Mom's Many Projects

Don't Forget the New Blog Site!

2010-02-25T00:18:00.000-05:00

I've been having a lot of fun with my new blog site at http://momsmanyprojects.wordpress.com/ so don't forget to join me there!

You can subscribe to the new blog either through email or an RSS feeder such as Google Reader!

See you there!

New Blog Site!

2010-02-16T19:24:00.000-05:00

This post is to inform my followers here that my new Mom's Many Projects blog is about to get started. You can find it at http://momsmanyprojects.wordpress.com/. I'll be working to build on it as I go. Right now it's a clean slate! I look forward to seeing you all there!

Bye-Bye For Now!

2010-02-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

My blog is going to end for now, but don't worry! It'll be back and hopefully better than ever! It just might take me a little bit and a possible change in venue.

There are reasons for temporarily closing it down:

I'm having problems coming up with any posts at all
I want to make the posts I do write more interesting (find my voice, come up with good titles and subjects, etc.)
I'm not sure I want to keep Blogger (I may either go to Wordpress and/or buy my own domain name)
My time is extremely limited and that makes it hard to run a blog when it's not running well

I think those are pretty good reasons overall. I really want to have a blog that is personal, but professional. I want to learn all those things other blogs are doing that I have no idea how to do (sell ad space, have guest posts, etc.). I want to run my blog and not the other way around.

I'll announce my new blog when it becomes available here with a link to the new blog and on Twitter.

Goodbye for now! I hope to see you at the new blog when it becomes available!

Temporary Halt to Financial Info

2010-02-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

I'm going to temporarily halt my monthly financial information posts. I would like to re-configure my blog, but don't have a lot of time to completely do this as yet due to school. It will still be basically the same, however I want to add more content than just the weekly lists and monthly financial info. I may want to do a more daily or weekly format covering all subjects, though I need to think about it a bit more first as to how I want to do that.

Weekly List -- February 1st

2010-02-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

Last week's list:

Need To Do

Decide whether to do my Women & Crime project on Christine Falling or Terri Rachals and finish the project proposal. (Completed. I've decided to do my paper on Christine Falling using the differential association theory, the social process theory, and the MacDonald Triad.)
Finish reading Reviving Ophelia for the Women's Mental Health class and start the book review. (Completed)
Go to Barnes & Noble to peruse the teen magazines to do Women's Mental Health homework assignment. :-) (Completed. It was Books-a-Million though...I got confused...lol.)

Want To Do

Work more on my plants and garden spaces. (My strawberries are looking really nice! Another few days and I should be able to hang up the bag. Haven't worked much on the garden space, but I have found some better ideas on how to design & where to place plants in my garden. Going to rework it little by little.)

This week's list:

Need To Do

Write my Reviving Ophelia book review paper for the Women's Mental Health class.
Choose and submit the research paper topic for the Sex Offenders class.
Finish reading chapters 6, 8, and 9 for Exam I for the Women & Crime class.

Want To Do

There are a lot of things I want to do, but I'll probably not get to them. So I'll stick with working more on my plants and garden spaces again.

COBRA Coverage

2010-01-30T22:17:00.000-05:00

We finally got the paperwork today for our COBRA coverage, since our insurance expires tomorrow. The normal cost for the family coverage for both medical and dental is $880.36 per month! This is why we didn't get COBRA the last time hubby was out of work! It's incredibly expensive for someone that is not receiving a paycheck. Heck, it's expensive for someone that IS working!

Luckily, we may not have to pay the entire amount in order to get the insurance coverage due to ARRA or The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This reduces the premiums by 65%! Much more manageable!

We still have to fill out a form online to be approved for the reduction, but once we are, then we'll only have to pay $308.13 per month for coverage. It's still higher than we were paying, but much more affordable than $880!

Weekly List -- January 25th

2010-01-25T17:35:00.000-05:00

Last week's list:

Need To Do

Continue with the school work. I really want to see how far ahead I can get in most of my classes. Three of the four are pretty easy to get through. The fourth one is reading/notes intensive so takes a little longer. (I'm still at a nice comfortable 2 week lead on my school work.)
Get an idea of where I am with tax documents and make a list of what is still needed. I would like to get my taxes started online as soon as possible. The extra money will be a nice extra buffer. (I started my taxes, but ran into snags with some missing documents--1099-R, 1099-SA, mortgage interest, college amounts paid, etc. Guess I'm waiting a couple more weeks to make sure I've received everything before finishing up the taxes!)

Want To Do

Work on fixing up the garden beds. I only have two complete right now, but they have to be tilled to get rid of some weeds that has grown in while they haven't been used. (The more I think about it, the more I believe the whole thing needs to be redone except for one of the garden beds. I haven't had the time lately...but I'd like to rework the garden soon. I really need a tiller first though to do a good job. Perhaps I can rent one for a day or two!)

