tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80905908062131084852024-03-08T12:31:34.094-08:00Strategic PlanningGet address from phone number,Search address by phone number,Locate address with phone number,Bare foot photo,Phone number adress,Find address with a phone number.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-54537640507196125152013-10-23T10:23:00.002-07:002013-10-23T10:23:41.889-07:00Strategic Planning <div style="text-align: justify;">
The Long-Term vs. the Short-Term View </div>
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A activity is a structured workflow that ensures progression and
results. For a cardinal planning activity to be followed in an
organization, application needs to be accustomed to both the abiding
appearance and the concise requirements. For example, if an alignment
has one above applicant that it is servicing, focus needs to be on
carrying the best account accessible to that client, while at the
aforementioned time seeing if cross-selling of added articles or
casework into the applicant can be realized. However, there would aswell
charge to be accomplishment fabricated to access the all-embracing
applicant base. This would entail assorted focus streams for the plan;
added plan for sure, but absolutely a cardinal necessity. Similarly, if a
activity is to transform the organization, again a shorter-term
cardinal transitioning plan may be necessary, as able-bodied as the
abiding cardinal plan. </div>
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Analyzing the Environment </div>
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As with any process, the systemic influences charge to be addressed. If
creating a cardinal plan, this would absorb allegory the alien ambiance
and admiration what appulse this ambiance could accept on the alignment
over the next few years. Political, regulatory, economic, social,
"green" ambiance and abstruse changes charge to be adjourned for their
abeyant as opportunities for, or threats to, the organization. As with
the macro-environment, the bazaar ambiance that includes competitors,
customers, consumers, the bounden industry landscape, suppliers and
vendors aswell needs to be analyzed to actuate how changes in it could
appulse the organization. </div>
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In this amphitheatre it would not alone entail examination the abeyant
impact, but aswell free how the alignment can strategically access or
administer the variables at this level. It could be by advantage of a
new or revised artefact alms and business efforts, a new amount point,
or even new supplier contracts. The centralized ambiance forms an
important allotment of the arrangement as able-bodied and needs to be
focused on so as to ascertain the weaknesses and strengths that abide
with attention systems, processes, expertise, leadership, culture,
communications, structure, accessories and equipment, amidst others.
Current operating challenges charge to be accent to ensure that they are
abundantly addressed as the alignment forges forward. </div>
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Because aggregate we do occurs aural a beyond system, stakeholders
(anyone afflicted by what we do or who can affect what we do) charge to
be articular and their needs and expectations advised if devising a
cardinal plan. Through the plan, opportunities charge to be harnessed,
threats managed, strengths optimized and weaknesses eliminated. </div>
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Creating Direction </div>
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Analysis of the ambiance will advice to acquaint all the choices
fabricated for the strategy. However, it is the accepted focus that will
accommodate the direction. A short, simple, alarming eyes created by
the baton establishes the amplitude for the alignment in the
administration of area it wants to go. The mission account defines the
purpose of the alignment and provides the acumen for its existence. Once
goals are established, it becomes bright what needs to be accomplished
in key focus areas in adjustment to apprehend the vision. As goals are
generally ample in scope, they charge to be torn down into objectives.
These specific targets or end-results anatomy the base for an activity
plan. This will ensure that the activity is fabricated into a alive
document: one that can acquaint sections of the alignment on what needs
to be done and adjoin which advance can be measured. </div>
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Who Should Participate? </div>
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Participation in cardinal planning is key to the plan getting
auspiciously translated into action. Anybody in the alignment should, at
some point, be complex in the cardinal plan. People tend to own what
they advice create. It aswell allows for altered perspectives and advice
to be utilized. Of course, not all the participants in the cardinal
planning activity will be cardinal thinkers. However, all the inputs
could accept value, even if it comes to alive out the tactics. At the
aforementioned time, it allows anybody to accept acknowledgment to the
bigger picture, the cardinal cerebration process, and the vocabulary.
This will, in turn, access acquaintance and understanding, thereby
hopefully allotment the participants to claiming and advance on what is
getting done whilst affective forward. It aswell works to actualize a
accepted ability throughout the alignment and reinforces the charge to
get abaft the organization's approaching direction </div>
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Why Should You Embark on Cardinal Planning? </div>
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As Joel Barker so appropriately puts it in his video, The Power of
Vision, "Having a eyes after activity is daydreaming. Accepting activity
after a eyes is just casual time". It absolutely requires a eyes to
apperceive what you are aiming for, calm with a plan of activity to
apperceive what to do in adjustment to accomplish your vision. The best
achievability cerebration in the apple will not ensure your success. It
will ensure the opportunities can be in your ability if you amount out
the agency to abduction them. Gone are the canicule if an alignment can
be a success admitting itself. It takes concerted accomplishment to
authorize the administration you charge to go in, position it as a
accepted focus for anybody in the organization, and accept a structured
plan of activity that anybody can execute. The accident of not accepting
a cardinal plan could be </div>
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• not getting able to accord with changes in the ambiance that the alignment is confronted with</div>
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• sections or individuals in the alignment afterward their own agendas</div>
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• adverse communications transmitted to stakeholders</div>
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• inefficiencies and disability throughout the operation. </div>
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You could accept to do business as usual, with the achievement that the
ambiance does not change about you. Alternatively, you can accomplish a
concerted accomplishment to abide advanced of the ambit by ensuring that
the organization's position in the exchange is defended and that its
processes and assets are optimized and active abundant to change as the
charge requires.
