Click on the picture shown and new customers get 1200 free photo prints, 600 4x6 and 600 5x7. PLUS, get another 600 4x6 prints when you use this promotion code below:

Gift Certificate Code: FREE600PRINTS
Expires on: 02/14/2009

Just go to "Members Area", once you've signed up and click "Credit & Discount", enter the Gift Certificate and click "Validate".

These offers do not include shipping, but I thought I should let you all know. It still seems like a good deal to me. Go here for a list of shipping costs.


Ritz Pix is offering 10 free prints for trying their service. Just click on the picture and use the code: "free4x6"

-ALSO-

Go to Photofun.com and sign up for another free 100 4x6 prints there

I'm looking for a new template for one of my other blogs, On My Lists (below). I thought I'd share my resources as I come across them.

When choosing a template, you should consider if you want 2 or 3 columns, things like that. I like 3. You can always add another column and make changes of that sort yourself later. I've done that before, but it's just easier to find what you want already "laid out" for you.

Do try and get something simple enough that you can make changes to the header and background, etc. if you want to. This is the mistake I made with my current layout, it's too complex for me to make changes.

You don't need to care about the pictures used in the layout chosen. If you are somewhat savvy on the computer, you can change that stuff easily. Instead, you should focus on the layout, or arrangement. There are all kinds of little quirky things that can make a template special. That's what matters.

That, and the design should make sense for the subject. Currently, RNR Reviews is a magazine style template. I did the header, the colors, but liked that the 2 columns on the side with space below for ads, etc.


With On My Lists, I'm obviously wanting something that looks listy. Yeah, I think that says it all. Seriously though, I'm thinking paper, pad, something like that. Nothing too complex this time because I dread having to change the template. It can be very easy, but I have a lot of widgets and stuff that I have to make sure all transfer correctly. I'll probably have to do a new header and re-arrange things. It can be a time-consuming pain, to say the least.

Here is a list of places I am looking at for possible templates:

I like BTemplates alot. They have a ridiculously large selection. I'm thinking I may find something there.

Createblog has some original stuff I've been seeing pop up here and there on other people's blogs. I really like some of the layouts myself, but they're not right for what I'm looking for.

eBlog Templates has a lot of choices. I don't love the way the site is set up though.

Final Sense is pretty repetitive aka all the designs are very similar.

Our Blogger Templates has a good assortment of ones I've never seen before.

Pyzam has a lot of different backgrounds but the layouts are all too similar for me.

Suck My Lolly has some cute stuff, pretty simple, but cute. Much like Gisele Jaquenod. Her designs are super cute. Too cute, in fact, because you want to keep it the way it is. The problem with that is then it's too recognizable. That is also one of the problems with my blog I'm trying to change. I see tons of people with that same template and it sucks.

Wishafriend is "cute" and would be totally awesome ...if I was 16. Go to Pimp-my-profile if you're 18.

BloggerBuster has a great resource list of sites to get cool templates that I often refer to.

I should mention that if you want to create screenshots like the ones shown in this post, go here for the easiest instructions ever!

Thanks to Money Saving Mom's post on 6 FREE Valentine's Day cards from Stories by Everyone at Scrapbooks.com. These are a set of 6 identical cards that you can add your photo to, such as the example below. They can be given to classmates, but also to family members, as I plan to do with mine.


Just enter the code valentine at checkout. Offer expires February 1, 2009.

For those wanting to go green this Valentine's Day, please consider sending free e-cards. They're all over the internet now. Hallmark has them, and plenty of other legitimate sites.

I'm just going to be real men, I know every woman acts like they love cards, but I don't! Don't love flowers either. I would much rather something original, something thoughtful. Now, I know that means putting some real time and energy into it, but that's the point. Cards on Valentine's Day, to me, says last minute, all over it. Now cards on other days, days when they're not expected, cards to say thank you just because, that can be sweet. This Valentine's Day though, go big or sleep on the couch.

Not to brag too much, but my husband and I tend to be pretty romantic and I'd like to think pretty inventive. Thus, we've had some pretty decent gifts in the past. For instance, I found the pic below on NASA's site. It's an actual picture of the night we met.

The site described it as:

Sometimes it's night on the ground but day in the air. As the Earth rotates to eclipse the Sun, sunset rises up from the ground. Therefore, at sunset on the ground, sunlight still shines on clouds above. Under usual circumstances, a pretty sunset might be visible, but unusual noctilucent clouds float so high up they can be seen well after dark. Pictured above, a network of noctilucent clouds casts a colorful but eerie glow visible above the dark. Although noctilucent clouds are thought to be composed of small ice-coated particles, much remains unknown about them.

I changed the wording, added the text to the picture, mounted it on a canvas I had, then I did my best to paint the sides to match.

He loved it, and not just a husband pretending to like something because he's been married long enough to know how to react; but I really do think he appreciated the originality of it.

Now, he is romantic too and at all the right times. That means, not just on Valentine's Day. Sorry fellas, but you got to step up your game if you want to even compare. Ladies, my husband once sent me a huge basket of assorted chocolate desserts...why? He knew my period was coming. I know how that sounds, maybe I should have been offended, but it still sticks out as one of the best gifts I ever got. What can I say? I loves me some chocolate.

