There are many different poison threats around us including some plants, foods, and things that we come into contact with on a daily basis.  Really the only thing we can do to avoid accidental poisoning is to be as knowledgeable as possible about the subject.  As a representative of the healthcare profession it is incredibly important to make people aware of these dangers so they can protect themselves and their families.  Accordingly we compiled this list of sites that cover various different aspects of poisoning.  We hope this gives you a great start on becoming much more aware of the poisons around us.

1. http://www.poison.org/ – This blog is for the National Capital Poison Center which aims to help people from being poisoned. They know that it usually takes quick thinking in order to prevent someone from getting killed from some poisons.
2. http://www.drugsandpoisons.com/ – Drugs and Poisons is a gossip site where you can hear different rumors circulating in the pharmaceutical world. Although the topics tend to be rather deep and scientific, if they simplified them some it would make it easier for the general public to understand.
3. http://poisons.co.nz/ – Poisons Prevention talks all about the dangers of poisoning. Here, you will learn more about several deadly substances and will definitely feel more prepared to properly handle the poisons around you.
4. http://www.poison-ivy.org/ – Poison Ivy is an organization that discusses how important it is to avoid coming into contact with this infamous plant. There are pictures, facts, and stories that talk about poison ivy to raise the general awareness of it.
5. http://www.ohsu.edu/poison/ – This blog is from Oregon Health and Science University. Because they are also a school they do a great job of combining teaching, healing, and discovering poisons along with everybody else.
6. http://www.poisonprevention.org/ – Poison Prevention is an organization that wants to promote poison safety and awareness in our communities. Poisoning results in a lot of accidental deaths and injuries and they are hopeful that some reminders and tips will help address this problem.
7. http://www.georgiapoisoncenter.org/ – For the people of Georgia, Georgia Poison Center is a place where you can find treatment for posioning. The blog has an overview on different types of poisons and they offer free educational information to help avoid an accidental poisoning.
8. http://www.poisons.ie/ – Poisons is the information center of Ireland that talks about the subject. The blog lists the hazards of coming into contact with poisons as well as provides antidotes to the curable cases.
9. http://www.toxinz.com/ – For a complete database on poisons, Toxinz is the site to go to. You can learn of first-aid treatments and critical care for someone who was poisoned but hasn’t made it to the hospital yet.
10. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ – Having pets can be hard, especially when they get poisoned by something you’re not even aware of. To help pet owners get through these difficult times, Pet Poison Helpline was started to give you information on pet poisoning and how to avoid and treat it.
11. http://www.calpoison.org/ – California Poison is a blog made to offer free advice to people who are susceptible to poisons. Children can be lured by the color of substances or just general curiosity and quickly find themselves in a critical poisoning situation.  Find out how to avoid that here.
12. http://www.hpa.org.uk/ – This blog is complete with useful information on health. Not only do they have topics such as poison but other as well like diseases and chemicals that are taken. You get some professional insights and learn quite a bit about healthcare in the UK.
13. http://www.chw.edu.au/poisons/ – This poison information center would really help everyone in case they deal with getting poisoned later in life. There are tips on preventing poison, first aids, and data sheets available to those interested.
14. http://poisonivy.aesir.com/ – Poison Ivy includes lots of facts about poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac. You can read general information about each of them and their various remedies. They also have a great FAQ if you find yourself needing some additional help.
15. http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/ – You can watch for cases of food poisoning outbreaks and policies in the Food Poison Journal. The blogger himself is knowledgeable about the topic so he provides readers with what he knows.
16. http://blog.plantpoisonsandrottenstuff.info/ – Plant Poison and Rotten Stuff has a wide variety of topics. Poison is only one of them. There are posts about viruses and deadly diseases that give us an idea of what dangers are lurking in the world
17. http://food-poisoning-blog.com/ – If there’s a blog you want to go to in search of news on food poisoning, this blog is it. Food Poisoning talks about viruses that cause poison, including salmonella and noroviris.
18. http://www.about-salmonella.com/ – To learn more about the salmonella virus, you can visit Salmonella at About.com. Here, you can read through things like the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this disease caused by food poisoning.
19. http://www.poisonivycure.net/ – This is one of the most comprehensive poison blogs there is. A large number of sources about poison ivy can be found here as well as the symptoms caused by the plant like blisters and rashes.
20. http://www.foodborneillness.com/ – For information about food poisoning, a blog called Food Borne Illness might help you. They have a wide range of subjects that mainly focus on diseases coming from food via bacteria. There are also news and updates on the topic.
21. http://www.foodpoisoningblog.org/ – News concerning food poisoning can also be found here. Food Poisoning Blog talks about the various outbreaks and information regarding food poisoning.
22. http://www.nzhealth.net.nz/ – New Zealand Health is a site that offers useful data that can help people that are suffering from poisoning. The site has general articles about other topics as well ranging from drugs and herbs to spiritual healing.
23. http://barfblog.com/barfblog – There are hundreds of posts in Barf Blog. They all talk about diseases, food, and various things related to poisons. It goes very deeply into the topic and offers more resources at each level.
24. http://www.about-shigella.com/ – Shigella is a less common diagnosis. Still, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Reading About Shigella will give you tips on how to prevent this disease from happening to you. As people say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
25. http://www.foodpoisoning.com/ – Most people don’t know much about food poisoning, which is why several websites have been created to fill that void. Food Poisoning is one of them. The site teaches you about food safety, your legal rights on the matter, and answers tough questions about food poisoning.
26. http://www.about-hepatitis.com/ – Hepatitis A is a form of food poisoning that’s caused by eating something raw which contains bacteria. For more information about this common yet disturbing illness, you can go to Hepatitis at About.com.There, you can learn more on the topic and how you can avoid getting it.
27. http://www.foodpoisoningprevention.com/ – Food Poisoning Prevention is your online guide to avoid getting poisoned. Although most cases of food poisoning don’t kill people, the experience is usually very painful. It’s better to prevent poisoning by reading and applying the information available on this site.
28. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/ – Wrong Diagnosis makes sure that you know all about the disease you have. The site covers a large number of topics so you can really learn a lot here. Included in this blog is information about various poisons.
29. http://foodpoisoning.pritzkerlaw.com/ – Food Poisoning Law Blog was started by a lawyer who’s very much experienced in the field of poison. This blog is his way of sharing his insights on the recent outbreaks in the US.
30. http://www.marlerblog.com/ – Marler Blog is a blog written by yet another lawyer. He is an expert on food poisoning and has both taken and studied many cases for several years.  In his blog he breaks down current policies and current events related to food poisoning.

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I’ve often wondered why people sew?  Often times sale prices are so good on clothes that it actually costs more to sew them yourself.  However, one thing I have discovered is that when you sew your own clothes you can have the color or pattern you want and not whatever is the popular color this season.  You can also make them fit if you don’t happen to fit into the mold that manufacturers use when they make clothes.  And sometimes I think it’s just that sewing is fun and people just enjoy the act of creating something hand made.  If you are one of those people or wish you were check out these Top 20 Sewing Blogs.

