Free Soda, x-box code, perfume, and more...

1. Dr. Pepper (you have to fill out a short survey and they will mail you a coupon for a free can of soda) 
2. Parent's Choice Baby Formula
3. 48 Hour Live X-box 360 Code
4. Oil of Olay Correcting Protective Lotion plus a free sample of Olay Definity Intense Hydrating Cream
5. L.A.M.B Fragrance by Gwen Stefani

Free face scrub and an offer from Apple

1. Clean and Clear Facial Scrub
2. Apple is offering college students a free iPod Nano when they buy a Mac. Order online now to get free shipping. Offer ends 9/16/2007.

Foot Surgery and "un-vacation"

Yesterday I had foot surgery on both of my feet and let me tell ya...ouch! Yesterday was okay, but today is a different story. I had nerve damage (compressed nerve) on my left foot and a bunionectomy on the right foot. I can not do much at all; I crawl to the bathroom, although the doctor gave me crutches it is a challenge and painful to walk. Six weeks of recovery is going to entail a lot of resting, I know.

I have had some help, thank goodness. It is nice to know there are people out there that care about me. I hope everyone has someone as nice as the people that have been looking after me.

My boyfriend and his mother have been helping me. His mom has come up with a bunch of different projects for us to work on during my "un-vacation", when I am able. Since we all know I like to knit, we have a couple knitting projects planned, cooking (which is great because I am not a very good cook), and several other crafty projects. I will post the projects as we complete them.

Free Tampons and Wedding Planner Guide

1. Tampax (Sorry guys, but you can order a sample for your girlfriend/wife because these things are costly)
2. 40-Page Wedding Planner

Free Coffee, toothpaste, and more

1. Kidney Health Bracelet
2. Folgers Coffee
3. Aquafresh Toothpaste (scroll down some on this page)
4. Satin Hands Pampering Set from Mary Kay

Scrapbooking

Does anyone like to scrapbook? How about finding new ideas for your pages? I found several great products on the Page Additions website. It is definitely worth checking out if like to scrapbook! I bought the Spin-N-Wheel and Slide-N-Show and I love them. They are my new favorite pages!

Normally, when you are scrapbooking it's difficult to get a lot of pictures on the page, but these two products allow you to fit five to eight pictures on the page and it still leaves room for embellishment.

Free Cat food and Dog food...

• Iams $8.00 coupon for Dog food
• Iams $5.00 coupon for Cat food

The coupons will be mailed to you within 4-6 weeks.

Globalization

It is crucial for businesses to train employees on the importance of customer relationships and customer retention. The market will become even more competitive in the future of change management. Globalization is also becoming more important than ever as companies expand not only in America, but in numerous other countries. During this rapid expansion, there will be a growing demand for cultural and diversity awareness, which must be taught to every employee. Companies will need to know how to manage this change and understand their markets in order to be successful and to prevent culture conflicts and misunderstandings. Globalization will also increase diversity in the workforce, reinforcing the need for diversity training. 

Finding Your Hobby

I never really had any exciting hobbies before and now I am happy I have found my niche. Since I have learned how to knit, I have realized there are so many things you can make from knitting…scarves, purses, socks, throws, and other odds and ends. Knitting gives you such an accomplished feeling when you have completed your project. I think this is ideal for me because I like to see results from things and knitting is just that. When I start with a skein of yarn and end up with an amazing purse or scarf, I wonder, “Did I really make this?” it makes me feel great.

Hobbies are enjoyable and everyone should find something they like to do, whether it is collecting things, working around the house, playing video games, knitting, exercising, it does not matter. Many people think they do not have a hobby, but in reality they do. The good thing about having a hobby is that it is for you! If you enjoy it and it’s something you do more than once a week, it is a hobby, your hobby.

Free Magazine and Pencil Kit

1. Baby Talk Magazine
2. Pocket-size Colored Pencil Kit

Sorry guys, only 2 freebies for today.

Knitted Ferrari

Can you believe some of the things people have knit?! Well, an art student knit a life size Ferrari!

I think this is really fascinating! Could you imagine working on this for 10 months?

The classic red bodywork consists of 250 squares of garter stitch made by Lauren and 20 family members and friends.

The windows are V-shaped stocking stitch, while the details are crochet and the badge is embroidered.

