All I've ever wanted is to make a difference in someone's life.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Cheap Batteries

The hubby found a really great deal on industrial strength batteries.
I know a lot of you have kiddies, so this may come in handy, especially around birthdays and Christmas:


Energizer Industrial Alkaline Batteries

Energizer Industrial Alkaline batteries are the perfect power solution for all your household and industrial needs. We save you money on AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt batteries. Alkaline batteries go the distance in giving your tools and devices lasting fuel they need to keep delivering excellent results. We even sell the hard to find alkaline 9 volt battery by Energizer at a low price. Having your alkaline batteries shipped to you is a great way to stock up and pay less so that you're prepared for every household and work need.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

In Loving Memory

My Grandma on my dad's side recently passed away...



LORAIN — Anna Terebeckij, age 83, of Lorain, died on Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Anchor Lodge Nursing Home following a brief illness. She was born May 19, 1926 in Batschiw, Ukraine.

Anna was employed as the head cook at Harvest House in Woolworth's at the Elyria Mall for 16 years. She also had worked for Airport Tavern on Oberlin Avenue. Anna worked in the food service industry for 30 years altogether.

She was a member of the St. John Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church, where she was also a member of the Apostleship of Prayer. Anna enjoyed her flower garden and cooking. She was an exceptional cook, and that was what she was known for.

She is survived by her daughters, Sophia Sperry-Stanchak, Olga Lydick, Mary (Thomas) Maziarz-Webb, Dianne Pelton, and Anna "Susie" Lopez, 15 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Mikolaj "Mike" in 1997, son, Ores in 1997, grandson, Andre Michael Lopez in 1977, her parents, Antruck and Anastasia (nee Kurol), two brothers and three sisters.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

10 Money Saving Tips

Since I will be working only part time after next week, I have had to come up with some strategies for cutting finances and saving money. I looked on line for ideas and even read a book that recommended buying a goat. LOL While I won't be doing that, the following are some of the better ideas I will be doing:

1. Plan your meals
Yes, plan out your meals for the week so that you are not buying food you will not use. This will help to eliminate wasted food and wasted money.

2. Eat your food
Okay, so you've planned your meals for the week. Eat what you buy. Commit to this. Try to stay away from feeling lazy and not cooking. It's okay to eat out, but try to limit that to once a week. And see #7 below.

3. Reevaluate your cable/phone/internet service.
Consider downgrading your Internet service if you can cope with a slower connection. Also, think about whether or not you need 9,000 cable channels, caller ID, voice mail and call waiting.

4. Reevaluate your car insurance
Consider increasing your deductible. Is the entire household on the same insurance? This could get you a multi-car discount. Also, most insurance companies offer several different types of insurance (renters, for example). Taking multiple types of insurance through the same carrier can allow for discounts as well.

5. Stop buying things you don't need
Seems logical, huh? Well, it is. Stop the impulse buying. Before making a purchase, think "Do I really need this? or " Can I live without this?"

6. Cancel clubs
Self explanatory. Cancel wine clubs, book clubs and gym memberships you have not used for more than a year.

7. Happy hour/taco Tuesday
This can be a great way to save money. Allow yourself to dine out once a week. But, be smart about it. Hit your local pub for happy hour and taco Tuesdays. They will usually have half price adult bevs and $1 tacos.

8. Dinner specials at the grocery store
Check your local grocery store for dinner specials. The Albertson's down the street from us offers an 8-piece chicken dinner, coleslaw, potato wedges and a 2 liter of Coke for $7.99. This will usually feed us for 2 days!

9. Turn off the lights/unplug things
When you leave a room, turn off the light. Consider whether you need so many lights on at night and replace bulbs with those of a lower wattage. Look around your house for outlets. Is there anything unnecessarily plugged in? For example, we have a kegorator. When it does not have beer in it, it's unplugged and we have a phone system with 4 phones around the house. Once they are charged, they get unplugged. Also, consider unplugging your cable boxes when they are not in use.

10. Buy things on special
This may take a little more work, but it's worth it. Look at the ads you get in the mail that you may normally just throw away. For example, if you see something on special at CVS buy it. Then look at your grocery store ad, then the Rite Aid ad, etc. You will have to travel to separate locations, but you will save $$$.

Other money saving ideas include changing your hairdresser to a less expensive salon, or trying to color your hair yourself. However, tread cautiously with this one ladies! Also, try using coupons. Many stores will have double or triple coupon days. Look for these. Try the generic versions of pricey products. They often contain the same ingredients. And, go to matinees instead of evening show times at the movies.

