Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Greetings from the DIAS family!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Raking Leaves

Guest post of the week by Deangelo Spencer

Many people complain about raking leaves, but for some reason, it is one of my favorite fall activities. Raking leaves just allows me to experience the beautiful essence of autumn. Hearing the crunching of leaves, as well as seeing their golden brown colors, simply heightens my senses to the beauties of fall. Every time I see the leaves begin falling in autumn, I simply smile to myself, because it means I will get to take some peaceful time out of my day to go rake the leaves.
Before leaving my home to rake leaves in the front yard or backyard, I am always sure to set my home security alarm system from www.ALLHOMESECURITY.com/. I have known too many neighbors that have forgotten to lock their doors, even while they are outside of their own home, and unfortunately a theft breaks into the home and steals a purse or even greater items of value. It is incredibly important to always be conscious of the safety of one's home, even if one is partaking in an activity such as raking the leaves outside of one's home.
Overall, raking leaves is one of the best autumn activities. Not only is it great exercise, but one can enjoy the beautiful scenery of autumn while raking the leaves. In addition, one can clean up his or her home and make it look beautiful!

Car Insurance Rates

If you are looking for some affordable car insurance, you should checkout the CI Auto Quotes website. You can easily get your quote today and the good news is that everybody is accepted. It doesn't matter if you are a student or an at fault driver, you can still get insurance rates from CI Auto Quotes. You can easily get your quote within minutes and save money. There are so many insurance companies out there that it is hard to know which company to use. This website will help you decide which insurance company to go to because they will give you cheap quotes from many of the most insurance providers. If you are having trouble getting insurance, this website can help you. Many times it is hard to find good insurance when you have had an at fault accident and that is why you should use CI Auto Quotes for all your insurance needs because and at fault accident won't make it hard to get insurance here. So what are you waiting for? If you are looking for cheap car insurance, you need to checkout CI Auto Quotes today and see how they can help you. Why would you go somewhere else when you can save money here.

Friday, October 29, 2010

My Litte Kikay...

 Yes, Akesha is my little kikay. She's only 4 1/2 years old but she knows FASHION...lol! She definitely likes to wear my shoes all the time. No matter how flat or how many inches it is, she still going to wear it.
 It was funny when she tried my heels on...
I was laughing out loud when she walked with a slight limp.She still had a good poise though...lol!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Custom Labels & Digital Printing

If you are looking for Custom Labels for industrial, commercial or military specifications, you should checkout Data Graphics. This company can help you with your Custom Label needs by helping you with nameplates, overlays, vinyl labels, roll labels and many other types of labels. This company has been in business for 25 years and has been helping their customers with all kinds of custom labels for many types of companies locally and overseas. You can fill out their online form easily from their website so they can give you a quote. They will give you fast delivery, a quote within 24 hours, and premium service upon request. They serve all kinds of industries such as medical, aerospace, military, telecommunications and OEM. This company is an approved supplier with Underwriters Laboratory which is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization so you know the products you purchase here are good quality. To get more information, you should read some of their frequently asked questions and other areas on their website. So what are you waiting for? If you are looking for the best place to get custom labels, you should checkout Data Graphics today and see how they can help.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Pumpkin Carving

In our family carving pumpkins has been an annual tradition that we've stuck to since our very first Halloween together. I was not satisfied with the pumpkins that we bought this year. They're too small and expensive....lol! But it's fine...and better than never.
Last Sunday we carved the pumpkins. 
Akesha had trouble taking out the stringy guts of her pumpkin.
Our simple design...nyahahaha! Hubby helped Akesha carved her pumpkin.
Akesha will say " that's Akesha's pumpkin, Mama's pumpkin and Papa's pumpkin!". 

