Here's a quick grocery shopping tip. To ensure all the eggs in the egg carton you're buying are crack-free and unbroken, gently wiggle each egg in it's "cradle" with a finger. If any one egg sticks to the carton it means the shell is cracked or broken and some of it has oozed into the carton.
If it's glued to the carton, trying to remove it will only break it. If it's only cracked it should not be eaten. Micro-organisms may have contaminated the egg... and you don't want to get sick do you?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Download and print Handy Ande's brochure and bookmark
Link to my 2 page Handy Ande services brochure: http://www.AndreaReynolds.com/HAbrochure.doc
This is a MS Word document. For best results print this out on 24 lb stock, back to back. Or not.
Link to my Handy Ande business card (actually 3 bookmark size cards): http://www.AndreaReynolds.com/HAcard.doc
This is a MS Word document. For best results print this out on heavy card stock and cut apart on a paper cutter. Or not.
Print as many as you like and distribute them to friends, family, neighbors, clients, customers and co-workers who you think will appreciate receiving them. Be careful to not insult anyone.
PS There is a finders fee in it for you if I know you're responsible for bringing me a client, and if you're willing to accept it.
Andrea
This is a MS Word document. For best results print this out on 24 lb stock, back to back. Or not.
Link to my Handy Ande business card (actually 3 bookmark size cards): http://www.AndreaReynolds.com/HAcard.doc
This is a MS Word document. For best results print this out on heavy card stock and cut apart on a paper cutter. Or not.
Print as many as you like and distribute them to friends, family, neighbors, clients, customers and co-workers who you think will appreciate receiving them. Be careful to not insult anyone.
PS There is a finders fee in it for you if I know you're responsible for bringing me a client, and if you're willing to accept it.
Andrea
Saturday, February 5, 2011
It pays to retain me... this will tell you why
By Andrea Reynolds © 2010
Are we too skeptical and suspicious to accept genuine kindness and generosity? I’ve been conducting an experiment for 13 years - and telling everyone about it - to see how receptive people will be to helping an older woman start over. This is after helping police stop criminal activity and losing everything as consequence of my being a good citizen. To acquire only a safe place to park my van, a little water and electricity, I’ve offered very generous tasks and services to people who are financially comfortable as well as to those who are not. I’ve been documenting my experiences for a future book because, despite announcing upfront exactly what I’m doing, 99% of my offers have been rebuffed.
When I heard about a local man who died in his home a week before anyone noticed, I was sad that he’d been so alone. So in February I was surprised when his sister called me from California. I didn’t know her, but wanted to help any way I could. Her brother was a hoarder and she wanted someone to clean out the house and stage it for sale. Having those skills, I was willing to do it for no charge just to have a driveway to park in where I could sleep safely at night. I knew the house could be worth $100,000 if fixed up and I knew my de-cluttering and interior design services – my degree is the same as some HGTV hosts - would add another $10,000 in value to the home and sell it faster despite its being a stigmatized property. I expected no payment, yet she blew me off!
Yesterday (August) I drove by the house, saw that the property had never received any attention, and found a sold sign in front. I looked up the listing to find the list price was $32,000. I determined that if the house did sell for that much the owner - the one who blew me off - likely received $30,000 after the agent’s commission. Had she allowed me to do the work for free to allow me a place to stay and allow me to document the progress of my work for my portfolio on this web site to show future prospective clients, she may have netted an additional $75,000 for just saying yes to me. Her refusal to be kind-hearted deprived her of a $75,000 gift.
Not only that, but with loans perhaps I could have bought the house from her for $30,000 in February when she called me and she would have had her $30,000 five months earlier. But she had refused to give me the address or a key so I could even look at it inside and out. (In June I found both the address and a photo of the home in a newspaper article.)
My book will be filled with these stories of self-defeating choices. And all I wanted was a safe driveway to park in and an opportunity to acquire testimonials for doing good work so I could begin to land paying assignments.
In most cases I will not be able to provide free work. I need to charge for my services because I have expenses and I will need to pay to have a roof over my head in the bitter cold winter. But with my creative mind there is usually something else of value I can do for clients that is unexpected and sometimes outrageously delightful.
