Thursday, May 30, 2013

Why I love U.S. Cellular



FTC disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.


U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween.  You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them. 


When I first signed up for a cell phone in 2007, I didn't have much choice of carrier.  If I wanted to receive coverage at my home, U.S. Cellular was my only option.  I've grown to love my carrier, and I never plan on switching!  I remember a party I had at my home a few years ago and one of the ladies said she was using her U.S. Cellular phone in an elevator.  That was back when most phones couldn't get reception in elevators and people asked her what carrier she had because they were so impressed.

Monday, May 27, 2013

I'm home from Faith and Fitness Week!

I didn't abandon all my faithful readers!  I spent the last week in north Texas at Faith and Fitness camp sponsored by RetroFit Ministries.  During this week I had the opportunity to train with some of the best personal trainers in the United States including John Heart who is the 2013 Mr. America for weight lifting.





We spent four hours a day working out.  That included everything from weight training with John to water aerobics.





You can see me in this photo in the front right.  I posted this on Facebook and told everyone that I looked like I was about ready to pass out, but I do have to say it was an amazing workout!
(Photo courtesy of RetroFit Ministries.)

There were also three former Biggest Loser contestants there.   Such a sweetheart was Alex Reid from Season 14.




The camp was organized by Ken and Austin Andrews from Season 11.  Here I am receiving my "Dare to Soar" award at the end of the week.  (Austin is on the right and Ken is on the left.)




I'll be sharing more about the camp soon.  It was an amazing, life changing experience and I am so glad I went!


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Goal setting and Online Selling (Guest Post)

When Chip Meyer, a work at home dad, posted this on an eBay seller's group I belong to I asked him if he would like to have a guest post for me here on The Radar Report.  He agreed to let me use his post which I found highly motivational. Thanks, Chip.

You can check out his YouTube channel here and find his sales on eBay here.

~~~~~

I see a lot of people talk about needing to make extra money. I think a lot of people around the country/world are in this same situation. But, the solution is pretty simple. If you struggle with work ethic and motivation.......find something that gives you HOPE.

For me, it's playing with numbers. I can calculate my profit on items I sell and learn how many I need to list to sell a certain number per month, per week, per day, etc. It's simple math. But, when I start looking at the numbers, I realize the ridiculously small amount of effort it takes to push just a little harder. You can honestly build your business as big as you want to.

The beauty is YOU control YOU from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. And, playing with the numbers and pushing just a little harder can demonstrate on paper just how much of your dreams you can realize.....and in how much time.

I encourage you, if you are struggling with hope, to break down some numbers on paper, pin them on your computer/work station/bathroom mirror/anywhere you will receive a constant reminder of how simple it is to list 5 things a day, or 10, or even 1....whatever it takes to get to your goal of $5000/mo or maybe just 1 sale a week. They are YOUR dreams....none are too big nor too small.

And use that excitement you find to attack your goals head-on today. For that excitement you feel inside.......is hope. And, it motivates you when channeled properly.

Now, GO GET EM!  ~ Chip Meyer 


~~~~~~

You can visit his eBay store here:  Choppography

His Golf Shirts 101 video:


Saturday, May 18, 2013

Faith and Fitness Week is here!

It's finally time for me to be headed to Faith and Fitness Week.  Although I am planning on taking my computer, it's likely I won't be blogging much this week.  I'm really looking forward to spending a week learning about nutrition, meeting others, and as one of my friends said, I plan on "having a productive blast".   I'll be sure and share photos when I return and give updates on my weight loss.

I fueled up the car at Sheetz and bought an M-T-Go for the road (or would that be "air") since I'll be at the airport at 10 and dinner isn't until 7 Eastern.

Now, I'm going to sign off and finish packing!  I figure others would appreciate if I took enough clothes to get through the week! 