1. Blogforbettersewing.com This is a great all around blog.  There are tutorials for creating things that will help you in your sewing such as covered buttons.  She also has a feature where once a week she will report on what is happening in fashion.  There is also a story explaining how best to take accurate measurements.
2. Blog.craftzine.com/archive/sewing In a time when everyone is trying to recycle a new term has been coined called “upcycling”.  This new term has been showing up everywhere.  This blog has great projects where you can make something new and fabulous out of something like a man’s shirt.
3. Sewing.org/scripts/blog A great project for making a cozy sweatshirt into a cardigan is included on this blog among many other projects that might get your creative juices flowing.
4. Blog.jennys-sewing-studio.com There are many video demonstrations on this site.  Information about the latest in sewing machines is also a priority on this blog.  Check out which machines are embroidering now.
5. Heatherross.squarespace.com This blog is part of a blog tour where you can go from blog to blog and check out similar project done in different ways.  She has written her own book so she knows what she is talking about.
6. Lazygirldesigns.com/blog The lazy girl in this blog is Joan and Joan has her own line of patterns.  She also has a lot of craft friends that share projects such as quilted bags and zippered toiletry bags.  Many fun projects can be found on this blog.  Check it out.
7. Forums.fabric.com/blog She is the self proclaimed “Fabric Maverick” and I have to agree because one of the articles I saw was a detailed description of making a swimsuit.  That is not a project for the faint of heart.  Check out her other fun projects and she sprinkles in the occasional recipe because even sewers have to eat sometimes.
8. Sewingmachinereviewer.com If you are in the market for a new sewing machine don’t buy until you’ve checked out this blog.  Read all about different machines as well as what makes each of them stand out.
9. Needlenthread.com This blogger has been around for a while.  She has archived sewing articles going back to 2006.  Take some time and browse through her stash.  She has videos of various embroidery stitches so if you have a pattern that calls for a certain stitch that you don’t know how to do this is a great resource.
10. Stacysews.com Stacy sews clothing and does a fabulous job at it if her pictures are any indication.  She will soon be making pajamas and lounge pants.  If that sounds fun to you please check out her blog.
11. Off-the-cuff-style.blogspot.com Another true artist with a sewing machine.  This blogger helps her readers with difficult steps in various patterns.  If you are having troubles with a certain technique check out her archives and see if she has covered it.  If it’s not there I’m sure you can e-mail her and ask.
12. Thesewingdivas.wordpress.com This blogger works in a theater and makes fabulous costumes.  They are doing Suessical so you can imagine how fun and fab the costumes will be for that.  She shows us how she made and the finished product of a sparkly coat with tails.  How fun is that?
13. Pinkchalkstudio.com/blog This blogger has her own fabric business.  She talks about balance in her life.  I think we can all relate to finding a balance between work and what we love to do.  It is difficult for this blogger because the two things are closely related.  Read her blog to see how she’s managing to run a business and quilt for fun.
14. Capital-sew-and-sew.blogspot.com The blogger explains it best by stating that she wants to nurture the next generation of sewers, knitters and crocheters and to re-engage those who have stitched in the past and want to start again.  She has great articles about white house fashions as well as sewing projects.
15. Sewcraftyhouston.com/index.php/blog Not just sewing on this blog.  She has many different types of projects, but what I often see is that people who sew often do other fun crafts as well.  See the fun sewing projects as well as videos on bottle tumblers.
16. Junie-moon.blogspot.com A very interesting and unique blogger shares her life as well as her love of sewing.  Her recent project was a complete set of kitchen linens that were all matching for her sister’s 50^th birthday.  Such a thoughtful idea for someone so close.
17. Kids-sewing-projects.com If you are looking for a way to introduce sewing to your child this might be the blog for you.  She includes kid level projects and complete instructions.  The projects are fun and would appeal to children.
18. Blog.ericas.com Great tips and tricks to be found on this blog.  How do you hold down small pieces of fabric so you can sew them?  Find out this blogger’s solution to this problem among other tips.  This blog leans heavier toward quilting, but she makes bags and other smaller projects as well.
19. Blog.sewserendipity.com I love the title of this blog.  It’s so fun and spunky.  That describes the blogger as well.  She has many fun photos to share as well as short projects if you are looking to sew, but you don’t want something too hard or too involved.
20. Chloeweil.com/blog Great projects for the home.  This blogger has a pattern for making your own fitted sheets.  Various other projects like a box bag and the most adorable cupcake pincushions that you’ll ever see.

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How often do you hear the question, “What’s for dinner?”  If you’re anything like me you get tired of fixing the same old thing, but you are at a loss for something quick and easy to fix.  There are times when it’s cold and snowy and you’re in the mood for a really good soup or stew.  Then there are times when your day has just been the pits and you are really looking for comfort food with a capital “C”.  How about when your schedule is packed, but if you see another fast food burger you are going to scream.  What do you do when it’s 100 degrees out and the last thing you want to do is heat up the kitchen?  Check out the following list of Top 30 Recipe Blogs to find the answers to these and many other questions.

