At the Fence

Hi Neighbors! Stopped by Zapata's Mexican Restaurant in Collinsville, Illinois over the weekend and as one who greatly enjoys, but can be critical of, Mexican food, I was very impressed!  Not sure what to expect I had asked a few customers who were leaving the business and inquired as to how the food was.  All responses were positive so we went inside to check out their lunch buffet.   On the tables before us were tortilla shells, both hard and soft, ground beef, chicken, strips of steak, chips, salsa and Queso (cheese sauce), as well as beans and rice, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and a few other goodies.  The food was unbelievable and the price - only 8.99 a person, well worth the price.  Genuine Mexican food, all was first rate, the service was great.  Our waiter did an excellent job of checking on us without being constantly at our table.  He was peasant and appeared to enjoy his job. Literally nothing could have been better about the meal and I say that sin

Still recovering from all of your holiday shopping? The online rewards site Swagbucks has a smart and fun way for you to earn and save when you spend.   Swagbucks is hosting another round of Shopping Swago! What is SWAGO you ask? It's a bingo-inspired promotion run by Swagbucks, a website that rewards you with points (called SB) for completing everyday online activities. You can redeem those SB for free gift cards. If you've never used Swagbucks, participating in SWAGO is a great introduction to the site and an easy way to earn a good amount of points quickly.   Click here to get started !   Here’s what you need to know to get your 3 00 SB Bonus (and don’t worry, you don’t have to make a purchase to complete a pattern): Go to the Swag page and make sure you hit “Join” otherwise you won’t get credit for completing the action items. Each square on your Swago Board will contain an action item to complete. Once you complete the action item in a particular square

We've taken an extended break in our #TravelTuesday posts due to the holidays and, yes, my own personal travel during the month of December! On our first trip in early December, we ended up in Orlando, FL to meet up with some friends at Disney World. While there, we also enjoyed an evening of historic fun at the Medieval Times Dinner Tournament in Orlando. I had actually been to the Orlando castle once previously, but it was at least six or seven years ago. Also on our previous visit, we arrived late and had no time to check out the Medieval Village. This time, we made sure to get there early so we were able to wander through. It's a very neat place, especially for history buffs like we are. You can get a good idea of the medieval life and there are also a few great photo ops on the tour. You can breeze through in just a few minutes or take your time and enjoy the informational tidbits throughout the tour. Once inside the castle, we checked in and then had a f

Image Credit: Pexels You should always take out travel insurance when  travelling abroad . That is a simple fact. If you still aren’t convinced, then let me share some reasons why travel insurance is so important. Covers Medical Expenses While Abroad One of the main reasons to get travel insurance is that it means that you don’t need to pay money for medical bills should you get ill on a vacation. One in three of the claims made on travel insurance is medical related. You might think that you are going to be perfectly healthy and that nothing will happen on vacation, but things that you can’t predict can and often do happen. From something as simple as getting food poisoning or tripping to more life-threatening illnesses and injuries, it is always best to have travel insurance just in case something happens. Things can start to add up to incredible amounts, and you don’t want to have to pay out of pocket for these expenses. You want to get well again and get back to enjoying your vaca

If you’ve had a bad experience while traveling in the past, it might be stopping you from getting out there and having fun now. That’s not something that you should allow to happen though because there are so many ways in which you can get around your past experiences. No one should be a slave to their past, and you should read on now to find out why bad experiences in the past shouldn’t stop you from  traveling  in the future. Past Experiences Have No Impact on the Present Past experiences are past experiences, just because something has happened before, doesn’t mean that there is much chance of the same thing happening again. This is the main mental block that you have to get past if you want to regain confidence and take that big step. If you can just step past that bad experience, you will find yourself free to enjoy other travel. You will have a good time if you allow yourself too. The Range of Travel Options is So Varied These days, you can do pretty much anything you want to whe

When most of us are looking for the best strategies to improve our health, it’s easy to forget an essential element of how you feel: your mental health. Indeed, while you’re investing in a better mattress to get better sleep , or choosing a balanced diet, you might have forgotten that you can use your home as part of establishing a strong and happy mental outlook too.  Your home is your sanctuary, and as such it’s the place where you feel safe and comfortable. What better place to improve your mood and protect yourself from the risks of poor mental health than in the comfort of your own home? Build you happy home Setting your stylish foundation Your home reflects your personality and tastes. However, as this article explains, it’s important to understand that defining your style is about finding what works best for you, when it comes to terms of comfortable surroundings and peace of mind. Consequently, don't just go with the flow when it comes to furnishing and decorating y

