Net Worth according to my age

I forget now how I even came across this Web site (www.CNNMoney.com), but it’s one that should be bookmarked. With 2010 on its way, I started re-assessing my financial situation and establishing goals for the new year.

This helpful Web site is SOOOO easy to use and provides a decent benchmark for where you should be. All you have to do to calculate your median net worth for your age is type in your age. Simple as pie! According to the site, mine should be as follows:

So go ahead and give it a try. Here’s the direct link: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/networth_ageincome/index.html.

And if you’re interested in reading more about the household median net worth for your age or income level, this one is an interesting blog post: http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/index.php/2006/12/28/what-my-net-worth-should-be/.

Last day of 2009. Which means time to set goals for 2010!

Out with the old, and in with the new. :)

With the beginning of a new year comes goal-setting. w00t! In case you’re curious, I categorize mine in the following buckets:

1. Family

2. Career

3. Spiritual

4. Physical

5. Personal

6. Financial

No matter how you group yours, just be sure your goals are specific, measurable, in writing, have a time limit associated with them, and are FOR YOU ONLY.

Enjoy the last day of 2009!

Technorati Tags: goals,family,single mom,2009,new year,2010,new year's resolutions,goal setting

Michael Jackson, Rest in Peace

$1 Off Wendy’s Baconator! Just click on the pic

And if that doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://km.email.wendys.com/wen/?nDdY.1jg4JlJw0m90HevgCLDWFZRUOLVn

Technorati Tags: burgers,free,coupons,wendy's,baconator,coupon

10 Small Ways to Make the World a Better Place

I came across this post via my Twitter follow stream. It’s an article by a company called Stepcase Lifehack that talks about practical ways we can make our world a better place. I loved the advice so much that I thought I’d share at least the top 5 with my readers:

1. Tip generously.

2. Compliment someone.

3. Be totally open with someone.

4. Teach someone how to do something.

5. Let someone shine.

Read the entire article here to get the rest of the list. Then go out and practice kindness!

Technorati Tags: kindness,tip,world,better place,happiness,happy

A Key Step in Getting Rid of Adult Acne: How to Alleviate Stress from Your Life

In my first two posts about how to get rid of your adult acne, I talked about my own experience and outlined the products and processes I used. (Seriously, you need to get Johnson & Johnson PURPOSE gentle cleansing wash and Johnson & Johnson PURPOSE Dual Treatment Lotion with SPF 15 moisturizer. Take a minute to join the PURPOSE Skincare Club for expert dermatologist advice and exclusive promotions and offers. And no, J&J is not paying me for blogging).

Well, I was reading in either this month’s edition of Men’s Health or Women’s Health magazine (both are great resources, BTW), and learned that one thing you can do to help get rid of stress is to smell one of three scents:

1. Lemon

2. Mango

3. Lavender

For some reason, these scents calm your nerves, which I’m sure all single parents need from time to time. :) So the next time you go to the grocery store, add a lemon to your list. Then as you’re cleansing your outside with gentle products, be sure to sniff the scent of a cut lemon to help trick your inside into not producing more acne-producing hormones. Cheers!

Style Tips: 9 Ways to Dress Up Your Jeans

It’s the one staple we all have in our closets: jeans.

The writer of MSN Lifestyle has come up with 9 easy ways “to make your favorite jeans look a little more glam.” I’ve tried 3, 4, 6, and 8 and will attempt 1 and 9 over the holidays (I have a hot purple blazer from Banana Republic that needs to be put to some good use.) :)

Oh, and be sure to try out the new AG Skinny Jeans. I just used my amateur modeling pay (i.e. boutique gift card) to pay for a pair, and I have to say that they are worth every penny! I’m of the athletic/slim build with a butt and thighs, and I swear these jeans fit me like a glove (kind of like how they look on Fergie below). :)

Anyway, here’s the link to the 9 tips: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/everyday-style/staticslideshowglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=22625513&GT1=32002.

FREE Name Change Guide

If you’ve recently gotten married or divorced, this handy name change guide will help you cover the major bases. It walks you through the following:

• Proof of legal name change
• Registering with the social security office
• IRS
• Driver’s license and car registration
• Passport
• Voter registration (http://www.rockthevote.com/), and the
• Post Office (if your address is different as well)

Here’s the Web site: http://newlastname.org/. And be sure to check your state’s statute for the time you have to notify legal entities. (In some cases, you are required to update your driver’s license within 30 days.)