1. Simplyrecipes.com If you are looking for great recipes that have been tested by a mom and her family this is the place for you.  There are literally hundreds of recipes on this blog, from Cinnamon Toast to Easy Duck Confit and everything in between.
2. Recipesecrets.net/blog Have you always wanted to make the Colonel’s cole slaw or biscuits?  What about those delectable Aussie fries at home instead of down under?  This blog has hundreds of recipes for your restaurant favorites.  This is definitely one to bookmark.
3. Bbqaddicts.com/blog Are you crazy about barbeque?  If you are then this is the place to find great recipes for bbq like this insane recipe for the Original Bacon Explosion that is pork rolled up in bacon covered in dry rub and barbeque sauce!  Definitely something a man came up with.
4. Blog.grouprecipes.com Truly a foodie’s blog.  Share all of your favorite recipes with the other readers.  Currently they are about to launch a new and better-designed blog so jot this one down to check out in the future.
5. Spain-recipes.com/spanish-recipes-blog If you love Spanish food this is the blog for you.  Not to mention this blogger has included a link to learn Spanish and to check out travel guides for traveling in Spain.  Even if you can’t travel to Spain you can take a mini trip in your kitchen.  Surprise the family by taking a culinary trip to Spain tonight.
6. Soulfoodandsoutherncooking.com Take a trip down South with this blog.  Find many recipes for soul food like red beans and rice to Southern favorites like black- eyed peas or barbeque short ribs.  It’s all here so make sure to check out this one if you need a little down home comfort food.
7. Rasamalaysia.com For easy Asian recipes browse this blog.  I found recipes for Szechwan Roasted Chicken for Chinese New Year and Sweet and Sour Fried Tofu among others.  This blog is a great place to find different recipes that allow you to avoid Chinese take-out and make it yourself in a much healthier way.
8. Buttermilkpress.com This blog is different than the others I have seen.  This blogger has found recipes from other places on the net and cut and pasted them in to her blog.  The blog is visually pleasing and has many different aspects from her own experience with banana smoothies to the latest thing that professional chef Nigella is doing.
9. Blog.fatfreevegan.com Great vegan recipes for all occasions on this blog.  Even if you aren’t vegan the recipes are a healthy alternative to red meat, which could be substituted one to two nights a week.  Or maybe you have a friend that is vegan and you’d like to have them over for dinner.  These recipes aren’t strange they are just good and healthy recipes that everyone will enjoy.
10. Tammysrecipes.com As a woman who recently had her third child she really knows how to cook for kids and get food on the table even when you are busy having a baby at home.  Yep, you read that right she had her baby at home.  She tells how she made meals ahead to prepare for the baby’s arrival.  Now, we don’t all plan on doing that, but there are a million reasons why having meals prepared ahead and waiting in the freezer would be great.  Check out this great blog.
11. Cooking-mexican-recipes.com If you like Mexican food this is the blog for you.  Great recipes for all of your favorite Mexican food including a killer margarita recipe.  Currently this blogger is remodeling her kitchen and she is blogging her adventures in that arena too.
12. Mybakingaddiction.com Oh my goodness!  You have to check out this blog.  She has some delectable dessert recipes complete with mouthwatering photos for Valentine’s Day.  This is a must see.
13. Easy-kids-recipes.com If you have kids this is a great blog for you.  She includes kid friendly dinners that are quick and easy.  And get this, she and her mom recently figure out how to make homemade tootsie rolls just by tasting them and mixing up different ingredients until they got it right?  Now that is a talented woman.
14. Ice-cream-recipes.com Who’d have thought you could make a whole blog out of ice cream recipes?  I guess Shelagh Caudle did, as this is her blog.  She has many recipes for ice cream and all things related to ice cream.  One recipe I saw was for brown bread ice cream.  Strange or delicious?  You decide.
15. Blog.vegbox-recipes.co.uk Vegetables are spotlighted each month on this fascinating blog.  If you’re not a big fan of vegetables don’t immediately write this one off.  She not only shows new ways to fix different vegetables, but she has dessert recipes such as cheesecake with a rhubarb sauce.
16. Frontiersoups.com If you are looking for recipes with a short cut check out this blog.  Many of her recipes use various pre-mixed soups as an ingredient in her recipes for salad dressing or other dishes.
17. Landolakes.com/blog This blog is called Recipe Buzz and boy is it buzzing.  The first picture I saw was for molten chocolate cake.  Doesn’t that sound mouth-wateringly wonderful?  She has recipes for everything from chewy caramel candy to Southwest chili.  Check out these great recipes and enjoy something different tonight.
18. Evliving.com/blog Many interesting recipes appear on this blog.  Tried and true recipes have been given an update.  While I think photos of the food would have added a lot to this blog it is still a great resource for recipes.
19. Blog.friendseat.com A more international look at recipes and all things food can be found on this blog.  I found a story about new ketchup packaging particularly interesting.
20. Joythebaker.com/blog A great selection of homey recipes.  What else can I say?  She has taken the concept of maple syrup and pancakes and made maple syrup muffins.  I found a rather strange recipe for peanut butter bacon cookies.  They say everything is better with bacon.  Oh, and don’t miss the chocolate banana quick bread!
21. Foodista.com/blog Here’s a great resource for inexpensive recipes that turn out really good according to the blogger.  He sprinkles in a few stories about wine, as he is a wine buyer for grocery stores and foodie storylines such as Top Chef contestant interviews.
22. Motherearthnews.com/blogs An environmental site that seems to have branched into healthy cooking in a green way and wines that are nicer to mother earth.  I’ll warn you that there are many different areas on this blog site, but Relish is the recipe section and I found several new and different recipes that might be worth a try.
23. Blog.nutritiondata.com From low-fat cookies to low sodium choices this blog covers it all.  There are a lot of special diets covered in the recipes on this blog so it would be a great resource if you have family members with allergies or diabetes.
24. Huggingthecoast.com Wow!  An unbelievable number of current recipes.  I found at least 100 recipes just for Valentine’s Day meals for the one you love.  From great breakfast choices like Red Velvet Pancake with Brandied Cherry Butter to Lobster Bisque for lunch to a sweet ending with drinks and dessert.
25. Foodzie.com/blog This blog is a great combination of recipes and fun life stories.  They include stories about how people fell in love over food or because of food.  Area food fairs or farmer’s markets are shown too.  A little background to the recipes adds a different twist to this blog.
26. Organicauthority.com/blog Just as you would expect, this blog is all about recipes using organic foods.  I thought organic just meant fruits and veggies, but apparently it extends far beyond those.  Check out the recipes for Chicken Meatloaf and Spicy Marinated Olives.
27. Etherwork.net/blog A humorous look at the adventures of cooking and other food related adventures according to the blogger.  They share some pretty interesting recipes like Chocolate and Chickpea cupcakes with Nutella and Sour Cream frosting.  Okay, those are not things I normally put together, but maybe it would be interesting.
28. Thepioneerwoman.com An Oklahoma woman who chronicles her life on her ranch.  She blogs full-time about her cooking and is a wonderful photographer.  She now has her own cookbook.  While this blog contains recipes it also contains a whole lot more.  I must warn you, it’s addictive!
29. Savory-soup-recipes.com Like it sounds this is an entire blog filled with soup recipes.  I don’t know about where you live, but we are getting snow and a nice steaming bowl of soup sounds pretty good right now.  She covers everything from basic directions for making your own chicken stock to the fancier recipes and everything in between.  This one is a keeper.
30. Blog.nola.com/recipes New Orleans recipes are featured on this blog by actual New Orleans chefs.  I found Sweet Potato Biscuits, Vegetable Strata and Tomato and Cucumber salad.  For a different region of recipes check out this fabulous blog.

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Have you run out of good ideas to stamp cards?  Can you do anything else with your rubber stamps besides make cards?  There are so many creative stampers out there who are dying to share their ideas with you.  They will show you how to use your stamps to create great treat bags for your friends and family.  You can also use your stamps on your scrapbooking pages.  Those more ways you can use your stamps the better right?  Grab yourself a cup of coffee and check out these 40 Rubber Stamping blogs.

1. Kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com Win free magazines and products on this blog.  Check out all of her amazing cards and boxes.  She includes all of the steps so you can recreate her exact card or project.  This blogger has been featured in a magazine called Create Your Dream Wedding.  She has a lot of creativity to share.
2. Mychicnscratch.com Make a fun valentine treat holder or a beautiful birdhouse using your stamps.  Techniques are shown to make your projects look professional.
3. Stampspaperscissors.typepad.com/stamps_paper_scissors Jan shares much of herself and her life on this blog.  She creates original cards from punches when there are no stamps.  The creative energy continues to flow when she shows us how to make and decorate various treats boxes.
4. Dawnsstampingthoughts.net Can you say “purple”?  Dawn loves purple and it shows in her work.  I’m sure you could use her ideas and change the colors though.  Check out her adorable treat holder for Valentine’s Day.  She also has many cards to inspire you to try your hand at it.
5. Beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com Beate includes many video tutorials on her blog.  It’s fun to watch and helps when you are trying to learn a tricky technique.
6. Justgivemestamps.typepad.com/my_weblog Many techniques to learn on this blog.  Laurie does paper piercing and uses many dimensional elements on her cards and treat packaging.
7. Nicholeheady.typepad.com Celebrating her 3^rd anniversary this blogger has a lot of fun stuff coming up on her blog.  She has included bios of the design team.  There will be games, contests and other activities that you can play along with.  Nichole will also have giveaways.  The cards and other fun elements are great too.
8. Andreawalford.com A great blog showing a lot of fun projects.  This stamper goes beyond just cards and makes flowers and other treat holders.  She also has a great chart to help potty train your child.  There are several video tutorials as well that are very well done.
9. Pattystamps.com Patty does a great job of sharing card designs.  She also shows how some of the new stamps can be used in different ways such as a background stamp to make your own decorative papers.  Once she creates the background papers she uses them in several projects.  There are more than just cards on this blog as well.
10. Laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers Lauren has a new store where she sells downloads of her packaging ideas.  The downloads are inexpensive and you can have immediate gratification.  Her online store also has downloadable papers that you can print on your own printer as many times as you want.  No more running to the craft store to pay $ .50 or more per page.  She also includes a lot of ideas to use her products and has her own design team that works with the stamps and packaging ideas.
11. Treasureoilerdesignz.blogspot.com Dawn does an awesome job of making cards.  She uses ribbon in fun and inventive ways.  She has recently joined what she refers to as the “Dream Team” of designers and will be making even more wonderful cards.
12. Papermakeup.blogspot.com Katie is a design team member of My Time Made Simple and so she showcases a lot of great projects using the templates that Lauren makes.  She has an adorable stamped mailbox for Valentine’s Day that would be a lot of fun to try.
13. Kristinscrafts.blogspot.com You’ve Got Mail is a new stamp set that Kristin is working with on her blog right now.  She creates projects with new and old stamp sets, but the basic format of the cards and projects could be used with any stamp set that you own.  The ideas are versatile and fun.
14. Mypinkstamper.com Robyn works with the Cricut machine and makes a lot of fun stamped cards and projects.  She has just introduced her own line of stamps to work with Cricut cartridges.  Robyn has also just released her 2^nd DVD with great ideas for using your Cricut.
15. Clearlyinspired.blogspot.com Kim does some amazing things with rubber stamps.  She isn’t afraid to go for the detailed stamps and she colors them in beautifully.  They are truly a work of art when she completes them.  Check her blog for some inspiration.
16. Poppypaperie.typepad.com/poppy_paperie Come check out this web for some creative mo-jo.  Lisa Johnson has been published several times in various stamping magazines so it’s fun to get the behind the scenes scoop on what she did and more details on the cards she did.
17. Hemidemisemiquaverdesignblog.com Fun.  That’s all I can say about this blog.  Beckey is starting a new weekly challenge where she gives you the assignment and you create a card and share it on her blog.  She picks out the best ones to feature.  Just think, you could get discovered and be on a design team yourself.  The music is hilarious.
18. Scrapbookgirl.typepad.com The address on this blog may make you think that she does mostly scrapbooking, but from what I saw she makes A LOT of cards.  The stamping is very interesting and ingenious.  She uses some gorgeous 3D embellishments.
19. Dawnmcvey.typepad.com Dawn has an elegant sense of style with her cards.  She also shares some of her life with the readers as well.  Her family is currently preparing for a trip to Australia.  It’s a fun read and pretty cards to boot.
20. Debbiedesigns.typepad.com/muse_and_amuse Who said coloring is just for kids?  Debbie designs beautiful cards where she uses professional Copic markers to shade and color in her elements.  She just brings each item to life.  But her cards aren’t limited to just colored pictures; she uses a lot of fun 3D elements as well.
21. Madisonavenue.typepad.com Geny is a working mom and still finds time to stamp and blog.  She finds inspiration everywhere and creates cards with various color combinations.  Buttons are one thing she loves to use on her cards.  If you are a fan of buttons or just want to button up some cute cards, check out this blog.
22. Pinefeather.typepad.com A stamper, an activist and a mom.  This blogger does it all.  Find inspiration to give back and use your love of stamping to help you do it.  She has a love of sparkle and glitter.  If you need a little spark in your crafting check out this blog.
23. Acreativemint.typepad.com/a_creative_mint Minty fresh, that’s how I would describe this blog.  She designs her own papers and let’s you in on the process and her inspiration.  Then she uses those papers in various projects.  Come see the beautiful photographs on this blog.
24. Paperhugs.typepad.com Paper hugs and stamped kisses is the motto of this blogger.  You can tell that she has a love for retro.  She works with buttons, designs from the 60’s, and felt.  If you need a hug, go on over.
25. Lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com Melissa is a member of the Papertrey design team and has a wonderful old-fashioned flair to her cards.  She uses clipart and photos in black and white or sepia tones.  I even saw her use a doily on one card.
26. Michellewooderson.blogspot.com Michelle is also a design member on Papertrey and has peaks of new stamps and supplies that are coming out soon.  She also designs her own rubber stamps and creates projects using the stamps.
27. Nicholeheady.typepad.com This blogger is a design team member and posts on her blog regularly with creative and inspiring cards and projects.  She is part of an online contest and she has the rules posted on her blog.  There are many stamped card projects to be inspired by here.
28. Nikiestes.typepad.com Niki likes to sew and she incorporates her sewing on her cards.  The addition of the stitching adds a truly homespun look to her cards.  She also uses bit of crochet as well adding to the look.
29. Anabelleom.blogspot.com Annabelle is a super stamper and crafter.  She is a member of several design teams so you will get lots of eye candy from different companies.  There are giveaways and contests to participate in.  She has also had a card published in the magazine Card Creations and others.
30. Angelicascrappenings.blogspot.com Have you seen those expensive embellishments at the craft store?  Have you ever wished you could make your own?  Well, now you can.  Angelica has a tutorial for making your own transparent butterfly, but the technique could be used with any stamp.  She will save you some money and allow you to be more creative with your cards and scrapbooking layouts.
31. Lifeasathreeleggeddog.blogspot.com Okay, now tell me you didn’t chuckle when you read the name of this blog.   This blogger has a great sense of humor and she loves the bling.  Almost every card she makes has something sparkly or pearly.  Check out this fun blogger.
32. Scrapworld.web-log.nl This blogger uses her creativity and use of stamps to make mini albums and scrapbooking items.  She loves to embellish the pages too.  There is nothing plain about her projects.  She is on 8 design teams!
33. Janaeubank.com Jana creates cute gift ideas for friends or teachers.  Her creativity doesn’t stop there.  She shows how to make a linked picture holder that you can use to decorate your home.  Check out the many fun ideas she has to share.
34. Thepaperyard.blogspot.com As a member of the Zva design team she participates in blog hops on a regular basis.  If you haven’t seen one before it’s a fun way to bounce from blog to blog and see everyone’s projects based on the same theme.  It’s a fun way to find new talent and inspiration.
35. Sherrywright.typepad.com Paper piecing is a technique that Sherry uses often.  Sometimes you look at her work and you wonder if she bought the little characters like that, but she didn’t.  She stamped them and colored them and cut them out and used them as a separate character or element on her cards.
36. Terisplace.wordpress.com Teri has a bold style with her cards.  The colors are bright and the patterns are fun and flirty.  She often incorporates stitching into her designs as well to add a homemade look to the card.
37. Allistamps.blogspot.com Alli has been published in several magazines.  The latest magazine you can see her work in is by Paper Crafts called Stamp It Cards. She worked with other stampers to show how versatile rubber stamp sets can be.  They all used the same set and created vastly different projects.  Check out her informative blog for more of her simple designs.
38. Freckledandfun.blogspot.com This blogger loves to use texture on the background of her cards.  If you own a Cuttlebug and want more ideas to use it this is the place you need to go.
39. Ellenhutson.typepad.com Ellen is very crafty and shares many of her different hobbies.  She used her rubber stamp to create these pretty butterfly ornaments for her Christmas tree.  If you want to learn this technique check out her blog.
40. Createdfrompaper.blogspot.com Our final blogger does a little bit of everything.  She loves to color with her Copic markers as well as colored pencils.  She creates fun treat bags and boxes.  She loves to add sparkle to her cards with a little bit of glitter.  She even creates cards that open and close differently than your standard card.  Check out this blogger for some fun ideas.