It's all supported by a steel frame which Lauren, 22, of Greatham, Hants, welded herself.

The Sun Online News has the full article.

My Knitting Projects

Many people have been asking to see pictures of my knitting projects; however, I cannot post pictures at this time because several of my projects are going to be Christmas gifts and I do not want to spoil the surprise. If I make something for myself (if I have the time) I will post a picture. Since I am a beginner knitter I have not completed a large number of projects yet.

Prisonbreak

I can't wait until Season 3 of Prisonbreak comes out in a few weeks! I absolutely love this show; it is definitely one of my all-time favorites!

I found a trailer for Season 3; however, it is from a British TV station so the channel and air date is wrong. In the US, Season 3 will actually be on Fox and starts September 17, 2007.

Michael Scofield played by Wentworth Miller is so hot! I wish he would play in more TV shows and movies.

Windows Live Writer

I just downloaded Windows Live Writer, which I used to publish  this post. Windows Live Writer is very easy to use and provides spell checking, as well as, many other advanced tools for creating posts. I definitely recommend checking it out if you get a chance. One of the best features is the real-time WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) preview of what the post will look like.

Un-Vacation

I am having surgery this Wednesday and will be out of work for 6 weeks. I will not be able to do much moving around because both my feet are being operated on. I am looking for ideas for things to keep me busy. I know I will be having a knitting good time, but I can't knit 24/7.

A Knitting Good Time

I can't believe how addicted I am to knitting and I just started learning a couple of months ago! I have patterns galore and I am already acquiring quite the assortment of yarn. There is so much I have to learn, but I am excited about everything there is to learn (cable knitting, reading more intermediate patterns, about the different yarns, etc).

The great thing about knitting is you feel like you have accomplished something. When you see the yarn from the beginning and see the ending results of what you have made... it is exciting!

This is such a great hobby and I am glad I am enjoying it. I never really had any type of hobby before so this is great! I recommend knitting for anyone who is looking for a hobby or looking for something new to do.

For Christmas, I have decided to knit a gift for everyone; I just hope they like it. There is so little time and so much knitting to do!

Free dogfood and more...

1. Nature's Select Dogfood
2. Items for Nurses (Choose from brochures, posters, pins and videos)
3. Fizzy Wizzies

Conflict Management

Conflict is not necessarily always negative; there are positive outcomes that can occur after a conflict. Conflict must be managed effectively at work and there are techniques that may help people with managing different types of conflict, as well as, ineffectively managing conflict.

An ineffective way to manage conflict is by not doing anything and hoping that it will go away, this is through non-action. Due to a long process or procedure to address conflicts, people may also decide not to take action about a conflict that may have occurred. People may try to hide or become secretive about an issue that could potentially lead to conflict, thus not an effective way to manage conflict. Managing conflict in effectively can lead to frustration and resentment between individuals. When people delay an action on a conflict by buying themselves time, they are "administration orbiting" the conflict, an ineffective way to manage conflict.

Managers can also manage conflict effectively through expanding resources, make appealing subordinate goals, changing personnel, changing structure, and confronting and negotiating. A manager must focus the parties on the big issue at stake and get the people to agree on their similarities instead of their differences through subordinate goals. Managers must also provide resources and support when conflict arises.

Pocket Dragons

A couple months ago, I was traveling and I can't remember where I was, but I saw a "pocket dragon". I didn't buy one at the time, but wish I had. Ever since that day, I have grown to love them and think they are the cutest! Now I know you are probably wondering, what is she talking about...don't worry, I am getting there. Anyway, these "pocket dragons" come in a variety of ways, kind of like "snowbabies". However, after researching about pocket dragons, the designer decided to stop making them! I was very disappointed when I found out.

If there was Olympic Games for Kindness and Caring, the Pocket Dragons would come First, Second and Third in every event! They believe that love and friendship make the world a better place and that caring is the natural way to live. They will even share their last cookie with a Pocket Dragon in need!

I have included a few cute ones:

• A Bunch of Bloomin' Dragons
• Lady Big Hat
• My Feet Hurt
• Does This Make Me Look Fat?

I would love to know what everyone thinks about the pocket dragons: do you like them and if you looked at any, which was one of your favorites?