Acne Videos + Secrets to Clear Skin

I was over on YouTube recently and found a few insightful videos for those of us who have suffered with adult acne. This first one offers 2 secrets that have worked for her. And guess what? They’re actually affordable!

This second acne video offers advice for what NOT to do when trying to clear things up:

And if you’re interested in my tried-and-true advice on how to rid yourself of adult acne, read my first and second posts. If you have any specific questions, drop me a line!

Best Wedding Dances EVER!

I absolutely love The Office! Have you seen this clip of Jim and Pam’s wedding dance? Right before they say their vows, Michael and their office mates surprise them with this wedding dance to the song "Forever" by Chris Brown. Hilarity!

Click to watch the official Office Wedding Dance and then hop over to http://www.bestweddingdances.com/ for some more laughs!

Coupons, coupons, coupons! ABC News reports that a Massachusetts Mom feeds family of 6 on about $4 a week

Couponing works. I know this to be true because I’ve saved over $1000 since February because of my clipping skills. I pretty much do what this Massachusetts mom does, which is

1. Look through the local store circulars for the items I want or need that week
2. Print free coupons from the Web (Coupons.com is a great site)
3. Stockpile items on sale (I can’t remember the last time I had to buy toothpaste, detergent, cereal, or SoftSoap.)
4. Only buy if I have a coupon

What I haven’t done is ask the store if they will double my coupons. Guess asking never hurt. :) I did found out just a few weeks ago that Albertson’s grocery stores offer $0.05 for every recycling bag you use to pack your items instead of the plastic ones. So that saves me at least 10-15 cents each trip. Hey, every little bit counts!

Read the entire Good Morning America story here and then watch the video.

Millionaire Mommy Next Door

I recently came across this story of how a self-made millionaire went from earning minimum wage to financial freedom by age 40. BY AGE 40!

Jen Smith shares her recipe for success, happiness and financial freedom on a blog post adequately named “Millionaire Mommy Next Door.”

I was inspired not only by the fact that her family and she are financially independent, but because they only work when they want to and spend quality family time exploring our beautiful world (without having to wak up to an alarm clock). Wow . . . God-willing, I’ll join the ranks before the first signs of gray hair. :)

Without any further ado, meet the original Millionaire Mommy Next Door, Mrs. Jen Smith!

We lost 6-13 in the semi-finals :(

“I feel God’s pleasure when I write.”

I was reading today’s devotion by Os Hillman titled, “Created for His Good Pleasure” and thought I’d share:

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

"Eric Liddell was an Olympic runner from Britain who won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was a man who had a deep commitment to the Lord and had future plans of being a missionary. In the meantime, he knew God had given him a special gift to run, and he often said, "I feel God's pleasure when I run."

He spent years training for the Olympics. He passed each hurdle and qualified for the Olympics. Finally, the day came for him to run in the games that were held in Paris. There was only one problem. One of his running events was held on Sunday. Liddell refused to run on Sunday, believing it dishonored the Lord's Sabbath. He held to his convictions and brought great persecution on himself. He made a decision that even if it meant losing his opportunity to compete, he would not run. God's laws were greater than man's applause. Just when the circumstances seemed hopeless, another situation arose that allowed Liddell to run on a different day. So often this is the case in the spiritual realm. God tests our hearts to see if we will remain faithful to Him at the cost of something important to us. Once He knows where our loyalty lies, He opens a new door that meets the desires of our hearts. God takes pleasure in seeing His creation used for His glory. Liddell understood why he was made to run; he used his gift of running to bring pleasure to his Creator. Later, Eric Liddell went on to serve God on the mission field.

Does your life work bring pleasure to the Lord? Do you understand that God instilled certain gifts and talents in you so that He might find pleasure in His creation of you? Take pleasure in the gifts God has given to you this day. And let His glory shine through you.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

It’s official! I changed my name back to my maiden name.

If this were my cartoon, it’d say, “This is terribly embarrassing – I’ve kept my married name for so long that I’ve almost forgotten who I am.”

But no longer! As of Tuesday, November 10, 2009, I am ME again!!!! (Who knew something so small could feel so good?) The actual prove-up in front of the judge took all of 5 minutes, but the time it took to wait for the FBI, IRS, and other Homeland Security agencies to vet my identity took about 7-8 months.