This week's list:

Need To Do

Decide whether to do my Women & Crime project on Christine Falling or Terri Rachals and finish the project proposal.
Finish reading Reviving Ophelia for the Women's Mental Health class and start the book review.
Go to Barnes & Noble to peruse the teen magazines to do Women's Mental Health homework assignment. :-)

Want To Do

Work more on my plants and garden spaces.

More Fruit Plants!

2010-01-20T17:14:00.000-05:00

I went back to Lowe's because I just couldn't resist the berry plants. I got another blueberry bush (the other variety they had), a raspberry, and a blackberry. I planted the blueberry today, but I'm still deciding where to put the raspberry and blackberry. All of these are being planted in my backyard, which faces south and gets a ton of sun. I'm considering putting one up against the house near the garden area and the other next to the side fence. That way I can lean something against them, if needed, for the plants to climb on and give them more support. I'll have to stand in my backyard for a little bit and try to picture it before I dig.

Gardening Supplies

2010-01-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

We went to Lowe's today to pick up some gardening supplies so I can grow some veggies soon and get some started indoors. I bought:

2 packs of Jiffy peat strips. They are biodegradable pots linked together in groups of 10 with 5 in each pack
a bag of Miracle Grow Garden Soil
3 cheap plastic paint tray liners (at $0.79 each this was much cheaper than buying garden trays to hold my biodegradable pots)
plant labels
Veggie seeds: crimson giant radish, bush champion cucumber, granex hybrid onion, tenderpick beans, and nasturtium (a flower, but I heard they are edible, too, and keep bugs away!)
a blueberry bush

I already had some chives seeds, cherry tomato seeds, dill seeds, and some strawberry plants.

This afternoon I planted the blueberry bush outside (though it looks more like a twig than a bush right now...crossing fingers I planted it right) and started the chives, onions, and cherry tomato seeds indoors. I think I'd like to get another blueberry bush (Lowe's had two different kinds) and a raspberry plant. They were only $4.98 each for 2 year old plants. That's a great price to try your hand at growing them! Or at least to me it is.

I'll sow the other seeds outside in a few weeks once I have tended to my garden plots. Some weeds have grown up since I first constructed them. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to make any more of them so anything that doesn't fit will be grown in big containers for now. I've had success with container veggies in the past.

I'll have to plant the strawberries in the next couple of days. We'll see how that goes...I've never planted them either.

Another big garden project is to remove all the grass from the rest of the garden area. I know there's a machine out there that is supposed to make it easier, but I may have to do it with my Black & Decker cultivator. A little more work than I want to do, however leaving the grass there, lining it with cardboard, and building garden beds and paths on top didn't work out well in the long run. The cardboard was no match for the Bahia grass we have. So I'm pretty much starting out from scratch on some of my garden.

Weekly List -- January 18th

2010-01-18T17:23:00.001-05:00

Last week's list:

Need To Do

My big "need to do" this week is to get a jump start on all my new school work! I have a ton that is due in two weeks, but I also have a bunch of projects and papers to write that I'll need time to do without other school work distractions. So my plan this week is to get ahead by at least 2 weeks! (I think I'm doing pretty good! I'm ahead by 3 weeks on 3 of my classes. On the 4th class, I am a little behind (only 1 week ahead), but it's not really that much work and once finished I'll be 2 weeks ahead in that class)

Want To Do

I want to do a lot of things...I just don't think I'll have the time now to even try! We'll see at the end of the week if I was able to throw in any additional to do items! (I was able to get some plants going for my garden, though my garden is looking a little sad and needs some TLC before planting)

This week's list:

Need To Do

Continue with the school work. I really want to see how far ahead I can get in most of my classes. Three of the four are pretty easy to get through. The fourth one is reading/notes intensive so takes a little longer.
Get an idea of where I am with tax documents and make a list of what is still needed. I would like to get my taxes started online as soon as possible. The extra money will be a nice extra buffer.

Want To Do

Work on fixing up the garden beds. I only have two complete right now, but they have to be tilled to get rid of some weeds that has grown in while they haven't been used.

Weekly List -- January 11th

2010-01-11T20:10:00.000-05:00

Last week's list:

Need To Do

Call Fidelity about 401K transfers to Vanguard. (We called and took care of it. They are sending a check made out to Vanguard.)
Get a haircut on Wednesday! (I didn't quite make it so it must not have been that much of a "need to do" at all!)

Want To Do

Clean office desk area in preparation for new classes (this will be a big job as it's gotten to be a mess. I'll leave the whole office for later, but I need an area to open a textbook at least!) (My main area around my computer is A LOT neater than it was before. I actually have some space to write down a note or open a book!)
Finish up project for teacher at son's school (I was supposed to have this done ages ago, but it has given me all kinds of problems...now I just want it done!) (Apparently I don't want it done that bad! I never did get to this!)

This week's list is now school directed:

Need To Do

My big "need to do" this week is to get a jump start on all my new school work! I have a ton that is due in two weeks, but I also have a bunch of projects and papers to write that I'll need time to do without other school work distractions. So my plan this week is to get ahead by at least 2 weeks!

