January 22, 2015 · 4:03 pm

If I Were A Rich Gal…DoBeDoBeDoBeDo…

Mom_and_Money

Man Who Bought Lottery Tickets to Break $100 Bill Wins $10M

BOSTON — Jan 22, 2015, 3:46 PM ET

A Massachusetts man who bought a pair of lottery tickets at a grocery shop to break a $100 bill for lunch has ended up winning $10 million.

Lottery officials announced Thursday that Richard Noll and his wife claimed the prize at lottery headquarters in Braintree this week. He chose a one-time payment of $6.5 million after taxes.

The Revere man says he needed to break a $100 bill to get lunch at a sandwich shop, so he bought two $20 “Platinum Millions” instant tickets at Lanzilli Groceria in East Boston. The shop gets a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Noll says he wants to buy a house, make investments and take his granddaughter to Walt DisneyWorld.

 

Are. You. KIDDING ME???????

My first thought about this story is that, hey this guy already had more money than me to begin with…he was breaking a hundred dollar bill. Actually, that’s not true. My first thought can’t be printed because:

A. I don’t swear (well, not out loud, anyway)

B. You thought I was going to say “2” didn’t you? That’s kind of an old joke people…

C. I’m depressed

I have often thought about how much money I would have to win to be completely free of all debt and the answer isn’t pretty. I figure, in order to pay off our mortgage, credit cards, stores, cars, parent PLUS student loans, our four kids’ student loans and a couple of charities dear to me, I’d need a cool million. Easy. Truthfully, a little over a million would help get our youngest through her last two years of college. Well, a little more would be nice to cover her graduate studies… And, I wouldn’t scoff at another half mil on top of that… ya’ know…just to have a little something to stash away.

So, there you have it. A take-home winning of $1.6 million would do quite nicely. Although, I always thought I’d want to share my good fortune with family and a couple of friends, so let’s just make it an even $3 million. Hey, man, I’m not being greedy –  my husband and I come from big families.

I thought slipping two instant lottery game tickets into everyone’s Christmas stocking this year would surely net someone good luck, but it turned out I was the luckiest one of the bunch, winning a whopping three dollars. After reading this story however, I’m feeling lucky. I think a trip to the store is in order to see if I can make that win turn into something much bigger. Wish me luck. You might be one of the beneficiaries of my good nature…

 

 

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January 7, 2015 · 3:31 pm

Don’t Worry…We’ve Got Your Back

20150107-144632.jpg“I think you’re just saying that because you’re worried about me.”

Those words were quietly uttered to me by my son last week when my husband and I suggested he lengthen his stay at our house over the holidays. I was taken back a bit by his words, but had to admit, he was right. We were worried about him. He had been recently dealing with a lot of stress which led to sleep issues, but seemed to improve so much while at home, goofing around with his sister and two brothers. A change of scenery and a break from the stress he’d been dealing with worked wonders for him.

I later explained that he was right.  We did worry about him, just like we worry about all of our kids. Yes, he’s twenty-eight years old. Yes, he’s married. But we’re parents and parents worry. That’s what we do best. And that’s normal. Continue reading →

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December 8, 2014 · 8:45 am

Christmas Is In The Air…And BWB Has The Perfect Gift

NUMB book cover

The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. You know what I mean. That’s right – starting today, my novel, NUMB, is available at a reduced price through Amazon’s  KDP Countdown promotion. The promotion goes through Wednesday, December 10, during which time the price will incrementally creep back to it’s regular price. So, if you’re looking for an easy Christmas gift for that difficult someone on your list, this is it! Simply click on this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ELICULY, click on the “Give as a gift”option on the right side of the screen. You can then either enter the intended recipient’s email & Amazon will send an email message that a gift is ready for them to download! Or, if you’d rather send that special message yourself, simply enter your own email & then you can notify them yourself! It doesn’t get much easier than that!

But WAIT…their IS another GREAT opportunity to give the gift of reading to a friend (or why not yourself?). tomorrow is Read Tuesday, which is the literary equivalent of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you would rather give a print version of NUMB, at a 50% discount, then tomorrow would be THE day to do it. How??? Well, I’m glad you asked. Click on the link below and enter the discount code.

http://www.createspace.com/4882416

Discount Code: RNVB4448

That’s all there is to it! Now, get moving and start clicking. Won’t it feel good to scratch that off your To-Do list?

Oh, but I feel I should warn you…after reading NUMB, you may never go to the dentist again… Happy Reading!

