Melissa Brewer

Freelance writer, content creator, and researcher located in Washington DC.

I write about marketing, social media, green innovations, how-to features and progressive politics.

I am especially interesting in working with nonprofits and progressive-minded organizations.
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

How to Find Legitimate Online Tutoring Jobs

Regardless if you're a teacher or an expert in a particular language, musical instrument, math or other discipline, finding legitimate online tutoring jobs can be frustrating unless you conduct a little research first. When looking for these types of jobs, there are many resources including online classifieds, tutoring service websites, grocery store bulletin boards and print newspapers that you can turn to when looking for work. But how do you distinguish legitimate work from a scam? Research A...
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

10 Important Things to Do when You Lose Your Job to the Recession

1. Get your feelings out - go ahead. Go home and cry, feel sorry for yourself, throw your basketball against a brick wall. Go ahead and get the feelings out -but don't wallow in them. Allow yourself the time and space to feel your feelings, but do it once, do it completely, and move on. 2. Let others know what's going on. Don't be afraid to share your dilemma and use your family and friends as a support network - make a few dinner dates at other's homes, and give and get as many hugs as you need...
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

Bonding with a New Kitten

Owning a cat or kitten can be a rewarding experience - both for the companionship and the stress relief pet ownership provides. In fact, there was recently some great news for cat lovers - a new study suggested that cat humans have a reduced risk of heart attack and strokes. The study found that the she art attack risk of the cat humans was cut by 40 percent compared with those who had never owned a cat. Anyone who has ever owned a cat can tell you that pet ownership reduces stress.
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

Stay at Home Moms and Their Very Real Jobs

As a stay at home mom that wants to work from home, many people may seem like they don't take your seriously. Even when you find that elusive perfect home-based job, it's hard for other moms to deal with sometimes. There's always this not-so-hidden perception that because you're a stay at home mom, you can't actually be working. Not all stay at home moms work, and if you have friends who don't it can be hard for them to understand that your days aren't free.
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

A Quick Guide to Getting Unemployment Benefits in Kansas

The Kansas unemployment insurance program is meant to provide temporary financial assistance to individuals that have become unemployed through no fault of their own. Unemployment benefits are available for most full-time workers, and may be available for part-timers, too, depending on other criteria. If you were fired due to negligence, such as not showing up to work or purposefully undermining business, you won't likely qualify for unemployment insurance.
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

Navigating the 403(b) Retirement Plan

Planning for retirement can be tricky when you're faced with a plethora of options as well as the fear of losing future Social Security benefits. Employer-sponsored retirement plans offer Americans the opportunity to take a bit more financial control in the future and are set to play significant role in the financial health of future generations of Americans. What's the difference between 403B Plans and 401 K Plans? A 403(b) plan and 401(k) plan are similar in nature - they are employer-sponsore...
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

10 Steps to the Chocolate Lovers Cake

Let's face it - it's easy to be a chocolate lover. It's even easier to be a chocolate taster. But sometimes, prepping, mixing, and baking the cake that we foam at the mouth for can seem like, well, an ultimate chocolate fantasy. The biggest problem is that the secret to a perfect chocolate cake isn't just in the mixture of ingredients. It's also in the shape, texture, and moisture of the final product. These steps will help you perfect the art of creating the perfect cake for any chocolate conno...
Yahoo Voices (Formerly Aol) •

Understanding Unemployment Insurance Benefits in Kentucky

Filing for unemployment in Kentucky is similar to the process in many states. The size of your weekly unemployment check will vary depending on your previous income (the higher your previous salary, the higher your benefit). If you are laid off and your employer is in the state of Kentucky, then you should be able to qualify for unemployment benefits. It is important to know that the average wait time for an unemployment check is 3 weeks within applying, however, due to new federal guidelines an...
Lolwutpolitics •

25 Disturbing Facts About Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, a month that sadly, does not get as much attention as government shut-downs or Congress’s insistent circus sideshow as Ted Cruz. Domestic violence is one of the most commons forms of violence in the United States, and studies have shown that sadly, during the economic downturn, over 50% of police departments saw an increase in domestic violence reports. Domestic violence is about control, misplaced anger and blame. Unfortunately, domestic violence is...