Friday, May 9, 2008

A Very Powerful Statement

Maya Angelou said when she was 22 with a 5 year old son, working two jobs and renting out two rooms with cooking priviledges; her mother told her that she thought she was the greatest women in the world.


Maya said as she walked home and got to the corner she started to ask and say to herself; "what if I am going to be somebody", "if I'm going to be somebody I better stop cursing and get myself together". She said at that moment her life was changed; she felt liberated.


Maya says mothers have the ability to liberate their children with love.

I think that is a very powerful story and message. Just wanted to share that with all of you.


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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

New Relaunch Date

Hello all,


I FINALLY found the perfect design for the site. It will take some more time to design and customize it though.


The new relaunch date of the Tales of a Single Parent site will be Sunday, June 1. I am still open for business while the site is undergoing plastic surgery.


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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Summer Camps for Students of Color

Diversity Summer Programs

 
General:
Black Excel
http://www.blackexcel.org/summerprograms2007-1.htm <http://www.blackexcel.org/summerprograms2007-1.htm>
http://www.blackexcel.org/summer-progs.htm <http://www.blackexcel.org/summer-progs.htm>

 

College Horizons
http://www.collegehorizons.org <http://www.collegehorizons.org/>
Target: Native American students; rising sophomores & juniors
College sites change each year (2008 programs at Duke Univ. and
Lawrence Univ.)

 

Dedicated Engineers
http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/summer_programs.htm <http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/summer_programs.htm>

 

Dow Jones Newspaper Fund
http://djnewspaperfund.dowjones.com/fund/hss_summer_workshop.asp <http://djnewspaperfund.dowjones.com/fund/hss_summer_workshop.asp>

 

INROADS
http://www.inroads.org/interns/internWhatItTakes.jsp <http://www.inroads.org/interns/internWhatItTakes.jsp>

 

Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network
http://www.qem.org/internship.htm <http://www.qem.org/internship.htm>

 

WECAAARE Education Foundation
http://www.wecaaare.org/pages.asp?pageid=6833 <http://www.wecaaare.org/pages.asp?pageid=6833>

 

College-Specific:
California Institute of Technology
Young Engineering and Science Scholars
http://www.yess.caltech.edu/ <http://www.yess.caltech.edu/>
Target: Historically under-represented students in science and
engineering; rising sophomores and juniors

 

Carleton College
Liberal Arts Experience
http://apps.carleton.edu/summer/clae <http://apps.carleton.edu/summer/clae>
Target: African American students; rising juniors

 

Cornell University
CURIE Academy
http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/diversity/office-diversity-programs/summer-programs/highschool-programs/curie-academy/index.cfm

Target: High school girls interested in engineering; rising juniors and
seniors

 

CATALYST Academy
http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/diversity/office-diversity-programs/summer-programs/highschool-programs/catalyst/index.cfm

Target: African American/Latino or Native American students
interested in science, technology, engineering and math; rising
sophomores, juniors and seniors

 

Howard University
Summer Enrichment Program and Recruitment
http://www.cpnahs.howard.edu/ctr_excellence/summer_enrichment.htm <http://www.cpnahs.howard.edu/ctr_excellence/summer_enrichment.htm>

Target: African American/Hispanic students applying for admission to
health professions in the CPNAHS at Howard University

 

Lehigh University
Students That Are Ready (S.T.A.R.) Academies
http://www.lehigh.edu/star/ <http://www.lehigh.edu/star/>
Target: Economically and academically disadvantaged and/or at-risk
middle/high school aged students

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MITES
http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/ <http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/>
Target: First-generation, historically under-represented in science &
engineering; rising seniors

 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
PREFACE Summer Program
http://doso.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=87 <http://doso.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=87>
Target: Historically under-represented students in science/technology;
rising sophomores & juniors interested in engineering and technology

 

University of Notre Dame
African American Scholars Program
http://www.nd.edu/~aasnd/ <http://www.nd.edu/~aasnd/>
Target: Catholic African American high school students

 

Latino Community Leadership Seminar
http://www.nd.edu/~lclsem/ <http://www.nd.edu/~lclsem/>
Target: Catholic Latino students; rising seniors

 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
STRIVE
http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/Diversity/K12/Strive/program.html <http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/Diversity/K12/Strive/program.html>
Target: African American/Latino/American Indian students interested
in engineering; rising juniors and seniors

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Show #13 is on the way!

