Tuesday, June 12, 2007

We figured it out.

After stressing out like crazy we've finally figured out what we're going to do about the $20,000! We're going to actually put it on another credit card to get the $150 worth of rewards and then we're going to use the check from CitiBank to pay off the credit card instantly.

I'm sure it's probably money laundering at it's best. But the reality is we're just trying to make all of this work and the inconvienence of CitiBank taking so long to process the check sucks!

Watch out, Reno!

There's a new movie coming to the big screen (in your house!) and I'm pretty pumped about it! Check out one of my favorite scenes here!

Who would have guessed that there'd be a movie to Reno 911! Right when you figured you couldn't get enough of the show... You've guessed it - Reno 911! Miami The Movie.

I'm guessing this is going to be a hilarious movie and probably bring in tons of money within the first few weekends on DVD. It's due to be released June 19th.

The movie will probably keep mocking a few of the female police officers with the whole idea that they were manlier than the male cops!

The acting is great and the story lines are pretty hilarious too.



I can't believe that such a great movie is going to be direct to DVD. What a special treat to not even have to leave the house to check out the newest:Reno 911! Miami The Movie!

Of course, most silly movies don't need much introduction and you can just hop right into watching the movie without much history.

Maybe that's the joy of a silly comedy? Simple minds - simple concepts, right?

Well it's booked.

I went ahead and accepted a job tomorrow at the elementary school. I think I'm teaching 1st - 3rd graders. I hope the class is good or else... I'm going to be doing a lot of yelling!

Just joking. I hate yelling and I'm not sure the kids would listen anyway! They probably get enough of that at home.

When I was younger..

and even recently I thought at some point I'd want to go to Law School get my degree and work in litigation nailing people against the wall and making tons of money.

Now the whole profession of being an attorney is being exposed!

Check out The Truth About The Lawyer Mill!

It's a look at the industry and how all of the law students were promised jobs in big firms making tons of money, only to be welcomed by a dog eat dog scenario where there are too many attorneys out there trying to make a buck!

When I was younger my mother used to work for an attorneys office and she used to discourage me from saying that I wanted to be an attorney. She worked for a "Christian Attorney" and basically said that he was a snake!

Also, even though he was associated with the church that catered to over 20,000 people and they referred to him first --- he still didn't have a whole lot of business.

Maybe it's the whole fact that Christians avoid divorce at all cost!

Remortgaging?

When we were went to the bank last week we looked for the best way to get our hands on some fast cash! We considered doing a remortgage but they couldn't offer us any good rates.

Many people are able to get some pretty decent bad credit remortgage offers! So we were shocked with our good credit they couldn't do better.

Remortgageguild.co.uk offers advise and quotes online for people with bad credit and looking to mortgage or remortgage their homes.

If you're in the market --- check them out. Shopping around could be the difference between thousands of dollars in your pocketbook!

HOT.

It's really hot outside. I was shocked when we stepped out today and instantly started sweating.

Of course, it is the middle of summer and this is weather I should have expected quite a bit earlier.

Stupid Citibank.

Well, I was suppose to get the check for the IVF sometime over the next few days. I'm getting really nervous because without it I'm going to have to figure out how to get $20,000 before Thursday at 12:30.

The thing is they won't let me start the meds prior to paying.

I called up Citibank and told them that since they told me it would take 7-10 days that is what I had planned and if it doesn't get here by the 10th day then I'm screwed.

I asked if they could offer me the same 0% interest deal if I used the credit card for a purchase and she said no.

Crap.

I guess at this point I really can't do much except hope and pray that the damn check comes tomorrow.

No jobs yet?

Well, I just checked the subbing board and there's only one elementary job available. It's located in the next town over and that's opposite of where I have to take Graem for daycare --- so that's not going to work for us.

I hope there's an opening for tomorrow --- we really would like to have some extra cash.

Just scan it!

The other day when I went for bloodwork at the hospital I noticed that they had installed new scanners that automatically take your card and scan the full thing into the computer system.

It was so much better than the old method of punching in all of the numbers. Half of the time they didn't get the right numbers and it meant that I'd get a huge bill in the mail with wrong insurance information.

Now Medicscan offers an easy to use scanner for medical offices and hospitals. You put the card in the scanner and within seconds it scans your card and makes a copy of the image. It can then export the image to the destination that you have specified.

Finally, something that makes so much sense, saves time and money is available.

Maybe this means that insurance premiums and the cost of healthcare will decrease?

This post sponsored by: Medicscan-store.com

I guess I'll sub.

Well, it looks like things are not exactly going the way that I had planned. I have yet to get the damn check for the IVF procedure and I literally only have til tomorrow.

So of course, I'm freaking out.

I was going to skip subbing in thoughts that I might have to go to Syracuse to fill out the contract and give them the check.

Now I figure that the mail doesn't come til later anyway.

Hopefully, I can get a subbing job that ends early, come home, check mail and if it's in the mail either head up tomorrow afternoon or I go up Thursday.

Monday, June 11, 2007

It's the moon!

Graem absolutely loves looking at the moon and the stars at night. In fact, almost every day she tries to find the moon during the day time.

When she gets older I can't wait to teach her about the stars and astronomy. What's cool is that it will be something new for me too, so we can learn together.

They have a great exhibit at the Science Center the last time we went and it showed the different stars and their relation to the different planets.

I've just come across the meade my sky. It's an LCD screen and provides an easy to use computerized telescope!

Supposedly, it's perfect for the youngster who is interested in space and the workings of the universe.

Although, this is probably a few years out for Grammy...I'm sure our friend's kid, Fisher would love it!

This post sponsored by: OpticsPlanet.net

Just another day in paradise...

I don't know what to think of everything that's going on. It's weird cause when I use to work in corporate America I used to stress out but I didn't have the anxiety I have these days.

