Fanciful Pink Dahlia

This beautiful and fanciful pink dahlia was found at Belle Isle Conservatory. It was one of those seasonal flowers that were on display in pots for easy exchange. I am pretty sure that other flowers have taken their places by now.

I took these pictures way back in early June, when my sister was here visiting Detroit. We spent half a day on the island for various activities.

 

Dahlia comes in so many varieties and colors! They are simply gorgeous flowers to see in the summer. 

Joining Sweet Saturday, and The Simple Things!

Straight Talk Offers Everything You Need Plan

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cell phone has become a necessary in our life, and major carriers know this! They require you to sign a two years contract, and if you want to change carrier later during this time, the termination fee will stop you right on your track. They need no reason or explanation, and customer service is a thing in the past.

For this fear alone, my friend Laurie decided to go with Straight Talk. She doesn't have to worry about signing a contract, credit check, or termination fee. She opts for everything you need plan, which includes 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, and 30 MB of web data. Since having relatives in Canada, she adds another $5 on her line to call a friend.

Straight Talk also offers smart phone choices from Motorola, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, and Nokia. Yes, without a hefty charge of web data like other carriers! If you don't believe me, take a look at a short video below:

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Better yet, click on this link to see what hook, line and sinker Scott of Fantasy Fishing said about Straight Talk, and visit the website to enter for a chance to win some great prizes.

In another three months my contract will expire, and Straight Talk fits in my budget beautifully, without the added string. With this saving I might even consider getting my son one too!

Register Your School At MyCokeRewards to Earn Points For Great Stuffs

This post brought to you by My Coke Rewards. All opinions are 100% mine.

Our school has been collecting box tops, bottles, and newspapers these last few years to help with financial shortage. We also sell Entertainment coupon books, frozen foods, flower baskets, and many other things in order to support our school many activities.

When I heard of My Coke rewards for schools, I couldn't be happier and couldn't wait to tell my school about this program since every bit adds up. We could use the reward points to get classroom supplies, books for our library, or sport equipment for the children.

Parents, teachers, administrators, and anyone can register to donate their points to the school of their choice. Since we are on summer break, I have called the president of our PTA and relate the news. She will sign our school up and starts rally on all the parents with a newsletter as soon as she can.

I also emphasize to her that from July 13 to September 30, Sprite is giving away 25 playgrounds to schools. For anyone who enters the code from the purchase of Sprite/Sprite Zero products; the school will be entered into the sweepstakes. Moreover, every three points donated through the Sprite Spark Parks, the school is also eligible for additional chances. If your child school is important to you, then do it now and don't wait.

The process of registering a school or donating points is very easy! Just go to www.mycokerewards.com/schools and follow a few simple steps. Your school will be on its way earning great stuffs, and your children are the beneficiary. Take a look at the rewards catalog here: www.mycokerewards.com/school-catalog if you are curious!

Thursday Two Questions #46-Air Condition in Home

It is finally hot enough here in Metro Detroit for us to install our window air conditioner to take refuge. In fact, the heat wave was so bad that police officers had to stroll the neighborhood looking out for animals' well being.

For those that have no place to cool off, the nearby city even set up a so called Cooling Station. Imagine that! And this is the first time I've heard of this service even though I have lived here most of my life.

Dressing the flower with water drops

We have no central air, and I have no desire to invest in this expensive venture, so I'm very happy with my window units.  They kept us cool and comfortable. Moreover, I heard that window air units are also much cheaper than central air to run.

Questions then:

1) Which is more affordable to run: central air or window air units?

2) What are you currently using, or has the summer bill makes a big different on your energy usage?

Join others at Thursday Two Questions!

Beautiful Pink Flowers At A Pond

 

It was hot around here last week, and being near the water had a calming and cooling effect on us! While I truly just point and shoot in the glaring sun light, I didn't see the beautiful pink bleeding heart flowers hanging over the water. Yes, I saw that pretty pink water lily but not the bleeding hearts.

Joining Watery Wednesday !

Sensational Deep Rose Salvia

Did you read the title of this post? It is what this flower is called on the tag inside the pot, and I think it is just perfect for it.

I would love to get lost in a field of this sensational deep rose salvia flowers, and just day dreaming my life away. They were beautiful sitting in the pots of many rows at the green house.

