Stand Up for Family

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Family Insurance for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

American Family Insurance has a new way of promoting their company.

And since it is a family oriented service, it only makes sense that they use families in their advertising.

And when you add stand up comedy to the mixture, you get a successful and very entertaining way of getting your message out to folks.

We all have instances in our childhood that are bad - they go along with the good ones, and they help to make us the people we are today.

AmFam is featuring several different comedians in their Stand Up For Family videos.

And they are really funny.

I watched the Old School Grandmother video by Mark Vierra, and it was cute.

From the several that I have watched, I found them to be quite entertaining, and something that we can all relate to.

A little something for everyone in the family to get a chuckle out of.

The importance of families can never be mentioned or stressed enough, and I like the way this company has put together their promotions of it.

As the economy becomes tighter, families are starting to come together more.

So, take a seat together and watch some of these videos - it's free and everyone will enjoy the stand up routines in these comedies.

The Best Roast Beef

Growing up, a roast beef cooked with potatoes, carrots, and onions in a pan in the oven was the only kind we had.

It was all right - the meat was always very well done and the flavors of the vegetables all tasted like the meat and they were coated with the cooked fat.

It was never my favorite, so I can count on one hand the beef roasts I have cooked in the last thirty years for my family.

I thought that was the only way the should be cooked.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I tried something very new - for me, that is.

I bought a roast on sale, and I wanted to do it really good and was willing to take a chance.

After rubbing it with an oil and herb mixture, I cooked it in a 475 degree oven for 15 minutes.

The oven was then turned down to 275 degrees..

Then I pulled out my trusty thermometer, and tested that meat after 30 minutes.

And I kept testing it until it reached 130 degrees internal temperature.

Since it still cooks once it is removed from the oven, I let it sit for about 10 minutes.

The internal temp rose to 140 degrees.

We sliced it up, and it was perfectly pink in the middle.

Not overcooked and all dry.

The juices were running, and that meat was so tasty!

I now know the secret - watch it and check the temp a lot.

Also, let the roast warm to room temp for about an hour before cooking it, and do not use any fluids in the cooking pan.

We all look forward to these roasts now, and it won't be long before I have cooked so many I loose count!

You Decide the Winner

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

There is a new contest in the online world.

And it about subjects that are near and dear to our hearts.

We all have an opinion about which is the cutest: Puppies vs. Babies.

And not only do you get to vote, you get to tell the world about your vote.

You can tell why you voted how you did, and all the reasons you have for voting that way.

In this Puppies vs. Babies online contest, the one who gets the most votes will be the winner of $5000.

And my choice?

I am most partial to the babies.

Now, I have owned a dog, which was only eight weeks old when we got him, and he lived with us until he passed away at the age of 13.

He was definitely a part of the family, but when the babies came along, they stole my heart.

Being the mother of two, and now a grandmother, I can honestly say there is nothing better than holding those babies, and rocking them to sleep.

Their wide smiles and bubbling laughs just can't be beat.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and vote.

And until November 23rd, you can cast your vote also, to help decide once and for all who really is the cutest.

Don't Forget Grandma

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a parent, it seems most important for the kids to have a cell phone.

We want to be able to connect with them and have them get in touch with us too, and not just for emergencies.

But sometimes we forget about our older relatives.

They are the ones who sometimes get overlooked when it comes to these modern technologies.

Cell phones are very important for them to have also.

And the TracFone provides a great Senior Value for the older generation.

It allows them to also Get into Everywhereness with their low cost plans that offer great nationwide coverage.

They offer pay as you go plans with cards purchased in retail stores or online.

With no contracts, credit checks, or activation charges, there are no surprises with these plans.

International calls cost the same as local ones - this is the only wireless service that offers this feature.

And since grandma probably isn't interested in texting, they have a simple phone just right for her.

But if texting, taking photos or videos, or accessing the web are something she enjoys, then they even have a cell phone for her that starts at $29.99, a price she can afford.

Grandma can Get into Everywhereness and connect with the rest of her family and friends for a pretty reasonable price these days.

Keeping the whole gang connected doesn't get any easier than the Get into Everywhereness plans with TracFone

Tracfone Can Be Everywhere... - Celebrity bloopers here

A Balanced Feel

It has been almost a month that I have been doing the Yoga exercises.

And when I have to miss a day or two, I really miss it.

The movements and poses really do work.

The posture is better when just regularly standing or sitting.

Picking things up off the floor is so much easier - the bending is smooth and the head doesn't pound.

And the overall feeling of well-being can't be beat. 

But the best part is a couple of pounds have been shed, and that is a good thing!