During my 2003 divorce, my attorney asked if I wanted to revert back to my maiden name. At that time, I said no. My rationale was that I didn’t want my son to have to endure embarrassment because he had a different name than his mother. But lo and behold, I’m not the only single mother out there! Who’d a thunk it? Funny now that I think back on it, glad that I finally came to my senses and went through it. :)

The only roadblock I ran into was actually with my little one. My son asked if I would still be his mom when I changed my name. :( I told him that nothing would ever change my love for him or the fact that I’m his mother. Nothing. *tearing up* After that, he was good!

To those of you who may have gone through a divorce and never included the reversion back to your maiden name in the final decree, here’s a good eHow.com step-by-step guide for changing your name back to your maiden name: http://www.ehow.com/how_5030992_change-name-back-maiden-name.html.

So now begins the arduous task of changing EVERYTHING from my married name to my maiden name—Driver’s License, SS card, bank accounts, bills, etc. But oh, is it worth the hassle! ;)

How to get rid of adult acne, Part II

Read Part I of “How to get rid of adult acne.”

I noticed that ever since I posted about adult acne last month that many folks have been reading that blog entry. Glad to see you find it useful! So I thought I’d share a few more tid-bits I’ve learned to help keep acne at bay:

1. When washing your face, WASH with warm/hot water and RINSE with cold. Washing with warm water helps to open your pores, allowing the cleanser to penetrate deeper. But be sure to rinse with cold water so that you close your pores back up.

2. Wash your face twice a day, especially before you go to bed. . .  seriously, this makes a world of difference.

3. We all know that stress can cause “facial formalities.” :) The next time you feel stress welling up inside, trick your body by closing your eyes and taking 3-5 deep breathes. (Honestly, this works wonders.)

4. Don’t use so many products on your face and think you’re actually making headway. At one point, my personal cleansing regimen included 5-6 items—a cleanser, Evoclin (prescription), a moisturizer, Epiduo gel (prescription), a cream, and some eye stuff. Whew! I WAS SUFFOCATING MY SKIN! What I learned was that simplicity goes a long way.

5. It goes without saying, but keep your hands OFF your face.

6. Drink plenty of water. If you don’t work out regularly, take your weight and divide by 2. That will give you the number of ounces you need to have every day (NOTE: 8 ozs. equal 1 cup.) If you do exercise, drink more water. ;)

If anyone has any specific questions about getting rid of acne, just let me know. I’d love to help someone bypass the pain I went through.

Hope these tips helped! Don’t forget to read Part I of “How to get rid of adult acne.”

Foot Fashion: Oprah’s 6 Must-Have Shoes for Women

I just learned the “shoe secret” from watching the Oprah Winfrey show. :D Apparently, there are only 6 pairs of shoes every woman needs. (That’s according to O, The Oprah Magazine creative director, Adam Glassman.) I agree with the list but would probably add a note about color. I believe every woman should make one shoe purchase in a lifetime that doesn’t make sense—and to add spice to your feet with a burst of color!

Anyway, here are the suggested “secret 6.” Do you have these in your closet?

1. A little black pump (the 2-inch kitten heel is a no-brainer for most women)

2. A comfortable (and colorful) flat

3. An evening (aka “going out”) shoe

4. A sleek comfort sneaker

5.  A tall boot (agree x 100!)

6. An all-weather boot (eh, this could depend on where you live)

See the examples of Oprah’s 6 must-have shoes in action here.

Would you add any to the recommended list?

BoyMoms rOcK! (Me included)

Yes, I am a BoyMom. And I wear the badge with pride.

All these 8+ years I’ve been thinking that as a boymom, I’m pretty daggone cool. And now there’s a site that designs super-cute Tees to help me shout that message from the rooftop! :D

If you have yet to visit http://boymomdesigns.com/, go there now! Some of the Tees are a bit pricey IMO, but they do offer a sales page. (Gotta stick to the family budget!) ;) Here are some that are on sale now for under $20:

Don’t miss the “stay-at-home-mom” one in green. It’s simple, yet chic! Can’t wait to don my very own pink Tee (and the black one) to my son’s playoff football games. w00t! And if that wasn’t enough, they even have a blog! Check it out here: http://boymomdesigns.blogspot.com/

Now get to shopping!

Technorati Tags: single mom,single parent,boymom,clothes,fashion,sale

We’re in the playoffs, baby!

Our team finished up 2nd place overall during regular season. And now it’s time for single elimination playoffs. w00t! Bring it!

Burritos, tacos, and bowls . . . Oh my! FREE Chipotle Burrito on Halloween!

While at Chipotle last night for my weekly indulgence of their fantabulous burrito bowls, the manager passed me a flyer that I couldn’t keep just to myself. It read:

Burritos, tacos, and bowls. Oh my!

Come in on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, from 6pm to closing, dressed like a Chipotle burrito, taco, bowl, or salad, and we’ll complete your costume with a FREE BURRITO. 

What? FREE food? :) To the single mom out there who had no plans for Halloween, here you go! Safe for the whole family and will fill everyone’s tummy. :D

Technorati Tags: chipotle,free burrito,single mom,free food,tacos,bowls,burritos,budget,Halloween,costume,October 31

7 Steps to Successful Co-Parenting by Focus on the Family

A recent Parenting article was published today by Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D. on the Focus on the Family Web site.

In it, the doc offers some solid tips on how divorced/separated/never-really-a-couple parents can make their children’s lives easier:

1. Don’t bad-mouth your ex.

2. Don’t use your children as spies.

3. Don’t use your children to carry messages. (Unfortunately, my ex does this all the time.)

4. Give your child permission to love the other parent.

5. Encourage the discussion of feelings. (Definitely. My son and I have designated “cuddle days” and times where we share our “sunshine” or “cloudy” moments. It gives us both the opportunity to share our feelings.)

6. Be flexible.

7. Encourage the relationship with the ex-spouse.

Adapted from Helping Children Survive Divorce by Dr. Archibald D. Hart. Copyright © 1996 Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tenn. All rights reserved.

Any tips you’d like to share that you’ve found make co-parenting easier? I’d love to hear them!

Technorati Tags: parenting,co-parenting,divorce,single mom,single dad,Archibald D. Hart,Ph.D,focus on the family,ex

Mentoring in Dallas/Fort Worth

The importance of mentoring can be summed up in two words: LIVES CHANGED.

A very close friend of mine has a natural gift of bringing out the best in people. Many a parent has solicited his advice and asked that he speak to their child for the sake of setting them on the straight and narrow. (I wish I had a count for how many lives he’s positively affected this way, but I just know it’s probably close to a hundred.) Well, God decided it was time for him to be an official mentor and set up his first “appointment.” 

His first task on the books is to mentor a troubled high school teen. Yesterday was the “meet-n-greet”; every week thereafter will be the building/nurturing time. Let me tell you that I am SO excited about what is about to happen! When God moves, the sky opens and lives are forever changed. To God be the glory!

BTW, check out the holiday issue of Glamour magazine. The Honorable Mrs. Michelle Obama graces the cover (a first for first ladies since 1939) and talks about the importance of mentoring. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Technorati Tags: mentor,mentoring,dfw,dallas,single mom,single dad,lives changed,purpose,spiritual gifts,God,Michelle Obama,Glamour magazine,mentorship

Coupons and the single mom. A match made in heaven.

What’s the big deal about coupons, you ask?

Well, for starters, I’ve saved about $500 over the last 6 months. That may not be a lot to some, but to this single mother of a growing 8 yo boy, $500 can go a looooooong way!

I really started paying attention to coupons and grocery store circulars earlier this year while participating in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Every week, a few of the families would report on their couponing progress. So I sat and listened . . . until one day I decided to act. After all, if it didn’t work, I could just go back to doing what I had been doing, right?

I really didn’t know where or how to begin, so I just bought your typical Sunday newspaper. I pulled out the coupons and started cutting. Then I saved the grocery store circulars that come in the mail every Tuesday and circled those items I wanted for which I had an accompanying coupon. With my “you-must-stick-to-this-list” shopping list, I hit the grocery store. When it was all said and done, I had spent $34.00 and saved $33.00! Yep, that’s 100% of what I spent!!! It was almost as if I paid for one item only to get one free! :)

Each time after that, it became an adrenaline rush to beat my previous saving percentage. Just today I was in Wal-Mart and spent $25.97 and saved almost $13. Seventeen of my 23 items were price matches from other grocery stores, and I had a $1.00 off coupon. (Those are golden tickets, by the way.) Oh, and here’s a little shopping tip: Wal-Mart has a price match policy. If another store offers that exact same item (brand names only) for a cheaper price, Wal-Mart will match as long as you have the circular with you. They don’t match BOGO offers, but they do match on individual brand name prices.