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December 5, 2014 · 1:47 pm

Why I Hate The Elf

NO MORE ELF

Well, it’s that time of year again. I’m not sure why it always seems to sneak up on me. I think this year, after suffering through last year’s horror of the Polar Vortex, I just couldn’t face the fact that winter would return. Again. I know…I know…the alternative isn’t much better. I’m pretty sure, anyway. So, I donned my mask of denial and refused to acknowledge the signs. Temperatures in the teens? Impossible. Snow? Don’t even THINK about it. My Winter-Denial-Mojo was in full swing. Unstoppable. Even the insufferable Christmas commercials on television were easily snuffed out with a click of the remote. Yes, this year would be different. No layering of clothes until I look like a stuffed sausage. No furry boots. No gloves, hats, scarves, long underwear or snow shovels to cramp my delusion. That’s what I thought, anyway…until I met my Waterloo. The ultimate obstacle. That’s right, I’m talking about that evil Elf on a Shelf. There is NO escape from that creepy stalker.

Continue reading →

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September 25, 2014 · 2:29 pm

Parenting, Worry And Ernest Hemingway…

ERNEST HEMINGWAY PICWell, I’m back after a very long period of writer’s block. Writer’s block, combined with a very busy summer, lots on my mind and, ummm…writer’s block. I recently came across an interesting quote by Ernest Hemingway, that hack writer. Anyway, he said “Worry destroys the ability to write.” And to that I say: Truer words were never spoke. But an even better quote from him is this: “If something is broken, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.” I wholeheartedly agree. As my grandma used to say, to worry is to borrow trouble. No point in that. However, I AM a parent and worry is the constant companion of every parent. It’s just part of the deal. So, let’s do a little word problem…

One Praying Parent (Novena-Rosary-or-Name Your Personal Prayer Style) directly correlates to One Child whirling through life’s foibles TIMES number of Said Children TIMES the number of Hours in a Day TIMES the Entire Lifetime of Said Children = One Crazy Parent PLUS at LEAST one, probably very annoyed, Patron Saint. (Yes, this particular math problem is a Catholic one, but by no means excludes non-Catholic parents – we’re all in this together.)

As you can tell from that equation, I really stink at math. But you probably get the point. Being a parent ain’t easy. That said, my kids are easily the BEST thing that ever happened to me, as I’m sure yours are. And, as much as I blame them for my current state of financial ruin, the truth is that they’re probably only responsible for maybe 75% of it. Possibly less… But I’m gonna say probably not.

So, yes, financial disaster is part of my ongoing worry. But, like any parent, I also worry about my kids growing into mature, honorable and deep-down GOOD people. Oh and about them getting jobs, too. Jobs that will not only pay the bills, but will fill them with excitement so they will be able to LIVE life, rather than just survive it. They don’t have to be millionaires (but I’ve advised them not to rule it out) to live happily and contentedly. I’ve often repeated this quote from one of my sons because I love it and it makes me proud. When speaking of his career plans, he said, “My goals in life aren’t confined to a paycheck.”  When I hear that, I know these kids of mine are so worth my being broke. As parents, we sacrifice. We’ve given everything we have to provide our kids the opportunity to go out into the world and make good use of the gifts they’ve been given. I mean, what the heck, it’s only money…right?

PS: My son’s two short essays on the life of a musician can be found here: http://pjnmusic.blogspot.com/

PS…they’re good 😊

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June 27, 2014 · 11:18 am

Box Wine Drinkers…Our Day Has Finally Come

Box of Wine pic

Well, I’ve finally gotten around to it. Today I address the name of this blog site: Life On A Box Wine Budget. Yes, it’s a little wordy. And, yes, after three and a half years of typing it, I STILL fumble on the keypad. But, my BWB partner and I agreed that it pretty much sums up our lives. An interesting turn of events has come into play, though, that could be a game-changer for box wines. What is it, you ask? Box wine is becoming socially acceptable. That’s right. Drinking from a box might not carry the stigma it used to. Which means…we Box Winers can now proudly dispense from that tap, unafraid of social backlash. Well, that might be overstating it a bit. But not much, actually. I recently came across some interesting articles praising the virtues of boxed wines, all of which included some of my standard brands. It was quite liberating as I always feared the disdain of fellow shoppers upon eyeing a box in my cart, hence the habit of burying it under other items. But NO MORE!! I can now walk with my head held high as I saunter the store aisles, although, honestly, I might still feel the need to tell the strangers I pass that, “Yes, it’s a respectable purchase now. I swear.” Okay, so it might take a while for me to feel completely confident… But, seriously, it’s not bad wine. I make this bold pronouncement as one who admittedly knows NOTHING about wine. Well, except that I did learn how to taste it correctly during a trip to Napa a few years ago. Something I like to make kind of a big deal about. Continue reading →