Free dogfood, XBOX 360 deal, and more...

1. PetSmart coupon ($5.00 off a of $20 purchase, offer expires on 8-27-07)
2. Buy.com has a great deal on Xbox 360 Live Memberships... get a Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Subscription Card Halo 3 Edition Membership + Bonus 1 Free Month for $38.88 + Free Shipping. New Google checkout users can save an additional $10, making it only $28.88
3. E-card through Petcentric (This is the cutest thingand a must try for everyone!)
4. Dogfood Sample
5. Catfood Sample
6. Curves Cereal
7. Health Supplement from Wal-Mart

Hope you all are enjoying these!

Pet First-Aid Kit

I was reading an article online tonight about how it is important to have a pet first-aid kit in your home if you have animals. The article suggested to have latex gloves, a towel, adhesive tape, rubbing alcohol, pediatric rectal thermometer, and an eye dropper in the kit. I feel this is very important to make and have somewhere in case of an emergency. I know I will now make a first-aid kit for my pets.

Also, if you don't have the National Animal Poison Control phone number easily accessible, please do: 1-800-548-2423. Get this free magnet to have the number handy.

Free cookbook, dogfood, coffee, and more...

1. South Beach Diet Bar
2. Stayfree Kit
3. Recipe Book
4. Reynolds Parchment Paper
5. Ensure
6. "Soccer Mom" cookbook
7. Longhorn Steakhouse Appetizer
8. 5lb bag of dogfood (they mail you a coupon)
9. Purina treats for your pets
10. Entree of Ceser dogfood
11. Can of Mighty Dog dogfood (just sign up for their newsletter, look on the bottom right side of the page)
12. T-Shirt (if you buy Pedigree dogfood, check out the details) I already received mine and it is a pretty cool shirt.
13. Folgers Coffee

I hope you are enjoying the samples I post on my blog. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Lion Brand Yarn

If you like to knit, you will absolutely love Lion Brand Yarn. They are one of my favorites and have all types of yarn. On their site, they list a variety of free patterns, for all skill levels. I recently ordered the Free Catalog; this catalog should have some good information.

Free neutrogena, hair care product, and more...

1. Neutrogena Sample (for the first 2,000 people to their site, so this one could expire)
2. Baby Diapers
3. John Frieda Frizz-Ease
4. Free Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Wristband (use "B3 Your B3st" for your code)
5. Garden Harvest Chips
6. Free copy of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes" booklet
7. Prenatal Vitamins
8. Psoriasis Cream (use AWFT0705 at checkout & check promotion instead of credit card)

Free Pet Tag and Laundry Detergent

1. Pet Tag
2. Purex Laundry Detergent

Free Magazine, photo frame, golf tees, and more...

1. Nivea Cellulite Patch from Wal-Mart
2. 1 year of Bridal Guide Magazine
3. Photo Frame
4. Similac
5. Golf Tees
6. Aloe Butter Mask

Free dog treats and stickers

1. Greenies for your dog or cat (My dog absolutely loves these and they are great for their teeth!)
2. Skateboarding Stickers for your kid(s)

Fur Elise

This is my all time favorite classical song by Beethoven!

The Union and Management

Recenty, I had a discussion with a customer, who is a retiree of Chrysler; he was talking about how his pension and benefits are going to be taken away or decreased to barely nothing. He stated how he was going to try to apply for Medicaid. The gentleman said if he would had joined the union and wasn’t management he would not have to deal with this issue. I asked him what he meant and he said that retirees of the union are still collecting full pensions and receiving healthcare and other benefits. I felt so bad for this guy. You would think after putting in so many years with a company that he wouldn’t be in the position he is now.

What do you think about this?

An Empowered Workforce

I feel an important factor to employee job satisfaction and to an empowered workforce is that the employee must feel they are working for a good company. Employees must also feel they have room for advancement within the company they are working for and managers have to be there to help them achieve their goals. It is important that employees have a sense of belonging at work and job satisfaction. Managers can assist with this by helping the employees plan steps to achieve their goals, and by pointing them in the right direction with their job performance. Managers need to keep their employees' cross-trained on a variety of different skills and abilities pertaining to their jobs. This will improve the employee's sense of significance and enhance their self-esteem at work. I feel that managers should share knowledge with their employees and provide ongoing training when applicable.

