Viggle

I think it was the beginning of February when I first heard about Viggle - thanks to the DJs on WBGL, during my morning drive to work. It's a free iPod/iPhone app that gives you rewards for watching television. I'll admit, I was a little skeptical at first. It all seemed too easy and the rewards appear to be ones I wouldn't mind getting.

Dan and I decided to put it to the test. We each downloaded the app, opened accounts and started earning points by watching bonus videos (commercials and trailers) and checking in to television shows that we were watching. The points added up faster than we thought and in a matter of a week I had enough points to purchase a $25 Amazon gift card (rewards vary from week to week). I redeemed my points for the gift card and we used it to purchase Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack). We found the combo pack on sale for about $22.50 and got free, 2-day delivery thanks to Dan's Prime membership. In about 24 hours the movie arrived and we paid nothing out of pocket! Plus, we even have some money left over to go towards something else. Score!

A few weeks ago Dan and I spent a few points to get $5 coupons for Papa John's pizza. Once again, the coupons worked and we had a delicious, cheap dinner! With leftovers!

The only thing that I discovered is that I've never gotten the codes emailed to me, like the apps says. So don't worry if you never get codes emailed to you, they're always accessible from your app.

I figure I would give this app a true test before I started sharing it with family and friends. Now that I have exprienced the ups and downs of Viggle, I'm still watching bonus videos and checking in to the shows that I watch to earn more points. Everybody watches television... you might as well get rewarded!

The Amazon gift card isn't available right now, but once it comes back, Dan and I will be ready!

Happy Leap Day!

Sadly, it has been a while since I've posted an update, but I am pleased to announce that I am finally playing catch up! Look below and you'll even see a few photos that I've added to my Housewarming Party II post.

You may not always notice a new blog post, but if you go to my Picture of the Day section you'll find a photos and "mini blogs" to go with each photo. I'm better at updating my Picture of the Day section when the photos are taken with mine or Dan's phone - because then I just email them to myself. If I take a photo with an actual camera... well, then things get delayed because I have to upload the pictures to my computer first. I don't know why, but I have been such a slacker at uploading photos onto my computer from my camera(s).

Anyway, today we get to have an extra day in the year! Woohoo! The weather outside is gorgeous! Maybe spring will be here a lot faster than usual? I sure hope so! Well, no matter, I hope you make the most of this extra day in 2012!

Where I Belong

There is this new song by Building 429 that has been on "repeat" inside my head for several weeks now. Every time it gets played on the radio I crank it up and don't hold back while I sing along.

This is a song that I wish I had written. The lyrics move me to tears (joyful tears!) when I am caught up in worship. If you've put your faith is Jesus Christ, I'm sure you'll connect with this song.

Click the link below to listen to the song and view the lyrics:

"Where I Belong" by Building 429

Housewarming Party II

REWIND! I'm going to take a step back in time and blog about mine and Dan's second housewarming party.

On Saturday, January 28th Dan and I had our second housewarming party. The guest list consisted mostly of camp friends and co-workers.

That morning, Dan and I went to Corner Bakery to enjoy a free breakfast panini. Certainly not a bad way to start the day. After that we made a quick stop at the mall and later went home to set up for our party.

The party got started at 5:00 p.m. that evening. The whole house was clean and the food was ready. Our first guests arrived shortly after 5:30 and after that we had a nice, steady flow of friends joining our party.

Dan and I seem to take turns giving the official house tour this time around - somehow it ended up being mostly my job at our last party. Once again, it was so nice to have so many loved ones in our home at once.

Not sure how this happened (again!), but I completely forgot about photos! Thankfully, Kaylin pulled out her camera so we could get a photo just before her and Sarah left. That was when it hit me... I haven't been taking photos! Gah! Where has my head gone? From that moment on I grabbed Dan's point and shoot camera and started snapping photos like crazy! Not all of our guests were still there, but at least I got some of them. I'll update this post with photos - once I put them on my computer.

Our last six guests left at about 1:00 a.m. It was an evening full of laughs and fantastic memories! Shame it had to end so early. ;)

UPDATE: Here are some photos from our second housewarming party (finally!).

12 Years Later...

Has it really been 12 years? I don't feel 12 years older. Really, it has been 12 years since my BFF, Jessica Troyer, went home to be with the Lord? Wow.

January 30th never comes easy. There is always heartache and a lot of questions racing through my mind. What went wrong? Why was there snow on the ground so Jessie could go snowmobiling? Why did Jessie have to go snowmobiling that night? Why didn't she properly secure her helmet? Why did she hit that tree? Why? Why? WHY?!

I was 17 years old and I felt like my life was pulled out from underneath me. My heart was shattered and I felt empty and alone. Nothing made sense anymore. I could always count on God to do the "right" thing... but how was taking Jessie the right thing to do? I needed her! He knew that. So why did He take her from me?

While my life has forever changed since the day Jessie left earth to be with our Lord and Savior, I feel blessed to still have her family as such an important part of my life. Each year many of us gather at her mother's house to celebrate Jessie's life. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on January 30th.

I don't always understand God's plan, but I can tell you this much... my relationship with Him has never been better! With His blessing, He has given me a testimony that has provided comfort to others who grieving the loss of loved ones. As a camp counselor, my testimony has led dozens of my campers to Christ. Then there is the Something from Jessie Memorial Scholarship, which has given Chicago inner city students an opportunity to attend the same camp Jessie and I attended as children - which also gives them the opportunity to hear the gospel and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

While I still miss my BFF, I know that with each passing day we are apart, that bring us one day closer to being reunited in heaven. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior! He has given me strength each and every day since Jessie died and I couldn't imagine my life without Him.

