The Chaotic World of Construction

How to Make Your Own Headboard

A headboard can turn a simple Hollywood bed frame into a focal point for a room, and it can set the tone for the entire space. If you have a bedroom in your home that seems to be lacking a touch of interior design, you may want to consider making a headboard for it so the bed really pops. Making a headboard is a lot easier than you may think, and there are a million ways to go about it. You should be able to create a bold, unique headboard all your own without having to spend much of your office manager salary. Here are some ideas that you could use to make your own headboard.

Doors

Most doors are long enough to span across the back of your bed, and they can make great headboards with a little modification. You could get a new one if you want a really clean look, or you could get an older one to give your room some character. If you get an older one though, make sure to seal it somehow so that the paint and wood chips don’t flake off on you at night. That may not be too pleasant to wake up to. Just add some bocks to one side of the door to give it height, and then set it down so that it is horizontal behind the bed. Screw in your Hollywood frame, and you’re all set.

Crates

You can get plastic or wooden crates and use them as a headboard, depending on the theme for your room. If you’re going for a young, funky look, this should work out well. If you’re going for something Victorian and sophisticated, you need to pick something else. Stack the crates on top of one another so that the open end is on the front. This will look like a bunch of little shelves when you build it up enough. Tie all of the crates together with wire of some sort, and put this up against a wall. If the headboard tries to topple over, you might want to put something heavy in the crates at the bottom. No one will ever see this, and it will give your headboard a little more stability. As long as everything is tied down properly, you should come out with a pretty cool piece to call your own.

Windows

Old windows can make great headboards because they are durable and eye-catching. If you can find a stained-glass window for a good price, you may want to use that on your headboard. You can put wood pieces or old cabinet doors around it to span the length of the bed, depending on how large the window is. You could also use old windows with shutters and somehow affix the shutters so that they are open. You will just have to test out some different ideas and see what you come up with.

Signs

Metal signs may not make the most comfortable headboard ever, but they can turn into pretty cool works of art. Get some kind of wood or metal frame to adhere the signs to and make it the size that you want your headboard to be. Then put stop signs, road signs, license plates, or whatever else you want on there. You could make this look like a mosaic, or you could just line everything up in a neat little row. That part is up to you.

Play around with some of the ideas above, and you should have an awesome looking headboard in no time.

The Work of a Real Estate Paralegal

Paralegals can work in many industries, as there is a need for legal workers in every sector of the job market. If you have been looking for a versatile career that would still allow you to work in the housing market, you may want to consider becoming a real estate paralegal. Real estate paralegals do the same basic work as all other paralegals, but they focus on homes that are being built or sold throughout the year. Here is a look at the responsibilities that come along with this profession so you can figure out if it is right for you.

The Job Duties of a Real Estate Paralegal

Every paralegal has a slightly different set of tasks to take on from day to day. For the most part, you will be working alongside legal professionals to assist them in whatever they need. This may involve research, secretarial work, or running errands. Common job duties for real estate paralegals include:

• Assist lawyers in trial
• Draft correspondence
• Investigate information about a case
• Issue affidavits and other formal statements
• Organize papers and computer files
• Prepare reports for attorneys
• Research laws and legal articles

If you think you could do that on a daily basis, you could be a perfect fit for this career.

The Training of a Real Estate Paralegal

In order to become a paralegal, you will need at least two years of college education. You can get this online or through a school in your area, depending on how you like to learn. Some students choose to go through a four year degree program before becoming paralegals, but that may not be necessary. You can get a job with a simple associate’s degree. Common degree programs to keep in mind include:

• Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science
• Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Arts in History
• Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

You could use any one of those degrees to work as a real estate paralegal. As long as you took a course or two related to real estate, you should be in good shape. Then you can take an exam to obtain a certification. Possibilities include:

• American Bar Association Certified
• Certified Legal Assistant
• Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate
• Notary Public
• Paralegal Certificate

With your degree and certification in hand, you can find work wherever you want to.

