1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
‘If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.’

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
‘You better pray that will come out of the carpet.’

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
‘If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!’

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
‘ Because I said so, that’s why.’

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
‘If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.’

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
‘Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.’

7. My mother taught me IRONY
‘Keep crying, a nd I’ll give you something to cry about.’

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
‘Shut your mouth and eat your supper.’

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
‘Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!’

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
‘You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.’

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER .
‘This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.’

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
‘If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!’

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
‘I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.’

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
‘Stop acting like your father!’

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
‘There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.’

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
‘Just wait until we get home.’

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
‘You are going to get it when you get home!’

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
‘If you do n’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.’

19. My mother taught me ESP.
‘Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?’

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
‘When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.’

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
‘If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.’

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
‘You’re just like your father.’

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS .
‘Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?’

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
‘When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.’

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
‘One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.’

Every worn out woman needs a place to think, to recharge those batteries and renew. Whether it is yoga, a day spa, or a soak in your bathtub, taking a “timeout” everyday does help your perspective. This is especially true when life seems like an endless treadmill of stress, distractions and long hours. We may have a lot of experiences but are we really enjoying our journey?

When your children throw temper tantrums, do you issue a time out? When they take the time out, do they come back quieter and calmer than they were before the tantrum? This is the same for us. Take a time out and get perspective, and balance in your life! You will be happier and more productive, and your kids, spouse, employer and clients will notice! Time outs are not just for kids!

Happy Mother’s Day. May you get the best gift of all…time.
Lisa

Everyone thinks an auction is about getting a deal. What they may forget is that with auctions you compete against savvy investors who know current property values and are monitoring the marketplace constantly. How could you compete against someone who day trades property?

Or, think about the problems with the banks foreclosing on property. They, the banks, are now upside down on their loans as property values have plummeted. So what is a wise woman investor to do? Go back to the basics of foreclosures! That’s right—the old days when investors got good deals without internet auctions, eBay and more.

There are 3 ways to buy foreclosed property:
1. Pre-foreclosure – this sale is directly from the homeowner who knows they are about to lose their property.

2. Foreclosure – at the court house steps. You buy the property there “as is”.

3. REO property – Foreclosed property that the banks took back and are now forced to sell.

With the percentage of mortgage loans entering foreclosure at an all time high, the third option might make the most sense. Why?

The number of foreclosed homes is expected to quadruple this year adding more than one million properties to the market in 2008, and again in 2009, according to Leahman Brothers.

The banks will be forced to take back property and resell it for deep discounts just to get it off their books. Plus, if you have good credit and are in need of a loan, the bank that owns the property may be willing to make you the loan just to get rid of it.

Foreclosure laws vary from state to state and sometimes county to county so it’s important to know how the process works in your local area.

Here are a few basic foreclosure dos and don’ts to keep in mind.

DO
Do your research. The courthouse is your friend. Foreclosures are public record. Look for multiple mortgages and tax or utility liens against the property.

Do realize if you buy at the foreclosure stage, you better have the cash. These are generally quick closings, all cash in 30 days or less.

Do consider waiting for the property to become an REO. This way you get into the property, conduct an inspection and know what you are getting into before you bid.

DON’T
Don’t expect to get a deal at auctions or even in a pre-foreclosure. People have a hard time coming down off of a price until they are forced to or, in some cases, never do.

Don’t harass homeowners in foreclosure. Do this the right way; send a letter, followed up by a phone call, followed up by a face to face visit. Remember to put yourself in their shoes.

Don’t think of foreclosures as an easy way to buy property cheap. This takes work. Doing the research to find a bargain takes time and effort. Dealing with the hardship factor of the homeowner losing their property can be difficult and negotiating with banks that have distressed property could be time consuming.

Potential buyers should consider working with a realtor experienced in the foreclosure market. Foreclosures can be a good opportunity for the investor looking to pick up additional property; just don’t be sold by the ads that make it look easy!

If you are worried that you will not have enough money saved for retirement, join the crowd. We, the baby boomers, are also known as the sandwich generation. We have kids in college and aging parents who may need financial help. It’s surprising that there is any money left over to save for our old age after we are through taking care of our other responsibilities.

Only about 40% of us have saved more than $100 K in our retirement plans. If we retire tomorrow at age 65, $100 K will probably not be enough to carry us into our 80s with the income necessary to meet everyday expenses. We need to get real and start accumulating assets now that will grow and give us a comfortable financial future. A Lincoln Retirement Institute survey indicates that 84% of men and 56% of women will return to work if retirement funds run short. What if there isn’t enough work for those who must work to make ends meet? 6% of men and 16% of women will turn to family to help them if they run out of cash. What if they don’t have the money or worse, they don’t want to help you?

We need to get real! We need to make saving for our retirement the priority. The children can get student loans or the parents may qualify for government assistance. We live in the moment with our responsibilities and day to day living. But what about your financial future? Who will take care of you?

I bet nobody. That said, I believe YOU MUST PLAN NOW to make the money you will need to take care of you for the rest of your life.

Sure, you can cut back on expenses, relocate to a more affordable place, possibly qualify for government assistance (if there is any left). Are forced choices how you want to live?

There is a saying I am sure many of you have heard: “God takes care of those who take care of themselves.” It is up to you to start today….with a self-directed IRA. Need I say more? www.theentrustgroup.com

Did you know that 10% of parents disinherit at least one child? This is fact. Some of us might be shocked, but disinheritance is on the rise. My Aunt Roz is one of these mothers who disinherited her son. Here is her story. Aunt Roz is in a nursing home. She is 83 years old. She made her fortune in the stock market. When Aunt Roz turned 65 she revised her will leaving her entire fortune to her one son, Jim. She specifically wrote her other son, Steven, out of her will. Her legal counsel revises her will every year so there is no mistake as to her intentions. She has not changed her mind. Why would she do this?

She said, “My son Steven was never there for me. Like when I fell and broke my hip. Or when I was starting to go blind. He was only there when he needed money. When I finally went into a nursing home, he came over to me with a power of attorney and insisted I sign over my rights on all matters to him. Alarms went off in my mind. I may be blind, but I’m of sound mind, and besides…I’m not stupid.”

So she wrote him out of her will. Does he know? Probably not, but she doesn’t care. “It’s not as if I ever hear from him anyway.”

We Moms always feel we should be fair, that we should divide everything by the number of kids we have. But this isn’t always the correct thing to do.

By writing Steven out of her will, Aunt Roz actually rests in peace knowing her assets will go to the one who cares.

The moral here is to think through everything you do so you feel comfortable with your legacy. After all, it’s your money and your belongings!