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Vote today and get a free coffee from Starbucks! 

(Thanks for spreading the word, Momisodes.)

Free ice cream from Ben & Jerry's & free doughnut from Krispy Kreme, too!

We went to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, this summer for a weekend away--just the two of us, no kids.  They had fun with Auntie and the Grandparents.  We stayed at a comfy Bed & Breakfast, slept in, and had a fabulous gourmet breakfast served each morning.  Here are some fun things we did.

Lake Geneva Cruise Line Boat Tour

There are multiple boat tours available each day.  The mailboat tour shows the mailperson jumping off the boat onto the pier, and back again, without the boat ever stopping.  We just did the 1-hour tour of the lake, which showcases the beautiful mansions of the wealthiest families in Chicago, including the Wrigleys and the Fields (of Marshall Field's).  

Lunch with a Lakefront View

We had a casual lunch at Popeye's, which offered great classic American fare with a nice view of the lake.  Scuttlebutt's is right next door, and also offers a nice lunch with a great view.

Mini-Golf

We played miniature golf at Paradise Golf Park, which has beautiful landscaping and nice waterfalls.

Shopping

There are many art galleries and shops to browse, including Kilwin's, an ice cream & chocolate store.  We came home with a few paintings...and some chocolate...and some fudge.  :)

Dining

We had a casual dinner at El Palenque, a great Mexican place.  Sopra Trattoria, an Italian restaurant, was a bit more elegant.  Both had delicious food.

Yerkes Observatory

There are free tours every Saturday.  You can look into the 90-foot dome and see the 40-inch Refractor, the world's biggest lens-type telescope, and its 73-foot diameter elevator floor.

What we missed:

Beach

It was kind of cool and rainy that weekend, so we missed out on the beach and boating.  There was a nice little stretch of beach at the Riviera.

Timber Ridge

When we go back, we'll bring the kids and try out Moose Mountain Falls, the fabulous 50,000-square-foot water park.

1.  Preventive medicine is the key. 
Exercise, eat healthy, and get enough sleep.  Practice safe sex.  Use sunscreen.  Wear your seatbelt.  Avoid guns, tobacco, illicit drugs, and excessive alcohol.  Get enough calcium and vitamin D. 

Make sure you get regular physical exams.  Get a tetanus shot every 10 years.  Get a flu shot yearly if you have young kids.  Get a yearly flu shot if you are over 50 and a pneumovax if you are over 65.  Get your cholesterol level, blood pressure, weight, and pap smear checked routinely.  

If you are 40 and over, get your mammogram done yearly.  If you are 50 and over, get a colonoscopy.  If you are 65 and over, get a bone density test.  Doing these things can help prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and cancer, and maybe save your life!!

2.  If your doctor prescribes a medication, take it as directed, finishing the entire course. 
Don't stop it on your own just because you're feeling better.  If you are having side effects, call your doctor to see if you should stop taking it or if it can be changed to another medication.

3.  Get your medical advice from your doctor, not your neighbors, friends, or relatives. 
Even if they are physicians, they are probably not going to be objective.  If you are unsure or disagree with your doctor's recommendations, get a second opinion.  (Only if you have the time to do so, not if your appendix is about to burst!)

4.  Please let us know if you're having any problems. 
No matter what it is, don't be embarrassed or afraid to bring up your concerns.  We need to know what your problems are so that we can begin to work on them. Thanks! 

(Contributed by LL)

1. How important a will is.

2. What lifestyle & level of income you will need at retirement.

3. The importance of living within your means.

4. What level of financial risk you are comfortable with.

5. How to enjoy what you have earned (believe it or not, a lot out there don't).

6. To be disciplined with your investment/financial plan.

(contributed by XC)

What do you give to someone who already has everything that she needs?  Choosing the right gift is hard, isn't it? 

If she's a golfer, how about a glove, an outfit, or a club?

If she plays tennis, how about a tennis skirt and tennis balls?

If she likes Swarovski crystal figurines, add to her collection.

If she likes movies, get a gift card to a nearby theater.

If she likes opera, buy a pair of tickets to a performance.

If she likes to garden, how about some new plants or gardening tools?

