Johnny Lemonade's blog

Hi Lemonaders,

It has definitely been a long time, and I know I have written this same blog several times already explaining why and vowing it will never happen again...I SWEAR...this time I mean it ;). Well, I can't really, but I can tell you the reason behind my not blogging lately.

We recently found out, Mrs. Lemonade and I, that we are pregnant...with twins! I cannot begin to tell you the joy we feel because of this. Things have been gerat and we have been celebrating and getting ready for their arrival, even though it is about 5 1/2 months away.

As planned, I will work on changing some things on LemonadeIt to reflect our new focus. Adversity can face anyone, even the employed, and we want LemonadeIt.com to reflect this.

Saty tuned and Happy Friday!

Johnny Lemonade

Hi Lemonaders,

While enjoying a nice relaxing weekend with friends, I started thinking about the focus of LemonadeIt.

As you know, LemonadeIt was started with the sole purpose of providing the unemployed with a platform to share their story and help others going through similar challenges....the First Online Community for the Unemployed.

This was my dilemma...why only the unemployed? Everyone is faced with diversity at some point, and most of the time it has nothing to do with work, or lack there of. After all, life throws 'curve' balls often, which you have to make the best of.

With this in mind, and to always stay one step ahead of the thousands of sites popping up daily about pink slip parties, unemployed, etc, I want to officially change the message of our community because you HAVE to LemonadeIt, no matter what life hands you.

Johnny Lemonade

Happy Sunday Lemonaders,

According to news sources, the global recession has ended in France and Germany! This provides a glimmer hope for the rest of the world.

When will it be our turn? Soon we hope.

Johnny Lemonade

Dear Lemonaders,

I have posted a tease of one of the most inspiring articles I have read in a long time.
If you are feeling down because nothing is going 'your way', read it.

Enjoy and Happy Friday,

Johnny Lemonade

Real lessons learned from layoff survivors

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Tom Roberts was laid off in April 2009, six weeks after he told his supervisor that he needed to have brain surgery. Paying the bills with a now-exhausted balance of vacation and sick days, Roberts awaits his disability check to pay the rent. He gave away his car because he couldn't afford the payments. His food supply comes from a food bank. All the while, he suffers from nerve disease that makes it impossible to speak for more than a few minutes at a time.

Despite these circumstances, Roberts, 59, says he "couldn't be happier." Until he undergoes brain surgery this summer (which his ex-employer

Fellow Lemonaders,

A few months back, Mrs. Lemonade and I refinanced our house...pretty pain-free too! We were able to get a great rate through our lender Wells Fargo.

Today, I was forwarded an article from MSN on ways to get a cheaper mortgage, which was very interesting.

In a nutshell:

1. Know the trends - Mortgages go up and down. With things the way they are (stimulus, etc) trend may be for rates to go up.

2. Pull the trigger - If the rate you are offering is at least 1 point less than what you have now...do it. Rates are at historic lows.

3. Understand the criteria - Income verification, FICO score of at least 720, down payment of at least 3.5% and manageable levels of debt.