I Am So Not Cool Anymore

When I first had my daughter, I did my best to make sure she respected me and did what I told her. As she got older, I loved the fact that she thought I was a pretty hip mom (which I am!). I had her when I was 17 so our age difference isn't much.

We listen to similar music and love a lot of the same styles. But there is one area that we completely disagree on: starlets. She is so into Kourtney Kardashian and Sarah Shahi. I have no idea who these girls even are! She'll spend hours looking at Katy Perry bikini pictures and trying to look and dress just like her. Growing up in Southern California, I was never a star gazer and just don't get this interest. And its not just her. All of her friends are following these women obsessively.

I don't get it, really. She says I'm just not cool and people "my age" (ouch!) are so out of it. I'm starting to feel my age. Maybe I'll stop borrowing her clothes too. I'm probably too old to have "Juicy" written across my seat anyway.

New Car Test

Alright, maybe it’s not the most economical way to test a new car, but I like it, because it shows how well cars age as well as well as how they drive when you’re totally alone in them (and don’t have a salesman drowning out your every thought). This week, each day I rented one of the five cars I have my eye on. I switched around for the rentals, starting at a Car Rental Miami, then an easy rent a car, then a Florida car hire site.

I tried a Toyota, a Lexus (I guess two Toyotas if you consider they’re the same parent company), a Honda, an Infiniti, and a Volvo. I went for small SUVs in each brand (since that’s the vague model I’m looking for). The Honda was alright, the Lexus was much more money for the same amount of luxury that the Infiniti had at a lower price, the Toyota was solid, and the Volvo I wasn’t crazy about; it just isn’t quite my style.

The Toyota certainly seemed to have worn the best (and strangely, was the oldest), but the Honda had a snappy exterior, and I’ll admit, I have those “CRAVE CR-V” commercials stuck in my head. Overall, I think I’ll be looking at quotes for the Toyota and the Honda. See, it’s an excellent way to test a new car!

Solar Has Come a Long Way

Going green. It's the thing to do these days, isn't it? About time, I say. I was around in the 70's, so I remember the energy crunch back then. People were in a panic then, with high prices for gas and power. There was a lot of talk about solar power and other alternative energy ideas; for a while people turned down their thermostats and even drove smaller cars. But none of that lasted. The crisis eased - or so it seemed - and we went back to our energy-wasting ways and put aside talk of any real change.

It's taken several decades, but this time things are different. Since different countries have become more interconnected and everyone's need for energy and commodities have increased, we can no longer deny that natural resources are indeed limited and we will need to develop more sources of energy in the future.

So far residential solar energy use in the United States has lagged behind use in countries like Germany, but with the government offering tax credits for conversion, homeowners are more enthusiastic about doing it. Politicians are finally getting serious and putting their money where there mouths are. Conversion is not cheap, and we need help. Like I said, it's about time.

Aluminum Dog Boxes Allow You to Travel with Your Dog

Do you want to take your dog with you on the road wherever you go? If so, you are not alone. That’s why many companies manufacture aluminum dog boxes that fit in the bed of your truck.

But before you purchase an aluminum dog box, there are some things to consider about the box itself.

Size: You need to purchase the box according to the weight and size of your dog. For example, if you have a tiny Chihuahua, then you should purchase a smaller box. But, if you own a 120 pound Rottweiler, you need to get a box that will comfortably house a large dog.

Anti-bacterial Flooring: If you are going on long trips, your dog may have an accident. Soft, anti bacterial flooring will protect your best friend from germs and harmful bacteria.

Vents: One of the most important things to take into consideration is ventilation. Make sure the dog box you buy has the maximum venting to allow your dog to breathe easily in hot and cold weather.

Water: Just like us, it is imperative that dogs stay well hydrated. Keep water available to you dog during the trip. There are certain accessories you can but that attach to the box and keep the water from spilling and ruining your truck bed liner and/or catch all.

So keep you best bud with you while you travel! Oh, and if you are on the road for a long time, remember to make sure your hotel accepts furry companions.

Dream Vacation

Hi y'all! We're finally back from our dream vacation and I think I must have gained about ten pounds! (So much for the bikini pre-vacation workout!) Being in Jamaica was beautiful enough but our little resort right on the beach offered the freshest most delicious seafood I have ever tasted. There was a massive out door kitchen area where the fisherman would start frying up what they had caught that day. You can't even imagine the smell of catfish and vegetables as we sat there curled up with a margarita by the outdoor fireplaces.