My advice? Be cautious, but before you reject a proposal out-of-hand, research who the person is and what they are asking in return. It’s not always a case of if-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-IT-IS. If you let your skepticism guide your decision-making, you may deprive yourself of valuable gifts from someone with a good heart and good character. (Like me.)
Andrea Reynolds is still working on her book, The Kindness Experiment. She offered to share 40% of the book’s profits with early buyers, but stopped after 6 months due to public skepticism.
Are we too skeptical and suspicious to accept genuine kindness and generosity? I’ve been conducting an experiment for 13 years - and telling everyone about it - to see how receptive people will be to helping an older woman start over. This is after helping police stop criminal activity and losing everything as consequence of my being a good citizen. To acquire only a safe place to park my van, a little water and electricity, I’ve offered very generous tasks and services to people who are financially comfortable as well as to those who are not. I’ve been documenting my experiences for a future book because, despite announcing upfront exactly what I’m doing, 99% of my offers have been rebuffed.
When I heard about a local man who died in his home a week before anyone noticed, I was sad that he’d been so alone. So in February I was surprised when his sister called me from California. I didn’t know her, but wanted to help any way I could. Her brother was a hoarder and she wanted someone to clean out the house and stage it for sale. Having those skills, I was willing to do it for no charge just to have a driveway to park in where I could sleep safely at night. I knew the house could be worth $100,000 if fixed up and I knew my de-cluttering and interior design services – my degree is the same as some HGTV hosts - would add another $10,000 in value to the home and sell it faster despite its being a stigmatized property. I expected no payment, yet she blew me off!
Yesterday (August) I drove by the house, saw that the property had never received any attention, and found a sold sign in front. I looked up the listing to find the list price was $32,000. I determined that if the house did sell for that much the owner - the one who blew me off - likely received $30,000 after the agent’s commission. Had she allowed me to do the work for free to allow me a place to stay and allow me to document the progress of my work for my portfolio on this web site to show future prospective clients, she may have netted an additional $75,000 for just saying yes to me. Her refusal to be kind-hearted deprived her of a $75,000 gift.
Not only that, but with loans perhaps I could have bought the house from her for $30,000 in February when she called me and she would have had her $30,000 five months earlier. But she had refused to give me the address or a key so I could even look at it inside and out. (In June I found both the address and a photo of the home in a newspaper article.)
My book will be filled with these stories of self-defeating choices. And all I wanted was a safe driveway to park in and an opportunity to acquire testimonials for doing good work so I could begin to land paying assignments.
In most cases I will not be able to provide free work. I need to charge for my services because I have expenses and I will need to pay to have a roof over my head in the bitter cold winter. But with my creative mind there is usually something else of value I can do for clients that is unexpected and sometimes outrageously delightful.
My advice? Be cautious, but before you reject a proposal out-of-hand, research who the person is and what they are asking in return. It’s not always a case of if-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-IT-IS. If you let your skepticism guide your decision-making, you may deprive yourself of valuable gifts from someone with a good heart and good character. (Like me.)
Andrea Reynolds is still working on her book, The Kindness Experiment. She offered to share 40% of the book’s profits with early buyers, but stopped after 6 months due to public skepticism.
Friday, February 4, 2011
A bigger home is not the only solution to your space problem
Originally posted on July 27, 2010
by Andrea Reynolds
Do we really need 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3 car garage homes to house our families and our stuff? Put another way, do we really need bigger mortgages if we’re already in debt? Let me tell you about the Paulsons. They live in their first and only house.
When they first married they rented a second floor apartment while saving for a down payment. When they did buy, it was a small bungalow on a quiet street. To have enough room for their three kids they spaced them so only two kids were living at home at the same time. They didn’t have pets. When their things took up too much room in the house, they reorganized their basement storage, held yard sales, gave things to the church for its rummage sales, and donated outgrown clothes to charity.
Soon after their 25th wedding anniversary their mortgage was paid off. They lived within their means despite several job layoffs, earned two college degrees in the family, and have lived debt-free for the past 15 years. Their children never felt cramped.
Only in their early 60’s the Paulsons’ retirement years will be cakewalk because they weren’t bitten by the bigger-is-better bug. Did you know that many self-made millionaires live comfortably in modest homes? Did you also know that the trend now is to live in tiny homes? Tiny, as in less than 144 square feet. Do a search on “tiny homes” and you’ll find custom home manufacturers building homes 10 feet by 10 feet.