</div>
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What Cardinal Planning Skills are Required?
</div>
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Adding on from the competencies delineated for cardinal thinking, you will aswell charge to be able to:
</div>
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• analyze patterns or trends in the environment</div>
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<br /></div>
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• abstract accordant opportunities and threats present for the organization</div>
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• anticipate an organization's future</div>
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• actualize a eyes statement</div>
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• ascertain an organization's purpose</div>
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• set goals</div>
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• assemble a applied cardinal plan</div>
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• authorize measures</div>
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• see what locations of the all-embracing arrangement will be impacted by the activity and plan for it.
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-53321877355881954082012-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:002012-11-21T08:00:06.784-08:00Will a Strategic Planning Facilitator Improve Organizational Focus? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/files/Planning_Process.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/files/Planning_Process.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
A company that lacks focus will suffer immensely. Time, manpower, and resources will all be wasted if the company does not define a clear set of goals and explain how the organization will reach them. By using strategic planning, organizational leaders can determine long-term objectives and plan operations around these objectives. The three types of strategic planning that businesses might engage in include:</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<ul style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Goals-based planning. </strong>This is the most common approach that refers to defining the organizational mission, creating goals relative to that mission, and deciding which steps are necessary to achieve this mission.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Issues-based planning. </strong>This approach focuses on a specific issue that the company needs to address. Organizational leaders must define the problem, and then determine a set of steps that can be used to solve the problem.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Organic strategic planning. </strong>This approach focuses creating a plan of action that aligns with the company's values.</li>
</ul>
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Once a business decides on the desired method of strategic planning, it will be time to hire a strategic planning facilitator. These professionals help to maximize the efficiency of the meeting where the planning takes place, so that businesses are not forced to hold another planning session because the first plan does not work. While a company might be tempted to assign someone from within the organization to this task, the truth is that hiring an outside facilitator services will lead to better results for the company. Here are a few reasons why:</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>They bridge the information gap.</strong> Without all of the important information, companies will not be able to make sound decisions. A strategic planning facilitator typically speaks with organizational leaders and employees before the session to acquire the necessary background information. That information is then distributed to meeting participants so that everyone enters the meeting on the same page.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>They encourage participation. </strong>While organizational leaders might be able to pull responses from participants, they run the risk of overpowering participants. Individuals who want to voice a thought that is not in line with what the meeting leader believes might be dismissed, or will opt to keep the thought private. A leader might even unknowingly put down the individual who shared the idea, which will make others hesitant to share ideas of their own. A strategic planning facilitator will not bring any personal biases to the table, which will result in individuals being more open to joining the conversation.</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-10038904482446052342012-11-12T07:47:00.002-08:002012-11-12T07:47:11.497-08:00Writing Business Articles on Strategic Planning <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ctools.umich.edu/access/content/user/rjbergen/Public%20Portfolio%20Files/strategic-planning-3-680.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://ctools.umich.edu/access/content/user/rjbergen/Public%20Portfolio%20Files/strategic-planning-3-680.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Not long ago, I was talking with a fellow online article author, she has well over 100 articles on strategic planning advice, articles with case studies, stories, and "how to ideas" to develop a winning business strategy. She also writes a column for her local metro newspaper on business topics. I've been very impressed with her work; in fact it has inspired me to reminisce about my own business career as a Franchisor Founder prior to retirement you see.</div>
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Indeed, following her lead I have been considering all the business plans, marketing plans, regional expansion plans, 5-year plans, and growth strategy objectives I had put together over the years. How our Blitz Marketing teams would go in to capture new business of our best market segments, and how we would recruit the best people to ensure we could deliver on our sales and marketing promises. Think about your own business career and what you had to do to succeed, consider that many going into business or perhaps struggling to survive could benefit from your expertise in strategic planning.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Why not put together a few sample plan outlines to help them get it done? Why not offer tips on putting together a strategy team or planning session? Why not explain to them the reasons for constant review and how a business plan is just a picture, but plans change and planning is a process, not something you ever complete or allow to remain static or throw it into a drawer or tuck away some obscure labeled file on your computer never to look at it again?</div>
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If you're going to become an article author specializing on business topics then you at least need to have a decent number of articles in the strategic planning category. I invite you to read some of my articles, as well as some of the other top articles in this venue, and perhaps you could lend your expertise to the cause of helping American entrepreneurs, as well as small business owners around the globe. You might even be surprised and shocked yourself to find your articles are even better than mine, and offer new and unique examples, case studies, and real-life situations which have never been told.</div>
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It's not difficult to write articles on strategic planning, it's only difficult to do it correctly and prepare relevant information that today's entrepreneurs truly need. If you can do that, you deserve all the success you acquire as an online article author because you are helping the entire business community; small, medium, and even large corporations. Remember; "those who fail to plan, are planning to fail." Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-41534535798639048332012-10-13T06:59:00.000-07:002012-10-13T06:59:01.116-07:00Find Address From Phone Number - Handy Reverse Lookup Service For Quick Online Searches<div id="article-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Do you have a phone number that you need the address for? In the
past it would have been impossible to get the address to a number unless
you wanted to spend the day searching page by page through the phone
book. And, with all the cell phone use these days, even searching the
phone book would be useless. Luckily today it is easy to find address
from phone number information. It can be done online from your own
computer and will allow you to get the address for any number, even cell
phones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There
are a lot of reasons you may find yourself in a situation of needing to
get the address for a phone number you have. If your teen is getting
bullied with unending threatening text messages or calls, you may need
to take control of the situation and get the address for the bully.