Want To Do

I want to do a lot of things...I just don't think I'll have the time now to even try! We'll see at the end of the week if I was able to throw in any additional to do items!

School Has Started Again!

2010-01-11T11:18:00.000-05:00

Back to school I go! My classes have now officially started for the Spring 2010 term, which runs from today (January 11, 2010) through the end of April. As usual, all my classes are online. I have four classes this term and here is a general breakdown of what I need to do in each of them:

1. Forensic Psychology - 2 Books, 10 Modules, 10 Quizzes, Unit Homework Questions, Discussions, Book Review Paper, and a Final Exam.

2. Women's Mental Health - 2 Books, 12 Modules, 12 Quizzes, Unit Homework Questions, Discussions, 2 Book Review Papers, and a Final Exam.

3. Sex Offenders and the Criminal Justice System - 1 Book, 8 Modules, 8 Quizzes, Discussions, Research Paper, and a Final Exam.

4. Women and Crime - 1 Book, 14 Segments (Modules), Impact Summary Paper, Written Project, 2 Exams, 3 Quizzes, Discussions, and a Final Exam.

This term seems to have the most writing projects and papers that I've ever had at one time. I should be alright if I get a little bit ahead on the work. Though I can see a lot of hard times if I end up falling behind!

No Resolutions! One Big Goal!

2010-01-10T15:49:00.000-05:00

I really dislike the idea of New Year's resolutions. No one ever keeps them because they either make too many resolutions or unattainable ones.

So what's the point?

I'd rather make reasonable goals throughout the year. Usually that means making many attainable short-term goals along with a couple of long-term goals, then going over them periodically to see how I'm doing, make adjustments, etc.

Not this year!

I have one big goal this year and nothing else because it's the only thing I want to concentrate on and get done this year! And that is to finish my Bachelor's degree.

Reasonably I should be able to finish it this year, though I know there may be one thing out of my control that could squash the completion of it and that is availability of classes. If that's the case, then I am prepared to extend my school time into the Spring term of 2011, but no longer than that!

What are your goals? Is there one thing you are anxious to complete?

6 Textbooks Sold!

2010-01-06T20:48:00.003-05:00

So far I've sold 6 textbooks on Half.com. A majority of them were not expensive textbooks, but I'm happy to say I've made over $100! Not bad considering I paid for them originally with grant and scholarship money. I'm hoping I'll be able to sell at least a couple more with the new term starting on Monday.

Weekly List -- January 4th

2010-01-04T16:20:00.001-05:00

I didn't quite manage all of last week's list, but I did get some of them done. Considering it was a holiday week and my youngest son's 8th birthday, I guess it was acceptable.

Need To Do

Call Vanguard to see if they can help transfer funds from hubby's two old 401K's. I opened an account for him, but I need to have the funds transferred. (didn't have to call them so I'll consider this completed)
Call Fidelity and Merrill Lynch about 401K transfers to Vanguard, if not already taken care of by Vanguard. (was able to complete the Merrill Lynch one online. The Fidelity one will still need to be called. They were closed on Friday...hubby and I never got around to calling today due to other errands/calls)
Get a desperately needed haircut. I guess this could be a want, not a need, but it's driving me crazy! The boys got theirs today. (another fail...I didn't have the chance to get my hair cut yet. I'll try on Wednesday.)

Want To Do

List books on Half.com that were put on Craig's List and were supposed to be sold prior to Christmas, but the woman didn't show up for them after several conversations. Grrr... (I listed these really nice Time Life books and more! I do have some more books to list--mostly romance and children's books--but I'm not in a hurry with them. I've also sold 4 textbooks so far for a total of just over $100! Not surprising since college classes start soon!)
Work on the kitchen floor some more...would at least like to get all the linoleum backing scraped off the concrete. (hubby scraped almost all of the floor. There is only a small piece left to scrape so I'll call this one complete)
Finish shredding the growing paper pile. (ummm...I put them in a small bag so it looks done...lol. OK...I failed to complete this one)
Cut tops of crepe myrtle trees to see if I can stimulate their further growth. The tops are pretty dead, but there has been some additional life to the trees elsewhere since they were planted in 2003 and beat up from the 2004 hurricanes, so I want to try everything before having no choice but to take them out. (it ended up too cold to even consider getting on a ladder to trim up the trees. I'll have to save this for when it gets a little warmer. Who could guess it would get into the 20s and 30s in Florida!)

This is my last week to accomplish some "extra" things that I normally don't have time for because my Spring term classes start next Monday. At the same time I also want to use this week to just relax a little since I know I'll be busy with the four classes.

Need To Do

Call Fidelity about 401K transfers to Vanguard.
Get a haircut on Wednesday!

Want To Do

Clean office desk area in preparation for new classes (this will be a big job as it's gotten to be a mess. I'll leave the whole office for later, but I need an area to open a textbook at least!)
Finish up project for teacher at son's school (I was supposed to have this done ages ago, but it has given me all kinds of problems...now I just want it done!)