Kids Winter Gear

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

There is a great website where you can purchase great clothes for your children called Play Outdoors. They just launched their new and improved website so you should check them out. This website has everything you will need to prepare for the Winter and all the Winter sports activities that you child will want to engage in. They even have a fit guide to help you decide what size you should get. You should checkout some of the kids outdoor actvities featured product such as the Atwater Carey LD3 Light & Dry First Aid Kit or the Patagonia Baby Boys Weather-Resistant Reversible Puff-Ball Bunting. You can get many great kids winter gear at this site as well such as Ski and Snowboards, Ski & Snow boots, Snow Pants, and much more. They have many categories you can search through such as Winter Sports, Family Travel, Hiking, Camping, Climbing, Cycling and Water Sports. So what are you waiting for? If you are looking for the best place to get winter and sports gear, you should visit Play Outdoors today. They have a huge selection so I am sure you will find what you are looking for. Don't forget to use their fit guide to make sure you purchase the correct size.

Crazy..Busy..Exhausting Weekend

It's manic Monday for me once again! How's your weekend guys? Our weekend was crazy...busy...and exhausting. Last Saturday we spent a half day looking for houses, and on the afternoon we went to SeaWorld again. And yesterday we went to see a loan officer, check out the house again, and then we carved the pumpkins. How about you? How was your weekend?
After a month of hunting/searching for houses online, hubby and I finally agreed to purchase a new abode here in Texas. We are very anxious and can't wait to move to our new place...move? oh no.. not again!
We love the place. It is very country-like and away from the city. Plus it's a brand new community. I'll show some photos later. For now it's CLASSIFIED...lol!
visited the house again...

Great Deals on Makeup Palettes

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

Since I was a kid, I always wondered why most women love makeup so much. I know there are many reasons why women love to wear makeup. And one factor is to make them look more attractive and to be more feminine and sexually appealing.

I have had my own makeup kit when I was in high school. It was a gift from my mom on my 16th birthday. Since then I started to collect makeup kits and I barely use them. I only wear makeup for special occasions, and even then, just eyeshadow and lipstick. I think I’m still beautiful without a make up on.
One thing that amuses me when it comes to makeup is the COLOR. I found an awesome website online that offers a very affordable price on makeup palettes. You should check out BH Cosmetics. I am interested to get one of those 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette 1st Editions. It has a one palette that contains 2 layers, it’s portable and convenient to use. It includes matte and shimmer colors as well. I’m going to send it to my mom because she loves radiant colors when it comes to makeup palettes. The good thing about BH Cosmetics eyeshadow is "highly pigmented", bendable with strong staying power. So if you are looking for a great deal on makeup, you should visit bhcosmetics.com today. Hurry and get your Halloween bundles today.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Laugh Out Loud!

Last Saturday was Akesha's dental check up. I did not come with hubby & Akesha because I was too tired getting up in the morning....what a lazy wife!...lol! When they got home, Akesha showed her new toy that she got from the dentist office. I was laughing out loud when I saw her wearing it.
She then asked me "you wanna take a picture of me Mama?" nyahahha....So I did!!

I Love Going to a NASCAR Race

Posted by Jonathon Murphy


The best part about going to a NASCAR Race is the collisions. Let's face it, nobody goes to a track full of tar and pollution, putting them at risk for various cancers of the lungs and the ears(noise pollution), without good reason. My reason is to watch things explode. I want to see two cars inflict maximum damage on each other. I want to see gas tanks on fire, I want to see drivers stop, drop, and roll. Then I want to see those drivers engage each other in fisticuffs. See, watching NASCAR isn't about rooting for any one driver, it is about rooting for mayhem and death. I go to NASCAR to see the bottom of a car doing aerials like a snowboarding hippie.
After all, these cars are doing nothing but going in circles, and watching a NASCAR race can often be an exercise in vertigo, which I get. Yet there is no way I am going to blink, not once per race, because, I don't want to miss the instant the fiery death happens and the parts come spewing out into the flimsy fence that guards the spectators and their young children. This is another reason I love going to a NASCAR race, because you never know who's going to be in danger. On the other hand, I am not a stupid man, and there's no reason to leave the home with setting the home security alarm with ADT Security cellguard, which I do before every NASCAR race I go to.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wrinkled Pumpkin