So what used to be something I balked at (“Why did I get behind this little old lady with a million coupons?”), is my new pastime and something I respect 100%. It’s even gotten to the point where I won’t even walk into a grocery store unless I have my Ziploc bag of coupons in tow. :D 

Technorati Tags: coupons,coupon,couponing,Dave Ramsey,single mom,single dad,parenting,saving money,financial freedom,financial peace university,walmart

Free Social Media Counter in Real Time!

Ran across this application while on Twitter. Pretty cool app, if I do say so myself:

To see the social media counter in action, go here.

Technorati Tags: social media,gary hayes,twitter

I love being a mom, and this is why

Isn’t he the cutest? :) BTW, our team is 6-1 this year, with one more game to play before play-offs. w00t!

Single Parent Devotional

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” – Philippians 4:11

Content = Self-Sufficient

Truth be told, I haven’t been spending much alone time with God recently. So yesterday I decided to do something about it and set my alarm clock 30 minutes earlier so that I could start my day off on the right foot. What ended up happening was that I snoozed until my normal wake-up time and then rushed around the house getting my son ready for school. :) But . . . I took about 10 minutes once I arrived back home to actually sit and read God’s Word in solitude. Ahhhhh . . .  I had no idea where I would begin (66 books can be a little overwhelming if you let it), but I ended up in Colossians and then Philippians, two of Paul’s “Prison Letters” that he penned while sitting in a jail cell in Rome.

The time spent in silence was nice. Once I got to the end of the passage, I noticed that my study Bible actually contained written notes from months past that I reminded me what “being content” actually means. I thought these notes would encourage a single mom or two . . . or anyone whose attitude is dependent on circumstance. Here’s how you can tell if you’re just "happy” versus “content”:

Signs of discontent =

1. Jumping the gun and not waiting on God (ouch!)

2. Disobedience, feelings of disappointment

3. Harboring bitterness towards God

4. Not being able to celebrate when others are blessed

5. Complaining (ouch!)

6. Making comparisons

Signs of contentment =

1. Focusing on others

2. Praising God (thanksgiving!)

3. Praying

4. Having an eternal perspective (very difficult)

5. Waiting patiently on the Lord

6. Being obedient

Sound like too much fluff? Possibly. But we can fix that. Here’s what I’m challenging myself with as far as practical, everyday application:

1. Practice thankfulness to God daily

2. Learn to trust (not easy for single moms)

3. Focus on others

I leave you with this thought, borrowed again from Paul: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil 2:3-4).

Have a great Monday!

Technorati Tags: God,single parent devotional,single mom,single dad,Bible

How to get rid of adult acne

Disclaimer: The entire process from my first dermatologist appointment to when my face finally cleared up took almost a year. So if you’re looking for a quick fix, I don’t have the answer.

Most women in their 30s no longer suffer from acne. Unfortunately, that’s not my story.

I grew up with clear skin. Whatever was supposed to happen during puberty never showed up on my face, and I enjoyed my twilight 20s with no pimples . . . until the last couple of years of that decade.

All of a sudden, I found myself breaking out for almost anything: working out too much, not getting 8 hours of sleep, changing cleansers, eating too much chocolate, trying different makeup products, not drinking enough water, definitely during “that time of the month,” whenever I stressed, just whenever! So I threw my Cetaphil, Noxema, and Mary Kay cleansers in the trash and headed to my dermatologist.

What I learned was that (1) I have combination skin—with the oiliest part being my T-zone, (2) I suffered from something called folliculitis (pictured above on a lady I don’t know), which is a skin disease that causes inflammation of one of more hair follicles, and (3) I needed to reduce the amount of stress in my life. It was causing my face to break out in patches of random bumps, especially on my cheeks, forehead, and chin. So we tried a few things:

1. Clindamycin (pills you take orally) – This was my first prescription drug from my dermatologist. I think it may have worked a smidge, but apparently, my adult acne was a tad stronger.

