How the Special Needs Mommy Rolls. . .

It has been one he** of a week. . .one thing after another. . .Taz sick again, his surgeon trying to bill another $1K from August surgery, me sick now and major transmission problems with my car while driving out of town yesterday to drop the 9yo #ASD Tazmanian Devil with his cousin, aunt and grandma for Christmas respite care.

In other words, just an average week in our house where we live according to Nianya's Law:

If anything can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment.

So Taz has been bugging me for an Annoying Orange for Christmas and it isn't called the "Annoying" orange for nothing. . .see for yourself

Needless to say, I don't want one in the house. I've already got a Tazmanian Devil, I don't need an annoying orange.

Yes, yes, I know, he's special needs and we special needs mommies will do anything for our kids. . .we'll almost anything.

A couple of weeks ago, just to assuage my mommy guilt, I looked for one on Amazon. Nada, nothing available for prime shipping and I refuse to pay shipping to a non-Amazon seller. Then, Dh got Daddy guilt and actually walked into a Toys R Us (OMG taboo in our house) and looked for it there. Nothing nada.

So when Taz asked about it a couple of days ago, I told him Santa could not find any. He said "get real Mom, they have them at Toys R Us, they said so on TV." I said "no they don't we checked."

In the meantime, Taz had another bad asthma attack, got a sinus infection and another bout of recurring eczema that makes all the skin peal off his fingers. . .need I go on.

On the way out of town yesterday, I decided to search Amazon one more time. Again, just to get past my mommy guilt.

Low and behold they had one available for free 2-day ship if I ordered it before 5pm. But can't have it shipped to aunt's address from my cell phone, so had to wait until we got back home to order it.

Needless to say, after the car broke down on the freeway, we had it towed 60 miles, left it out of town and got a rental, we did not get home till very late. So no annoying orange. . .

Or so I thought, mommy guilt kicked back in this morning and I got back on Amazon, found the last annoying orange that was available for shipping before Christmas and paid the $3.99 overnight charge to have it sent to Taz's aunt with instructions to wrap the da** thing and mark it from Santa.

This is how we roll. . .special needs mommy guilt assuaged!

Nianya

P.S. Off to the Dollar Store today to stock up on Tylenol. I'm going to need it for my headaches when that orange comes back home after Christmas.

P.P.S. Taz got his Annoying Orange in his Christmas stocking. Now he knows there really is a Santa Claus.

Amateur treasure hunter finds Viking king's silver. . .

Fascinating story. Nothing like buried treasure with old history attached.

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

Darren Webster, a metal detector enthusiast, stopped by a field near Canforth, northern England, to practice his hobby and uncovered a hoard of silver Viking treasure buried three feet (0.9 meters) below the earth, The (London) Times reported Thursday.

The 201 silver objects -- including 27 coins, 10 arm-rings, six brooch fragments, two finger rings, a fine wire braid and 14 ingots -- were put on display at the British Museum.

When the exact value of the silver hoard is calculated next year, Webster will be allowed to keep half of its value under the UK's Treasure Act, with the owner of the field, who wished to remain anonymous, taking the other half. Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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The Autism Question

What is Autism?

You can Google that phrase and find thousands of instant answers, all except the one you'll need when your teen is sitting with a group at school, who don't know she's autistic, and they ask that question.

In a perfect world her response should be "Ask me, not the group. I'm the expert, because I'm the one who's autistic." But this isn't a perfect world and she's not ready for that yet.

So instead, I find myself Googling "How to talk to school kids about autism". . .and needless to say, that search was useless. All I get are expert opinions on How to Talk to an Autistic Child. . .ummm figured that out long ago.

So I try searching "How to talk to Normal school kids about autism". . .and I get nothing but "advice" about autistic children attending Normal schools.

And let's face it, we autistic parents hate the word Normal because our kids are not Abnormal or Different, they are just autistic.

I could keep searching for days and not find any useful information on how my teen should handle this situation, so I'm crying uncle after only two useless searches.

I've always been a firm believer that you can Google anything. Now, I'm amending that opinion to: you can Google anything but useful information on how to deal with questions like these from your autistic child.

That said, I just went with my gut instinct. I told my teen that the next time her classmates start discussing autism and asking questions, she should just tell them to "Ask my mother" she's autistic and so is my little brother.

