ASPARAGUS TART

Thanks to Olga Quinn

We got great Dish Deals and now I have a new favorite channel that I can’t seem to peel myself away from. We have been watching the Food Networklike crazy. I say “we”, but I really mean “me”. I force my husband and watch it because it is my favorite channel. He has definitely benefitted though, because I have been whipping stuff up in the kitchen like it is my job. The other night, I cooked a really great dinner. I did pork tenderloin chops on the grill that were seasoned with rosemary and sea salt. They were quick and easy and went well with the compliment that I made. I saw a great an easy recipe for an asparagus tarte on the Food Network last week. All you need to make it is a puff pastry, eggs, nutmeg, asparagus, and guerye cheese. I start by puffing the pastry in the oven. I dressed the pastry with the mix that I made and placed the asparagus in perfect rows on the pastry. Twenty minutes later, I pulled it out of the oven and looked like a real chef! It was awesome. I can’t wait for my family to come so that I can impress them with my new and improved cooking skills!

Fifth Grade

I appreciate the guest post, Jewel Rodgers

My son is in fifth grade, and this year has become what we’ve coined “The Year of the Term Paper.” I’m not sure what it is about the fifth grade, but evidently that’s the appropriate age to start assigning a new report to write once a month. So far this year my son has covered Dinosaurs, the Ice Age, Carnivores and herbivores, Baseball, and Exotic Animals. I am all for my child learning about new things, obviously, but we have one teeny problem. I don’t actually know anything about dinosaurs, or the Ice Age, or even much about carnivores, come to think of it. I’m no help when it comes time to dig up information to include in his report. And up until recently, doing research on the internet was really difficult. I had to drive him to town to use the computer at the library, and then find a way to busy myself for however long it took him to do his research. We live in a very rural area, and we did not have the option of getting internet, or at least that’s what we thought. My husband was at work on the internet when he discovered Hughesnet Packages, and we had it installed within just a few days. It’s changed our lives! No more hours-long library trips for me…I send my son to the computer room, he looks up what he needs, and the report is done. At least until next month.

My brother's New Year's Eve wedding

Guest post written by Jaimie Cartwright

I've kind of been appointed the unofficial wedding planner for my brother's wedding. They didn't hire one because his fiancŽ wanted to plan it all herself, but it's been a little harder than she first thought. But I have a lot of experience doing event planning with my sorority and I think that I'll be able to handle this for her so she can enjoy it instead of being stressed out.

One night when she was e-mailing me and asking me about some details, which has been happening a whole lot. When I was online corresponding with her, I came across the website clearwirelessinternet.com and after I read through it some, I signed up for one of the internet packages that I found on there.

I'm sure that they New Year's wedding is going to be beautiful, fantastic and fun for everyone that's involved. But, IÕll be relieved once the actual ceremony is over and everyone's ringing in the New Year at midnight. IÕm sure that my future sister-in-law will be relieved then too.

Makes You Use Your Noggin

Posted by Jerold Austin

One of my favorite children's channels on television is Noggin. I love the educational programming and they have things that are relevant and fun for kids to watch. A lot of their programs are interactive so it is not unusual to hear the kids talking and yelling right along with the characters on the television.

My husband was getting stationed in a new area and I was afraid that because we would be forced to change cable providers that we might not get Noggin anymore. After doing some research we found that going with Direct TV Expert would be the best choice for us as far as choice and programming. The installation was quick and easy and they have all of the channels that we want. I love our new satellite provider because the pictures are clear and the connection is reliable and most of all the price is right.

I even have time to watch a few shows for myself but for some reason it seems like I always end up watching children's television. Maybe it is just out of habit. I like having the choice to watch any channels that I want. There are also some programming that I have never heard of. There are some new shows coming out on Noggin that the kids and I are anxious to see. I am definitely looking forward to it.

Hannah Montana

I appreciate the guest post, Marian Combs

If you're looking for a show fit for the entire family, look no further than Hannah Montana. It is about a teenager who has a double life. Miley may seem like a regular teenager during the day, but on the weekends, she is actually a teen pop sensation. Only her family and a couple of her close friends know that Miley is actually Hannah Montana, so the stories mostly revolve around normal teenage issues such as dealing with high school cliques, being boy crazy, and lots of sibling rivalry. Miley usually comes out on top thanks to the level-headed parenting of her dad, a single parent. But sometimes her two worlds collide and things get interesting and funny.

One of the main reasons I like Hannah Montana is for the simple life lessons it offers the children who watch. As soon as we get home, the kids and I kick off our shoes and cuddle up on the couch to watch any episodes recorded by the digital video recorder provided by tvbydirect.com.