The Pay of a Real Estate Paralegal

Considering the limited education you need to become a real estate paralegal, there is a surprisingly large amount of money to be made in this profession. Paralegals may not be among the best paid employees in the world, but they can certainly hold their own. The average salary for real estate paralegals may be:

• Less than 1 year of experience: $24,410 – $43,453 per year
• 1-4 years of experience: $26,395 – $50,740 per year
• 5-9 years of experience: $31,434 – $61,068 per year
• 10-19 years of experience: $34,314 – $70,273 per year
• 20+ years of experience: $36,109 – $75,249 per year

Think carefully about your goals in life and see if they coincide with the work of a real estate paralegal. If so, you now know all you need to know to pursue your future career.

Wallpapering Like the Pros

Hanging wallpaper is a lot harder to do than most people realize. Can anyone do this? Yes. Can anyone do this well? Not so much. There is a certain process that you have to go through in order to make a wall look good with wallpaper on it. If you do not go through this process, you will just end up with a big mess to clean up. Before you start slapping wallpaper all over the place, you may want to learn how this process works. That way you can get the results you want when you want them. Here are some tips to help you wallpaper like the pros any time you want a new look in your rooms.

Note: My stepfather hangs wallpaper for a living, so I am highly familiar with the process. You can trust that the tips below are from a professional. No worries.

Strip the Old Paper off

Strip the old paper off the walls before you try to put the new stuff on. If the walls are already bare, don’t worry about this step. Otherwise you need to get rid of anything that is on the walls because the imperfections from that layer of paper will show through to the top. Use a steamer to loosen the glue, or buy a wallpaper removal kit. Just do whatever it takes to get rid of the old stuff.

Measure the Walls

You will most likely be hanging the wallpaper vertically, so measure how long the walls are from top to bottom. You will need to add about 4 inches to that whenever you cut out the paper so that you have a little room on the top and bottom to adjust for errors.

Match the Seams and Cut

Use a box knife to cut out the first line of paper, and then lay it out to match up the seams with the ones on the roll. When you find a match, measure out a new strip of paper and cut it. Then you will be able to put the first one on the wall to get it out of the way. Cut a third piece to go with the second, and so on. Do this until you have enough paper to cover the whole room.

Activate the Adhesive

Most wallpaper has glue on the back that gets sticky when you get it wet. Get a wallpaper water tray and fill it about halfway up with water. Then roll the piece that you want to put on the wall and set the roll in the tray. You can then pull it up to unravel it, allowing the back to get fully coated with water. If this isn’t enough stickiness, put some border adhesive on the back so that your wallpaper can stick to the walls.

Hang the Paper

When you go to hang the wallpaper, try to make sure that it is straight up and down. Once you get the first piece correct, all of the rest of them will just fall into place. Starting at the top, use a flat plastic squeegee to push the paper into the upper corner and slowly start flattening the bubbles below. Do this all the way down until the paper is flat against the wall everywhere.

Repeat the same process on the other pieces, and make sure you line up the seams. When this is finished, you can use the flat plastic wedge to create a perfect line to follow when you want to cut the excess paper. If you do all of this correctly from the start, you should end up with professional looking walls that any interior designer would be proud of.

The Reality behind Architecture Degrees

Architecture is the foundation of the construction world. Without architects creating plans for homes, offices, and event centers, construction workers would have nothing to work on. If you have a passion for architecture, you may consider turning it into a career for you. This could lead to a highly successful profession, but it could also lead to a mental hospital. Why? Because architecture degree programs are intense. I was an architecture student for two years, and I just got too overwhelmed with the work to stick around. I thought I may shed some light on this program to help you see whether or not it is right for you. Here is an overview of the work load that goes into architectural degree programs.

The Courses

Most of the courses that you take in an architecture degree will be studios, where you basically work on mock projects to help you understand the principles of the business. These studios are long and time consuming, and they can literally take over your life in college. There is a lot of math and physics involved with this kind of degree, on top of studios, architectural history courses, and parts of the core curriculum. It is easy to get lost in all of this because it does get really hard to balance. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone who is not willing to put forth a lot of time to getting an education.

