Thursday, October 21, 2010

Money Saving Tips

Cut your grocery bill with these 8 healthy ingredients for $1

My pantry at home is always well-stocked. (Actually most people would probably call it overstocked.) I don’t feel right if my cupboards are bare. And once I started working on our new book, EatingWell on a Budget, I realized that my pantry-stocking obsession also had the benefit of helping me save money: when I have key ingredients on hand to make dinner, I’m much less likely to call for delivery or go out. (Plus cooking at home is almost always cheaper than going out.) Here are five of my favorite ingredients to keep on hand that help stretch my food dollars further.
Potatoes
Cost: about 44¢ apiece
Russet potatoes, which are a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin C, are a great nutritional bang for your buck. And these babies are truly versatile. Try baking them, then stuffing them with beans, vegetables and salsa; mash them; slice and roast them; or turn them into hash browns for breakfast.
Recipes to Try: 11 Easy Low-Fat Potato Recipes
Beans
Cost: 52¢ or less for a ½-cup serving of canned beans
You just can’t go wrong if you bulk up your meal with beans. They’re packed with fiber and protein. I always keep cans in the cupboard and whip them out to add to salads, pasta, soups or for an easy dip. Dried beans are even less expensive than canned. Cook a big batch, then freeze extras for when you’re ready to use them in a recipe.
Recipes to try: From soups to sautés, 10 budget-friendly dinners in 30 minutes using canned beans
Frozen Vegetables and Fruit
Cost: 30¢ for a ½-cup serving of frozen peas
I always keep frozen vegetables on hand for when the produce drawer is looking a little bare. Frozen fruits and vegetables are nutritious because they’re picked at the peak of ripeness and then frozen to seal in their nutrients. And a bonus: most of them don’t have added sodium or sugar like canned vegetables and fruits often do. Plus they’re relatively inexpensive, especially when compared with their “fresh” counterparts out of season.
Recipes to try: Sauces, smoothies and more recipes starring frozen vegetables and fruit
Pasta or Rice
Cost: 26¢ for 2 ounces of whole-wheat pasta
Got a few vegetables or a little leftover meat? Maybe you have some fixings for a salad or a light soup, but it’s not quite dinner. Pasta and rice are cheap, healthy pantry items that let you turn a few leftovers into a meal. Try quickly sautéing peppers and onions and toss them with noodles, herbs and a little cheese, or add rice to a vegetable soup to make it more satisfying.
Recipes to Try: Cheap Recipes with Rice that Serve 4 for $12 or Less
Eggs
Cost: 23¢ for a large egg
Eggs aren’t just for breakfast. They’re also the greatest last-minute answer for a quick dinner. I like to make huevos rancheros with canned beans, a little salsa and corn tortillas, which I keep in my freezer. A source of high-quality protein, eggs also contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which help keep eyes healthy.
Recipes to try: Two Dozen Easy Egg Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Ground Beef
Cost: $1.02 per 3-ounce serving of 93%-lean ground beef
Saving money is all about meatloaf. Just kidding. But really, meatloaf’s reputation as a budget-friendly food is deserved because its main ingredient, ground beef, is inexpensive. And when you buy a lean grind, it’s also healthy. Meatloaf is not the only inexpensive meal to make with ground beef. (I always keep ground beef on hand in my freezer, which I consider to be part of my “pantry.”)
Recipe to try: One of my favorite ways to use ground beef is in Taco Salad, which costs $3 per serving (see recipe below).
Taco Salad
Active time: 30 minutes | Total: 30 minutes
A super-quick blend of reduced-fat sour cream and salsa serves double duty as salad dressing and seasoning for the meat in our updated version of Tex-Mex taco salad. Depending on the type of salsa you use, the salad will vary in heat. We keep this version light with lean turkey, but lean ground beef also keeps the nutrition marks reasonable. Just hold the deep-fried tortilla bowl and instead serve this salad with baked tortilla chips and wedges of fresh lime.
1/2 cup prepared salsa
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey or beef
2 large plum tomatoes, diced
1 14-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1. Combine salsa and sour cream in a large bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add turkey or beef and cook, stirring often and crumbling with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, cumin and chili powder; cook, stirring, until the tomatoes begin to break down, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in cilantro and 1/4 cup of the salsa mixture.
3. Add lettuce to the remaining salsa mixture in the bowl; toss to coat. To serve, divide the lettuce among 4 plates, top with the meat mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
Makes 4 servings (1 cup filling & 2 cups salad each).
Per serving: 361 calories; 16 g fat (6 g sat, 1 g mono); 86 mg cholesterol; 25 g carbohydrate; 33 g protein; 10 g fiber; 583 mg sodium; 718 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (150% daily value), Vitamin C (60% dv), Folate (53% dv), Iron (25% dv), Potassium (22% dv).

Thursday, February 25, 2010

YUMMY RECIPES!!!

Yeast-Raised Donuts Are Doubly Satisfying

Wednesday - 1:00PM by OnSugar Blog

OnSugar blog baking and love makes yeast-raised donuts on a whim — and doesn't regret it one bit.

