Paperless Post - For Today

Hey neighbors!!

Here is a post for those people today who do everything electronically.  Do you still write and send birthday cards, party invites (think graduation, baby shower, etc.), and thank you notes?  If you prefer to do everything from your computer, then Paperless Post may be the very thing you need to sign up for.  I had the opportunity to try them out, and although I dd not have an event going on, or a lot of cards to send out, I still went in and designed and sent a Paperless Post so I could see how it worked.

I created a card for my daughter who lives in GA and sent it to her.  It was very easy to do and is not much different than creating for a group of people, because you do not add emails until the end.

Once you have your account created you simply choose the event you are looking for, Graduation, Birthday, Wedding, Parties, Professional,  or Greeting.  They do also have the ability for you to design flyers now.  Paperless Post runs based on coins you purchase to pay for your cards.  There are free options, which you can find out about HERE as well as how to purchase the coins.

Choose the type of card and then you are literally walked through each step.  You can choose different cards, youth, adult, etc.  You have the option of uploading your own images.  You can change your background, edit the text and once you are happy and done with your choices, you pick who to email the cards too.  1 person or 100 the choice is yours.

What a benefit to those who prefer to send invites and cards electronically.  No more dealing with having to purchase stamps and run to the post office.  It is all right there on your laptop.

Thanks for stopping by today!! See you soon!

Pollo Con Blanco Queso - Chicken with White Queso

Hey neighbors!!

Last night for dinner, Mercy and I prepared Chicken with White Queso.  I'm going to tell you about it here, but it was delicious!! Leftovers are on the menu for lunch!!  We did make extra Queso to have with our chips, so you can cut down on the amount of Queso if you like.

Ingredients
2 lbs chicken breast strips
2 cans Rotel Tomatoes
1 Package Velveeta Queso Blanco
Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Salt Free

First we sprayed the glass baking dish with non-stick spray.  We placed the chicken in the large glass baking dish. Adding a little Mrs. Dash and set the timer for 45 minutes.  About 10 minutes before the chicken was done cooking, we took a sauce pan and added one can of Rotel.  We cut the Velveeta Queso Blanco in to chunks and over a medium/low heat, slowly melted the cheese in with the tomatoes.  We added 1/2 of another can of Rotel and ended up adding about 3/4 of the Velveeta.

The chicken was done, so we removed it from the oven, drained the juices off.  We poured the cheese sauce over the chicken until it was covered well.  The extra cheese sauce we poured into a separate bowl to be used as dip for the chips.

It was great and my husband LOVED it.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

5 Financial Errors Most People Make Before Approaching Barron Advisors

Hey neighbors!!

Great to see you all today! Just wondering how many of you have ever experienced debt and what you have done to get out of debt?  Or perhaps you are still in the midst of playing catch up to try and get out of debt.  I am going to share 5 Financial Errors many people fall into.

Savings
Most people do not save for their financial future.  I know, before you say it, you are going to tell me you can not afford to save.  That is what most people think.  You would be amazed though to see how easy it is to put just $10 a week into savings.  Doesn't sound like much, but at the end of the year, you will have $520 in your account that is normally not there.  And it is so easy to save $10 a week, just by cutting back on snacks, the extra meal out, saving your daily change, etc.  Just implement a couple of these and you should be able to save $10 a week.  Skip that extra Latte or Espresso.

Plan Ahead
Now, planning ahead does not just include saving as seen above, it includes planning your weekly/monthly budget.  Many go off willy nilly without any thought for budgeting their finances.  This is where you spend money and then that bill you forgot shows up.  If you make a budget for each week/month, and stick by it, including your saving each week it will make your life easier.  You won't all of a sudden have a regular bill staring you in the face that you forgot to pay.  If you don't know how to write a budget, consider taking an online personal finance course.

