As Promised!

Despite bad allergies and an afternoon storm, I finished what I needed to get my next project launched. Announcing Lush Lamps!

Super fun project that constantly has me on the lookout for cool lamp shades and bottles. And for the record, no, I didn't empty a single one of the bottles on the blog. :) They've all been donated by my awesome family members and friends.

Chugging Along

Happy to see these on store shelves again!

Sorry I've been MIA on the updates! I swear this weekend I'm going to really finish my special project and launch that website I promised about a month ago. It's the same old song: work has been busy! I think our last mega-deadline will be April 30th, then we should go into maintenance mode. Adding to my craziness is the fact that quite a few teammates have been out of the office this month - two of them out of the country, even. So there's plenty of slack for the rest of us to pick up.

Not that I'm complaining - I'll take all the distraction I can get right now. A little action on the adoption front has me excited/trying not to be excited. I read more than half of the Hunger Games last night and hope to finish it tonight, and I'm house-sitting and dog-sitting for my parents most of next week. I also have to be at work at 6:45 AM on Monday in order to set up and film a presentation related to our mega-deadline.

In the next couple of weeks I'm looking forward to a trip to Goldfork Hot Springs and of course, Easter. I got my hands on a great recipe for a traditional South American Easter dish, and it just happens to be vegetarian, so it will be nice to have something new to eat while everyone else chows on ham.

Happy weekend, everyone.

Spring, a Mixed Bag

Nothing to report on the adoption front, except that I have made progress on my latest fundraising project and I hope to have some product ready in the next week or so.

I spent last weekend in Salt Lake City with friends and family, and it was a much needed break from the ordinary schedule I've been keeping lately. I got a great deal on a pet-friendly hotel with a pool and the weather was beautiful. I even found a cute owl mug on clearance.

We've had some major changes at work, most of them good, some disappointing. But I do get to travel to DC for a conference next month. I've never been there and it's definitely on my short list of places to see. The cherry blossom festival will have just wrapped up, but I should be able to stay an extra day and see the sights. I reached out to my contacts and immediately found three people willing to put me up for a night or two.

Tomorrow my sweet Jayda dog turns three - that's 21 in people years! I may see if the dog-friendly bar is still open downtown.

Aha Moment

This morning had all the makings of a big project weekend: It was cold and gray and the wind was howling outside. I was vegging out with my dog and some coffee before heading to work, only sort of half listening to the DIY show on TV. But something did catch my attention, and I now I'm way too excited about my new craft/fundraising idea!

Between Facebook, Craigslist and a couple of local stores, it's all coming together nicely. What is it, you ask? You'll have to be patient! I'll let everyone know soon. Until then, let me know if you have any empty glass bottles I can take off your hands.

Finally, Some Good News

He's already been blessed - with an awesome 'do.

My initial loan rejection and subsequent 26% interest offers were ridiculous and extremely discouraging, but yesterday I was finally approved for a credit card at a decent interest rate! I now have access to funds any time I need them to complete an adoption.

This doesn’t mean the fundraising is over, however. I still want to save as much as possible and use the credit card only when necessary, so this spring’s yard sale will still happen, and I’m still applying for grants every opportunity I get. I’m also continuing to freelance and look for side work, so please remember to send any gigs my way.

Yesterday I had a promising phone interview for a temporary, part-time marketing job with flexible weekend and evening hours. The next step was going to be a Skype interview, but then they decided they only want to hire someone who can focus fully on that position (and not work a day job). That’s all fine and good, except they only pay $8 - $10 an hour! I hope we’re getting closer to a time where employers realize they can’t ask the world of someone when they’re only paying pennies in return.

Next weekend I’m taking a road trip (woo hoo road trip!) to Utah for my nephew’s blessing. I’m really looking forward to getting out of town, eating breakfast in a random diner somewhere along the way, and experiencing the craziness that is sure to be my extended family’s home. My on-a-budget hostess gifts will include home made cookies in seasonally-appropriate wicker baskets.

And now, the weekend.

Frustrations Continue...

This whole adoption loan thing is a LOT harder than I thought it would be. It might seem like arranging financing should have been the first step in the process, but it can't work that way.

o I had to have a completed home study ($1,300) in order to apply for grants
o Until I found out about grants, I didn't know what my budget would be or how much I'd need to borrow
o 1 of the 3 grants I qualify for only awards funds after you've been matched with a child (which is ridiculous, because it means I'd have to commit to a child and a budget before knowing if I could actually afford the adoption)
o No luck with grants so far, so I've narrowed my plan to private adoption and a bare bones budget

The best loan rate I've found so far is 13% on a 36 month loan, through a peer-to-peer lending network (came highly recommended by another single mom). However, Idaho wasn't an option on their application so I'm not sure if they loan here. And while I'd get a big chunk of money back through a tax refund, I'd have pretty high payments due until that refund came through, since it's a only 36-month loan.

I'm also waiting to hear back from my Texas credit union on a personal loan, but I don't expect that rate to be below 15%.

I continue to apply for grants and will find out about the next rounds at the end of March and mid-June. Until then, geez. Who knows.

Drumroll please...

Here goes…my first loan application was submitted today. I called and spoke with a loan officer about the situation, and he’s going to get back with me today on a few things:

• Whether I qualify for the lowest-rate Visa card at my requested amount (Sadly, a credit card is the least expensive option for those without assets)
• If not, how much credit I’ve been given and at what rate
• Whether I need to close any of my $0 balance accounts to bump up my credit score

Of course, I could get big fat NOs across the board, so I’m prepared for that as well. If I can’t get approved for my minimum budget (which would only be enough for private adoption, not an agency adoption), I’ll need to apply in other places and work even harder to supplement it with grants and fundraising.

And if I have to seek funding elsewhere, I’ve been advised to submit all my applications within about a 2-week period. Apparently it doesn’t ding one’s credit when they’re lumped together (the credit gods realize you’re shopping around?)

Wish me luck!

UPDATE: Shot down. Wow. My local bank, Idaho Central Credit Union, denied me ANY credit. This is shocking because I have a great income, no consumer debt (aside from car loan) and I just pulled all 3 of my credit reports last week, so I know they look good.

I was approved for a US Bank card through the National Adoption Foundation, but for only a fraction of what I requested and at a 26% interest rate!! Obviously I declined their offer. Holy moly, this isn't going as well as I'd hoped.