Last night I had this sudden urge to make donuts! So I did this afternoon using the recipe taken from 17andBaking. I had bookmarked it for a looong looong time but was simply unwilling to mess with yeast. It seemed easier than I thought though and I was certainly glad I tried . . . Anyway, the writer of 17andBaking, Elissa, is a very, very talented senior whom I look up to very much. Not only does she bake well, her photography skills are also excellent!
Her recipe — and what she learns from her first attempt at making donuts — after the break.
Being a student baker myself, nothing excites me more than knowing friends in this big family of bakers who are around my age! Other student bakers' blogs I visit frequently would be Wendy of My Buttery Fingers, Lauren of CeliacTeen, and Karina of Pastries of a Chocoholic.

Right, so back to my donuts, I'd think it's pretty much a failure because I dislike how thick they were! I felt like I was eating more donut bread than the filling I had topped it with. However, I'd definitely use this recipe again as the texture of the donuts were great. The only adjustment I'd make is rolling out a thinner donut dough (less than 1/2 inch as directed by the recipe). Also, I'm sooooo going to get a donut-cutter for my next attempt. I wish that my donuts had the small little holes in them.

Yeast-Raised Doughnuts
From Gourmet via Joy the Baker via 17andBakingMakes 12 doughnuts, plus doughnut holes and scraps
1 (1/4-oz) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons warm water (105–115°F)
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for sprinkling and rolling out dough
1 cup whole milk at room temperature
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
About 10 cups vegetable oil for deep frying
Stir together yeast and warm water in a small bowl until yeast is dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If yeast doesn’t foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)

Mix together flour, milk, butter, yolks, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and yeast mixture in mixer at low speed until a soft dough forms. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes more.

Scrape dough down side of bowl (all around) into center, then sprinkle lightly with flour (to keep a crust from forming). Cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Alternatively, let dough rise in bowl in refrigerator 8 to 12 hours.)

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12-inch round (1/2 inch thick).

Cut out as many rounds as possible with 3-inch cutter, then cut a hole in center of each round with 1-inch cutter and transfer doughnuts to a lightly floured large baking sheet. Cover doughnuts with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes (45 minutes if dough was cold when cutting out doughnuts). Do not reroll scraps.

Heat 2 1/2 inches oil in a deep 4-quart heavy pot until it registers 350°F on thermometer. Fry doughnuts, 2 at a time, turning occasionally with a wire or mesh skimmer or a slotted spoon, until puffed and golden brown, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. (Return oil to 350°F between batches.)

Toss doughnuts in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, sugar, etc
I dipped mine into milk chocolate ganache and then coat them with oreo crumbs/crushed hazelnuts. Enjoy.

Hee, donuts for lunch break at school tomorrow!
Courtesy of YumSugar!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sweet Dreams, Our Prince!

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Alexander McQueen Dead: Fashion Designer Commits Suicide At Age 40 (PHOTOS)

First Posted: 02-11-10 10:16 AM | Updated: 02-11-10 11:18 AM

*Scroll down for photos of McQueen and his designs. Story being updated; keep checking back.*
Fashion designer Alexander McQueen has taken his own life at age 40. His office confirmed his death, saying: 'It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family.' He was found at his home in London.
McQueen's secondary line, McQ, was to be presented TODAY as part of New York Fashion Week. KCD, the PR company handling the show, says the presentation is canceled.
The invitation:

From the Associated Press:

Company spokeswoman Samantha Garrett said McQueen's body was found in the morning but that she had no information "in terms of circumstances." Police did not directly comment when asked about how McQueen died, but said officers were called by the ambulance service at 10:20 a.m. (1020GMT) to an address on Green Street, in central London, and found a 40-year-old man dead. They did not name him but said next of kin had been informed.
The force said a post-mortem would be held but that the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Story continues below

McQueen's death came days before London Fashion Week, although he was not scheduled to show in the British capital.

McQueen was born in the East End of London on March 17, 1969. His father was a taxi driver and as a child he made dresses for his three sisters. As a teenager he apprenticed on Savile Row--where he made suits for Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev --before attending Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It was his graduation collection that caught the eye of influential stylist Isabella Blow. The two became fast and dear friends until Blow committed suicide on May 7, 2007. McQueen dedicated his spring 2008 collection to her.
McQueen was named England's designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/11/alexander-mcqueen-dead-fa_n_458250.html

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

TAX INFO...

Avoid an Audit: 6 'Red Flags' You Should Know

by Glen Curtis
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

provided by

If history is any indicator, less than 1% of Americans will be audited by the Internal Revenue Service in the coming year. And while some of these audits are totally random, and there's nothing that the individual taxpayer can do about them, many audits are actually instigated by the taxpayers themselves.

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To that end, below is a list of "red flags" that can cause your return to be cherry picked by the IRS for review. Pay particular attention, as knowing what the flags are can keep you out of trouble.
1. Overestimating Donated Amounts
The IRS encourages individuals to donate things like clothes, food and even old automobiles to charities. It does this by offering a deduction in return for a donation. However, the problem with this system is that it is up to the taxpayer to determine the value of goods that are donated.
As a general rule, the IRS likes to see individuals value the items they donate at anywhere between 1% and 30% of the original purchase price (unless special circumstances exist). Unfortunately many, if not most, taxpayers either aren't aware of this, or simply choose to ignore this fact.
There are several other tips that the taxpayer can use to ensure that he or she is valuing donated goods at a "fair" price. Aside from the 30% and under rule mentioned above, consider having an appraiser write a letter. (In fact, for individual items valued at $5,000 or more, an appraisal is required.). Another benchmark the IRS uses that could come in handy is the willing-buyer-willing-seller test.
This means that taxpayers should value their goods at a point or price where a willing seller (who is under no duress) would be able to sell his property to a willing buyer (who also is under no duress to purchase the item). Using such a benchmark will keep you out of trouble and prevent you from placing an excessive value on your dad's old Frank Sinatra albums.