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May 20, 2014 · 1:49 pm

Confessions Of A Cookie-Challenged Mom…

 

burnt-cookies-picWell, it’s happened again. I’m really not sure if I’ll ever learn the lesson. I’ve come to the painful conclusion that there is something inherently wrong with me that I am absolutely INCAPABLE of baking a batch of cookies. Edible cookies, that is. I used to be a sort-of good baker. Admittedly, my creations were often not pretty to look. I never was deluded into thinking I could pass myself off as a baked goods artiste. But, the treats I baked always tasted pretty darn good. I think I probably just got lazy over the years. But, I mean, seriously, why the heck can’t I bake a decent batch of cookies anymore? I’m not exaggerating. Just ask my family. When I tell them I’m baking, there is an audible groan. One day, after an unsuccessful attempt, which resulted in a pan of lumpy black charcoals, I set the smoking pan outside on the deck. When my husband came home from work, he saw the pan outside and casually said, “Were you baking today?”

Yes, something has changed. I don’t know what it is, but it has become IMPOSSIBLE for me to successfully bake a batch of cookies. I mean cookies that are ooey-gooey good. The kind that people want to eat. At best, mine aren’t burned, technically,  but definitely crispy. That’s become my code word. “They are NOT burned. They’re crispy.” Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But, I would love to be able to confidently bake a batch of cookies that doesn’t require gallons of milk to choke them down. I’m not even talking about the kind of baking that involves flour and sugar and eggs and whatever else cookies are made of. I’m talking about the pre-made Pillsbury cookie dough you buy at the store. It’s already pre-cut into cookie shapes! All I have to do is transfer them from the packaging to a baking pan, stick it in the oven and…here where it gets tricky…REMOVE them from said oven after about 10 minutes. The “removal part” I’ve learned, is key to the whole cookie-baking process.

I know what you’re thinking. And, YES I DO set a timer. And, I’ve even figured out that I shouldn’t stray too far from the oven during that ever-important ten minute period, so as not to miss the buzzing alert. And, yet, every single time, I find myself sniffing the air, thinking “Mmmm….something smells good.” Which is probably the time I should head over to the oven and check on the cookies. But, I don’t because, in the matter of several minutes after depositing the pan into the oven, I’ve somehow forgotten that cookies are baking. Instead, I continue whatever I’m doing until I finally do remember. And then it’s always “OH SHI******….” Every. Single. Time.

I remember once, on my way to pick my daughter up from school, I texted her saying I had made Snickerdoodles – those yummy cinnamon cookies. Her response: “Really? That sounds like something someone else’s mom would do.” I got lucky that day – no black smoke billowing from the kitchen. Mary Kate was so proud of me. That was a good day…

 

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May 11, 2014 · 10:32 am

The Most Important Person On Earth

20140511-103007.jpg

The Most Important Person
on earth is a mother. She
cannot claim the honor of
having built Notre Dame
Cathedral. She need not. She
has built something more
magnificent than any
cathedral—a dwelling for an
immortal soul, the tiny
perfection of her baby’s
body…The angels have not
been blessed with such a
grace. They cannot share in
God’s creative miracle to bring
new saints to Heaven. Only a
human mother can. Mothers
are closer to God the Creator
than any other creature; God
joins forces with mothers in
performing this act of
creation… What on God’s
good earth is more glorious
than this: to be a mother?
—Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

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May 11, 2014 · 8:20 am

Happy Mother’s Day…Or Why You Should Be Happy The Kids Are Gone

Mothers-DayHappy Mother’s Day! Someone remarked to me recently what a good mother I am, to which I responded that it’s easy when the kids aren’t around. My children are slowly growing up and moving away from Mom and Dad. Does that sadden me? No. It makes me happy and proud. That’s what’s supposed to happen. My oldest son, Mike, is married to the lovely Laura 🙂 and living in downtown Chicago. Brian is finishing up his second year of grad school at DePaul University and also living downtown. He has started working on his thesis, which will be the final piece of his graduate studies and will take him well into the next school year. As his mom, I would love if he could make his career in Chicago, and that could happen, however, I know that his field may very well lead him to other parts of the country. And that’s okay, too. If that happens, we’ll miss him terribly, but he must follow his path. My two youngest, Peter and Mary Kate, only have a short time left to be together, as students in the Percussion Studio at University of Iowa. Peter is set to graduate next Saturday and then, together, they will embark on the Steel Band Tour the following week. (Since it’s Mother’s Day, I will boast that Mary Kate is the only freshman who will be going on the tour…so that’s pretty cool 🙂  As a girl drummer, she totally rocks!) The University of Tennessee in Knoxville then beckons Peter to begin his graduate studies in the fall, a short six hundred mile drive away…