Often times, just talking to the parents can put an end to the problem
child. But if not, it may be time to take your information to the police
and let them take care of the situation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I recently had my own
need to find address from phone number information for my elderly aunt.
She had a "salesman" come to her door telling her he was selling books
for sick kids in the hospital. In the end she wrote him a check for $52.
He thanked her and gave her a business card that had his cellular
number on it. She began to worry after he left that she had just been
scammed. After she called me I knew we had to take action. I entered the
cell number into the reverse lookup directory and got a name and
address. We called the police and let them check this guy out. Of course
he wasn't selling books for charity.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whatever your reason for
needing to find an address from a phone number the solution is easy. A
reverse lookup service online will get you your address in just a couple
minutes and a couple clicks of your computer mouse.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-55616673925029011252012-10-13T06:58:00.002-07:002012-10-13T06:58:20.314-07:00Find Address by Cell Phone Number - Track Down Unknown Callers to Uncover Their Name and Address<div style="text-align: justify;">
Are you thinking about trying a mobile phone number trace? If you are
mulling over whether you should try a reverse lookup or not, this
article will help you make a decision.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, here are some valid reasons why you should try to find address by cell phone number:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1.
You are always getting unwanted calls and nasty SMS from someone who
refuses to identify himself. If this has been going on for more than a
week without any signs of stopping, you should consider this a serious
concern.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2. Your spouse's mobile phone keeps ringing and when you
answer the call, the person on the other line hangs up. Something is
definitely not right here and you should get to the bottom of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
3.
Your child is getting calls and SMS from someone you do not know. Be
very concerned for your child's safety and keep them away from child
predators and the like.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
4. Your office always gets prank calls
from the same mobile number. Imagine being very preoccupied at work and
then getting prank calls several times a day. Not really any busy
person's idea of fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If any of the above situations apply to you,
then you should find address by cell phone number if this will ease up
your mind. Many people who have been in the same situation as you have
spent countless nights wondering who the person behind those calls and
SMS is. It makes them worry too much to the point that it is already
causing them stress. The best way to deal with the problem is simply to
face it head on, and to do that, you should start by locating this
unknown caller.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While you can always try doing your own detective
work by "Googling" the phone number to see if you can get any useful
information out of it, we would not really recommend this method because
it will only be a waste of time. You can consider hiring a detective to
investigate for you but you need to be aware that these detectives use
mobile phone number trace from certain reverse lookup providers online.
They pay less than $20 to get the information and then charge you at
least three times more. It would certainly be a smart move to use the
service yourself because you can get the address you need without having
to pay an arm and leg for it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-44497002044153785532012-10-13T06:57:00.005-07:002012-10-13T06:57:46.697-07:00Find People by Cell Phone Number - Get Name and Address of People by Tracing Their Numbers<div id="article-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unlike landline numbers, cellular numbers are not listed in any
public phone directory. You can spend hours searching through Yellow
pages and you will not get any results. Because it is not always easy to
track owners, people often become victims of prank calls and prank
messages. If you are like most of us, you have probably received SMS or
calls from unidentified callers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But
the good news is that the era of pranksters is almost over because
technological advancements are being made to help us find name by cell
phone number. People can now trace others simply by using the
information registered on the mobile device. To find people by cell
phone number is now possible just by using the Internet.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How can
we do this? There is what we would call a manual search, which can be
done using search engines and social sites. This option is free, and can
be done simply by typing the number of your prank caller and clicking
on Enter or Search; you will then be led to the results page to view
results. This method works but not majority of the time. Sometimes, you
get very little information, other times you get irrelevant information,
and there are also instances when you do not get any results at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now,
if you tried this method and are not satisfied with the outcome, you
can try a paid reverse lookup, which allows you to find name by cell
phone number with significantly higher chances of success. It is
considered the better and more reliable alternative that will help you
trace someone because these providers have a database of information
that they give users access to whenever they need to lookup a number.
Reverse phone lookup is affordable and up-to-date, and you can be
assured that the information and details you get from these providers
are accurate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Do you want to know who is calling you or sending
you SMS? If you want to find people by cell phone number fast and easy,
you should try a lookup service. Hands down, it is the better choice.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-66627111290161178932012-10-13T06:57:00.001-07:002012-10-13T06:57:10.375-07:00How Can I Find Someone's Address by Phone Number? Yes You Can, Here is an Easy Method<div id="article-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't you just hate it when you want to get in contact with
someone, but all you have is a phone number? Maybe you need to get in
touch with an old friend, but they won't answer their phone. You wonder
if there is another way of finding them. You ask yourself "How can I
find someone's address by phone number?" Fortunately, you can do just
that - if you know someone's phone number, you can easily find their
address!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There
are services that use just the smallest bit of information, like a
phone number, and give you back personal information about a person.