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2. Math Errors
While this may sound simple, many returns are selected for audit due to basic math errors. So when filling out your tax return (or checking it after your accountant has completed the form) make sure that the columns add up. Also make sure that the total dollar value of capital gains and/or losses are properly calculated. Even a small error can raise eyebrows.
3. Failure to Sign the Return
A large percentage of folks simply forget to sign their tax returns. Don't be a part of that number! Failure to sign the return will almost guarantee that it will receive additional scrutiny. The IRS will wonder what else you might have forgotten to include in the return.
4. Under-Reporting Income
Tempting as it might be to exclude income from your tax return, it is vital that you report all money that you received throughout the year from work and/or from the sale of an asset (such as a home) to the IRS. If you fail to report income and you are caught, you will be forced to pay back-taxes plus penalties and interest.
How can the IRS tell if you've reported everything? In some situations it can't. After all, the system isn't perfect. However, a common way some individuals get caught is that they accept cash for a service they've performed. If the customer or individual who paid that individual the cash gets audited, the IRS will see a large cash disbursement from his or her bank account. The IRS agent will then follow that lead and ask the individual what that cash layout was for. Inevitably, the trail leads right back to the individual who failed to report that money as income.
In short, it's better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you report all of your income.
5. Home Office Deductions
Be careful with home office deductions. Excessive or unwarranted deductions can raise red flags. In addition, large deductions in proportion to your income can raise the ire of the IRS as well.
For example, if you earned $50,000 as an accountant (operating from home), home-office related deductions totaling $30,000 will raise more than a few eyebrows. Trying to write off the value of a new bedroom set as office equipment could also draw unwanted attention.
Deduct only items that were used in the course of your business.
6. Income Thresholds
There is nothing the individual taxpayer can do about this one, but if you earn more than $100,000 each year, your odds of being audited increase exponentially. In fact, some accountants put the odds of being audited at one in 72, compared to the one in 154 odds for people with lower incomes.
Other Sensitive Tax Areas
Partnership/Trust/Tax Shelter Risk
If you own shares in a limited partnership, control a trust or partake in any other tax shelter investments, you are more apt to be audited. While there may be no way to avoid such an audit, individuals that have a stake in such an entity should be aware that they have a target on their backs. They should also take even greater care to document deductions, donations and income.

Small Business Ownership
Small business owners are an easy target - particularly those with cash businesses. Bars, restaurants, car washes and hair salons are exceptionally big targets, not only because they deal in so much cash, but also because there is so much temptation to under-report income and tips earned.
Incidentally, other actions that go part and parcel with business ownership may draw unwanted IRS interest too, including putting family members on the payroll and over-estimating expenses.
In short, business owners must know that they can't "push the envelope". If they want to stay in business and avoid the scrutiny of an audit, it's best to remain on the straight and narrow.
So why does the IRS seem to be cracking down more and more on individuals and small business owners these days? It's simple. According to the IRS there is roughly an annual $300 billion gap between what Americans pay in taxes versus what they owe. That equates to about $2,680 per household. The Congress knows this too, and given the deficits the United States government has run up over the past 20 years, there is enormous pressure on legislators and the IRS to collect all tax funds.
Being Audited
What should you do if you are audited? Be honest with the auditor and respond to all inquiries as quickly as possible. Don't be afraid to show all of your documentation. If possible, have a qualified accountant and/or tax attorney represent you.
Bottom Line
Audits have and will remain a part of the tax collection process for a long time to come, but that doesn't mean that you have to be among the "lucky" few to be chosen. The key to avoiding an audit is to be honest, document your deductions, donations and income.

http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/108757/avoid-an-audit-6-red-flags-you-should-Know?mod=taxes-advice_strategy

RIP Phil...We Love You and We Honor Your Memory...

Discovery Channel: 'Deadliest Catch' captain dies

1 hour and 15 minutes ago Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain whose adventures off the Alaska coast were captured on the television show "Deadliest Catch", has died, the Discovery Channel said Tuesday night. He was 53.
Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the fishing vessel he captained, Cornelia Marie, was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.
The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel's most popular and depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end," sons Josh and Jake Harris said in a statement released by the network. "For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."
In a statement, Discovery Channel senior vice president Elizabeth Hillman says, "Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him."
"We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart," she said.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press, she said no additional information was immediately available Tuesday night.
Harris had seemed to be improving, and in a posting last Saturday on the ship's Web site, he was described as "talking to friends and family today; showing his greatest progress" since the stroke.
His sons wrote in a Feb. 3 posting that "No one ever said Captain Phil Harris wasn't tough. Today, dad showed some good signs of improvement, squeezing our hands and even summoning his trademark Captain's bluntness ... We are encouraged but still very cautious."
According to the ship's Web site, Harris started working on fishing boats at age 7 and started work 10 years later on a crab boat. When Harris turned 21, he ran a fishing vessel out of Seattle, making him one of the youngest to captain a vessel in the Bering Sea.
When Harris suffered the stroke, the family said a friend, Derek Ray, had flown to St. Paul to take over the role of relief skipper for the rest of the opilio crab season.
Harris' fishing vessel was based in Seattle.

http://tv.yahoo.com/deadliest-catch/show/41661/news/tv-news.en.ap.org/tv-news.en.ap.org-20100210-us_obit_phil_harris

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The TIP, Folks...MANY more scams have YET to be revealed...