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Entering for the Intended Area

This is something that obviously needs to be stated about Sweepstakes.  If a sweepstakes doesn't have "limited to" and certain areas, enter wisely.  I realize you might travel to an area often and honestly be able to use a gift card.  In fact, there are items that sometimes the sweepstakes aren't open to my state but I can buy the products in stores because I do most of my shopping in the next state.  (I live right on the line.)  Sometimes radio stations or small businesses might make you pick up your prize in person. If you can do so reasonably, by all means enter, but if not why waste your time trying to win a small prize from a place halfway across the country?  Why not concentrate on sweepstakes intended for your area?

Monday, May 13, 2013

Field Trip!

I have a friend who she and I try to get together twice a month.  Two weeks ago we were discussing when we would get together next, and she said it looked like it would be when she picks me up from the airport after my Faith and Fitness week.  I made a suggestion of another time, and she said it wouldn't work for her, then added her son was going on a field trip.  Parents were driving so I was able to ride with her and be a chaperone for the day.  (Or as her son asked while pointing to our identification, "Why does that say a "Chapter One?")

We went to the Carnagie Science Center in Pittsburgh.  We saw a show about light and it's properties, spent time in the museum including the SportsWorks, and also saw the iMax movie "Flight of the Butterflies"

It was a fun day and I hadn't been on a 3rd grade field trip in three decades!


Infrared me:
 


I'm taller than this robot!


 I'm in the science center and I still find a sweepstakes to enter!


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Tough Week for Weight Loss

This past week has been a tough week for weight loss for me.  To begin, something out of the past started weighing heavily on my mind.

Then there was the "normal" stresses of the week.   First thing that happened was a $300 item I sold at Amazon.com was returned saying it was an unauthorized purchase.  I was thrilled to have sold that because that more than paid the rest of the expenses for the camp for me.  I did get it returned and it's still brand new, and I can resell, but I lost $20 on shipping it.  (The amount given to me to ship it wasn't enough to cover all the expenses, but I didn't mind because I was able to get so much more for it there than eBay.)  THEN someone changed a listing from a single item I was selling on Amazon to a multi-pack.  I'm now wondering if it was changed BEFORE or AFTER my three orders yesterday.  I've currently pulled my items until it gets fixed.  (And hopefully it will!)

Then the car needed work.  Not just one new part as we thought, but it's still in the shop and it's going to be about five hours of labor.

My wound from the toilet seat cut I incurred at my dentist's office started draining again.  I'm hoping that doesn't mean another trip to the doctor.

I'm getting nervous. . . I created this ticket to show how soon I leave for camp!


Monday, May 6, 2013

Book Review: The Church Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholic Call Home by Cardinal Wuerl

FTC disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.  This post contains affiliate links.

What is the church like that you attend?  Is there a cross up front?  Is it a crucifix?  A tapestry of The Last Supper?  A stained glass dove?  I’ve been in churches that had one  of these at the front, but in a Catholic Church it will be a crucifix.  Do you know why?  It is because “The cross with the image of Christ crucified is a reminder of Christ’s paschal mystery.  It draws us into our suffering when united with the passion and death of Christ leads to redemption.”  (Page 105).  I had always wondered about why Catholics display a crucifix instead of an empty cross, and now I know.

While reading Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s latest book “The Church:  Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home”, I felt like I was being guided by a man I consider a mentor of my faith though we have never met.  It felt like he was showing me every bit of a Catholic Church, from the artwork to the baptismal font.  He explains in detail why things are the way they are.  Did you know that baptismal fonts are often eight sided?  That’s something you can read about in this book.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Don't reject me because I'm not a Mom!

I'm single.  And childless.  Do I want children?  Yes!  So why don't I have them?  Because I believe it's in God's plan to wait until marriage, I am childless.  (Please don't judge me for this.  I am not making a judgment on others here, but I need to do what is right for me.  One time I was telling a friend how I would like children, and she mentioned adoption, and I said I think children need a dad, and she said, "Mommies need a daddy to help as well!")

Single moms almost seem idolized to me.  "Wow.  You are raising your children all by yourself?"  Sure, it's a tough job.  I'm not saying it's easy.  But neither should women who are mothers be thought of more highly as those who don't have children.

I've watched women cry through services on Mother's Day at church.  Why?  They want children and don't have them.  I'm not saying the world needs to cater to the childless, but don't reject us just because we are childless.

