Brick by Brick

Tips To Becoming A Landlord: How to get started with loans, interest rates, taxes and budgeting.

by Marisa D.

I want to thank my mom for sharing her story. She has come so far and built so much for her family growing from both her failures and triumphs. At 57 her and my dad have acquired 6 rental properties and sold a single family residence with the hope of retiring at 60. I am proud to offer up her wisdom and share it...

August 5, 2018

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Life Tips, World of Pearls
That age old college question: Should I study what I love or what will make me money?

by Marisa D.

Question: People always ask the question - should you go to school for your passion or for a degree that will get you a good job. Now that you’ve finished school and have had jobs throughout the entire process, what is your answer to this? Answer: "The idea of passion has vexed me since the moment it really became important, right before college when you...

July 22, 2018

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Architecture, Undergrad Tips
The Power of Financial Education

by Marisa D.

Unfair Advantage – Robert T. Kiyosaki The power of financial education My mother is a stay at home mom but has undertaken the challenge, what Kiyosaki calls to be, “financially free.” This all started with the expensive process of both her daughters going to college and wasting more money on dorms and renting apartments. She decided she no longer wanted to waste her money...

August 15, 2017

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Book Reviews, Finances

Another Rejection To Motivate Me

How does that phrase go? “If you want to make God laugh, make plans.” Oh come on! How else is a non-spontaneous girl supposed to live! I have to...

Life Drawing, Sketching

Dora’s Tips to Financial Success: Part 2

Find Part 1 here! I always love hearing about the times of the 10 cent ice creams and the 1 dollar movie theaters and this time was no different when...

Life Tips, World of Pearls

Don’t give up!

The parents strike again! I got a fresh batch of newspaper clippings. One of them of course from the wonderful Kate Lopaze, from thejobnetwork.com. 5 Important questions to ask...

Business, Life Tips

Learning what “super-powerful women never do”

When I started living on my own my mom would mail me little snippets of newspaper clippings or magazine articles that usually had something to deal with either, business,...

Another Rejection To Motivate Me

by Marisa D.

How does that phrase go? “If you want to make God laugh, make plans.” Oh come on! How else is a non-spontaneous girl supposed to live! I have to make plans, write daily to do lists in my planner, stick to a strict sleep schedule, you get the picture. Okay, I’m stalling from what I’m really here to say. I didn’t get the job. And as per my coping mechanism I start to write… I’m giving myself one night of sadness but then we must move on! (Noted: I often like to talk in the third person, I feel like then it’s a group effort) You know those really successful people that have these amazing stories of rags to riches. It’s because they had motivation to change their lives, to create a better world for not only themselves but for others around them. It’s so INSPIRING! Since I’m a Catholic I also look up to non “Cradle Catholics,” the converts, the ones that chose Catholicism, some even going against their own families religion. They...

Clocking Out For The Last Time

by Marisa D.

You know how in the movies you always see the fired person leaving work with their cardboard box and plant walking out the entrance or with the elevator doors shutting on them with a slow zoom coming up on their face? That was me, except I wasn’t fired thank goodness, which made it much more pleasant. It was an internship and my time had expired. Such a weird feeling to become attached to something, have it become habit, then have to change it the very next day. I had been there a little over a year. Now, tomorrow I will not see my boss in the morning, I will not say good morning to my office mates or see the acquaintances I’ve made. It’s sad, but we move on right? I’m experiencing what everybody calls, “the closing of a chapter.” Now I must flip to a new page and write something wonderfully imaginative! Of course there will be guidelines to follow like, go to grad school, go to work, but I hope I can...

My Peculiar Obsession With Bathroom Designs

by Marisa D.

I saw some amazing bathroom designs this weekend. What did you do? I’m not trying to sound fancy and say I walked around with designers all day and saw million dollar home bathroom designs, more like, picture this… Out with my friends for a meal, I politely excuse myself to the restroom. Do I need to use the restroom? Nope, I’m just curious! I walk in, stop, and take in the area. That’s it, although I do make sure to get a good hand washing in for good measure, have to test out that water flow! You can tell a lot about a restaurants culture by the care of their bathrooms. I consider a restaurants bathroom like a person’s “baggage” or “dirty laundry.” We try to hide it, are ashamed of it, hope that no one notices, and even though you insist it doesn’t define you, it’s all people care about. Yes, obviously the actual food quality, service, and ambiance are important but, this post is about my obsession with BATHROOMS! It’s true though!...

The Gap Year: And The Growth In-between

by Marisa D.

“I’ve been here before… As I circle around to another year I get a sense of deja vu. I’ve done this before. Around the same time last year, I was staring at my computer, fidgeting, pacing, and struggling to write out my letter of intent for Grad school, but where I once felt rushed and uncertain I now feel confident and resolved.” These are words I had written to myself a couple of months ago while I was applying to my masters of architecture. I find myself reflecting on them, as after 3 years my first year of grad school nears. It seemed to me like everyone I knew from school had already gone and graduated. “I am terribly behind.” It took me a while to realize that my pace, while maybe slower than others, was no less worthy or significant. In my heart I knew I was not ready and it was in that true knowing and following of my own path that provided me with peace. When you compare your successes instead of...

Dora’s Tips to Financial Success: Part 2

by Marisa D.

Find Part 1 here! I always love hearing about the times of the 10 cent ice creams and the 1 dollar movie theaters and this time was no different when Dora mentioned she had purchased her first house for only $12,000. As shocking as this amount was the story was a familiar one. When the homeowner asked for a $6,000 down payment, her husband said it was too much, but Dora had a different answer. She said she could offer $5,000 cash on the spot, leaving her husband dumbfounded. This reminded me of my own mom and dad where his famous line is, “I just work and she does all the rest” meaning his grasp on the financial investments that take place in the household are little to none. I gave a knowing chuckle and let her continue… ____ Q: How did you get started on your first property? After living in an apartment for 10 months they decided to buy their first house. After 10 years and having kids they wanted a larger space...