you that experiences peace. It is not complicated and is as close as your next thought.

Think lovingly of how peace feels to you. And truly be at peace.

-- RM

"Fulfullment Now"

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Fulfillment now

A beautiful, fulfilled life requires nothing more than what you already have. Fulfillment depends solely on your decision to accept and experience it, in the moment where you are.

There are some achievements that may take a lifetime to reach. Yet at any point along the way, from the very moment you begin, you can know fulfillment.

Reaching any goal is a matter of commitment, discipline, intention and effort. Fulfillment itself is immediate, for it is a matter of knowing that you are living true to your highest purpose.

Do not become trapped by measuring success based on what you've already done or failed to do. Learn to see that success is entirely a function of how you are feeling and thinking and acting right now.

Your past cannot hold you back and your future cannot intimidate you, unless you allow it. This moment has every possibility of being the most fulfilling time you've ever known.

Your life is infinitely more wonderful than any possession or event or circumstance that you can imagine. And somewhere inside, you know it.

-- RM

Friday, September 5, 2008

Depth of gratitude

Abundance and gratitude are inextricably linked. By living with gratitude, you open yourself to life's immense abundance.

If you are a little bit thankful for this, and a little thankful for that, just every so often, you'll have glimpses of abundance. When you enable and allow yourself to be continuously thankful for every big and little thing, your life will be immersed in abundance all the time.

It may seem strange to feel thankful for those events in your life that appear to be negative. Yet it is precisely by being thankful that you can identify the opportunities for transforming the setbacks and obstacles into successes.

You may not think it's worth the time and effort to be thankful for all the little, seemingly insignificant things in your life. However, without the little things there would be no big things.

Seek to develop a depth of gratitude by seizing every opportunity to be thankful. Make genuine gratitude a constant companion to who you are, in all that you do.

As your gratitude grows deeper and more all-encompassing, life's abundance shines more brilliantly for you. Be truly, constantly thankful, and there is no end to the level of abundance that you will experience.

-- RM

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Yours to live

This day is yours to experience. This life is yours to live.

This world is a place in which you can act to make a positive, meaningful difference. This moment is one that's filled with possibilities.

It can often be difficult to make your way forward, and it is all too easy to lose sight of the unique and beautiful person you truly are. Take time to remember the best that is within you, and know that your authentic, miraculous life is stronger than any obstacle.

Choose to fill this day with your very own special expression of what it means to be alive. Right now is your opportunity to fulfill those yearnings that have always called to you.

You have the power to take any ordinary moment and put joy into it. Your happiness comes not from what you may seek to take away from life but from what you give, what you create, and what you share.

This is your moment to live with all the purpose and richness you can imagine. Realize that nothing is really holding you back, and make this the best day ever.

-- RM

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Thrive on challenge

Life will challenge you regularly. Embrace that challenge with a thankful heart and a creative, resourceful mind.

Each challenge has within it great strength. Go out to meet the challenge, work your way steadily through it, and that strength becomes yours.

Challenge can be painful, inconvenient, embarrassing, tedious and time consuming. And that same challenge also gives life much of its meaning, flavor and fulfillment.

One of the kindest things you can do for someone else is to offer a respectful, meaningful challenge to that person. One of the smartest things you can do for yourself is to take on higher and higher levels of challenge.

Challenge sharpens your priorities and magnifies your performance. Lives of greatness positively thrive on challenge.

Choose to see each challenge as the opportunity for growth, satisfaction and achievement that it is. The world is overflowing with challenges, and inside each challenge you'll find truly immense value.

-- RM

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

The goal ahead

If you find it difficult to deal with where you are, look ahead toward where you're going. Keep yourself focused on the goal at the end of the road, and you'll find the strength to move steadily down that road.

When you continue looking ahead, even the difficult steps will seem lighter. The burdens of the moment become much more bearable when you know there is a purpose behind them.