The first reaction when my daughter saw this pumpkin was "Mama..Papa...look at that pumpkin.. there's a lot of boo boo! (Boo-Boo-a child's reference, or a reference to a childs, cut, scrape, or other superficial injury)"...lol! My husband and I were laughing out loud when she said it. We told her that it was not a bobo...lol!
You will most likely be tempted to select a pumpkin with a nice smooth skin, but beware. Smooth pumpkins are like that because they contain more water than the wrinkled, 'ugly' ones. The more water that a pumpkin starts out with before it is carved, the more water it will loose through evaporation after it is carved, and will shrivel. A wrinkled pumpkin starts out much dryer, so there is less moisture to loose after it is carved, and will naturally shrivel less.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Video Store Girl Changed My Mind

This guest post from Norris Beard

A movie theater? What's that? I forgot what it looked and sounded like. Video rental store? Hah! I haven't stepped foot in one of them for ages. Why would I go to a movie or a video rental store when I can watch movies on demand? I'd rather have the convenience of choosing what movie I want to watch from the comfort of my own home. Saves me gas money, too - yeah, I'm cheap. Do you want to know why I switched to movies on demand on satellite tv from http://www.directstartv.com/directv_equipment/directv_hd/directv_why-hd.html? If so, keep reading. You might be able relate to this.
I walked into a popular video rental store many years ago. To protect the guilty, I won't mention the name of this video store, but I'm sure you can figure it out. Anyway, when I was ready to check-out, the girl behind the counter asked me if I wanted to sign-up for some kind of program where I would get a free movie every once in a while. She was a little more specific than that, but that's all I heard. I told her I wasn't interested because I didn't like attachments. Her response: “Oh, sorry, I didnt know offering a free movie would stress you out.” That irked me, but when she forgot to include my cotton candy on the side with the movies so I could leave, I mentioned it to her. Her response: “Oh, yeah, that was my plan for the weekend, to steal your cotton candy.” I simply replied, “I know,” and knew I would never return again.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Pumpkin Patch

It's another manic Monday for me once again! I've got lots of chores waiting for me....lol! How was your weekend everyone?! Our weekend has always been busy. Well, that's the only chance I get to enjoy spending quality time with my family. Off from blogging/blog hopping.
One of the many traditions we have in our family every year is to go to a pumpkin patch. We started doing this tradition since Akesha was 6-month old.  
Yesterday we drove 30 minutes outside San Antonio just to find a pumpkin patch. Honestly, there are not so many pumpkin patches around here in Texas, and it's totally opposite in California where you can find it everywhere. Here you don't go to a pumpkin farm. You either go to a park, school, church or to your local grocery store. No pony rides, hay rides, corn maze & etc. But it's fine, we just want some pumpkins...lol!
Akesha painted this little pumpkin and paid a dollar for it...she had fun though. We are going to carve the pumpkins this weekend. How about you? How's your weekend?

Working Out With My Friends

Contribution by Prince Raymond

I used to spend all my time trying to work out alone. It got boring after a while but I didn't like to be distracted while I tried to bulk up. The other day, though, I found out just how cool it can be to get a few people together to work out. Me and a couple of my friends were goofing around and Jake got the bright idea that we were getting fat from all the sitting around.
We were up for a gym run, so I grabbed my stuff, turned on my home security alarm from Home Alarm Expert, and we hit the streets. When we got to the gym we goofed around on the equipment and pretended we were all personal trainers. Jake barking "Do one more or your girl will dump you, soldier!" had me in stitches. I'd always hated working out in the army because it was a forced group activity.
As it turns out the reasons I didn't like group exercise was just the group I had been with. In the army it was work. Here it was just a bunch of idiots barking and lifting weights. It wasn't the most mature thing I'd ever been a part of but it was a lot of fun. I still love the idea of working out alone but I definitely think group work outs will continue to be on the menu.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday Fill-Ins!

1. Wow, it's sunny and bright today.

2. Every person is beautiful.

3. My favorite way to start a day is washing my face. I just want to make sure I don't have a morning star on my eyes...nyahahah!

