Happy Belated Mother’s Day to All Moms

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Children, Giving, Love, Mom, Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to All Moms….

What did you do for Mother’s Day? My daughters made me breakfast, bought me a card, balloons and made me a present from class. It was wonderful. We later went out on a nature hike and ate to sushi. Mother’s Day is a wonderful day that teaches our children the importance of giving, rather than always receiving.

It is important for all moms to spend quality time with their children and not only on Mother’s Day. We had a great time together bonding and also got to enjoy the great outdoors….even though it was 103 degrees this past Sunday.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

The World as We See it.

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Foreclosure, Jobs, Poverty, Repossessed, Unemployment

The World as we see it…

Some of us spend our lives looking through rose-colored, shaded lenses. Some of us don’t wear any lenses at all. I guess you would call this an optimistic vs. pessimistic personality. As a child we see the good in people, but sadly we grow up, and depending on our own life experiences, we become tainted. The once perfect childhood thoughts become tarnished. We see people and life differently.

My youngest daughter is teaching me not to judge “the book by the cover”. She makes me smile when she gets frustrated with me for not giving a dollar or two to the local bum hanging out at McDonald’s, asking for money for food. Being the synical adult, I stick up my nose and assume the money will be used towards alcohol or drugs.

Is it my place to judge? Not really. I can chose not to give the money to him or her, but is it really going to effect my life that much if I don’t help? Would it not be more beneficial to give him or her a dollar, freely and without judgement. It can only make you feel like you were doing your part, by helping out society.

We may look down our noses at the “bums” of the world and think that we are so much better than them, but are we? Most of us our only a paycheck away from poverty. Losing your job, and then your car and then your home and then your family and then your self-respect, isn’t only likely, but is happening to thousands and maybe even millions today. These, once elite individuals, may be your neighbors or maybe even you.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Substitute Teaching

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Bloggers, Career, Moms, Teachers, Writers

Substitute Teaching

I am officially a substitute teacher…Let’s go and learn math. I wear so many hats…I am now a mom, a wife, an accountant, a writer, and now a school teacher. Got to do what it takes to get by in this world.

Author: Ask Ms Mandi.

KODAK

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Authors of the Week

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Animals, Author, Dogs, Literary Agents, Love, Pets, Poems, Publishers, Writers

KODAK

I am washed away into a whirlpool of death.

I was in a merciless hurtful daze.

I heard my dad yell my mom’s name,

and I dizzily walked out of my room.

I gazed down at the blood drops on the floor.

I screamed twice.

Two high pitched ear piercing screams.

At first I thought it was my dad that had gotten hurt,

but then screaming thoughts raced through my mind.

KODAK! My poor puppy, only 6 months old.

Gallons of tears streamed down my face.

Is this a dream?

We speed down the road, driving to the vet.

My dad’s assurances warmed my heart. Hope swelled through my body.

But… No! There was no hope; she was gone.

And what I experienced after

that is yet to haunt my soul with sorrow.

Author: Paxton

A Memoir: A Riverside County Housewife

24 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Bravo, Literary Agents, Reality Shows, Women, Writers

The day of a Riverside County Housewife:

Good Morning

Alarm clock goes off at 7am. Drag myself into the kitchen for a cup of coffee with cream and sugar. Make breakfast for my girls and take them to school. Work out. Get into the shower. Turn on computer and write. Write. Write. Get another cup of coffee with cream and sugar. Write. Write. Pick up girls from school. Help them with homework. Write. Make dinner. Kiss everyone goodnight. Get into bed. Read the bible and pray for a break.

Goodnight.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Wearing Many Hats

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Tags

Accountant, Business, Jobs, Mom, Opportunity, Real Estate, Teaching, Unemployment, Writer

Wearing Many Hats:

In today’s world and economy, we can’t get by with just one task. We must wear many hats. It used to be that you could go to college and get your degree…..you were set for life. The more education meant the better paying jobs.

Sadly, it isn’t like that today. Sometimes having more education can be a handicap to getting that perfect job. Employers would rather pay someone less money and with less of an education than the graduate student with years of work experience.

What to do? Put on as many hats that will fit on top of your head. I personally wear an abundance of hats….I’m a mom, a writer, an accountant, studying real estate, managing my website, substitute teaching, and looking for a full-time job. Seven hats. It’s exhausting.

That is what we have to do to make it. Who knows what can happen…so many prospects and so many chances of opportunity. So, don’t cut yourself short…one opportunity has to come through, right?

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Fighting Back – Mortgage Companies vs. Homeowners

12 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Financial Weblinks

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Attorney General, Disclosures, Families, Foreclosures, Homeowners, Homes, Law, Mortgage Banks, Sub-prime

Fighting Back – Mortgage Companies vs. Homeowners:

There is a new California Homeowner Bill of Rights Law that was passed in January 2013 by California Attorney General Kamala Harris:

1. Restriction on Dual Track Foreclosures:

Homeowners that are in the process of loan modifications will have the foreclosure process paused, while the banks are reviewing the loans for the modification.

2. Guaranteed Single Point of Contact

Homeowners are promised a single point of contact during the foreclosure / modifying process. I can say that this has not been our case. Each time we seem to be getting somewhere positive, they change the point of contact on us.

3. Verification of Documents

There is a $7,500 penalty assessed to the mortgage banks if loan documents are not verified. This too has not been our case. Our original loan document had no income verification and unknown assets on the balance sheet. Maybe this only applies to the new loan modifications, but I think they should go back and verify the existing loan documents as well, since this is where the problem originated.

4. Enforceablity

Borrowers will have ability to seek redress of material violations of the new foreclosure process protections. injunctive relief is available prior to foreclosure. This also includes recovery of damages available following the sale.

5. Tools to Prosecute Mortgage Fraud

This has been extended to 1-3 years. Mortgage fraud will be reported to Attorney General

6. Tenant Rights

This gives tenants 90 days before the eviction process, once foreclosure owners purchases the property. 18 billion dollars have been authorized to the top five largest banks for California borrowers.

7. Tools to Curb Blight

Foreclosure owners are ordered to pay for upkeep to foreclosed property to keep the curb appeal for other, nearby homeowners.

More information, go to the website at the State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General:
https://www.oag.ca.gov/hbor

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi