Saturday, February 27, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
Easy Weekly Savings Updated
For everyone who has started the easy weekly savings plan, congradulations. Here's the update. We are on week 10. Your Easy Weekly Savings should contain $55. Here's the breakdown. 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10=55. Until the next update, Happy savings!
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Black History Month and The Other Wes Moore
Although Black History Month is winding down, it doesn't disappear. It is inescapable. I'd like to share a book I had the privilege to listen to. It was read by the author and my first thought was this was not going to be a good experience. I eyed the title and read the summary and came to the conclusion that this was going to be another depressing, oppressive book about Black history. I was wrong. When the audiobook was done, the words depressing and oppressive were far from my thoughts.
Let me first share how I came to meet this book. I am attending an event for a youth group, Young Men With Power and Women With Class. This group has spent months dedicating weekends to preparing themselves for success in life through classes, trips and guest speakers. They have spent time with etiquette, public speaking, interviewing, dressing for success, trips to the White House and bonding trips for fun and much more. These young people who will be our future leaders and community servants will be proudly strutting their stuff at a celebration Gala in March. I was informed the guest speaker was an author. My antennae rose. Wes Moore is the name I was given. I admitted I didn't know him or his work.
In preparation for the Gala, I did a little research on Amazon. I checked out the book and came to the conclusion as stated above. I didn't read any of the reviews. I feel they taint my perspective of a book. I prefer to form my own opinions as I read or listen to a book. After I'm done, I then go back and read a few reviews to view other readers' experiences.
The story of the two Wes Moores is thought provoking and question raising. My first question when I finished was, is this book a mandatory read for middle school students? If it isn't, it should be and not for Black students only. Drugs do not discriminate. They don't care if you are rich, poor or middle class. They don't care what color your skin is or how well known your name is. They tramp through any culture and destroy any life.
The story encourages you to ponder the whys of the outcomes of the two lives. Is it family, sacrifices, determination, selflessness? Is it the strength of the mother when no father is around? Tough love? When two people travel the same road and reach the junction of life changing decisions, what causes one to decide to take the right wing and the other decide to take the left?
I enjoyed the history glimpses in the book. The background of areas that I recognize such as Cherry Hill and Dundee Village. As I was growing up in Baltimore I was warned never to go to Cherry Hill. The reason given, it's a bad area. So I was in fear of it. While I was in college I gave a ride home to a classmate who lived in Cherry Hill. I drove through the area quickly with my heart pounding, my windows up and doors locked. Then there are the names of people you can identify because you voted for them or saw them on television. People who are part of today's recent history.
I would recommend this book for all young people because life is full of crossroads that will either bless you or damn you. It's better to be armed.
If you're interested in attending the Gala the information is here.
Get information about The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
Let me first share how I came to meet this book. I am attending an event for a youth group, Young Men With Power and Women With Class. This group has spent months dedicating weekends to preparing themselves for success in life through classes, trips and guest speakers. They have spent time with etiquette, public speaking, interviewing, dressing for success, trips to the White House and bonding trips for fun and much more. These young people who will be our future leaders and community servants will be proudly strutting their stuff at a celebration Gala in March. I was informed the guest speaker was an author. My antennae rose. Wes Moore is the name I was given. I admitted I didn't know him or his work.
In preparation for the Gala, I did a little research on Amazon. I checked out the book and came to the conclusion as stated above. I didn't read any of the reviews. I feel they taint my perspective of a book. I prefer to form my own opinions as I read or listen to a book. After I'm done, I then go back and read a few reviews to view other readers' experiences.
The story of the two Wes Moores is thought provoking and question raising. My first question when I finished was, is this book a mandatory read for middle school students? If it isn't, it should be and not for Black students only. Drugs do not discriminate. They don't care if you are rich, poor or middle class. They don't care what color your skin is or how well known your name is. They tramp through any culture and destroy any life.
The story encourages you to ponder the whys of the outcomes of the two lives. Is it family, sacrifices, determination, selflessness? Is it the strength of the mother when no father is around? Tough love? When two people travel the same road and reach the junction of life changing decisions, what causes one to decide to take the right wing and the other decide to take the left?