Credit Cards
Beware of credit cards.  It is so easy to see something you want or think you need and then whip out that little plastic card to pay for it.  Unfortunately this is what causes many couples financial grief.  Now you have another bill to pay and usually once you have started down this path it is far too easy to keep charging.  Am I saying credit cards are wrong?  No, they serve a purpose, but be sure to use them properly.  We found out that we did not have any type of credit report that we could show when we went in for a loan from the bank.  SO, we decided to apply for a couple credit cards.  Even that is difficult without a credit history.  Then just use the cards occasionally to make a purchase and immediately pay them off.  Sometimes you have to let what you charged run for a month just to get it to show up in your history.  By doing this you can build your credit for the time you need a car or home loan.  This is where your planning ahead and budgeting will come in.  Never charge more than you can reasonably pay off.

Record All Transactions
You were given a bank book for a reason.  It is to record all you take in and all you spend.  I don't know how many times I have heard someone say they had checked their account before making a purchase, and now they are under in their account.  Normally this is due to a floating/pending transaction.  It appears when it is first made, then sometimes disappears until the transaction actually goes through.  So, you think you have more available than there actually is.  If you keep track of this spending in your bank book or other form of record keeper.

Using a Rent to Own
Many couples and college students fall into the rent to own schemes.  Usually for furniture or electronics.  I saw my parents do this many times, and they either finally paid it off paying several times what the item was worth, or they lost the item by missing payments and losing all they had already paid.  Oftentimes the item you need can be purchased just by saving for a few months.  If not, consider looking in the classifieds or online for used items.  A much less expensive way to go.

Financial Advisors Like Barron Advisors
Should you find yourself already in debt, you may want to look into debt consolidation with someone like Barron Advisors.  They can help you by either consolidating all your debts and working out a payment plan or by giving you other good advice to help you solve your financial problems and hopeful keep you free from debt collections or worse.

Thanks again for stopping by! If you have some other ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments.

Summertime Fun and Entertainment!

Hey neighbors!!

I know some of you are already experiencing summer weather with temperatures soaring and beautiful sun shining days.  We unfortunately are encountering rainy days with the temperature going up and down.  Some days we are in short sleeves, others we are grabbing sweaters and light weight jackets.  Now, that being said, we are working on our backyard on the good days, removing limbs, fixing the fence, and cleaning the grill.  We plan on having several outdoor fun days once our weather realizes we are supposed to be heading toward summer.

Check out this really unique TV I want to share with all my neighbors. It is the SunBrite| Veranda Series Outdoor 4K UHD TVs with HDR.  I am amazed!! This television is weatherproof and designed for full shade outdoor areas, like covered patios and decks, or screened in porches.  Imagine having a birthday party and allowing the children to watch their favorite movie or cartoon outside.  Or maybe a group of you will get together to grill out and watch a game! The powder-coated, rust-proof, aluminum exterior protects the internal components from the elements such as, rain, snow, dust, insects, humidity and salt air.  The display is up to 50% brighter than an indoor TV so it is easier to view in brighter outdoor settings.  A large, weatherproof media bay allows you to connect cables without a problem.  It has plenty of storage room for many popular media players and has thick gaskets to seal out moisture.  This TV is available in 43", 55", 65" and 75" for your viewing pleasure.

I am imagining a movie night outside with family and friends.  Grill out dinner first and then gather around with popcorn and other snacks and relax as you enjoy the outdoor experience.  Imagine the fun you can have! If you plan on spending time outside this summer you might want to consider an outdoor tv.  Let's get ready for some outdoor living!

Thanks for stopping by today!! See you all soon!

Book Brush Create Social Media Ads and Images

Hey neighbors!

I was given the opportunity to work with Book Brush!! This site is amazing!!  You can easily create all kinds of ads and images for all your different social media.  It is designed for authors to be able to create high quality images without any hassle.  Don't know how to use Photoshop?  Book Brush makes designing fun and simple.

My husband has written a couple of books that he self-published.  Recently he made them available on Amazon as e-books.  I took a few minutes on Book Brush and was able to throw together a couple of images for him to use.  I have by no means exhausted or even attempted all the possibilities on Book Brush.