Now I'm worried about getting the infertility taken care of. Worried about getting pregnant, worried about not getting pregnant, worried that I'm not a good enough mother to Graem, worried that I spend too much time on the computer.

I guess it's always something...and I can just aim to be a good parent and to take it easy.

Website Optimization Firm

There are so many online companies out there that are trying to market their websites to potential consumers. The problem is they put tons of money into their website and they end up marketing it to absolutely noone! They don't know where to begin.

I think most people that have online businesses (unless they are into technology) are in the same boat.

That's why I think it's essential to hire a website optimization firm to handle your online marketing!

ThinkBigSites.com offers a great firm that has professional and unique experience in working with customers to market your website. They know what search engines to put your website on and they can get 95% of their customers to be the top ten listings with 90 days of starting.

That's absolutely unheard of and takes tons of time and money if you don't know what you're doing!

It's all about exposure and who better to go to than the professionals who have proven themselves time and time again!

Get more website traffic and be well on your way to running a successful and profitable online business!

Capella and Monster!

I just wrote about how I was going to start looking for a job. Typically, I go to Monster and look for employees and through employee profiles. Of course, the jobs are always located every place other than upstate New York!

I was happy to see that among one of the profiles was Capella University! Capella has made quite the name for themselves as offering superior online education.

They've also been in the news lately and really have a fabulous reputation for producing students that are qualified and achieving great things in the world.

Maybe my next place of employment should be Capella! I wonder if I'd get free classes?!?!

Going back to work?

I've been thinking about getting a full time or part time job lately. I'm going to the school districts Wednesday and figure that I can see what openings they might have.

THe hard part is I can imagine I'm going to get paid pretty crappy and by the time we put Graem in daycare and I no longer have time to blog...I can only imagine that we'd be making less and I'd be spending less time with Graem.

The other side is that I'd probably have infertility coverage and we wouldn't have to take out a loan to move onto the next IVF.

I'll miss not being home with Grammy.

Nothing yet.

I just checked today to see if there was any type of subbing job available and there isn't.

I'm guessing it's going to be slim pickings over the next few days. Darn.

Of course, at this point I'm seriously considering looking for a full-time or part-time job that offers benefits.

Once again I've been fighting with Margot and she makes me feel like staying home with Graem seem so trivial.

I love Universal Studios!

When we went to Orlando a few years ago with Uncle Bobby and Auntie Cate we went to Universal Studios. We had a great time! It was more of a grown up Disney. Of course I did all of the rides and games and we even ate at the Emeril restaurant!

Margot's aunt and uncle purchased the Universal Studios Tickets so we didn't to fork out the money. My guess is they weren't cheap!

When we go to Orlando in a few years we are going to check out OrlandoFunTickets.com. They offer a great website for tourists to get the best deals at Disney, Universal, Restaurants, and local lodging.

Who knows...we might even be able to pick up some Cheap Universal Studios Tickets?

Always looking...

for a good deal.

Sometimes it doesn't even matter if I need something. If I have coupons - I'm getting it!

I wish I would have come across this Target Coupon a few weeks ago! They are offering an online coupon of $5 off a $50 purchase.

When we were looking for a shower gift for L&L and debated buying it online this would have been really helpful! They were offering free shipping on the item and an extra $5 off would have been perfect!

CouponChief has been bookmarked on our computer for some time now. They offer great coupons and I love that they are working codes so you don't have to worry about them being expired or not working!

This post sponsored by: Coupon Chief

Jobs?

Well, I'm looking to sub this week both Wednesday and Friday. I think there are only 8 more days of school and so I'd like to get in at least two days of subbing.

Of course, I'm on pins and needles about the check that I should be getting in the mail. It might mean that I have to take a last minute ride to Syracuse to drop off payment for the upcoming IVF program.

God, just more reason why I should be working my ass off!!

Debt.

We're in the middle of taking out a loan to cover infertility costs. I wish at some point when we were younger we would have looked into doing a school loan consolidation. That way we might have been able to negotiate lower interest rates and terms.

It's interesting because over the years you seem to learn a little bit more about finances! Had we known everything that we know now...we'd probably have never gone into debt in the first place and have a huge savings and retirement.

Of course, all we can do now is plan for the future and hope that we're doing the right thing and making the right investments.

Easier said than done with this stock market!

Just Friday I lost $700!!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

How are you using your phone?

When I worked in management and saw the financials I couldn't believe how much we were spending on telephone services a month! I always wondered if there was a way for us to get cheaper services but never had the time or services to do an audit.

We should have probably done a telecom audit because I'm sure there are better services available that would have been able to save us a lot of money in the long run.

Not to mention, it would have been great to see if the night staff was sitting on the phone all night or making long distance calls!

Incontienence

When I was the Executive Director at the Assisted Living Residence we dealt with incontienence on a daily basis. About 80% of the residents needed assistance with toileting and going to the bathroom.

Many residents found this to be embarassing and as a loss of their independance. Many times we would have to talk with the resident because they would not realize that there was a problem.

The good thing is they now offer tranquility diapers which do a great job and can be delievered privately to the loved ones house or apartment. That way they can get what they need without having to purchase them in the store or in front of their peers.

This morning ...

I woke up and I seriously felt so hung over. I had a headache and I felt like someone spiked my grape juice last night!

When we were younger and used to go out on the weekends I never got too out of control. However, there was the occassional drunken stupor down the Ithaca Commons!

I think the reason why I hate getting drunk is because the next morning is pure hell.

Now there's hangover cures that can help you with the morning after!

Hmm...maybe I'll drink more now without having to worry about the next day!

I'm dying...

to get a washing machine and new home furniture! The couch in our living room is in need of some major love. Graem has barf and peed on the couch and I've tried over the years to wash the cushions.

The most recent time resulted in one of the cushions not going back to normal. It's way fatter than the other two! Of course, it would have to be the middle cushion.