You'll be able to find the address of anyone by using just their phone
number. So, if you need to send something to a business associate or a
customer, but you think that it would be inappropriate to call them and
ask, you could just find their address using their phone number.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It
solves so many problems. This is because personal information is all
over the internet, but to be able to use it you have to know where to
find it. Believe me when I tell you, the reverse phone look ups are the
easiest way to get a hold of this information.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Can you imagine
trying to find someone's address manually with only their telephone
number? You would have to search through an entire phone book! And
that's assuming that you have the right phone book! Think of the time
that you will be saving. Not to mention that using these services is
extremely convenient.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Take my advice and save yourself a lot of
time and trouble. Next time you find yourself asking, "How can I find
someone's address by phone number?" Try a simple to use reverse phone
look up and you won't be disappointed.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-30139172279718611562012-10-13T06:56:00.001-07:002012-10-13T06:56:31.329-07:00How to Quickly Find Address by Phone Number Using Reverse Directory Services<div id="article-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With today's technology and the internet you can quickly find
address by phone number using reverse directory services. It is not only
the address of a mobile telephone you will be able to find but other
personal information related to the owner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let
me start off by telling you what reverse directory is and then show you
how to find address by phone number. You will notice that many
telephone users usually receive unsolicited calls daily which can be
disturbing. Such calls could be from prank callers, illicit partners of
your spouse, genuine missed calls and what have you.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the above
scenarios, you can log on to a reliable phone search directory on the
internet and type in the cell phone number with you. When you click the
search button, you will receive lots of personal data of the owner of
the line.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Usually, you will be able to find address by phone
number plus other telephone lines belonging to the owner, his household
members' names, the telephone carrier, the phone type, background or
criminal records and the like.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To obtain cell phone records of
this kind, you are going to subscribe to a paid option of conducting
reverse directory phone search because the free version will only offer
you the location details i.e. city and state.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What is important to
mention here is that you will get detailed records of what you are
searching for. If you are only concerned about how to find address by
phone number, you will be surprised that the name of the owner will be
there too staring at you.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That is to say, in the event that you
don't even know the owner's name, you will find his full names and
current address for your consumption when you carry out an investigation
through your subscription to this service. Meanwhile, there are remote
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-25145672877141632362012-09-30T20:26:00.005-07:002012-09-30T20:26:58.759-07:00Promote Your Online Business Using a Podcast <br />
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We've discussed several ways to promote your business online. The ways we've discussed have been article distribution, blogging, videos and teleseminars. Another way to successfully promote your business, product or service is by using a podcast.</div>
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Podcasts are perfect for self promotion as well as sharing information and educating. Podcasts can be done with audio and with the popularity of videos you can incorporate a video into your podcast as well. Technically a podcast is an online radio show that one can subscribe via RSS feed or via iTunes or by simply downloading from your existing site.</div>
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Podcasts can be recorded in advance and placed on your blogs or on blog directories. One of the benefits of a podcast is that your listeners can download the episode to their mp3 players and listen at their leisure.</div>
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Lengths of podcasts vary depending on your topic. Some podcasts episodes are short lasting 15 minutes and some may be as long as 1hour. As long as you are providing information that will entice your audience your podcast will be successful. Be creative and use your podcast to promote your services. Some will use the podcast to promote others that may help in educating your target market, the possibilities are endless.</div>
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The podcast can also include sponsors that will pay you to promote their products. In this scenario, you win with some cash and they win with exposure. Consider the ease of including a podcast on your site. The episodes can be recorded in advance and placed on your site with an easy plugin if you are using a WordPress type site. If you don't have a site you can still create podcast episodes and upload them to iTunes and other audio venues.</div>
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Be creative and consider adding podcasting to your marketing plan. The more exposure you achieve in your marketing efforts the more successful you will be. Remember folks will not go searching for you, you must make yourself accessible and podcasting is just another way to accomplish that endeavor.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-76686901615941110492012-09-30T20:26:00.003-07:002012-09-30T20:26:29.379-07:00Teach Your Little Girls Early - How to Have Pretty Feet <br />
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I am blessed with two boys and never had a sister. When I see other parents with girls or my friends so close to their sisters, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have a sister or a daughter. But I wouldn't change any of the memories I have with my sons. Instead God blessed me with three nieces and my best friend's daughters, sisters and granddaughters. They are all my family now. God knew that I needed boys, but he gave me a small gift of girls so I would know I had the right mix for my life! But what do boys know about having pretty feet and pedicures?</div>
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One day my brothers' families came to the house for a pool party, when my nieces were still very young. I told my nieces that we were going to get pedicures. I had to explain what a pedicure was and that we were getting our toe nails painted. I told them we must have pretty feet if we were going to run around barefoot. They were so excited! They pranced everywhere that day to show off their painted tootsies! Spoiling them was fun and I got to soak up a memory that I never thought I would ever experience. My sons and nephews were playing water basketball and shooting water guns, oblivious to the girl's fun!</div>
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What I did not realize is how this event was ingrained in their minds forever! I thought it was fun for me, but little did I know how this would impact the girls. Every time they visit now they ask Auntie to paint their toe nails no matter what time of year. This tradition is such a gift to me and I was honored to have taught my nieces that pretty feet are important to your outer beauty. Of course I moved on to help them accessorize with jewelry. Your pretty bare feet need jewelry too!</div>
