Auto Insurance Rates

Who do you think has the best auto insurance rates? I've used the same automobile insurance company for probably 15+ years. I think I have decent rates but then I wonder if I should be getting auto insurance quotes just to make sure, at least every few years.

In your experience, who has the best automobile insurance rates? I want to call a few places and get quotes but I'd like a short list to go from. They should also do homeowners insurance as well. What do you think?

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Piercing Child's Ear Without Pain

My four-year-old braved the guns and had her ears pierced recently. She'd been waiting until she turned four (which she did last month). There were two grandmotherly women working who did the piercing. They took out the antiseptic wipes and put on the latex gloves - - I was waiting for them to pull out a lab coat and put that on too! It all seemed very "medical" like. I don't remember the latex gloves when I was a kid getting my ears pierced. Considering some people just use a needle, ice, and a potato, the more sanitary conditions where she had her ears pierced is a good thing.

She didn't cry or even say "ouch" or anything. She said it didn't hurt which was a relief (even though I used cream on her ears they use when giving children blood tests so they don't hurt, I wasn't sure if it would work for the ears). She's very proud of her new ear rings.

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Rescues on the Web

With the closing of slaughter plants, there has been an increase in horses needing a good home. Rescues are overburdened and low on funds doing all they can to save all the horses they can. The Internet is a great resource for finding horse rescues if you are interested in adopting a horse that needs a loving home.

If you are a rescue and aren't on the Internet yet, it's simple to get yourself a web presence so people can find you easier. Check out web design resources such as web site design orange county.

If you are a person who wants to help out but aren't looking for a horse personally, find a local non-profit rescue and donate if you can. If you don't have the money but have some horse experience or extra tack in your barn, perhaps donating extra tack or a donation of some time helping out would be a great way to give without it costing you anything.

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Diamond Girls

I found this beautiful horseshoe shaped necklace that any horse lover would to have so I thought I would post it here. Isn't it beautiful? I think it would make a great gift for a Sweet Sixteen whose love is horses.


Then I was looking through the white gold anklets and came across this really pretty ankle bracelet with a Pave Moon. I love ankle bracelets. They are so feminine.

I love everything that sparkles (I am definitely a diamond girl) and these two pieces are beautiful. I found them at Lauren Klein. They also carry men's jewelry, earrings, rings, fashion jewelry, and engravable jewelry.

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Testing from phone.

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Electronics on the Fritz

I have all of these videos I've taken at the stable of the horses, lessons, etc., but I don't know what to do with them. I can't transfer them onto a DVD because my laptop keeps overheating every time I do. I really need a new computer. While we're at it, I'd like an entire home entertainment system - flat screen television, stereo system in a nice stereo cabinet, DVD player, etc. My stereo system is on top of my hutch, which I can't reach. My DVD player stopped working a few weeks ago (the kids are rough on them I guess). Our electronics are all on the endangered list but the economy still stinks. While it'd be great for retail for us to replace everything, my bank account would need CPR!

Earlier today, our smoke alarm was going off for no reason. That's battery-operated so it can't be on the electronics hit list like the rest of our electronics but I'm starting to wonder just what is going on here!

Whatever is going on, I hope to be able to put all the videos on DVD eventually to have. They're taking up too much room on my hard drive. Plus it'd be nice for my daughter to have when she's older.

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Ohio Horse Shows

If you're looking for resources for horse shows in Ohio, here are some resources for you:

• Ohio Horse Shows
• Equine Affaire
• Ohio State Fair

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My Butt on a Clydesdale Cross

I wanted to lose weight before I rode JeeNee this year. She's half Clydesdale so it wouldn't hurt her any but I'd feel better about it. My thyroid has made that impossible though. Well, my thyroid and my doctor who doesn't know how to treat it (those complaints are on my thyroid blog).

I don't know what to do. I can't take anything for it without knowing how it'll react to my thyroid medication. It doesn't matter what a diet pill review says because I just don't know how I'll react (since I'm one of those odd ducks who react differently than they expect to medications if my medication reaction history is anything to go on.

JeeNee can definitely carry me. I'd just prefer she carry less of me!

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Latest Pictures of Tequila

Tequila is doing great! My daughter loves her so much. Doesn't she look pretty in her halter/bridle? She borrowed it from my horse, JeeNee. We got it from Sunset Halters. My daughter is going to get a blue and black one for Tequila I think. When they get Hunter Green, she'll probably get that one too.

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Only Hearts Club Brand of Toys for Horse Loving Kids

I just found a great site for toys for my horse-loving girls! I searched all over the Internet the past two Christmas's to find horses and other horse-related toys for my daughters who all love horses, like a lot of little girls do (and their mothers too). I just came across the Only Hearts Club brand that has the cutest toys! Now I can start shopping for Christmas early this year.