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Working at the hospital is very stressful for everyone. Although we only notice the doctors, nurses, and maintenance staff all the time, there’s more going on inside this institution. For example, who manages all those nurses who need to have supervisors so they can work more efficiently? Who allows them to take sick leave and schedule their work? It’s impossible that nurses simply agreed on all these. It takes authority to give the orders and for people to follow them. This is the job of a hospital administrator.

Hospital administrators, depending on how well they work and interact with the nurses, can be demanding and detested by his or her nurses. That’s simply because he can’t please everyone in his field of work. However, the feelings of loathing can be reduced in a number of ways. Nurses usually understand that it’s simply the job of a hospital administrator to be strict and commanding, but sometimes with compassion toward the members of his or her staff and passion for their work. To see how a hospital administrator can better manage his or her nurses, below are several tips.

1. You should be open-minded to the suggestions given by your peers and be approachable. One of the most hated attitudes of people is the inability to listen to other’s opinions. Even as a manager, caring for your employees is still necessary to have a good work environment. And don’t forget work doesn’t last 24/7, leaving a bad impression on the nurses won’t make you any friends. Of course, you should still be strict and at the same time separate work from personal issues.
2. Be a good example to your staff members. For example, you cannot tell a nurse to be punctual when you are usually tardy. Or you can be ordering people to be quick on their feet while you’re there sitting at your desk for everyone to see. This is not only irritating, but when you get discovered by another superior, you can lose your job.
3. Explain beforehand what you expect the nurses to do and how they should do it. When you become angry for no reason, your staff members won’t respect you. But when you gave them specific orders yet they disregarded it, you can be angry. When that happens, your staff will understand you’re not someone to mess around with. As soon as you become a hospital administrator, it’s good to tell them that you aren’t to be lenient with mistakes, and you expect them to do their best all the time.
4. If needed, you should work along with your staff members. Don’t be a snob and act like everyone is below you. When a job needs to be finished and literally nobody can do it, act responsibly and finish it. I’m also sure that to become a nurse manager, you used to be a nurse yourself. You know what they are going through.
5. Be quick in dealing with all types of problems. Hospitals are places where everything is unexpected and emergencies are common. As soon as there’s a problem that needs your attention, quickly solve it. Your quick response could mean saving a life. If you’re the type of person who wants others to notice you all the time, being a great nurse manager could be the key.
6. As a hospital administrator, you should be compassionate with your staff members. If they are troubled with something, take some time to talk to them. This is something everybody should do, and not just a supervisor. Being compassionate will earn you the respect you need. However, you shouldn’t be too lenient with them since many people will take advantage of this personality.
7. Remember, the most important thing is the welfare of all the patients. You shouldn’t prioritize money over health and life. Although there might not be a decision that forces you to choose between the two, you should still stick your mind to the job at hand, not the money. Having this mindset will reflect on your work attitude. You’ll be a better hospital administrator and person overall.

There’s a heavy responsibility that comes with being a hospital administrator. Having this job requires you to be focused and dedicated to the job. Dedication is very important since this will keep you from exploding when the work becomes too hard. There will be times that you think you can’t do it anymore, but be patient with it. Also, being a good nurse manager will make things easier since you won’t have trouble with your staff.

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Do you take tons of pictures?  What do you do with them after you take them?  If you are like many people the pictures either stay on the camera, sit in a file on the computer or sit in some box in the closet.  Wouldn’t it be a lot more fun to have them in a scrapbook so you and everyone else can flip through and look at the pictures?  Reminiscing through a scrapbook is fun for the whole family.  Scrapbooking may seem time consuming and daunting to some, but there are many ways to complete smaller scrapbooks or by using kits to complete whole scrapbooks quickly.  Scrapbooking blogs tend to have a focus on either digital scrapbooking or traditional scrapbooking.  I have broken them out into categories below.  Check out all of the layout ideas, kits, and suggestions made on the following blogs.