( Image Credit ) Nowadays, it often feels like it’s impossible to trust those living around you. In the past, communities were much closer and more tightly knit, giving them the benefit of knowing each other while also avoiding conflicts. Of course, though, this isn’t the case anymore, and a lot of people are surrounded by complete strangers. In this situation, home security is a huge factor to consider, and this post is here to help you with it. Modern Home Security Cameras: In reality, most homes won’t need much more than cameras to make sure that they stay secure, and you probably have access to some of the tools you’ll need, already. Below, you can find some of the key features of modern CCTV systems which can provide huge benefits to your home security. Remote Access: With most areas being connected to the internet, it’s never been easier for devices to communicate with each other. As a big part of this, modern CCTV cameras are often designed to be accessed remotely from mobile p

Hey neighbors! Not sure what you all have been experiencing as far as winter weather goes, but we are freezing.  We had a couple days between Christmas and today that have gotten above freezing, but not many.  And when the feels like temperature has dipped below 0 to temps of -25, it is COLD!!  So we thought we would have a giveaway for a little winter comfort.  We have the Winter Trio of Essential Oil Blends. It includes Merry and Bright, Holly and Pine and Winter Morning.  Each one is 0.51 fl. oz. We thought that might add a little cheer to someone's cold winter day.  Take a minute to enter the giveaway, and remember to share for extra entries. I have a couple more giveaways coming up soon.  This is not a sponsored giveaway, just something we thought we would do for a neighbor!

When someone says the words: “I’m going to make a real effort to be healthier this year ”, your mind usually jumps to eating a healthier diet, and spending countless hours in the gym trying to achieve that infamous perfect body. However, a healthy lifestyle goes a lot further than the aesthetics on the outside and is a lot more about what is going on internally. Of course, eating a well-balanced diet will ensure you feel energised, and prevent any cholesterol and blood pressure issues, but there are plenty of other things to consider too. Here is a gentle reminder of a few things that may have fallen by the wayside due to a busy lifestyle getting in the way. (Source) Go For A Check-Up Regularly Even though paying a regular visit to your GP is essential to check your blood pressure, and have a blood test to check everything is in working order is advisable, there are a few other check-ups that should be pencilled in your date book this year. If you can’t remember the last time

Image Credit: Pexels When moving house , there are a lot of things you need to take into consideration. You need to find a home that you like, for the budget that you have and then work out how to transport all of your things to this new home. However, before you put an offer down on a house, there might be a few things that you have forgotten. Here are a few. Are You Happy With The Property? This is so important. Are you happy with the property ? Are you? If you are not 100% happy, what is it that makes this house loose some of it's luster in your eyes? If you feel like you are settling for something that you aren’t happy with, then you need work out why that is. You might have made a compromise with your partner as it is their idea of the perfect home. Or you might be rushing because buying a house is a long drawn out process that can take a lot of time and effort. If it is the latter, then you need to assess whether you are going to be fine with that happening. Can you see yours

Moving can be a stressful situation. There are endless to-do lists, tears, tantrums and moments where you feel like you should just stay where you are to avoid all the stress. If these behaviors sound familiar, then perhaps you didn’t have the four Ps up your sleeve. Not to be confused with marketing - these four Ps could actually help make moving a far simpler process that has you sailing into your new home with a smile. Image: Pxhere Read on and learn the secrets to stress-free moving. Preparation “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.” These are wise words from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. While he may not have been talking about moving to a new home here, it’s certainly a phrase that fits the bill. It’s good to start your moving preparations as far in advance as you can. Work backwards from moving day to establish when all of the essentials need to be done, such as booking the movers, getting the house cleaned and when unwanted items need to go. Make lists, set u

If you have an older dog then you will understand more than anyone how important it is for you to look after them in their old age. You need to ensure that they are getting all of the help and support they need and you also need to make sure that you are looking after their general health as well. A Protected Living Environment As your dog ages, you may find that they can’t find their way around the house and you may also find that they need to take shelter from various hazards that are around the home. This could mean that you tidy up any areas they are allowed in and you will also want to make sure that nothing is left out in their pathway.  Older dogs tend to have poor eyesight and hearing, and with this it can be hard for them to understand their own environment. If you know that your older dog is having troubles with their eyesight then try and keep the living room layout the same. Don’t change the sofas around or the tables if you know that your dog uses them to navigate around