Today, I will spend my Mother’s Day in Iowa City for Pete’s final recital. As a music major, he was required to perform a formal Senior Recital, which is much more than simply a performance. It involves choosing the music, researching the composers and the background of the pieces, creating arrangements of pieces and, of course, a perfect execution of the music for an audience. Pete chose to perform a recital his sophomore, junior and senior years. His formal Senior Recital was nothing short of awesome. The recital which I am attending today, is what he has termed, his “fun” recital. I’m not sure how many kids would voluntarily perform an extra recital, just for fun. I’m guessing not many. And I can’t wait to hear and see him play. My husband and I made the three-hour drive to Iowa City two nights ago to see the last Steel Band Concert of the school year, and, more importantly, the last concert Mary Kate and Peter will perform together. Today, we will see Peter’s  last performance of his undergraduate career. And we can’t wait. Next Thursday, I’ll make that drive again to move MK out of her dorm and into her brother’s apartment as they prepare for their tour. I will then return on  Friday for the graduation on Saturday. After sending four children to the University of Iowa, the drive is second nature. Like running to the grocery store. “I’m going to Iowa. Be back in six hours…Need anything while I’m out?”

So, yes, I’m celebrating the fact that my kids are leaving me. You should be too. And, if your kids are still young-uns, remember that this is the goal.

So, on this Mother’s Day, I will leave you with my unsolicited advice on parenting (in no particular order):

1. Don’t be afraid of the word NO. It may very well be the most important one in your vocabulary. Just ask my kids…

2. Instill a solid faith in God. It’s what will get them through the tough times.They may stray, but will hopefully return if they have something to return to.

3. Let them know that there WILL be tough times. I will repeat the wise words of a priest at church: “Parents, teach your kids that life is not fair.”

4. Laugh. Laugh loud and often. Tease and allow yourself to be teased.

5. Expose them to everything – sports, music, chess, books, theater, etc and see what excites them. And then encourage them to follow their dreams. 

And most importantly…

6. Do not discourage or quash their spirit. “Every child is an artist until they are told they are not”  John Lennon

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May 1, 2014 · 10:31 am

THE IMPORTANT OVERUSE OF CAPITAL LETTERS Or…How I Unwittingly Became My Own Pitchman

NUMB book coverHello Box Wine Budget friends! I’m back after a kinda long hiatus. But I come bearing good news.  Today and tomorrow…that is…May 1 and May 2, I am offering you the opportunity of a LIFETIME!! Yes, you heard right. A LIFETIME!! I can hear you already: What amazing opportunity of a LIFETIME could my good friend possibly be offering? Well…are you sitting? Here goes… I am currently involved in a promotion with Amazon to offer my book, NUMB,to the public for a low, low, VERY low price. Yes, that’s right – TWO “Lows”  and one “VERY low.”

NUMB tells the story of an unlikely serial killer. You may even like her. But when an old friend confronts her about his suspicions, he learns a deadly lesson in minding his own business. HINT: you may never go to the dentist again… So, how much would you think a great story like this would be sold for? Hmmm??? What’s that, you say? $19.99? Why, that’s ridiculous. I said this was a great offer, after all. $10.99? Don’t insult me. I wouldn’t want to waste your time pretending that was a great deal.  $0.99?   Seriously, are you NOT listening to me?? I opened this blog promising you the deal of a LIFETIME…remember? So, it goes: For today and tomorrow ONLY, you can download my kindle book, NUMB, for FREE!!! Yes FREE!

Now, don’t you go fretting if you don’t own a Kindle reader because Amazon is so awesome that they offer a free kindle download for your PC, Mac, iPad, smart phone and probably thousands of other devices. I’m not actually sure about the “thousands” thing, so don’t quote me on that. But you get the picture. So, because your friends here at Life On A Box Wine Budget are such nice people, we are going to include the link for that free kindle download, along with the link for this amazing book. All you have to do is move your little mouse thingy over to the links and click. It’s that easy. We did all the hard work. All that’s left for you to do, then, is cuddle up on this cold, rainy day (at least here in Chicago – we’re all in agreement here that Spring will never come) and read.

Oh, and I’d LOVE  if you would be so kind as to leave a review on the Amazon site. Couple sentences is all that’s necessary. Okay, I’ll include a link for that too. Here’s the thing, though. If you love it and leave a great review, that will be awesome and I will be forever in your debt. If you thought it was pretty good and leave a pretty good review, I’ll still love you. If you decided it was so-so and not a complete waste of online clicking, I’ll actually still be cool with that. However, if you hate it, maybe you could just leave me a gently worded message  🙂

THREE EASY STEPS for the deal of a LIFETIME:

Free Kindle App: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

NUMB link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ELICULY

Amazon Review Site: http://www.amazon.com/NUMB-Casey-Quinn-ebook/product-reviews/B00ELICULY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

And, THAT, my friends is how I ended up becoming my own pitchman.  As you can see, it requires using capital letters A LOT. So, how’d I do?

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