1. Scrapbookingpaper.net/blog : If you’re not into cutting paper and taping it down with your pictures you might be interested in digital scrapbooking.  The end result is similar, but you create the page online and then print it out and insert it into the scrapbook.  No tape runner necessary.
2. Blog.designerdigitals.com : Once you decide that you’d rather do digital scrapbooking over traditional scrapbooking this blog can give you a lot of tips and tricks on how to get just the right look on your pages.  Sprinkling is a technique that she covers.  If you don’t know what that is you’d better check out her blog.
3. Circleofmoms.com : While it takes an extra step of signing up for this blog it is well worth the little extra effort.  This blog is an active community of scrappers that are there to answer any questions you may have or to offer an opinion on what the best cutting tool to buy is.
4. Digitalscrapbooking101.ning.com : Another blog about digital scrapbooking, but this one has a broad range of topics from photography tips, to organization, and video tutorials on using digital scrapbooking software.  The photographs are amazing on this blog.
5. Blog.photobucket.com/blog : This blog is a little different in that it started out as a place to post pictures, but has evolved into a place that will allow you to post your photos so that family and friends can see them, but also create digital scrapbooking pages using those same photos without having to upload them again into another site or program.  You can share your scrapbook pages with friends and family online using this site.
6. Beckyhiggins.com/blog : Becky is the blogger for this site and she covers both digital and traditional scrapbooking.  She also blogs about projects that she does with school children giving you ideas for things you can do with your children.  Kids seem to be a primary focus on this blog so if you have children and love to scrapbook with them or about them this is the blog for you.
7. Melslightbulbmoments.blogspot.com : Wonderful page ideas and some cute anecdotal stories from the blogger.  She is also designs scrapbooking kit.  She loves to play with different photo effects and shares her experiences.
8. Lindsayjanedesigns.blogspot.com : If you love keeping up with the newest ideas and you want a blog that posts almost every day this is the blog for you.  She also does a lot of giveaways so it’s fun to check back and try to win.
9. Lilslittleluxury.blogspot.com : Another blogger who keeps up with daily posts and lots of ideas for digital scrappers.  She will show a new product and then show several different ways to use it.  This helps start the creative juices flowing and allows you to visualize your own photos in the layouts.
10. Scrapbooklady.typepad.com/katie_the_scrapbook_lady : A truly GREAT blog!  This blogger goes beyond just showing layouts.  She goes into helping scrappers stay current on their scrapping.  Staying current is something many scrappers struggle with.  We all get busy with life and we let our “hobby” slide.  However, keeping up with our family memories is a never-ending project and once you get past an event it’s easy to start forgetting details.  Check out this blog for other great tips.
11. Thiscrazylife-michelle.blogspot.com : Wild and crazy with freebies galore is how I would describe this blog.  Just as you might guess from the name.  She has lots of page examples to help keep you motivated and she jokes about “retail therapy” throughout the blog, which is great fun.
12. Brandy-designs.blogspot.com : There are many downloads available on this blog.  This blogger has a very busy life with her family and she shares the activities and the pictures and then how she digitally scraps them.  When your kids are involved in many activities it’s great to create a scrapbook that they will have forever.
13. Mitsybelle.com/blog : Freebies abound on this blog.  This blogger posts consistently and shows many new products and kits to use when doing digital scrapbooking.  She showcases new techniques and tools.
14. Heidiswapp.typepad.com/my_weblog : Many different topics are covered on this blog.  She shares her life and how she incorporates a healthy life style and scrapbooking.  She also has giveaways.
15. Mistycato.wordpress.com : Misty has her own line of templates that you can buy.  She shows you how to use them and design ideas using them.  She has various tutorials as well.  Misty also has a layout showcase where you can get layout ideas.
16. Shabbymissjenn.typepad.com : This blogger has her own design company called Shabby Miss Jenn or SMJ designs.  She has a team of people creating pages to share on her blog site.  Jenn is very creative and has a lot of great kits and digital papers to share.
17. Shabbyprincess.typepad.com : Free monthly desktop downloads are available from this blogger.  She has her own shop called the Shabby Shop and she shows new products all the time.
18. Sweetshoppedesigns.com/blog : The sheer volume of ideas of this blog is amazing.  She has tons of designers and almost daily they show one of their creations.  There are many page layout ideas as well as just a really cute overall take on digital scrapbooking.
19. Thescrappincop.blogspot.com : Very cute theme for this blog and you might think that she is out to police all of the scrappers, but no.  She makes her own downloads by photographing random items like legos and torn cardboard.  The items can be used as borders and frames around pictures or as backgrounds for the whole page.
20. Craftyscraps.blogspot.com : Purple, this blogger LOVES purple.  She is a frequent poster and she has downloads almost every time she posts.  The layout designs and the background papers she showcases are amazing.  The truly great thing about digital scrapbooking is the sheer variety and vibrancy of the papers.

21. Blog.syracuse.com/scrapbooking-mom/index.html : Want to know what to do with all of those pretty Christmas cards you received this year?  This blogger has an idea of turning them into gift tags for next year’s presents.  Scrapbooking is the focus of this blog though and she has tips for the best places to find supplies on sale and many other things.
22. Kwernerdesign.com : More of a traditional scrapbooking blog can be found with this one.  There are layout ideas for scrapbooking pages as well as a few ideas on how you can use your scrapbooking supplies to make cards for friends and family.  In this economy it’s great to be able to multi-purpose our craft supplies.
23. Beckyhiggins.com/blog : I listed this blog in the digital section too, but this blogger covers both digital and traditional scrapbooking on her blog.  She does a lot of hands on stuff with children and it’s an interesting enough blog to mention twice.
24. Jennibowlin.blogspot.com : Do you love bling?  Do you like adding embellishments to your scrapbook pages?  Jenni does too.  She showcases many new product embellishments that are on the market.  She is a consistent blogger and shows photos of many scrapbook pages.
25. Heidiswapp.typepad.com/my_weblog : How to videos are included on this blog.  This blogger is very involved with her craft and even goes to craft shows to show her stuff and to help people like you learn different scrapping techniques.  She has a great sense of humor.
26. Limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com : This blog is eclectic.  She cooks, she bakes, and she repurposes tin cans for use in organizing her craft room.  She includes a video where she makes embellishments and inks up paper.
27. Mypinkstamper.com : This blogger LOVES pink.  She has a pink craft room that she calls her “Pink Loft” as well as a pink bone folder and chair etc.  You can find many how to videos on this site.  This blogger uses her Cricut machine for creating scrapbook pages, goodie bags, and cards.  She has recently designed her own rubber stamps and has starred in two Cricut DVD’s.
28. Stephaniehowell.typepad.com : Many great ideas can be found on this blog.  She creates cards as well as scrapbook layouts.  The varied embellishments really spruced up the page layouts.  Stephanie also shares her life with her readers including her soldier husband.
29. Just-a-scrappin.blogspot.com : If you own a Cricut this blog site is a great one for you.  She shows you many different templates for cutting using your Cricut.  Then you can use those cutouts to create scrapbook layouts.  There are also how-to videos included on this blog.
30. Aboverubiesstudio.com : This blogger posts daily and usually has videos showing various techniques and new products.  There is a lot of information available on this blog.  She compares and contracts various products such as the Gypsy vs. the Sure Cuts A Lot.
31. Creationswithchristina.com : Lots of video tutorials on this blog using the Cricut.  This blogger creates cards, favors and scrapbook pages using the Cricut and other various methods.
32. Scrapbooking.craftgossip.com : Some crafters do both digital scrapbooking and traditional scrapbooking.  If you are one of those crafters then this is the blog for you.  She enjoys showcasing all of the latest products to use on your scrapbook pages.  She does a daily digital update for those that enjoy digital.
33. Kellygoree.blogspot.com : Check out the latest embellishments on this site along with completed scrapbook pages and layout ideas.  The plethora of papers, eyelets, brads and ribbon included on this blog is mind blowing.  You have to see it to believe it.
34. Ole682000.blogspot.com : Many slide show pages to inspire you to create your own pages.  She spotlights various scrapping kits.  She demonstrates how to use them to create works of art.
35. Creativescrappers.blogspot.com : A scrapbooking blog that you would hope for if you are a traditional scrapper.  She posts weekly with a sketch and then showcases a design team using that sketch.  You can join in on the fun and create your own layout using the weekly sketch.
36. Printables4scrapbooking.com : A location for free downloadable papers, sayings, and more from various sites.  This blogger has researched and compiled various sites with free downloads to save her readers time and energy researching them on their own.
37. Lisadickinson.typepad.com/gettin_by : Scrapbooking real life.  The every day things.  This blogger lets you peak into her life and even share your opinion.  Then she also shows scrapbook pages along the way.  It’s a fun peak into her life.
38. Thescrapmaster.blogspot.com : Do you love to scrapbook, but get tired of everyone showing their kids on every page?  This blogger scraps her pets and pictures of her significant other and herself.  A nice change of pace from the normal kid pics.
39. Scrapattackscrapbooking.blogspot.com : A design team full a great ideas showcase their work on this blog.  If you are looking for inspiration this is the place to go.  There isn’t a lot of extra stuff cluttering this blog.  It’s just a lot of creative scrapbook layouts.
40. Davinie.blogspot.com : More than just scrapbooking ideas on this blog.  She includes how to make certain embellishments.  Davinie also spotlights new tools to use in scrapbooking.  She includes contests and giveaways on her blog as well.