Almost 16yo Jessie's response to that suggestion was "Won't they figure out that I'm autistic too?" and I replied, "probably, but would that be so bad?"

That's what we are working toward in our house. "Coming out from under the safety blanket of autism." I'm sick and tired of hiding under that blanket and hoping that no one, outside of teachers and therapists, equates the word "Autistic" with our family.

There is such a thing as being too safe, living in too much of a bubble and not facing the world and its realities.

The safety blanket was necessary when my autistic children were very young, because I like all parents want to protect my children from as much as possible.

The safety blanket, however, no longer works for my high school student and it isn't going to help in college and beyond.

I want my teen to embrace who she is and be as comfortable as possible in her own skin.

It isn't easy being autistic but Jessie has some amazing talents that normal kids can only dream of, so why should she hide under a blanket and pretend autism doesn't exist.

Nianya

P.S. For those with young autistic children, there really are autism blankets which are weighted to help meet children's sensory needs and provide a cozy, calm, safe feeling. Just Google Autism Blanket and you'll get tons of options.

iCaughtSanta.com Add Santa to your home photos

Very nice idea, though if my kids were still young enough, I could just photoshop Santa into my own pic for free. Good price for those who don't have photoshop.

Amplify’d from app.socialspark.com

$11 for 4 Custom Images and a Video of Santa in your Home! ($25 value, save 55%)

About iCaughtSanta.com

visit the site: http://www.icaughtsanta.com/socialspark/

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via email, Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can send this to friends and loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself. Read more at app.socialspark.com

 

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Codecademy - Learn to program for free

Love this idea!

Amplify’d from money.cnn.com

Codecademy says it can turn anyone into a Web programmer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- It's a tough economy out there, but there's at least one skill in high demand: programming.

Industry veterans insist that almost anyone can master the basics of software coding. Now, a pair of entrepreneurs have teamed up to test that idea with a company called Codecademy, which aims to make learning to program simple and fun.

"Coding is going to be the literacy of the 21st Century, and we think we have the easiest way to do it," says co-founder Zach Sims.

"It's totally different from books that are one-way learning experiences," he says. "We think it should be more interactive, more fun than something in a book, where you read for half an hour and then you go code."

Right now, everything on Codecademy is free. Users receive badges and points for completing lessons. The site currently has four multi-part courses available -- a "coding 101" class and three JavaScript trainers -- but it hopes to ramp up quickly. Launched in June, the New York-based site has already attracted $2.5 million in a funding round led by Union Square Ventures and is a graduate of Y Combinator, one of Silicon Valley's most closely watched incubators. Read more at money.cnn.com

 

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Think maybe it's time to get back to the true meaning of Christmas?

Amplify’d from www.accessatlanta.com

Items in '12 Days of Christmas' now top $100K

PITTSBURGH — The price of partridges, pear trees and turtle doves has spiked, pushing the cost of every item mentioned in the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" above $100,000 for the first time.

Holding mostly steady this year: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping and gold rings.

The 364 items repeated across all the song's verses would cost $101,119, an increase of 4.4 percent over last year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management. The broader government Consumer Price Index increased by 3.9 percent over the same period.

"The story in general is wages are still a very sluggish part of this economy," said Dunigan, who noted that the price of eight maids-a-milking at minimum wage was $58 — the same as in 2009.

But last-minute shoppers who turn to the Internet may be in for some surprises. The core list that costs about $24,000 in stores will come to $39,860 online — a whopping 16.1 percent increase over Internet prices last year. Dunigan said the high cost of shipping live birds explains some of the difference. Read more at www.accessatlanta.com

 

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Frosty arrested - End of the World as we know it!

Amplify’d from www.accessatlanta.com

'Frosty the Snowman' arrested at Maryland parade

CHESTERTOWN, Md. — Who says "Frosty the Snowman" has to be jolly?

A man in a "Frosty the Snowman" costume was arrested Saturday during the annual Christmas parade in Chestertown, on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He's accused of scuffling with police and kicking at a police dog.

Walsh told The Associated Press that he has dressed as Frosty in the parade for at least 10 years. He says he was wrongfully arrested. He says an officer hassled him after he remarked about the police dog's presence. He says he became agitated only after getting arrested. Read more at www.accessatlanta.com

 

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Jobs by Horoscope. . .

