It’s My Imagination

Social Media

Do you utilize any social media?  I know that I personally check in to Facebook at least once a day.  I don’t always update my status and I rarely change my photo, but I do at least see what any of my friends have posted.  What about you?

What do you think of companies using social media?  Personally, in most cases, I think it’s positive, a way for business to seem more personable and touchable.  I have “liked” a few, including my favorite coffee distributor!  I’m sort of picky about which companies I will “like” because once you click that button, you then get pretty regular status updates from them and I don’t want my page feeling like a big ad when I’m actually just checking into Facebook to see what my friends and family are up to.  But, overall I think Facebook advertising is beneficial.  I’ve actually been able to learn about new products from some of my favorite companies that I may not have known about had I not seen a post on Facebook.

I do think that social media and social media marketing, when done right, can benefit both the business and the consumer.  I think it’s also a great way for business to get word out on some of their more philanthropic programs as well.

Via: Wpromote

Bursitis

Yes, that’s the diagnosis My 15 year old daughter has bursitis in her left shoulder. ughh!

She has an appointment this coming Monday with an orthopedic doctor, although I’m really not sure there is anything that can be done. She has all ready completed a treatment of steroids, so, unless they recommend physical therapy, it may just simply be something she has to live with. I guess we will know more on Monday, stay tuned.

Walgreens vs Express Scripts

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s that time of year again, the time when we all must re-familiarize ourselves with our health insurance coverage, annual deductibles, out of pocket expenses, etc.  It can be overwhelming.  Something like the dispute between Walgreens and Express Script certainly doesn’t help anyone who previously had pharmacy coverage through Express Scripts.

Throughout the past year, Walgreens continued to negotiate with Express Scripts for a contract that would continue to allow Walgreens to be a part of Express Scripts provider network.   Unfortunately, the negotiations weren’t successful and now, as of Jan. 1, members of Express Scripts find themselves looking for other pharmacies to meet their needs.  This would seriously suck if I had to look for a new pharmacy!  Think about it, over the 5 years we’ve lived in Texas, every prescription for all 3 members of my immediate family, has been filled at Walgreens.  I know their hours, their pharmacists, their locations.  I love that if I am traveling I can still get a prescription refilled even if I’m half way across the country.  I would hate having to go someplace else and I’m sure Express Scripts members hate it too.

Even though negotiations didn’t work, Walgreens is offering Express Scripts member a very special discount on an annual membership in the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.  $10/year will get a family membership which covers everyone in your immediate family (spouse and children 22 & younger) and even pets!  An individual membership is only $5 a year. 

The membership includes discounted prices on prescriptions, flu shots, diabetic supplies, nebulizer and yes, even pet prescriptions.  Plus anytime you purchase Walgreens brand products and photo services, there are membership bonuses.  That’s a pretty generous offer in my opinion!

Like Walgreens on Facebook to show your support and don’t forget to follow Walgreens on Twitter.

Injuries at a Young Age

If you’ve followed my blog at all, then you know that my daughter is a softball player and has played the game for the last 10 years (and she’s only 15!). While playing ball in college is not her top priority, she wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to do so if the chance came her way.

She has been complaining for about the last 10-12 months about shoulder pain. Usually the complaints came during tournaments and I assumed it was due to the fact that she was playing in so many consecutive games. Had I payed more attention, I would’ve realized she was complaining about her left shoulder which, since she is right handed, is not her dominant throwing or batting arm. I should’ve realized something was more wrong than just being sore.

She’s actually had the last month and a half off from most activity and she found herself really hurting over the holiday break. I got her into the doctor who prescribed a 2 week treatment of medications to see if it was perhaps a stressed muscle. This was the less costly approach and we all agreed to try that first. The steroids she took for 1 week and they did bring the swelling down. The pain medication helped with everything else, but at her follow up appointment today, we decided to go for the MRI to see if there is possibly a tear or something else.

She is scheduled for the MRI tomorrow and hopefully we will have results early next week. As a mom, it’s very tough to know your kid has a sports injury at such a young age. The good new right now is that it won’t keep her from playing ball, and, with some medical attention, hopefully she’ll be back to playing pain free in the near future.