He knows that I get down when the sun isn't out, which is why I had to move from Washington state. Anyway, he made me a sun that he hung on our window. It's still there, years later. The sweetest thing he ever did though, even sweeter than the chocolate, was when I was grieving over my father's death. I was in a horrible state and I told him that if our relationship was a plant, I was afraid it would die because I couldn't take care of it at that point. The next day, he brought me home a cactus. Nuff said.

Put your kids face on the cover of Parenting Magazine. Step by step guide here.
















Note that you can do this on your own with photo software. I mention it because with Valentine's Day coming up, there are tons of things you could do with this.

To the right is an example of one I did for X-mas 2007.

Now, for the more thrifty giver, with less time on your hands, here are some tips on saving money on tickets to concerts, movies, etc.

In honor of the inauguration, get Obaminized with this site that takes your photo and does it in the same likeness as Obama's.

Not to be outdone by the Simpsonizer that turns your pics into Simpsons characters. Or turn your pics into comic strips at comeeko

Dumpr has some cool stuff you can do with your photos. Mostly fun stuff. If you want the really cool stuff, there is a small fee, but it's still worth checking out the free stuff.

Graphita has some playful ways to personalize your photos, much like pikipimp.

You can join Flauntr and get 30 prints for free! Voucher Code: FREEPRINTS.

This is just the beginning of this list. I intend to add more as I find them myself.

Go here to check the list of food items recalled due to the Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak.

I know my family's worried because ...well, we're a paranoid bunch, but we've also been very sick lately. I don't believe we've had any of the products listed, so (cross your fingers) it's not Salmonella.

Here are the new Redbox codes for FREE movies:

K6W3G4 (Monday Jan. 19th 2009 ONLY, ends at midnight)


MCDWNTR (McDonald's ONLY)


Redbox gives out these codes every Monday when you sign up at Insideredbox.com. You can look at what other codes are working for Redbox here.

Check out the new movie releases here.

-OR-

If you go to redbox.com you can views all their movies

-AND-

You can even reserve movies at the location next to you. So you don't have to feel rushed to make decisions with a line of people at your back. It's nice!

I'm sure a lot of you watched the Barbara Walters interview with Patrick Swayze. The story hits too close to home for me. For those who don't read my other blogs, I lost my father to cancer 2 1/2 years ago. His was a 9 month battle. By the time he realized he had lung cancer, it had spread throughout his body and the doctors didn't leave us with any hope. They didn't even advise going through chemo. Now that's hard to swallow that, not only do you have cancer, but the doctors don't even suggest medical help.

Still, I was in major denial. Nothing could ever happen to my daddy. He's invincible. Well, he certainly was the strongest person I'd ever known but the reality is that we're all susceptible to death. Cancer though, that's a hard way to go.

My dad had lost his brother and his sister to cancer when he was younger so he knew, and he'd even told me about it, but I could never have imagined.

Don't get me wrong, I've been around death. I've lost friends, all my grand-parents, my half brother, aunts, uncles, and the list goes on. Nothing prepared me for this.

My heart goes out to Patrick Swayze, his family and everyone else who's been touched by cancer.

I realize it's a little past the time but I thought I'd share my opinion of some of my 15 month old's X-mas toys. My sister got him the Playhut Carnival Ball Zone that I wanted for him, thinking that if I was a kid, I would have loved it and he does.

The problem is keeping the balls in the "zone". I thought that the netting would help but the pit actually has a blow up cushion underneath that tilts when he gets out and there go the balls with him. So, it's turned into Living room Ball Zone. It's okay though, as long as he loves it, that's all that matters.

One of the things we got for him was the V-Tech SmartVille Alphabet Train Station. Now, he already has something similar that you can walk with, but this has a lot of added activities and that's what I was looking for because I am a stay at home mom and some of these things get boring fast.

So, I wanted something that could be used for many things, play time, education, etc. That, and I had a hard time finding great things for his age group. It's like he's too old for baby stuff, but too young for the really cool toys. This is really cool though because there's lots to do.
Now, his B-day was a couple months before Christmas and I got him Parents Busy Zoo. It's just like the ones in the doctor's offices that every kid flocks to, but we never think to get one. Well, I did and we all love it! Everyone who comes over plays with it.

I'm not sure when, but my niece got him the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Table and I also recommend this toy. He gets very serious "stirring the soup", but he's probably going to be retiring this toy soon to make room for all the other stuff that seems to be taking over my whole house.

Now, before you jump to the conclusion that my son is spoiled, you should know, he's worth it :)

I also wanted to mention that I got this baby catalog from One Step Ahead baby products and I have to say I'm impressed. I don't typically buy from catalogs so I looked up the website and I do believe I'm going to buy some baby proofing items.

They really have a good selection of things I haven't seen in the stores. They have all kinds of stuff though, clothes, toys, etc. You should check it out here. Just thought I'd mention it in case there are some other overly cautious parents out there, like me.

Okay, I'm still loving Instructables.com. I was looking for home ideas and found this one. I thought I'd share. It's to cover an existing light. I would think this would work well to cover a doorbell too. Obviously, it wouldn't be back lit, but some doorbells are unsightly.



The one to the left is a mural made out of CD cases, which is perfect for me because I have a bunch of blank ones and I'm selling all my CD's so I have no need for them anymore.




I don't even have words for how great of an idea I think this is. Mind you, I already have a greenhouse and wish I didn't because I don't need it; but if I wanted one, this would be great! It's made out of old windows!