Hanging Out On Break

It is spring break in Volusia County, we will be hanging around like this squirrel in my bird feeder! Actually we are headed to Orlando tomorrow for a long weekend at Sea World. Then we are going to hang around the beach and the pool, maybe take a ride on the water taxi and of course we will eat lunch at JB's Fish Camp at least once.

Whatever you do this spring break have fun!

Work at Home

I get alot of questions about my work at home job. I am a recruiter and that is not something everyone can do. If you would like information on that or the company I work for please feel free to email me for information. If you would like information on a gazillion other opportunities you can do from home you need to check out

Work at Home Mom Revolution

This is written by a fellow work at home mom. Most of her posts involve work at home opportunities that she has come across. I check her out a couple times a week and always find some new opportunity that I can pass on to friends. Read her past posts as she has a lot of information.

Interesting Sites

I was playing around on bzzagent this morning and found a couple of very interesting sites. The first one is:

Charity Navigator - This is a pretty informative site. It offers the ability to search different charities, check charities out for legitimacy and so on. There are 46 charities listed on here within a 50 mile radius of New Smyrna Beach.

The next one is: Consumer Search this one offers reviews and information on a gazillion products, services etc. It is very well organized and easy to use. I checked several products that I am very familiar with and they were dead on.

And last but certainly not least:

How Stuff Works I love this site. If you have a child that asks a million obscure questions that you have no answer for this is for you. It has tons of information on all sorts of topics. It is our new homework best friend. Check it out!

If you would like more information on bzzagent email me.

Happy Easter!

Have an enjoyable and safe Easter. Here is some pictures for your little ones to color.

Flagler Hotel Update

There is a an article in the News Journal today about the proposed hotel on Flagler Ave. Read it here

Click here is the original discussion about this topic

And here is the blog that a resident who opposed it has set up Keep New Smyrna Quaint

Check out the comments on both it is very interesting. I live beachside and on holiday weekends such as this there is alot of traffic but that is what happens when you choose to live at the beach. I hit the stores early or not at all and hang out at home or walk downtown. A million dollars of tax revenue would be great for the City. It is also important to note that this has NOT yet been approved by the political powers that be, who are operating with building and zoning guidelines from the 1950's.

What do you think?

Just When You Think You Are a Lousy Parent

My kids like Subway. We go there about once a week on a day when cooking is not realistic, like a day when we have tennis and baseball, or riding and baseball...or any other number of ridiculous things that make me say WHAT am I doing.....

OK, on to the point of this...we stopped in to Subway this week and there was this man in the parking lot, he was on a bike, he had stuff in his bike basket and he was dirty and clearly homeless. As we approached the Subway my daughter saw he had a dog, an obviously well cared for dog, she is a pet freak and of course ran up and talked to him and played with his dog, he was delighted. He told me my daughter was a gift from God. My cynical usually mean son, said as we went into the restaurant, "mom, can we get him something." I said sure, go see what he would like, next thing I know, my two beautiful children are leading this man into the restaurant and have invited him to have dinner with us.

We ordered, he ordered, my son gave him advice on the Subway menu, and the four of us sat down and ate. I learned that he was in Desert Storm...(so was my brother) that his brother died and his mother died and he was truly a lost soul. I thought to myself....there but for the grace of God go I.

When we left he thanked me for sharing my children with him, I thanked him for having dinner with us. My wonderful children talked about him all the way home, they want to go back and have dinner with him again, so when I wonder if I am teaching them anything, I realize they are really teaching me.

By the way, his name is Mark and he rides his bike around 44 at the Walmart. If you see him he likes the turkey sub.

I Want To Be Jack

This is Jack.


Jack is my brothers incredibly large, incredibly spoiled Great Dane. I want to be him, I want to laze about on the couch, go for walks, have someone make me food and put cheese all over it. Then I want to nap some more, go for some more walks and chase cats....lots of cats...every cat I see. I want to be Jack.