If my little girl, who has been carrying a stuffed horse around non-stop, sleeping with it, putting it down for naps, and giving it its own spot at the dinner table (with REAL food) is any indication, she'll definitely still be into horses come Christmas.

Seriously, she had pizza sitting on my dining room table for her horse tonight at dinner. She even had the horse in its own chair, which I took. Mom wants to sit down at the dinner table too!

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Letting Go

I am slowly letting go of my neurotic need to watch every riding lesson my daughter has. Like me being right there would prevent her from being hurt! I guess it's not just a neurotic need...I do enjoy taking pictures and videos of her lessons but there is only so much I can do with hours and hours of videos of her lessons. She prefers me to be right there but it's time to back off a bit. I can still see her from the other side of the farm where I sit but she can't see me seeing her.

I am taking the time to read a book or check email on my cell phone (where would we be without cellular phones). Eventually, I am going to have to let go of my little girl I guess. I'm slowly starting (trying not to hover ALL the time...just some of the time).

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Burt Reynolds getting award (against horse slaughter)

Burt Reynolds is getting the 2009 Safe Home Equine Protection Award on August 6, 2009. It's being given to him for his protection of the wild and domestic horses in America and his opposition to horse slaughter.

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Is horse slaughter humane or brutal?

Is horse slaughter humane euthanasia or do you consider it a brutal act?

Do you consider the euthanizations (putting to sleep, put down, putting out of its misery) that shelters perform on dogs and cats, 9.6 millions animals per year, humane? Don't our tax dollars pay for the animals put down at county shelters?

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Beach Rides in Wilmington, NC

Have you ever had a beach ride with your horse? I never have. It seems like it'd be really nice. I was looking at this farm in Wilmington, NC who offers them. Their pictures are beautiful. The beaches there are just gorgeous.

If you're interested in Wilmington NC real estate, it looks fantastic. I've never been to the eastern side of North Carolina, only the western side in the mountains but I'd sure love to go.

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First Halter Class

My daughter will go to her first show in mid-June with Tequila. She is showing in the halter class. I'm a little nervous for her. I've never done anything like this before so I'm not sure what to do or how she'll feel if she doesn't place where she wants to. Our trainer will be there with us the entire time though so all I really need to do is relax and let them do their thing. I don't do well with "relaxing" though.

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Car A/C Would Go Out During Summer Heat

I was driving to the stable last week, hottest day so far this year, and my fan stopped working on my air conditioning. I'm just getting a little trickle out of the vents. Great! So, I roll down the windows and suffer (yes, suffer, because I don't do well in heat) while trying to figure out how to come up with the money to get my car's air conditioning fixed. Then yesterday it starts working again! Huh?

Today, it gets into the mid-80's and it's not working again! GRRR!!!! So I have a short in there somewhere - just for the front motor though. The vents in the back of my truck are working just fine (for my passengers since it doesn't reach up to the driver...sad for me).

I don't know how I am going to pay for this car repair. I mean, I know it's not like I'm replacing Ferrari parts or anything like that but still! It'll be a hot (and cranky) ride this summer if I don't though. I get light-headed in the heat so I have no choice.

What great timing! Things always seem to go wrong when you can least afford for them to. I wonder why that is. We have a horse show to go to in a couple weeks so I better get it fixed before I haul the kids to it without air conditioning...what a miserable ride that would be.

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Tequila Loves the Butt Scratches

Here is the video I told you about in an earlier post. This is my daughter's new horse, Tequila. She LOVES to have her butt scratched. Her head gets moving all over the place...it's so funny. Here it is:

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Busy Summer

So I am trying to plan all the different lessons and stuff this summer. I didn't realize how busy this summer was going to be until I started trying to figure out the schedule.

We have riding lessons for my oldest. My middle daughter is going to start riding lessons. I have to fit mine in there (if my old body can take the abuse). Then two of the kids are in cheerleading in the Fall which starts practicing in July, flute lessons for one, swimming lessons for three, and then workout time for my husband and I to do together. Soccer will hit in August sometime I think. Whew!

In July, my stepkids will be here so then there'll be six kids to take care of instead of four. My sanity is going to take a beating this summer I think.

Geez! Between all the running around, riding and working out 2-3 days a week, I am going to need some serious down time and decent sleep at night. I'll fit sleep in there somewhere between this schedule (except our mattress is bad so there may not be any hope for a good inght's sleep)!

My husband HAS been complaining about our mattress (OK, it is 14 years old so I guess he has a right to complain) so if I "give in" to his complaints and make him think it is his idea, maybe we can have a comfy bed this summer. I don't know how to shop for mattresses though. Firm, soft, water (ok, no water...though hubby likes them and had one when we met that mysteriously sprung a leak), perhaps a sleep number bed...how do you choose? It would definitely make for a better night's sleep so I could handle all these daily activities without becoming a grouch.

The kids get out of school in two days. I only have to make it through the next three months right with my sanity intact?

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