Good morning listeners,

Show #13 is done, but I'm experiencing some technical difficulties with my podcast host. Hopefully I can get it working and uploaded to the site tonight.

So stay tuned.

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Friday, April 25, 2008

TSP Show #13: Summer Camps=Money, Money, Money

Listen to Show #13

Summer is around the corner and many single parents have to find summer camps for their kid(s). I don't know about you, but I DREAD this. I find the summer camps to be short in length and too darn expensive. Show #13 talks about the ridiculous fees for summer camps and asks how do single parents deal.

Grab Bag of the week

Camps Discounts
My Summer Camps


Music Credits:
Intro: Nobody by Ryan Shaw
Break #1: Cool Conversations by D'Minor
Outro: C20H25N30 by 880 South

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Next Show Topic

Hello all,


On the next show I'll be talking about what challenges single parents face when kids are out on summer break (sending the kids off to a grandparent/ex-spouse or summer camp).


I am considering doing this show live. Many of you know I'm a geekygirl and love testing out new services. So I may test out this new service and make show #13 a live one.


More to come on that.


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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Still Open for Business While Undergoing MAJOR Construction

Please bear with me. I am giving this blog a complete overhaul and it is a bit tedious and time consuming.

I hope to complete this overhaul and launch the new site in two weeks.

I have received a lot of twits and emails regarding the last show on 'Going to School as a Single Parent", so I've decided to do a part 2 to that show.

So stay tuned for more news on that upcoming show and the new site.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Happy Friday: Bubbles & Bubbly

It's time for Bubbles & Bubbly. Put the kids to bed early, mix yourself a drink and run yourself a bubble bath and relax. YOU DESERVE IT!!!!




Alcoholic Drink Recipe

Quicksand

1 oz Bacardi® Select rum
1 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
2 scoop vanilla ice cream (ie. Breyer's)
handful ice cubes
1 dash (small glop) Hershey's® chocolate syrup
1 stick Kit Kat® chocolate bar

Blend all (very well) except the Kit Kat. After pouring into glass, add Kit Kat as a decorative stirrer before serving.


Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipe

Golden Glow Punch

6 oz orange juice concentrate
6 oz lemonade concentrate
1 qt chilled apple juice
2 qt chilled ginger ale
1 pint lemon sherbet
ice

Pour the concentrate and the apple juice into the punch bowl. Stir the ginger ale into the bowl. Spoon in sherbet or add an ice ring. Serve immediately.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Quote of the Day

"Your character is who you are when the lights are out. "

--Julie Bowen, insightful ingenue


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Monday, March 17, 2008

TSP Show #12: Going to School as a Single Parent

Listen to Show #12

Going to school to finish a degree and to get an advanced degree is no easy feat, especially when you're a single parent. I should know. I got my bachelors and masters while working full time and raising two kids on my own. It was by far one of the most difficult and challenging tasks I'd ever done. I know how draining it can, but the key is; it can be done. There are many single parents who'd like to get a bachelors or get an advanced degree, but feel it is impossible. I am here to tell you it is possible; it is an attainable goal. There are many options for non-traditional students (that's us single parents) who want to go back to school. Show #12 talks about going to school as a single parent. You don't want to miss out on this show....

Grab Bag items of the week:

Bag Borrow and Steal

What a unique idea. Can't or don't want to buy a brand name designer bag or piece of jewelry; why not Bag Borrow or Steal it? No, seriously... Bar Borrow and Steal lets users rent designer handbags and jewelry for a monthly and when you're done using it, you send it back. Pretty clever huh...


The Freecycle Network

Who ever thought you could help the environment and get free stuff at the same time? Freecycle is an entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. Now, how cool is that?

List of Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies


Music credits:

Break #1: Easy by Aceyalone

Break #2: Luv Don't Live Here by 1st Supper

Outro: Shoes by Toussaint

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Memories

Just had a flashback to when my now 11 year old found my moms razer and shaved off her eyebrows. She was 5 or 6 at the time. Every morning my mom drew her eyebrows on with an eyebrow pencil until they grew back.