I highly recommend the show which is on Disney Channel but available also local channels on Saturday morning.

Direct Tv For Hospitals

I really hate it when I have an appointment with my doctor or when I have to go with my son or husband to the hospital. I do not like just sitting there and doing nothing really interesting while waiting for them to tell me it is my turn. It is so great to know that most of the hospitals and clinics now a days have a television set up for all the patients and their companions who are waiting in the lobby for their turn. Having a direct tv for lobby is really a big help to keep the patients entertained while they wait.

I am really glad that there is direct tv for hospitals, if not I know for sure that a lot of us will be so bored while waiting for our turn. It is such a good thing that direct tv offers so much interesting and fabulous shows to choose and watch to help you ease your boredom.

With Direct Tv having such a broad choices, from whether it is sport season, or just having a wide variety of numerous movie channels to choose from. They also have more than plenty of children channels, so it will also keep the little ones’ entertained while they wait. As we all know that kids can easily lose patients and interests in almost anything. Not to mention when was the last time you have seen enough toys in a hospital or clinic lobby to go around for all kids, nothing like a 24 hour cartoon show to keep your kids entertained, no matter the time of day, or day of the week you find yourself seeking medical attention. For more details, please visit the web site http://www.dishbusiness.com/index.shtml now.

"Running Wilde" is a Wild Time

Contribution by Jacques Carr

Tuesdays is the night for comedy with Fox's newest hit, "Running Wilde." I watched my favorite fall TV premier on the satellite tv that we got from www.directstartv.com/directv_programming/directv_nfl-sunday-ticket.html on September 19 and cannot wait to watch "Running Wilde" unfold all season.

"Running Wilde" follows Steve Wilde (played by Will Arnett) as he works to win back his first and only love, Emmy Kadubic (played by Keri Russell). The show, written by the same people behind "Arrested Development," is unlike the other comedies on air today.

The show starts with an introduction to self-centered Wilde who is giving himself a humanitarian award to impress his actual humanitarian love interest, Emmy. We learn he has no friends aside from his driver who finds Emmy in the Amazon to invite her to the party. Emmy shows up to see Wilde is no different than he was, but agrees to move home to work on her next charity case- him.

Arnett delivers comedy that is sarcastic, blunt and offensive which adds a special dimension to "Running Wilde." Teamed up with an innocent actress like Russell, Arnett plays well off of her pure-demeanor. In a way when you watch "Running Wilde" you see a little bit of Gob Bluth (from "Arrested Development") in Arnett. With cameos from comedians like David Cross, this show is nearly guarantee to make you laugh out loud every week.

Someone to rake leaves

Guest post written by Eric Hansen

There's one thing that I dread doing every fall time. And that's raking leaves. I just absoultely hate raking but it's just something that you have to do when it's about this time of the year. Plus, I have back problems so it's not just me being lazy when it comes to this.

This year I decided to find someone else to do it but I don't have kids so I had to kind of think outside of the box. I used me DIRECT TV internet and got online to put up an ad online looking for someone who would rake the leaves in my yard for me. I told them about how big my yard is in the ad and that I would pay them about fifty dollars for the whole yard because I think it would take a few hours and be pretty labor intensive.

It ends up that one of teh neighborhood kids answered the ad and I probably should have asked them to do it in the first place. So he and his friend split the work and the pay and I got out of having to rake my own leaves this year, which was a good thing for everyone involved.

2010 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Predictions

Guest post of the week by Deangelo Spencer

The 2010 NASCAR season has been a roller coaster ride for some teams. When DirecTV let me try their satellite TV pay per view feature for free, I made sure I recorded most of the races this season. History has been made with Jamie McMurray becoming the 3rd driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same season. Kyle Busch also made history by becoming the first driver to win the Nationwide, Camping World Truck and Sprint Cup series Bristol races in the same weekend.

2 drivers are already locked in. Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon. Kyle Busch just has to start the next race at Atlanta and he is in. From the 4th position all the way back to the 21st position can fight it out for the 10 spots left in the top 12. Jamie McMurray is currently 100 points back of Clint Bowyer in the fight for the 12th spot. McMurray has won 2 races and I think he will get the last spot. Mark Martin is 1 point behind McMurray, but I think McMurray has the advantage and momentum throughout these last 2 races. The rest of the top 12 have almost been decided.

The drivers I see making the top 12 are Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray. Sorry Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin fans, but I don't think they can stop McMurray's run.