I'm holding out for us to remodel the upstairs and get a family room! I know when we move upstairs we'll want to get a nice larger couch that is super comfy.

Of course, we should purchase tires for the car, and a washing machine before we consider furniture!

I should do this.

When I first started my business I decided that it would make great sense to use my cell phone as my business line. I put it on all of the print collateral. Over the years I wonder "What was I thinking?"

In my line of business people are constantly talking and many times the conversations can be extremely lengthy!

Since Margot and me share a phone plan many times it can use most of our minutes and even cause me to go over.

At some point I probably need to consider switching over to VOIP Small Business phone systems. There really wouldn't be much to my phone system maybe a phone upstairs and downstairs. The thing I would really benefit from would be the great rates, automatic billing, and cost effective phone systems.

XpanderCommunications.com offers some great deals on phone systems for small businesses. I was shocked to hear the low rates that they offer.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The new rave...

Obviously, I'm a firm believer in internet advertising. I think it works amazing for so many companies out there.

E-Commerce has opened up the way we do business -- for the better!



AdVolcano.com are the professionals when it comes to online advertising. They know what they're doing and they offer fixed rates and and website targeting.

Before you spend tons of money on online marketing -- make sure that you're getting your moneys worth. Go through a professional firm who knows advertising.

This post sponsored by: AdVolcano.com

Physical Education!

I'm pretty pumped that I'm going to be subbing again for a PE coach. Maybe it's the lesbian in me but I love teaching PE. Most of the time it's like all day kick ball and by the end of the day I am dead beat.

Not to mention, it works wonders on this girlish figure!

Man, if I could land a full time job as a PE teacher I'd have a great body and wouldn't have to worry about dieting!

Maybe that's the next occupation I'll have...

In my spare time...

I've become addicted to online spades and speed. Of course, I've also realized that I've been wasting my time. I could be doing something more productive and play online where I actually win something!

whogets.com offers a great website where you can play games and enter contests to win big money and prizes.

Check it out and just remember me when you win all that cash!

This post sponsored by: WhoGets.com

Taxes.

Margot just called to tell me that she has a huge paycheck and got a nice raise. But that she worked more this week and because of taxes she's literally making just as much as had she not worked as much.

What in the hell is wrong with the system?? Tax the hell out of the people that work their ass off?

I think we should all become cracked out welfare hookers. Hmmm...maybe I'd get pregnant then.

My computer is possessed!

SPY SWEEPER IS THE MOST AWARD-WINNING ANTISPYWARE SOFTWARE!!!

A few years ago our old laptop (the one that Grammy flooded with bottled water) ALWAYS got viruses. Margot blames me for going to dirty websites but I think it's just the nature of the beast when you have a computer. *wink*wink*

At one point it got so bad that we actually had to invest in a Spy Sweeper software. The computer wouldn't start because we had so much spyware and trojan viruses!

At one point you'd start the computer up and it would instantly open up dozens of windows.

Webroot spy sweeper seems to be the best way to kill spyware! Not only does it make your computer run smoother and faster. You have the piece of mind that you're not going to lose something on your computer of importance like documents, pictures, or financial information.



Not only was it easy to use ... but it wasn't too expensive either. It was a heck of a lot cheaper than having to buy a new computer! Now if I oculd just get my new computer up and running without too many profanities flying from my mouth I'll be in good shape!

You think our computer story was bad...you should hear how bad Margot's dad's computer got!! Who knows what he might have been looking at!

Gotta get the job?

Well, I'm going to have to check online tonight to see if there's a subbing job out there for me. I have a feeling that there will be TONS. Yesterday I looked and there were like 40. I don't even think there are that many subs out there!

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Of course she's going to be good at math.

I'm very glad that our little Grammy is half Chinese. This can almost insure us that she's going to be at least half way decent at math and science! Of course, it's also a good sign that her donor was a microbiologist too!

If she ever needs Math Tutors we'd want to turn to the professionals. Score Learning Centers offer tutoring for kids 4-14. They are part of the Kaplan companies and know how to teach kids and adults alike!

Now, if they could just built a center in Ithaca, New York - we'd be all set!

This post sponsored by: Score Learning Center

I'm so full.

Well, instead of actually getting off my ass today and getting groceries I hung out at the hotel, ate their free cookies, and drank their delicious free Starbucks coffee. I was able to get some work done - so all was not lost.

Of course, we did spend some of my earnings tonight when we went out to Viva. I had a small salad with a side of beef. It was perfect and it was priced right - $4.50! Margot on the other hand blew the budget all together by purchasing a pricey Mexican imported beer for $3.50.

What in the hell was she thinking?

Doesn't she know how hard I have to work for my money??

Our smart kid.

I'm constantly amazed at how smart Graem is. Today she started reading a book to a little girl at the book store. Of course Graem is 2 1/2 and the other girl was about 6. She wasn't really reading but it sounded like she was!

At some point we might think about hiring Math Tutors when she gets a little bit older. We are going to enroll her in Montessori over the next few years and figure every little bit of help that she can get would really be beneficial.

Score Learning Centers offer some great tutors and they've been in the business for a very long time.

They know kids!

This post sponsored by: Score Learning Centers

Subbing ever again?

I'm guessing that over the next week or so that subbing is going to be pretty limited. I mean what teacher in their right mind would call off on the last week of school.

Hmm...maybe that's when they *should* call off!

Damn, what am I thinking wanting to sub the last week of school? They should pay double.

Capella University!

Online universities seem to be a dime a dozen these days. When looking for an online education it's important to make sure that the university is accredited and that they reputation is stellar.

A few years ago when I looked online for an MBA program I was shocked to see how much they cost! Not only that...but I had sales people that were calling morning, noon, and night to try to get me to sign up.

Talk about a major turn off?