4. I'll be surprised if my FIL will visit us and he walked in the door holding a pumpkin.

5. I look out my window and see the garbage valet driver. He's picking up our garbage bags.

6. Buying a house is what I've been thinking about lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watch movies (movie night at the dias ranch), tomorrow my plans include going to Target, dentist office (Akesha's appt), and we might go to a pumpkin patch and Sunday, I want to BLOG HOP and CHILAX!

Medical Alert System

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

If you have a disabled, elderly family member or a recovering patient in your home alone, you would need to install a medical alert alarm. Do you know that there is a great tool to help elderly and other people to get help if they get themselves in a situation where they can't help themselves? Now you can get the Medical Guardian which is an improved Senior Medical Alert System. This system can help you feel safe at home because it gives you 24/7 Round the Clock UL Approved Live Emergency Response Monitoring. With this system, there is no activation or set up fees, and they will give you free FedEx delivery with a prepaid plan. You also will have no long term contracts. If you are a senior with a high risk of falls, this system would be perfect for you to give you the peace of mind you deserve. This system can make it safe at home so you don't have to go into a nursing home. So what are you waiting for? If you are are at risk for a fall, or know someone who is, you should consider getting The Medical Guardian. It is always a good idea to make sure you feel safe at home.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Buddy's 10th Birthday Celebration

 Last Saturday was Buddy's 10th birthday. But we celebrated his birthday last Friday. Akesha and I made some chocolate cupcakes and a small cake on that day. She also made a couple of party hats for herself & Buddy.
 Akesha decorated the cupcake beautifully. Then she sang a "Happy birthday" song to Buddy and blew the candle for him....lol!
I was giggling watching these two together....lol!

Halloween Programs for Kids

Guest post by Homer Nielsen


My children love to watch our tv programming from directstartv.com around the holidays because there is so much seasonal programing for them. Halloween kicks the whole fun holiday season off with our favorite program, Dora The Explorer "BOO." Both of my little ones love Dora and I like it because they actually do learn Spanish from the show.
This halloween episode is super cute. In episode "BOO" Dora and Boots, her friend monkey, go trick-or-treating and they meet a little monster. The monster is lost and has to find his way back home before midnight. Dora and Boots help the monster while singing and teaching Spanish.
My kids love this episode and they wait all year for it to come back on. The first year my youngest was scared of the little monster at first. I can still remember my oldest telling him "don't worry buddy, it's not a real monster. He wont bite you." Children interact so funny together and I am so glad that they have great programs to help them learn and interact with one another.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Weekend Getaway

How's your weekend everyone? Our weekend went mighty fine! It was a busy one actually. Last Saturday we went to Lackland Air Force Base for the first time since we've been here. Hubby drove us around a little bit, and afterwards we went grocery shopping at the Commissary. And then last Sunday we went to the Botanical Garden here in San Antonio.
Photos were taken at the Botanical Garden.
This is my entry for this week's Blue Monday. Sorry folks, I don't know the name of this flower. I forgot to check the label...lol!
Bonding Moment....
For more entries or would like to join us, just click the button below.

My Monday Workout

This guest post from Margaret Mills


On Monday two hours are spent in preparation for going to the gym. This include showering, filling my bag up with gym clothes, and hygiene accessories. Getting dressed sometimes can become as decisive as deciding what type of clothing to wear. Depending on the weather, the style of clothing could range from a T-shirt to a sweat suit. Choosing to which pair of shoes to wear depends on the type of workout being done. For bench routines the best shoe-wear are boots giving more support to the foot-base.
Going to the gym has it's rituals. Monday is a day for all bench workouts ranging from the chest workouts, crunches, and arm workouts. Gloves are needed for grabbing the long or short bar. A clean towel, and some foot powder [for anti-bacterial protection, and decreasing calluses]. All these items are part of the gym bag accessories.
Before leaving the house I make a few last minute checks. I check with the spotters to see if the workout is going to be outside or indoors. It normally determines the location where, if the workout is indoors. Then it's understood the workout is going to be at the gym. At last before leaving the house I set the home security alarm from allhomesecurity.com/ prior to going to the gym. Arriving at the park, we do an all cardio workout.