Mortgage lenders pursue homeowners even after foreclosure

By Les Christie, staff writer , On Wednesday February 3, 2010, 3:21 pm

As terrible as it is to lose your house to foreclosure, at least it's a relief to put your biggest financial headache behind you, right?
Wrong.
Former homeowners may still be on the hook if there's a difference between what they owed on their mortgage and what the bank could sell it for at auction. And these "deficiency judgments" are ticking time bombs that can explode years after borrowers lose their homes.
It can even happen to people who got their bank to approve them selling their home for less than it is worth.
Vanessa Corey, for example, short sold her Fredericksburg, Va., home in April 2008. She and her husband built the house in 2004, but setbacks, both personal (divorce) and professional (housing bust), made it impossible for the real estate agent to keep her home. So she negotiated the short sale and thought that was the end of it.
"My understanding was that the deficiency was negotiated away," she said. "Then, last November, I got a letter from a lawyer telling me I owed my lender $65,000. I had to declare bankruptcy. There was no way I could pay it."
Many homeowners are now in the same boat. And not just those who took out bigger loans than they could afford or who did so called "liar loans" where they didn't have to verify their income.
Because of falling home prices, borrowers who always paid their mortgage but who have run into unforeseen circumstances -- like unemployment or a job transfer -- can no longer sell their homes for what they owe. As a result, they are being forced to short sell or foreclose and are getting caught up in deficiency judgments.
"After the banks foreclose, it's very common now to have large deficiencies with houses not worth the balances owed," said Don Lampe, a North Carolina real estate attorney.
Lenders mostly declined comment. Although Corey's lender, BB&T did indicate it was pursuing more deficiency judgments.
"They follow the rise and fall of foreclosures," said the spokeswoman, who would not discuss Corey's account.
Can they come after you?
Whether banks can and will pursue deficiency judgments depends on many factors, including what state the borrower lives in and whether there's a second mortgage or other liens. But if borrowers ignore the possibility of deficiencies, it could haunt them.
"Once they have a judgment, they can pursue you anywhere," said Richard Zaretsky, a board-certified real estate attorney in West Palm Beach, Fla. "They can ask for financial records, have your wages garnished and, if you fail to respond, a judge can put you in jail."
In the case of foreclosure, lenders can pursue deficiencies in more than 30 states, including Florida, New York and Texas, according to the U.S. Foreclosure Network, an organization of mortgage law firms.
Some states, such as California, are "non-recourse" and don't allow deficiency judgments. But, even there, if the original loan was refinanced, some or all of it may be subject to claims.
Deficiency judgments on short sales and deeds-in-lieu can happen in many more places. In these cases, extinguishing the debt is often a matter of negotiating with the bank.
But even when lenders are willing, many borrowers may not be aware that they have to ask for release. So, if you are pursuing a short sale, be sure your attorney asks the bank to release you from any further obligation.
"People shouldn't have a false sense of security that a deficiency judgment may not be later sought," Zaretsky said.
He expects many will be filed over the next few years, based on the fact that banks have sold many of these accounts to collection agencies and other third parties, at discount.
"The parties who bought those notes wouldn't have paid money for them unless they had the intention of acting," Zaretsky said.
Ticking time bomb
What can be scary is that the judgments don't have to be obtained immediately. Lenders or collection agencies may wait until debtors have recovered financially before they swoop in. In Florida, the bank can wait up to five years to file. Once the court grants a judgment, the lender has 20 years there to collect, with interest.
It doesn't have to be a large amount of debt for a lender or collection agency to come after borrowers. Richard Varno and his wife short sold their Nashville home back in 2004 after he lost his job.
It wasn't until 2008, when the second lien holder asked him for $25,000, that he realized he still was liable.
"I told them, 'Hey, you guys released the title,'" he said. "As far as I know, I'm off the hook."
He wasn't. Releasing title does not necessarily end the debt. It's complicated because of variations in state law, but, generally, a mortgage has two parts: a pledge of collateral, represented by the home, and a promise to pay off the loan.
Lenders may release property liens in order to facilitate short sales without releasing borrowers from their obligations to pay under the promissory notes. The secured debt can convert to an unsecured one after the sale.
Zaretsky had one client who was so relieved to have arranged a short sale that he signed every paper his real estate agent shoved at him, even a confession that clearly stated he still owed the debt.
"He had no idea what he was doing," said Zaretsky. "All the lender had to do was go to court to convert the confession into a deficiency judgment."
Lenders are also very inconsistent. One of Zaretsky's short-sale clients was ready, willing and able to pay, but the bank did not even ask; another lender always reserves the right to pursue the deficiency.
Strategic defaults
Sometimes lenders go after borrowers walking away from their homes if they have other assets, according to Florida real estate attorney Larry Tolchinsky.
"Banks are pulling credit reports to see if it's a strategic default," he said. "If you're behind on all your other payments, you're okay. But if you're not, they'll come after you."
If borrowers have any doubts about their risks, they should seek legal advice. Or, at least, call non-profit organizations such as NeighborWorks for advice. According to Doug Robinson, a NeighborWorks spokesman, its counselors always try to negotiate away deficiencies when they facilitate short sales or deeds-in-lieu.
"We don't favor any short-sale contracts that leave any deficiency that can be pursued," he said.
Robinson himself knows what can happen. He paid off a deficiency after his own New Jersey house went through foreclosure 11 years ago.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Mortgage-lenders-pursue-cnnm-3107909798.html?x=0

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

PRE-FALL 2010 PREVIEW

VERY excited about the next fashion week!!!