I enjoyed the history glimpses in the book. The background of areas that I recognize such as Cherry Hill and Dundee Village. As I was growing up in Baltimore I was warned never to go to Cherry Hill. The reason given, it's a bad area. So I was in fear of it. While I was in college I gave a ride home to a classmate who lived in Cherry Hill. I drove through the area quickly with my heart pounding, my windows up and doors locked. Then there are the names of people you can identify because you voted for them or saw them on television. People who are part of today's recent history.
I would recommend this book for all young people because life is full of crossroads that will either bless you or damn you. It's better to be armed.
If you're interested in attending the Gala the information is here.
Get information about The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Fixing Up My Old Pleasant Company American Girl Doll Kirsten
I have a Pleasant Company American Girl doll Kirsten. She has seen some rough times.
My goal was to detangle her hair, clean her skin and tighten her wobbly legs so she could stand on her own. Her face paint is pale, so I wanted to give her a little color to get rid of the sickly look. It didn't take long to accomplish most of my goals, just a few hours on a lazy Sunday.
I started by washing and conditioning her hair. I didn't buy anything special. I just used my own. Then I used a wig brush and began the massive detangling. I detangled very small sections at a time starting the brushing at the ends of the hair and working my way up to the scalp. I used a water bottle to moisten the hair if it was dry. I didn't want to loose a lot of her hair. I did loose some but not much. Sometimes I switched to a wide tooth comb. I thought this tedious process was going to take a life time, but it didn't. Avoid getting water in her eyes, on her scalp and on her body. Water damages her eyes and causes mold on the scalp and body.
Next I flat ironed her hair while it was wet. The hair must be wet to prevent damage, not dripping wet. I towel dried her hair. The flat iron should be on a low setting. As I drew the flat iron down her locks I heard sizzling and watched as her hair straightened and shined. The sizzling is okay.
The next step was to clean her skin. I was going to use a brillo wipe and erase which I think is suppose to be like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I wasn't sure and I could not take the chance of damaging her skin, so I opted for baking soda and water since she really didn't have any marks on her. I mixed it to a thin, watery solution and rubbed her down. The most important point is not to get water in her eyes. The water will damage them and they will not open and close properly. I looked at my girl. She was pretty clean. Her hair was looking much better, but her face was pale. I was going to have to head out to Walmart and pick up some acrylic paint. Now it was time to tighten her limbs so she could stand alone and hold her arms up.
To do this I had to untie her neck strings and remove her head. Then the un-stuffing of her body began. So much stuffing. I put it all in a bag so I wouldn't lose any. Inside her body I was able to see the joints. At the top of the limb is a white cap and a gold clamp strung on a piece of elastic. Between these two pieces I added an elastic band. This tightens the limbs. Then I re-stuffed her making sure to push the stuffing way down in her butt area. I was able to fit it all in and she was as plump as before. I put her head back on and tied her strings. I tested my work. She stood on her own and held her arms high. I pat myself on the back.
I really needed to do something about her pale face, so I pulled out my bronzer and blush. I put a little bronzer on my finger and rubbed it into the apples of her cheek. Next I used a cotton ball to even out the tone. The bronzer had a shimmer effect. I moistened a cotton ball and wiped her cheeks to remove the shimmer. It still wasn't the color I wanted, so I dabbed a little peach blush on my finger and rubbed it over the apples of her cheeks. Evened out the shade with a cotton ball. The blush acts as a stain on the cheeks.
Now it was time to give her a hair do and an outfit from the doll trunk.
I was pleased with my work, so off to Walmart I went to get the paint. I mixed the red and white, but it was not the shade I needed. I want more of a flesh tone. I have to tackle her lips another day.
See you next time!
My goal was to detangle her hair, clean her skin and tighten her wobbly legs so she could stand on her own. Her face paint is pale, so I wanted to give her a little color to get rid of the sickly look. It didn't take long to accomplish most of my goals, just a few hours on a lazy Sunday.