If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to turn your life over to God and accept Christ as your Lord as Savior! While God makes no promise that our lives will be easy, He certainly brings a lot of joy and hope in our darkest, most uncertain moments. I promise... it will be the best decision you will ever make.

12 years later... God is still using Jessie for His glory and I will continue to do the same.

UPDATE:
Later that evening Dan surprised me by bringing home some flowers. He had stargazer lilies for me and green daisies (?) for Jessie. I was in total awe!

We left the house shortly after Dan got home in attempt to stop by Pleasant Hill Cemetery to visit Jessie. Unfortunately the sun had set and the gates were closed. I'll admit, a few tears escaped my eyes as we sat in our car starring at the locked gates.

"Do you want to stay and just sit here for a while," Dan asked as he displayed a disappointed puppy lip. He felt bad that we didn't make it in time.

We sat silently as I kept starring at the gates, trying to accept the fact that they were really closed and locked for the night.

I brushed away a few lingering tears and told Dan I was ready to leave.

We had some time before we were due at Melanie's house, so we went to Home Depot and Target. We had nothing to get, but Dan did treat me to 10 Things I Hate About You on Blu-ray - it was on sale.

Later that evening we got to Melanie's house and were joined by my parents and our friends, Michele and Jeremy. Together we ate pizza, spaghetti casserole (?), gingerbread cookies (of course!), fruit salad, as well as some amazing chip and dip! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on January 30th.

The next day, Tuesday, January 31st, I used my break to go back to Pleasant Hill to drop off Dan's flowers for Jessie and to pay her a visit. The ground was very soggy from all the melted snow and it was super windy, but I still managed to spend some quality time visiting Jessie.

12 years is a long time... but it's amazing how it can still feel like it happened yesterday.

The "Side-Effects" of Working in Retail

I've been working in retail since 2005 and when I'm the shopper I tend to do things that most shoppers don't. Some of theses "strange" behaviors are all, what I call, "side-effects" from working in retail... and based on conversations I've had with fellow co-workers, I'm not the only one who does these things.

1. I fold clothes and rotate items on shelves so that everything is displayed nicely. So unless I'm in Hollister and the clearance clothes are all in a tangled pile, I tend to "fluff" the clothes and display items.

2. I always share my zip code, email, and phone number when asked. I have a "junk" mail account for online freebies and that is what I share when a store asks for my email - unless it is a store that I shop at often, those stores get my real email.

I know that the information is collected for statistics (zip codes help show where shoppers come from) and your phone number/email is for coupons and merchandise updates. It is very likely that the store is keeping track of how many emails a single cashier is collecting. I just want to help him/her get at least one email captured that day.

3. I stay put when an employee goes in the back to check on something. I want him/her to have an easy time finding me. If I plan on moving to another part of the store I make a point to let the employee where he/she can find me. This will save both of us some time.

4. I am super friendly to employees who help me find something and thank them for their assistance. I say "thank you" and "have a nice day" with plenty of pep and a warm smile to let the employee know I appreciated his/her assistance.

5. I try not to bother the employees who appear to be busy with a project. I avoid people on a ladder, working off a list, checking prices, etc. I scan the store to see if anyone else is available. If no one else is, I often start by saying, "I'm sorry, can you help me?"

Some of these habits find their way into my house as well. For example, food gets stocked with the labels faces the same way (towards the front) and are neatly placed in straight lines, in stylish fashion. I know that sometimes I over do it, but I like to think I'm staying in practice for work.

Housewarming Party I

On Friday, January 20th we got hit with another major snow storm. It got bad rather quickly and everyone at work was sent home at 2:00 p.m. My drive to and from work is about 30 minutes, but on the snowy, slick day it took me well over an hour! Even in my new tires, I crawled the whole way home. Dan was sent home early as well and, just like the last storm, he beat me home.

That evening, Dan and I were super busy getting our house ready for our first housewarming party. My little "sista" (Courtney) came over and helped me get the food cleaned, chopped, baked, and bagged. She also helped by doing dishes and vacuuming the entire first floor! She is such a sweet girl! It was completely her idea to come and help - and a snow storm wasn't going to stop this kind-hearted 18-year-old. We had a great time!

Dan spent the evening organizing and cleaning the garage, hanging pictures, and cleaning. He also made a trip to Walmart for some last minutes items. Good thing Walmart is so close! The snow was really coming down.

It was a long and busy evening, but we got SO much done. I slept very well that night, knowing everything was clean and ready for the party.

Saturday, January 21st Dan and I got up rather early. Dan set his alarm for 7:00 a.m. (so he could shovel) and I sent my alarm for 8:00 a.m. I spent most of my morning getting myself ready for the party. Once I was clean, dressed, and my make-up was complete, I went downstairs to continue getting ready for the party.

My parents arrived at about noon and helped up put the finishing touches on our food and goodies. Shortly after 1:00 p.m. a steady flow of guests arrived and the party was in full swing.

Dan and I were thrilled to have so many loved ones in our home at once. We had a fabulous turn out and I had a great time showing everyone the house.

Dan and I had more than enough food that day. Our last party guests left at about 6:00 p.m. and we were left with a mountain of leftovers. Thankfully, that just means I won't have to do that much cooking (if any) this week. Love it!

Clean up was really easy and after we were done Dan and I sipped some red wine and watched America's Funniest Home Videos on Netflix. It felt so good to just kick back and relax after a rather eventful day.

I'm really disappointed to report that I don't have any photos from the party! I spent so much time visiting with family and friends that I didn't get a chance to snap any photos. Sad. Oh well, it was still a wonderful party. One that I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life. We are so blessed!