Image Hygge is a Danish principle and way of living which is all about being cosy and homey. The idea behind it is to make the most of being at home in the house, spending time with the family, and simply being content. It is a principle which is spreading like wildfire across the world and one which we should all try to incorporate into our every day lives for the better. Here is how you can add some hygge to your life this year. 1. Candles Lighting is the first major part of living a hygge lifestyle. The people who practice the hygge lifestyle every day believe that the lighting you have in the home affects the way you think and feel. Natural light is preferred which is why candles are a large part of this cosy culture. Candles can be used in any season, not just the colder months, and it is always good to have some plain white candles or tea lights in your home. In the winter, the Danes burn candles all day to invoke that feeling of coziness and warmth in their homes, and in the sum

You might think that your home is a place of comfort and protection against the world- but actually the average home can be something of a death trap! It’s no secret that more accidents happen at home than anywhere else- that’s at work, in public and on the roads combined! Our homes can also be the source of many serious health issues, for this reason it’s important not to get too complacent and do what you can do make your property as safe as possible. And the start of a new year, what better time to go about it! Here’s how you can keep yourself and your family as safe as possible at home. photo Be Aware of Slipping, Tripping and Falling There’s a reason why slipping, tripping and falling feature so heavily in any employer’s health and safety training. These are some of the most common accidents, the same applies to the home too. Wet floors after mopping can be a slipping hazard, and loose carpet or a mess on the floor can cause serious trips. This can lead to major accidents such as

The digital rewards site Swagbucks is offering big payouts during their January "Swago" promotion starting Monday, January 8th at 9am PT and running until Monday, January 15th! Swago is just like bingo, but in this case you're filling out squares as you earn points on their site for doing things you already do online. If you're thinking of trying Swagbucks, this is a great chance to learn all about how the site works and earn bonus points while doing it, meaning you can get more gift cards faster. Here are a few tips:   Each square on your Swago Board will contain an action item to complete. They can be anything from getting a search win, completing a survey, or just visiting one of our popular stores!   Once you complete the action item in a particular square the square will change color signifying the action item is complete.   You have until 12pm PT/3pm ET on Monday, January 15th to mark off as many squares as possible so use your time wisely.   Be mindful

Treat yourself When it comes to ensuring your wellbeing, nothing is too much effort. It’s not like you’re going to work for nothing, and that effort has gone to waste, as it goes straight to your health! You’ll find that once you get yourself on the track you’ll be feeling both physically and mentally better. It’s scientifically proven that a healthy body can help with a healthy mind, so why not give it a try? You can really only feel better, satisfaction is guaranteed! Getting motivated It can be quite difficult to get yourself into a schedule without any other motivation, as it’s not like you’re going to be letting anyone down; well, except yourself. First off, the way you see yourself has a lot to do with your determination, so you should learn some self-respect! It can take a lot of work, and you have to be willing to do that for you. If you find it hard to get your own motivation, you can try relying on other people at the start to help encourage you. There are many great speech

( Image Source ) It’s very rare to find someone with a passion for housework, gardening, or the other chores you’ll find around a modern home. Instead, these sorts of jobs are often some of the lowest on the list of things you’d like to be doing, but highest on the list of things which have to be done. Of course, though, it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right time and effort, it should be nice and easy to turn your chores from boring into something you don’t even think about, and this post is here to help you out. It will be exploring some of the best ways to achieve this sort of goal, while also giving you some ideas to try for yourself. Make A Game Like most creatures, humans like to play and will thrive when rewarded for their work. Of course, you don’t have to give yourself treats for doing the cleaning, but you could find some ways to make the job itself more fun. By giving yourself targets , like fastest mopping time or shiniest windows, you’ll motivate yourself without e

Comfort is Everything in a Home I am sure you are aware of how annoying small issues can be when it comes to living in comfort in your home.  The small things are often the most annoying, because we let them go rather than do something about it. Something as simple a cold draft can create an unwelcoming atmosphere, and if you want to achieve a warm and comforting home, then that’s something you should seek to fix! Invest in your home When it comes to your living space, there’s no reason to shy away from spending money on improving it. It’s somewhere you’re going to be spending a lot of your time, which can have quite a significant effect on your mood. Having a home you can be happy with, and feel that it’s inviting can really change how you feel when you are there, you just have to splash a bit of money on it first. It doesn’t have to be a large amount either, as there are inexpensive changes you can make that will make a difference in the overall tone, you just have to know whe