WOW A LOT OF FUN FOR A LOW PRICE

Hello all,

Florida has an abundance of things to do and see. Though the theme parks are the the most popular of things, they are also the most expensive! I've compiled a list of some of the lesser known places, that are just as fun and much easier on the pocketbook.

1. MOSI- (Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa)- this place is awesome. My family has been several times, and it has never disappointed us. Adults are just $26.95, children $20.95.

2. Gatorland-(in Orlando) Everything you want to see about alligators! Plus they have an aviary, petting zoo, animal shows and a zipline. Adults $23.99, children $15.99.

3. Lowery Park Zoo-(in Tampa)  This is a very nice zoo. My family has been here many, many times. They also have a train ride, and awesome shows. Adults- $29.99, children $22.95.

4. Wonderworks-(in Orlando) This is a really fun hands on experience the whole family can enjoy! There is so much to do and see, you can get lost here all day. They even have a magic dinner show here for a seperate fee.  Adults-$26.99, children $20.99.

5. Ripleys-(in Orlando) There are many oddities to see here. It also has hands on activities. Adults-$19.99, children $12.99.

6. WeekieWachi-(Springhill) This is one of the oldest attractions in Florida. One one side is Buccaneer Bay which boasts 2 water slides, a tiki bar, lazy river tubing,  and swimming in their springs. But be warned the water is COLD!! Stays a steady 72*. The other side you;ll see an underwater mermaid show, an animal show, and a boat ride. Adults- $13.00, children $8.00.

7. Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks-(Tarpon springs) There is a lot to see and do in Tarpon springs. They have many one of a kind shops to browse, and delicious local Greek bakeries and restaurants.  They also have a local aquarium where the kids can pet and feed baby stingrays. Adults-$7.75, children $5.75.

Whichever you choose I'm sure you'll have a great fun filled time!!

SPOTLIGHT STORY- TONY WOOL AND ACTION FAB

Hello all

My Spotlight Story this week is about veteran welder Tony Wool and the company he works for Action Fabrication and Truck Equipment Inc. Everyone in southwest Florida knows if you need something welded or fabricated quickly and right you go to Action Fab. Action Fab is a family owned business located in Tarpon Springs. They treat their employees and customers like family.  And Action Fab knows to send you to one of their professional welders like Tony Wool, their longtime veteran welder.

Tony can weld and create anything you can imagine. He has 25 years experience in welding. He knows all phases of welding, Hes an expert in mig, tig, arc, oxy-acetylene, brazing  and aluminum welding. Hes helped create many truck designs for Disney , TECO , Rush Truck,  and Nextran to name a few. Tony has helped his company outlast many others. " We welcome competition", Tony says, "because we know we're the best!" Tony has been a mentor to many of the younger welders employed there. They all know if you have a question, ask Tony! He would be a great asset to any company he works for. He hopes one day to transition to be a welding instructor. He even has time to help others for fun as pictured below with him welding as a Storm Trooper for GISHWHES.

So if you're company has a new truck design concept you're not sure about, give the professionals at Action Fab a call. Tell them you want Tony on it. He'll do it quick and he'll do it right! The company is located at 1476 L and R Industrial Blvd., Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34689.

TOP 10 BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN FLORIDA

Hello all

Florida has many beautiful cities and each have a lot to offer. I've compiled a list of my top 10 best cities to live in Florida. I've based it on  certain  factors- schools, jobs, low crime, and what the city has to offer. Here are my top 10:

10.  Sanibel Island

9.  Cape Coral

8.  Boca Raton

7. Venice

6.  Dunedin

5. Oviedo

4. Winter Springs

3. Orlando

2. West Palm Beach

1. Naples

I know some may disagree. I didn't include some of the bigger cities like Tampa, St. Pete.,  Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. But once you factor in the traffic headaches and crime from those cities, they didn't make the cut!

MY RECIPE CORNER -DELICIOUS LETTUCE WRAPS RECIPE

Hello all,

I ran across this recipe today for copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps from Pinterest.  It looks delicious . Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Sriracha
1 (8-ounce) can whole water chestnuts, drained and diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
salt and pepper
1 head butter lettuce

DIRECTIONS:

1) Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat.
2) Add ground chicken and cook until browned, drain excess fat.
3) Stir in garlic, onion, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and Sriracha and cook about 1-2 minutes.
4) Stir in chestnuts and green onions until tender, about 1-2 minutes
5) season with salt and pepper, to taste.
6) Spoon several tablespoons of the chicken mixture into the center of a lettuce leaf and serve!
ENJOY!