OHH LA LA LOVELY!!

ALSO ON MY WISH LIST...

Courtesy of Elle Online

SCORE ONE FOR THE LITTLE GUY(GAL)!

Nurse Outduels IRS Over M.B.A. Tuition

by Laura Saunders
Monday, January 11, 2010

provided by

How One Woman Went to Tax Court and Won Deduction
A Maryland nurse accomplished two rare feats in her battle with the Internal Revenue Service: She defended herself against the agency's lawyers and won, and she got a ruling that could help tens of thousands of students deduct the cost of an M.B.A. degree on their taxes.
The U.S. Tax Court handed Lori Singleton-Clarke her victory last month, saying the 47-year-old Bryantown, Md., woman had properly deducted nearly $15,000 in business school tuition. The Tax Court ruling should make it easier for many other professionals to deduct the expense of a Master in Business Administration degree.

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After getting word of the court decision, "I nearly yelled the roof off the house," Ms. Singleton-Clarke says. "I still can hardly believe it."
The IRS's rules on deducting work-related tuition are complicated and onerous, ultimately preventing most students from deducting their tuition. But this case clarifies the rules and will likely lead to more taxpayers taking the deduction, tax experts say.
Few taxpayers decide to go toe to toe with the IRS as Ms. Singleton-Clarke did, arguing her case without a lawyer. For good reason: In 2009, individuals won only about 10% of about 300 such cases, according to data from Tax Analysts. Ms. Singleton-Clarke fought her case in Tax Court, a venue where taxpayers don't have to pay the contested tax before going to trial. The court has a special procedure for small cases.
Some of the losers, such as several dozen tax protesters who defended the filing of frivolous returns, were tilting at tax windmills. Others were simply on the wrong side of the law, including a horse enthusiast who wanted to deduct his hobby losses, an unsuccessful comedian who tried to classify his expenses as business losses, and an attorney who claimed over $100,000 in medical deductions for his visits to prostitutes.
Of the few who did prevail against the IRS, nearly half came to court on a single issue: requests for "innocent spouse" treatment that decouples a spouse from a partner who is a tax cheat. This provision has been used mostly to protect unknowing wives against their husbands' tax misdeeds. One of the spouses granted relief last year was formerly married to an investment banker who didn't pay his taxes after his bonus didn't come though.
Ms. Singleton-Clarke's encounter with the tax system shows what it can take for one individual to prevail over the IRS against the long odds: favorable facts, obsessive organization, and fearlessness. She says she didn't have a lawyer because she couldn't afford one.
Her odyssey began in 2006, when she filed her 2005 return. It showed just over $50,000 of income, several smaller deductions, and one large one—for $14,787 of expenses for an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, an online school. Ms. Singleton-Clarke deducted the tuition because her tax preparer told her she met the law's narrow definitions.
When the IRS audited the return in late 2006, she conceded all the IRS's challenges to her deductions but one. She dug in her heels on the tuition deduction because, after looking at a complex diagram in IRS Publication 970, she believed she qualified for it.
The audit process first involved several rounds of confusing IRS correspondence. "At one point I had three requests for the same records, each with a different contact name. I had to spend hours calling to figure out who needed what," says Ms. Singleton-Clarke, a steely but soft-spoken woman.
After that she was summoned to an IRS office in downtown Washington where she had to provide more copies of her résumé, a job description, and other records. She felt overwhelmed and intimidated.
Both the IRS's actions and her reactions are typical, says Christopher Bergin, president of Tax Analysts, a group that fights for tax-system transparency and since l972 has won a series of freedom-of-information cases against the IRS. "Without doing anything illegal, they muscled her. That's what they do. The pressure can be terrifying," he says.
A spokesman for the IRS says that it never comments on issues with specific taxpayers.
As Ms. Singleton-Clarke held fast to her conviction that she deserved the deduction, she drew on skills she developed as a nurse responsible for dealing with doctors who may have infringed hospital rules. That was why she studied for her M.B.A., she says: "I didn't want to feel outmatched by surgeons who didn't want to talk to me."
When the IRS again denied her deduction by mail after her meeting with the agent, Ms. Singleton-Clarke wound up going to Tax Court to set a trial date. But when she came to court in November 2008, it seemed that everyone else had settled their cases: "There was just me by myself at one table and the [IRS] tax team of at another in a big courtroom."
The tax team consisted of a two attorneys and several assistants or paralegals. Ms. Singleton-Clarke had been told to bring copies of her documents in triplicate, including a time line of her career. Judge Stanley Goldberg questioned her closely and complimented her on her record-keeping during the hour-long trial. "The whole time," she says: "I was thinking, here is this god-like man who is going to make an important decision for me. But he wasn't a bully. I had met with the bullies before."
Reached Friday by phone, Judge Goldberg said: "I remember the case well because Ms. Singleton-Clarke was so articulate and well-prepared. Too many taxpayers are not."
Ms. Singleton-Clarke's victory came when the ruling was issued a year later. It is unusual in that it helps not only her but others as well. Decisions in small cases aren't allowed to be cited as precedent. "But everyone uses them," says Melissa Labant, a tax expert with the American Institute of CPAs. "This case definitely provides a road map others can use, especially M.B.A. students."
Write to Laura Saunders at laura.saunders@wsj.com
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/108550/nurse-outduels-irs-over-mba-tuition?mod=taxes-advice_strategy

SOME JOB TRAINING IDEAS TO CONSIDER TO MAKE IT THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, FOLKS!