Better than waiting in long lines to apply I suppose. . .

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Scorpios and Virgos Need Not Apply

Experience and skills are secondary when it comes to hiring by one Chinese firm. What matters most is your celestial sign.

“We don’t want Scorpios or Virgos, and Capricorns, Pisces and Libras will be prioritized,” reads ad posted at a university in the city of Wuhuan, the U.K.’s Telegraph reported.

According to the Telegraph, the company,  which does English-language training, believes that Scorpios are moody and have overpowering personalities, while Virgos are overly critical and constantly changing jobs. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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How to save you credit score on Black Friday. . .

Two Words: DON'T SHOP!



It's not rocket science. It's just good sense.

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

7 Ways to Save Your Credit Score on Black Friday

Overspending on gifts around the holidays isn’t something uncommon. In fact, with high lines of credit available to consumers, credit card companies are doing everything they can to ensure that we overspend.

In a society that oftentimes requires individuals to borrow, one’s credit score is increasingly an important number. Companies use algorithms to calculate how much credit an individual can obtain. With recent dips in the economy and foreclosures on the rise, many people are wondering if there are a few easy ways to improve their credit scores? Here are my seven top tips:

1. Pay bills on time

2. Don’t go crazy over the holidays

3. Keep yourself under 50% of available credit

4. Credit card deals aren’t really "deals"

5. Get help if you are having trouble

6. Get on a budget

7. Get a copy of your credit report Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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Camping Out for Black Friday

Case in point: Some of us have to work the two weeks before the Big Event and no doubt will easily earn more money than we could save on anything by camping out in front of a store for two weeks before Black Friday. Just saying.

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Black Friday Hours Create Employee Revolt

Case in point: Tito Hernandez, who has been camping in a tent outside of a St. Petersburg, Fla., Best Buy store since last Monday. You read that right, last Monday, nearly two weeks before the big day.

"Definitely having fun here," Hernandez said with a smile. "Looking to save some money and get some good deals."

And are those bargains really worth all the crowds and chaos? Turns out, you may actually be better off waiting. According to Consumer Reports, last year more than a quarter of the most popular electronics were marked down in the two weeks after Black Friday. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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Surviving Thanksgiving #ASD, #ADHD

This is why we leave town for a just the 4 of us get away each Thanksgiving; no relatives, a hotel with maid service and breakfast and no meals to cook or clean. Also fun stuff out to do besides the wasted Black Friday shopping. I'm a bigger fan of Cyber Monday.



With special needs kids, it's the only way to go!

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

Surviving the Relatives This Thanksgiving

Honestly, I don’t know how we all do it over the holidays — with a smile no less — even when the guests are oh-so-annoying, the visiting toddler grinds cracker crumbs into the carpet, the tween refuses to eat anything she’s served and the uncle falls asleep on the couch, snoring loudly.

There will be squabbling cousins, know-it-all brothers-in-law, aunts who can’t resist criticizing your cooking and bored teens who make it clear they would rather be anywhere else. Let’s not forget the vegetarians, vegans and picky eaters who make every meal a challenge. Never mind what we think gatherings should be like. The reality is young kids are discombobulated by travel, unfamiliar surroundings and too much sugar; grown-ups are discombobulated by travel, overeating and over-drinking.

HIDE THE GLASS ANIMALS,

STOCK UP ON APPLE JUICE,

CREATE A KIDS’ HANGOUT AREA,

GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE HOUSE

SET THE GROUND RULES.

LEAVE THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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Economy Down Heels Up. . .

I wonder if the reason isn't more that higher heels make women feel taller and feel like they have more of a "leg up" in down times. . .they come across as stronger in a weak economy.

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

High Heels for a Down Economy?

A look back at decades of shoe fashion research reveals that high heels soared during the worst recessions. “Usually in an economic downturn, heels go up and stay up as consumers turn to more flamboyant fashions as a means of fantasy and escape,” says Dr. Trevor Davis, a consumer products expert with IBM Global Services.

The average heel height today is six inches, more than double what it was the 1970s. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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No more Gmail app for Blackberry

Shame on Google. . .normally I support them whole-heartedly, since I used Gmail, Picasa, Blogger, Google+, Google Calendar, you name it.