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So now whenever a little girl comes to the pool with their mom or grandmother, I spoil them as my own. When they get to an age where they start loving to dress up, the first thing I want to share with them is painting their toe nails. Around me they learn at an early age that pretty bare feet with a nice pedicure, painted toe nails, and barefoot jewelry are just as important as putting your makeup on in the morning.</div>
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Although my sons could care less about all the 'Girlie' stuff Mom likes, I don't have to rely on them for the comfort of sister, daughter, or granddaughter moments of enjoyment. The boys have so many other ways to love their Mom and create memories and traditions. So the next time you have a little girl come visit, treat them to a pedicure and paint their toe nails and give them barefoot jewelry to accessorize. The will remember! Maybe you will have a tradition and memory like this one to share with a little girl in your life. Yes, it is OK for the boys to be clueless about pretty feet.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-18634235900713391782012-09-30T20:26:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:26:01.247-07:00How to Make Chores an Act of Love <br />
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My husband got up yesterday morning and reminded me he had to leave early for work as he walked out the door for his run. His reminder was so I wouldn't forget to make his lunch first. "Why can't he make his own lunch?" I thought, as I hurried through writing my blog so I could get done in time to make his lunch.</div>
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My youngest daughter announced in the grocery store yesterday that she no longer liked the lunch I had been fixing her, and she wanted something else. "Really?" I thought. "Isn't it enough that I make your lunch every day?"</div>
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My oldest daughter was unhappy from the moment she woke up yesterday after a restless night. She woke up in tears and went to bed in tears. "Why are you crying now?" I thought as I tucked her in last night.</div>
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By the time everyone went to bed, all I wanted to do was sit in a quiet corner. Two overtired children had made for a difficult evening. One was bouncing off the walls; the other was weeping at the drop of a hat.</div>
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I really didn't feel like serving my family yesterday. I wanted someone else to make lunches, make dinner, file papers and clean up the kitchen. Just once, I wanted to go through the day without having to pick up a mess that someone else had made. Just once, I'd like to walk through the family room without tripping over someone else's shoes.</div>
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It's the little things, like those shoes, that trip us up when it comes to taking care of our families. While it's not wrong to want our families to help out around the house, having a me-first attitude isn't what God has in mind for us.</div>
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Jesus gave us an example of how to be a servant leader when He washed His disciples' feet, a chore usually reserved for the lowliest servant in the household. Washing other people's feet is a disgusting job, especially when those people either went barefoot all the time or wore sandals. I think it's way more disgusting than cleaning the toilets or picking up dirty underwear off the floor.</div>
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After He was done washing their feet, He said "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). Jesus set an example of how to serve, by taking on the lowliest task of the day, then asked us to follow His example.</div>
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We don't always enjoy serving our families. Many parents work full- or part-time, then come home to deal with everything that goes into keeping a family on track -- homework, housework, activities. The grind can become old, and we can start to resent our families, especially when they're acting less than grateful for our effort.</div>
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But God sees our service, and He smiles. He looks down on you every time you encourage a child when you would rather throw up our hands and walk away. He sees the lunches you make and the bathrooms you scrub. He sees the piles of laundry you fold and the miles you drive to take your kids places.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-46880618390521075262012-09-30T20:25:00.003-07:002012-09-30T20:25:33.437-07:00What to Expect When You Become a Parent for the First Time? <br />
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Parenthood-And I thought I knew what to expect</div>
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When I was pregnant with my daughter, I spent hours reading books and articles on parenting. I knew what to expect at birth and for the following months. I knew all about sleep cycles, feedings, diaper changing, rashes, creams, etc... I also knew what the Canadian Pediatric Guidelines were for vaccinations, breastfeeding and sleep. I was confident I was ready to be a parent. The delivery went smoothly and the baby followed the books. I recorded her first bowel movement and counted her wet diapers on the sheet provided. And then, we were discharged home! I didn't understand how these nurses and doctor could entrust us with such a responsibility.</div>
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It took almost an hour to put her in the car seat: we decided on the most appropriate outfit for the cold weather, then we put in on her and very carefully put the hood over her little head (no one had warned us how difficult that would be, but thankfully, her head and neck seemed intact afterwards). After that, we adjusted and re-adjusted the straps in the car seat to near perfection in order to have it approved before discharge. It took another hour to get home from the hospital which was 20 minutes away (with traffic). My husband took the longest route possible in order to avoid a few intersections we thought could be dangerous. There were dangers hidden everywhere that we hadn't noticed before. We made a rule at home, that whoever was carrying the baby up or down the wooden stairs had to be barefoot or wearing non-slide shoes. One of the biggest surprises was the lack of sleep.</div>
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We thought we knew what it would be like to run on little sleep, but we had no idea! I would tell my sister the same story 3 times and forget to tell my brother the same story! And despite it all, we enjoyed and continue to enjoy every moment. Our daughter was not yet a week old, when I was rocking her to sleep and thought : someday, a boy will break her heart. And I started crying and couldn't stop. The mere thought of someone hurting her was breaking my heart. This was the biggest surprise of all. I thought I knew how much I would love my daughter. Again, I was wrong. No book could prepare me for this. Her every smile warms my heart and every tear breaks it. I cannot begin to describe the love I have for her. After all those hours of reading, I follow my gut and do what I think is best for her.</div>
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Meredith is a new mom and a freelance writer on parenthood. Before going on maternity in early 2012, she used to work as a copywriter for a Ottawa based periodical in addition to writing articles on lifestyle and dating for several Canadian journals.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-12457730298372959372012-09-30T20:25:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:25:00.957-07:00Baby Shower Decorations and Favors <br />