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Everyone grows old. When that time comes and our loved ones won’t be able to take care of themselves, it’s time to look for a good nursing home. Sending our parents or old relatives to a nursing home isn’t all that bad, especially when we know that they will be safer and well cared for. That’s if you can find a quality nursing home for them. Not all nursing homes can give the same attention to your loved ones, so you have to compare them. To help you choose, I have listed ten things to look for in a nursing home.

1. Location. You should look for a nursing home that is conveniently placed near your house. You want to be there frequently to visit your loved ones to give them the assurance that you still love them. Not only that, but letting the nurses and administrators see you will minimize the risk of abuse for your loved one and other patients.
2. Professional staff. You shouldn’t simply look for a licensed nursing home even though you might think that is enough. The staff should be certified by the state, especially the nurses who will administer your family member.  It’s good to verify that several on staff are trained for emergency care both critical medical care as well as natural disasters or other tragic events.
3. Respectful staff. Even if the staff are great in their duties like taking care of elders and cleaning the rooms, the way they interact with them should be scrutinized. Don’t ever leave your elderly loved ones with people who can’t respect them. Before you choose a nursing home, inspect the place first and see how the patients are being treated.  If you can talk to relatives of other patients, that is absolutely ideal.
4. Cheerful environment. We don’t want to place our loved ones in a sad, dreary place. What we want is for them to enjoy the remaining years of their life in the comfort of a safe and happy environment full of good people. A cheerful environment will at least guarantee that the nursing home won’t be boring.  Find out what activities they have for the patients.  Do they have organized games and other entertainment to make living there more fun?
5. Fully furnished rooms. The rooms need not look like a 5-star hotel rooms after all this is a medical facility. But the place should be comfortable, with proper ventilation and a nice bed. It’s also better if it has a good sitting area and a table and chair set for them to entertain visitors.
6. Complete safety features. It should have smoke alarms in case something happens. These should be put in every room in the nursing home, including the bathroom and living room areas. Elders won’t be very quick to move, so when a fire breaks out, they will have a hard time. Another safety feature would be handrails everywhere. As elders, they could easily lose balance. Unless there are handrails, they might fall down.
7. A clean record. You can look at their public health inspections and see whether there has been any recent violations. If there are, the problems should have already been resolved. You can never be too sure, so this is really important. However, although there are currently no problems, their record should still be good. If they have violations each year then you know to pass on that nursing home.
8. Positive opinions of patients. This is particularly important, because if most of the patients don’t like the place, chances are, your relative will not too. Interview the patients as to how they are being treated and how the accommodations are. Take note that some elders are pretty stingy, so don’t always depend on their opinions. Seek out friendlier people and you will get more honest answers.
9. No abuse whatsoever. If possible, you might want to visit or tour the nursing home at different times of day and as a surprise. This will let you know how patients are treated when they are without visitors. You can visit during meal times. That way, you can see what type of food they’re eating. Just because they’re old people doesn’t mean they can only eat oatmeal and soup.
10. Stay within your budget. Don’t spend too much money on the nursing facility. Of course, you don’t have to place your loved ones in the cheapest nursing home you can find. There are some affordable homes that have similar facilities as the more exclusive ones, so choose well. Just because you placed your parents on an affordable place doesn’t mean you love them any less. I’m sure they understand the need to be frugal in these hard times.

It’s incredibly difficult to place your loved one in a nursing home and if you find yourself reading this as you prepare for doing just that, I wish you all the best in your decision.  If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for others going through this, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

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The U.S. is fortunate enough to have great hospital care compared to many other countries. We have modern technologies to fight diseases that otherwise couldn’t be treated. We have lots of hospitals to treat the sick. However, everyone in the US does not have equal medical care. A study shows that there’s a wide gap between the best and the poorest hospital care by State. In addition, some states have a high mortality rate while others don’t.

The study has shown different aspects of medical care. It shows that one disease will be cured better and quicker in some states versus another state, where there is poor medical care for that disease. For example, in the treatment of heart attacks, Minnesota is better prepared than Vermont.  Here you can see the top ten hospital rankings by state.

1. North Dakota
2. Florida
3. Ohio
4. Michigan
5. Maryland
6. Colorado
7. Pennsylvania
8. Connecticut
9. Utah
10. South Dakota

The ten states listed above have the highest percentage of excellent hospitals. Of course, a high percentage doesn’t mean that all of them are excellent.

5000 hospitals were all ranked and studied in this study. Twenty-six ordinary procedures were used to see how each hospital would act and save the lives of the people. After seeing the results, we can deduce that states with fewer people have better hospital care than those in New York and California. The population may or may not have an effect, but it was just an observation. But the mortality rate may have something to do with pollution, bad eating habits, and lazy attitudes.

Also, based on the research, we can see that the North Central region has the best hospitals. They have lower mortality rates compared to other regions. The most improved region meanwhile is the South Central region. If you don’t know where that is, that’s where LA and Texas is located. Their risk-adjusted mortality rate is down by 13.5%. This is in contrast with the Mountain region which declined by 8.8%.

Just to tell you how good the states listed above are, you are 71% safer during procedures there. On the other hand, the states with poorer performance don’t have excellent hospital care, although it’s only a general research. The fifteen poorest states in hospital care are: Georgia, Wisconsin, Alaska, Iowa, West Virginia, South Carolina, Wyoming, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Vermont, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Of course, you can still find good hospitals in these states. Just because they have a low ranking doesn’t mean they can’t offer medical care for you. That’s the same with the top ranking states. You can find mediocre care in some hospitals there. What you should do is find out what the hospitals near you can offer the best. Example, if the neighborhood hospital is great at heart diseases but poor at brain surgeries, you shouldn’t go there for a neurological problem. Remember that all hospitals have specialty diseases. Search what they are before you enter the institution.

I just hope that the substandard hospitals will copy the practices of the hospitals that are great at it. That way, fewer people will die or take a long time to be cured. It’s not bad to copy their practices, since lives are at stake here. If they can only focus on important procedures, then the deaths will surely be reduced. Heart failure, pneumonia, sepsis, and respiratory failure are common illnesses that can cause death. Once the hospitals are better prepared in these areas, fewer lives will be lost.