Luckily I have a Droid not, but my husband still uses a Blackberry as do many we know and he uses Gmail exclusively.



Very Bad Move Google!

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Gmail to Stop Providing Email App for BlackBerry

Google has offered a free app that BlackBerry users can download to read their Gmail on the go, but it has now announced that as of Nov. 22, it will stop. No more downloads, no more technical support if you already have the app. The app will still work if you have it (go to http://m.google.com/mail on your handheld if you still want to get it), but Google says it would prefer you just use the browser on your handheld instead. (Just go to http://www.gmail.com. It’s slow but it works.) Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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Call it Black Thursday. . .

Good news for those who overindulge at the Thanksgiving table this year. . .just put your sweats and track shoes on and head over to WalMart for a marathon sprint beginning, not Friday, by Thursday night. Just make sure you burn more calories than bucks.

Amplify’d from money.cnn.com

Wal-Mart unveils Black Friday circular: See the deals

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- They may as well call it Black Thursday. Joining a slew of other national retailers, Wal-Mart said it too will open its doors nationwide on Thanksgiving night.

Starting at 10 p.m., Wal-Mart is offering doorbuster deals on toys, clothes and home accessories like $5 Barbies marked down from $19, jeans for less than $10, children's pajamas sets for $4.47 and a Black & Decker Coffeemaker for $9.44.

Then at midnight, the retailer said it will begin discounting electronics as well. Deals include a Samsung 51-inch plasma TV for $498 down from $649, a Kodak 14 megapixel camera for $49 and a Magellan GPS for $69, marked down from $89. Read more at money.cnn.com

 

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Christmas Tree "Tax". . .

This borders on the issue of separation of church and state. . .but no worries in my house, since we already stick to hypo-allergenic, non-flammable artificial trees that we can reuse year after year and don't have to water.

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Starting today, the government is imposing a 15-cent fee on most fresh-cut Christmas trees, but before critics compare President Obama to the Grinch, officials want to explain this is a growers’ arrangement to boost tree sales. And they insist it is not a “tax.”

As the holidays approach, imported fresh trees will be assessed as they cross the border, and American growers will ante up in February for each fresh-cut Christmas tree sold. Small growers and all-organic tree farms will be exempt.

The money all goes to a marketing board being set up for the tree growers’ industry, just like the “Got Milk” dairy marketing campaign and the beef industry’s “What’s for Dinner” commercials, both examples of what officials call highly successful advertising efforts which boosted sales and consumption. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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Personally, I will be snuggled up asleep at midnight and saving my money for Cyber Monday shopping in my bunny slippers . . .get real folks there will be better sales later. You can get a coffee maker today at Sam's Club for less than 40% off Macy's midnight Black Friday price.

Amplify’d from www.ajc.com

Macy's to open at midnight Thanksgiving Day

NEW YORK — Macy's Inc. says it will open all of its namesake stores at midnight following Thanksgiving for the first time, becoming the latest retailer to extend hours on the traditional kickoff to the holiday season.

Target Corp. announced Friday that it was also opening its doors at midnight for the first time ever and will be offering Black Friday specials starting at that time. It also plans to stay open 23 hours. Last year, the discounter had opened its stores at 4 a.m.

"People want to shop through the night," said Martine Reardon, Macy's executive vice president of marketing. She noted the expanded hours were in response to customers' requests.

Reardon also offered a sneak peak at some of the deals shoppers can find starting at midnight following their turkey dinner: 40 percent off select coffee makers, tea kettles and espresso makers, and a $65 Justin Bieber limited-edition fragrance gift set, which includes a 3.4 ounce eau de parfum spray and the singer's new holiday CD. Macy's is also discounting Rampage boots to $19.99, down from $49 to $59. Read more at www.ajc.com

 

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As a mother of a child with milk and wheat allergies, I'm glad to see a story about how to get through Halloween. We face the same dilemma on other holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines and Easter, especially with the schools where parents bring in home baked treats and goodie bags. It isn't easy!

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

Don't Let Food Allergies Make Your Halloween Scary

Here are some tips and strategies that may help to reduce the risks during Halloween if you have children and adolescents with food allergies or asthma:

• Discard foods, candies, sweets that have been prepared in neighbor’s or friends homes.

