Wow-Well, as it turns out, my laptop has more than just a virus-it has a collapsing hard drive that has to go all the way to the Toshiba people (which, if you watch Modern Marvels, you know that that really means it goes to a UPS hub to be worked on) to get fixed. It could take anywhere from 1-2 WEEKS! AHHHHHHH....

So, to try to get the ancient desktop to work faster, I have spent all day getting all pictures, documents and such OFF this thing and on to our external hard drive so I can actually use it and blog again. Things are looking good on that front!

Speaking of pictures, I wanted to tell you all about the wonderful miracle of this whole ridiculous thing. When the laptop collapsed (well not completely, but mostly), my first thought was "Oh crap! I have no back up for the pictures on there!". Usually the best of my pictures is "backed up" on my personal blog, but I am literally about 9 months behind on that currently. so I wanted to cry. I JUST took a ton of cute pics in a photo shoot with the kids and the only place they were saved was on that laptop. Well, what it is doing, is basically overheating and shutting itself down randomly-and NEVER more than 15 minutes on at a time. Well, I miraculously (and patiently) got all our pictures off the laptop 10 minutes at a time over the past 2 days (as well as my husbands important applications and resumes for his fellowship)!

SO, I thought I would let you know that in spite of all the sadness of the injured laptop, I was able to save the important things, and I will end up getting back a like new laptop in the end (that is still covered under warranty by the way)! SO, I have a lot to be thankful for and I promise I will get in gear looking up deals again now that this desktop seems to be working better!

Now on to getting the Air Conditioner fixed! :)

Well, what a crazy day! Do you ever feel like EVERYTHING is falling apart around you all at once? This week alone, my car died, my AC died, my laptop died and BOTH of our toilets sprung leaks...ahhh...

By way of explanation for my blogging absence...here at Beckee's Abode, we have 2 "working" computers-a nice newish laptop and a very slow, ancient desktop. The desktop takes like 10 minutes just to start up and is slow as molasses once it is up!

Currently, our laptop is in the computer hospital as it was infected by a terrible virus. I am feeling like my right arm was removed. This is the first time today I have been able to get online (some earlier posts went up that were pre-written and scheduled) and my poor husband who is working nights this week has been up all day today helping with the laptop (which as I mentioned ended up at the shop anyway).

Needless to say, I am currently on the ancient desktop trying to get this out just to let you know why I am absent from my blog world. It may be a day or two before I get up and running again, so I REALLY apologize. Please don't give up on me though, I will be having some fun and exciting things coming up when I get this newest problem fixed!

As I mentioned last week, Cat over at 4 Nuts in a Nutshell is doing a great summer challenge. It is a 120 mile walk or run challenge, and I have decided to take the challenge. After all, we walk to the lake near our house (3 miles round trip) as a family 3-6 times a week, so this should be easy, right?

Well, I am still behind, btu making some progress.  I should be at 40 miles by the end of the month (June 30-next Wednesday).  I do not know if I will make that or not!

So, this is where you great readers come in...I need to be held accountable for my walking. So far I have been out of town week 1 and sick most of week 2 which are my excuses for being behind, but excuses will not help me accomplish the challenge. So, I am going to give you an update of my progress each Friday to try to be more accountable and motivated. If anyone is doing this challenge with Cat, or if you want to just jump in and do it as a support to me, you can leave your progress and updates in comments.

Come on, let's get moving!!

Thanks Cat for doing this challenge and getting my butt in gear! And thanks in advance to my readers for helping me stay motivated!

Right now I walked 13 miles this week which brings my total to 30 miles for the challenge overall.

Remember, as with EVERY Friday, today is Mega Swagbucks day! That means more chances to earn more Swagbucks! So, makes sure to use Swagbucks for all your searching needs today!

FYI-I have already made $80 in Amazon gift cards and still have 894 points left (which is enough to get another $5 with 444 swagbucks left). (450 swagbucks = $5 Amazon gift card) The bucks keep building up!

Last week I used my Amazon gift cards to buy a portable hard drive (on sale) that we have been trying to save up the money for-thanks to Swagbucks I was able to get it without putting in ANY of my money-I only used my Swagbucks gift cards!!! It came yesterday and we are so excited!!!

If you have not joined yet, click on my referral link here and start earning Swagbucks with me! This is a GREAT time to join-with Mega Swagbucks going on today!!

If you are new to Swagbucks, please read my explaination of Swagbucks here. And my explaination of the changes to Swagbucks here.

July 1-3 Participating Wal*Mart stores will be having a Kraft Independance Day Sampling event. My kids LOVE to go to these things and they are free entertainment (and samples that often have coupons too)!! So, Click here to find a participating Wal*Mart near you. (It looks like basically all the local Omaha ones are participating)

Biore is offering one of two Biore product samples. The choices are Makeup Removing Towelettes and Steam Activated Cleanser. Just click here to fill out the form and request your sample.

Thanks That Freebie Site.

Here are 2 new Pampers Gifts to Grow codes worth 10 pointe each:

• GTGLEARNMORE089
• ENJOYYOURSUMMER

Thanks The Close Out Kid

FYI, I am having a lot of computer issues today and may not get much up on the blog today. We got a virus on the laptop yesterday that Wes fixed this morning, but now I cannot copy and paste for some reason, and the laptop is running really slowly! So, I will do my best, but it may not be that great today! Sorry!!

WOWZA! I saw an ad on TV about this last night and didn't really believe it was so until I opened my email today!

Old Navy is having an awesome sale through 6/29 in stores and online where you get 30% off EVERYTHING! If you redeem online, just use code ONBIG30 at Checkout! This could make fr some incredible deals!!

Today's Omaha Groupon is a great deal for those summer days with the kids! It is $20 for Five Half-Hour, Private Personal Training Sessions at Endless Possibilities ($100 Value).

As with all the deals, make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing. To sign up for Groupons, click on my referral link here (this does NOT commit you to buying any deal-you choose what you buy) and to see the Omaha page, including today's deal, click here.

Not sure what Groupons is? Then click here to read all about it!