Blog

  • Give me a little credit here

    Published: July 11, 2011 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness Comments: 0

    You’re enjoying the annual family get-together summer barbecue, balancing a heaping plate of grandma’s homemade potato salad and Aunt Eunice’s legendary dry-rubbed ribs, when you spy Cousin Ned making the rounds among relatives. If you run away, you’ll only draw attention to yourself. And if you make a dive for the shrubs, you’ll spill all that great grub. Too late. He’s made eye contact, and he’s coming this way.

    You know exactly what he wants. Five minutes into a butter-up of friendly how-ya-doin’  banter and…wait for it…here it comes...

    “So listen, I’ve got this great opportunity to... read on

  • Knowledge is the Key to the white-picket-fence dream

    Published: June 13, 2011 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness Comments: 0

    In the US, we pay tribute to some pretty cool things. A couple weeks ago, we celebrated National Doughnut Day. In February, it was Washington’s birthday. And this month….IT’S NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH!

    Homeownership is the American Dream. The ticket to turning your white-picket-fence fantasy into reality.

    But success comes with (insert dramatic warning music here): a 30-year mortgage.*

    You may have heard of buyers’ remorse. It’s the sinking feeling  you get after the ink is dry on the 105,000 or so mortgage papers you've signed and you’re sitting in the middle of the floor in your... read on

  • GO GREEN, SAVE GR$$N

    Published: April 12, 2011 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness Comments: 0

    I remember well our first place: The second floor of an old house that had been converted into two apartments and an optometrist’s office. The location—directly across the street from the most awesome of pubs and just a few blocks from campus—was perfect. It was spacious. It was shabby-chic-hip. It was cool. Strike that. It was FREEZING.

    That is, when it wasn’t suffocating hot. During winter months, we nailed beach towels to the windows to prevent Arctic drafts from freezing our nostrils shut as we slept. During summer months, we holed up in the one room that had a window-unit air... read on

  • On Retina-burning Martian Green Bedrooms and Other Delights

    Published: February 25, 2011 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness Comments: 0

    When the air gets that warm spring sunshiney smell and the daffodil shoots start to peek up out of the ground, it always makes me think of…buying a new house.

    That’s because last year at this time, that’s what I was doing. Actually, last spring, what with that great tax credit and all, that’s what a heckuva lotta people were doing.

    I wrote my last blog just as we were approaching the closing table. And while I’m happy to say that we have successfully celebrated several major holidays and birthdays, one trip to the emergency room, and even hosted Thanksgiving in our new home, it was not... read on

  • Movin’ Right Along

    Published: May 5, 2010 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness Comments: 0

    I’ve been MIA for a while, but I solemnly swear, it’s because I’ve been up to no good. I’ve been busy drumming up some real-life field experience for ya’ll.  We’re selling and buying a house.

    That’s right, with two full-time jobs, freelance gigs, two kids, soccer, piano, church, the dog, professional development activities, and family Guitar Hero rehearsals, our lives just weren’t crazy enough. Somehow, we still had “free-time”—enough that, in March, we believed the upheaval of putting our house on the market and moving would be a swell idea.

    Here’s really what happened to me—be warned,... read on

  • Amy’s Two Cents: So about Resolution #6

    Published: January 19, 2010 by Amy Wiser Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness, Networking & Social, Professional Development Comments: 0

    So we’re two weeks and some change into the brand spankin’ New Year and all of its Jan. 1 resolutions-and-promises-fresh-start-Pledge-polished shine.

    How’s it all goin’ for ya? Still hitting the gym, eating better, and being nice to everyone? If so: Good for you.

    And you are probably lying.

    Come on, it’s really hard to change habits, even the ones we know will ultimately make us feel and behave better, and even when we have the best intentions and a new year’s jump start.

    Therefore let’s resolve to talk about how you can succeed with Resolution #6: Get in better financial shape.... read on