• If food or candy is not wrapped with labels, take a pass. And when in doubt, throw it out!

• Before the Halloween holiday, consider pre-giving “safe” snacks to your friends and neighbors ahead of time for your child. This will help you and your child feel more comfortable and at ease.

• Instead of giving out only food and candies, consider having alternatives: themes, games, pumpkin carving and costumes.

• Did you know that smaller sized candy for Halloween may contain different ingredients than their regular sized counter parts?

• Teach your child to politely say no to home baked cakes and cookies, especially when the ingredients cannot be 100 percent confirmed.

• Have an early pre-Halloween dinner for your child with a food allergy. This may help to reduce temptation to try unknown or un-labeled foods.

• Keep safe snacks on hand and with you.

• Bring emergency medications such as asthma inhalers if prescribed, during trick or treating events. Remember, asthma can be a risk for more severe reactions to food allergens. Have an asthma action plan in place for optimal control now, and throughout the year. Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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Can't wait for our local library to start up their ebooks. This is a great resource and it avoids all the hassles with lost books. I actually had to replace a book for a public school library which my son supposedly checked out but never brought home. He loves my Kindle so ebooks are it for us.

Amplify’d from www.cnn.com

eBook lending: Libraries go digital

(CNN) -- Board a bus or a train today and chances are you'll see several people with eReaders in hand. While most probably bought their electronic books on a popular website, you may find a few who borrowed the paperless books from the library.

While the majority of eBooks sold today are bought by individual readers, a growing number of the paperless books are winding up in public library catalogs. Read more at www.cnn.com

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Finally some feel good news!

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Jack the Cat Found at JFK Airport

Jack the cat, who has been missing for over seven weeks after getting lost in the American Airlines baggage check area at New York’s JFK airport, has been found.

“American Airlines is happy to announce that Jack the Cat has been found safe and well at JFK airport. American’s team of airport employees have been focused on the search effort since Jack escaped on August 25, 2011. Jack was found in the customs room and was immediately taken by team members to a local veterinarian. The vet has advised that Jack is doing well at present,” a statement on the airline’s Facebook page read.

Jack’s owner, Karen Pascoe, was immediately informed Tuesday that her pet was found, and according to the statement American will fly Jack to California to be reunited with his owner. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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In other words, having lots of friends on FB gives you a swelled head. . .hmmm wonder what having thousands of followers on Twitter does?

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Facebook Friend Numbers Linked to Brain Size

The more Facebook friends you have, the bigger bits of your brain are, British neuroscientists say.

Using brain imaging, researchers from University College London found that brain areas linked to social skills were larger in college students with sprawling social networks than in Facebook users with fewer friends. The team also found a strong correlation between the size of students’ online and offline social circles.

“Online social networks are massively influential, yet we understand very little about the impact they have on our brains,” study co-author Geraint Rees said in a statement. “This has led to a lot of unsupported speculation that the Internet is somehow bad for us.”

Indeed, some experts fear the Internet is slowly draining its users’ intellect and imagination. But its effects on cognitive and social development remain largely unknown. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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Senator: Halt Ban on Over-Counter Asthma Inhaler

HFA prescription inhalers are three or more times expensive than the prior generic CFC inhalers and many asthma sufferers cannot afford them. Until they get a generic HFA inhaler on the market the cost may be prohibitive.

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

DeMint Tries to Halt Ban on Over-the-Counter Asthma Inhaler

Sen. Jim DeMint is trying to stop the federal government from banning a popular over-the-counter asthma inhaler, introducing an amendment that would yank funding for the ban set to go into effect in January.

The Food and Drug Administration rule would take off the shelves the epinephrine asthma inhaler known as Primatene Mist. The product is currently the only FDA-approved over-the-counter inhaler and is being banned because it uses something called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as a propellant -- the substance is considered harmful to the ozone layer.

In lieu of Primatene Mist, the FDA has suggested users of the product get a prescription for sanctioned inhalers, such as those that use an "environmentally friendly" propellant known as HFA.

A group called the National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers has also complained that some people will end up finding out they need a prescription in the middle of an attack, adding that many asthma sufferers prefer Primatene Mist to other products.  Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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Facebook 'social energy' app tracks kw usage

Get Real FB!

