Template Problems

Please forgive the standard template. It's temporary while I try to fix my regular one. My blog designer went out of business and my template went haywire. Fortunately, I had saved the photos and was able to fix my regular blog, but something isn't working right on this one.

If you are or know of a blog designer who can help me, I would be very grateful if you could email me. Thanks, and thank you for your patience!

40% of One Item at Borders.com

I have a coupon code valid at Borders.com (online only) for 40% off any item. I can't use it so I figured I'd share it with you.

The code is good until July 22 and is only good for one use, so it's first come, first served. Here's the code:

BC4777

Here's the fine print on the code:

"One Coupon per transaction. Valid only at Borders.com. Not valid in stores. Excludes previous purchases, gift cards, eBooks, digital downloads, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the ZuneTM. Promotion code good for single-use only during valid period. Void where prohibited by law. May not be combined with other discounts or sale pricing. Any other use constitutes fraud. Not redeemable for cash. Valid through 7/22/08."

Enjoy!

High Speed Internet

Still on dial-up? I feel your pain. Our family recently made the switch to high speed Internet (or as some people call it, "normal speed") and I honestly don't know how we ever managed before. Those endless load times were beyond frustrating and forget about downloads.

When I won an iPod in a contest, it literally took me all day to download iTunes. Then, each song took hours. Now, when I purchase a song, it's loaded in less than a minute. HUGE difference!

One of the nation's premiere high-speed providers is Hughes: Net, which is America's #1 choice for high-speed satellite Internet service.

Their broadband service is available everywhere! The beauty of Satellite Internet is that the only thing required is a clear view of the Southern sky.

No more annoying dial-up sound. No more wait times. No logging on. Just fast, always-connected, Internet service.

Because Hughesnet delivers high-speed Internet over satellite rather than over your telephone line, you can be on the Internet and talk on your phone at the same time.

On installation, a certified HughesNet professional will connect your computer to a satellite modem and link it to a satellite dish (antenna) that's usually mounted on the roof of your home. The satellite dish sends and receives information such as email over the Internet and delivers it to your computer almost instantly!

And you can trust HughesNet. They have over 30 years experience delivering satellite products and services around the world, with more than 1.2 million systems ordered or shipped to customers in over 100 countries. And they pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet services. That says a lot!

Here’s a summary of the benefits you get with HughesNet Satellite Internet service:

• Service that's available everywhere... even in areas where cable and DSL don't reach
• Instant Internet access with an always-on connection
• It's fast-just sit down at your computer and start surfing
• Flip through Web pages like turning the pages of a book
• Download large files in minutes, not hours
• Enjoy fast Internet music and video downloads
• Compatible with Windows® and Macintosh® operating systems
• Frees up your phone—no missed calls, no dialing in, no extra phone line needed

Want to make the switch? HughesNet is offering fabulous deals right now, so head on over and check them out!

Right now, you can get the lowest price ever and $0 up front costs! There is also a $100 mail-in rebate, $100 nationwide referral rewards, and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Hurry so you don't miss out!

HPV Awareness Gift Pack Winners

Before I announce the winners, I want to once again clarify that this giveaway was about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. I tried my best to clarify that in the post, but there was still much confusion in the comments section. I am aware of the controversy surrounding the vaccine and therefore did not want to state a position one way or the other on that.

The HPV test is NOT controversial and is a simple test performed with a pap smear to see if a patient has the virus. If you were one of the readers who mistook the post as one about the HPV vaccine, I kindly ask that you reread the post so that you can gain awareness about this important test. Thank you very much!

Now on to the winners. Congratulations to Sharon from Middle-Aged Mama, Nora (non-blogger), and Blue Violet (non-blogger)! They have each won an HPV Awareness gift pack giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways coming soon!

Scrumptious Summer Strawberries

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to go strawberry picking with my kids. Here's a few photos of a recent trip we took with our homeschool group:




Don't those look delish! And they were! They were so moist and didn't have any tartness to them whatsoever.



We live in Virginia, but did you know that California provides 88% of the nation's strawberries?! And the harvest is particularly bountiful this year, lucky for us.

There are over 35,000 acres of fields across California and nearly 6 million crates of fresh, scrumptious strawberries will be picked just this week and delivered to grocery stores nationwide.

Here are some fun strawberry facts to share with your kids:

• If you lined up all of the strawberries grown in California in one straight line, they would wrap around the entire Earth 15 times.
• Guessing game! There are about 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.
• California harvests over a billion pounds of strawberries annually.
• One acre of land (about the size of one football field) grows about 50,000 pounds of strawberries - that's the same weight as 4 elephants!

And for us moms:

• Strawberries contain powerful antioxidants and rank second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity: one serving of strawberries contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
• Strawberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight some types of cancer and lower blood pressure. Not bad for a little red berry!
• Don't forget! The antioxidants in strawberries also aid in memory performance and may help prevent Alzheimer's disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, two key factors that can cause age-related diminished brain function.

Now that you know that strawberries are both delicious AND good for you, head on over to the California Strawberry Commission and find hundreds of ways to serve them with all of the delicious recipes on the site. Check out this recipe for Chocolate Mousse with Strawberry Cream. *drool*

And for the kids, visit California Strawberry Kids, where there are tons of activities, games, facts and interactive fun!

Happy eating!