Happy New Year!

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The year is all ready coming to a close, where did the time go? For us, it was a year filled with softball, marching bands, homework and teenagers in abundance. I see more of the same in 2012, with the addition of a teenager driver in our household! OH BOY!!

I am looking forward to all that the new year has to offer and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Teenagers and Cell Phones

This post brought to you by LG DoublePlay™. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have a teenager living with you, I’m sure you’ll no doubt agree, teenagers and cell phones are pretty much one and the same.  One never seems to be without the other.  I’ve discovered over the last several years too, that most phones, although they may be built to withstand pretty much anything other than being dropped in water, can’t last the length of a cell phone contract if consistently in the hands of a teenager.  Maybe that’s why I’ve become so enthralled with the LG DoublePlay™.

The T-Mobile exclusive LG DoublePlay™  has dual touch screens and a slide out QWERTY keyboard ans SWYPE that are specifically built for hours of texting and social networking, perfect for teenagers everywhere!  My daughter typically texts over 10,000 messages a month and spends hours with her friends via social networking sites each evening.  With the 5 megapixel camera and 720p HD video recorder, she could easily text pics & videos via her phone giving me more time on our shared computer.

How many hours a month do you or your family members spend texting and visiting on social networks?  After checking out the LG DoublePlay™  how do you think the way to text and interact with your friends and family online would change?

Holidays

Thanksgiving came and went, fairly quietly here. My husband, daughter & I shared the meal together and enjoyed a very peaceful day.

A few days after Thanksgiving, my mom & sister arrived and spent a week with us. It was a wonderful, relaxing week. We managed to hit a few quilt shops and I did buy a little bit of fabric and a few new patterns. Most of the week was spent relaxing at home, my mom had a bad head cold, and we enjoyed each others company.

Thankfully we had put up all of our holiday decorations, including our Christmas tree, the weekend before our company arrived, so our house was festive, and hopefully warm. I’m working on getting the last of the Christmas shopping done, the lists are smaller this year because the budget is smaller. I’m praying my husband doesn’t go overboard, I’ve asked him to be careful with his spending, but he has a hard time with that.

Anyway, my daughter is studying a lot this week with finals at school and then will be out of school for 2 weeks. It’s always nice to have her around more, I just hope I can get over the head cold that my mom left for me!

Happy Holidays!

Be Thankful

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I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Thanksgiving, a time for giving thanks, spending quality time with family and friends, and sharing with those less fortunate. Please take time out of your day to give thanks for the blessings in your life and to tell those around you how much you love them. God Bless!

The Debate: Puppies vs. Babies

This post brought to you by Puppies vs. Babies. All opinions are 100% mine.

That’s right, Puppies vs. Babies it’s up for debate.  Which do you think are cuter, puppies or babies?

Of course, as a mom, I would have to say one baby in particular was totally cuter than any puppy you’ll ever see!  But, as a puppy owner (yes, our dog will always be a puppy in our hearts), she could definitely win a cutest puppy contest, paws down!

What do you think?  Visit Puppies vs. Babies online contest before November 23 to cast your vote.  The entry deadline for this contest is past, but voting is still going on, so be sure to visit and cast your vote.  Let me know what you think, which way did you vote, puppies or babies?  Seriously?  I think it’s sort of difficult to choose.  

My little baby is 15 now, so I didn’t feel right about submitting her photo in the baby category (although I still think she would win!), and my furry baby is now almost 5, although she still puts on a wonderfully lovable puppy face when she really wants something!  

So, check it out, cast your vote and come back & leave me a comment, let me know how you voted!

High School Football Playoffs

Last night completed round 1 in the Texas high school football playoffs. Typical to how Allen High School has been performing the past few weeks, the defense seemed to wait until the 4th quarter to show up for the game making what should have been a blowout, a close call. In the end, we won 30-17 with Allen scoring 17 unanswered points in the 4th quarter.

So, Allen moves on to round 2 and will play Euliss Trinity next Saturday afternoon. Allen better make sure both sides of the ball show up to play from the opening kickoff or they may find their season coming to a close next week!