A&E's Best True Crime Program

Guest post written by Sidney Owens

City Confidential originally aired on the A&E channel. The show aired its last episode in 2006, but I watch old recorded episodes on my DVR via satellite TV Florida.

City Confidential was a great true crime show. The format of the program was different from traditional crime shows. It always began with a description of an American town or large city. The announcer relayed information concerning the town's major businesses, economic development, and location. Once he set the scene, the narrator introduced the major players involved in the crime. Slowly and methodically, the show painted a picture of how the crime transpired, who was involved, their motives, and how the criminal was apprehended.

City Confidential is my favorite true crime show because it gives the facts in a rational, easy-to-follow format. There are no twists and turns, just great storytelling. The way that the information is revealed makes me think that the victim is someone that could have grown up in my hometown, or any hometown in America. I feel compassion for the victim and anger toward the perpetrator. I also love narrator Paul Winfield's voice. His tone and inflections can be relaxed at times, but then he changes his voice to fit each scene. The later episodes are narrated by someone else.

Free Birthday Party Planning For All

Guest post from: Steve Delaney

Planning a birthday party online is an easy way to plan the next big day in your life. Birthday party planning web sites can cut the time of planning a prty in half and take away the hassle of going from store to store searching for the supplies that you need. Planning a prty online is easy to do and most of the time, free, if you own a printer.

I used my hughes internet service and researched birthday party planning sites. I found some great articles as well as tips for planning a great party for someone of any age. Momsbreak.com offers free templates and invitations for childrens parties. These can be printed right from the computer. There are great designs kids love. Another great site I found with hughesnet service Indiana for free printable invitations for kids and adults is colorsbydesign.com. Marthastewart.com offers printable planners that can keep the party organized.

Orientaltradingcompany.com is a great site to order birthday party favors and decorations. Items are sold in bulk at super low prices. There are thousands of products to choose from for a fun party with almost any theme! Ordering is easy and prices are great!

Making Shopping Easy by Going Online

Contribution by Darren Saunders

I will admit that I do my shopping online with my hughesnet internet whenever possible. I do not enjoy heading to the mall to shop, especially when it involves taking my children with me. I have developed favorite sites and brands for children's clothing, and have a system for finding the best deals. Both my son and daughter start the new school year soon, and I was determined to buy everything online with my satellite internet in Allendale Michiganconnection this year. Both kids needed new jeans, shirts and shoes, and my daughter really wanted a few cute dresses. I spent one afternoon scouring the Internet for online coupons for places like The Children's Place, Gap, Old Navy and Hanna Andersson and had a long list of items in mind to purchase. I was glad I used satellite Internet to get online, because it was so fast and reliable. Once I got the kids set up with the sprinkler on outside, I buckled down with my laptop and started shopping. I was glad I had done all of my preparation ahead of time, as I was able to zip through the shopping in virtually no time. My kids were excited to watch the packages be delivered and loved everything I got. I was thrilled that everything fit perfectly since I knew the brands so well, and I had been able to avoid going to the stores entirely. I would definitely reccomend hughes satellite in Wyomingto anyone who wants to try shopping online.

Stay Connected with Family

This is a guest post by Alex Yanki

Using hughes satellite internet service helps me manage my photos online. It has never been easier to organize all the different photos I take with my digital camera. I love using the internet to manage my photos. I have a folder for each season and year on my desktop. I immediately plug in my digital camera and upload my photos to my computer so I can have more space on my memory card. I even post some of my pictures on facebook and let my family from all over the world see the different pictures of the family here. It is surely one way to stay connected with my families and a lot easier than sending pictures through the mail. Managing my photos online saves me money, time, and even connections with my friends and family. I love putting new photos on facebook and see what others have to say about our many adventures. Just reading the comments to my photos makes me smile. Managing photosonline surely has many great benefits that everyone should take advantage of.

My Absolute Favorite Thing about the World Cup

This guest post was written by Christopher Noxi.

Every four years soccer fanactics get to show pride for their favorite country. This is my absolute favorite thing about the World Cup. It is amazing how devoted people are to their countries soccer team. Even if you not know much about the World Cup, when you watch the Cup on Satellite TV from Cannon Satellite you can feel the pride fans have for their favorite soccer team. Depending on what country is playing you will proudly see the countries colors all throughout the stadium. Some people go allow out and paint their entire body the color of their countries flag. Soccer players are lucky to have such devoted fans for such an amazing event. The World Cup has to be one of the largest sporting events. People count down the days until it comes back. Some even go as far as scheduling their work around the games. The only thing better than watching the World Cup on television is actually being able to go and see a game in person. You will be amazed how people get pulled into this amazing sport.