Capella University has been in the news lately and I'm so immpressed by the stuff I've read. They are also a member of the New Media Consortium! That's where accredited universities and colleges gather and trade ideas on universities in the media!

Collateral

I have brochures and rate sheets from a few summers ago and I think I'm good to go when I have free days available and Graem's in daycare. I've debated back and forth if I should get pens or magnets or something so professionals could have something to hang onto.

But I figure because I'm a mom and pop business that I just need to be myself and hopefully, that will be memory enough for them to send referrals my way.

It's the little things in business that go a long way! Now if I could just remember everyone's names and their families names!

Whipped.

I must admit I was quite glad not to get the call this morning to go sub. Although, I would have taken it and taken Grammy to daycare earlier. I was exhausted. Margot's been sleeping with Graem and I don't go to sleep until she comes to bed.

Last night it was around 2am and the night before it was around 1am.

Which of course, means that I'm getting about 5 hours of sleep each night. I'm a big girl and my theory is there more of you there is ... the more sleep you need!

Trading?

I really let Margot do most of the finances. She's the one that does the investing and takes care of our retirement and 401k programs. She also pays all of our bills. I figure if there's something going on or we need more money she'll let me know!

There are so many different strategies to investing and I didn't even realize that they all have their own names! Recently, I've discovered the iron condor! PowerOpt.com describes exactly what is entailed in this investment tactic.

PowerOpt.com also offers a great website where you can compare, find, and analyize option investments! Right now they are offering a free 14 day free trial period!

This is something worth checking out! If it works for you keep it and pay the monthly fee -- if it doesn't you can cancel at any time!

Must sub Friday.

Well, I think I only have three more days to sub and although I had all intentions of subbing today -- the offers were few and far between. I was sure I was going to get called this morning but I didn't!

I don't know if any teachers will call off with there being only a few days left in the school year -- here's hoping!

Finances.

So I'm always paranoid that I'm not doing my part when it comes to finances. I mean, I stay at home and even though I blog throughout the day and earn money that way...I'm constantly worried that I'm not making as much as I used to when I had a corporate job.

Now with us taking on a big loan --- I'm more than ever concerned about finances.

Why can't we be independantly wealthy? Where are those rich relatives??

OH MAUI.

I know it's not fair for me to ask to go on vacation so soon after getting back from Cancun but the past three or so weeks have been such a killer for everyone.

Margot has been super stressed at work and we hardly ever see her. I've been trying to get our next infertility treatment together. Graem's been pretty out of whack because of the anxiety that she's getting from both of us!

I'm ready to stay in a Maui Condo fully equipped with beach and hot tub on the deck!!

We've talked about taking another sunny vacation and what time would be better than now. GebhartProperties.com offers residential and commercial properties for sale. They also offer some beautiful rental properties too!

No sub for me today.

Well, I kept hoping that last night I'd get the perfect job and it never happened. I kept getting a job at the local high school - however the hours were 7:45am - 3:00pm. Those hours didn't allow me to drop the kid off plus it's a much longer day the other schools!

No use in working more and getting paid the same! Plus, Margot would have had to go into work late today and she's been trying to put in as many hours as possible for her deadline.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

It's so nice outside...

that I love spending any extra time I have outdoors! Our friends L&L have a great deck and it's fully equipped with an outdoor fireplace and hot tub.

It's perfect for those cold and hot evenings! I actually like the fire in the summer because it tends to keep away the bugs.

We always start out hanging out on the deck eating dinner, move into the hot tub and then we warm up right by the fire.

At some point we're just going to have to build our own deck, get a hot tub, and get a nice fireplace.

I guess it's all a matter of time and money!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Yikes.

Well, we just found out that Margot's work is now going to be issuing paychecks every 2 weeks. This of course comes at a pretty hard time, considering that we're only living on one paycheck.

She only got a weeks notice too. Her boss asked her personally if that was going to be alright this week and going further. Of course, it would have been pretty embarassing had Margot said "yes".

If we get really desperate I guess we could look into getting an online payday loan.

The whole idea is that you take the money out and then you pay it back when you get your paycheck. Typically the rates are higher than regular loans but the whole idea is that it is a short term loan and you pay it back within the week or month.

It's a nice option to have ... however, I hope we won't have to use it!

Finances got you down?

We are in the middle of quite the undertaking. We're in the process of getting a home equity loan from our local credit union to cover our upcoming infertility costs of $20,000.

We have exceptional credit and much to our surprise when she pulled up our credit report it was a 797 out of 900! There would have been a time a while back when we might have had to considered secured loans since we had way too much debt and not enough income!

Of course, we're always looking for the best financial situation available. We also want to make sure that we are able to handle the debt that we take on and that we can pay it off in a timely manner.

It would have been great if we were able to find personal loans with decent finance charges. However, all of the loans that we looked at started at around 7-9%.

We even looked to refinance the house and roll in the debt but that wasn't a good option. We got such a great deal on our initial mortgage that we couldn't even begin to get into another mortgage at the same or better rate.

1Mortgagesuk.co.uk offers a great website full of useful financial information. Whether, you are buying a house, looking to refinance, or taking out a secured loan -- they've got it all!

This post sponsored by: 1Mortgagesuk.co.uk

Working like a dog.

I've been working like crazy today cleaning the house and trying to get everything in order. It seems like when the house is neglected it's just murder to get things back on track. Of course, I also tried to make some phone calls in between.

Oh yeah...then there was the kid too who would take toys out as I put them away.

Making money.

Well, I calculated it all last night and I'm going to be making some major cash this week with my blogging. It came close to $450 for the week and that's just Pay Per Post. That's not including LoudLauch, PayU2Blog, Blogitive, ReviewMe, or any of the others that just might have an offer.

Damn...all of that money from the comfort of my couch.

Impressive.

No jobs yet.

