FAST WAY TO SAVE MONEY ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Whew!  The thing about being under the weather is you come up with all these really cool ideas to blog about, but your fingers just don't want to cooperate. (lol) Also, everything you're supposed to be doing gets hopelessly ignored and put on the back burner. Eventually, all the hair you pulled out in frustration slowly grows back and the pile gets thankfully lower.

For those who may not remember, I've been growing things in the yard with absolutely no skill, but plants are popping up all over the place.  Yay! This includes cantaloupe, turnip greens jalapeno peppers, serrano peppers, mixed peppers, onions, tomatoes, mint, peas and watermelon.  I know you're proud of me because this is an impressive list,(lol) but because I had no clue about what I was doing, nothing is actually marked in the yard. 

I only remember because I left the opened packages in a little basket on my porch. Even worse, the plants are not lined up neatly the way I've seen on television or at my friends' homes.  So a snow pea may end up right beside a pepper, then right beside another snowpea.   By now, you probably have a really good image of what the yard looks like, and I don't think it will be very pretty. (lol) But at least I'll save money on veggies. I'll definitely take pics so you can see the monster I've created.

Now on to the good stuff!  My cousin was telling me the other day that a medication she needed to take for a recent injury cost $231, and I nearly fell off my chair in shock.  Luckily, as a veteran, my medication is free, but it made me wonder if there was a way that people could find bargains on meds, the way they do on other stuff like groceries, books, etc. Luckily there is. What's cool about this money saver is that you can get it on an APP for FREE on iPhone, iPad Touch,or your iPad and it's Android compatible. You may also get a FREE discount card in the mail. If you sign-up for the card, it's actually good for everyone in the family, including your lovable furry and four-legged ones. This site is also recommended by Consumer Reports, CNN, and Forbes. 

Feel free to search for pharmacies near you by keying in a zip code, or type in one of your prescriptions on the website (they provide info on the pill, too) to get a cost estimate right away. Whichever you prefer, the card or the app, savings of up to 80% are available on prescription drugs, and it really works! 

http://www.goodrx.com/

IS YOUR JOB WHAT YOU WISHED WHEN YOU WERE A KID?

Do you remember how everyone used to ask what we wanted to be once we grew up?  It seemed like a constant question that happened all through childhood and even beyond.

As a kid, I carried around band-aids and iodine to heal minor scrapes or cuts for everyone in the neighborhood, so everyone assumed I would become a nurse. (lol)  Then I thought I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, until I realized my hands were a little too shaky to risk operating on someone's brain. There were just too many buzzes every time I played Operation.(lol) Despite having a French teacher who wanted to me follow in her footsteps, it wasn't until late in the 8th grade, that I realized I wanted to become the coolest English Professor in the world.  This would be the perfect vocation to allow me to read books all the time, AND to talk! (lol)

Nope, it didn't happen, but it made me wonder, how many people actually work in the field they thought about as a child?  Some may start in one type of job, then years later, realize their dream.  A few give up.  Many hop from job to job to pay bills, but are unhappy, eventually stepping out in total faith to become writers, entrepreneurs, chefs, musicians, or painters.  

What about you?  Are you doing what you expected to do when you were a child?  Do you wish you were doing something else? Do you love what you do now?

TOP GROSSING MOVIES ADAPTED FROM NOVELS/COMICS

I'm pleased to share that despite having no earthly idea of what I was doing, plants are starting to pop up all over the yard. Yay!  Keeping my fingers crossed that they'll continue to thrive, but admittedly I have a purple thumb.(lol) After ignoring just about everything else in life, I finished Making Faces by Amy Harmon and have found a new best friend.  Expertly written, I had the opportunity to embark on a thought-provoking journey with Ambrose, Fern and a host of other must meet characters.  

What happens when everything about a person is absolutely perfect, then abruptly, with one single act, everything changes?  That's the haunting theme for this romance, and while reading, you may easily be reminded of Beauty and the Beast. Yet as you continue to delve in, this tale will methodically point out its realism, then rope you in.   As you know, once I fall in love with a new author, I'm driven to pick up all the other books she or he has ever written, and this is no different.  Thanks to Kelly M. for passing on this treasure!

We may never totally agree on whether the movie or the book is better, but when it comes to box office hits, the numbers can't be disputed.   According to Forbes, one name keeps popping up fairly regularly on the list, and true fans won't be surprised.

Marvel's The Avengers                                         $ 1.52 Billion
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - Part 2         1.34 Billion
Iron Man 3                                                                1.22 Billion     Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King               1.12 Billion
The Dark Knight Rises                                              1.08 Billion
Jurassic Park                                                              1.03 Billion
Alice In Wonderland                                                 1.03 Billion
The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey                       1.02 Billion
Avengers: Age of Ultron                                            1.02 Billion
The Dark Knight                                                         1 Billion
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone                         975 Million
The Hobbit:  The Desolation of Smaug                     960 Million
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - Part 1           960 Million
The Hobbit:  The Battle of the Five Armies              955 Million
Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix                  940 Million

SUNNY SPARKLING PUNCH

The thing about finding a ton of cards whenever a store closes or moves to another location, is that everyone ends up getting one in the mail for just about any reason, whether they want it or not. (lol)  I've managed to collect so many, that I could literally start my own Hallmark store. 

Now on the recipe.

If you're thinking about having a party with friends and family, but don't want a lot of fuss, let everyone serve themselves!

The best way to do this, is to have pitcher drinks already in the refrigerator and ready to go.

Try this simple version of Sunny Sparkling Punch and you're all set.

INGREDIENTS
2 2/3 Cups Chilled Pineapple Juice
1 1/3 Cups Chilled Orange Juice
1 1/3 Cups Triple Sec

1 Bottle Prosecco 
5 Mint Leaves - feel free to grab a few from my garden-lol

DIRECTIONS
Stir the pineapple juice, orange juice, triple sec and mint leaves, then slowly add in the Prosecco. Refrigerate.

Garnish with pineapple or orange slices for decoration, and you're all set.  These ingredients are good for 8 people.  If you're having more guests, prepare extra pitchers to keep in the fridge, just in case.

TEST SHOES AND ATHLETIC MERCHANDISE

 Become a Product Tester for Under Armour 

In order to provide their customers with the best products, Under Armour uses athletes from beginner to advanced to test the performance of clothing, footwear and accessories.

Fill in the easy application, and if you are accepted by the company, they will send you a product (shoes, clothing or accessories) to test for a specified time. Send the merchandise back for them to evaluate the condition after use.

You'll have the opportunity to get free shoes and any kind of athletic gear that UA makes, all for FREE.  You'll never pay for anything, even shipping/handling.

With their corporate offices located in Baltimore, anyone who is involved in sports in any way, may sign up to become a tester on the Under Armour website.

Note: some Wear Testers may get product samples, but that’s not guaranteed.