The Time

I used to spend 40 hours a week or more just in studio, and I had three other classes to take care of for the semester. On top of all that, I had a husband to spend time with and a job to maintain, which provided me with a total of maybe four hours a sleep a night, if I was lucky. This is an exhausting degree program to go into, and it can really wear on your nerves over time. I used to hear horror stories about people brining cots to sleep on because they spent so much time in studio. It wasn’t until I got into those classes that I realized…all of those rumors were true. We literally had two or three cots in our studio area to sleep on for those inevitable all-nighters. That is something they won’t tell you about in the college brochure.

The Cost

Architecture supplies are really expensive, and I mean really expensive. If you get a chance to buy used supplies from a graduating student, take the opportunity. I think I spent $1,000 in a single semester just on supplies for my projects, and that did not include books, binders, and other supplies I needed for the rest of my classes. Unless you have a good scholarship to fall back on, you may want to save up a hefty sum of money before pursuing this as a degree.

Conclusion

I don’t like to discourage people from following their dreams, and I would never want to deny the world of another great architect. Nevertheless, I believe in telling it like it is. In this case, the “it is” is a harsh reality to swallow. Architecture degree programs are grueling, time consuming, and overwhelming for most people. What’s even worse about that is that most graduates do not make much money when they first get out of college. I make more without a degree at all than any of my friends do with architecture degrees right now. That is just something you have to get used to in this profession. If you can handle all of that, you may be able to do well in an architecture degree program..

Metal Roofing Compared to Cedar Shake

When you go to put a new roof on your home, you may be drawn to cedar shake. This has been a trusted material for many years now, but that does not mean that it is the ideal material for you. Metal roofing has many benefits over cedar roofing, and it can be made to look just like cedar if you want it to. You can get the aesthetic qualities that you want from the cedar without having to settle for a bad material you will not be happy with in a few years. Here are a few reasons why you may want to work with metal alloy instead of cedar shake.

Durability

Metal is going to be far more durable than cedar over time. Metal roofing can withstand high winds and heavy debris, and it can hold up in the most extreme weather conditions out there. Cedar will contract and expand with the seasons, and as a result of that, it will eventually warp and crack. Metal will not do anything like that. It will last for decades if it is installed properly, and during that whole time, it will look as beautiful as you would want it to. You will get more for your money by using metal roofing materials.

Fire Safety

Cedar roofing is likely to catch on fire because of the sparks coming from your chimney, and it may also burst into flames if you live in an area with extreme heat conditions. Metal will not do that at all. It is sealed to protect against spontaneous fires, and it is not liable to go up in flames even if something fiery falls on it. You will not have to worry about any of this with metal, but you would with cedar.

Energy Efficiency

Metal roofing is very energy efficient, and it can greatly reduce your heating and cooling bills for the future. Cedar will not do that. It does not have the same insulating capacity as metal, and it is more porous than metal. That means that it will let more cool air and heat in from the outside, which can cause your AC to work more than it has to. If you want an ecofriendly material that will last you a lifetime, metal is definitely the option for you.

Affordability

Metal roofing is sometimes less expensive than cedar, depending on the kind of cedar that you buy. At the very least, metal roofing is usually around the price of cedar when it is not lower priced. It does not exceed the price of the cedar. Since the metal lasts a lot longer than the cedar, it is actually a more affordable investment as a whole. It may force you to stretch your LVN salary initially, but that money will be well worth the sacrifice over time.

The Happy Medium

Check out the metal roofing materials that look like real cedar, and then you can get the best of both worlds. You can have the finish of cedar without the fire risk and potentially high costs. Many metal roofing manufacturers are now producing shingles that look just like cedar or even slate, but they have all the benefits of traditional metal roofing. If you find out that faux cedar roofing just isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other metal roofing options to choose from.

Keep all of this in mind as you go about your construction or remodeling project. It could make a big difference in the overall success of your efforts.

