YourNameUniversity.com is the country’s sole manufacturer of personalized academic apparel and novelty diplomas and certificates with over 165,900 family last names for sale every day.  With over 75 printed and embroidered products, we can personalize products for everyone from infants, parents, and siblings to grandma and grandpa.

90/10 Cotton/Poly Blend Quality Gildan Brand Tee, Personalized Just for ME

Today I’m sporting my very own Bender University personalized t-shirt. I was a bit concerned when I spotted my first glimpse since it looked wide and I had requested a ladies small, but I needn’t have worried. It fits me just fine without making me look like I’m just bumming around. The lettering is of good quality and should last a long time, especially since we rarely use a dryer. Honestly, my only complaint would be the color choice – blue and orange (University of Florida, sigh). I suppose it’s better than maroon and orange (Virginia Tech – ewww!).

Deal Alert

Get your very own University or Property of merchandise from YourNameUniversity.com and save 10% until the end of March (UPDATE) April. Just use code Blog0311.

From AABERG to ZYWIEC: You Can Order 165,981 Names On Over 70 Personalized Apparel Products!

Don’t forget to like YourNameUniversity.com on Facebook, too.

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

YourNameUniversity T-Shirts, Hats, and More is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

When you have nothing to say why say anything?

But if you really must know what I’ve been up to as of late.

There’s the not so good…

I have some thoughts to a solution to the Social Security shortfall. Pretty sure it would be unpopular to all of those who are affected, but overall I believe it has the potential to be a huge money saver, job creator, and help us be healthier. I should outline my plan and send it to the President instead of just telling all of my family…

And my disappointment in knowing I was going to be let down, again. I’m not always a good judge of people on first impressions, but it doesn’t take long for me to see them for who they really are. And all in an effort to make me mad is just sad. I’m not mad, just disappointed – in myself!

I want to scream at the financial aide department of my [former] college for screwing up my last day as a student. This does have a profound effect on the interest on my loans. Their stance – my final loan was at the end of November. But my last day as a student was the end of January the following year! Then why do all of the letters (in general, not collections) ask if I am a full time student again? Obviously it’s not about whether or not I took out a new loan. Two months! Grrrr

Don’t even get me started on my brother. We’re not talking. Actually, he’s not talking to anybody, but even if he were, I don’t want to talk to him. Why? I have nothing nice to say. I’m finally listening to my mother.

And there are good things…

My chickens (all 3 of them) are doing much better after their traumatizing night a few weeks ago. Not sure what it was, but whatever it was slaughtered most of my chickens. The only survivors: the small rooster, one hen, and the baby (who is a hen!).

I’ve been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to review some really cool things lately. Many with giveaways, so you can get in on the fun, too.

I’ve started outlining and drafting a series of short stories geared to children age 6 – 9. Topics will cover the serious, such as death and loss, and the not so serious, such as the change of seasons.

Oh, and let’s not forget I have won a few things in instant win games online this week. The most fun was the 90 My Coke Rewards points I won in the Monopoly game (won 3 times in 1 day). I also won a $10 Amazon GC, a Xeko plushie (stuffed animal of sorts?), Halls cough drops, & a pen.

Just not a lot to add to the value of this blog…

And now I’m off to get ready to take Amanda’s car in for new tires. Maybe there’s a blog post in there somewhere. No? You sure? Yeah, you’re probably right.

What about you? What have you been up to lately?

Reflection: If a Blogger Doesn’t Write a Post and No One is Around to Not Read it, Did it Make a Sound? is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

As with many great series, this one has a post that is not quite a part of the series, but fits with the theme overall. A nice filler until the next part comes out, if you will.

First, why not catch up, I’ll wait…

• Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 1
• Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 2
• Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 3
• Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 4

Goooooo You!

I don’t know about you, but I have a problem seeing myself the way others seem to view me. When my parents tell me how proud of me they are or how far I’ve come, well, I have trouble believing it.

So, when Dwayne told me, yet again, how much I have to offer. I, yet again, thought he just doesn’t see the real me. Or does he?

Sometimes it takes outside influences to make the reality of the situation really sink in.

Yesterday I was watching a movie where the 29 year old woman quit her dead end job, lost her apartment, dumped her pretty great boyfriend, and moved from NYC to Colorado to find herself. What she found was a list of things she wanted to do before she turned 30.

Of all the items on her list the one about forgiving her mother is what resonated with me. See, she felt her mother didn’t think she was good enough. What she learned was her mother thought she capable of anything. Here she had moved across the country to do what she wanted, on her own. She made friends easily, was kind and caring, pretty, and the only thing really holding her back, was a lack of confidence in herself.

Ah, confidence

Dwayne said when he met me I had it. Now I don’t. Something changed and only I have the power to fix it. But how?