Times are tight for many of use given the economy and the loss of our job. I hope this was helpful. If you have additional ideas, please share them!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Ookisa review

Okay, this is kind weird, but, I got this stuff and was not able to find any kind of review on it on the web. So, this is my review.

I was on some website (US weekly?) that had an ad for a shampoo line that promised "breathtaking volume. Mesmerizing shine. And unyielding resilience." for your hair. AND, you can try the products for FREE (or so I thought...so gullible). Anyways, when I got the stuff, it came with an invoice that I did not really look at, because I thought it was "free," except for $2.00 in shipping. I did some more searching on line and read about one woman ordering the products and realizing once her credit card was charged a month later that there was actually a TRIAL period of 30 days.

So, I went back to previously discarded invoice and noticed that yep, it is indeed a 30 day trial. I decided to try the stuff anyway. Hey, at worst I'll just return it and pay shipping. So, after trying the stuff for about 3 weeks now, I feel like I can offer a decent review of the product (unsolicited advertising here).

The trial system comes with three parts: shampoo, conditioner and something called the Nighttime Follicle Renewing Serum (this stuff promised hair regrowth too). The shampoo was very cleansing for my hair, but made it feel kind of dry. My hair takes a lot of abuse from me (coloring, straightening) and so I need something that is really moisturizing. Well, the conditioner makes up in that area for the shampoo. They both smell great, too, and are completely natural. Overall, thumbs up on these two. I did not notice any "hair regrowth" during that time however.

But, the "Nighttime Follicle Renewing Serum" sucked. It totally burned my scalp. You put it on at night and leave it on while you sleep. I tried it a few times, but could not get over the burning, so stopped using it. I ran out of the conditioner way before the shampoo, too. All in all, the shampoo and conditioner are not bad products. I might even purchase them, except for the price. Get this - you can order the complete system for only $89.99! And, they will send you the product each month automatically. No thanks.

My hair dresser recently recommended another product that I really, really, love. Its Pantene Ice Shine, and it's VERY moisturizing for my hair! Love it!
Girly post over.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Just stuff

Well, with comps now over, I'm moving onto my next focus: my new part time internship. I will be interning at Providence Community Services, working with severely emotionally disturbed kids. This is what I want to do with my life! I think..... we'll see.

But, over the last few weeks I have also been going back and forth with my boss regarding my j-o-b. It seems he does not like my school and internship schedule much and is forcing me to resign. Perfect.

It now looks like he's going to let me work part time, a couple days a week, and the weekends. This will be sufficient I suppose. At least I won't be as stressed as in the past working full time, going to school full time and doing the part time internship thingy.

Only 2 more weeks of full time employment!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Comps Day 2

Well, day 1 was horribly tough! 12 hours of grueling work.

Wish me luck as I head into day 2 - Ethics and Statistics!

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Comprehensive Exams

I'm getting ready to take the Comps next week and am immersed in Monday's sections: Psychopathology and Psychological Testing and Assessment. I have 12 hours and 16 pages to answer questions ranging anywhere from Bi-Polar Disorder to Dissociative Identity Disorder to Alcoholism to Anxiety and Depression AND the MMPI-2, the PAI, the Rorschach and the WAIS-III (and other psychological tests!).

This is the hardest thing I will probably ever do academically.
Wish me luck!!!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Wow - has it really been so long?

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. I guess time flies when you are busy. I have been wrapping up my part-time internship and am preparing for next year's. I will be working with severely emotionally disturbed kids. Should be a good learning experience. I also wrapped up my summer semester at school. Hard to believe I will be startingg my third year soon. Whew. It's almost over (the school part) - one more year of that.

I am also preparing for comps (comprehensive exams). They happen the week of Aug. 10 and will be a total biotch. They are a series of exams over everything we have learned thus far. I get a bunch of questions a 9am and have until 9pm to respond. The next day, the same thing. All week long! Ugg

In the midst of all that, I have started the application process for my big, full time internship. Apps are due by mid-December, so I have some time. But, I know it will sneak up on me fast.

Lastly, I have started my dissertation. Quess what it's on? The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Substance Use, Gambling Behaviors, Problem Severity and Personality Variables. Should be interesting. I wanted to do something with kids, but it turns out that it's way to difficutl to get approval from the Internal Review Board. So, I am examining adult behaviors as related to childhood.

I miss keeping in touch with you all! Ray and I will likely make the trip to Vegas in December, so I look forward to that!