Your dreams can pull you toward them if you'll give those dreams a prominent place in your heart and your mind. Look ahead toward where you intend to go, and you'll find that each challenge makes you stronger.

When your eye is on the goal, the distractions won't be nearly so distracting. Your efforts will gain the immense power of focus when you're always clearly aware of where you're headed.

Your time, your energy, and your resources will get used no matter which direction you are looking. By choosing to look ahead, you get the highest return for the efforts you invest in your life.

Look ahead, toward the place you most want to be. The more you look, the faster you'll move forward.

-- RM

Your Motivation Today:
Your goal is at the top of a flight of stairs. Determine how many steps are between where you are now and the landing at the top where your goal waits. Each of those steps represents a little goal you can meet today or this week to climb to the next step.

Write here,
1. What goal do you have in your sight?
2. What steps are ahead of you?
3. What is the first step in front of you.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Choose your world

When the going gets tough, smile. And know that you have what it takes to make it through.

When stress and tension and confusion surround you, relax. Select a specific challenge, deal with it, and then move calmly and confidently to the next.

If you're being pulled in every direction by forces beyond your control, take time to remember what you value most. Focus on what's important to you, and you'll naturally move toward it.

There will be times when it seems that your dreams are slipping away. Remind yourself once again why you follow those dreams, and you will bring them back to life.

Choose to live not in a world that's overwhelmed with problems. Choose instead to live in a world that is overflowing with positive possibilities.

On the surface, life can often seem tumultuous and incomprehensible. Yet deep inside, where it truly matters, life is the way you see it and becomes what you choose to make it.

-- RM

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Essence of beauty

There are so many different aspects of life that you cannot ever experience them all. And therein lies the beauty of being.

With each dawning day comes a fresh new set of possibilities. The more you choose to experience, the more there is remaining to experience.

As you contemplate all that you know, you create new avenues of contemplation. The more intensely you explore, the more new territory you open up for further exploration.

There is no end to that territory of experience. For each possibility leads surely to a whole new universe of possibilities.

Within you is life that ever yearns to know itself more fully. Every moment is an opportunity for new and unique expression.

The essence of beauty is that there is no limit to the way that beauty can be, no limit to the form that beauty can take. Now is the moment to experience beauty in a way that it has never been known before.

-- RM

Friday, August 29, 2008

Balancing comfort

Being comfortable can be nice and pleasant. Yet too much comfort can softly and steadily erode your sense of purpose and even your most treasured dreams.

Being too attached to comfort can prevent you from venturing forth and fulfilling your best possibilities. In order to maintain your level of comfort, you may well be tempted to compromise the values you hold dear.

Enjoy the comfort that you have attained, while being careful not to let that comfort become a prison. As nice as comfort can be, so much of life's richness lies outside the boundaries of your comfort zone.

As with most things in life, comfort is best when it is experienced in moderation and balance. Even comfort loses its desirability when it is the only thing you ever experience.

Enjoy and be truly thankful for the comforts in your life. At the same time, balance those comforts with real and demanding challenges.

Maintain a comfortable place in your world from which you can regularly emerge to take on the risks and challenges that will add so much richness to life. Outside your comfort zone, there are always new dreams waiting to be lived.

-- Ralph Marston

Come on a "Trip" with Me

Some people know I'm not big on jewelry, chocolate, or even flowers and shopping. But the one thing I just love is TECHNOLOGY, particularly when it's FREE and helps me get organized, productive and have some fun.

A few months ago I stumbled across a site called TRIPIT.COM and absolutely had to join.
It's a website that keeps track of all your travel plans for you. I do vacation and travel a lot because of work and all I have to do is forward all my confirmation emails to TripIt and it's automatically creates a trip folder if it's new or adds it to an existing one.

With TripIt, you just forward all the emails from the airlines and the hotels to plans@tripit.com. The app does all the data entry drudgery, determining who you are from the sending address, then parsing the email to extract structured travel data from the free text message. Tripit creates an integrated itinerary from your air and hotel reservations, along with local sights, weather, and airport check in.It adds maps to hotels, flight trackers for airlines and you can add and modify anything you like.