The Truth about Metal Siding

If you think that metal siding is only meant for industrial buildings, think again. While there are forms of metal siding that are best left to sheds and workshops, there are some forms of this material that are perfect for homes as well. You could line the outside of your home with special metal sheets, and then you will have the protection you need from harsh weather and sunlight. Before you rule out this option entirely, you should know the facts about metal siding. They could change your mind for the future. Listed below are some interesting features and benefits of steel siding that you can think about later on.

Faux Cedar Metal Siding

Cedar shake looks great on the side of homes, but it is subject to warping and cracking over time. You can actually buy metal that is designed to look like cedar, and then you can get the aesthetic appeal without having to sacrifice the durability of your siding. This is the option that most home owners do not realize because they assume the metal will actually look like metal. That does not have to be the case.

Rust Proof Seals

Some people are afraid to install metal siding on their homes because they think it will rust easily. Good quality metal alloy will be coated with a sealant that protects it from rusting away. This is not raw metal on the surface of your home. It is professionally sealed metal that will provide strength and durability for many years in the future. Thus if you live in a humid or rainy area of the country, you can still rely on metal to side your home without a problem.

Energy Saving Qualities

Metal siding can dramatically reduce your energy bills, giving you more money to spend on other improvements for your home. The metal will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter by blocking outside weather elements from getting in. This is a great insulator, and it has become a material that homeowners worldwide have learned to trust. You can trust it too to help you live on a budget.

Affordability

Buying siding is not cheap, no matter what kind you get. Because of the energy saving components of metal though, you will get your money back for the siding in no time at all. All you have to do is buy from a reputable siding dealer to get a good deal on the metal siding you need. Check out your options and see what you can get for your home.

Easy Cleaning

Steel siding is incredibly easy to clean, so you will have very little upkeep whenever you have it installed. You can power wash it every few years if you want to, but it should be able to clean itself after a good rain storm. If you need to scrub it down, simple soap and water will do the trick. There is no need to hire a professional to keep the exterior of your home clean. It will clean itself.

Flaw Concealing

If something hits the exterior of your home, the texture of the steel siding can help mask the problem so other people do not notice it. This will ensure that the surface of your home looks as smooth as it can, no matter what kind of debris you may have in the air. The siding is made to look like wood, so it will not shine like the metal on your car or the metal on a soda can. It will look natural, even if it has been damaged.

Quick Selling

If you need to sell your home soon after installing the steel siding, you will be able to that quickly because of the curb appeal the siding will provide. Your home will look updated, inviting, and possibly newer than it actually is. If you have to move out quickly, you can count on the metal siding to provide you with the quick sale you need to get into another place.

Strong Protection

If you live in an area with extreme weather, you can rely on steel siding to protect your home from the elements. Whether you suffer in an area with extreme hail or you live in the scorching heat of the south, metal siding can give you the security you need for all weather conditions. Seek out protection for your home as soon as you can.

It’s Tuesday, I must be at work

More than half of all students work at least part-time, and many of those are full-timers finishing their degrees. Working can limit when you can schedule classes, and slow down the time it takes to earn a degree. It can keep you out of the library and keep you from getting a good night’s sleep if you are up studying.

How do you stay organized when you have to juggle a college life and a work life? The first step is to let your employer know you are going to school, and make sure your instructors know you are working. That way, you can eliminate having to say no to extra work hours, and professors will understand if a work priority comes up.

The next step is to buy a calendar/planner – just one. If you’re addicted to sticky notes and lists written on napkins, you risk forgetting things. Putting everything on one calendar gives you a visual reminder of what you have to do, and help you to not overextend yourself. Use the calendar like a grid and chart out everything, including homework time, time for exercise, meals and social activities. It’s important, especially when you are busy to take time for yourself. It helps reduce stress and keeps you healthy.

Set up a portable work bag. Put school and work assignments that can be done away from a desk in a tote that you carry everywhere. You can get a lot done during pockets of time waiting for appointments, commuting, etc.