WOW GREAT 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS

Hello all,

The 4th of July is upon us and I wanted to post some local places to go to celebrate the holiday:

Channelside  Bay Plaza 4th of July celebration

Tarpon Springs fireworks at Howard Park

Clearwater Celebrates America at Coachman Park

Safety Harbor 4th of July Celebration at Safety Harbor Marina

Sparklebration at Pasco County Fairgrounds

Largo 4th of July Celebration

Family Funfest and Fireworks at SS American Victory Steamship Museum

July 4th Celebration at Florida Aquarium

Everyone have a safe and happy 4th of July! Don't forget the sunscreen!

TOP 5 GAMES OF E3

E3 was last week and we got a lot of new announcements on some great games.

Here is my list of my top 5 games I cant wait to play from E3 by Chris Hauser

5. GOD OF WAR-

I love the original trilogy, it had some of the best combat and a great story.. And this one looks to be more of that! Set in Norse Mythology with the continung story of an older Kratos . This ones gonna be awesome!

4. BATTLEFIELD 1-

Battlefield has always been one of my favorite franchises. The hardcore shooting mechanics and pure destruction that you can bring about on any level has always drawn me to these games. Battlefield 1 is set in a world war 1 era and it looks beautiful.  New guns and clashes and vehicles,  I can't wait for this one!

3. CIVILIZATION 6- 

This game looks like what is needed to fill that turn based strategy niche. It has a new stylized art style over the realistic of CIV  5 I'm not a real fan of, but the outreaching city system they added looks to be real fun!.

2. FOR HONOR-

This new game by UBISOFT may look like a beat-em up style game in the vain of Dynasty Warrior but the elegant combat system comprised of blocks and parring. Its more of a battle of wits than a mindless button masher.

1. SKYRIM REMASTERED-

Dragonborn reborn. Coming to XBOX 1 and Playstation 4 . Whats better than a better looking Skyrim, nothing. Improved water and lighting effects and console modds.  I put a 100s of hours in the original and I cant wait to add more.

These all promise to be great fun! These are just some of many great games shown at E3.

JARED PADALECKIS NEW CAMPAIGN

Hello all,

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the terrible tragedy that occurred here in Florida. On  June 12, 2016 Orlando suffered a terrorist attack at the nightclub The Pulse leaving 49 dead and 53 injured. The senseless tragedy left many speechless and heartbroken,  My heart goes out to all victims and their families. Many people rallied together to help where they could. I've read reports of how many Floridians flocked to blood banks to donate and where the lines stretched for blocks.  One Illinois man taking it upon himself  built and delivered 49 crosses for the victims. It was also reported President Obama and former President  George W Bush both had met with Florida Governor Rick Scott to offer their condolences to Orlando.

  But one particular thing I wanted to draw attention to is the new campaign by Jared Padalecki of the show Supernatural at represent.com/Jared. The campaign features the sale of shirts with the logo "I AM ENOUGH". Quoting from their site, " In addition to finding charities that support the fight against depression, self harm and suicide a portion of the proceeds of the Rainbow tee will be donated to OneOrlando and Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund." --Jared
 The shirts sell for $23.99.  Help support if you can a good cause.  

https://www.facebook.com/JaredPadalecki/videos/542111645994435/     ;

https://represent.com/jared/padalecki-i-am-enough-live-yourself-first-for-orlando

BEST FLORIDA BEACHES

Hello all,

Summer weather equals beaches. With me being here in Florida I know a thing or two about beaches.
Clearwater beach was voted number 1 this year for best beach in the country. Well, Clearwater made MY top 10, but definitely not number 1.  So take a look at MY top 10 beach list for Florida:

1. Caladesi Island State Park

2. Egmont Key

3. Anna Maria Island

4. Sanibel Island

5. Siesta Key

6. Marco Island

7. Captiva Island

8. Clearwater beach

9. Fort De Sota beach

10. Key West beach

Sorry Daytona , and Miami. Those beaches are just too crowded to enjoy. Clearwater is a nice beach, but with how crowded it usually is and with parking there being a headache, it came in at number 8.
Take it from a local. Next time you visit forget Miami and Daytona, take a look at the ones in my list and you'll be happy you did! Enjoy and don't forget to stay hydrated and bring sunscreen!!

