: About Me

Thank you for visiting my Helium page. My passion for writing started when I was in high school and won a nationally run essay contest for my school. The writing came through in letter writing (Back when people still wrote letters). Shortly after my husband and I were married, my mother-in-law wrote a piece of music and asked me to write lyrics for it and I was amazed at how much I loved writing them and very happy when she loved the song lyrics. I spent the next twenty years being a Mom, but joined a writer's group and still plugged away at a mystery novel that received many really great rejection slips. I took a job with two magazines writing book reviews and that was fun - especially when publishers sent me all those free books! I've written interviews and feature articles for "Country Folk Art, Country Collectibles, Western Lifestyles magazine and short stories for GreenPrints and Hydroponics magazines.

My second lofe is photography and painting, mostly watercolors, but I dabble in drawing wiht pastels, graphite and colored pencils. My art is available at the Art At The Market Gallery in Flint, MI and zazzle.com.

Gardening is my favorite hobby and I'm a master gardener, but still can't grow roses.

I'm a Foster Mom for the Havanese puppies rescued from puppy mills.

I believe strongly that the energy you send out influences the energy that comes back to you. That focusing on this life and material possessions is a huge mistake and that reincarnation explains a lot.

My passion is ...

are (?) can't pick just one: writing,painting,family,dog rescue,pets,gardening . . .

I know too much about ...

loss

My parents always told me ...

I'd not amount to much

My childhood ambition ...

To be a famous writer, artist, or star on Guiding Light and/or As The World Turns.

My favorite memory ...

So far watching a sunset on Captiva Island, Florida with my husband,kids and Grandkids.

Why I write ...

It just seems to come out. I write all the time - in my mind - while showering, standing in line, driving -yikes. Many of my stories or articles are 'written' before I sit down to type them up.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

The Sun Magazine, Elling (great film!) and Dido or Swing Era Music

My first job ...

Cashier in a grocery store

My best moment ...

One (Maybe not the best, the the best in this situation) is seeing my byline for the first time in a national magazine - and many more family related moments!

My inspiration ...

My husband, who is very supportive as well as my kids, grandkids and a teacher who praised my writing. Also, Anne Tyler,Truman Capote,Tennessee Williams,Kandinsky,Leonard Cohen and the list goes on and on. . .

Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Single parents: Budget tips

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Being a single parent is rewarding and fun, but often stressful when the budget just won't stretch far enough. Small changes make a big difference in saving money, and here are a few suggestions that will help. FOOD The best way to save money on food is to plan ahead. My mother-in-law taught me her method and it's worked for me for years. Shop once a week. This is possible with just a little planning. The fewer times you shop, the less impulse buys you'll make and you'll save gas and time too. To accomplish this, write out a list of seven dinners; a main dish, vegetable, salad and desert. ...

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Writing:

Rating:

• Marketplace Premier Writer
• Creative Writing Bronze
• 2Writing Contest Winner
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• 1Marketplace Articles Sold
• Helium Charter Member