They saying buying a new home is one of if not the largest purchase you will ever make in your life time and I agree.

Finding just the right home in the right area is extremely important and even more so if you have kids because you need to think about school districts and what school will be best for you child.

I thought when we were in Maryland about two years ago that we would be there for a while and that was where we were going to call home. it’s too bad we moved because Southern Maryland new homes were on the rise at the time and a place we could have called home for sure.

I am not saying that I’m not glad we moved back to Delaware because I am since we are a lot closer to family but I am not sure Newark is the place where we will live forever. We have committed to living in our current home until Sabreena graduates from high school in two years because we really don’t want to uproot her in her junior year. That isn’t fair to her plus it’s super hard to make quality friends at that point in your high school career and Melinda can attest to that because that is something she went through.

When Melinda and I discuss where we would really like to live we both agree North Wilmington is for us. North Wilmington is where we lived before we moved to Maryland and in a way I wish I was able to turn the clock back because I know if we could do it all over Melinda and I would have decided to stay in North Wilmington.

Like I said we are in our house for a least two more years but I can totally see us hitting the road for North Wilmington once Sabreena leaves for college. For those of you wondering, yes I will tell Sabreena that we moved to North Wilmington. LOL.

Melinda and I have always tried to live a somewhat healthy lifestyle.  Do we fall off the wagon sometimes?  Heck yeah but this time we are both really making an effort to get healthy and stay healthy.

Melinda and I started running and are currently training for a 5k so that shows how serious we are about this because Melinda and I are not big runners.  I must admit though I am starting to enjoy running just as much as I do cycling.  Not sure Melinda is at the enjoyment stage yet but she is hanging in and trying to get to that point.   

I have started taking a daily vitamin and protein powder to try and keep my body in the best shape I can while trying to lose weight.  Also, why is it so easy to put weight on but SOOOOO hard to take it off?  Wish there was an answer to this question and now I understand why more people don’t work out because it is hard work and sometimes it just down right hurts. 

Recently someone told me about LiveTru and how they have a great selection of essential oils as well as health and wellness products.  Finding a place that has good quality products is hard to find because when it comes to exercise and healthy living everyone is trying to make a quick buck off of the consumer.  So when someone I know makes a recommendation I am sure to check them out.

I was searching LiveTru last night for some kind of oil or cream that I could apply on my calf which I seemed to tweak this past Saturday while running.  Hopefully I am able to get it back into shape before this weekend because on Saturday I am planning on running my first 5k and then I am riding 65 miles on Sunday with two friends.

Working out and getting into shape is super hard but I know when Melinda and I are at our ideal weight we are going to be glad we did all of this hard painful work.

The 1940 Census was conducted based on a census date of April 1, 1940 and was given a seventy-two year privacy restriction. After a 72 year embargo the 1940 census was finally released on 4/2/12.

How cool is it that you can now search for people from the 1940’s?  I am always interested in my family tree and where my family was and came from so I am going to be using the website to see what kind of information I can find.  What I find cool about the 1940 census is the questions that were asked and how the census was conducted. 

The Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce) provided standardized forms in 1940 for all Enumerators as in previous years. The standard Population Schedule had 34 questions and more than a dozen Supplemental Questions asked only for those persons who were enumerated on specified lines. This was the means used to ensure a random nature in obtaining supplemental information.

One of the questions was “PERSONS 14 YEARS OLD AND OVER — EMPLOYMENT STATUS”.  There are 12 total questions related to 14 year olds and working.  In today’s society kids aren’t even allowed to work at the age of 14 due to child labor laws but I do find it interesting looking back into a whole different time in American history.  I am not sure how many questions are on a modern day census but back in 1940 there were 34 questions plus 16 supplemental questions for a total of 50 questions.  To me that seems like a lot of questions for someone to answer back in 1940.

So if you have been waiting for the 1940 census release it is now here after a long 72 years.  A lot of people have been waiting for this because within the first three hours of the 1940 census being released 22.5 million people logged on causing the website to overload.

Be patient if you have a hard time logging on.  We had to wait 72 years for this data so what is another hour or two?

Will you be searching the 1940 census for family?

Pet owners love to spoil their pets. They indulge them in decadent treats, buy toys that keep them entertained when they are ready to play and accessories that keep them comfortable when they are ready to take a nap. And now that the summer months are upon us, more dog owners are looking for ways to keep their dogs cool while they are away at work during the heat of the day. With some specially designed dog supplies, pet owners are now able to keep their dogs comfortable while they are outside during the blazing summer heat.

Here are six ways you can keep your dog cool and healthy this summer while you are at work or away from the house.

