Money Smart Moms

Getting Homework Help

My son is taking Algebra this year. Math was always a strong point for me in school, and I enjoyed Algebra, but Geometry took me for a nosedive! It was the first time I truly struggled in a math class, and I needed extra help. I ended up studying a lot, and looking for Homework Help. It wasn’t as easy as turning to your computer, like it is today!

If my son needs help with tutoring, I know I can turn to a company like TutorVista.com, and get 24/7, unlimited Tutoring for under $100 a month. That’s one of the things about the internet, it’s not only changed how we communicate, but it also makes things so much easier to find and compare different companies.

I think a Tutor is an excellent option, because sometimes it’s that one on one attention that can help get a child past a problem area in a subject. In a classroom, the teacher can’t figure out which parts are causing each child difficulty. When your child finally has the focus on the area they need help with, a tutor can help them get past their problem area in that subject.

Orange and Bright

I grabbed the wrong shade of red I guess…because it came out orange. My hair that is…I have orange hair this morning. Based on the picture of where I was, and where I was headed, it didn’t come out. I need to go darker, to get the auburn. I think I just wanted to try something different. I’m in the process of relooking at myself and I want to try new things. I’m working out regularly now, and know my mind and body will be changing in the process, so I thought….new hair to go with it!

New, orange hair is the reality. My husband is going to pick up the darker shade, and I’ll see if it helps. If not, I’ll tone it back down with an ash light brown. I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 14, so I’m pretty familiar with outcomes, but boy this one shocked the heck out of me!

What Type of Sink Are You Looking For?

My sister has the most gorgeous custom made bar in her family room. They have a great room that used to be a large sun room. They then decided to turn it into a four season room, and it is gorgeous! They have a 6 seat long bar, all custom made, two high top tables near the full wall of windows, and a large screen television and entertainment center in the room. It’s the obvious choice when we all get together. There’s also a full sofa and two overstuffed chairs. Every time I leave, I want a big screen television like that, but I just don’t have the place for it, since we have built-ins for our entertainment area.

I remember when they were putting in the bar, watching the process was pretty cool. I never thought about things like buying a bar sink. Think about it, most of us shop for kitchen sinks, or maybe even bathroom sinks, but how many of us shop for bar sinks. I was actually a bartender when I was much, much younger! I knew that she would appreciate a double sink, rather than a single. It depends on what your set-up is, and what you want. Do you want a faucet and a spray hose, or just the faucet? A spray hose is always appreciated when you have one! Have you ever shopped for a bar sink?

Don’t Give Me a Time to Be There

I have to go to the trainer in an hour. I’m hoping I did enough while I was away to not “feel it” more than usual. I stayed very active this trip, which was pretty cool for me.

I’m starting that anxiety in my belly the hour before. Does it ever go away? Do you know it could be an appointment to go out to lunch with a friend, and I’d still get that anxiety. For some reason, before I have to be somewhere at a certain time, I panic. If I was just thinking….hmmm, maybe I’ll go to the store today, nope, no anxiety. If I knew I had to be at the store at 2pm for a special sale, I’d get that feeling in my tummy.

Do you get like that? I’m not even sure when that started happening, but it’s a constant in my life now. No planned time, and I’m happy as a lark. Set an actual time for me to be somewhere, and the panic sets in about an hour before hand. It’s not “CAN’T LEAVE the HOUSE” panic, but it’s enough to make my stomach feel uneasy and have every desire and urge to call and cancel. I won’t call and cancel, but I want to. I want to in the worst way, but I won’t.

I Hate Moving

I hate moving. I just want to put that out there, because it’s important to know. My husband and I are always looking at real estate, and we’ve thought about moving to a more rural area or the shoreline. The problem is, I hate moving, and so does he. I hate it. No, I don’t just dislike it, I hate it. It’s such a stressful time, and I always underestimate how long it will take me to pack up. I underestimate how many boxes I’ll need, and I underestimate how much space we’ll need.

I’ve moved one too many times for my liking. I can’t imagine how military families move often, because it would drive me nuts. I’m 40 years old, and I’ve moved maybe a total of 2 times as a kid. That’s not stressful, because Mom and Dad do all the work. As an adult, I’ve moved 13 times. I’ve moved from this apartment to that one. I’ve moved from this town to that one, and most of the moves were never more than an hour’s distance, but you still have to go through the process all over again! You’d think I’d have it down to a science by now, but I don’t. I hate moving.

From this point on, I will not move without movers. Did you know that there are movers who will not only move you, but some will even pack your house for you? I didn’t know that until a little bit ago. My mom said they hired movers who moved everything for us, including packing our house years ago. What? I didn’t know! Now that I’m connected to the internet, I’ve got access to tons of information at my fingertips when it comes to things like moving. There’s a website called HomeBulletin.net that actually has tons of information like quotes, storage sources, last minute movers, and even specialty movers. You can even get a quote, which means no guessing what that move is going to cost you.