Make $30 an Hour Without a Four-Year Degree

by Thea Nyberg, PayScale.com

For job seekers without a four-year degree, breaking the $25-an-hour barrier can be a challenge. But with more technical certification and associate's degree programs than ever, many well-paying career options are accessible in a broad range of industries.The following is a list of lucrative careers for those without a four-year degree, presented with median annual salary data from PayScale.com. That figure is then broken down to an hourly rate by dividing by 2080, the typical number of working hours in a year, according to PayScale.
1. Sales director
"If you are interested in a career change, but do not want to commit to further education, consider a sales career," says Sharon Reed Abboud, the author of "All Moms Work, Short-Term Career Strategies for Long-Range Success." Sales directors oversee sales staff to help meet objectives, plan and implement sales programs, and work to maintain budgets, among many other duties. While formal training is not a requirement for this position, sales experience and an outgoing personality are vital, according to Abboud. "Successful sales persons can often have the opportunity to climb the career ladder to increasingly lucrative management positions," she explains.
Sales director: $91,900/ $44 per hour
2. Security administrators, computer network
"As technology increases its reach, cyber crime is becoming a major concern for companies," says Debra Yergen, author of the "Creating Job Security Resource Guide." Security administrators work to prevent, troubleshoot, and repair security breaches while educating network users on cyber safety. Certification or relevant experience is essential to entry to this field, especially in absence of a four-year degree.
Security administrators, computer network: $72,000/ $35 per hour
3. Elevator installer/repairer
Elevator assembly, installation and maintenance are the main responsibilities of this position. Participating in an apprenticeship program coupled with paid on-the-job training is the standard, and workers must pass a licensing exam. Union membership is typically required by employers, and unions can help to ensure "an excellent salary, benefits, and pension," says Marky Stein, author of "Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job."
Elevator installer/repairer: $67,100/ $32 per hour
4. Real estate broker
Usually commission-based, real estate brokers' salaries are sensitive to shifts in the economy. Despite the current real estate market, Yergen predicts "resurgence in salary in 2010 with the extension of the housing tax credit." Brokers are tasked with understanding real estate markets, performing transactions, and advising buyers on their financing options. Additionally, real estate brokers must pass a written exam and maintain a license.
Real estate broker: $65,400/ $31 per hour
5. Nuclear medicine technologist
"Nuclear medicine technologists administer a type of drug called radiopharmaceuticals to patients and create diagnostic images that ultimately determine the presence of a disease," explains Yergen. With an increasingly large middle-aged and elderly population and advances in technology, job growth for nuclear medicine technologists is likely to remain steady. A certificate or an associate's degree is needed, and a license is a requirement for many employers and states.
Nuclear medicine technologist: $64,100/ $31 per hour
6. Radiation therapist
Administering radiation treatment to cancer patients is the main role of a radiation therapist. "As radiation therapists continue to be a critical part of the medical radiation oncology team, it will translate into an uptick of jobs," predicts Yergen. There is also room for personal advancement in this field, with opportunities that include teaching and research. Training through an associate's degree or certification program is necessary, and a license is required in many states.
Radiation therapist: $63,500 / $31 per hour
7. Construction manager
Construction managers oversee the construction of structures, facilities, and systems, and are often on call around the clock. On-the-job construction experience and/or completing a construction management certification program provide entry to this position.
Construction manager: $63,400/ $30 per hour
8. Air traffic controller
"As an air traffic controller, your job will be dedicated to keeping the skies safe. It is a very demanding and rewarding occupation." says Abboud. Providing an essential role in aviation, air traffic controllers ensure that planes maintain a safe distance between each other and help to coordinate efficient scheduling.
With most positions employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), air traffic controllers must complete a FAA-approved education program and pass a pre-employment test.
Air traffic controller: $63,000/ $30 per hour
9. Video game designer
Video game designers create the storyline and structure of a video game and determine the rules of play. They typically need to possess an understanding of software design and computer programming, and a degree or certification from a technical school can provide an advantage. Although currently at a point of high popularity, video games tend to go through phases of increased and decreased popularity, cautions Yergen.
Video game designer: $62,300/ $30 per hour
10. MRI technologist
MRI technologists train in programs available through hospitals, colleges and universities to earn a certificate or associate's degree. With more doctors' offices and clinics providing diagnostic services, demand is higher than ever, says Yergen. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "Health care will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry."
MRI technologist: $61,000/ $29 per hour
Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-9 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing. Hourly rates are calculated by dividing the yearly salary by $2080.
Based in Seattle, Thea Nyberg is a freelance writer and editor.
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-make_30_an_hour_without_a_four_year_degree-1066

Interesting read - - -Your Thoughts?