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It is always nice to see baby shower decorations and favors that are coordinated and match the theme of the baby shower well. A shower is often centered on the gender of the new baby, the theme the parents have chosen for the nursery, a favorite childhood character or story of the parents or a specific color scheme that the new parents will be using in the nursery. Many times the baby shower decorations and favors are chosen simply because they are very cute and stand out in the shop or online catalog as those throwing the shower begin to look for ideas.</div>
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While certain colors or themes remain popular choices, such as the jungle animals theme or the storks or teddy bears theme, some great and more unique and elegant ides have also emerged. One theme, which is especially great when the sex of the baby remains unknown, is called the 'pitter-patter of little feet" and it features baby sized footprints in pastel colors or greens and yellows and often favors will include a little barefoot cookie cutter or a baby bootie filled with candies. Other themes are always coming up and often those throwing the shower will find some other unique idea after browsing. The most important factor to consider is keeping the theme and the baby shower decorations and favors coordinated and pleasing to the parents-to-be.</div>
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A shower to welcome a new little one and to share in the joy of this moment with the new parents is a wonderful expression of love and makes the couple feel that their little one is being welcomed into a world full of family, friends, and love. Having a well-thought out theme with appropriate baby shower decorations and favors adds a special touch to an already special day. Of course, you do not need to spend a lot of money on these items. The thought that goes into them is what is most appreciated and with today's online shopping resources, it is incredibly easy to put together a great shower with well-matched baby shower decorations and favors that will look extravagant and will act as a well-thought-out surprise for the parents-to-be. This joyous event that has been planned well will be a fantastic memory for the family of the little one for a lifetime. The parents-to be will have photos, gift items, and perhaps will save a favor and some of the decorations as a reminder of the special thought and love that went into planning an event to welcome their new child into this world and they will always be appreciative of the effort undertaken to make this special day a success.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-74873842625742113432012-09-30T20:24:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:24:07.321-07:00Little Things Can Make You Happy As You Experience Joy, Satisfaction, and Contentment <br />
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Happiness is an emotion where you can experience intense joy, satisfaction, and contentment. Happiness is more mental than physical and needs to be nurtured. It is the ultimate achievable purpose in life and is healthy for your body.</div>
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It isn't uncommon for young people to be more aware of negative emotions than are the elderly. This may be a result of childlike selfishness, which may be the result of a lack of consideration for others.</div>
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Keep an open mind and attempt not to be concerned chiefly with your own personal profit or pleasure.</div>
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When young people have a close relationship with family have an early plus. If they have relationships combined with friendships they have two pluses.</div>
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Get together with friends and family as often as possible.</div>
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Life is full of little wonders that can make us happy and they are easily accessible. You only need to look around; with your eyes wide-open. Give a helping hand to others and feel good about yourself. Finding little things to make others happy will, in return, make you happy.</div>
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Develop sensible eating habits. Good health generates joy and happiness. Eat healthy and feel it.</div>
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Try to always smile. Practice saying "Thank You", "Please", and "You're Welcome".</div>
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Exercise. A good workout can make you feel happy and satisfied with yourself.</div>
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Develop and train your senses to be sensitive to the inherent mental or physical power of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. At the same time develop a sane and realistic attitude to situations and problems.</div>
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Slow down, enjoy the beauty of God's many Creations. Observe others and try to feel the feelings they are experiencing in their actions. Sit back and just think about the following examples. These are 'Little Things' that just might give you happiness.</div>
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Smell the rain' walking in the rain, playing in the rain.</div>
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Holding hands and walking with the one you love.</div>
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Watching someone being nice to someone else; i.e., holding open a door, offering to carry someone's groceries.</div>
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Watching other teens have fun talking on a street car.</div>
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Watching very young children play in the park.</div>
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Finding a good bargain on sale.</div>
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Enjoy reading a good book.</div>
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Send Mom a card without an occasion.</div>
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Listen to great older songs on the radio.</div>
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Walking in a cool breeze at twilight.</div>
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Phone friends ask how they're doing.</div>
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Lying on the ground staring at the stars on a warm night.</div>
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Watching an older couple hold hands and smile with each other.</div>
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Watching others kissing in the locker room.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-37478811468908723042012-09-30T20:23:00.004-07:002012-09-30T20:23:35.409-07:00Sarcastic Responses: We All Do It But How Does It Affect Our Children? <br />
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<strong>We have all been guilty of uttering sarcastic responses from time to time</strong></div>
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and most likely feel a twinge of remorse as soon as we hear the words come out of our mouths. But how do sarcastic responses directed toward our children affect them?</div>
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You are late for work, the dog hasn't been fed or taken out for his morning ritual and is clawing at the door, your daughter can't find her left shoe and now the telephone is ringing...as your 4 yr. old, holding her right shoe innocently looks up at you and asks, <em>"Mommy, what should I do?"</em> you suddenly realize the sarcastic response you are <u>thinking in your mind</u> you actually just heard <strong>out loud</strong> in <strong>your voice</strong>, <em>"Guess you'll just have to go barefoot!"</em></div>