Amplify’d from www.cnn.com

Facebook, OPOWER partner on 'social energy' app

(CNN) -- Add energy consumption to the laundry list of things you can share with online friends on Facebook.

The hope is to get friends to compete against each other to use less energy, and to hold each other accountable for energy-use-reduction goals, said Ogi Kavazovic, a spokesman for OPOWER.

"A person in London could compete in energy usage with a person in California," he said.

A feature called "Friend Rank" lets Facebook friends see who in their social network uses the least energy per day. Another lets the app's users compare themselves to people who have similar-sized homes. The app also will let people compare their energy use with the Facebook community at large. Read more at www.cnn.com

 

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They can show the symptoms even younger than that, but it's very hard to distinguish between a hyper toddler and a child with ADHD.

Amplify’d from thechart.blogs.cnn.com

Kids as young as 4 can have ADHD

The American Academy of Pediatrics has broadened its guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, expanding the age range for diagnosis and treatment to ages 4 through 18.

While the previous guidelines, from 2000 and 2001, targeted children ages 6 to 12, the new report covers children from preschool to the end of high school. This is based on recent evidence that supports including preschool children and adolescents in ADHD diagnosis and treatment management.

Although Posner views the guidelines for preschoolers positively, Dr. Claudia Gold, a pediatrician and child mental health, expert is concerned that they will lead to more overdiagnosis and overmedication in the preschool group. In fact, a 2010 study found that there are already nearly 1 million children with a misdiagnosis of ADHD. In her opinion, below age 6 is too soon for ADHD medications. Read more at thechart.blogs.cnn.com

 

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Free Apps Turn an Android Into Apple iPhone 4S

Dude get a Droid!

Amplify’d from www.foxnews.com

6 Free Apps to Turn an Android Phone Into an Apple iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S and its new iOS 5 operating system offer a host of new features, including Siri voice control, a Cards app for sending paper greetings in the mail, Reminders that help keep you up-to-date, and Find my Friends for tracking people down. Fortunately, Android users don’t have to feel left out, as there are a host of third-party apps that bring this functionality to Google’s mobile OS.

But Postagram, a free app that’s available in the Android Market, been providing this very service for quite some time now—and at a cheaper rate, too. For 99 cents per Postagram sent, you choose a photo to mail and the service prints the image out on thick, glossy photo paper at a 300 dpi resolution, which pops out of the card as a 3 x 3 inch print. You can even add a custom 140-character message along with the photo if you wish.

Cards Alternative: Postagram

Siri Alternative: Vlingo

Tell Vlingo to “Text Chris; Where are you?” or “Find French restaurants,” then sit back and watch as it does exactly what you want. Get the app for free on the Android Market.

iMessage Alternative: Whatsapp Messenger

Ditch your carrier’s exorbitant SMS plans and send messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages over 3G or Wi-Fi with the free Whatsapp Messenger. Like BlackBerry Messenger (and iMessage), the app lets you know when your note has been sent and exactly when the person on the other end has seen it.

Reminders Alternative: Astrid Tasks

Astrid Tasks is the most popular to-do list for Android, and its best add-on feature is Astrid Locale. The app contains powerful organization tools to begin with—reminders, list organization, deadlines, sorting, and audio or vibration alerts—but Astrid Locale throws in the last essential—location-based tasks—into the mix. The only downside is having to shell out $1.49 for the upgrade. Read more at www.foxnews.com

 

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Money Can't Buy Love. . .

It shouldn't take a University to figure this out. Less can always be more. God always give you what you Need, not what you think you Want!

Amplify’d from abcnews.go.com

Can't Buy Love: Materialism Kills Marriages

Focusing too heavily on the "for richer" part of the nuptial vows could spell disaster for a marriage, according to research published today by Brigham Young University.

"Our study found that materialism was associated with spouses having lower levels of responsiveness and less emotional maturity. Materialism was also linked to less effective communication, higher levels of negative conflict, lower relationship satisfaction, and less marriage stability," said Jason Carroll, a BYU professor of family life in Provo, Utah, and lead author of the study.

The Things That Money Just Can't Buy

"People who are materialistic tend to be narcissistic and concerned with impressing people,"

"They have a tendency to be anxious, depressed, have relatively poor relationship skills and have low self-esteem. Read more at abcnews.go.com

 

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