Last year I visited a church on Mother's Day and was given a flower to wear.  I told the usher, "I don't have children."  He smiled and said, "Wear it anyway."  I felt so included.  For the first time ever!  I have children in my life, they just aren't mine.  Did it hurt the usher to give me the flower?  Would it hurt any church to give the childless Sunday School teacher a carnation on Mother's Day and say, "You have 10 children in your Sunday School class each week, you have a mother's heart."?  I don't think it would, but instead in most churches those who are waiting for marriage receive nothing but a heavy heart while a teenager is called to the front to receive a special gift for being the youngest mother present.  (And honestly, does that 14 year old really want attention to the fact she's so young and has a child?)

I've felt rejected over the years because I'm not a mother.  The first time was when a pastor's wife told me I was in sin because I was single and not a mother.  She said God designed for women to be married and have children.  I was actually told if I wouldn't submit to God's plan for me to be a wife I should go get myself pregnant so I would be in less sin by at least fulfilling the call of motherhood that all women were created to be.  Really?  Doesn't the Bible teach fornication (sex before marriage) is sin?  So I should sin to be in less sin?  Clear as mud!

In fact, I asked a church once about what ministries they had I might be able to get involved with someday.  I was told that they only allow people to minister as families.  That's a great idea in theory.  However, since I'm single and don't have children, I couldn't do anything.  If I was married or if I was a single Mom, I would be able to help at VBS, be a nursery worker, or anything else that needed done.

I have a blog.  I am building it up and increasing readership.  When I do a giveaway I list it on over ONE HUNDRED different mommy blogger link ups.  I believe I write good and thorough reviews.  Some of the "reviews" I have seen on other blogs at times are just copying the back cover of a book or DVD.  That's not a review.  That's cut and paste.  I don't know if she enjoyed the book, DVD, or how well the fabric softener worked. But it's okay.  Because SHE is a Mom.  I was rejected recently from yet another blogging program because I don't have children of my own.

I don't have children of my own for religious reasons -- once I am married, I hope to adopt.  (I'm so old I don't think I'll be able to have children of my own.)

I am not the type of Christian who will scream "persecution" over being rejected from certain blogging programs just because I don't have children because of my religious beliefs.  I've been to China and I know what real persecution is.  However, I do feel I'm being judged unjustly.  I don't need to have children to know how well a laundry detergent work because I have my own clothes to wash! I have had children's literature classes in college, and I know what constitutes a good book.  (I read about 100 books a year, as well.)  I love to read books for all ages, and the fact I cannot read to a child to whom I am a legal guardian doesn't mean I don't know if a book is good or not, and it doesn't matter if the children I read it to are mine or the child of a friend for them to know if they enjoy a book or not!

I enjoy blogging and enjoy writing reviews.  If you know of any review programs that don't discriminate against women who are following what they believe God's plan for their life is, please let me know, or if you are a company who would like me to review for you, please contact me at jenndiggy at gmail dot com and I will be in touch.  Just because I'm childless doesn't mean my opinion is less valuable than someone who has been able to have children. 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

May Goals

I was reading a post on a message board I frequent where everyone tells their goals for the month.  I thought that was a great idea, and decided to list mine here because mine aren't all related to the theme of the message board.

Obviously, with me attending Faith and Fitness Week in Texas from May 19-24, that's is 1/4 of my month right there, and I need to plan accordingly.

So my goals for the month:

  • lose 10 pounds.  I am just hoping to maintain this week since I was not feeling well yesterday as well as rediscovered my love of pickles this week.  Pickles are low in calories, but high in sodium, and I am sensitive to the amount of sodium in foods, so I am hoping to just maintain for my weigh-in on the 6th
  • Sell more on eBay in May than I did in April.  You can check out my eBay items here.
  • Get the guest room ready for guests!
  • Go out to garage sales one day every week for more eBay items!
  • Exercise 20 hours.  (Let's start slow on this one!)
  • Read three books.
Now, it's a new month, and LET'S DO THIS!