If you think you can’t live without your stuff, try this. Rent a storage unit, fill it with anything you don’t need for cooking, sleeping, eating, or working, and don’t use what’s inside for a month. You may be surprised at what you don’t need, and happier with fewer possessions around you.
Andrea
by Andrea Reynolds
Do we really need 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3 car garage homes to house our families and our stuff? Put another way, do we really need bigger mortgages if we’re already in debt? Let me tell you about the Paulsons. They live in their first and only house.
When they first married they rented a second floor apartment while saving for a down payment. When they did buy, it was a small bungalow on a quiet street. To have enough room for their three kids they spaced them so only two kids were living at home at the same time. They didn’t have pets. When their things took up too much room in the house, they reorganized their basement storage, held yard sales, gave things to the church for its rummage sales, and donated outgrown clothes to charity.
Soon after their 25th wedding anniversary their mortgage was paid off. They lived within their means despite several job layoffs, earned two college degrees in the family, and have lived debt-free for the past 15 years. Their children never felt cramped.
Only in their early 60’s the Paulsons’ retirement years will be cakewalk because they weren’t bitten by the bigger-is-better bug. Did you know that many self-made millionaires live comfortably in modest homes? Did you also know that the trend now is to live in tiny homes? Tiny, as in less than 144 square feet. Do a search on “tiny homes” and you’ll find custom home manufacturers building homes 10 feet by 10 feet.
If you think you can’t live without your stuff, try this. Rent a storage unit, fill it with anything you don’t need for cooking, sleeping, eating, or working, and don’t use what’s inside for a month. You may be surprised at what you don’t need, and happier with fewer possessions around you.
Andrea
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Why I started Handy Ande
10 reasons:
1. I liked the name. It was my nickname as a kid and it stuck. (It fits.)
2. I needed income to support myself.
3. I knew my work ethic and standards where higher than many other service providers and professionals I'd observed.
4. I wanted to bring income-generating work to others who need it.
5. I wanted to see that people who work for me are paid better fees than other employers.
6. I wanted to see other service providers raise their standards by teaching them a new work philosophy.
7. I wanted to show service providers that a "boss" could treat them better and show more appreciation... which could lead to long-time, loyal staff.
8. I wanted a business that would continue to bring me income when I could no longer work.
9. I wanted a business that could be franchisable, allowing other women and men to own and run a business of their own, affordably... with support along the way.
10. I wanted to see if I could help to increase economic standards in each community.
Maybe these are lofty goals, but they are do-able.
Andrea
1. I liked the name. It was my nickname as a kid and it stuck. (It fits.)
2. I needed income to support myself.
3. I knew my work ethic and standards where higher than many other service providers and professionals I'd observed.
4. I wanted to bring income-generating work to others who need it.
5. I wanted to see that people who work for me are paid better fees than other employers.
6. I wanted to see other service providers raise their standards by teaching them a new work philosophy.
7. I wanted to show service providers that a "boss" could treat them better and show more appreciation... which could lead to long-time, loyal staff.
8. I wanted a business that would continue to bring me income when I could no longer work.
9. I wanted a business that could be franchisable, allowing other women and men to own and run a business of their own, affordably... with support along the way.
10. I wanted to see if I could help to increase economic standards in each community.
Maybe these are lofty goals, but they are do-able.
Andrea
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What to do with your unwanted timeshare
A few years ago my elderly father gave up traveling and decided his two week (back-to-back) Labor Day timeshares on the coast of North Carolina was costing him $1,000 a year in maintenance fees. He had paid two "timeshare advertising companies" upfront at least $500 each to sell his shares for him. Of course, they were a waste of money. Months went by and all they did was put a tiny ad in tiny type which was lost in a large catalog of other unwanted timeshares.
So I took on the task. I posted six photos of the timeshare unit, its location, description and map on my web site and waited to see what would happen. Yes, this is passive selling, but it cost me and Dad nothing. In a little over a year someone contacted me and offered $3,000 which was the current value of the points. I knew we would not likely find another buyer so I urged my father to accept, and they used a local lawyer in the same town as the timeshare to handle the transaction. There was no realtor commission to pay, just the lawyer fee which was nominal.