Employees need feedback and managers should provide performance feedback to their employees often. This will enhance job performance and self-esteem. I feel a lack of feedback may cause role ambiguity and job stress which could result in high rates of turnover.

Frederick Herzberg developed two sets of measurement for employee satisfaction which are the hygiene issues and motivators. Managers must take this theory into account when focusing on job satisfaction. Hygiene factors are known to dissatisfy employees and motivators are satisfiers. Motivator factors may be elements such as achievement, recognition, responsibility, and advancement. Hygiene issues may be the working conditions, relationships at work, salary, and supervision. Many of these issues can be controlled by a manager that is concerned with their employees' job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is created by the employee, the company as a whole, and the management team and is an on-going effort.

Free coffee, hamburger helper, and more!

Just want you wanted... more freebies!

1. Dunkin' Donuts Coffee
2. Hamburger Helper
3. Aveeno Daily Moisturizer
4. If you are a Sam's Member: Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack
5. Animal Poison Control Magnet

Enjoy!

Women and Discrimination

It is interesting to see how women have been discriminated against, not only by men and society, but by other women. Traditionally, women have been taught a subservient role and that it is not proper to be a sexual object of desire, especially if the woman is a doting mother. Thus, women are pressured to conform to both the ideal and its flip side. I find these dual expectations to be very unfair, but it is the reality; I am sure everyone has heard that old saying – “A man wants a lady in public and a freak in the bedroom.”

The next thing that really irritates me is how unfair the laws were in the past towards women. For example, I once read in a book about a white woman who had sexual relations with a black slave, back in the day, and the laws of that time required the woman to be stripped of her rights and forced into slavery. However, a dual standard existed and the law did not apply to a white man and a black woman. I do not like to see women, or anyone for that matter, being treated as objects that can be possessed due to their sex, race, nationality, or gender. It is so unfair and unjust!

Women and Dreams

“You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know that it might not ever come your way, dream it anyway.”

This is a lyric from “Anyway” by Martina McBride that stands out to me when I heard it for the first time. So many women in the past saw “their dream”, chased it and we are living it right now. Thank goodness they chased it so that we, as women, have the right to vote, work outside the home, make our own decisions today, and the list continues on.

I feel this lyric is also good for anyone today. We must remember a dream can come true as it did for many women in the past. We as women, as individuals, must keep focused on our dreams and remember they can come true!

Veterinary Services

Did you know PetSmart provides several specialty services such as grooming, training, boarding, day camps, pet hotels, and pet styling salons. When a new location opened by me, I was able to walk through the doggy day care area and was very impressed. It is like a hotel; they have their own room, tv (if preferred), the kitchen is super clean, and a play area. It was great to see because I have always wondered what it looked like in the "back" and how they handled everything. They also offer full service veterinary care in 525 of their stores, operating under the registered trade name of Banfield Animal Hospital. Through these veterinary services they offer routine examinations and vaccinations, dental care, a pharmacy, and routine and complex surgical procedures. I take my dog to PetSmart for the grooming services and to the Banfield Animal Hospital. I must compliment them on their great customer service, reasonable costs, and cleanliness. The doctors of Banfield are very thorough and actually act as though they care about your pet. If you are looking for a veterinarian I highly recommend Banfield of PetSmart.

Along with these services PetSmart also supports the activities of animal welfare organizations in North America through PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent organization. They help find loving homes for every pet by raising awareness of companion animal welfare issues and other awareness programs.

Free tape, razor, t-shirt, and more...

1. 3M Smooth Transition Tape (for employer section, just answer generically)
2. Child Safety Kit (This includes a parent guide and two fingerprint & DNA documents to record your child's personal information)
3. Jergens Skincare Experts
4. Venus Breeze Razor
5. Oral Deaf Education Materials
6. Perpster T-Shirt
7. Kidney Health Bracelet - Show your support
8. Chocolate Chex from Wal-Mart

Tips and Signs of Pregnancy

I recently read an article on mturk.com and wanted to share some of the information I read about pregnancy. When women conceive, they tend to show signs of pregnancy such as missed periods, decreased energy, tender breasts, and morning sickness. If a women is over the age of 35 and needs help getting pregnant, it is important to work with a doctor; fertility drugs may be the resolution. The following are some tips on getting pregnant:

• Develop exercise regimen and nutritional diet
• Prepare yourself physically and mentally
• No tampons, stop certain medication, and vaginal sprays (These items remove mucus from the cervix, which helps to protect the sperm.)
• Start an ovulation calendar to increase chance of conception
• Work with obstetrician to develop a plan

Free book and more...