I just checked the substitute online system and it doesn't look like they have any offers quite yet for Wednesday. Most of the time I have to wait til Tuesday to know if I have anything.

Surprisingly enough I thought teachers wouldn't call off on the last two weeks of school. Maybe that's when the kids are at their worst and the smartest time to call off!

Bahston!

Real Estate in Boston is constantly in high demand. In fact, I have friends that were looking for a house for over a year and they had quite a bit of money to spend on the perfect house.

They ended up purchasing a house in burbs of Boston for a mere 1.2 million dollars!

If you're ever looking for South Boston real estate then Seaport Reality Group is the perfect match for you! They have many agents that have practiced for years and really know how to get you the house in your dreams.

The also have a great website that's easy to navigate and you can even search open houses and MLS listings.

They make buying a house as easy as it gets!

Subbing.

I plan on taking as many subbing jobs as I can over the next two weeks. With Margot only getting paid every few weeks and us needing tires and a new washing machine --- we need money!

How's your game?

A few years ago I used to be a pretty avid golfer. I truly enjoyed going to the corporate golf tournaments. Not just for the beer and free golf either! There was a time when I was actually pretty good at golf.

I actually ended up purchasing some new golf clubs about two years ago. I went to the sporting goods store and wanted to buy a new pair of women's clubs.

I did a swing test and was told that I had one of the fastest and powerful swings they had ever seen with a female.

The golf pro suggested that I go with some men's clubs. They are a bit heavier and seem to do the trick just great!

If the weather would ever clear up and it'd stop raining I'd love to head out on the course and take Graem out. Of course, I can only imagine that we'd get through a few holes before she would get bored!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Where are your leads?

I'm constantly looking for sales leads for my healthcare consulting business. Most of my referrals come from word of mouth or from referrals from the social workers.

I've also tried to get into the community and pass out brochures and information. It's been hard since I'm not marketing the services all of the time since I have the baby on my off days.

That's why it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go through Martin Worldwide for a list of interested parties and leads that might turn into clients. They actually have a demographics database where they can search the particular demographic and people that might be interested. For example, I can have them search a listing of all of the adult children who live in Tompkins County.

This might be well worth the month!

Ithaca Festival

I've learned over the years that the Ithaca Festival is really a great place for people with services and products to be! Not only does it show that you are active in the local community but you get tons of exposure. Yesterday, I saw booths for some services and thought it was a good idea.

Who knows...maybe in the next few years I'll even get a booth for Senior Solutions!

2 more weeks.

Well, it looks like I have about two more weeks of subbing before school is out for the summer. I've really enjoyed my subbing times and it's allowed me to see what schools are out there and what they offer.

Friday, June 01, 2007

I'm always wondering...

if I should go back and get a masters or phd. Years ago I used to say if I won the lottery that I'd go back and get an MBA or a law degree. Now getting your online phd has never been easier.

Capella University offers an extensive and impressive list of programs and you can receive a Bachlors, Masters, or Phd.

Their programs are designed with the working professional in mind. You can do the coursework when your schedule allows.

The great thing about Capella is that they are accredited and really have the attention of business and industry leaders. There are many employers out there who are sending and paying for their employees to gain extra knowledge and obtain higher degrees of education.

Of course, you also have to sign a contract with the company that you won't just gain the education on their tab and leave!

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The perfect credit card

is, of course, the card that you never have to pay back!

Lately we've been looking at our best option for paying for the $20,000 upcoming infertility procedure that we're doing next!

We thought about using credit cards but we just can't seem to get a good deal.

We might even consider going the route of a credit card balance transfer if we can find a 0% offer.

But we're also looking to finance a large amount of money too. Our credit is good...but it's not that good!

Mint Credit Cards offer a great card with benefits and they lowered their annual APR. Which means that you can get the savings!

This post sponsored by: Mint Credit Card

Off to the grind.

Today I am subbing at the elementary school. I hope the kids aren't too rough on me because I'm exhausted after getting killed at last night's softball game.

Please have mercy on this me, little kids!

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

For women only.

It's been a while since we've had to deal with our loved one's addiction. Despite a very hard time in his life he's been able to keep clean and away from drugs. I can only imagine the daily struggles that he has to endure.

When we were looking at rehab for our loved one we had to make sure that the place we chose was a good fit. We also wanted it to be geared towards his addiction to drugs and also the other psychiatric diagnosis that surrounded the addiction.

The trick to finding a rehab is finding the perfect fit for the individual person. Now there is a place that offers a safe space for women to undergo rehab. Orchid Recover Center is a drug treatment center for women.

They know the struggles of women and specialize in working through those issues. They also offer free telephone consults for family members and people who are struggling with addiction.

If you're struggling - reach out to the professionals and get the help that you need.

It's just a phone call away.

This post sponsored by: Orchid Recovery Center

Damn taxes.

So I'm at a loss for how I'm going to pay my taxes this upcoming year. I've been subbing a few times a month and it doesn't appear like they are taking out all that much towards my income taxes.

Then there's blogging. Lately I've been bringing in around $1,500 - $2,000/month blogging and I have yet to put any aside for taxes.

I have a feeling I'm going to be up a creek...

Monday, May 28, 2007

Losing weight.

I've been talking about getting in shape for a while and I must admit that vacation was a real doozie!

I've also been talking about getting signed up at the gym but each week something comes up and I either forget or can't justify spending so much money.

I think I'm finally going to start on my diet and not just go to the gym but start eating better and treating my body better.

I've never been much of a calorie counter because in the past it's just been way too time consuming and I have never had a scale etc.

Now that's no excuse not to count calories because MyFitnessPal.com offers a free calorie counter!

Now calorie counting has never been easier and I need to stop making excuses, get off my butt, start eating better, and STOP making excuses!

