School is...

Kicking my behind. I have been attending college online for a while now and these are my last two classes. It is not easy, but it can be done. I have learned how to schedule my time for studying and taking exams, thus leaving me with less time to blog. But I promise to be back and blogging daily.

In the meantime, if you are a single mom considering going back to school, I would recommend my school, Strayer University. They have excellent business and information technology programs and have recently started a criminal justice program. If you work for the federal government, like most Washingtonians do, you can upgrade your skills by taking contract specialist courses.

There are several other online programs that I am considering for my Master's degree. National University is my first choice. Their classes start monthly and you can obtain your degree strictly online with low residency since they are located in California. Another school I would consider attending is the University of Maryland University College. They have excellent programs and assist with scholarships and loans according to your financial need.

Tips for choosing an online school is to make sure they are accredited. Make sure the costs are economical versus your monthly budget. Ask yourself, is it worth going to a community college first and pay a babysitter at night versus the extra fees it costs to take convenient classes from your computer? Although, nowadays, even community colleges are offering courses online.

Be creative! If you want to become a nurse, take some science courses online and shoot for the clinicals in house. If you've worked ten years in security, you may be eligible for work-life experience and can knock out at least four courses in criminal justice. You can also take CLEP courses (College Level Examination Program), where basic courses such as English, Math, Sociology, Psychology, Humanities and a host of others can be taken via an exam for a fee. Are you in the military? Then DANTES is the choice for you. DANTES is the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support. For military personnel and their families, one can take correspondence courses and obtain college credit to count towards your degree.

As a single mom, there are more choices to go back to school and finish than there was maybe ten to fifteen years ago. Next I will post information about financing your education.

Freebies for Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to post a few Mother's Day freebies. Origins store is offering free mini-facials from May 11th until May 31st. Check their site for appointment scheduling and locations.

Do you need some uplifting and transformation in your life? I came across a free downloadable e-book entitled, The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life by Renee Peterson Trudeau. You can download it as a Mother's Day treat and the author is offering a free Personal Renewal Group. Check it out!

Buy yourself some flowers, take a hot bath, or read a book! I know I am... Reading that is!

Kids who Volunteer

Today I came across a young man's story here. 11 year-old Zach Bonner, from Tampa, FL started his own non-profit organization called the Little Red Wagon Foundation. His mission is to walk from Atlanta to DC and raise money for homeless kids across America. He has a passion for helping people, using his trademark red wagon to hold and distribute food items and bottled water when Hurricane Charley hit FL in 2004.

With technology driving people to stay in tune to their social networking sites, video games and fancy cell phones, we (I include myself here) could be steering away from volunteering. Volunteering is a good way to rebuild your resume and teach your children values. And although us single mothers have limited time to volunteer, there are ways to make time to do a good deed. Besides, our children need to see the importance of helping others. Check out sites such as www.dosomething.org and www.volunteermatch.org.

Kudos to Zach! I am rooting for you and will make a pledge to your mission. Hopefully I will see you in DC!

Single Moms Listen Up!

Niecy Nash, co-host of the Style Network's TV Show, "Clean House" shares her views on being a divorcee in Essence magazine. It is hard to get into a relationship when you have children, but we do have options. We as single mothers have feelings, but we must also be ready. Ladies, do not jump into a relationship just because you feel that you need a daddy for your kids, or you're tired of paying all of the bills by yourself. It is just not going to work that way. Niecy Nash, lays it out plainly when she says, "I Need a GAM!" Read on to find out the meaning behind the acronym.

http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/niecy_nash_talks_dating_and_being_a_single_mom?xid=050709-ENews-Thursday-neiceynash-mainstory-txtlink1

PS-And if you haven't already read this book, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Committment" by Steve Harvey, you are missing out. Get it for yourself for Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to me...

Wow, technology has definitely changed! I received this today from a friend of mine. I was in tears. I have had several conflicts with me being a single mother on my job, in my household, at the store (Get over here Jordan!) and several others. But, I still have all of my hair on my head. I did not pull it all out. I am still striving and you can, too.

If you don't ever get time to do something for yourself, at least send one of these to yourself and friends who are Mothers regardless of being single or not. We deserve it. I know I do (now I do).

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=9NX_MowEfzOPkRe29noKbTQzMDg5Mzc-&referred_by=15507098-9sZyUFx&p=moveon

Thanks Anita!

Do You Love to Read?

Reading is definitely fundamental. I have been reading since as long as I can remember. You should read to your children, I know I still do. Let them hear the expression coming from your voice, after all you are Mom!

Kids in grades 1-6 can earn a free book this summer from Barnes & Noble if they show that they have read 8 books! That is a good deal. And we all know that libraries are free... Also, download 9 free short stories at Barnes & Noble. These are a good deal for yourself to unwind and they're free, too!

Borders is offering a free cup of 12 oz. Seattle's Best coffee until Wednesday, May 6th at Borders Bookstores. Check their site for local listings and participation.

If you become an online book reviewer like me, you can earn free books that way, too! At EKG Literary Magazine, the pulse of the literary community, has a host of information on self-publishing, the entire writing process and best of all, book reviews. Thanks to the entire team for the opportunity!

And thanks to Freebies 4 Mom's blog who then in turn turned to Written Windows, they have a tremendous list that is updated on resources to get free books. Check out Fried Beef's Tech Best Places to Get Free Books-The Ultimate Guide. So glad I came across this site. Two of my favorites are on there, Paperback Swap and Book Mooch. You can't go wrong with these guys.

Happy Reading!

Mother's Day is Approaching

Hallmark is truly the best...I received the following from a friend of mine, (thanks Marie!)

Mother's Day for single mothers.
Posted: 30 Apr 2009 12:12 PM PDT

There is something I'd like for you to do. Look around you, in your neighborhood, at work, somewhere in your life, and you will find a single mother. This mother will most likely not be getting a fancy meal out on May 10. This mother will most likely not be getting a bouquet of flowers, a piece of jewelry, or a box of chocolates. She may not even get a card.
So for me, send your nearest single mother a Mother's Day Card. It won't even cost you a penny. I know you've got your own loved ones covered, so maybe you could use the following for a mother who may not receive a Mother's Day Card from anyone else.

Visit Hallmark here, and they will send a Mother's Day card, a real paper card with an envelope and stamp and everything, from you, to a mother of your choice FREE OF CHARGE. But do it today or tomorrow (May 1) to make sure you make it postally by May 10.

Hallmark's website will walk you thru it:
1. Select a 5×7 card ($3.49)2. Personalize it3. Select “I want Hallmark to mail the card for me” (the first shipping option)4. Check out and enter the promo code CARD4MOM
You will not be asked to provide a credit card. The card and stamp are completely free. And a single mother near you will realize she is not alone. Thank you.

UPDATE: You can do this transaction two times and send out two cards: use promo code APRILCARD for the second one.

It works, I just sent one to someone I know. Try it out...Think about all of the mothers who will not receive anything. Especially the single mothers who work really hard, 365 days throughout the year!

And thanks to http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/ This site Rocks!