The really great news is, Book Brush works for non-authors as well.  Bloggers can create super images for reviews and/or giveaways.  Book Brush offers the correct size ads for all your social media sites.  You can also make 3-D ads, as well as videos. Book Brush offers templates to make your designing easier.  They have over 1 million free images for your use and also give you the capability to upload your own images.  Choose your font type and size, add stamps, design until you are satisfied.  Download your image and you are ready to go.  They have many tips and videos to help you create your images.

You can sign up for the free account with Book Brush, that allows you to create 3 images a month, with limited 3D templates, stamps and fonts.  If you choose to sign up for the Plus account, you will receive access to create unlimited images, all 3D templates, stamps and fonts.  The Plus plan is basically $8 a month paid yearly at $96.

I believe you will find Book Brush  Plus plan a great deal if you create a lot of images.  If you are not sure, sign up first for the free deal and see if it works for you.

Thanks for stopping by!! See you soon!

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing the product/product information. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did/will receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

May's Gramma in a Box!!

Hey neighbors!!

We received another Gramma in a Box! It is always fun to open the box and see what Terry came up with this time.  I have to admit, I really love the colors and sprinkles in this box!!  We made Pretzel Butterflies, Butterfly Bark, and of course some wonderful Spring Cookies!!

As always the Gramma in a Box comes with everything you need to create three special treats.  All I needed to add was a small microwave safe bowl (to use in your microwave) and a spoon.  Gramma provides everything else you need in the box.  All the ingredients and she even includes the wax paper to create your treats on.  Each box comes with 4 cards.  The first tells you a little about the month's theme, the projects you will create and it gives you the deadline to sign up for the next month's box.  The back of that card tells you what you will find inside and the other supplies you might need.

The next 3 cards are the individual projects.  Each one tells you what you need for the project, gives precise directions for creating the treat and on the back tells you the ingredient and lists any known allergens.

This is such a unique box to get together with your grandchildren, your children or even ask a few of your children's friends over to help.  If you live too far away from your grandchildren, you can FaceTime or Skype while the projects are being created.

You can do one project a day or do them all at once.  Whichever works out best for you.  Gramma in a Box provides you the opportunity to spend quality time together and all the planning is already done for you.  No searching for ingredients or having to plan activities, they are right there and ready to go.

Terry, the founder of Gramma in a Box comes up with original ideas each month.  Many of the boxes are holiday or season themed.  We have enjoyed doing several of her boxes and have not been disappointed with a single box.  You can choose just one month to try it out, or you can sign up and have the boxes delivered monthly.  June 3rd is the deadline for the next Gramma in a Box.  Click on Gramma in a Box to subscribe.

 The really good news here is we are doing a giveaway on our Instagram for next month's box.  So, be sure to drop in At the Fence on Instagram to enter.

So glad you all stopped by!! See you next time!

Sinking In Debt - Can August Funding Help

Hey All!!

Are you in debt?  Having trouble paying bills or getting your finances under control?  Maybe this post can help.

Admit It
The first thing you need to do to get out of debt, is to realize you are in debt.  Too often we try to fool ourselves and think we are just a little behind.  To think we just need one more pay day and we will get caught up.  Sometimes this is true, many times we are just trying to convince ourselves that we really aren't in trouble.  Our finances are not that bad.

Take Stock
Once you realize you are in debt and have a financial struggle going on, the best thing you can do is sit down with pen and paper and write down every bill you have.  Record every payment that must be made. List them by priority.  Make sure you pay the most important bills first.  Once you have this completed, try to budget how you can pay off some of those debts.  Perhaps you could take a local course on finances.

Contact
Reach out to ever company you owe money to.  Explain your situation and try to make arrangements to pay a little less each month.  Perhaps they will work out where you can make a full payment, but lower it some just to get it paid off.  Remember some companies can and will work with you, while others will not.  Do not take it personally, they are just following the procedure set down by their companies.

