#HootSuite helps me kick social media butt

#HootSuite helps me kick social media butt. http://hootsuite.com

I am so excited that I discovered Hoot Suite! I have 3 Facebook accounts, several Facebook pages and 4 Twitter accounts. Hoot Suite allows me to update any number of these at once. I love that I don’t have to log in and out of each of these accounts to share the same information. Thanks Mashable for sharing this!

Congrats to the Rays on their No Hitter

Congrats to the Rays on their No Hitter last night!

Our Trip To Sarasota, Part 2: St. Armands Circle

One the things I liked best about staying at the Lido Beach Holiday Inn was its proximity to St. Armands Circle. It took less than five minutes to walk the 3 blocks to the European style shopping plaza. There are over 130 shops and restaurants in the circle. Most of the shops were too expensive for us to shop in but window shopping is FREE! We went to St. Armands Circle to eat, though, not shop. Our first evening in Sarasota we ate dinner ate Cha Cha Coconuts. We started with the Peel & Eat Shrimp, which were so yummy! Then I had their Yucatan Fish Tacos. They were good but I’ll try something different next time.

After dinner we took a short walk around the circle to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop. I loved my Phish Food ice cream, but it cost about $4 for a very small cup and my husband bought his own. Next time we’ll get the next size up and get a flavor we both like for less than $8.

The day we checked out of our hotel we parked at St. Armands Circle, which wasn’t all that difficult on a Friday morning, and stopped by a couple of shops. First, I stopped by Kilwin’s to pick up some chocolate peanut butter fudge (made in the shop daily) and a bag of Australian red licorice for my dad’s birthday. It came out to $14.50, but the quality  was well worth the money.

After that, we went to Starbucks to eat a tasty Farmer’s Market Salad. As far as I can tell, nearly every eatery has outdoor seating so you can sit and enjoy your food or beverage while gazing at the beautiful courtyard in the center of the circle. I didn’t have the chance walk through the courtyard, but I did love all the Italian statues and palm trees along the walkways. We even saw some young men playing guitars that looked like they were fashioned from cereal boxes; I wish snapped a picture of them.

I hope we go back to St. Armands Circle sometime soon. On our next visit, I’d like to spend more time checking out the shops filled with beautiful clothes, eat dinner at the famous Columbia Restaurant, and grab some ice cream at Kilwin’s.

A Father’s Day Poem

Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful dads and grandpas out there! The world wouldn’t be the same without. Here’s a cute poem that I found online at FunMunch.com. I hope you like it.

Fathers are wonderful people

Fathers are wonderful people,
too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
as often as we should,

For Father struggles daily
to live up to his image
As protector and provider
and hero of the scrimmage,

And perhaps that is the reason
we sometimes get the notion
That fathers are not subject
to the thing we call emotion.

But if you look inside Dad’s heart,
where no one else can see,
You’ll find he’s sentimental
and soft as he can be.

Fathers are just wonderful
in a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
and accolades of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires
to fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
and bring them happiness,

And like our heavenly Father,
he’s a guardian and a guide,
Someone we can count on
to be always on our side.

And of course dads can be a lot of fun too!

Grill Safety Tips: What Fire Marshall Bill Didn’t Teach Us

Dads and grilling seem to go hand in hand. My dad used to grill steaks for our family at least once a week.  My husband also loves the grill that he received as a birthday gift our first year married. It’s the only kind of cooking he knows how to do. However, I’m just thankful for his help with dinner. I’m a big fan of grilled meat and veggies, but I am NOT a fan of fire. What is it about men and fire?

Ladies, we all know that Summer is the season for BBQs and cookouts; it’s up to us to make sure our pyromaniac men do not hurt themselves or burn down any nearby structures. Hopefully, the only grill marks you’ll see this summer will be on your chicken, steak and hotdogs and not on your guy’s appendages, but here are 15 Grill Safety Tips you may find helpful.

Let me show you something. This guy should not be your "fire marshall".

1. Assign a “fire marshall”, someone who is always in charge of the fire.
2. Read the owner’s manual for your grill carefully. Make sure you assemble it correctly and follow the instructions exactly.
3. Always grill outside in a well ventilated area, away from high traffic areas and be aware of windblown sparks.
4. Do not grill near buildings (at least 10 feet away), dry leaves or brush. Do not grill under combustible surfaces.
5. Make sure your grill is stable, not be easily tipped over.
6. Use long-handled utensils that are made for grilling.
7. If using a gas grill, you should always check connectors and tubes to make sure there are no leaks or blockages.
8. Wear safe clothing–no frills, loose shirt tails or apron strings. Wear fire-retardant gloves.
9. Keep flare-ups under control.
10. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Use a bucket of sand and hose to put out a fire if you don’t have an extinguisher.
11. Never leave a lit grill unattended, especially when children are nearby and do not let them play near it even if an adult is present.
12. Never move a hot grill. You could easily stumble and burn yourself. The grill may still be hot up to an hour after use.
13. A clean grill is a safe grill. Remove the grease that has built up on the grates and at the bottom of the grill to prevent flare-ups.
14. Try your best not to breath in the smoke from the grill, it contains carbon monoxide and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (cancer causing substances).
15. Do not drink alcohol while grilling. You want to be clear-headed and quick in case a fire starts.

