Itty Bitty Hooves

Road Map For Success

This is an exciting time for me. Vicariously though because it is really my daughter going through a massive life improvement. I get to watch and cheer from the sidelines and it does make me so happy. She is finally getting herself on track. She just started an online course through a local college for he CNA license and then she plans on starting nursing school. She wants to do it online the same as she is her current schooling and I’ve checked into the programs and it’s wonderful what they have now. I wish this type of thing had been available when I was younger. The Internet wasn’t even available when I was younger though so it’s kind of a wash.

I’m glad it’s here for her. I can online imagine what will be available when my grand kids are college age. What makes this online program so great is that it is hosted by an amazing college that I grew up knowing about, and living only a few miles away from. Saint Xavier University is located on 103rd Street in Chicago minutes from where I lived. There is also an Orland Park campus now too, but all of that is too far away from where I currently live, and several hours further than where my daughter lives still. The fact that such distinguished colleges offer online courses is invaluable in this day and age. It makes access to higher education even more possible for people like my daughter who has children, a job, and no possible way to attend classes on a regular schedule so far from home.

She hopes to get her MS nursing degree eventually and that will be a proud moment indeed. There’s a lot of work, and it takes just as long as it would if you physically attended a classroom but you can work at your own pace, do the work and attend classes when you have the time to do it, and have everything delivered right to your door as far as books and materials are concerned. You still have to attend ‘class’ but it is on the computer. She will have to get her Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university but there are online courses given by Illinois colleges for that too so she is all set up. The Masters of Science in Nursing at Saint Xavier University is the ultimate in training for clinical nursing and prepares graduates to meet the serious responsibilities of the health care community as leaders in their fields. My daughter has always been very empathetic and caring. I feel this is the best decision she has ever made and I am so proud that she has her road map all worked out.

The Countdown Begins

As technologically in love as I am with modern conveniences I’m often no where near the first to have the latest gadgets. As of next week I will officially step a foot into the modern age once more with my very first DVR. I’m sick of tape. I will probably be sorely tested with my abilities to accustomize myself with the way the thing operates but I am determined and that counts for something. I called yesterday and DirecTV is coming out on the 29th to install my new DVR system and put my old receiver in my bedroom. I currently do not have reception in there I can only watch DVD’s on the player hooked up to the set in there so now I will be able to fall asleep watching television too. So the countdown begins, and in a week I will have my new DVR and be able to watch a show on my living room TV while I record another–how awesome is that?

How To Start a Business

That’s a question on more people’s minds now than ever before. With large numbers of people losing their main source of income and yet seeing individuals striking out making it on their own, and ENJOYING what they do the question of how to start a business comes up regularly. It is something that seems easy on the surface–pick something you love to do and do it. Boy, if it were that easy everyone would do it. The ‘pick what you love–do it’ concept really is the backbone of owning your own business, and in fact the main key to success for most people and yet so much more goes into the everyday operations of owning your own business that most who really would like to do it can’t seem to get started.

One of the first things you need to do, and possibly the biggest stumbling block for many, is a good, solid business plan. Starting without one almost certainly dooms a business to failure but it is even more important than just knowing where you are going so you can plan your path. A good business plan lets other important people know where you are going, that you have a solid and reasonable outlook on how to get there and perhaps more importantly that your path makes sense and can work. People like lenders who can help get you the funds to start with. Face it, shoestring budget businesses are possible but difficult. Having backing can help tremendously but you won’t get it without a clear cut plan of action–especially now with the economy making lending tighter than ever before. The book ‘How to Start a Business‘ by the Gold Alliance Group, gives valuable insight on how to develop a business plan that will not only help guide you through the days, weeks, months, and even years of a new business, but show your investors that you mean business.

Legal matters that most people never think about are important when starting your own business. Do you need to incorporate? What kind of laws regulate your type of business? Even down to how you will pay others who work for you are all a part of what you need to know before you even print a name on a business card. While it seems like a lot to learn and take in there are millions of people working for themselves who are doing quite well even in these times of trouble and ‘How to Start a Business’ can show you how you can do it too.

Do We Need American Tax Relief?

I doubt there are many who would say no. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor most people feel like they should be paying less taxes. Especially with the struggles everyone is facing now it makes even more sense to be in tune to your possible savings. The common trend has been to fill out simple forms, or get the computer to do it for you with a number of programs but in reality having a professional who knows what the laws are, and what possible savings that apply to you are watching out for you. American Tax Relief consultants are trained to spot areas that you might miss yourself. Computer programs are set up to recognize certain immediate default deductions but they can’t ‘think’ for you and know when special circumstances apply. They also can not ask questions to determine if you have entered all of the appropriate information to trigger a deduction suggestion.