I started by washing and conditioning her hair. I didn't buy anything special. I just used my own. Then I used a wig brush and began the massive detangling. I detangled very small sections at a time starting the brushing at the ends of the hair and working my way up to the scalp. I used a water bottle to moisten the hair if it was dry. I didn't want to loose a lot of her hair. I did loose some but not much. Sometimes I switched to a wide tooth comb. I thought this tedious process was going to take a life time, but it didn't. Avoid getting water in her eyes, on her scalp and on her body. Water damages her eyes and causes mold on the scalp and body.
Next I flat ironed her hair while it was wet. The hair must be wet to prevent damage, not dripping wet. I towel dried her hair. The flat iron should be on a low setting. As I drew the flat iron down her locks I heard sizzling and watched as her hair straightened and shined. The sizzling is okay.
The next step was to clean her skin. I was going to use a brillo wipe and erase which I think is suppose to be like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I wasn't sure and I could not take the chance of damaging her skin, so I opted for baking soda and water since she really didn't have any marks on her. I mixed it to a thin, watery solution and rubbed her down. The most important point is not to get water in her eyes. The water will damage them and they will not open and close properly. I looked at my girl. She was pretty clean. Her hair was looking much better, but her face was pale. I was going to have to head out to Walmart and pick up some acrylic paint. Now it was time to tighten her limbs so she could stand alone and hold her arms up.
To do this I had to untie her neck strings and remove her head. Then the un-stuffing of her body began. So much stuffing. I put it all in a bag so I wouldn't lose any. Inside her body I was able to see the joints. At the top of the limb is a white cap and a gold clamp strung on a piece of elastic. Between these two pieces I added an elastic band. This tightens the limbs. Then I re-stuffed her making sure to push the stuffing way down in her butt area. I was able to fit it all in and she was as plump as before. I put her head back on and tied her strings. I tested my work. She stood on her own and held her arms high. I pat myself on the back.
I really needed to do something about her pale face, so I pulled out my bronzer and blush. I put a little bronzer on my finger and rubbed it into the apples of her cheek. Next I used a cotton ball to even out the tone. The bronzer had a shimmer effect. I moistened a cotton ball and wiped her cheeks to remove the shimmer. It still wasn't the color I wanted, so I dabbed a little peach blush on my finger and rubbed it over the apples of her cheeks. Evened out the shade with a cotton ball. The blush acts as a stain on the cheeks.
Now it was time to give her a hair do and an outfit from the doll trunk.
I was pleased with my work, so off to Walmart I went to get the paint. I mixed the red and white, but it was not the shade I needed. I want more of a flesh tone. I have to tackle her lips another day.
See you next time!
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Thursday, February 4, 2016
Easy Weekly Savings Plan
Are you on point with the weekly savings plan to end the year with at least $1,378.00? Doing this each year can help to build a healthy savings plan, a summer spending account, vacation money, investment money or whatever money. We are approaching the end of week five. You should have $10 dollars added to this account already for weeks 1-4. This week you should be adding $5 for a total of $15. It may seem insignificant now, but at the end of the year you'll be happy with the extra $1,378. So, here is how it lays out- week1-$1+week2-$2-week3-$3+week4-$4+$10. Well you get the picture.Get your copy of Invest today
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Murder House by James Patterson & David Ellis
I listened to the audiobook and it was gripping. I knew from the first sentence this would be a book I would not be able to leave. There were no word fillers in this story. Each one counted. Once I entered this maze I was unable to exit and come back another day. I finished it before I went to bed. At some points I felt like my head was spinning. At others I found myself tense with anger with some of the characters. One sentence I thought gave me a clue as to who was behind all the murders and then as the story progressed, I thought it was someone else and then it was him again and then someone else and then I wasn't sure and then I was and maybe and.. This is the kind of story The Murder House is, you just can't be sure what's going on and why. It keeps you spinning around in circles, never trusting anyone. And you know what? You won't know why, how or who until you reach the end where you are released from the maze and given the opportunity to take in a full breath and blow it out with satisfaction.
Have you read A Secret Love?