1. Doghouses with a fan – Buy a doghouse with a fan for the backyard. To keep it energy efficient, use the power of the sun to cool your dog with a solar-powered fan built into the back of this house.
2. Dog doors – Give your dog free rein to be outside during the cooler early morning hours or inside during the hot afternoon with a special door just for them.
3. Doghouse with an air conditioner – If you live in an extra-warm community, keep your dog at a more comfortable temperature, even when he or she is outside, with a doghouse that has its own private built-in air conditioner.
4. Elevated dog beds – If you have enough of a shaded area, provide your dog with an elevated dog bed to keep away from the heat of the ground, and in a place where he or she can enjoy a breeze to naturally stay cool.
5. Cooling dog accessories to lie on – Either in the doghouse or on the dog bed, provide a cooling mat that your pooch can lie down on to cool off. Technology that monitors the temperature of your dog’s body can help adjust the mat to meet your dog’s cooling needs. Most of these accessories are nice and soft too, so your dog stays comfortable while cooling off.
6. A fresh water bowl – Hook a special bowl up to your outside faucet and make sure your dog stays hydrated with fresh water throughout the day.

Stop worrying whether your pet is staying hydrated and cool while you are at work this summer. Instead, pamper your pet and keep him or her comfortable with dog supplies made especially to keep pooches cool in the summer heat.

B-I-N-G-O is not only a really fun nursery rhyme for kids it’s also a game that is enjoyed by people of all ages. We have a Nickelodeon DVD bingo games that the kids LOVE playing and I recently found a really cool place where I can play bingo online (sign up now).

Bingo is a game that has been around since 1929 and has evolved into many different variations and is primary staged by churches or charity organization. Bingo is a game that draws a large crowd due to the ease of play as well as the size of the payouts if won. I can remember playing bingo at a local church and the place being filled with hundreds of people of all ages. People tend to associate bingo with older or senior people but I don’t think that is the case anymore because I see a lot of games geared for children and like I mentioned we own a DVD version of the game. The kids love playing and are super excited when they get the opportunity to yell “BINGO”. Unfortunately in our house there are no monetary payouts but bragging rights are worth just as much.

Bingo is a game that passes the time and in my opinion is a social event for some. I remember when I use to play at the local church people meeting up every Friday or Saturday night and catching up and just hanging out while playing bingo trying to win that jackpot. Out of all of the time that I ever played bingo I think I won maybe one time and it wasn’t even the big jackpot that took place at the end of the night. I do enjoy bingo myself and like playing the DVD version with the kids because it a great family time game.

Do you play Bingo? Have you ever won the BIG jackpot?

The one thing in life that scares me to death is something happening to my children. I worry everyday when Sabreena and Shaun leave for school and I can’t really relax until they get home from school. What stinks is come September I will have to add Shae to the list of people to worry about since she will be starting kindergarten.

The world is a different place then when I grew up and there are some many things that children and parents have to worry about. The one thing that I really get worried about because I am seeing it more and more in the news is bullying and cyber bullying. For some reason kids love to pick on each other and I worry because Shaun and Sabreena are so friendly and easy going that someone may take their kindness for weakness and try to make them a target which really scares me.

Another thing that is very disturbing is that there are more cases of adults bullying children in school and even adults bullying children with disabilities. The one thing that I don’t understand is why children and especially grown adults think that it is ok to pick on someone else. Every time I see a report of an adult bullying a child it instantly saddens me then pisses me off because it takes a real coward and weak person to bully a child. Who cares if they are different for whatever reason because that is what makes the world go around and doesn’t give people the right to take advantage of them because of it.

I wish people accepted other for who they are and left it at that.

Fitness concious folks recognize that to stay fit and healthy is a lifestyle choice not just a 4-6 week program. It takes proper diet choices, daily exercise and an all around attitude towards staying active each and every day. Sure there are pieces of fitness gear you could own that will help you lead a healthier lifestyle such as treadmills, stair climbers and resistance training machines, but how do these abdominal belt fitness gadgets fit into the mix.

At first glance, especially if you’ve seen an infomercial for one of the popular brands such as The Flex Belt or Contour Abs, these products appear too good to be true to say the least. There are toned fitness models wearing the devices and talking about how great they work, but lets face it, those models looked that way before they ever put on an ab toning device.

So do these products have a place in your home fitness routine? Lets dig a bit deeper to find out.

It turns out that the technology these devices use, known as electornic muscle sitmulation (EMS), has been around for over 50 years. It’s been used in the training of elite athletes and also the rehabilitation of injured individuals and those suffering from muscle atrophy.