1. You have to fill out the simple form to receive a free copy of "What To Expect The First Year" and allow a few weeks for delivery. Great for new parents.
2. Free Kotex Sample

Managing Talent

This article had a lot of good information about how managers should be accountable for their employees and managing talent. As I was reading, it made me think about how I manage my staff, if I am managing effectively while engaging and developing my staff. The document was interesting because it discussed how managers should increase their employees responsibilities and look for new opportunities for them, as well. I feel that I am good in these areas because I am always keeping my staff up-to-date on how close we are in achieving our goals, how they are doing with meeting their expectations, and by having one-on-ones with them once a month. An example in the document stated that many managers meet with their employees once a year, during the performance review, and forget about them afterwards. That is not effective and is not what management is about. I think people get caught up in their own daily routines and forget about everything else that they should be doing.

Reference:

Beyond Talent Management: Managers as Talent Leaders. Retrieved August 9, 2007, from Paradigm Learning Website

Can a job ever be more than a job?

Each job a person holds is only a small piece of the puzzle of their career growth. By moving through ever advancing jobs and climbing towards the pinnacle, a person can achieve lasting success. Many jobs, especially in the non-profit sector, can provide spiritual and other non-monetary rewards, extending the concept of a job and traditional compensation.

When a person has a great job they feel as though they are a part of something bigger in a corporation and look forward to the next day at work. That provides people with great satisfaction and the desire to invest more than the required amount of effort.

Free kitten care kit, girl pack, and more...

Click on the following links to enjoy today's freebies. Check back daily for more.

1. Free Kitten Care Kit
2. Free Sticky Notes for Kids
3. Iams Dog Food Coupon for $8 off
4. Free Girl pack (tampons, pads, etc)

Enjoy!

Knitting for Beginners

Any beginning knitters out there? I am raising my hand! I love to knit and have already bought too much yarn. I have a few projects I am working on and dozens of patterns I am excited to try. I feel as though I cannot knit fast enough. So far I have made a purse and three scarves. Many of the things I am making are going to be Christmas presents. I absolutely love the hats in picture (to the left). Click here if you would like to download the pattern.

If you have any stories or patterns you would like to share, please feel free to leave a comment.

Make Money

Are you bored? Are you looking to put a few extra cents in your pocket? I have been making a few dollars through mechanical turk and there is no cost. All I have to do is sit at home and do simple things such as decide if two items are alike, complete surveys, and/or answer demographic or opinion questions. Very simple things. If you are interested in doing this and have spare time visit http://www.mturk.com/, sponsored by Amazon.

My Pets

I wanted to share a picture of my beautiful and photogenic animals: Cinnamon (dog) and Midna (cat). Cinnamon is 5 and Midna is only 6 months. I love them dearly! Isn't it the cutest how much they love each other!?

XBOX 360

I would love to know what your favorite game is for the XBOX 360? My boyfriend and I love The Outfit. It is a fun game to play with 2 players. I recently bought Shrek the Third and finished it in 2 days, but I need to replay it because I didn't really figure it all out until the middle of the game. Shrek is a fun game and I feel it is appropriate for any age group.

Wal-Mart

One of my all time favorite freebie sites is Wal-Mart. For one they have really great freebies often and are quick at getting them sent out.

Click on the link and check it out...

Enjoy!

I Love Freebies

Do you love getting things in the mail besides bills? Well I do. Every time I check the mail I have a little something waiting for me. Sometimes the surprise is lotion, shampoo, deodorant, pet food and/or treats. What I mean by this is that I send off for free stuff. However, you have to be careful and make sure you are at a legitimate website. I have several sites I use and I will start posting them on here. If you are interested, please visit my blog for new freebies.

FYI: When you visit the sites please remember to not use your real birthday or phone number. You may also want to use an email address you do not use too much (make up a new one on your account just for when you fill out these forms) because you will receive junk mail.