Oohhh, the memories. I don't know what made me think about that.


Good times, good times........

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Science Project Time (YUCK!)

Am I the only one who is totally not in the mood to 'oversee' the kids doing science projects? Although I must say I am happy because this year I don't have to 'oversee' both of my kids doing science projects because my high schooler doesn't have to do one. So my 5th grader is working on her science project, but this year I am so NOT in the mood for this. Usually I am all psyched about the experiment and really excited to see what the outcome is - not this year. I plan on having my daughter wrap this puppy up over this weekend and spring break so we can get it out of our hair. Dammit, I am tired...

Seriously counting down to the last day of school........

Friday, March 7, 2008

Hapy Friday: Triple Headbanger Bubbles & Bubbly

It's been a while since I posted some drink recipes. So here are some extra recipes. Don't make and drink 'em all at once - pace yourself.



Alcoholic Recipes

357 Magnum recipe

1 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
1 oz vodka
2 oz amaretto almond liqueur
2 1/2 oz 7-Up® soda

Pour the Bacardi 151 rum into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Add the vodka and amaretto. Fill with 7-up, and serve.

Suicidal recipe

1/3 oz vodka
1/3 oz Everclear® alcohol
1/3 oz Bacardi® 151 rum

Pour ingredients in equal parts into a shot glass, and serve.

1964 Car Bomb recipe

2 oz Jim Beam® bourbon whiskey
12 oz Budweiser® lager

Pour the Jim Beam bourbon whiskey into a beer mug filled with Budweiser, and serve.


Non-alcoholic Recipes

Brazilian Milk Shake recipe

1/2 avocado
equal amount of vanilla ice cream
1 tbsp dutch processed cocoa
2 tbsp sugar
1 cup milk

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Add up 1/2 cup more milk, if desired, for a thinner shake. Pour into glasses and serve.

Safe Sex on the Beach recipe

3 oz cranberry juice
3 oz grapefruit juice
2 oz peach nectar
1 maraschino cherry

Pour over ice in a chilled glass and stir. Garnish with a cherry.

Virgin Raspberry Daiquiri recipe

3 oz raspberry puree
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 tsp caster sugar
1/2 oz raspberry syrup

Blend briefly with half a glassful of crushed ice in a wine goblet. Garnish with raspberries, and serve.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Stimulus Payments: Show Me the Money

In case you didn't know (I didn't know about this being approved until the last week), here's the breakdown for Single (Head of Household) with Children.

Single (Head of Household) with Children


In most cases, payments will range from $300 to $600 for individuals and $600 to $1200 for joint filers. Taxpayers may receive $300 for each qualifying child. Payments could be less, depending on tax liabilty and Adjusted Gross Income. Phaseout reduction begins at $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers.

Examples of how the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 may effect taxpayers who are single, file as head of household and have children who qualify for the child tax credit payment:

Head of household with children:
1) Single parent with two children, wages of $4,000, no federal income tax liability before child tax credit.
Individual rebate is $300
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $900

2) Single parent with two children, no wages, veterans’ payments of $2,000, social security benefits of $2,000, no federal income tax liability before child tax credit.
Individual rebate is $300
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $900

3) Single parent with two children, no wages, no social security benefits, veterans’ payments of $4,000, no federal income tax liability before child tax credit.
Individual rebate is $300
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $900

4) Single parent with two children, no wages, no social security benefits, no veterans’ payments, AGI is $20,000, federal income tax liability before child tax credit is $195.
Individual rebate is $300
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $900

5) Single parent with two children, AGI is $22,000, federal income tax liability before child tax credit is $395.
Individual rebate is $395
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $995

6) Single parent with two children, AGI is $60,000, federal income tax liability before child tax credit exceeds $600.
Individual rebate is $600
Qualifying child credit is $600
TOTAL is $1,200

7) Single parent with two children, AGI is $90,000, federal income tax liability before child tax credit exceeds $600.
Individual rebate is $600
Qualifying child credit is $600
Phaseout reduction is ($750)
TOTAL is $450


Source: Internal Revenue Service
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179166,00.html

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