Since I’ve been unemployed I don’t really leave the house. Why would I? I go to the grocery store, the drug store, sometimes the mall. I have no friends here. My children have their own lives and are not responsible for keeping me company anyway. I joined a gym in January, but then is snowed so much that I just stopped going. And of course, I’m cheap.

And yet, if I never leave the house I’ll never get over this, whatever it is I need to get over. So, even though I don’t want to pay for a gym membership I have to think about the bigger picture. My mental well-being as well as my physical well-being. Having one place to go may lead to more ventures out. Hanging out at the bookstore. Taking a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Maybe even making a friend or two. And, who knows, I may even find a job!

It’s about time I thought what others think about me. It’s about time I became my own cheerleader.

I am good enough. I am smart enough. And gosh darnit, people like me!

Be Your Own Cheerleader is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Embracing What’s Important

Fall turned to winter, and winter to spring. Spring is a signal of rebirth and change. Big changes were on the horizon.

My mother had been ill for some time now. Not one to go to doctors, she was forever returning to the doctor’s office for answers. She could barely eat, feeling full after a few bites, yet her abdomen was expanding. A cough had developed and breathing was difficult. Months went by before the cyst was found. About the size of a football, no one could say for sure how long it had been growing. What they could say for sure, it was cancer.

Since moving to Virginia I had seen my parents at least once a year. From April 2009 to April 2010 I saw them 4 times. After mom’s hospital stay my parents made it to Virginia to see Megan graduate from high school. In November we drove to Florida for Thanksgiving. And in April my parents took a road trip to visit family in New Jersey, Georgia, and to see us in Virginia.

*******************************

Throughout everything I continued with my studies. Each month a new class would begin. Each month I was growing anxious to finish. I had a break in my classes in December 2009 and my final class in January 2010. My mom was so proud. She had been waiting for this day since I graduated high school and delayed going to college. Sure I was relieved to be graduating, yet I was having second thoughts (a little late, I know) about the whole thing.

What I was discovering was many of the job openings in my area are for people less qualified than me without having the degree. Those jobs wanting a degree either want specific experience (degree required to gain said experience) or they want a Master’s degree. What is a girl to do?

part 5

Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 4 is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

In with the new…

and out with the old.

After an extensive search, the powers that be hired a new boss. I was so excited. No longer would I feel the pull of so many directions. Others warned me to be careful. I had never been one to take any job for granted, but felt I had done a pretty good job holding down the fort and the “new guy” seemed genuine. Now would be the time to get him up to speed and me in a position best suited to my newly proven abilities.

[Note to self: trust those who have proven themselves before those who have not.]

It didn’t take long for the truth to emerge. Compliments in private followed by berating and name-calling in front of and with other managers led to knowing my time was limited. I thought I had about a year, enough time to implement the new accounting system. I was wrong.

By the beginning of November I was no longer among the working class. I was still attending classes and had another year to go before completing my degree. And even with our strained relationship, Dwayne was there for me, for us. It would be many months before I would stop analyzing every moment, every misstep.

*******************************

Nothing is worse than looking for a job in a rural area. Unless you are looking for a job in a rural area during a recession. People were being laid off all over the country and the housing market had finally burst. This was one of the many times I was thankful for a few positive financial choices: owning a home with a low mortgage, finally taking my mother’s advice and banking every raise received for the past 4 years, and finding & embracing the many great couponing/shopping/freebie resources on the web.

part 4

Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 3 is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

We thought things were bad. Little did we know what lie ahead.

It could easily be said the theme for 2008 was relationship issues. All around me I found myself having trouble relating to anyone. At work I was put in charge since no one else was a) around and b) willing to take on the responsibility. This would be my first big lesson in working relationships.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts. (Metaphysica 10f-1045a) – Aristotle

Nowhere is this more clear than in the workplace when leadership is missing. As each person or group of persons was fighting for their own survival, I was busy fighting for the overall survival of organization. Money was tight. Fear was heavy on the minds of anyone who knew anything. Establishing a team to lead everyone else through this storm was priority. The one accomplishment I am most proud of in all my working life, building a team who trusted each other and trusted me.

My first lesson was that I could lead. My second was people would see this as a threat.

Back at home was a horse of an entirely different color. Dwayne and I fought, if we spoke at all. He was collecting unemployment and discouraged by the lack of opportunity. I was going to work early and coming home late. Part of my team building was immersing myself into the job. I interacted with all levels of employees which included me working out 3 or 4 days a week. Physically I was in great shape, but that was about it.

part 3

Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 2 is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Not every scholarship, loan, or contest is for low-income persons. There are opportunities to earn money for college based on residency, major, affiliation, and more. Sometimes being a good writer is the ticket. Other times all it takes is the best photo. Whatever it is you need to find it and go for it.