WOW GREAT FATHERS DAY DEALS!

Hello all,

Since Fathers Day is tomorrow I thought I would post some freebies you can do with dear old Dad! I'm in Florida, so some of these maybe Florida specific:

At Beef-O-Brady's,- dad eats free with purchase.
Firehouse subs- free medium sub for dad with purchase of another sub
IKEA- free breakfast for dad on fathers day
Hooters- buy 10 wings with drink, dad gets 10 free
Long John Silvers- free platter for dad with one of their coupons
McDonalds-free breakfast extra value meal for dad when accompanied ith child
Shoneys- dads get a free slice of pecan pie
Spaghetti Warehouse- free spaghetti or lasagna for dad
TCBY- free cup or cone for dad
Tijuana Flats- dad gets a free taco and beer with coupon
Walgreens- get a free 8X10 with code PRINT8X10
Medieval Times- dad gets in free with another adult paid admission
Denny- with purchase of 2 entrees dad gets a free sundae
Quiznos- free sub for dad

So get out there, celebrate dad, and enjoy!

My family will be celebrating Fathers day!

HOW TO GET THIS FOR FREE!

Hello all,

Have you heard of the WalMart  or Target beauty boxes.? They are a steal of a deal. Walmart's boxes come available four times a year, once per season. You sign up on their site _

https://beautybox.walmart.com/

set up your profile which includes info such as age, skin type, hair type.. Then automatically once per season they send you out a box for of samples,  and some are full sized.  Nothing else to do.. I have had make up, shampoo, face wash, deodorant, all types of stuff sent to me. I love my beauty boxes. Its the best way to try new products before buying them. The best thing of all, they're free. You just pay a small S&H free of $5.00 per box. Trust me, the items you receive are worth much more than $5.00!

Target also has their own beauty boxes.
www.target.com/p/target-beauty-box/

 They're boxes aren't available as often as WalMart's. They usually are on a first come first serve basis, and they run out quickly. They're boxes are also free, but their S&H is usually around $7.00. Both boxes are worth it! Take a look at what I got today! Sign up and give them a try!

LOOK WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR FREE!!

Hello all,

I came across some freebies I want to share with you today.  First Up:

You can get free samples of GQ Soaps Handcrafted Homemade soap.Just go to their site and tell them your  name, address, email and  phone number and tell them which ones you'd like to try.

http://ggsoapshop.com/p/free-samples

You can get free tea samples from Matcha Green tea. Got to their site and enter your name and shipping information.

http://www.entiretea.com/free-trial/

You can get a free Macfly Fresh tshirt. Just click the following link and enter your name and shipping information.

http://macflyfresh.com/component/chronoforms5/?chronoform=TShirtFreeMFF

You can get a free fireworks kit form TNT Fireworks. I got this last year. Just clcik on the link and sign up with your info.

http://www.tntfireworks.com/tnt-club

You cab get a free Cinnabon minibun when you sign up with your email.

https:/cinnabon.com

You can get a free scented wax sample from Mason Jar Candles. Just click on link and enter your name, shipping information, and what samples you want.

https://masonjarcandles.org/request-free-candle-sample-form/

You can get an Amazon instant video download of Disneys The Croods. Click on link at Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Croods-Nicolas-Cage/dp/B00E0SXNE8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=dealnewscom&linkCode=ll1&tag=freebie2deal-20&linkId=d4a89e216777b5d4263e1a54a54170ee

Now you can sign up to host a new houseparty for Baby Oragel Theyll give you free sippy cups, bibs, and more. Sign up at houseparty.com.

https://www.houseparty.com

Good luck and enjoy!

WOW! SUPERNATURAL GOING STRONG

Hello all,

Wow 11 seasons! Thats a lot, and thats how long the show Supernatural has been on the air. I have to say I was hooked from the very first episode. I just loved the way Sam and Dean came off as real brothers. The brothers are played by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. I have watched every episode. Some a lot more that once. So whats their secret? I think its how the story is told. Each episode there is Sam and Dean hunting down monsters and demons together as brothers. Always trying to do whats right. Each episode can really stand alone, in which you could miss  a few episodes and still catch whats going on. It appeals to the occasional viewer and the super fan.