Some see racist theme in alien adventure 'Avatar' (AP)

Source: AP Mon Jan 11, 2010, 9:40 am EST

- Near the end of the hit film "Avatar," the villain snarls at the hero, "How does it feel to betray your own race?" Both men are white — although the hero is inhabiting a blue-skinned, 9-foot-tall, long-tailed alien.
Strange as it may seem for a film that pits greedy, immoral humans against noble denizens of a faraway moon, "Avatar" is being criticized by a small but vocal group of people who allege it contains racist themes — the white hero once again saving the primitive natives.
Since the film opened to widespread critical acclaim three weeks ago, hundreds of blog posts, newspaper articles, tweets and YouTube videos have said things such as the film is "a fantasy about race told from the point of view of white people" and that it reinforces "the white Messiah fable."
The film's writer and director, James Cameron, says the real theme is about respecting others' differences.
In the film (read no further if you don't want the plot spoiled for you) a white, paralyzed Marine, Jake Sully, is mentally linked to an alien's body and set loose on the planet Pandora. His mission: persuade the mystic, nature-loving Na'vi to make way for humans to mine their land for unobtanium, worth $20 million per kilo back home.
Like Kevin Costner in "Dances with Wolves" and Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai" or as far back as Jimmy Stewart in the 1950 Western "Broken Arrow," Sully soon switches sides. He falls in love with the Na'vi princess and leads the bird-riding, bow-and-arrow-shooting aliens to victory over the white men's spaceships and mega-robots.
Adding to the racial dynamic is that the main Na'vi characters are played by actors of color, led by a Dominican, Zoe Saldana, as the princess. The film also is an obvious metaphor for how European settlers in America wiped out the Indians.
Robinne Lee, an actress in such recent films as "Seven Pounds" and "Hotel for Dogs," said that "Avatar" was "beautiful" and that she understood the economic logic of casting a white lead if most of the audience is white.
But she said the film, which so far has the second-highest worldwide box-office gross ever, still reminded her of Hollywood's "Pocahontas" story — "the Indian woman leads the white man into the wilderness, and he learns the way of the people and becomes the savior."
"It's really upsetting in many ways," said Lee, who is black with Jamaican and Chinese ancestry. "It would be nice if we could save ourselves."
Annalee Newitz, editor-in-chief of the sci-fi Web site io9.com , likened "Avatar" to the recent film "District 9," in which a white man accidentally becomes an alien and then helps save them, and 1984's "Dune," in which a white man becomes an alien Messiah.
"Main white characters realize that they are complicit in a system which is destroying aliens, AKA people of color ... (then) go beyond assimilation and become leaders of the people they once oppressed," she wrote.
"When will whites stop making these movies and start thinking about race in a new way?" wrote Newitz, who is white.
Black film professor and author Donald Bogle said he can understand why people would be troubled by "Avatar," although he praised it as a "stunning" work.
"A segment of the audience is carrying in the back of its head some sense of movie history," said Bogle, author of "Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films."
Bogle stopped short, however, of calling the movie racist.
"It's a film with still a certain kind of distortion," he said. "It's a movie that hasn't yet freed itself of old Hollywood traditions, old formulas."
Writer/director Cameron, who is white, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that his film "asks us to open our eyes and truly see others, respecting them even though they are different, in the hope that we may find a way to prevent conflict and live more harmoniously on this world. I hardly think that is a racist message."
There are many ways to interpret the art that is "Avatar."
What does it mean that in the final, sequel-begging scene, Sully abandons his human body and transforms into one of the Na'vi for good? Is Saldana's Na'vi character the real heroine because she, not Sully, kills the arch-villain? Does it matter that many conservatives are riled by what they call liberal environmental and anti-military messages?
Is Cameron actually exposing the historical evils of white colonizers? Does the existence of an alien species expose the reality that all humans are actually one race?
"Can't people just enjoy movies any more?" a person named Michelle posted on the Web site for Essence, the magazine for black women, which had 371 comments on a story debating the issue.
Although the "Avatar" debate springs from Hollywood's historical difficulties with race, Will Smith recently saved the planet in "I Am Legend," and Denzel Washington appears ready to do the same in the forthcoming "Book of Eli."
Bogle, the film historian, said that he was glad Cameron made the film and that it made people think about race.
"Maybe there is something he does want to say and put across" about race, Bogle said. "Maybe if he had a black hero in there, that point would have been even stronger."
___
Jesse Washington covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press.
http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/some-see-racist-theme-alien-adventure-avatar-ap

Monday, January 11, 2010

GORGEOUS- - - JUST GORGEOUS!

The Photodiarist blog captures New York and its inhabitants in separate pages of black and white & color in visual glory!

Bird Stories: The Pigeon Whisperer

Friday, January 8, 2010

Sheldon & Savannah's Weekly Wrap Up

Well the first week in 2010 has gone on by and here are our most FAVORITE highlights...

H&M and Wal-Mart destroy and trash unsold goods

editor

by Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff, 23 hours ago

Cynthia Magnus holds up unworn, destroyed clothing she found in the garbage. Photo by Suzanne DeChillo/New York Times

This week the New York Times reported a disheartening story about two of the largest retail chains. You see, instead of taking unsold items to sample sales or donating them to people in need, H&M and Wal-Mart have been throwing them out in giant trash bags. And in the case that someone may stumble on these bags and try to keep or re-sell the items, these companies have gone ahead and slashed up garments, cut off the sleeves of coats, and sliced holes in shoes so they are unwearable.

This unsettling discovery was made by graduate student Cynthia Magnus outside the back entrance of H&M on 35th street in New York City. Just a few doors down, she also found hundreds of Wal-Mart tagged items with holes made in them that were dumped by a contractor. On December 7, she spotted 20 bags of clothing outside of H&M including, "gloves with the fingers cut off, warm socks, cute patent leather Mary Jane school shoes, maybe for fourth graders, with the instep cut up with a scissor, men’s jackets, slashed across the body and the arms. The puffy fiber fill was coming out in big white cotton balls.”