Thursday, January 7, 2016
HOW TO RAISE YOUR CREDIT SCORE
How I Went From a Credit Score Of 600
to a Credit Score of 760
By
Brigitta Moon
DISCLAIMER
This eBook is a narrative of how I used my system to pay down credit card balances quickly with the outcome of increasing my credit worthiness. The narrative is presented in a light hearted fictitious and factual entertaining manner. Each individual outcome may be different due to other financial issues readers may have in their backgrounds. When needed always consult a professional such as an attorney when necessary.
Because laws and practices change, it is the reader's responsibility to consult with any necessary advisor before putting any plan into action. Summaries, tips and strategies are recommendations by the author and by no means guarantee the reader of this eBook will obtain the same results. The information contained in this eBook is meant to serve as a comprehensive collection of a tested and proven strategy that the author of this eBook has applied to increase credit worthiness. The author has made all reasonable efforts to provide current and accurate information for the readers of this eBook. The author does not assume any liability for errors or omissions that may be found.
Copyright © 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
Cover and Book designed by:
Brigitta Moon
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Debt Junkie
Debt Rehab
Take The First Step
Double Down Fast Pay
Finding Money
The Emergency Department
Where To Put Your Money
Summary of the Rules
Final Words
INTRODUCTION
Living a life without financial worry is a dream of many. In fact there are many of us who would love to be millionaires. What is preventing you from reaching your financial goals? Are you living pay check to pay check? Are you spending more than you earn? Is your credit card debt stressing you each time the bill comes to your mailbox or your inbox? Sounds like a commercial, doesn't it? Well, it is time to lessen your stress and increase your financial health and happiness.
Your first step to financial happiness is to evaluate your financial health. See realistically how ill your financial health is at this point in your life. Yes, this is the hard part, confronting the debt demons. Go ahead, get out all those statements. Make sure they are the latest ones. Now start your list. Make columns and label them as bill name, amount owed, interest rate and due date. Now fill in the information. Yes, some of you may fill a page or two. Just know you have taken the first step toward increasing your financial health.
The next step is to order your bills according to the interest rate. The bills with the highest interest rates are the ones you will focus on first. These are the ones that are attacking our good health the most. They are the ones eating away our pay checks.
Now tally how much you owe out in total and how much your entire monthly payments amount to. Take a good look. How comfortable are you with the numbers? If you added in your home mortgage or rent, automobile payment, Insurances, utilities and grocery needs, do you have money left over from your income? Do you have funds left over for vacation and enjoyment? If you answered in the negative it is time to get treatment for the disease that is ailing you, debt.
Debt Junkie
There are so many of us who are buying Labels. We seem to feel really good, rich even if we are wearing clothing or buying cars that the rich and famous are buying. OK, I admit I have done it too. But the rich and famous have that kind of Money. Even $1000 for a pair of jeans for one of them is nothing in their income. In the average person's income it is, yes a thousand dollars of extra debt. Even if the jeans were one hundred dollars, it is extra debt. Now let's look closely at this. If you remove the label and put them next to a pair of similar jeans, is there a real difference? The cheaper Jean will clothe you. It will even be stylish. You can wash them without worrying about damaging them. You will have saved an extra $70-80 to add to paying off your debt.
There are some of us who just enjoy a new car. Not just a new car, a high end car. Yes, I too have done that. In fact I have paid mine off and kept it. Many people will purchase a new one every year or every other year. Why? If your car is serving its purpose why not keep it? When you trade your car you are more than likely upside down in your new payment. This means you have no equity in the old car and you have agreed to add what you owe on your old car to the price of the new car. This new car is costing you a ton of money. Oh yea, you look good in it. You even look rich. All your neighbors, friends and family think you are successful, wealthy even. Only you and I know the truth. You are drowning in a sea of debt. Your new high end car is robbing your paycheck in upkeep fees. The oil change that's costing you$100 instead of $30 is sucking you dry. And yes we have to pay this every three months or every 3,000-7,000 miles depending on the model you have. You still have other upkeep fees for brakes, tune-ups and tires. These repairs come with a premium because of the name on the car. Oh please don't let anything break down. Don't let that dreaded check engine light come on. Your car is asking you to dig deep into your wallet, and even deeper for the price of the required premium gas. Your debt health needs an ambulance ride to the emergency department. Before we do that let's try rehab first.