Here in our neck of the woods, the weather has been steadily in the high 90, and it is very hot. So stay cool, and have a fabulous weekend with your loved ones...

Linking this post to Sweet Saturday, Your Sunday Best and The Simple Things!

Thursday Two Questions #45-FaceBook Social Button

Learning is a never ending endeavor, especially when it comes to internet! You will learn at least one new thing everyday if you wanted too. As for blog owners, the "must know" is even more demanding than normal.

Every page you landed on carry either a Twitter button, Facebook Like button, Facebook Fan Page, Facebook Share button, and/or both! These two giant social media sites are the "talk of the town" these last few years.

I have installed the FB Like button on Wandering Thought, and the Share button on Beyond Wandering and Beyond Zephyr. I like both but not sure if it does anything more than that. I fooled around with the Fan Page too, but didn't want to have too many gadgets on the blog. Besides, I just don't think it does any good.

So here are my questions for this week:

1) What is your opinion about Facebook Fan Page, Share button, or Like button?

2) Do you have one of these gadgets on your blog? Do you see any spectacular different?

Join others at Thursday Two Questions!

Scholarships In the U.S.

If you think I'm rushing you back to school, then it is not my intention, really! I am, however, thinking of those who have plan to go to college and wonder with questions on how to afford the costs of tuition, books, or fees.

As many of you knew, my daughter is currently in college, and I have watched her searching for scholarship/grants every year. One of her favorite sites to do so is here, besides FAFSA! Click on the link to look for the type of grant that you're interested in.

You will find engineering grants, or grants for physical therapy students. Take advantage of this services to fund your education and to have a better future for yourself.

Online Programs

It seems as if summer weather has finally arrived here with the constant heat wave, and my mind is further away from thinking about school or soccer. However, stores across town remind me to stock up on school supplies with their display and ads. You can't go anywhere without running into this frenzy.

For those that heading to college, I hope that you have filled out a Free Application For Federal Student Aid http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to help with the cost of education, or at least search for scholarship or grant that you might be qualified for. Many kids I know combined the actual going to class, and taking Online Courses to accommodate their work schedule.

With today technology, you can earn your degree online in almost any field. One of my daughter's friends is aiming to get his online degree programs in aviation. Can you image that? Aviation online! He has a full time job, and the only way he can better his future is tapping into the flexibility of online classes.

He is one that uses his smart-phone in a smart way that I know of! With determination and discipline, anything is possible. We just have to find what works best for us.

Wind Surfer

What to do on a hot, humid, and muggy day? Get to your nearest lake! In this case: Metro Beach, along with your water toys!

Jump in, and go wind surfing to stay cool!

Joining Watery Wednesday, and Outdoor Wednesday!

Dwarf Korean Purple Lilac

One of the new plants that I've noticed this year at the nursery was this Dwarf Korean purple lilac. Since the plant was smaller, so were the flowers, and the scent is heavenly the same.

I would love to have this dwarf lilac in my yard, but the only thing seems to grow around my area is weed and unwanted plants.

Another weekend is here so enjoy your time with family and friends!

Joining Sweet Saturday and Your Sunday Best!

Thursday Two Questions #44-Resting Sites

I am supposed to get a post ready for Thursday Two Questions, but my mind is blank! Or is it too full that I can't see through my own thought? Summer should be a time to have less stress and chores. However, it is not so!

It is amazing how each day keeps flying by so fast, and then by the end of the day I have to question myself what did I do. Funny how I don't even remember a major part of my day! I am however, regretfully reached the decision to let go of Dances Of Dreams, Blessing Reflections, and Reach Beyond Limits websites!

It was a difficult decision because they are my soul babies! They have helped me making the necessary income to make ends meet these last few years. (Not much, but I can tell you they come in very handy!) The main reason for this decision was this: I have four websites with four different identities! Therefore, when returning comments, I have to sign in four different accounts, and comment on the same blog as four different persons. Crazy huh, and you can tell I didn't think it thoroughly.

I have replaced the lost of these websites with two new ones: Beyond Wandering, and Beyond Zephyr as one person with Wandering Thought. I believe, truly I am, that this will cut down the already limited time that I have.

All right, your mind must have read "blah blah, blah blah..." by now, therefore I will go straight to my two questions for this week:

1) When you landed on a website, do you scrolling down all the way to the bottom just to see what else the blog has to offer?