Think of yourself as a project manager. Schedule in lots of extra time to do projects. If you think it will take two days, schedule it at least six days before the due date so you are not rushing at the last minute to throw something together. The same goes for studying time before exams. And be realistic about the time it will take to do something, scheduling too much time is much better than running short – and you may be able to work in something fun if you complete your work sooner than planned.

What’s Up with Everyone Falling on Talent Shows?

I watch a lot of American Idol and America’s Got Talent, and I have noticed a growing trend with these shows that I find a little puzzling. It seems that more and more people are starting to fall off the stage on these shows now, for no reason other than stress or stupidity. They get so focused on what they are doing on the show that they forget to take care of their bodies or watch for the edge of the stage. Lack of sleep, food, and water can easily cause a person to pass out, especially if he or she is under a lot of pressure. I think this is all a bit ridiculous, no matter how entertaining it may be to watch the drama unfold. Check out some of the videos below and you will see what I mean.

Falls on American Idol

This one comes from Hollywood week on American Idol season 11. Symone Black fell off the stage after getting too dehydrated throughout the day. They used this clip as the big cliffhanger for one of the episodes, and I definitely think it got people to watch the next day. Check it out…

I can’t remember this girl’s name for some reason, but she passed out several times before getting to the stage. She went on to “fight for her dreams” and all that nonsense, and then they cut her anyways. Was it really worth the fall? Really?

This one has nothing to do with being too stressed and passing out. It is just a genuine clutz moment that I had to put in here. Here’s Lauren Alaina (second place winner, AI season 10) falling down the stairs for no reason at all…

Falls on America’s Got Talent

Meet Primitivo Montoya, a contestant on Season 6 of America’s Got Talent. If his dorky dancing and totally clueless frame of mind wasn’t funny enough, the man just launches himself off the stage in the middle of an audition. Check it out…

This is Metatron, a man who falls flat off the stage during the same season as Primitivo Montoya. His I actually think is funnier than the one above because he seemed so damn cocky as he did it. La de da de dum dum dum *plop*. You can see that for yourself here…

Conclusion

What do all of these videos have in common? The people were either too dumb to see the floor in front of them, or they were too dumb to eat well before they performed. Either way, this goes to show the extent that people will go to nowadays just for fame. If you want to be famous, go to school to learn how to become a chef. Then you can get all the foodies to adore you. You don’t need to pass out on a stage for your moment in the spotlight. There are tons of other ways to entertain people. Until then though, I guess we can all laugh or watch in amazement at the falling people above. Yep, sounds like a plan to me.

Safe Solutions When You Have to Bring Your Kid to Work

Most people in the working world have kids to come home to. They work all day to be able to support the family they get to see at night. If you are one of these people, you may have come across a time when you had to bring your child to work with you. Perhaps the babysitter got sick or you had to take your child to a doctor’s appointment. Whatever the case may be, the workplace isn’t exactly fit for small children. Thus you have to make a strong effort to keep your kid safe whenever he or she comes to work with you. Here are some tips to help you protect your child the next time he or she has to tag along.

Build a Fort under Your Desk

If you have a decent sized desk at work, you may think about setting it up to be a “fort” for your child. This will keep the kid excited about staying in one place, and it will give you a chance to keep a close eye on him or her. My mother used to put a shower curtain rod underneath her desk with a short curtain on it. Then I could just pull the curtain closed and have my own little fort. I absolutely loved that, and it definitely kept me entertained for a while. I got a pillow under there and sometimes took a nap. That allowed my mother to work in peace. You might consider doing the same in your place of work.

Turn on the TV in the Break Room

If your child is old enough to be left alone for a while, you may consider letting him or her chill out in the break room. Most of the other employees at work should understand this because they probably have kids themselves. As long as there is a TV in there for entertainment, your kid should be able to stay out of trouble. Worse comes to worse, you can push some chairs together and let the kid take a nap in the break room.