Debt Rehab
"Hello, my name is Debt Cruncher. Today I would like to welcome you to Debt Rehab. We will begin by introducing ourselves. Please stand, give your name and addiction. Who will be first? I see a hand. Yes, you in the back, you may start.”
"Thank you Shopping Debt for sharing. Okay. Who will be next? Yes, you on the end."
"Hi everyone, my name is Vanity Debt. I had a nice car. It never gave me a day of trouble. It was so dependable, but the car was getting up in age. It was two years old. It was time for a new one. I wanted that new car smell. I wanted the new model. So, I went to the High End New Car Dealer. He said no problem. He would have me in a brand new car today. And yes he did. Every time the payment was due I'd feel sick. I am paying for two cars in one. I still owed thousands of dollars on my old car. The salesman said, "No problem. We will take care of it." And now here I am."
"Thank you Vanity Debt for sharing. Who will be next? Yes, in the front. Please stand."
"Hello. My name is Family Debt. I spend so much time trying to make ends meet. I seem to never get ahead. The children always need something for school, trip money, school supplies, uniforms, dues and on and on. I have one headed for college. I don't know how we will afford it. I work overtime frequently. Sometimes we have to live off our credit cards to make ends meet. There have been times when I have had to use my credit cards to buy food for the week and gas to get to work. I decided to stop here before going to the emergency department."
"Thank you Family Debt for sharing your story with us. Is there anyone else who would like to share? I see an anxious hand in the middle row. Please stand and tell us your story."
"Hi everyone, my name is Vacation Debt. A few years ago a group of coworkers were going to the Islands on a cruise ship. I really wanted to go. I just didn't have the cash. I just couldn't pass this up. It was going to be fun. So I did what I had to do to go, I charged it. I charged my souvenirs, my gifts, my tours and I don't even remember what else. I had a blast. The next year came and they were going on a ski trip. The last trip was so much fun I didn't want to miss out. Heck, I work everyday. I deserve a vacation. So what, my cash was low. I hadn't paid off my previous bill, but so what. I charged it. I charged my ski lessons, my equipment rental and my meals. I had a ball. When the bill came I was shocked. How will I ever pay this down at this high interest rate? I am here today because my coworkers are going on another trip. I am still paying for the other two trips. I want to go. I told them to count me in. As I was sitting in the coffee shop last night I overheard a conversation. They were discussing how they attended this rehab. They agreed it was the best thing they had ever done. Now, I find myself standing here."
End of preview
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Monday, December 28, 2015
The View Has Two Faces
You pass all the same people on your way up as you passed on your way down, so goes the old saying. I don't know why this thought presented itself to me as I was working on collecting steps on my Samsung S Health App. It kind of just jumped out at me on North Old Lake Wilson Road as I was making the return trip to my resort. As I walked quickly south I enjoyed the views. I passed Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club, Festiva Orlando Resort and an abandoned resort that was weather beaten and falling down with age. I also passed lots of undeveloped land rich with trees.
When I reach the designated turn around, I made a U and ambled north, retracing my foot steps. The view seemed to be different, albeit I was passing the same sights. I took the time to savor the greenery resting against the blueness of the sky. This is such a treat for December. In Maryland the December sky is gray. I enjoyed the splashing of the fountain at the Mystic wishing I could take a dip. By this time I was pretty sweaty. My hair was glued to my neck and sweat dripped off my forehead like rain.
My trip south was consumed with the act of getting there. My trip north was just the opposite, relaxing and appreciative of the scenery before me. I think that old adage should say although you pass the same people on your way up as you do on your way down, the smart person will pause on the decline and examine through fresh eyes, the sights, the alternatives and why they are taking this dive. No reason to fall straight down without a stop to question why. Just a thought.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Link A Writing Tip
Have you ever been in the midst of writing and just needed a quick reference to a writing rule or structure, or a punctuation? Here are some of my favorite pages for writing tips and other things.
Punctuating with Quotation Marks
Dialogue: Punctuation, Capitalization, Spacing
100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections
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