The food would look so good served up on palm leaves I hardly wanted to eat it! But of course I did, night after night and the best thing was the menu always changed because it all depended on what they had caught that day. There were plenty of island grills that we could have taken a cab to for dinner, but in the end we didn't want to leave the resort. Fresh fruit was picked off the trees each morning for our breakfasts and drinks. It's amazing how different a pina colada tastes when you know the pineapple and coconut has been picked from the trees right outside your bedroom window! Of course the sand and sea was perfect and we snorkeled off our food each day! For anyone in search of a vacation that will offer the best fresh food you've ever tasted, I recommend Jamaica!

Achieving calm through deep breathing

With today’s busy lifestyle of overtime, overworked and over stressed, you may find it hard to find the time to take care of yourself. An hour long yoga class or deep massage may sound wonderful to you, but may not be all that realistic. Especially if you are like me and are very short on not only time, but also money. But I found out recently that all you need is a few minutes and some relative quiet to help you with your stress relief.

If you know how to breath (which we all do) then with a few minutes of deep breathing you can help reduce your stress both long term and in the moment. I find that deep breathing helps me those times when I am faced with a stressful situation. Instead of snapping back at an inconsiderate clerk or rude waiter I always try to take a few deep, cleansing breaths. I find that it totally makes me feel better and help me to remain calm and level headed.

I also use deep breathing on a more regular basis as part of my meditative routine. The benefits of meditation are innumerable, including lowering stress but also improving overall health.

Big choices in bed liners

Choosing a truck bed liner should not be some sort of huge challenge, right? You know the deal. You simply go down to a dealership, check out a couple, and choose the one that meets your needs the closest. This is the way that you choose everything else, so why should a bed liner be any different? The truth is that no matter how hard you wish for the choice to be a simple one, it’s not going to be that way. Instead, you will need to think through a long, difficult decision if you ultimately want to make the right choice.

Price must be one of your biggest considerations when you start to make this choice. After all, there is no reason to pay more than you need to pay. If you don’t get a good deal, then that is really unfortunate because there are plenty of deals to go around. Once you decide upon a good price, you need to consider the quality of the bed liner. Too many people get caught up in trying to find something that looks the best when in reality, they should be looking for something that lasts for the long run. If you can combine good price with a long lasting quality, you will be very pleased with the purchase.

Going to School for Golf

Golf course management schools have professional studies programs that prepare students for high-level careers in the golf industry. Students learn the management and public relations skills necessary to succeed in the field. Graduates of these programs have strong resumes and consistently assume high-paying and sturdy jobs upon graduation. The best locations for these schools are areas with plenty of golf courses where golf is played nearly year-round. Nearby courses make it easy for students to acquire hands-on training, internships, and eventually full jobs. Orlando, sporting the golf academy of the south, is an example of great location. Of course, golf’s cross-country popularity means that many southern locations are advantageous. The golf academy of Arizona is another possible option.

One of the perks related to these schools is the opportunity to hone one’s skills at the game. The nearby courses and sunny weather grant the chance to become a much better golfer. Since successful business relations in the field of golf require a strong familiarity with the sport and a good handle on the needs of golfers, some golf schools include practice time and tournament play in their curriculums. If this type of education sounds appealing, research your options and see if golf school is right for you.

Gotta Keep the Family Safe

I have a great Security System in Phoenix Arizona where I own my beautiful winter home. It is of course very important for me to have good protection when I am only there for part of the year. I know that I can go away for months at a time and my house will be protected and that all of my belongings will always be there waiting for me still when I return the following year. Peace of mind is such an important thing these days I think, you really have to get as much of it as you can any time you can, especially when it comes to the safety and security of something as personal and private as your house and most precious, prized possessions.

It was also vital to me and my family that we have adequate and effective protection in our other home in Washington so we installed a great Home Security System in Seattle Washington as well so that we never have to worry about those most basic and important, fundamental things like being safe and secure at night. My family is the most important thing to me in the world and I will never do anything or fail to do anything so as to put them in harm’s way or put their happiness in jeopardy.

Small Resort Secretary

I work for a very organized and financially savvy general manager at a small resort in Keystone. I’m a little nervous about our lack of bookings this ski season and feel certain the economy is crunching on tourism.

We were fully booked over Christmas and New Year’s Day however the rest of the season looks stark. My boss is quite bright and knows how to watch the pennies to keep us operational through a couple of slow years. She recently brought in a cost seg company to study how we are using our fixed assets as tax write-offs. The thought of putting together a cost segregation summary felt absolutely overwhelming to me however, it was not my call but my job to do as told.

I thanked my lucky stars when I to found out that little was required of me regarding putting together the study--I was not to be the human version of a net present value calculator. The professional company my boss brought in had a team of accountants, engineers, and architects who only required my humble services to give them a tour of the premises and show them to vendor invoices (vendors such as contractors, architects, and engineers we have employed in the past).