This show is not mainstream. It has its own following. The SPN Family and fandom are very dedicated to the show The fandom have even created their very own support group.. Supernatural has created a complex entertaining world we are happy to visit every week . I also think the adding of Misha Collins as Castiel added more appeal to the show. You can definitely see the real friendship between the three.  Quoted from one of the shows creaters Eric Kripke "I just think it's amazing that it's a show that [other executive producers] could put their own imprint on and yet it still stays really durable because of Jared and Jensen," he says. "That ability of the show to reinvent itself over and over again and never get old but always be about the brothers has just been a formula that turns out to work."  Quoted by Misha Collins about the show, "I think for whatever reason, the fans who are attracted to our show tend to be very smart, very creative, a little bit weird group of people, they're kinda weirdos. They're a bunch of nerds and people I really identify with because that's how I think of myself."

I think the shows success is a mixture. The writing is superb, always keeps me on the edge of my seat. The chemistry between the brothers Sam and Dean is real. They have such  a talented cast of actors such as Rob Benedict, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mark Shepard, Jim Beaver,  and Mark Pellegrino to name a few. The shows stars also like to give back and participate in a lot of charity campaigns. Currently Kim Rhoades and Briana Buckmaster have the Wayward AF campaign going on where proceeds of sales go to Random Acts Dream 2  Acts Nicaragua  Project. I think Supernatural has many more seasons to go. The new season starts October 6th on the CW network.

MY RECIPE CORNER- DELISH BUTTERFINGER WHOOPIE PIES

I came across this recipe for Butterfinger Whoopie Pies on LittleThings.com  I just had to share. They look delish. enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup mini Butterfinger bars
• 1 box white cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 2 sticks butter, one melted, one solid
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 Tbsps. water
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

• Place Butterfinger bars into a Ziplock bag and crush with a mallet until they're in small chunks. Divide into 1 cup and 3/4 cup amounts.
• In a bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, the melted stick of butter, and 1 cup of the crushed candy bars. Stir until evenly blended.
• Form into 1-inch balls and placed on greased baking sheet. Make sure you have an even number!
• Bake 9 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Remove from oven and let cool for about 2 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, combine the solid butter, shortening, peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and water.
• Slowly add in powdered sugar to the frosting.
• Gently fold the 3/4 cup crushed candy bars into the frosting
• Spoon frosting onto the flat side of the cookies, and place another on top to create a sandwich.
• Serve and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup mini Butterfinger bars
• 1 box white cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 2 sticks butter, one melted, one solid
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 Tbsps. water
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

• Place Butterfinger bars into a Ziplock bag and crush with a mallet until they're in small chunks. Divide into 1 cup and 3/4 cup amounts.
• In a bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, the melted stick of butter, and 1 cup of the crushed candy bars. Stir until evenly blended.
• Form into 1-inch balls and placed on greased baking sheet. Make sure you have an even number!
• Bake 9 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Remove from oven and let cool for about 2 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, combine the solid butter, shortening, peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and water.
• Slowly add in powdered sugar to the frosting.
• Gently fold the 3/4 cup crushed candy bars into the frosting
• Spoon frosting onto the flat side of the cookies, and place another on top to create a sandwich.
• Serve and enjoy!

ALAN TUDYKS CONMAN GETS A SECOND SEASON

Hello all,

I am a big Alan Tudyk fan. I met him at the Megacon convention last year, and he was so nice. He even posed for a picture for my son who couldn't make that day. He held a sign for me  reading "Hi Chris". Have you seen his new web series he has out? Its called Con Man. short for" Convention Man", and its hilarious! Many of the things in the series were based on Alan Tudyk's experiences. Its written and directed by him and  stars him and Nathan Fillion. It is co produced by PJ Haarsma. He crowdfunded the series through Indiegogo, and it broke records raising  3.1 million overall. The series premiered last September on Vimeo. At the time, they were making it available to watch the first 3 episodes for free. Season 2 has a new home though. It will be streaming on Comic-Con HQ.

In the series he plays Wray Nerely. Hes an actor that starred on a canceled sci-fi- show called Spectrum. Its similar to the one he was really in called Firefly. The show got cancelled before its time and gained a following . With his acting career going nowhere,  he spends his time making the rounds of the the convention circuit. Meanwhile his costar in the spectrum series, played by Nathan Fillion has had a lot of success in his career and is a popular celebrity.