2. Evoclin (topical) – Not sure if this ever worked, but it was easy to put on.

3. Epiduo (topical) – This did nothing for me but looks like it really worked for the guy in the TV commercial.

4. Erythromycin (pills you take orally) – I was prescribed these horse pills once we determined Clindamycin wasn’t working.

5. Some benzoyl peroxide facial wash of which I don’t remember the name.

Want to know what really worked to clear my adult acne in the end?

Three things: the Purpose line of products from Johnson & Johnson (you can buy these over the counter, recommended by my dermatologist), BenzEFoam 5.3% (must have a prescription), and good old fashioned Vaseline. No lie.

In the morning, I wash my face with Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, follow that with some of the BenzEFoam foam (looks like shaving cream), and then slap on some of the Purpose SPF 15 moisturizer. In the evening, I do the same first 2 steps, but instead of the moisturizer, I rub in a thin layer of Vaseline. Yes . . . VASELINE. And then I go to sleep. In the morning, my skin is smooth, silky, and supple. :)

So the adult acne seems to have taken a respite. But what I’m fighting now is some of the acne scars. However, I have a secret weapon: my fantabulous dermatologist, Dr. Raymond Blackburn out of Dallas, TX, developed a special cream just for this issue. It’s aptly named "Blackburn Mixture” or “Blackburn Cream.” Ask anyone who’s used it in the past, and they’ll say it’s magic. It’s sooo good. I figure I have about a month until those dark spots clear and I can leave the house without foundation. w00t!

As always, thanks to Dr. Blackburn and his terrific staff for giving me my face back! (I highly recommend this doc.)

Lesson: You don’t need a million products to keep your skin looking healthy and at its best. All you need is a gentle cleanser and something you probably have in your bathroom – good old fashioned Vaseline!

FREE Pizza Hut pizza for a year!

You read the headline correctly. Pizza Hut is giving away pizza for an entire year. (Now what single parent wouldn’t mind that alternative to cooking?) 

According to TechCrunch, Pizza Hut is holding a contest for a job title. Its “Twintern” will be coming on board full time to Tweet daily, “monitor Twitter for complaints, and engage with consumers on the microblogging site.”

All you have to do to enter is Tweet your ideas directly to @pizzahut and tag it with the hashtag #PizzaHutTitle. The current “Twintern” will select her favorite consumer-generated submission and put it on her business card. And the winner will receive FREE Pizza Hut pizza for a year!

What can you lose? Try it!

Technorati Tags: pizza hut,freebies,free,contest,twitter,single mom

Modeling my absolute favorite Nicole Miller dress

There was a time when I didn’t appreciate the color purple. But that all changed when I got to model this BEAUTIFUL Nicole Miller dress.

It fits like a glove and accentuates all the right areas. YES! And you can’t see it, but the detail in the front and back of the skirt is to die for! Definitely a viable replacement for “the little black dress.” (Too bad I couldn’t take it home, though.) :(

At the low, low price of $410, this single mom will just have to continue modeling high-end clothes instead of buying them . . . until her budget says otherwise. :)

Technorati Tags: model,modeling,Nicole Miller,single mom,budget

How to teach your child to read. Go get this book!

I know this works because I did it with my son. He learned how to read at age 3.

Step #1: BUY THIS BOOK! It’s called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and can be found at any Barnes & Noble bookstore. (Be sure to check your local library first, though.)

Step #2: Buy a spiral notebook because the book also coaches you on how to teach your child to write his letters.

Step #3: Actually DO IT! Each lesson only takes about 15 minutes a day, and we didn’t even get through all the lessons before my son was reading on his own. He’s 8 now and one of the best readers in his class. (Brag moment: his Language Arts grade is a perfect 100!) ;)

Everyone knows reading is the basis for all other subjects. Get this book if you care about your child’s future success. You’ll thank me later.

God surprised me with a promotion, Read 1 Thes 5:24

Recession? What recession?

Yep, it’s true. I was surprised with a promotion yesterday. I didn’t even see that one coming. (Truth be told, I did mention to my mother last week that I thought my title would be changing by the end of the year, but in no way did I think a pay increase would accompany it in such a short time. Not sure where the hunch came from. It was just a “deep-calls-unto-deep” message from the Holy Spirit.)