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Now you have compounded the problem because your daughter is in tears because she doesn't want to go to daycare without shoes. You immediately realize you need to back up, apologize and explain that you didn't mean she should really go barefoot, that you were being sarcastic.</div>
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Two things: First, children take things literally because their brains are not developed yet to discern information they receive so your explanation most likely will only add to their confusion. What they will take in is that you are sorry and didn't mean it. The second is to know that the rare occurrence when there is the occasional slip of the tongue will not send your child on to a path of misery and pain for the rest of their lives.</div>
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However, with that being said, if uttering sarcastic responses to your children is common place you are risking the likelihood that they will not learn to communicate in a positive way. Many years ago I worked with a family whose 5 yr. old was not doing well after only a few weeks in kindergarten. The teacher had contacted the parents stating their son was refusing to do what she was asking the class to do. Whether she asked the class to get out their crayons or put their jackets on to go outside for playtime, their son more often than not ignored her requests until she adamantly made a personal direct request of him.</div>
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She was frustrated. After the parents spoke with their son and explained that he needed to do what his teacher asked him to do they had hoped the problem would be resolved. It wasn't. Several weeks later I was contacted and asked to meet with the teacher, the parents and the little boy.</div>
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We began with a game of role-playing where I played the part of the teacher and his mom played his part. It was all very humorous and light-hearted. As I (as the teacher) asked the mom (as the student) to please take out her reading book, her son interrupted and said, <em>"Mom, you didn't ask if it was for real or pretend!"</em></div>
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I was a little confused by his statement, both parents were smiling as if to say to their son, <em>"You are so silly!"</em>, but the teacher reacted as if she had just found the answer to eternal youth! <em>"That's what he says to me all of the time when I ask the class to do something! He doesn't respond until I tell him that this is for real!",</em> she exclaimed.</div>
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Everyone became very serious as the core of the problem became evident. As it turned out his Dad had a longstanding habit of issuing sarcastic remarks. In order to lessen her son's confusion in reaction to his Dad's sarcasm, the Mom would interject <em>"Dad doesn't mean it for real, he is only pretending!"</em></div>
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Apparently this type of exchange carried over to the majority of conversations between him and his father and so it had become a habit for him to respond to his father by asking, <em>"For real or pretend?" </em>Neither parent had realized the possible negative consequences of what they saw as a harmless funny little game.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-88807001463310004212012-09-30T20:23:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:23:01.890-07:00Benefits of Creating a Passive Income <br />
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As your business ebbs and flows, the idea of having a passive income is probably becoming more appealing. Basically, a passive income comes from a source of profit that requires little or no effort on your part to keep the flow going. There are a number of other benefits to creating this type of income. Here I'm sharing just a few.</div>
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One of the most recognizable benefits of creating this type of income is that there is very little overhead. Most of these incomes are information based, so you do not have to worry about storage, delivery costs, or even the cost of raw materials. That way, more of your passive income can be transformed into profit.</div>
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Another advantage of passive income that you might not realize is that it is a lot easier to distribute in mass quantities. By using a website or an email list-service, you can easily distribute the information to hundreds, if not thousands of different people. To accomplish the same task through the creation of CDs or DVDs would be extremely cost prohibitive.</div>
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Of course, a third benefit may not immediately be apparent. A passive income can be a great way to build a quality reputation among the Internet community. By providing your expertise at a relatively low cost, you'll be seen as the person, the expert to go to when more information is needed. This is one long-term benefit that can not only help your bottom line, but help your business grow as well.</div>
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Finally, a wonderful benefit of creating a passive income is that it allows you to use ideas or items that are already in place. There really is no need to create brand new content for an information product, provided that the original information is still valid and usable. For example, a special report or e-book can contain information from previous blogs, replies to various comments on your website, and even information attributable to other sources. In a number of cases the information used as a passive income source can be nothing more than a rehash of what you already created.</div>
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Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and personally. An 'overnight mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-39176169485057385212012-09-30T20:22:00.003-07:002012-09-30T20:22:33.614-07:00A World of Hurt - A Bigger World of Love <br />
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The other day I hauled my bod out of bed bright and early to play some tennis. I was feeling chipper. The weather was perfect. I had my morning coffee. This had all the earmarks of a good day.</div>
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Trouble is I looked at the morning paper before I left to play tennis. There on the front page was the sad story of a very sick man who had sexually abused some young boys at Penn State.</div>
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Phooey! My heart went into free fall. Damn! Why? What makes grown men sink so low as to take away the innocence of children? I could feel my upbeat mood going south. Some days you're better off NOT reading the paper.</div>
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In a considerably more subdued frame of mind, I drove to the tennis courts, hopeful that some vigorous exercise might put the thought of wounded children behind me.</div>
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As I made my way to the tennis courts, I noticed that the sprinklers were still on, spilling water on to the walkway and making a good-sized puddle. A young dad and his little kid were seizing the moment to have some fun. The boy had discovered the wonders of a puddle of water. SPLASH! SPLASH! went the kid through the puddle. He laughed as he splashed and splashed as he laughed. This kid was having a ball.</div>
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So was his dad. After watching his son for a while, the dad got into the act, too. Both father and son stomped on that puddle scattering water in all directions, on their shoes, on their clothes and all over the place. I thought to myself the kid's mom probably will probably be doing the laundry for <strong><em>both </em></strong>her children. No matter. There are moments in life way too precious to let a little dirty laundry get in the way.</div>
