How to Deal with School Fundraising Overwhelm

How to Deal with School Fundraising Overwhelm

by | Feb 28, 2013

It’s school fundraising season. Moms and dads can relate to this annoying  ritual (getting asked to buy cookie dough or wrapping paper at inflated prices.) And how do you say no to your cute neighbor?Stacey Boyd, a former school administrator and mom founder of Savvy Source, a national resource

Stacey Boyd, a former school administrator and mom founder of Savvy Source, a national resource on finding good schools, has 5 key tips:

1. Best to set a budget and pace yourself throughout the year. Don’t blow your budget on the first cutie knocking on your door with candy bars.

2. Consider just making a straight donation with a smile instead of buying the cookie dough you don’t really want — so the fundraiser makes more profit!

3. Remember that this is an opportunity for kids to learn valuable lessons around responsibility, social skills, and money – they’ll remember the way you make them feel!

4. Contribute to fundraisers that you’re personally passionate about to make sure they get the larger share of what you can give

5. Find programs that allow you to give back in a way that’s easy and inline with what you already plan to spend. One powerful way to do that is through sites like Schoola.com Schools, parents and national brands have come together with fantastic savings – and generous school donations of up to 35% each purchase. Go to schoola.com to save and the potential to raise thousands for your school!

The Pain and Healing in Letting Go

The Pain and Healing in Letting Go

by | Feb 20, 2013

NoMoreCrumbsBkCoverSmI said goodbye to a very long, emotionally unsatisfying and draining relationship the other day. Saying goodbye was tough, but it is very necessary in order for me to be healthy for myself and my kids.

It hurts because there is void left in the space where the person I said goodbye to occupied. But in occupying that space that person was causing damage to my soul so saying goodbye is the healthiest, most self-compassionate thing I could do.

Giving myself a chance to fill that space with someone who will take care of it with love, nurture, and joy is the best gift I can ever give to myself.

Permission to Release

Releasing the old, hurtful past and people makes way for the new and wondrous. I had to give myself permission to release, let go, and move forward to an entirely new book, phase, or adventure in my life. It was a process, this releasing.

The old way was familiar even though it did not serve me or feel like a healing agent. It had become corroded and festering.

It was time to eject this person from my life or I risked having my entire life infected in a way that would be permanently damaging for me and my children. Letting go and allowing the empty space to start healing so it will be open and ready to receive the love and adoration I deserve is self-care.

I spent a little time wondering if I did the right thing. I began to rehash things and place blame on them and myself. Then I stopped to breathe and understand that we all have this little (or ginormous) thing called and ego.

I let the truth about ego sink in my heart and mind. When people (including me) operate from an ego perspective, we are essentially operating from fear and fear causes us to do some really unhealthy things.

We reject, abandon, criticize, and abuse the people we say we love. The fear becomes the driving force and we are blinded by our own selfish and/or unmet needs. We hurt so we hurt others.

Sometimes we get caught in another person’s ego/fear vortex and we find ourselves swirling around in a tornado of emotionally damaging relationships.

It’s hard to get out when there is so much emotionally invested in this kind of relationship. But I’ve found an inner strength that’s rooted in love, which is the opposite of fear.

This love I’ve found is for me and grows inside of me. It motivates me to take better care of myself, my heart, so I don’t continue to live inside of the ego/fear vortex of pain created by another person.

But I choose to live in a peaceful place filled with harmony and I realize that no matter how much I want the ego-based person to come into my space, until they can let go of the fear, my world will be too foreign for them.

They would be uncomfortable and fight to get out. In that fighting they would damage my heart and I can’t let that happen because I have a right to be healthy, happy, and whole, not just for me, but for the young people I am charged with teaching to live a healthy love-based life.

Is there someone you need to release? How will it impact your life? Your kids’ lives? Are you operating from or creating an ego/fear vortex? How willing are you to do whatever it takes to create a peaceful life?

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Order No More Crumbs the book for smart women who feel anything but when it comes to romantic relationships
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15 Tips to Make Your Trip to the Pump Less Painful

15 Tips to Make Your Trip to the Pump Less Painful

by | Feb 19, 2013

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Have you noticed that the gas prices are steadily inching up? I have and it seems like I get a new gray hair with every penny increase. In some cases it’s jumped ten to 15 cents overnight. If you have been looking for ways to save money at the pump, here are a few tried and true ideas. My dad, a mechanic, told me about a few of them long ago when I got my first car, but there are a few things I didn’t know. Read these tips and start using them ASAP!

1. Fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 am. Gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel.  10 am is when most station owners make their price change for the day.  Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

2. Don’t let your car idle, either when you warm it up or when you are at a standstill. If you’re going to be standing for more than a minute, running your engine wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

3. Buy gas when it’s cooler during the day (like the early morning or at night) to reduce gas evaporation.

4. Remove unnecessary items in your car. Every 250 extra pounds eats up an extra mile per gallon of gas.

5. Avoid the convenient gas station on the side of the highway as you drive home from work which can be up to $.15 more per gallon.

6. Save money with self-service and look for gas stations where paying cash costs the same as using a credit or debit card.

7. Double check the attendant and ensure, if you are paying by cash, that “cash” is noted on the pump.  You could lose $.05 a gallon if he mistakenly presses “credit.”

8. Drive less – combine errands, carpool, and plot out the shortest route with a driving website beforehand.  It may sound obvious but it is often overlooked.

9. Check for traffic and detours online or on the radio prior to beginning your drive to avoid wasteful backtracking and idling.

10. Keep your windows closed when driving on the highway. Open windows can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 10%.  In stop-and-go traffic, open the windows and turn off the air conditioning to save more money.