This post sponsored by: MyFitnessPal.com

New Insurance

In order for me to actually be eligible for the IVF Refund plan you can not have any IVF coverage. Because my shitty Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance *has* IVF coverage (after 11 more IUIs) then I'm either not eligible for the refund program or I have to switch over.

So, I'm going to switch over to Healthy New York Insurance for small business owners. Of course the only issue there is that the fertility clinic doesn't take that insurance.

Which means -- for every ultrasound I do ... it's a good $100.

Nothing ever comes easy for us.

Now I've got to work...

harder than ever to pay for this $20,000 loan that we're taking out! Of course, we should be coming across some money from Margot's mom's life insurance but I never want to count my chickens before they have hatched.

Plus, they more we are able to pay off...the better I'll feel about the whole thing.

Damn, $20,000 is a lot of blogging.

Work.

Well, it looks like I'm going to have a teaching gig for Wednesday. I'm teaching elementary school at the school that's had pretty bad reviews. I'm really quite curious to get there and see what it's like for myself.

It's really been great seeing all of the schools. I've really had a change of mind when it comes to the schools that I thought were the best!

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Do you need help?

Have you been saying to yourself "I'll get help tomorrow" but tomorrow comes and you still haven't reached out?

Now's your chance.

Drug rehab is a hard realization but one that is most necessary for you to get your life back.

Over the past few years we have dealt with a loved ones drug addiction. It's hard on the person going through the addiction and also hard on the family.

StopYourAddiction.com is a new drug rehab that offers a 28 day rehab program in Michigan.

Get the help you need ... before it's too late.

This post sponsored by: StopYourAddiction.com

No plans = good plans.

I have no idea what's on the agenda for tomorrow. I think when Margot's home I'm going to sit down and get together all of the stuff that I need to tackle this week.

Of course, typically I'm happy with myself if I can get about 1/2 of those things done!

Take me away!

I know that's a horrible thing to ask...especially since we just got back from vacation less than 2 weeks ago! But I think it's important to make sure that we have a family get away at least once a year.

It brings back the idea that we should enjoy life, family, and take time out to relax!

We are more than likely going to consider a Orlando vacation home rental for our next vacation. I'd love to do a two family vacation and rent a big house with a pool! It'd be great fun to do with L&L and their new baby!

Of course, when I brought this up to Margot she mentioned how we should also find a nice teenager and bring him/her with us so that they could watch the kids at night when we went out and painted the town red!

When's your next vacation?

I know that's a horrible thing to ask...especially since we just got back from vacation less than 2 weeks ago! But I think it's important to make sure that we have a family get away at least once a year.

It brings back the idea that we should enjoy life, family, and take time out to relax!

We are more than likely going to consider Florida Vacation Rentals for our next vacation. I'd love to do a two family vacation and rent a big house with a pool! It'd be great fun to do with L&L and their new baby!

Of course, when I brought this up to Margot she mentioned how we should also find a nice teenager and bring him/her with us so that they could watch the kids at night when we went out and painted the town red!

Hospital.

Well, I've found a new place that I need to drop off my flyers and brochures. The surgical unit! It has been around for three years and I don't think I've ever been there. The waiting room are people waiting for their loved one to get out of surgery and most of the people are sitting around and looking for anything in sight to read to keep their mind off of the surgery.

Ugh.

Well, I was just told the other night that school actually was still in session for another couple of weeks. I thought for some reason that they got out next week. Not the case.

That's good because it means that there are more ways for me to keep making money throughout the summer!

But I also have tons of stuff to do and an off day wouldn't have been too bad either.

Thank goodness.

When I started my business it was nice not having to take out a loan to pay for marketing and other business expenses. We were able to pay for most everything out of pocket and we used the credit card and paid it off each month.

Bad Credit Debt Consolidation is a great way for people to gain back their financial freedom. CircleDebt.com gives you information on how you can combine all of your debt into one monthly payment. They offer a great website with great financial information that will help you make an educated decision.

Debt consolidation has helped many of my friends get their life and financial independance back on track. Sometimes it takes another person/company coming in and using their knowledge to straighten things out!

Let the professionals do their jobs! You'll be glad you did!

Busy!!

Lately, I've had tons of blog opps available. Which of course, means that I don't have tons of extra time because I'm always trying to finish the work on the computer.

Today I'm working on some Blogitives and then some PayPerPosts. I also might have some PayU2Blog too.

Who says blogging isn't a full time job?

Getting it all together.

This weekend I've got to sit down and look at my schedule. I feel like I have 200 things scheduled and no idea what the dates or times are!

Plus, I have a lot of errands that I've been putting off that I should just take care of.

Maybe I'll do that Monday and Tuesday.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Our next car...

When I was a kid growing up in Houston we always had our car windows tinted. When I moved up to New York I noticed that noone has their car windows tinted!

Of course, in Houston it's hot and tinting your windows is part of surviving the horrible heated temperatures! I also think that people in the south love their cars and it adds to the "car pride" that you see more of down there!

San Diego Window Tint is also a must have! I've talked about moving to California for years and if we moved we'd get our carts tinted first thing!

SunProTint.net offers professional tinting for commercial, residental, and decorative purposes. They also offer free quotes.

Marketing your business!

I'm constantly looking for economical and effective ways to market my business. I've spent a lot of money on brochures, collateral, letter head, and envelopes. This summer I plan on focusing most of my extra time on building up my business and getting the word out.

I think I might look into getting some adhesive labels that I might be able to use on promotional and marketing items. That way if I drop something off at the hospital or a social worker's desk I can make sure the the item has a sticker with my logo and phone number.

CustomizedStickers.com offers a great variety of bumper stickers and other labels that help you market your product or service. The best thing about their products is that they are affordable!

A small business like mine - can't afford NOT to advertise!

This post sponsored by: CustomizedStickers.com

Out again today.

Well, today I'm not subbing because Margot has her surgery. I have an appointment scheduled Wednesday with CNY. But I figure I can reschedule it and try to get in Tuesday instead so that I sub.