Sometimes We Insure Cool Stuff Like These Motorcycles

We insured this totally custom-made bike which was in the movie Sin City.

We also insured this 2004 Vengeance Chopper Vertibreak for the same client.

If you have a motorcycle or any other vehicle you’d like to insure, call us at 1-888-721-1949 or stop by our office (11322 Seminole Blvd. Largo, FL). We’ll make sure you get the best coverage at the best price. We’ll check to see if you qualify for any discounts like:

-Mature Rider
-Insuring multiple motorcycles
-Renewals
-Multiple policies with our agency

Contact us for a free quote today!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here ‘neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you’ve given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.

-C.W. Johnson

I came across this lovely poem today. The poet is a veteran, who put his life on the line by serving in our military, but he doesn’t hold himself in regard. Instead, he has a greater appreciation for the men who’s lives were sacrificed for our freedoms. Today, let’s remember those who are no longer with us, whether they died in battle or died at home, but let’s also celebrate the lives of the men and women serving now. They don’t know their fate, yet they fight for us anyway. Thank you to all the men and women who have served in the military and still do.

Today I can’t help but think of both my grandfathers, Gerald Winter (Navy) and Otto Leland (Army), who both served our country well and are no longer with us. I remember painting my Pop’s Navy tattoo with water colors as a little girl and being so proud of him. I never met my Grandpa Leland, but I have always enjoyed looking at his photos, military medals and the helmet he wore in WWII. I’m proud of him too.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

This post goes out to all the teachers of the world and especially those teachers who took the time to encourage me. You set an excellent example for me and I’m better mother for it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Koth, my second grade teacher, for teaching me how to draw Garfield the cat and helping me make my first book of stories and poems. I think my mom still has it packed away in the attic. I love doing math drills and playing “popcorn” in your class.

Thank you, Mrs. Elsesser, my after school teacher, for teaching me to doodle.

Thank you, Mrs. Pisieczko, my 4th and 5th grade teacher, for never telling me how to spell a word and always making me look it up in the dictionary. I’m a better speller because of you. Thank you for making school fun with group projects and the occasional head-stands. Thank you for letting me observe your classes for my college education course.

Thank you, Mr. Ziegler, my middle school Life Science teacher, for repeating yourself over and over again for the class’ sake and for letting me hold the class chameleon. I always enjoyed going to your classroom and seeing interesting animals everyday.

Thank you, Senora Torres, my high school Spanish teacher, for teaching me to speak and write Spanish. You were firm, but that’s what we needed. I enjoyed your class so much, I elected to take Spanish 3 during Summer School. Did you know that I started dreaming and thinking in Spanish? Hay dios mio!

Thank you, Mrs. Mickey for teaching me American History. I’ll never forget the day we flipped our desks over to make bunkers and had an all out paper ball war. I actually did something similar with my Pre-K summer camp group.

Thank you, Mr. Hoge, my high school Economics teacher, for keeping us entertained with mock stocks and silly videos. I still tell people about Bogie’s surf team and how we had tryouts in the middle of class. Surfs up, Monte!

Thank you, Toni Allen, my Intro to Philosophy professor, for teaching me logic and how to think clearly. You taught me that faith in God is reasonable and wonderful. You also taught me about hospitality and cooking, two things I now love.

I will never forget these men and women and what they taught me. I hope my little boys are blessed to have teachers as wonderful as mine. I hope I can be one of those teachers too.

A Review of Weedon Island Preserve

Alistair likes this exhibit the most.

He loves spinning the wheel round and round.

I love to stroll the boardwalk on a gorgeous day like this. We often see osprey flying overhead.

We always stop here on our walks to enjoy the view.

If you live in Tampa Bay and haven’t checked out Weedon Island Preserve, I hope you will soon. Actually, there’s a decent chance that you never knew it existed. Even though it’s near Gandy Boulevard and 4th Street, two major roads in St. Petersburg, it’s a little out-of-the-way. If you head east down 83rd Avenue from 4th Street, you’ll eventually run into the entrance to the preserve. I often take my boys (ages 3-years and 3 months) to Weedon Island to go on long walks through the mangroves and to explore the Cultural and Natural History Center. On hot days, I recommend getting there by 10:00 a.m. and strolling the boardwalk, then check out the indoor exhibits. The preserve is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until the posted time and the center is open Thursday-Monday from 9:00 a.m. til 4:00 p.m..