I’ve been with my new company for a couple of months now and know that I’ve made a positive impact on process, strategy, and marketing metrics. Honestly, the promotion just confirms for me what God revealed to me 5 years ago: write, and the money will come. Work like you’re working for me, and you’ll never have to worry about finances. Five years ago was when I took a deep dive into my relationship with Christ, asking how I could make a positive impact here on earth. The answer? Write. For some reason, I’ve been gifted with the uncanny ability to make things look and sound appealing, drawing people in with the written word. And I take NO CREDIT. It is only by God’s graces that what I produce makes sense. :)

Let me talk to my fellow single moms for a minute (and to anyone who is searching). Remember this: God is in control and has gifted you with what you need in order to get the job done. Not only that, but because our Father doesn’t make mistakes, wherever you are in life is exactly where you need to be for this particular season. So be like the apostle Paul and get content with where you are!

1 Thessalonians 5:24 came to mind during my promo celebration, and I’d like to share it with you because it reminds me that no matter what “job” God brings our way, He’s got us covered:

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass.”

Read it again.

Hits home, doesn’t it? Just a little encouragement as you continue to search for your spiritual gifts and to fulfill the one thing (or maybe 2 or 3) for which God placed you on this earth to do. EX: For me, I know that I have to be writing in some capacity all the days of my life. It took a while for me to get to this place (and still I’m not “there” yet), but ever since I went through discipleship ~6 years ago, I’ve been on a quest to negate compromise and do what it is I love to do . . . that very thing that God fashioned me for. And along life’s journey, I hope and pray that I’m modeling the right things for my son – obedience, spiritual intimacy, discerning the voice of God, operating in your gifts, working in your passion, putting your family first, and keeping first things first.

May the Lord bless and keep you this day. All praises to God the Father. Amen.

Model for a Day + YouTube Makeup Tips & Tutorials

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to participate in a fashion show for a local high-end boutique. Amazing!

Modeling was always something I’ve been interested in (heck, my son and I watch America’s Next Top Model every Wednesday!), but this opportunity just kind of fell in my lap. To prepare, I watched a few runway videos on YouTube. Here’s one from a series I really liked:

As anyone knows, YouTube kind of sucks you in. Not sure how I got to “how to apply make-up” videos, but this one young lady is raw and engaging:

This video is the same young lady showing you how to get rid of under eye circles:

Ooh, and here is a really good tutorial on “easy smoky eyes”:

Enjoy!

1.06 years until I’m DEBT FREE

I’ve been crunching numbers and crunching numbers, and according to Excel, I should be debt free by this time next year. w00t!

When I counted it all up, I’ve had 6 credit cards at one time plus 3 student loans. Ugh. Just makes me sick to my stomach to know that I’ve thrown away so much money over the years with nothing to show for it. (Well, actually, the MBA degree has paid for itself since 2006, but that’s besides the point.)

The point is that I want to be done with debt! And if my math is correct, October 2010 will be a glorious celebration. Dave Ramsey and staff, prepare now to hear my son’s and my debt-free scream! :D

ZOOM! whitening really works!

This morning, I went in for my regularly-scheduled 6-month cleaning and asked Dr. James Barnes, DDS, rather flippantly, “So, I’ve been thinking about ZOOM!. Does that really work?”

Dr. Barnes, being only THE BEST cosmetic and family dentist this side of the Mississippi, said, “Yes. And one way to find out for yourself is to try it.”

So after my cleaning (no cavities, by the way! but must do a better job of flossing), I stepped next door and prepped for my ZOOM! teeth whitening treatment. They use some sort of painless contraption to hold your mouth open wide so that no bleaching residue gets on your lips, tongue, or gums. After the prep, they start painting on the ZOOM! gel! Next comes the bright green light for 3 intervals of 7 minutes a piece. (Interestingly, the magic ZOOM! light didn’t make my teeth feel warm at all. I felt light a little heartbeat was in my front teeth, but I had to really focus on the sensation to feel it.)

One hour later, I walked out of the dentist office with a smile that was 3 shades lighter than when I went in! Not bad at all, considering that my smile wasn’t too dreary to begin with. Wish I had pics to share, but those were left with Dr. Barnes.

But can I tell a difference when I look in the mirror? Definitely. Do I feel better about my smile after having had the treatment? Immensely. Would I recommend ZOOM! whitening? Only if Dr. Barnes of McKinney was the applying expert! :)