There are websites and offices you can check out to see how your state and hospital ranks among the others. Just remember that the hospitals don’t give awful care to patients, it’s just that compared to others, they are of inferior performance. The goal of studies like this is to make all the hospitals competitive so they will always give their best and continually improve. Even though most of the hospitals have improved, there is still a wide gap seen between the best and worst ones. Until all the hospitals can give the best medical attention to all its patients, this study won’t stop. But even until then, researches like this are still important, so as not to let the guard down. Without this research, hospitals won’t have the incentive to care for patients, because no one notices them anyway.

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Working at a hospital is the dream of some people. But what they don’t know is the stress that comes with working in a medical facility. It takes a long education, dedication, and effort to succeed in the medical field or any field in that matter. When you dream of working in a hospital, it’s impossible to hope to become a maintenance staff. You’re possibly thinking of becoming a doctor or someone who works at the top of the administrative ladder.

In order to do that, you would first have to get a degree in health care. It’s much better if you could finish a master in health administration; it’s a real edge when applying. There are many openings for executive work, but most would require you start at the bottom. But just to give you an idea of what you could become in the future, the top ten administrative jobs are listed below.

1. Administrator/President/CEO – The job of a CEO is very hard. Of course, the benefit is worth it, as they earn the most among all the other jobs. Being a CEO requires you to be a good decision-maker. The future of the hospital depends on your ability to make the right choices. It takes years and even decades before someone can become a CEO, since it takes a long experience before you can have the skills needed in this job.
2. Associate Administrator/ Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Also called senior vice president, COOs work with more interaction to the staffs of the institution. The tasks of a COO include supervising the sales, marketing, and human resource problems. Because a COO still works below the CEO, you will have to report to the CEO so that he can decide whatever needs to be decided.
3. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – A CFO primarily handles all the finances of the hospital. The CFO also analyzes data and has to keep the institution from getting broke. Together with the CEO and COO, they are the backbone of the whole institution. Without them, a hospital will be much disorganized and improperly managed.
4. Hospital administrator – The hospital administrator is like a supervisor, only this is an executive position too. Their work requires them to be involved with patients to make sure that they receive top-of-the-line care. Hospital administrators execute the policies of the hospital and are also part of decision-making that comes with patient care.
5. Director of human resources – The work of a director in human resources is to supervise not the staff themselves, but the departments related to the staff. They ensure that these departments do the work accordingly, so he can report to the executives. Those who work under him are the managers in different areas of human resource.
6. Employment and placement managers – They are in charge of managing the recruitment and hiring of the employees. Not only that, but they also work with other recruitment and placement specialist since they take note of their performance.
7. Recruitment specialists – For me, being a recruitment specialist is the most fun. They do a lot of traveling, though it’s limited to job fairs and college campuses. They try to look for people who would do well for the institution. However, the job of a recruitment specialist is not easy. They have to know everything about their hospital so they can answer questions job seekers want to ask.
8. Employee assistance plan managers. Sometimes called employee welfare managers or work-life managers, they are responsible in making sure that the employees are well-taken care of in every aspect of their work. Their job entails them to make counseling sessions or planning recreational activities for the employees. This is important so that the employees can reach their potential and not always be bored.
9. Director of industrial relations – The job of a director of industrial relations is in making policies for the good of the hospital. They are in charge in negotiating with the bargains and the complaints made by the patients. They work together with other managers and directors, especially those that are related to human resource.
10. Nursing unit Manager – The nursing unit manager takes charge of all the nurses in the hospital. They schedule the duty hours and day offs of the nurses. They order the nurses to their respective jobs and organize them into being better workers. If needed, nursing unit managers work hand-in-hand with the nurses, especially when there are employee shortages.

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Do you love to scrapbook or make your own greeting cards?  Are you in need of some inspiration?  The following blogs have tons of ideas and even different contests you can get in on.  Many of these blogs do giveaways of some sort at least once a month. To win free product all you have to do is post a comment and if your comment gets chosen randomly you win!  Make sure that you check out the archives on all of these blogs because you will be so surprised to see all of the fabulous ideas.

1. poppypaperie.typepad.com includes beautiful pictures of cards.  This blog is by Lisa Johnson who has had many of her original cards published in national magazines such as Papercrafts Card Creations special edition.  There are many other cards she has had published and she usually writes more about them on her blog so you can get the inside scoop right from the horses mouth so to speak.  You can even e-mail her questions.

2. Treasureoilerdesignz.blogspot.com Dawn Easton writes this blog and is on several design teams such as Inspirations Challenges, C.C. Designs & All That Scraps, Baker’s Dozen, and Paperworks Co. to name a few.  She is always coming up with creative rubber stamped cards.

3. Stampasweetimpression.blogspot.com has multiple contributors.  Taylored Expressions is a stamp supply company that these ladies are associated with.  There are many gift giving ideas on this blog.  The creators of the projects always tell you what paper they used as well as what stamp set etc.  They try to make it very easy to duplicate their cards.

4. Clearlyinspired.blogspot.com written by Kim Burmeister is an example of a woman with a lot of creativity that just wants to share her creations.  Kim shows examples of simple scrapbooking pages that allow busy moms to quickly assemble a page and get on with the rest of the things she has to do.  Kim has a wide variety of paper crafting projects that extend beyond just card making.  Check out her blog and get “inspired”.

5. Laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com created by Lauren Meader embodies many facets.  Lauren has her own Etsy business where she sells the cards and gifts that she makes.  She just created her own business where she now sells her original templates for gift packaging, rubber stamps, down-loadable paper and images.  Lauren has many videos where she actually shows you certain techniques for making custom made gifts.

6. Kristinscrafts.blogspot.com by Kristin Bueter creatively shows how you can find inspiration from anywhere to make cards.  She is a member of several design teams and they have color challenges where they find an advertisement and pull colors from it and have to use those colors to make a card.  Kristin beautifully photographs her cards to share.

7. Mypinkstamper.com developed by Robyn C. specializes in Cricut cut creations.  In fact, Robyn just hosted and released her own DVD where she gives basic instruction on using the Cricut.  Robyn does a lot of videos that are a lot of fun to watch.  She is obsessed with pink and she takes you along on all of her trips.  Not long ago she ran her first marathon.  This blog just went over 2,000,000 hits.

8. Kelliewinnell.com.au/magnolia is a blog that uses stamps created by Magnolia.  Kellie Winnell is part of a design team and often showcases many other cards by different artists.  The creativity abounds on this site and there are many different styles to ignite your imagination.

9. Everything-about-scrapbooking.com really does include almost everything.  This blog includes links to many topics that interest scrapbookers.  For example, what do you do when you are at a loss for words when you get ready to journal on your page?  She has a link for that.  She also has layout ideas to help create your page in a quick and easy manner.

10. Kaisercraft.net/blog utilizes a design team to give their readers a plethora of scrapbooking ideas.  From kits that make the page practically finish itself to basic design principles to use while creating your perfect scrapbook page.

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