2) Do you comment on older posts?

Join others at Thursday Two Questions!

Just Us

Joining Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, and Outdoor Wednesday!

Closing In On Lavender Flowers

Whew..the week went by so fast, and my mind is still stuck in a holiday mood, can you tell? I haven't post much on my other blogs, and very tempting to go on a long hiatus since I need to define some order or direction at the moment.

But hey, the flowers are still sweet and beautiful to see. I swear these little flowers had a pretty color of lavender, but my camera doesn't like that color very often, and the photos always carried a hue of blue. In any case, enjoy your weekend...

Joining Sweet Saturday!

Moving Tips From Designer Lisa Laporta

Lisa Laporta is one of my favorite designers on HGTV show called Design to Sell. She has provided many ideas on how to make a home more appealing and sellable from outside area to inside for many years. Her suggestions are practical, and manageable for average people like me.

Now, if you are in the market of moving, Lisa Laporta Offers Moving Tips in this must see video. I find her tips very helpful in organizing my house, even though I have no plan on moving for the next 8 years, especially on all the electrical wires. Not only are they messy looking, they also collect so much dust, which is hard to keep clean.

The Cool Tips section on this video also provides many useful ideas and tips from Planning a Move, How to Avoid a Moving Nightmare,  to Packing Your Entertainment,  to Staging Out Your House before listing it on the market. As I have mentioned, Lisa's ideas are very doable, and inexpensive for your pocket.

Summer seems to be the perfect time for moving. In fact, my friend Joe, who is in this moving business, all booked up for the next few months. Do you know that there are nearly 60 tasks to get through before the move, if you want the transition from one home to another easier? I didn't know that!

Thursday Two Questions #43-Morning Routines

Routine can be so boring at times! We do the same thing every day. We wake up, we eat, we work, and we go to sleep. The next day, we repeat, give and take with different chores or errands. However, routine gives us a sense of direction and order, keeping us intact.

I am a creature of habits. I wake up early, 5:30 to 6:00, have my morning coffee, and check in to my online life such as blogs, emails, commenting, and yes Facebook. Then I schedule posts or take my writing assignments.

Without my routines, I feel unproductive and the day seems strange. I do though, can be spontaneous and go with the flow when it calls for. I rearrange my day to make it works, but not without my morning coffee.

1) What is the one thing you do in the morning that you can't skip?

2) Would you miss doing your routines?

Join others at Thursday Two Questions!

Cool Gadgets at Geek Alerts

Kids have their toys, and adults have their toys! Toys in this case are the new electronic Cool Gadgets nowadays that most of us want to have. From Kindle, to 4g mobile phone, to GPS, to the latest compact digital camera, to the new tablet we have our wish list tucking somewhere and save for the right occasion!

I like looking at new gadgets even though I might not purchase them right away, but it is fun to see what are out there in the market. GeekAlerts.com is one of my favorite sites to browse, and find out more information on the new technology. In fact, I even wrote an article which listed my Top Five Gadget Websites on Triond.

Moreover, GeekAlerts also offered ways to save money by searching through many different stores, such as Best Buy, Office Depot coupon code, Amazon, Dell, Apple Store, and even Musicians Friend coupon. You will find some cool and awesome devices to marvel about on this website.

You don't have to be "geeky" to look at gadgets. We live in a society where new inventions entering into the market all the time, and they serve the purpose of entertaining, useful, fun, and just down right out of this world.

Find Answers On How-To Site

If you are looking for a tutorial or an answer to any question, you will be glad to know that a site called howtolounge.com provides such service in great detail. It is like a forum where you can enter your email address, name, and answer to the question on the site.

Many of you know that I used to write at eHow on a variety of subjects, with step by step direction on "how to" do something. The format on this site is the same: simple, easy, and straight forward without big complicated words. The answer is listed in numerical order.

Take How To Find Slope for an example, you can see that the author has break it down to only a few steps, and very easy to comprehend.

Since anyone can provide, or write a solution to the "how to" questions, it is interesting to read different perspectives, and know that these authors are just like us who have real experiences or expertise to share.

I am always short on time, and the articles I found on this site are direct and concrete tutorials so they fit in with my busy schedule. It is a plus to understand what to do without having to pull out hair!