It may only be mid-March, but now is the time for high school students to start looking for summer jobs. With the economy still sluggish, many jobs that students would normally take, may be filled by adults who are struggling financially.

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So how should you go about looking for summer work?

1. Start Now. There’s a lot of competition for summer jobs, and the sooner you start looking, the more likely you are to find something.
2. Make a List. List all the skills you have. Use your education, hobbies, volunteer and paid work to come up with your skills.
3. Create a Resume. Even if you’ve never had a job before, you can make a one page resume and include your contact info, your education, any awards you’ve had, hobbies and any work or volunteer experience you’ve had.
4. Use Your Contacts. The number way to success for most anything you will do in your life is by networking. Talk to your parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, volunteer contacts and anyone else you know who may be of help. You’ll have your resume handy to show just how serious you are about finding work.
5. Think Local. Take a drive around your community and make a list of the different businesses nearby. Then see what you can find out about those businesses on the internet. Call the manager and ask if that business is hiring for the summer. Be ultra professional on the phone and polite. If that business is not hiring, the manager may make suggestions to you about other places that might have openings.
6. Surf the Web. Look online for local jobs, but know that the vast majority of opening will not be posted. Contacting businesses and friends directly is still the best way to find work.
7. Make Yourself Wanted. Practice a one sentence explanation of why a business should hire you. “I am very responsible and have 500 hours of volunteer experience at my church helping deliver food for the poor.”
8. Be Neat. Be Prompt. If you are asked to come in to speak to a manager about a job, be on time. Do not show enter the workplace more than 5 minutes before your appointment, and by all means do not be late. Make sure you are properly dressed. If you are interviewing for a job at a plant nursery or a fast food restaurant, don’t show up in a suit. But do wear clean clothing and closed shoes. No flip flops! Have a pair of khaki pants, a polo shirt and loafers ready for interviews.
9. Say thanks. Be sure to always be polite and say thank you when you speak to others on the phone or go on interviews. This may seem like a no-brainer – but trust me – not enough people have the courtesy to say thank you these days. And if you do say thanks, you will stand out in the crowd. If at any time, a person goes out of his or her way to help you, write a short note of thanks and stick it in the mail.
10. Follow Up. People who own and manage businesses can get so busy that they forget to call. So don’t be shy about following up. It’s okay to call a person you spoke to or met with to remind them that you are still available. But be sure not to overdo it. If you do not hear back after one or two calls, you can assume there is no job opening for you.
11. Create Your Own Income. If you cannot find work, you can create it. Pet sitting, dog walking, errand-running and tutoring are few of many ideas. You’ll need to create some business card and flyers on your computer and start letting your friends and neighbors know what you’re up to.
12. Be responsible. Do what you say you are going to do. If you are fortunate enough o get a job, by all means, show up on time and do your best work, even if the job is boring or super easy. Every job is a stepping stone to something bigger and better.

The Best Jobs for Summer Employment:

• Cashier
• Hostess
• Wait Person
• Cook’s Assistant
• Gift Shop Clerk
• Driver/Delivery Person
• Landscaping Assistant
• Catering Assistant
• Pet Sitter
• Baby Sitter
• Camp Counselor/Assistant
• Lifeguard
• Caddy
• Office Assistant

Best Businesses to Find Summer Jobs:

• Stores
• Fast Food Restaurants
• Other Restaurants
• City Government Sectors
• Golf Courses
• Country Clubs
• Summer Camps
• Schools
• Plant Nurseries
• Local Offices

Please read my interview with Jeffrey Gottfurcht, the first person with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) to attempt to climb Mount Everest. You are sure to be as inspired as I was when I heard his story! Jeff is the founder of the Jeffrey Gottfurcht Children’s Arthritis Foundation (JGCAF) and an amazing athlete.

My husband was so frustrated that our dog, Darwin, ate 2 pieces of our puzzle, that he decided to color 2 puzzle pieces to look like the original and fill in the spaces. Hahahaha! Now you can’t even tell what’s missing!

The dog ate the other 2 pieces.

rIt’s amazing how different weather can be on the same day in our great nation. Though the snow is beautiful, I know why I live here. It’s always a walk in the park!

Photos #1 & 2 – Forest City, IA white out. Thank you to Rene Arrowsmith for these photos!

Photos 3 & 4 – Marquette, MI white out and snow plow. Thank you to Tyler Tichelaar, PhD for these photos!

Photos 5, 6 & 7 – TY Park, Hollywood FL. Taken by me this afternoon.

1. Increase in terrible drivers (i.e. tourists, drinkers, old people who should not have licenses, impatient drivers, slow drivers)
2. Stores that do not have enough cashiers during the holidays.
3. Partial strands of Christmas lights that don’t work at my house and outside other people’s houses.
4. Bad TV commercials.
5. Obligations.
6. Mean, grouchy, rude or otherwise unpleasant Scrooges in public places.
7. Overeating.
8. Long lines at the US Post Offices.
9. Jacked up prices plus a sale = no bargains.
10. Cheap stuff made in China.

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I made some more Christmas ornaments and wanted to share a discovery I made with you. After you drain the paint out of your ornaments, you can scoop up that excess paint and pour into a new glass ornament for a fantastic, mottled effect! Check this out!

See all the paint that drained out, making interesting patterns?

Don’t waste it! Put it in with a plastic spoon for a fantastic effect!

Look at how HUGE my tomato plants are after 6 weeks!

Pea pods coming along nicely!

Huge flock of crows flew over my house

Chased the dog through the yard

Dog chased me through the yard!

This is an easy and fun project, and the results are beautiful!

Supplies

• Clear glass ball ornaments (Craft store)
• Acrylic craft paint sold in bottles in Christmas colors and metallic colors
• Newspaper
• Throw away plate or pan for draining paint

Take the metal top off the ornament. Squeeze some paint inside and swirl around. Add different colors to get the effect you like. Don’t over swirl or you’ll mix the colors too much. and they will look brown.When you’ve covered the inside with paint, you need to drain the excess by turning the ball upside down on newspaper. It is best if you can rig a way to prop the ball and leave it until it drains and dries all the way. This may take hours. When it’s dry, replace the metal top and hang it from the tree. You can add bows or ribbons if you want to dress it up.

We celebrated our baby’s first birthday today! It’s hard to imagine he was 9 lbs when we got him on January 19, 2010 and now On December 1st weighs 82.

Happy Birthday Darwin!

Darwin knows it’s his birthday!

Posing for the camera

Bacon appetizer, not bad!

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

(Darwin’s favorite past-time is chasing lizards)

Time to sing Happy Birthday!

Blow out the candles

Birthday kisses

Time to eat cake

A new toy – Rubber Chicken Man

That’s a big boy. 29″ from the shoulder and 82 lbs.