Today I heard Clark Howard say on his radio show that there was no way his caller was going to be able to sell her timeshare and urged her to just give it as a gift to family members. Obviously I don't completely agree.
My father could have done that: just give me his two weeks and then I would have had a lovely vacation spot that would have cost me only $1,000 in maintenance fees. If you have two children and own two timeshares, it would be somewhat easy to split them between the two. And of course if the timeshare sleeps six, erhaps your adult children could share if you have only a one-week share.
You could sign over a timeshare week to your children as a wedding gift so they have a free honeymoon location. Or you could simply allow friends to use your week for a fair payment for honeymoons and vacations. If you can break even on renting it out, you can keep the timeshare in your name for years to come. You can designate family members as beneficiaries of your timeshares in your will.
Or you could donate unwanted timeshares to your local PBS station and let the station figure out a way to sell the timeshares for cash OR put them in their annual fundraising auction to offer to subscribers. Consider other charities that accept vehicles as donated items.
If you give away a timeshare, you don't make money, but you stop having a money drain from the annual fees, and if you talk to your accountant, there may be a tax advantage in giving it or donating it. If you donate it, be sure to get a receipt from the recipient with a date on it.
And of course, if you insist on selling it there is eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc., but I think there may be an element of danger - both physically and financially - and I'm not sure I'd attempt to sell anything of signficant value that way. I've encountered a number of scammers on those sites and an elderly person who is trusting may not fair well with a masterful scammer.
So giving away your timeshare(s) may be less hassle in the long run. But keep in mind not everyone wants to own timeshares even if they can trade for a more desired location.
But if your timeshare is sitting vacant, I'd be happy to use it so it doesn't go to waste. ;-)
Andrea
So I took on the task. I posted six photos of the timeshare unit, its location, description and map on my web site and waited to see what would happen. Yes, this is passive selling, but it cost me and Dad nothing. In a little over a year someone contacted me and offered $3,000 which was the current value of the points. I knew we would not likely find another buyer so I urged my father to accept, and they used a local lawyer in the same town as the timeshare to handle the transaction. There was no realtor commission to pay, just the lawyer fee which was nominal.
Today I heard Clark Howard say on his radio show that there was no way his caller was going to be able to sell her timeshare and urged her to just give it as a gift to family members. Obviously I don't completely agree.
My father could have done that: just give me his two weeks and then I would have had a lovely vacation spot that would have cost me only $1,000 in maintenance fees. If you have two children and own two timeshares, it would be somewhat easy to split them between the two. And of course if the timeshare sleeps six, erhaps your adult children could share if you have only a one-week share.
You could sign over a timeshare week to your children as a wedding gift so they have a free honeymoon location. Or you could simply allow friends to use your week for a fair payment for honeymoons and vacations. If you can break even on renting it out, you can keep the timeshare in your name for years to come. You can designate family members as beneficiaries of your timeshares in your will.
Or you could donate unwanted timeshares to your local PBS station and let the station figure out a way to sell the timeshares for cash OR put them in their annual fundraising auction to offer to subscribers. Consider other charities that accept vehicles as donated items.
If you give away a timeshare, you don't make money, but you stop having a money drain from the annual fees, and if you talk to your accountant, there may be a tax advantage in giving it or donating it. If you donate it, be sure to get a receipt from the recipient with a date on it.
And of course, if you insist on selling it there is eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc., but I think there may be an element of danger - both physically and financially - and I'm not sure I'd attempt to sell anything of signficant value that way. I've encountered a number of scammers on those sites and an elderly person who is trusting may not fair well with a masterful scammer.
So giving away your timeshare(s) may be less hassle in the long run. But keep in mind not everyone wants to own timeshares even if they can trade for a more desired location.
But if your timeshare is sitting vacant, I'd be happy to use it so it doesn't go to waste. ;-)
Andrea
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Pantry Organized
This week I organized a pantry: one small room that was overloaded with stuff. Here are 2 of the photos: before and after:
You can read the whole story of what was involved, here on my almost-finished, updated web site: www.AndreaReynolds.com/decluttering.html
Andrea
You can read the whole story of what was involved, here on my almost-finished, updated web site: www.AndreaReynolds.com/decluttering.html
Andrea
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