Give the Child a Task to Do

One of the best ways to keep a kid focused on staying safe is by giving him or her a task to do. This doesn’t have to be anything major. It just needs to be something that keeps your child busy for a little bit. My mother used to have me tear the perforated edges off some of the receipts, even if there was no point to that whatsoever. It just gave me something easy but time consuming to do. You could have your kid put letters in envelopes, polish the wrenches in your tool box, wrap silverware at your restaurant, or do something else associated with your line of work. That way your kid feels like he or she is helping you, even if that isn’t the case.

Final Thoughts

Good parents know where their kids are at all times. That is just something that happens instinctually. If you keep an eye on your child and tune into your parental senses, you should have no trouble keeping your kid safe at work with you. Unless you work for a huge construction company like Bluestone, you should be able to tuck your kid away somewhere without having to worry about him or her getting hurt. Let your fellow employees know that you are bringing your kid there, just so they can help you watch over him or her. With all those minds locked into our child, there is no question that your kid will be safe.

Valentine’s Day in the Bag

If you don’t get around to reading this until February 13 – or 14 – I have some good news for you. There are a bunch of quick and easy things you can do for your valentine that won’t break the bank either.

Flowers and candy are an old standby, but a valentine experience is worth so much more. Cook your sweetheart dinner – make a favorite dish or something new. A really romantic alternative is a picnic. Even though it may be cold on February 14, you can still have an old fashioned picnic indoors. Fill a picnic basket or backpack with a tablecloth, plates, a couple candles, a bottle of wine and some take-out food. Don’t forget dessert. You can pack a board game or cards to play after you eat.

Something as simple as telling your significant other why you love them is a great gift. Write all the reasons you can think of on a list. Or better yet, write each one on a piece of paper, then put all the pieces in a jar, a balloon or basket. If you’re really creative, you can make a “note a day” box with 365 slips of paper – one to read each day until next Valentine’s Day.

Everyone has memories of school valentines. Buy an inexpensive box of those cute paper valentine cards and write silly greetings on each one, then hide them where your love will find them – in a coat pocket, on the bathroom mirror, in the cereal box.

A picture paints a thousand words. There are so many great things you can do with photographs of the two of you. You don’t have to know how to be a graphic designer to make something special. It can be as simple as buying a pretty frame for a special shot. Online services like Shutterfly have great ideas for Valentine gifts made from photos.

Say you love her in a song. Burn a CD of your favorite songs, then put some romantic doodles on the CD, or use a template like this to design something unique.

How Much Can I Make with a General Contractor Certification?

If you have a general contractor certification or you plan to get one, you need to know what your salary could be with it. There is a lot of money to be made in this sector of the job market, no matter where you plan to work within it. All you have to do is find the right line of work, and you could make a lot of money in a short period of time. Here are some salary charts that you can use to approximate your salary with a general contractor certification.

Salary by Years of Experience

• Less than 1 year: $44,621 per year
• 1-4 years: $51,367 per year
• 5-9 years: $62,055 per year
• 10-19 years: $72,102 per year
• 20 years or more: $81,274 per year

Salary by Industry

• Commercial and Residential Construction and Development: $69,073 per year
• Commercial Construction: $69,645 per year
• Construction Management: $74,222 per year
• Construction: $71,085 per year
• General Contractor: $67,167 per year
• Heavy Civil Construction: $75,943 per year
• Residential Home Construction: $60,451 per year

Salary by Degree

• Associate’s Degree: $32,440 – $100,353 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering : $53,338 – $130,646 per year
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): $48,097 – $127,286 per year
• Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (CE): $47,356 – $118,359 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (ME): $45,302 – $104,198 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Construction: $50,222 – $153,025 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Management: $43,915 – $97,871 per year

Salary by Employer Type

• Company: $68,562 per year
• Self-Employed: $61,362 per year
• Private Practice/Firm: $70,759 per year
• Contract: $68,690 per year
• Non-Profit Organization: $52,414 per year
• State & Local Government: $60,447 per year
• Federal Government: $62,080 per year
• College or University: $65,500 per year
• Hospital: $69,293 per year
• Franchise: $47,000 per year
• School District: $72,414 per year
• Foundation: $83,007 per year
• Team: $80,000 per year