It's been so awesome and I don't have to print anything anymore or manage folders, binders for travel plans.

The best part is it's TOTALLLLLYYYY FREEEEEEE!!!!!
I LOVE FREE.

You have to check it out. You must sign up and you can even add friends and family and share your trips with them.

So let's say you're planning a family reunion but your family is all over the country, or world.

Everyone can sign up, someone creates a new trip and shares the trip with all the family regardless of where they are. You can then all keep track of each person's flights, hotels, travel arrangement, even event activities. It even updates itself daily and provides the weather in your daily location. It's awesome!

Ok so here's the link, go sign up even if you don't use it often you should use it. They don't give your email out so you won't get spam. It's just really cool!!!

This is one of the latest techy things that has me in an uproar.

TripIt.com

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Momentum

When you've gone a little ways, keep going a little ways more. When you've made some progress, use that progress to make some more.

Multiply the power of your actions with momentum. Once you get yourself going, follow through on the commitment and keep yourself going.

Often, the most difficult part of a task is the act of getting started. The fewer times you have to go through that process of starting yourself back up, the more you can get accomplished.

When you've enjoyed one success, that's the best time to start working on another success. Once you have momentum on your side, take full advantage of it.

One of the biggest benefits of achievement is that it opens up the door for greater achievement. Even a small success is a big deal, because of where it can lead.

Get yourself going and then keep yourself going. And from there, you can go anywhere.

-- RM

Presidential Challenges - Fix it Man!

Pat your head, turn around, jump up and down, stand on your head, spit to the north during the full moon, pee to the south at dawn and plant a lemon seed at 3:33pm during the Autumnal Equinox, and cast your vote. Do this and the new president will give you exactly what you want. :)

and be sure to take all the polls. See the "Poll" module for the rest.

Current Poll Online Surveys & Market Research

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

So very much good

Be slow to take offense if indeed you ever take offense at all. For being offended gains you nothing and can cost you much.

Have patience with the mistakes and follies of others. Instead of harsh criticism, offer genuinely helpful feedback so that everyone benefits.

Forgive early and forgive often. Set yourself free from the heavy burden of resentment, and move quickly beyond the pain.

Learn from your regrets, yet do not punish yourself with them. Today is a new day with more possibilities than ever before.

Be truly thankful for all that is, and for your opportunity to experience it. You'll discover great stores of goodness and value when you simply have faith that they're there.

Live beyond the petty, fleeting concerns, and focus on the profound and beautiful substance of your life. There is so very much good that you can always do with it.

-- RM

Monday, August 25, 2008

What you say

Truth has little need of elaborate explanation. The fewer words you can use, the more meaning they have.

Speak what you know to be true. And there will be no need to hide your thoughts behind your words.

Words have little meaning if there is no conviction to support them. When your words come directly from who you most sincerely are, they carry with them great power.

Do not make the mistake of attempting to deceive others with what you say. For once your words are found to be insincere, you will have great difficulty being taken seriously again.

Words are easy to say. Yet for those words to have any meaning or power, they must closely match the reality of your actions and your being.

Speak clearly, truthfully, with respect and humility. From the truth of who you are, comes the best of what you say.

-- RM

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Life is now

No matter how much joy you've known, there is always more joy to be experienced. Each moment brings new possibilities for adding richness to life.

The best days of your life are never behind you, unless you choose to see them as such. For no matter how life has been, there will always be opportunities to experience more goodness.

Everything you know about has already happened, so it can be very easy to view life as nothing more than what is receding into the past. Yet life is infinitely more, because life is now.

By all means, hold firmly to the goodness you've already known and carry it forever in your heart. At the same time, open yourself fully to the positive possibilities that are yours right now.

Now is the moment to live. Now is the time for all that can be.

The sun is just now rising on the bright golden possibilities of this day. Life's great and beautiful promise is now.

-- Ralph Marston