The New York Times points out that one-third of the city's population is poor, which makes this behavior not only wasteful and sad, but downright irresponsible. Wal-Mart spokeswoman, Melissa Hill, acted surprised that these items were found, claiming they typically donate all unworn merchandise to charity. When reporters went around the corner from H&M to a collections drop-off for charity organization New York Cares, spokesperson Colleen Farrell said, “We’d be glad to take unworn coats, and companies often send them to us."

After several days of no response from H&M, the company made a statement today, promising to stop destroying the garments at the midtown Manhattan location. They said they will donate the items to charity. H&M spokeswoman Nicole Christie said, "It will not happen again," and that the company would make sure none of the other locations would do so either. Hopefully that's the final word.
Courtesy Of Yahoo Shine!

As IF this were not bad enough, there are THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of comments on that thread about how terrible this event is but here's the flipside in our opinion...This sound decision helps to prevent unauthorized returns to the stores which we imagine could run into the tens of thousands in fraudulent transactions and untold amount of money---among other ill intended uses of the items...Add to that in general the propensity of the general public to sue over discarded items that may or may not cause some unintended harm real or imagined to whomever may find it and this drastic measure on the part of the retailers(and restaurants, too---they can be sued easily for donating food instead of trashing it) does not seem so drastic after all...

HOME SWEET HOME...

Courtesy of Casa Sugar!

FASHION WISH LIST FOR NEXT WEEK...

The best thing about loving this fashion is making it modern while still paying homage to the classic era...We are in our Bohemian Steampunk fashion age now...Sheldon & I are LOVING it

These photos are courtesy of google'd steampunk and victorian image searches online...no infringement intended...Dressing in our own style is so importnat to our faith in ourselves---making it blend with modernism when necessary is icing on our multi-tiered vanilla frosted cake:)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

My meal plan for next week...psst...Savannah's chef hat has been PERMANENTLY revoked!

Fast & Easy Dinner: Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Thursday - 12:50PM by partysugar

Most broccoli cheese soup recipes are loaded with cream and cheese. Not so with this vegetarian-friendly recipe. The clean, bright flavor of broccoli is most prominent. The only cheese is sprinkled on the finished soup as garnish; however, the soup has a rich, nutty depth thanks to nutritional yeast flakes. This health food store ingredient is popular among vegans and can be used to add a cheesiness to other cream sauces. To learn the uncomplicated method,read more.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup
From Vegetarian Times

Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
2 bunches broccoli, trimmed and coarsely chopped (2 1/2 lb.)
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
11/2 Tbs. nutritional yeast flakes
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 cup fat-free half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese
Directions

Coat 3-qt. saucepan with cooking spray. Cook onion in saucepan over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
Add broccoli, vegetable broth, and 2 cups water, and bring to boil. Stir in nutritional yeast, cumin, and nutmeg; reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, 20 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.
Working in batches, purée soup in food processor until smooth. Return to saucepan.
Stir in half-and-half, and heat over low heat until hot. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle each serving with 1 Tbs. cheese.

Serves 8.
Courtesy of Yum Sugar!

Fast & Easy Dinner: Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Thursday - 12:50PM by partysugar

Broccoli and Cheese Soup
From Vegetarian Times

Coat 3-qt. saucepan with cooking spray. Cook onion in saucepan over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
Add broccoli, vegetable broth, and 2 cups water, and bring to boil. Stir in nutritional yeast, cumin, and nutmeg; reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, 20 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.
Working in batches, purée soup in food processor until smooth. Return to saucepan.
Stir in half-and-half, and heat over low heat until hot. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle each serving with
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Hummus Is Healthy, Easy, and Delicious Snack

Wednesday - 12:50PM by partysugar

Hummus, the popular, pureed garbanzo bean spread, has always been one of my favorite snacks. There's something about its creamy texture that makes it taste far more rich and decadent than it really is. Normally I'll purchase hummus from the store, but recently I remembered how easy it is to make — even when I'm in a hurry!

Use a food processor and canned beans, and you'll have homemade hummus in a matter of minutes. Serve as a dip with carrots and toasted whole wheat pita or, for a more figure-friendly and flavorful condiment, slather on sandwich bread. To look at the recipe — it's slightly spicy thanks to the addition of red pepper flakes —read more.

Spicy Hummus
From Rachael Ray

Ingredients
1 (14.5 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
2 rounded tablespoons tahini sesame paste, found in both dairy and dry specialty foods sections
A drizzle extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 clove garlic, crushed
Coarse salt
1/2 lemon, juiced
Pita breads, grilled and cut into wedges, carrots, celery sticks, or red pepper chunks for dipping
Directions

Combine beans, tahini, oil, pepper flakes, cumin, coriander, garlic, salt, and lemon juice in food processor bowl and grind into a smooth paste.
Transfer to a small dip dish and surround spread with warm pita wedges and veggies. This recipe makes a great appetizer, or anytime snack.

Serves 4.

Courtesy of Yum Sugar!

We want to leave you with another(yes ANOTHA) flashback to the 80's...Depeche Mode(that is...if it hasn't been YANKED yet!)

Next week...

We introduce our new Hair Decor line!
We debut our budget friendly "Did you Know..." tips and comments piece.
We offer the following weekly list of on sale items for our ebay store!