Cut Nonessentials
While going over your finances try to cut out nonessentials.  Cut back on eating out.  Start packing lunches.  Perhaps spend less on soda and other treats.  I am not saying you can not enjoy a snack or have pizza once or twice a month, but cut back.  Do you have cable? Try cutting back on your service or even going without it for awhile.  Anywhere you can save a little do so.  See if there is an insurance company that charges less.  Do this with cell phone companies too.

Earn Extra Income
See if your company can give you a few more hours a week.  Try picking up a part time job on the side.  Try selling items in your home that you no longer need or use.  You can advertise online, have a garage sale, or find a local consignment shop.  Also set up a jar, coffee can or bank and deposit all your change in there every day.  I have been amazed how quickly that adds up.

Create a Budget
Write out a weekly or monthly budget.  Plan your meals, and only purchase what you need. Use coupons and shop for deals or sales.  Don't make impulsive purchases.  Stick by your budget as closely as possible.  By writing down what you spend each week, you might even find some other areas where you can cut corners.

Check Out a Company Like August Funding
If you find you just can not get your head above water, consider locating a debt consolidation company.  Do your research and go with someone reputable, but this may be just what you need to be able to afford the monthly payments to recover from debt.

As a last note, do not ever feel alone in this situation.  There are many reasons people can get in to debt.  The most important thing you can do is realize where you are at and start working on a solution.

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!!

Milani Cosmetics Coupon!!

Hey neighbors!!

Anyone interested in scoring a coupon on Milani Cosmetics for Walgreens?  Just look below to find a coupon you can use to purchase your favorite item at your local Walgreens!   Start thinking about a Mother's Day gift you could maybe purchase with the coupon.

Personally I love Rose Oil face sprays, so I am sure I would love the Milani Prep & Brighten Rose Face Oil.  What's something you would like?  Or maybe your mom would like!

Take a minute to download your coupon, and then head to your local Walmart store.


 Thanks for stopping by today!! See you all soon!

How a Donated Piano Can Make New York a Better Place

Hey neighbors!!

If you live in New York, you don’t have to be told twice that it’s the greatest city in the world. Even though New York is big and beautiful, you know that it has its challenges. Many great organizations undertake incredible projects each year to improve its appearance or help clean it up. Imagine, however, a way to make New York a little prettier for tourists and New Yorkers alike while at the same time improving music education in public schools. We’ll show you how this can be done by people who donate pianos NYC.

Brightening Up the City

The idea is actually fairly simple: they simply take the used or unwanted pianos, decorate them, and turn them into works of art to make the city look a little brighter. The donated pianos will become a canvas for a local artist to transform into a public artwork. Whether it’s a busy person who takes a few seconds to stop and stare on their way to work or a tourist using it as a backdrop for a selfie, these pianos are becoming New York landmarks in their own right!

Helping Public Schools

One of the main criticisms that get levied at works of art is that they don’t do anything of value. They may be pretty, but they just take up space and don’t make the world a better place. But, what if all the pieces collected made another stop along their journey after being beautifully decorated and displayed throughout the city? And what if that stop was a public school badly in need of a piano to help with their music program? And what if that piano was re-tuned and ready to be used by students in a music class? Would that make it a rare piece of art that “does something"?

Artists Welcome

In addition to accepting donations of cash and pianos, artists who can donate their time to give the pianos a new look are always welcome. So are technicians willing to work on the pianos, and people willing to help move them from point A to point B.

These pianos not only add character and beauty to New York City, but they also provide opportunities to students who might otherwise go without. If you can donate a piano to this program in NYC, you’ll be able to feel great knowing that you made a true difference for native New Yorkers, tourists, and the next generation of great musicians alike!

Daisy Blue Naturals Skincare #Review

Natural skincare is something I've slowly started to love and use over the past few months. I've transitioned to a lot of natural cleansers, moisturizers, et cetera and I have loved the results, as well as knowing that I'm not using all the chemical-laden products. I was thrilled to receive a few products for review from Daisy Blue Naturals to try out, a company that carries a wide selection of natural health and beauty products.