I think there are only a few more days before school is out for the summer!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Get help and feel better.

Have you ever needed drug or alcohol treatment?

Do you have a loved one that needs treatment but isn't convinced?

If you or a loved one is facing a drug or alcohol addiction make sure go to the professionals. There are many different types of drug rehab available and it is important to get the one that’s right for you and your situation.

What we learned a few years ago with working with a family member that had a drug addiction was that not all treatment centers are the same. In this particular situation we needed to go with a rehab that offered help for people that had a dual diagnosis. For example, depression and addiction.

Some treatment centers only offer rehab and don’t touch on the other types of triggers or issues that might be surrounding the addiction.

You have to make sure that the rehab place that you select is the perfect fit. If not, you could be going back because you weren’t able to seek the appropriate treatment.

Cliffside Malibu offers individual treatments for individual addictions. They realize that not all treatments work for everyone and they are willing to work with you and your loved ones to get you back on the road to recovery.

Cliffside Malibu offers a 1-800 number that is equipped with a trained professional ready to work with you or your loved one 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Get your life back again - before it's too late.

Marketing this summer.

I'm pretty pumped to be able to get the word out this summer and I have a few great ideas that I plan to incorporate. Of course the first line of business will be to go back to the hospitals and make sure that I talk to the new and old discharge planners and social workers.

I also need to make sure that they are stocked up on information including brochures and price sheets.

Then I'm going to hit the local nursing homes. Word has it that the biggest nursing home in Ithaca is going to be closing due to Gov. Spitzers new budget cuts.

It's not just scary for the people that are in this particular nursing home...but horrifying to the families!

Where in the heck are they going to put these 200 or so residents? Most of them are on medicaid anyway and don't have the money to be anywhere but a medicaid accepting nursing home.

The dilemma of course is that Ithaca only has two other nursing homes to house all of the people that need care.

What's going to happen when we get older?

Maybe I shouldn't think about it.

Gotta earn more money!

So now I'm more determined than ever to get my business up and running so that I can earn some extra bucks. Sure it's been great subbing, and doing some blogging...but the consulting goes for around $75 per hour.

That's one full day of blogging on a slow day!

Bummed.

I'm very bummed that my subbing gig will be coming to an end (unless I get some summer school calls) and I'm not even able to sub this week. It's been a great way to stay actively employeed and earn a little extra cash in the meantime!

Are you out there??

I'm constantly on the lookout for the perfect credit card.

The one that I don't have to pay back! I have yet to find it.

Just a few months ago I got a letter in the mail from my local bank stating that we had been part of the TJ Maxx card fraud and that they would be sending new cards.

Talk about a pain. I'm pretty notorious for losing my cards and having to get new ones and this was the first card that I had for any length of time without losing it and I already had it pinned and ready to go!

Over the past few days we're going to start looking at our options as far as how to finance the $20,000 for our upcoming fertility treatment.

We've used great offers such as 0% Balance Transfers to help us in the past...but I'm just not sure how many credit cards actually have that offer anymore.

ThriftyScot.co.uk is a great website to check out information and they even have financial articles that seem very informative. I like the following articles: "Credit Card Freebies" and "Plastic Personal Loan."

This post sponsored by: ThriftyScot.co.uk

Out for a week

Well, low and behold the surgery ended up making me feel a lost worse than I thought I was going to feel. The nurse said that I'm not suppose to work for a week. Which means that subbing this Wednesday and Friday are out of the question.

I'm going to drop Graem off at school tomorrow and plan on catching up on all of the blogging opps that I missed while we were away on vacation.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Darn credit cards!

When we were in college we signed up for just about all of the credit cards that offered a free shirt or pint of Ben and Jerry's.

Not only did we sign up for the cards...we used them! It hasn't been until recently that we've actually been able to pay off our credit card debt.

What were they thinking letting stupid college kids have access to $10,000 of credit? DUH.

CardGuide.co.uk offers some great information on credit cards. I really like the fact that they allow you to see the different cards available such as 0% purchases, balance transfers, and even reward cards.

I guess in the end...it's all about making a wise choice and doing your homework to make sure that you're getting the best deal out there!

This post sponsored by: CardGuide.co.uk

Not much longer...

I'm a bit nervous that my subbing gig might be coming to an end. Damn summer break! I really enjoy subbing and it's been a great way for me to earn a few extra bucks to keep us financially solvent.

I guess I'm going to have to try to make that money up with blogging!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Yikes!

After the market crashed a few months ago we have been looking for something new to invest our wealth into. We've looked at international markets and they're really unstable.

At this point I'm ready to invest some of my funds into gold bars. The one thing about gold, silver, and other precious metals is that year after year they offer a consistent investment.

Not to mention, their demand always higher than the supply. Obviously, by using basic laws of economics you can see that this might be a good idea for the future!

Monex is an industry leader with gold, silver, and precious metals. You can buy the metals in many different types of ways and even store them through the provider.

This is a noteworthy investment and a great way to diversify your portfolio. Especially during these unstable market times.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Hookin' a sister up!

Now, I'm a married lady...but I've got some good information and I'm all about sharing the love and passing on some much needed information!

I'm sure most of you have heard of Mirelly Taylor. She's been in the following movies: "Kiss Me Again", "Serving Sara", "Las Vegas" and "Numb3rs". She's absolutely beautiful.

I know the way that a very special person can get a date with Mirelly! GoFish.com is offering a promotion where you can actually win a date with this hot babe!

Check out these hilarious and Free videos at GoFish.com!!

I love a little Andrew Firestone! I was obsessed when he was on "The Bachelor" and wish that things would have worked out with him and the girl that he chose! The good thing is --- he's still on the market!

He's also hosting GoFish.com and the Seduce A Celebrity program!