Here are a few upcoming contests for the college bound:

Ryan and Jamie Smith Essay Contest

• Open to all fields of study; Deadline is August 20, 2010.
• $5,000 award; 1 winner.

The Ryan and Jamie Smith Essay Contest is available to students who are at least 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited educational institution. To enter, you must submit an essay of less than 1000 words on the following topic: “What do you feel is an appropriate balance between being successful financially and the need to serve others by giving back?”

1800Mattress.com “Next Commercial” Contest

• Open to all fields of study; Deadline is October 1, 2010.
• $5,000 award; 1 winner.

The 1800Mattress.com “Next Commercial” Contest is open to college students who are at least 18 years of age. To enter, you must create a 60 second commercial that showcases how a 1800mattress enhances a good nights sleep and takes your nights sleep to the next level. The 1800Mattress logo should appear at least twice in your commercial. Selection will be based on creativity, originality, and brand communication.

“Financial Connects” Financial Literacy Award

• Open to all fields of study; Deadline is December 17, 2010.
• $1,000 award; 100 winners.

The “Financial Connects” Financial Literacy Award is available to students in grades 6-12, college, and graduate students. To be considered, you must create an original financial literacy video or interactive game that promotes financial literacy and correlates with the Department of Education s financial literacy standards. A one paragraph proposal is required with your submission. You may participate individually or as a team associated with a nonprofit or school.

Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest

• Open to all fields of study; Deadline is January 31, 2011.
• $500 award; 3 winners.

The Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest is available to undergraduate and graduate students. To enter, you must compose an essay of no more than 1500 words that addresses ideas that affect the Northwest.

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀
Looking for more contests and scholarships? Check out FastWeb.

College Bound: Win Money for School is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

The thought of moving back to South Florida had me in a tailspin of thoughts. Where would we live? Would we have to rent or could we afford to buy? What schools would the kids attend? How would the kids feel about moving? What about their friends? activities? future plans? Could I find work? Doing what? and where?

Then there was the question of Dwayne’s job security. Sure, he was making good money now, but what if things don’t work out as planned?

I immediately started looking into college programs. With my work experience and 2-year degree, having a 4-year degree should only open more doors, right?

In July 2007 I started the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in accounting. The logical choice given my background. So, after a full day at work I would come home, feed the kids, and work on homework. Sprinkled in the mix was mowing the yard [about 2 acres], laundry, after school activities, etc.

Meanwhile, Dwayne was living in South Florida and coming home to Virginia when he could. In the forefront was the ever-present concern he would be without a job at any moment as work was sparse. He kept up his spirits by spending time with his kids.

By December 2007 things had fallen apart with the “dream job” and Dwayne was planning his return to Virginia. It was too late to back out of the college pursuit. Debt was already accumulating. Debt and no degree was not an option.

*******************************

Dwayne returned to Virginia in the winter of 2008. He had no job and not much to show for his year away. I was working full time, but things at work were going downhill fast. Everyone higher up from me was either gone or giving their notice. And my relationship with Dwayne could best be described as one frayed string being pulled so hard that it would surely break. Yet, somehow it held.

part 2

Reflection: The Price of Educating Oneself, part 1 is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

July 8 – August 31, 2010

How to Enter

• Register as a new valid Upromise member and download TurboSaver for the first time for free at Upromise.com
• Existing valid Upromise members download TurboSaver for free at Upromise.com
• U.S. Mail Entry: Hand print your complete name, address including zip code, daytime and evening telephone numbers including area code and a valid e-mail address (optional) on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper and mail it in an envelope with sufficient postage to: The 2010 Upromise Back To School Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 2546, Grand Rapids, MN 55745-2546 . All U.S Mail Entries must be postmarked by 8/31/10 and received by 9/8/10.

Limit one (1) entry per valid existing Upromise member who downloads TurboSaver during the Sweepstakes Period. Limit one person per e-mail address. Existing valid Upromise members who downloaded TurboSaver prior to 7/8/10 will not be eligible for this Sweepstakes. For all U.S. Mail entries, enter as often as you wish, but each entry must be mailed in a separate envelope. No photocopies or mechanically reproduced entries permitted.

Eligibility

Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are age 18 or older.

Selection of Winners

Winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The random drawing will be conducted on or about 10/1/10 by Centra Marketing & Communications, an independent judging organization whose decisions are final and binding. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received from all entry methods combined. Selected winners will be notified by U.S. Mail, e-mail and/or telephone on or about 10/15/10.

For the complete rules click here.

Want to know where to find the most winnable sweeps? Check out Sweeties Sweeps and start winning today. And don’t forget to enter my CSN Stores $40 Giveaway. You have until July 14th!

Win $10,000 for College in the UPromise $100,000 College Dream Sweepstakes is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

I was smart before, now I just have the paper to prove it.

Wordless Wednesday ~ All This And She's Smart Too! is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010