Instead, I am Mom, Mom spent the week at tennis, baseball, riding, baseball and oh yea I had to work in between baseball and more baseball and more riding....you get the idea. I really want to be Jack.

Build It and They Will Come....

But what are they building and who will end up coming? That is the question that some local residents are asking about a proposed 125 room hotel and 3 story parking deck that is going before county commissioners. I am not sure when it is scheduled to be voted on, but the plan is to put this at Flagler and Florida Avenue.

Residents are meeting to discuss this and have invited the developer, the meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, March 19th at 6pm at the Coronado Methodist Church. You can get more information and follow along with the residents at

Keep New Smyrna Quaint

I remember a brief article in the paper awhile back about this hotel but it has not gotten much press. I googled and searched the News Journal website but could find the article I saw. I checked the City Commission schedule, agendas and minutes and did not find anything there either. This is apparently a pretty well kept secret or I am just not up to my usual searching capability.

Whatever your thoughts are it is important to stay informed.

Free Enterprise is Alive and Well

My daughter came in from the garage a few minutes ago carrying the broom, she was acting like this was a normal occurrence. So...I played along, said "whatcha doing with the broom?" Girl Child says, "I am going to sweep the kitchen" she gave me a look like, duh what do you think I am doing?? So I said ok, obviously having no clue what the heck she was up to. Next she came and asked me where the mop was. I told her, and she mopped the kitchen. By now I am completely flabbergasted.

When she was all done, I thanked her and she said "you are welcome" insert crafty smile here. "By the way", she says in her sweet little voice, "You owe me a dollar". I said, "what?". She laughed and said "that is what I am charging you for sweeping and mopping." GREAT. I just got scammed by an 8 year old. Free Enterprise at its best.

Flagler Tavern

Have you eaten at the Flagler Tavern? My brother and I went there Saturday night for an adult beverage and a snack. We had some appetizers and they were great. Prices are pretty much the same as anywhere else on the beach and the staff was super friendly. My son loves wings so I took him there today after school, he is only 10 so sitting in the bar was not an option so we sat in the dining room. The bartender was great about coming in there and waiting on us, even though we were the only ones in there and it had to be a pain in the butt for him. The food was great and the service was excellent!

FCAT & Daylight Savings TIme

I am pretty sure the people running the schools in this state do not have children. This week is Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test(FCAT). The big state test that all the teachers must teach to in order to keep their school at a high grade. The brilliant No Child Left Behind Program, yes that was sarcasm.

Daylight Savings Time started this weekend, so the kids who have to take the FCAT, lost an hour of sleep, have to wait for the bus in the dark and the best part is the buses in Volusia are coming 15 minutes earlier starting tomorrow, in order to be sure no one is late. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)

If you have kids you know how hard it is to get them to bed, try doing it the first few days of Daylight Savings Time. I am curious as to why the brilliant powers that be in this state did not have the FCAT the week before spring break, or last week, or any other week but this one? That would make sense.

Chef Solus and NOURISH!

Parents..Click Here

This site is great! My daughter who I fight with and trick into eating fruits and vegetables loves it...her diet has been a constant struggle since she was about 5. Stomach issues, constipation, she won't eat vegetable and only eats a few fruits. She loves this site and is now tracking her intake...check it out.

Mom, who are you going to vote for?

I watch MSNBC, you could say it is my background noise most of the day. Every time one of my kids are around and it is on, one of them says, "Mom, who are you gonna vote for?" I tell them quite truthfully, "I have NO CLUE."

They are like little sponges, learning the process, we covered primaries and elegates this week, and who is left in the race, and why they are left and what happens now that John McCain has the nomination. They ask me 20 questions each every day. I am glad they are interested and I am glad that they care about the future of our country.....now who am I "gonna vote for?"

Bike Week

It is bike week and it is busy on the beachside. Check this link out for Bike Week Activities.