Friday, October 8, 2010

There's Always A Rainbow After The Rain

Here's my entry for Skywatch Friday this week.
 There's always a rainbow after the rain. Agree?!
Photo setting: traffic light....lol!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

My Grandson's First Play!

Guest post written by Ron Carter


My youngest grandson Conner started Kindergarten this year, and my daughter Sarah tells me that he will have several lines in his first school play! You can bet that my wife and I will be there.
From what Sarah tells me, Conner and his classmates are working on a Halloween themed play. Conner will play a little jack o’ lantern. My daughter’s quite the craftswoman, and she tells me that she plans to make Conner’s costume. I hope he’ll be able to use the same outfit for his first trick-or-treat, as well—it will be so sweet!
Conner’s play isn’t for a few weeks, so In the meantime, I’m thinking it’d be a good idea for me to invest in the hearing aid that I saw on Miracle-Ear.com. The children’s voices will be soft and high pitched, so I could really benefit from having one. I definitely wouldn’t want to miss any of little Conner’s lines.
It seems like just yesterday when Conner was born, and now he’s on going to be on stage. We’re so proud of him. You can bet that my wife and I will be there to cherish our grandson’s big moments like this one.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

He's Turning 10!

Yes, our dog Buddy is turning 10 years old this coming Saturday. I guess we are going to celebrate his birthday on Friday (in advance)!...lol...:) I told Akesha that we are going to make a cake for Buddy, and she was too excited about our plan...lol!
Buddy was 4+-year old when we adopted him from SPCA. He is a half chow and a half collie pooch. Akesha treats him like a big brother/best friend. And it's so sweet seeing them playing together!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Debt Relief

It is tough in these hard economic times to get out of debt, and that is why so many people are turning to companies that promise them that they can become debt free. However, there are also many companies out there that are trying to scam you at the same time. That is how the credit card debt relief obama act can help because this new FTC rule states that no debt relief agency can charge up front fees. Many companies are charging these large fees, and you have to watch out for them. If you are trying to become debt free, you need to checkout this website first before deciding to go to one of these debt relief companies. You need to make sure they are legit. Most legitimate companies will bend over backward to give you the education that you need to help you manage your debt. If the company doesn't do that, they probably are a scam. Credit card consolidation scams are becoming increasingly more popular because there are so many people looking for help. So before you commit to one of these programs, you need to read about them first to make sure you aren't going to be scammed.

Best Place To See A College Football Game

Contributed by Alec Bates
I know that a lot of fans think that their college football team has the best stadium, the best tailgating, and the best atmosphere, but I've been to dozens of college football stadiums and there is one that I just can't get enough of. It's Tennesee and their stadium for the Volunteers. Sure, I'll bet that fans of other SEC schools will cringe to hear that, but since I'm not actually a die hard fan of the Volunteers, I think I'm being pretty objective.
I'm actually from Memphis, born and raised, and I root for the Memphis Tigers. I watch every game that the Tigers play, usually in person, but when I can't make it to the game I watch college football on DIRECT TV. In other words, I absolutely never miss a game.
But, believe it or not, when Memphis plays Tennesee, which is almost never, I drive to Knoxville not only to support my Tigers but also just to soak in the atmosphere around the Vols game. I always used to think that Knoxville, Tennessee was a college town, but it's far bigger than that. However, you'd never know it when you get to the city; everyone is rooting for the 'Orange', or at least it feels like it. I might not root for the team, but I wish other schools had that kind of pep surrounding the game!

Cherry Red...

is one of my favorite colors. How about you? What is your favorite color?!
This suppose to be my entry for Ruby Tuesday, but it's pretty hectic around here. So I was not able to update my blogs. What I have is my kodak camera (it's Akesha's camera now), my Blackberry phone, and my new canon digital camera). Oh I love it. It's so cute! It's the same size with a regular bar soap....lol!

