Wal-Mart Fights Hunger

This post brought to you by The Walmart Foundation. All opinions are 100% mine.

Several members of my family "like" Wal-Mart on their Facebook page.  While I shop at Wal-Mart pretty frequently, and I like the prices, I'm not sure that I like them so much that I would "Like" them, if you know what I'm saying.  Whether you like, "like" or dislike Wal-Mart, there is something that we can all agree on - Feeding hungry people is good.

With over 50 million Americans struggling to keep food on the table, I'm glad that Wal-<art has decided to step in and try to help. Their commitment to help feed hungry families couldn't come at a better time.   Food banks and other charitable organizations typically see a drop in donations in the Springtime. If you are already unsure of where your next paycheck will come from, it's even more stressful to not know where your next meal will come from.

The program that Wal-Mart is involved in is called Fighting Hunger Together. The Mega-Store Powerhouse has partnered up with the likes of Kraft, Kellog's, General Mills, and others in an effort to feed an estimated 43 million families in need just between April 9 and April 30 - and you can help decide where the money goes! You can Vote to fight spring hunger with Walmart

Go to Wal-Mart's Facebook page and you will see a list of the areas with the highest unemployment rates.  There, you can vote for the area that will receive help.  Wal-Mart will choose the top 21 areas and donate 2 MILLION DOLLARS toward feeding the neediest people in the community.  I am choosing to vote for a community that is closest to my local area, Longview.  You can choose to do the same, or perhaps you would like to vote for the areas with the highest unemployment rates first.   Either way, I'm sure the families will thank you!

Super Bowl 50 - The L stands for London

Super Bowl in London?

Is my mind playing tricks on me, or are there rumors that Super Bowl L is going to be played in London? I am so beside myself that even though I know there is something that I want to say about it, I'm just sitting here with my jaw on the floor. This is evidence of a money hungry NFL slapping the fan in the face.

If this happens, all I will be able to say is "RUDE"! What about the fans? American people can hardly afford to go to a Super Bowl anyway, regardless of trying to travel to a forgein country. Hey NFL, I think you may be getting a little too big for your breeches.

I don't think there is any other sport that can even contend with just how huge the NFL is in America. I say that because football is followed almost all year round. This month is a perfect example. Remember when March Maddness meant something? 15 years ago you couldn't avoid March Maddness. This March you turn on the TV or the Radio and before anyone even utters the word "bracket" they are talking about how many years Peyton Manning is going to be an asset to the Broncos, what they think about Tim Tebow, and how Saints fans are going to need therapy since Roger Goodell suspended coach Sean Payton.

Yes, it makes good business sense to want to expand. What kind of money-hungry millionaire would you be if you didn't try to expand your fan base? How good would you be at being rich if you were ever content with how much money you had coming in already? Of course they want to have a forgein fan base. They took March away from college basketball; it isn't a stretch to say that they want to take fans away from soccer, or rugby, or cricket, or whatever sport they play in London.

How could you even consider taking the Super Bowl away from the United States? How could you, after the NFL fans have been there. Through thick and thin, through injuries, through scandals - we stuck by you. We continued to love the game, love our teams, and we continued to watch the games and to go to the games. We continued to buy your over priced hot dogs and support the stadium. We wore our over priced team jerseys with pride. Now you want to say, "Hey, you love us? Well, these people don't so we are rewarding them with the Super Bowl." And that is what is happening.

The biggest fans could be the biggest victims

If Super Bowl L is played in London, or anywhere outside of the US for that matter, it will be the American fans being punished and non fans being rewarded. How cheap are tickets going to have to be in order to be enticing in a location where there are hardly any fans? You think that the British are going to pay full price to attend a Super Bowl?

If you want to try to build a fan base somewhere bring in the big guns.  Give them what they want - people they have heard of.  Host the All-Star game in London.  Nobody in America watches that crap game anyway.

Pretty Hiking Boots

Less ugly hiking boot by Merrell

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that there is no such thing as a pretty hiking boot.
I've been searching online for 2 days and all I can find are some hiking boots that are less ugly than all the others. Occassionally, I come across a real gem, but they are usually more than $100! I was at Altrec.com looking at the Merrell brand boots, and there are some pretty cute ones that come in different shades of brown and grey with little purple or light blue trimmings... but they are way to expensive!

I'm looking to pay more like $60. I am just starting out hiking and tired of getting my sneakers dirty so I am looking for a dedicated hiking boot with good support. Since I'm a novice, I don't want to drop a whole C-note on a pair of shoes! Perhaps if hiking becomes my most passionate hobby instead of an activity I sometimes allow people to talk me into, then I would consider it.

I guess I will just have to stick with getting something slightly less ugly with good support. Function over fashion in the outdoor sporting world, but I don't know why it has to be that way.

Disney-Brain

I've been searching around the web for Disneyworld vacations and they look so affordable? What's the catch? Is it really this inexpensive to get a trip to Disneyworld for the family or am I buying into staying at a roach motel or getting a bait and switch?! I'm a little nervous!

IDEA!

I've been thinking non stop about Caleb's upcoming birthday, just like I promised. A fabulous deal popped into my head, although I'm pretty sure I have thought of it before. Wouldn't it be cool to have Caleb's birthday party at Medieval Times!!! I'm going to put that on the list!

Disneyworld

It occurs to me that Caleb is almost 5. It might seem far off, but we have been looking forward to caleb turning 5 since the day he was born. It's not that I haven't enjoyed the time between 1 day old and 5 years old, but it's because I have had something planned this entire time.

I'm not sure if I have blogged about it before, but it seems likely since I talk about it all the time. I am planning on taking Caleb to either Disneyland or Disneyworld for his 5th birthday! 5 just seems like such a great age to take a little guy to a theme park like Disney.

Caleb doesn't even know such a place exists. I haven't even told him about the plans. They aren't set in stone yet, but barring any weird events, it should be easy enough for me to take him. We are planning to go in December of this year and things, so far, are lining up perfectly. I have a job that isn't in retail so I will be able to get the time off. I should have enough money saved by then to be able to take Caleb and myself. I would like to use part of my tax return, but I haven't even filed yet, so I don't know how much I will be getting back if anything at all.

The outlook is good. I can't wait to start officially planning!

Night Nurse

Thanks for the post, Nora Howe

It seems that with my job as a night nurse, I miss every single one of my favorite shows. Although I absolutely love my job, I have extremely strange hours. I go in at 7 pm, and then leave at 7 am. I have to leave my house at 6 pm, though, and then the next day my schedule is all out of whack. This also means that I miss prime time television. One of the best gifts of my life came from my fiancée when he gave me the gift of satellite TV through direct tv. Now I get to record my favorite shows and watch them when I have time. It was such a thoughtful gift, and I’ve loved having my prime time shows recorded when I am awake to watch them! The world was not made for nocturnal people, but it’s wonderful to know that there is at least a way around not getting to see my favorite shows! Thank-you satellite TV and also my wonderful fiancée- for making my life so much better!