The series has had a lot of celebrity cameos such as Felicia Day, Tricia Helfer and Sean Astin. A lot of the convention scenes were shot at actual conventions, including the Megacon I attended last year. I highly recommend watching it. And If you ever get a chance, stop by the ConMan booth at your local convention. I stopped by the one at this years Megacon and had a chat with PJ Haarsma. He was very nice and told us a story about Alan Tudyk and a drinking game he made. But that story is for another time....

http://www.hitfix.com/videos/con-man-trailer-1

MY RECIPE CORNER- KICK ASS MARSHMALLOW SWEET POTATOES

I have used this recipe to make marshmallow sweet potatoes ever since my kids were small. I always get a lot of compliments on them They especially go well as a side dish for the holiday like Thanksgiving.  I think the secret is the addition of orange juice. They are very sweet. Here is is, Enjoy-

MARSHMALLOW SWEET POTATOES-

2 large cans of sweet potatoes ( I think they're about 23 ounces)
1/2 cup of butter
1/2  to 3/4 cup of orange juice
2 bags of mini marshmallows
1 tsp. cinnamon

Drain sweet potatoes into a bowl and smash with a potato smasher
Melt the butter and add it to the potatoes
Add the orange juice.(I say 1/2 to 3/4 cup because you don't want them watery, but you want to taste the orange juice)
Add the cinnamon and stir
Then add a whole bag of mini marshmallows and mix well.
Spread in to square 9 X 13 baking pan
Bake at 350" for 20 mins
Sprinkle the remaining bag on top of potatoes and cook 5-10 more mins till marshmallows start to melt ( as many marshmallows as you like, I use half a bag
)
Put under broiler for a few minutes if you want it browned ( I usually do for a few minutes)
Remove pan and cool and enjoy, but be careful the marshmallows will be very hot!

ANIMALS ARE LIVING IT UP AT THE WILDLIFE SURVIVAL SANCTUARY

Good afternoon all,

Today I want to tell you about a little place we visited recently in Spring Hill, Florida called the Wildlife Survival Sanctuary. This place is a gem. The tours are by appointment only and done by volunteers usually in groups of about 10.  We had a great time, The animals are very well taken of and the workers are very knowledgeable about the different species. The animals are housed in their own habitats giving them plenty of room.  The place is a non profit that relies on donations to run it. They will take money or donations like cat food and litter, paper towels, etc. We have been 2 times now. Last time we went during feeding time. They tell you about each animal and how it got to their facility. Most of them were rescues. They have tigers, leopards, lemurs, ostriches, emus, ocelots, Florida cougars, tortoises, feral cats and a potbellied pig named Lucy. The tour takes about an hour and a half. Whats so nice is the awesome pictures you get. For each animal a volunteer asks if you want them to take a picture for you and they take awesome close up shots! Afterwards they let each person choose a free 8 x 10 of their animals. The tigers were our favorites, they were so beautiful, and being so close to them in their habitats you could see how massive and majestic they truly are. Each time was an unforgettable experience. If you plan to go their address is 18212 Booming Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34610  and their phone is 352-797-4785.

GISHWHES- THE GREATEST INTERNATIONAL SCAVENGER HUNT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN

So what are you doing July 30- August 6 this year? Would you like to create weird stuff and do crazy things for a good cause?  Then take part in Gishwhes, and you can help your team win a great prize and benefit charity. 

Have you heard of Gishwhes?  Gishwhes- an acronym for The
 Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen takes place every year around August.  .It was founded in 2011 by actor Misha Collins as a publicity stunt for the show Supernatural. It started by him telling fans he  was promised a live rhinoceros if his show Supernatural won the fan favorite TV Guide cover for 2010. Misha then promised to share that rhinoceros with everyone who had voted and helped them win. He made good on his promise.  He had people mail in self-addressed stamped envelopes and he  sent them back puzzle pieces, which were clues to the beginning of a scavenger hunt. Hence, Gishwhes was born.

Me and my family have personally participated for the past 3 years. Trust me, if you've never done it, you have to try it at least once. Over 6200 people participated last year. Its even attracted a few celebrities who have participated with teams of their own like William Shatner and Justin Guarini. You play on a team of 15, and you can sign up as a team or individual. If you dont have enough to fill up your team, never fear they will add people for you.When the (as they call it) Hunt starts they publish list only viewable for participates to see. It usually consist of 150 + items to do, consisting of videos, things to create, things to do, and charitable acts. When you cross something off your list you submit it via the guidelines posted during the hunt. Your tam has one week to cross off as may items listed as possible. Let me tell you, some of the things on the list are near impossible to do, like the year we had to try to get NASA to name a mountain on Mars" Gishwhes."That one was done by the way. And then some things are just plain crazy, like the year we had to get my husband dress up as a baby and be driven through a restaurant drive thru.