Moving Containers

My husband, our four-year-old daughter and I recently moved from California to Texas. Moving is a daunting task for anyone. For me moving is exhilarating, exhausting and horrifying all at the same time. I hate moving, packing, and unpacking. Not unless if you hire a moving company that will do the whole job for you. So in case you are looking for a great moving and storage company, you should checkout smartboxusa.com.SMARTBOX is passionate about storage and moving, and their goal is to get you to your new location stress free. They are experienced in all types of moves and can help you with their safe and secure moving containers in any situation like long distance moving. So what are you waiting for? You should visit them today for details.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Journey To Atlantis

Another manic Monday for me once again. It's Blue Monday time....:) Here's my entry for this week.
Hubby's journey to Atlantis...lol! He's sitting in the front seat....second from the right.
SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas.
Since Akesha is not tall enough, I just stayed with her and watched hubby screamed...lol! I think I like the Journey to Atlantis ride in San Diego better. 

I Need A New Bookcase Headboard

My husband and I are planning to purchase a new house before our 6-month lease contract expires. We are currently living in a 2 bedroom apartment. We moved from California to Texas a couple of months ago because my husband got a new job. During our move we get rid some of our stuff. We donated our couch, dining set, patio set, entertainment center, and 2 of our beds, a bookcase headboard and some of our kitchenware. I know it was a pain, but we have no other choice.
I am extremely excited that we are on the stage of looking for a new place to live. I can’t wait to shop a new couch, a new bed, kitchenware, a new dining set and other furniture items. I also would like to get a new bookcase headboard for my 4-year old daughter. Getting her a new bookcase headboard would be a great idea because she has plenty of books and some of them are still in the box.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Swimming Lesson

How's your weekend so far guys?! Our weekend is kinda mighty low...lol! Hubby is not here with us, he flew to Cali yesterday for his monthly drill weekend in the Air Force. But he'll be home tomorrow.
One thing that keeps us busy these days is Akesha's swimming lesson. Akesha has 2 swimming sessions every week. She started her first 2 lessons last week and she's enjoying it. Hubby and I are very proud of her. We hope to see her joining the swimming team in the future.Way to go Akesh!
 I'm glad they have year-round swimming classes here in Texas. In Sacramento it's different because they only offer swimming classes during summer time.

Start a Business

In this tough economy people are trying to find ways to survive, and one way is to a Start a Business. You should check out frannet.com. This website is a highly trusted leader in the franchise industry. A small business franchise offers people a chance to utilize their entrepreneurial spirit while also giving them a proven business model, established brand name, and support to start and build their business. If you are you looking to own an exciting small business but don’t want to start from square one, then frannet.com is the right place for you. So what are you waiting for? You should visit them today for details.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Custom Design Closet

My family and I are currently living in a 2 bedroom apartment. We moved here a couple of months ago and chose a 6 months only lease contract. So my husband and I are on the stage of looking for a new place to live. I am very excited and can’t wait to move soon. One thing I love to have in a house is huge closet and storage space. Just like the one I saw online from Closet Factory. I would  like to have one of their custom design closets. They offer great design custom closets Richmond. In case you are looking for closet storage design experts that will create the ultimate custom closet design for you, you should check out closetfactoryva.com.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Skywatch Friday

The beauty of SUNSET.....
This is my entry for Skywatch Friday this week.
Photos were taken a couple of days ago. Photo settings: FREEWAY...lol!

Play Station MOVE

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.
There is another great reason to get the PlayStation 3 system and that is for the exciting Move bundle which brings motion to gaming. This video bundle will allow you to experience gaming like never before. All you need to do is to purchase the $99 bundle for your PlayStation 3, and you can begin playing their motion games. This will be the most realistic gaming experience ever. I can't wait to get this bundle for my family because it will allow us to get some exercise and to improve on our family game nights. We can now play cool games together. This gaming experience will also bring my siblings closer together. There are some pretty exciting games you cam play with this bundle such as NBA 2K11 and SuperStars. These games will bring the excitement of motion right to your home. You can play Call Duty 4, and Motion Storm Pacific Rift which are also some pretty exciting motion games. So what are you waiting for? If you are looking to experience a more exciting game play, you are going to want to checkout PlayStation 3 and get the motion pack today. You won't ever want to quit family game night after this experience.