Check out this stud:



What a nice guy --- not to mention he has a great body too!

These are some of the funniest videos out there and the greatest thing is that you don't have to look through dozen of YouTube videos to find the funny ones! They are all in one place and ready to be viewed! It is easy to sign up as a member to the website and you can have access to all of the great features.

I like the feature that allows you to embed these great videos directly into your blog! Not only can you let your readers see what you've been up to --- but you can share the laughter!

Yahoo!

Finally, a week where we aren't traveling or have much planned. I have my surgery planned for this Tuesday but I should be up and running by Wednesday. I think I'll probably sub Wednesday and Friday to bring in some extra bucks before summer.

Also, I think I only have two more weeks to get paid for subbing!

Help is on the way!

When Margot was pregnant we were constantly worried about whether her insurance would cover certain visits and procedures.

I wish they would have offered some type of Maternity Health Insurance 3 years ago!

Now Reproductiveaccesssolutions.com specializes in offering Maternity Health Insurance to woman who are looking for benefits, financial aid, and educational information.

Hopefully, over the next few months I'll be looking up this information for myself!

Here's hoping!

This post sponsored by: ReproductiveAccessSolutions.com

Back to the grind!

Well we're back from vacation and it looks like I'm going to be crazy busy with blogging and probably some subbing over the next few weeks. I think school is only in session for about 2 weeks more.

After that -- I'm free!

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Help is on the way!

We're constantly looking for ways to invest our money. Half of the time I feel like it's just like throwing it in the wind!

Venture Alliance Partners is a reputable venture investing firm that's ready to help you make the wise investment. They have a professionally trained staff that's ready to help and answer all of your financial questions!

This post sponsored by: Venture Alliance Partners

Marketing done right.

It's hard to stay with all of the latest internet marketing trends. That's why I'm glad someone has published a Internet Marketing Magazine. I'm sure by subscribing and reading the magazine you'll learn all of the secrets of advertising and increasing visibility on the web.

You can now subscribe to it for $47 for 12 issues! Maybe I should subscribe to this and get the best kept secrets of increasing page rank!



This post sponsored by: OnlineMarketingMonthly.com

Werkin.

Today I'm subbing Spanish at the local middle school. It's so damn hot in this classroom I'm seriously sweating and I feel like I can't stop drinking water!!

Maybe, when I get done I'll go hose off in the back yard with Grammy.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Charlie Brown to the rescue!

I'm not talking about the TV character either...

I've heard great things about Hayfield Dental Care. Most recently one of their happy clients blogged about their experience with this fine center.

Dr. Brown has performed thousands of procedures including crowns, root canals, and surgical procedures. So I'm sure he could probably handle my simple cleaning and x-ray every 6 months!

Something that's very important to me and speaks volumes of Dr. Brown as a dentist is that he has ZERO complaints with the Virginia Board of Dentistry. That's absolutely amazing!

Charles Brown has received numerous awards locally and even as a Resident.

Another great thing about Hayfield Dental Care is that they are accepting new patients and also open to emergency situations.

Give them a call and remember that you only have one set of adult teeth - so take care of them!

Way too busy!

I can't believe how busy I've been today. It seems like I got a lot accomplished with blogging, hanging out with little G, and even doing a little laundry in my spare time!

Who would have known that I could have been this productive after yesterdays sit on my ass fest.

From one fat girl...

to another...

Dieting is horrific. I feel like I've tried just about everything to lose weight these days. My main problem -- food.

I love my food.

One thing I haven't tried is Hoodia. Hoodia is an appetite suppressant and it's been used by Oprah, Bette Middler, and Liz Taylor.

Lab88.com offers a great variety of dieting packages and they actually cater to superstars and well known actors and actresses.

I guess if it's good enough for them...it's good enough for me!

Happy Mama's Day!

Never before have I really enjoyed Mother's Day because it's just a reminder of what a horrible mother I have. One who never calls, doesn't care, and is full of hate.

But since Grammy has been born we've made it a priority to treat ourselves on Mother's day! This year we'll actually be in Cancun, Mexico for the holiday! I'm sure we'll be on the beach and resting up. Not to mention, we'll have a margarita in each hand!

The past few years we've gone to Thai Cuisine for Dim Sum and it's been great! Each year we take pictures of Grammy picking up with the tab and giving the waitress OUR credit card!

This year maybe Grammy will send flowers! DotFlowers offers great Mother's day flowers and also other items that will make your mother very happy! They also offer same day delivery - in case you forget!

Where are you, leads?

Lately, I've been having a pretty hard time marketing my business and coming up with creative ideas. I've also had a loss as to where to find new leads and contacts.

Today I came across a great online community that's main goal is to connect like minded businesses and build a strong network of business professionals.

Masterseek is a nationwide business search engine. You can find just about any type of business, company, or product that is out there!

The website is free and you can view websites, management, news, and basic company profiles.

You can also sign-up to showcase your company on this great website. This would be a great way to gain exposure for your product or service.

What a day...

Today the weather is absolutely perfect. I'm going to change laundry, clean the upstairs, and then we're heading out to the playground at the local elementary school.

I love nice spring days!

Hookin' a girl up!

Everyone knows I love my online blogging for money. I'm hooked. We've made a lot of money thus far and that's what's financing our upcoming vacation and infertility treatments.

I've come across a new pay-for-blogging website that I think everyone might be interested in - Bloggerwave.

It was really easy to sign up for and within a day my blogs were approved and I was ready to start blogging for them.

The thing that I love is that the opps are really cool and the pay is pretty decent too. Not to mention, you don't have to give your first born to reserve an opp!

This is a total find...and I'm sharing it with you!

I been workin'...

well, I'm looking online today for a good subbing job! My subbing gig Friday wasn't too bad and maybe I can land something nice and easy again for Wednesday. Of course, I have to be reminded that Friday's job was the exception and not the rule!