Otherwise, how about her favorite flowers, her favorite brand of cosmetics, her signature fragrance, or a beautiful nightgown or sweater?

And for the little ones to give to Grandma: 

Paint handprints on a plate to glaze at a pottery store.  So cute!

Frame a beautiful picture of your little ones.  She'll love it!

It's always tough to come up with great gift ideas for the men in our lives.  Here are a few that we love:

DVDs:  24, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Planet Earth 

Magazine subscriptions:  Electronic House, Popular Mechanics, PC World

Beach wear:  swim trunks, water shoes

Electronics:  GPS system, iPod, digital camera, digital picture frame, Wii

Sports gear:  dive watch, tennis racket, golf clubs, team jersey

Special events:  2 tickets to a concert or sports event

What are your favorite gift ideas?

We're always on the lookout for great products at unbelieveable prices.  Online coupons and deals are everywhere.  Here are a few of our favorite websites:

amazon.com
We tend to look here first for books, DVDs, and electronics.  They also have a whole range of other products.  You can read the customer reviews and get an idea about pricing.  Most items qualify for free shipping if you spend $25 or more.

buy.com
We also check this site for books, DVDs, & electronics.  Get 1% back by linking through upromise.com.

half.ebay.com or ebay.com
These sites have good prices for used or new books.  Always check the seller's feedback because you can get burned.  The sellers are just regular folks.  Get 1% back from your purchases at ebay.com by linking through upromise.com.

bookcloseouts.com
The selection of books is limited, but you can get good deals here.  Do a Google search to find coupon codes.

kidsurplus.com
Great deals here on baby gear & supplies, books, toys, clothes, and even Stride Rite shoes.  Do a Google search to find coupon codes.

shoebuy.com
Free shipping and returns, 110% price guarantee, no sales tax.  You can often find coupon codes by doing a search on Google.  Also, get 10% back by linking through upromise.com .

upromise.com
This free service lets you earn money for college.  When you buy certain products at the grocery store, eat in certain restaurants, and buy online from certain retailers with your credit card, you get money back in your upromise account, which can be transferred to a 529 college savings account.

fatwallet.com
This site collects a whole bunch of deals for you to look through.  You can get cash back from retailers and also find coupon codes.  The forums offer deals that other customers have found.  The price comparisons let you see the range of prices available from different retailers.

mycoupons.com
Lots of coupon codes here.  The shopping boards offer reviews of online retailers, advice on shopping for deals, and great finds from customers in brick-and-mortar and online stores.

Where do you find your best online deals?

I'm very new to scrapbooking, but it looks like a lot of fun.  From what I understand, newcomers may want to start off with recent, less-important photos, and then work their way backwards in time.  After all, you'd rather not make little goofs with your first scrapbooking attempts on your wedding photos or newborn baby pictures, right? 

There are many supplies that you will need.  One important thing to remember is to buy albums, paper, embellishments, pens, and storage boxes that are acid-free and lignan-free.  You can even buy an acid-free testing pen to make sure that what you're using is indeed acid-free.

Here's a list of things to get started:

Album:  You'll need an album cover and pages.  Page protectors are also nice to have.

Cropping tools:  These things cut paper to the size and shape that you need:  a cutting system, shape makers, a trimmer, a corner punch, and scissors.

Adhesives:  Great things to have are a tape runner, glue dots, and photo corners.

Pens:  You'll want fine tip pens for titling and journaling, plus a photo labeling pencil for your photos.

Papers:  You'll need card stock in all different colors.  Some are pre-cut to useful sizes.  You may want to try some patterned paper and journaling boxes.

Album Kits:  You can get coordinating pre-assembled papers and stickers that match a theme.

Embellishments:  There are stickers, die cuts, brads, frames, and borders.

Organizers:  You'll want an acid-free photo box to keep your photos organized.

Idea Book:  You'll need this to get an idea of how to do your layouts and designs.

The best way to get started is to find a scrapbooking group, so you can meet other scrapbookers, get some tips, and share ideas.  You can find one at your church, library, or local scrapbooking store.  You can also contact a Creative Memories consultant or take some classes at Archiver's, Hobby Lobby, or Michael's.  Then, just make some time to work on it, and have fun!

Any scrapbooking tips that you'd like to share?