I have long been an advocate of using a tax preparer for our taxes. They are far too complicated with the running of several businesses plus outside income sources from hubby’s job. There are many different types of professional you can go to for help with tax preparation. American Tax Relief consultants are a great resource for getting help with current filings, trouble you are having with back taxes, and planning for future fiscal responsibilities.

This information is even more helpful if you have already received wage garnishments for back taxes, or other problems. American Tax Relief specialists can guide you through what to do in regards to solving current tax problems and how to avoid penalties and extra taxes in the future. It is important, especially in this economic time of crisis, to support our government, but no one should support it more than legally necessary. Charity begins at home. Keep as much of your money in your pocket as you can.

Fishy Subject

I have four fish tanks in the house. Originally it was 3 warm water tanks with fresh water tropicals, and 1 cold water tank for my two big goldfish. After that horrible episode with no electricity and losing several fish to the cold I decided to go with all cold tanks—but couldn’t quite bring myself to get rid of ALL of my tropicals so I kept one tank warm. I added two blue gouriami to it, and thought all was well. Gouriami are supposed to be quite peaceful–sure sure. Well, I think one of them was, poor thing, the other just badgered it to death and then proceeded to badger all of the other fish left in the tank too. It seems like he systematically chooses one fish to chase until it is gone then goes on to his next victim. He’s a beautiful fish but I hate the fact that I’m now keeping an entire tank running for one fish. Well, except for the plecos that is in there, it’s huge and the gouriami apparently has decided that is too big to challenge–at least for now. So I have four tanks, one of which houses a single solitary little aggressor. I’m considering getting an Oscar to put in there and seeing who wins. Here’s my beautiful beast:

Be Prepared

The Boy Scout’s motto might never be more appropriate than it is right now in the job market.

With the whole world worrying about their job security knowing where to look for jobs online is important. The Internet makes job searching more bareable and you can really find jobs you might not even have considered without it. For instance if you are experienced in data entry you might even look at other finance jobs and find one that fits perfectly and even gives you a little more of a career boost. The way things are now it is best to be prepared and start looking around to know what your options are. Even if you are happy in your current position knowing what is out there can give you some peace of mind, and leave you prepared should the worst happen. Who knows? You might even trade up even though you weren’t looking in the first place.

Do You Know What a Bird Shirt Is?

See only owners of birds truly know what a ‘bird shirt’ is. When someone who owns a parrot speaks of having a bird shirt, or bird clothes they are not necessarily talking about cute art images of birds, or designs, they are talking about clothing worn principally around their birds that are no longer fit to wear in public. Let me explain visually. THIS is a bird shirt:

Simon my Sun Conure is quite the ‘birdy artist’ and never fails to decorate my shirts. This piece of art took two days to produce. The picture only shows the neckline and not the millions of little ‘air holes’ all over the front piece. Perhaps I could really put Si to work, I mean don’t people pay all kinds of money for ‘designer torn’ clothing?

A little Help

I started using the weight loss website I used to use to help me stay motivated in loosing weight again because I simply have not been able to regain my footing all this year. It went so wonderfully last year and it seemed like it would never stop but months of extreme stress and needing to make food for others made it hard and now while I have not gone up I am hopelessly stalled. I’ve been trying for about a week again to seriously get started with not much luck. Fenterdren is a fat burner I’ve looked into as a possible aid to help get my metabolism back on track since nothing else seems to be working. They have testiments to people having lost anywhere from 8 to 30 pounds a month which are all fabulous amounts really. While 8 is low and 30 is unlikely I would like to be in the 15 pound a month range and have done that in the past so I think it would be possible again with a little help.

Quarter or Walker?

We’ve decided to get a couple of riding horses just for pleasure. No more breeding. No more livestock for food. Just pleasure. The problem is I really can’t decide on what kind of pleasure horse I’d like. My main decision is between Quarter Horses and Tennessee walking horses. I also love Saddlebreds but I’d like something a little less ’strung out’ even though I’ve had some marvelous Saddlebred pleasure horses in the past. Appaloosa’s are really nice too but I’m more likely to lean toward Quarter Horses. There are great deals out there right now because the economy is so bad, plus there have been several years of drought making getting hay very difficult. I’d rather wait until spring to bring something new in because the weather sucks so bad right now. Luckily at the moment my financial picture is fine and I have a decent source for hay so I’m not worried especially just for a couple of animals instead of entire herds.