Sometimes when I look back at some of our teams submissions I cant help but say, wow that turned out amazing, or its so hilarious.  It takes a little bit of money to participate though. It costs 18.99 for the basic registration, which goes up in price if you choose add-ons like a flag or holiday card. You can apply for a gish- scholarship to pay for your registration fee, but thats not a guarantee. The fees goes to fund the prize for the winning team, and the rest is given to the Random Acts charity that is founded by Misha Collins and does many amazing things. The prize for the winning team is an awesome trip to an exotic place with Misha. This year they're going to Iceland. 

You also will wind up spending money to be able to do some of the items. I personally spend bare minium $100 on supplies each year, some people spend much, much more. Some of the items are not even doable unless you have some money to spend. For example, one year we had to get an airplane skywriter to write Gishwhes in the sky. Now that took some money to do.For each item you do, you get points. If your teams submission looks exceptionally good, your team is awarded extra points. The team with the most points wins! It takes several months for the judges to go through all the submissions and inform us of who's the winner. All in all, I've always had a great time doing this, albeit a little stressful at times.I highly recommend giving this a try, its a great bonding experience with family and friends, and a great way to make new ones!

SPOTLIGHT STORY- NEW ARTIST RACHEL MEYER

Good afternoon all,

In my new feature Spotlight Stories, I will be telling you about new and upcoming small business owners, entrepreneurs, and artists. Today I want to tell you about a new artist on the Cincinnati scene, Rachel Meyer. She has a look that's all her own.

Rachel Meyer is a Filipino born, Cincinnati based artist that in the past year and a half found her artistic direction. She has gone from scribbles that hide in notebooks to being shown and sold at galleries around Cincinnati. With a love of art and creativity since childhood, she has never had the opportunity to pursue the art world until now. Over the past year and a half Rachel art has gone from doodles, as she refers to them, to beautiful and powerful fine art. Specializing in abstract fine line art, she depicts scenes of great fantasy architectural designs in cityscapes and singular ideas presented in her own way. She has found her style that mixes big bold lines with fine detail and spots of color that complements the black and white theme of the work. With growing courage, confidence and curiosity she continues to explore new ideas, techniques and opportunities that come her way. She continually grows and improves with each piece and expands beyond what she thought she was capable of. Rachel hopes that they connect to people either personally, aesthetically or both. Naturally shy discussing her work, hence the name “Shy Girl Art”, Rachel has grown in countless ways thanks to art. Development personally and creatively Rachel attributes experiences with other artist and viewers to her growing body of work. She is thankful for the love and support people have shown towards her and is excited for whatever comes next.- by Timothy Meyer.

Take a look at some of her beautiful artwork below, and check out her website www.shygirlart.com. Come support Rachel and take some of her unique style of art home with you. She has upcoming shows on June 12th at the 12th Annual Village Green Fine Art Fair (Fairfield, Ohio) and on July 1-Sept. 1 at the Melt Electic Cafe(Hamilton, Ohio).

FREE STUFF

Good afternoon all,

Today I.m going to let you know about a few sites I use, where you can get free products and samples. My husband and kids are always amazed by what I receive free in the mail.

The first site I want to tell you about is pinchme.com. You just need to set up an account and profile on their site to get started. They have products and samples available a couple Tuesdays a month. They usually notify you by email when they're ready. But you need to be quick. Its first come first served and they go quick. Take a look at the picture to see what I received today.

My next favorite site is houseparty.com. You also need to sign up with a profile on their site. Then it lists hosting party availabiliites where you can present products at parties hosted by you. Last month I got a Tria Face Kit valued at $267.

Next there is influesnter.com, and crowdtap.com. You sign up on their sites and try to get campaigns for certain products.Its harder to get stuff on these two, but I received lots of full sized Garnier products before.

Marlboro.com is also another good source. I cant even begin to tell you how many free items I received from them. Stuff ranging from ashtrays, drinkware, water botttles, and coupons.

One last site I thought Id mention is triazon.com. They have hosting parties, similar to houseparty.com. I haven't had success with them yet. So hope you found this information useful, and good luck!