Salary by Gender

• Male: $52,084 – $89,378 per year
• Female: $45,079 – $75,381 per year

Salary by Specialty

• AutoCAD: $64,572 per year
• Blueprints: $69,951 per year
• Construction Estimating: $69,767 per year
• Contractor Management: $71,353 per year
• Microsoft Excel: $66,477 per year
• Microsoft Office: $67,475 per year
• Microsoft Project: $76,401 per year
• Microsoft Windows General Use: $68,590 per year
• Microsoft Word: $67,121 per year
• Project Management: $69,328 per year

Salary by Location

• California: $83,211 per year
• Florida: $69,257 per year
• Georgia: $68,441 per year
• Illinois: $72,949 per year
• New York: $72,821 per year
• North Carolina: $64,722 per year
• Texas: $65,264 per year

Salary by Position

• Construction Contractor: $52,979 per year
• Construction Foreman: $58,420 per year
• Construction Manager: $75,127 per year
• Construction Superintendent: $72,668 per year
• Project Engineer, Construction: $56,497 per year
• Project Manager, Construction: $71,395 per year
• Vice President of Operations: $103,693 per year

Getting a general contractor certification could definitely lead to a high paying salary in the end, but only if you apply it correctly. Try to find a well-paying job with a strong source of clients to pull from. That will make all the difference in your earnings. Every general contractor makes a slightly different salary over time, but you hopefully have what it takes to reach the top. You can use the salary levels above for reference for your future earnings, and then you can determine if this is a good path for you to pursue.

Time Wasters That Will Make You a Bagmonster

For every homework assignment there are at least three distractions. That is the law according to the bagmonster. But a smart students will not let the bag-bug bite! The first step to overcoming a problem is to identify it. Here are the most common time wasters that will take you off track and keep you there.

Sticky notes. Yes, you read that correctly. Having piles of sticky notes, napkins jotted with lists, and notes written on your hand (yes, your hand) will not keep you organized. Just the opposite – too much information in too many places is very distracting. Buy a planner,  calendar or white board. Use your iPad, laptop or Smartphone. Have one central placed for all your appointments and deadlines. Keep a daily task list. One list. Write things down and cross them off when you complete them. Take time at the end of each day to review what you have accomplished and what still needs to be done.

Becoming overwhelmed. That project due Friday looks huge – and that can stop you dead in your tracks. To make it manageable, break the project into little parts. Be realistic about how much time each part will take and make time for each part.

Too much unscheduled time. When you think “I have lots of time to finish that project,” it’s easier to procrastinate. This is why some people say they work better on deadline. Until you get real with yourself, you may be putting things off, only to find yourself in a crunch later on. Schedule study time, time to work on projects and homework time just as if it were an appointment.

Clutter.  Your mom says to clean up your room. She says that because she is your mom. She also knows that clutter can be very distracting and can keep you from becoming serious about that criminal justice degree. It also can slow you down when you have to dig through piles of stuff to find things you need to study. Take some time to organize, then keep your study area tidy to stay focused.

Things that ring, clang, sing and talk. If you really need to get something done, turn off your phone. It won’t hurt, we promise! Turn off the television. Shut down Facebook and Twitter. Ask your roommates and family members to give you some quiet time to study.

The word “yes.”  People will still love you even if you say no once in awhile.

How Much Money Do Occupational Health Nurses Make?

Occupational health nurses are responsible for maintaining the safety of workers in dangerous fields, like construction or oil drilling. To be an occupational health nurse, you need to undergo training related to nursing in general and the field you plan to work within. This may not be the most well-known sector of nursing, but it is one of the most important ones. Occupational health nursing ensures public safety in the work place, and it provides on-call medical care in the event of an emergency. Here we will look at how much money these life-saving men and women make to help you see if you may want to go into occupational health nursing in the future. Read on to see what sort of salaries could be waiting for you.