In a home fitness situation the same technology (EMS) is used to emit slight electronic impulses through the nerve endings surrounding your core and abominal muscles. These pulses cause your abs and obliques to contract and relax. Sessions last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes and are done 5 times a week.

Wearing an abdominal exercise belt has been proven to strengthen your mid section and improve your abdominal endurance. Several popular brands have even been cleared by the FDA as OTC (over the counter) EMS devices. This tells us that they meet this departments strict guidelines for medical grade electronic muscle stimulators.

So if the technology is solid and the FDA has cleared these devices maybe we’re onto something?

Well not so fast.

The issue is that we, as consumers, get the wrong idea about what these devices can do for us. When we see slim and toned individuals on an informercial we connect the dots in our mind thinking “If I use this device, then I’ll look like that”. While the reality is more like “If you follow a weekly exercise routine and eat a healthy diet then this device can help you look like that”.

Ab belts are not a weight loss device. To lose weight you still need to follow the old fashioned process of cutting out junk food, drinking more water, watching your portion size and eating more fruits and vegetables. Combine that with a weekly exercise routine and you’ve got a recipe for weight loss success.

Even popular industry websites like the Ab Belt Report will say that “Ab belts primarily work as adjuncts to physical exercise such as swimming, running and jogging. To help in muscle development, the ab belt should be combined with a healthy diet.”

So do ab belts have a place in a regular fitness routine?

It’s unfortnuately not a black and white answer. Recreational atheletes such as runners, swimmers, tri-atheletes and bikers will probably find some success using abdominal belts. Why? Because stronger abdominals and core muscles will improve their performance at their given sports.

Individuals who are already following a healthy diet and exercise regularly will likely also achieve some good results. I wouldn’t count on looking like a fitness model after six weeks, but you will likely notice your abs feel harder and there is more definition.

The person who doesn’t exercise now, isn’t willing to make any lifestyle changes but wants a push button solution to look and feel better should probably keep their credit card in their wallet because these devices just aren’t going to produce the results you’re expecting.

**This post was provided to Look What Mom Found…and Dad too!**

Buying a new car is one of those things in life we need to do but dread doing.  Most people these days do their research online so that when they get to the dealership they know exactly what they want to test drive and buy.

I have recently been thinking about trading in either my car or Melinda’s van for a new vehicle but I am not really sure what I want to get.  I was looking to see what kind of vans are out there and what the costs are and to me I really like the Toyota Sienna plus I saw a really nice Sienna special offer.

Our van is a 2005 and has done us well with no problems at all and the only reason I want a new van is just for that reason, NEW.  I like new things and I know vehicle technology has come a long way since 2005.  The one HUGE reason that the Sienna sticks out to me is because it advertises gas mileage of 19 city and 25 highway.  Our current van averages 14-15 miles per gallon so at $4 gallon it tends to be expensive when it comes times to fill up.  The only saving grace is Melinda doesn’t drive as much as she used to so a tank of gas will last a week to a week and a half.

Will we buy a new van?  Who knows but I do like the Toyota Sienna and all of its features.

There is nothing better to me than houses that have fireplaces.  To me a fireplace is not only functional but romantic and nice to look at plus it would be awesome to relax by the fire with Melinda after a long day.

When we lived in North Wilmington about 4 years ago our house had a real working fireplace but we never used it once and I think the reason was intimidation.  I had no clue how to start or maintain a fire with wood and was totally afraid of burning the house down.  Looking back I really wish I would have taken the time to learn how to work the fireplace.  

I like when Melinda and I take a trip and rent a hotel room and the room has a nice gas fireplace.  In my opinion I prefer gas or electric because they are easy which is essential because I don’t have any knowledge when it comes to fireplaces. 

You think I would have some knowledge in wood burning fireplaces since my grandfather has had one all of my life.  I remember growing up and watching my grandfather chop wood and stack it all in preparation for the winter.  My grandparents have a wood stove which they still use to this day but to me that looks like a lot of work.  You need to chop wood and store it before you can ever start a fire.  Then you need to start the fire and maintain it throughout the day as well as overnight if you looking to use it as a heating source which my grandparents do.  I remember my grandfather maintaining the fire throughout the day with two knobs on the from that controlled the amount of airflow into the stove so that allowed him to control the temperature of the fire as well as how much wood he burned.  It is crazy because I can remember him messing with the fire what seemed like every other minute.  Who the heck has time to do that? LOL.

I do like the idea of a fireplace or woodstove for heating purposed but I need something that is easy to work as well as maintain.  I also need something that is somewhat safe since we have three kids and two dogs.  There would be nothing worse than one of them getting burnt because of a fireplace. 

Do you have a fireplace in your house?  Do you use it often? As a heating source?