My Good Life

Archive for November, 2011

Now that the weather has changed and its cold outside, we really need to look for different types of clothes and accessories that will not just make us look good, but also protect us from the cold weather. Coats, boots, scarfs and heated gloves are very important during the winter season. They come in various colors, prints and textures that are fashionable. Staying warm during the winter does not require the winter gear of “yesteryear”. The latest winter gear is lightweight and stylish.

So I guess I have been a good girl all year long; Santa Claus gave me an early Christmas present. Woohoo! I am a very practical person, but  I realize how technology has advanced so much and helped people. I asked Santa for a new cellular phone. Take note of this; not just a regular phone but an iphone4 s. Santa delivered my present a little early!!!

I like the iPhone 4S a lot, especially Siri. She is my new buddy. She does a lot for me and I can rely on her if I need something; she places calls, sends texts, and searches the internet for me at my request. She is always polite and makes certain to please me. Technology, technology…. It just amazes me that people can invent such incredible inventions. I am really grateful to Siri because I know that she is not just for fun, but I can count on her for emergency purposes.

And this is what she looks like…

 

 

Guest post of the week by Moises Henderson

My son is home for a week, and his girlfriend came over to visit us and watch a movie. We have signed up for expertsatellite.com so we could find a great movie very easily. It did not take us long to decide that we wanted to watch The Social Network. It is a movie about how Facebook got started and the college student who had the idea for the whole thing. Facebook is such an amazing phenomenon that is really hard to describe. You can find facebook in all walks of life now. Just about any company or business you can think of has a facebook page. It is a great way to advertise to people that may not normally see what a company has to offer any other way. Not only is Facebook a great advertising tool, but it is a great communication devise as well. You have the ability on Facebook to contact people you have not seen or heard from in years if they have set up a profile page. I have even found people I went to elementary school with and have not had any contact with them until now. You can email, post pictures, keep up with your children’s lives and so many other things. It is really just an amazing invention that I am glad I am able to use.

Christmas is approaching fast and people tend to be impulsive shoppers, especially concerning a loved ones gift. But hey, here is a good gift idea for the teenager in your life. Teens like to have funny t shirts because they usually likes to draw attention to themselves. So with this kind of gift for the holidays, you will not just give them something to wear, but at the same time popularity, which they desire, especially during those teen years. Happy Holidays!

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration at my in-laws house. Lots and lots of delicious food, fun, and laughter. Though I have been through a very devastating situation lately, I still thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family. Every sad moment comes with a happiness in return. God allows things to happen for a reason and I believe it is good for me to focus on the positive things rather than things that makes me sad and unhappy.

My father-in-law can cook. I mean, not just cooking food. He actually loves to cook and the result of his cooking is always great. Then, my sister-in-law always makes GREAT desserts. She can think of yummy treats that others will not attempt to make. Below, are pictures of the Thanksgiving desserts my in-laws prepared.

God has been great to me and my family all of the time. I am very grateful for Him. All I can say is that: THANK YOU LORD FOR BEING AN AWESOME GOD! I give you all the praise, glory and honor!

Red Velvet Cheese Cake

 

Pecan Pie

 

Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie

 

Top view of the Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie.

In today’s society, it is easier to pursue your dreams when it comes to education. Most universities offer numerous online courses that can lead to a better career. A Business Analyst Jobs is one of the job positions that is in demand today. This type of position analyzes an organization to determine the approach needed to improve the organization. A business analyst also investigates business systems and makes recommendations on improving business systems thus transcending the needs of the business with the use of Information Technology.

My husband and I plan for our retirement.  Though, with the current economic downturn, planning can be difficult.  As my husband was an avid personal finance reader, we followed some of the financial recommendations we found during his research.

We maintain a savings account, which we refer to as our emergency fund.  This savings account is only used in an emergency situation.  The funds in this savings account are easily liquidated and not tied to a contract, thus if we needed the funds today we could access them without penalty.  Another avenue we use for our retirement is a ROTH IRA mutual fund.  We feel this is one of the best retirement vehicles as after all the criteria are met, our deductions during retirement will not be taxed.  If you do not have a ROTH IRA, we would suggest researching this type of account.  We also prefer mutual funds and we do not invest in stocks directly as we feel they are too risky.

One of the major factors in planning for retirement is diversification.  We diversify our retirement accounts.  We never “place all of our eggs in one basket”.  As we get closer to retirement and during retirement, we plan on moving our portfolio around and placing funds in a certificate of deposit.  Banks such as Aurora offer certificate of deposits, which are federally insured by the FDIC.  A certificate of deposit (CD) will keep our funds safe from loss; plus we can earn modest interest on our principal.

You might be wondering,  Who is Bella? Bella is the latest addition to our family. She is an English Bulldog and is thirteen weeks old. We got her as a family present after researching English Bulldog, as they are suppose to be the best dogs for children. The research was correct! She is a very calm dog inside the house, yet playful when the children want to play with her.

We took her to the veterinarian last Monday. We were happy to find that we got a perfectly healthy dog. She weighed in at sixteen pounds and eight ounces. She had some vaccines and a medicine for de-worming at the veterinarian. We are making sure that she will always be healthy, since we want her to be a part of our family for as long as God permits.

Our children love her so much. They have a new playmate and they are always excited to wake up thinking that they will play with Bella. They also want Bella to sleep with them. So, every night Bella sleeps in between my two boys, but my husband transfers her to her crate, since she is not house-broke yet. So far with the house-breaking, she is doing well. We always make sure to take her outside to use the potty, as much as possible.

Showing some photos of Bella the first day we got her.

 

 

 

 

I am the type of person who always wants to get great deals on great items. I enjoy shopping for clearance items. Urban outfitters coupon can help you achieve your goal as a wise shopper. They offer discounts, with the use of their online coupons, which I am sure will not only help me, but will also help everyone seeking to save money. This is a great addition to my “coupon’ing”, as I can always benefit from the additional savings.

It seems like tools are essential in a man’s life. Men tend to buy tools so they will be available as needed; thus when they need to repair something at home, they will be able to fix it quickly. As every man should have a tape-measure, they should also keep a micrometers handy. A micrometer can be used to measure small distances, which is especially important in machining as well as most mechanical work.