Salary by Position

• Nurse Case Manager: $57,390 per year
• Licensed Practical Nurse: $37,880 per year
• Clinical Nurse Manager: $65,041 per year
• Home Health Agency Administrator: $71,841 per year
• Nursing Director: $68,695 per year
• Physical Therapist: $76,785 per year
• Registered Nurse: $57,044 per year

Salary by Degree

• Master of Social Work: $49,225 per year
• Master of Science in Nursing: $75,241 per year
• Master of Business Administration: $70,623 per year
• Doctorate: $86,892 per year
• Diploma of Nursing: $69,064 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy: $82,929 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: $65,010 per year
• Bachelor of Business Administration: $41,986 per year
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: $39,898 per year
• Bachelor of Arts in English: $36,624 per year
• Associate of Science in Nursing: $64,021 per year
• Associate of Arts in Nursing: $58,540 per year

Salary by Years of Experience

• <1 year: $36,784 per year
• 1-4 years: $44,744 per year
• 5-9 years: $53,442 per year
• 10-19 years: $61,849 per year
• 20+ years: $64,307 per year

Salary by State

• Texas: $57,075 per year
• Pennsylvania: $54,408 per year
• Ohio: $50,405 per year
• New York: $59,690 per year
• Michigan: $52,262 per year
• Florida: $58,181 per year
• California: $53,228 per year

Salary by Employer

• Maxim Healthcare Services Inc.: $51,662 per year
• Home Instead Senior Home Care: $33,573 per year
• Home Health and Hospice Care: $53,259 per year
• Gentiva Health Services, Inc.: $64,155 per year
• Bayada Nurses Inc.: $55,000 per year
• Amedisys Home Health Care: $65,567 per year

Salary by Gender

• Male: $58,375 per year
• Female: $52,959 per year

If you factor in all of the little details listed above, you should have a decent idea as to how much money occupational health nurses make. There will most likely be a slightly increase in those pay rates by the time you get out of college, but this should give you a foundation to base your career decision in. Perhaps this is the career that has been calling you all along, and now at least you know the money is good in it. All you have to do is pursue the education it takes to become an occupational health nurse in the modern world. Within a few years’ time, you could be on your way to succeeding in this lucrative career.

Snuggle Up in a Study Spot

Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated to study. Distractions don’t help. Having a comfortable, functional place to study can help you get the most out of your study time. Whether you’re in a dorm room, apartment or a house, you can set up a spot anywhere. It doesn’t have to be large. It just has to be organized and thought out.

The first thing you need to do is find a spot. This can be a room, a corner of a room, a closet or anywhere you can fit a desk. Make sure it’s out of the flow of traffic and away from the television so you won’t be disturbed. If you share a small space with someone else, position your study area facing a wall so you are not bothered by distractions. Your roommates will recognize you are studying and won’t disturb you when your back is turned.

As for a desk, all you need is a flat surface. If you don’t have a piece of furniture or a built in desk, find a board, shelf, old door and lay it across two short file cabinets. If you use a laptop, you can take your desk with you by using a lap desk.

Make sure you have the right kind of light. If your area is not bright, install a mirror that will reflect light. Or position yourself near a window. A ceiling light plus a table or floor lamp gives you a soft diffused light that is bright enough so you won’t strain your eyes while reading. A television is not a good light source!

Next is your chair. Studying on a bed is not a good idea. It’s too tempting to study and experts say that using your bed for things other than sleeping may interfere with your ability to fall asleep at night. Look for a chair that is comfortable, but has enough support for your lower back and neck.

Now you will need a place to keep supplies. The more things you can get off of your desk and onto overhead shelves or a bookshelf next to your desk the better. Make sure you have a place for papers – either a filing cabinet, box or bin, a calendar to write assignment due dates, some kind of desk organizer for pens, pencils and the like. This does not have to be fancy. A collection of tin cans or jars can keep things organized and out of the way. If you have a budget, The Container Store has a great selection of low cost streamlined pieces to keep your desk tidy.