I like their articles that offer things like tips, a checklist, and even a moving glossary. It talks about the difference between binding and non binding, simple explanations of things like force majeure, and details advanced charges for you.

I will not be moving without movers in the future. I’m tired of moving myself, and packing myself. I’ve hired little local guys to transport some of my bigger stuff before, but next time, I’m doing it all. I’m calling, getting a quote, and having them do everything!  Maybe I can go back to scanning those real estate ads again after all!

Being Off Schedule Makes Me Dizzy

I can’t seem to figure out what I want to eat today. I’ve been in grazing mood, but that means I’ll end up snacking and picking, and maybe not making the best choices. I’ve had a couple nuts, some seeds, a few animal crackers, and that’s not enough.

I hate trying to get back on track, because I feel like I’m so off course. My eating patterns were totally different when we were away, and we ate a more solid breakfast some days than I’m used to. I wake up and wonder if I should make a solid breakfast, or go back to my breakfast bar that’s high protein.

I love a spontaneous schedule, but I have such a hard time getting back on a pattern. See, the thing is, I need patterns. Without patterns, I’m a mess. I’m very inconsistent when I’m not on a schedule. I forget to do things like take my medicine, eat, and even lose track of time easier. I sound like I’m a toddler! That’s the thing, when I’m on a pattern, I make sure each thing gets accomplished, without it I flounder.

Now…schedule me an appointment, and I resent that you’re cutting into my time! Silly isn’t it? Maybe one day, I’ll figure out why I’m this way.

What Types of Books Do You Read?

I’m in the middle of reading “Sellevision” by Augusten Burroughs. I have his “Possible Side Effects” to read also. I’ve loved every other book he wrote, so I know I’ll enjoy these.

I’d heard so much about Christopher Moore books, so I finally decided to read some of his work as well. I’m thinking I’ll start those next week. I hope it’s another author I fall in love with. I love silly, zany fun books, so I’m thinking these will be right up my alley. Total Carl Hiaasen fan here too, my favorite of his books is “Stormy Weather”.  That book cracked me up! I love a good laugh-out-loud read. What types of books do you like to read?

I used to read Dean Koontz and Mary Higgins Clark, but the MHC books started to get too predictable for me. Dean Koontz, I think there were one or two that I had a hard time getting into, and I guess I got away from him. I love Dean Koontz books though, and have read tons and tons of them. I guess I’ve just missed the last few years of his. Maybe I’ll give him a try again when I finish my others.

Back and Mellow

I’m back from my trip and I had a great time. I’m so mellow this morning, and that isn’t serving me well. Okay, well it’s got me totally relaxed which is wonderful, but what happens is it takes me forever to get back into my efficient work pattern.

Hey, the word okay was just underlined by my spell checker, and suggested “tokay”…hahahaha, that cracked me up.

Anyway, here I am looking at my picture disk, and I want to crop and grab all those bad boys off of there. It’s still sitting there, and my hand isn’t reaching over to do it. My brain isn’t being too demanding today! It’s still lingering on the beach, feeling the breeze, the sun on my skin, and it wants no part of sitting at this computer desk!

Hmmm, wonder if my trainer will care that I’m mellow? NOT! ha

I Have to Change the Station Again

I’m over at Abt Electronics checking out some products. My eye is on the TV’s, and if I can’t convince my husband it’s time to upgrade the television, he just may get one for the holidays! I’m ready to get into the HD experience. When you don’t have it, your picture is fine, and it looks good. Then you see it somewhere else, and you go “WOW!” and realize maybe you do want it after all. That’s me right now!

They have so many different things, I can check for everything from a big screen television to a humidifier wick! I’m not kidding you, they have a huge selection of things.

The other thing that I’ve been looking at is satellite radio. I’ve been one of those people that goes, “I’m not paying for radio, when I get it free.” Then I started listening to it at the trainer’s studio. I love the variety, the lack of commercials, and the huge selection of stations. Let me mention, that if I drive 15 minutes to the west, I lose half of my radio stations and have to switch them! One I get to keep, and that’s talk radio. What about my music choices? I’m sorry to say, that I have to have two sets of stations. I sit between Philly and New York and don’t have my own dedicated stations in this area of New Jersey! Drive down route 78, and another 15 minutes in the other direction has me changing stations yet again. Only this time, I need a different set of stations, because my second set of stations doesn’t work in that direction! I have to find Philly stations in one direction, and New York stations in the other! Laugh if you want, but it’s frustrating. Satelite radio would solve that issue, and I’m about ready to go for it!

I’m not sure if I’d go with portable or fixed yet, so I’ll have to poke around some more. Abt Electronics has so many to choose from, so I can check them all out thoroughly. Maybe it will go on my Christmas list!

Chopped 2 Inches Off

There’s the pic. I just took a few inches off the back…why I do these things, sometimes I have no idea. Here’s the end result! Hey, look….my dimple is showing on the one side! I have them on both sides…got them from my Dad. It made me smile when I saw that!