I received the Vitamin E Body Oil, Chardonnay Face Cream, and Almonilla Body Bar Soap.
The Vitamin E Body Oil is hands-down my favorite product. With the long winter we had, and how frequently we're still getting cold snaps with temps dipping down into the 30s or lower, dry skin has been a huge problem for me this year. I tried numerous lotions, none of which seemed to work. This Vitamin E Body Oil is fantastic though, and is the only thing that has worked to moisturize, soothe, and soften my skin. This is perfect to apply right after a shower while skin is still damp, and while you might assume an oil will leave your skin feeling greasy, that is not the case at all! It absorbs very quickly and I could literally tell a difference in just a couple uses. I love how long the moisture lasts too; I apply once a day after a shower, and that works perfectly. I'm sure during the severe cold we had back in Dec-Jan, I'd probably apply twice a day but I love not having to put lotion on three or four times day - and my skin feels so much better!

The Chardonnay Face Cream is another wonderful product. This comes in a one-ounce jar and actually contains antioxidants from Chardonnay grapes. These antioxidants nourish your skin and really does leave it feeling soft and healthy. I love using this at night right before bed so my skin can absorb all the nutrients overnight. It's also light enough to wear under makeup during the day!

The Almonilla Body Bar Soap is one of the best-smelling soaps ever! French vanilla and almond are paired for the perfect scent, and it cleanses without stripping my skin like most bar soaps tend to do. If you're a fan of a cherry vanilla scent, this one's for you!

Daisy Blue Naturals carries many other great products including makeup, natural deodorants and perfumes, body care, and more! Check out their product line today!

Schoenhut Wooden Dolls

Hi Neighbors!!

I believe some of you know that I collect wooden dolls from the early 1900's.  These dolls were created by the same company who made Schoenhut pianos.  A company founded by Albert Schoenhut a German woodworker who moved to the states.  Along with the dolls he also made circus sets and animals.  The company stopped making the dolls in 1935.  Since I have been collecting these dolls and some of the other figures, I found a community on Facebook, Well Loved Schoenhuts, where members not only collect these dolls, they also repair, restore and re-create them.

I presently have approximately 20 of the dolls, as well as a small circus set and a poodle.  What makes these dolls unique is, not only are they made from wood, but they have spring metal joints, that allow you to pose them.  They are jointed at the ankle, knee, hip, wrists, elbows and shoulders.  I am amazed that so many of them are still in very good condition.  They range in size from 11 inches to 22 inches.  The most common is the 22 inch Miss Dolly, but there are several others both boy and girl.  Many like to dress them in clothing from their time period, but it is also fun to find more modern clothing for them. I have found that many of the American Girl accessories and clothing will fit some of my Schoenhut Dolls.

I am following along in this group I am a member of to see all the different things that can be done.  Several of the women are skilled at rebuilding some of the dolls and parts for them.  These women use different woodworking tools, like those found at, MemorialWoodWorking.com to make new arms and legs for their dolls.  I would love to become that skilled.  Another woman in the group has sanded down their faces and then recreates totally new looks for the dolls.  She has made two different boxers, a monkey face, adorable Raggedy Ann and Andy and many others.  There are also members in the group who make and sell period clothing and one makes replica shoes.

I recently purchased a couple of older TLC dolls to try my hand at repair and restoring.  I will see how it goes.  I know I can sand them down, but beyond that will be an experience.  I will be repainting the body and face.  I may have to replace a wig or two. I have been studying some of the different books and articles available on Schoenhuts.  I am both excited and hesitant to start one.

I have two large store displays that I keep my Schoenhut Dolls in.  They have glass doors that lock, although I never lock them and have lights above.  I have purchased many different items to create displays.  I have hay bales, fences, tables and chairs, desks, and of course food and drinks.  I found one woman who is great at creating homemade items.  They look so realistic.  She has done Starbucks, ice cream, snacks, etc. 

There are just so many things you can do with these dolls.  If you are interested in more information, leave a comment or message me and I can put you in contact with people who are much more knowledgeable about these dolls.

Thanks for stopping in. And come back again soon.