Weedon Island has a 6,600 ft. Interpretive Trail that is both wheelchair and stroller friendly. The trail opened in May 2007 and it has many educational signed posted along the way. Visitors can learn all kinds of information about the plants, animals and the history of the island. There’s a sign that tells you what a snag is and why it’s important not to remove it. Another sign shares the benefits of a rotting log. One of the funnier ones, is a sign that informs trail walkers about the different kinds of scat (animal poop) you can find along the way. These signs are colorful and interactive which is appealing to kids. However, my son is a little too short (3ft. 3 in.) to see some of them. While walking you may see lots of birds perched in trees or flying overhead and lots of magnificent spider webs in the trees–spiders included of course. I wish I knew what kind they are. Down below you can see the roots of the mangroves and maybe a snake and some crabs making their way through the mud. If you get tired, there’s a deck overlooking the lake. The kids always look for kayakers and birds swooping down to catch fish. It’s a nice spot to take a break, grab a drink and enjoy the view.

If you need to get out the heat, because it’s almost always above 80 degrees here, then you can head inside the Cultural and Natural History Center. The center has central air conditioning, bathrooms, a very small gift shop, and helpful volunteers. You’ll also find lots of wonderful hands-on exhibits that are very educational and entertaining. There’s a man-made mangrove that you can crawl through, broken pottery you can rebuild with magnets, videos about marine research and all kinds of stuff to push and pull on. My son has been enjoying the exhibits since he was a little more than a year old and I think it would be fun for elementary kids too. Adults and older ones can learn about water conservation and pollution, ecosystems, snake habits,  the history of Weedon Island, how the natives made canoes from pine trees and how they can make their backyards more wildlife-friendly.

Right now the county is talking about shutting down the preserve, as well as Brooker Creek Preserve because of budget cuts. I would hate to lose this beautiful place; it’s such a great resource for Pinellas county schools and families. I would gladly pay a small fee to get in, if it meant keeping it around for a long time. So please take your family to Weedon Island Preserve  while it’s still here and let the county know how much you appreciate it!

Weedon Island is located at 1800 Weedon Drive NE St. Petersburg, FL 33702

For more information, visit these websites:

http://www.weedonislandpreserve.org

http://www.weedonislandpreserve.org/

http://www.brookercreekpreserve.org/

Happy Earth Day! I brought You Some Green Tips!

I’ve done some searching online and have found some tips for being more earth-friendly. I’d love to hear how you’re celebrating Earth Day (its 40th anniversary) and how you’re saving our beautiful planet. Even the smallest efforts make a difference.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

1. Compost: Compost improves the soil, which allows it to hold more water. It also helps plants to grow better. Use kitchen waste and food scraps for compost. Instead of bagging up your lawn clippings, leave them. They’ll decompose and return to the soil naturally.

2. Don’t trash it: Instead of throwing something out, find a way to reuse it. Turn an ice cream carton into a flower-pot, plant seeds in an egg carton or turn a cardboard tube into a spyglass for the kids. Find more ideas here.

3. Bring your own bag: Instead of using paper or plastic bags at the grocery store, bring your own reusable bag. Stores like Publix sell them for 99 cents each and they hold a lot more than a flimsy plastic bag. If you do have paper bags at home, try turning them into art paper. Just cut down one corner and cut off the bottom so lays out flat. We use these at home for painting, because they’re so sturdy.

Save Energy

1. Drive less: Work from home if possible. I do all my work from. It not only reduces my carbon footprint but it saves me money on gas and a babysitter. If you have to drive, try carpooling with your coworkers. It’s a great way to save on gas and make friends. Try to plan out your errands so you spend less time driving, which will reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.

2. Energy Star: Replace your conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs last longer and use less energy. When it comes time to replace a major appliance, buy an Energy Star appliance. In the meantime, your washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. may already have some energy-saving settings. My old dishwasher has a water saver setting that I use for each load. My dryer also has an energy-saving setting.

3. e-Cycle: Drop off your old computer, DVD player, printer and other electronics to an electronics recycling center. We took our old printer to Best Buy, and they take just about everything else. You can also check here for other eCycling centers.

Save Water

1. Run a full load: Only run your dishwasher when it’s full and don’t pre-rinse. Pre-rinsing doesn’t improve the quality of the wash, but it does waste as much as 20 gallons of water per load. It’s also better to wash a full load of clothes. Once the load of clothes is washed, try-hang-drying them. You’ll save money and energy. Plus your clothes will last longer than the ones that go through the dryer.

2. Quick Shower: You use a lot less water when you take a shower instead of a bath. It takes about 70 gallons to fill a bathtub, but a 5-minute shower only uses 10-25 gallons. To make sure your shower is quick, set a timer for yourself. You can save even more money and water by installing a water-efficient shower-head.

3. Drip no more: Fix leaky faucets. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted each year on these dripping fixtures. You should also fix leaky toilets and hoses.

I found these tips at the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s website. Go there to find even more environmental tips. Yesterday I found some really great ideas on how to turn trash into art and toys at Disney’s Family Fun magazine website. I especially love the tin can robots and cookie sheet bulletin board.