11. Rent fuel-efficient cars when you travel and research reasonably priced places to buy gas before you leave.

12. Confirm with your mechanic what octane gasoline your car’s engine really needs.  Most car engines do not require high octane though the manual will say its “recommended.”

13. Download a Gas App for your phone.  If you have a Smartphone, there are plenty of free apps that help you find the cheapest gas near your destination. GasBuddy makes it easy with its free app, and Mapquest has an online finder for gas prices.

14. Buy Discount Gas Gift Cards – Did you know you don’t have to pay full price for a gift card? Sites like GiftCardGranny.com offer a diverse selection of discount gas gift cards from various card vendors.

15. Be loyal to one gas company and get rewarded with its cash-back credit card reward program.

Chris Faulkner is President and Chief Executive Officer Breitling Oil and Gas, (www.BreitlingOilandGas.com), a Dallas-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

Turn on your radar! How to detect men who don’t like kids

Turn on your radar! How to detect men who don’t like kids

by | Feb 11, 2013

Sponsored Post

Whether you’re looking to meet the right guy to start a family with, or you’re a single mom with little ones of her own, finding eligible guys who want the same things can be a challenge.

If you know in your heart that you want children, finding ‘the one’ means being able to read the signs as to whether or not the men you’re dating feel the same way. This can be tricky – after all, talking about kids and marriage on a first date is often considered a no-no.

But there are some ways to read a guy before you get too involved, to try and establish whether or not he’s on the same page. Here are some tell-tale signs he’s not into the idea.

He thinks the world is a terrible place

Some guys think that the world is full of bad people and inherent evil, and that bringing a child into it is a selfish thing to do. Guys like these often had terrible childhoods and are frightened of inflicting that pain onto someone else.

 

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdsmith1021/6988492182/

He’s selfish 

Then there are guys who are so wrapped up in themselves that they can’t imagine finding the time to raise kids. They’re too busy working long hours, going to the gym, and drinking with their buddies. They don’t want anything to tear them away from that!

He’s still a boy at heart 

This kind of guy could never have kids because he’s too busy being a child himself. Maybe he still lives with his parents, spends his days playing video games or can’t cook anything without burning it. This is a sign that he may not be ready to bring kids into the world: there’s not enough room for the both of them.

 

 

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He’s already got them

 Sometimes you’ll meet a man who’s already a great dad – to someone else’s children. In some cases, he’ll be happy enough with the kids he already has and won’t be interested in starting a new family. This can be tough, as he’ll already have preconceived ideas of what it means to have kids, and may be burned by his own divorce or separation.

Ultimately, if finding a guy who wants to have kids – or who’ll help you raise your own – is a priority, then you’ll find that person. Have a look at a dating website, such as eHarmony.ca, where you can narrow your search to include people who want to make kids a priority.

If you’re interested in Catholic dating, or just looking for singles who want kids in your local area, there’s sure to be someone out there who sees eye-to-eye with you on the big issues. Continue to be patient and know that the right person is out there – you’re just going to have to look for him.

 

“I’m Supposed To Do What Now?” Easy Home Maintenance Now to DIY to Save Money Later

“I’m Supposed To Do What Now?” Easy Home Maintenance Now to DIY to Save Money Later

by | Feb 7, 2013

Guest Post

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I have no shame in admitting that some of the most basic responsibilities of a home owner were delegated to my husband when he lived with us.

When he moved out, I was left with a new set of responsibilities, on top of taking care of the kids and daily menial household chores. I knew nothing about the appliances that ran in our home, I only knew how to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Over time, I realized that the appliances are a functioning part of the family. They need “checkups” like my kids. The key is maintenance; it helps keep your robot friends running smoother and longer. Bottom line: I don’t want to call someone to help me fix something. I’d rather take care of what I have and avoid catastrophe.

So here’s my handy list of “maintenance checks.” It’s next to my list of daily chores on the refrigerator. This is not a checklist to perform every day! Just do it when you have some spare time every few months. It may seem boring, but it will help you spend less time and effort worrying about the next hiccup.

1. Air Filters

Change these according to the kind of air filter you use. Keep in mind, there are alot of different types. If it’s high-efficiency, do it 4 times per year.

2. Dishwasher

Check the seals.

Check for dirt. Lift the float up and clean it out. You can find the float at the front or back of the dishwasher. If there is any debris that restricts its movement, it can cause a leak.

3. Garbage Disposal

Grind ice for a few seconds to sharpen the blades.

Grind citrus peels to keep the disposal smelling fresh and germ-free.

4. Refrigerator

Dust the coils behind the fridge. When they accumulate dust it’s harder for the coils to keep the fridge cool, costing you more money.

Clean the drip pan underneath the fridge. Simply pull it out and rinse it with soapy water.

Clean the gaskets. Those are the things that keep the doors closed and sealed.

5. Washer/Dryer

Wash your washer. This might sound redundant, but it actually has to be cleaned. Try using vinegar or lemon juice and then running it on the hottest cycle.

Clean your dryer vent, located behind your dryer. These things get backed up with dust and causes the dryer to stop working. The interior vent is behind the dryer; undo it and vacuum the vent, the hose, and the back of the dryer. Then go outside and detach the exterior vent from your house and give it a thorough vacuuming.

marieortizHi, I’m Marie Ortiz. I am a blogger, DIY enthusiast, and mother of two beautiful girls. . I am always working on new ways for my girls to develop and learn, and I love to share all of my discoveries along the way. We enjoy working on DIY projects as a family, and they are turning into avid crafters. When I’m not perusing the Internet for inspiration, you can find me at my local farmers’ market or looking for new adventures. You can check me out at www.DIYMother.org.