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Two more of our tennis group came by and they, too, paused to take in the sight of a little kid and his dad having a good old fashioned hoot. They smiled as I did. Looking at the faces of the adults, did I catch just a touch of envy in their eyes, maybe an urge to join the splashers at play?</div>
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There popped into my head this fantasy that old Louis Armstrong was up there in heaven singing to the angels my favorite song, "What a Wonderful World."</div>
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There's something about the lyrics of that song that has always made me want to pick some flowers or hug a kid or run barefoot in the grass. My imagination boards a space rocket heading to the kind of world we all dream about, for us and for our kids, for everyone.</div>
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"The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. "I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do. They're really saying 'I love you.'" YES! You sing it Louis.</div>
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The juxta-position of reading the account of child abuse in the paper, hearing the hope-filled words of the song in my head and witnessing the scene of a father and son having their moment of innocent fun, was powerful stuff.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-4985683746939519312012-09-30T20:22:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:22:06.902-07:00A Woman's Place is in the Home - With Her Home Based Business! <br />
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Forget barefoot and pregnant. Forget the traditional 'mommy' track. Women are historically survivors. Today's tough economy is merely another hurdle for women to overcome.</div>
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Women are known for their ability to multi-task. Building or supplementing the family income is no different. A woman's place is in the home with her own home-based business!</div>
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Due to the economic times, the number of women entrepreneurs is on the rise. Over 9.1 million businesses in the U.S. are women-owned. Minority women owned businesses account for about a million of these. Home based businesses for women worldwide have been conservatively estimated to account for over $3.6 trillion. That figure is more than the GNP for some countries.</div>
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Here's why:</div>
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• Most high income businesses requires significant infusions of start up capital. Not so for the home based business. In a quality home based business, <em>YOU</em> and your existing skills (not the least of which is multi-tasking!) are the key ingredients.</div>
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• Because many income home based businesses involve network marketing, they get a bad rap. Network marketing is a legitimate form of service or product distribution. No one criticizes the IBM business model. It is primarily a network although it has employees rather than independent contractors.</div>
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• Home based network marketing reflects a comparable sales/failure rate as other businesses. Various failures rates are thrown around by the media. Some analysts say the annual small business failure rate is as high as 95%. A network opportunity is no different. As a true woman entrepreneur, this figure quite simply doesn't apply to <em>you</em>!</div>
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Legitimate high income home business opportunities are definitely out there. Here are examples: website development and information publishing, affiliate marketing, membership website creation.</div>
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The key to learning about the various opportunities is to do your homework well--you've probably been supervising homework for a long time. Time to get yourself back in the game.</div>
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A quality business will not hype you. A quality business will welcome your interest and promptly respond to your questions. They will invite you to sample their typical training sessions and show you how they really work.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-5245134881465683382012-09-30T20:21:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:21:27.481-07:00Baby Wearing - Why It's Good For Baby and Mom Too <br />
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Whether you're a new parent or you have children, it's not secret that babies love to be held. The old rules of parenting require babies to learn to be on their own, set them on the floor, in a playpen, bouncy chair or swing and let them figure it out. Yet more and more parents are finding that this not only results in an unhappy child, it results in an unhappy parent. The solution, adopt a practice held around the world, and wear your baby.</div>
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<b>What Is Baby Wearing?</b></div>
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Baby wearing is the practice of wearing or carrying a baby in a carrier - most often a sling. Baby wearing is part of the attachment parenting philosophy which believes that a strong emotional bond with parents during childhood is a precursor of secure, empathic relationships in adulthood. While baby wearing is a factor in the attachment parenting philosophy, parents don't' have to adopt the philosophy to practice or receive the benefits of baby wearing.</div>
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<b>Benefits of Baby Wearing</b></div>
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· <b>Babies who are worn cry less.</b> Babies like to be held we know this to be true in our hearts, and it's been proven. In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs. The study concluded that babies that are worn cry 43% less than non-worn babies.</div>
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· <b>Babies who are worn learn more.</b> The theory is simple, when a baby is discontent, crying and fussing; they're not paying attention to the world around them. However, when they're content and feeling safe and secure, they are free to explore the world around them.</div>
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· <b>Parents have their hands free.</b> Baby wearing involves literally placing the baby in a sling or carrier and wearing them. It's quite convenient because your hands are free to go about your daily business. You can cook, clean, email, shop, play with your other children, all the things you would normally do only now you have a baby strapped to your front.</div>
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· <b>Babies are less likely to develop a flat spot on their skull.</b> The pediatric association recommends placing them on their back to prevent SIDS; however this position often causes a flat spot on the back of their soft skulls. Babies, who are worn, are less likely to develop this flat spot because they're sleeping in the comfort and safety of your sling or carrier.</div>
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· <b>Mother's are less likely to suffer from postpartum depression.</b> It is theorized that contact with the baby increases a mother's progesterone levels. This increase strengthens the bond between mother and baby.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-89723453540002413752012-09-30T20:20:00.004-07:002012-09-30T20:20:58.078-07:00Satin Doll <br />
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Dad was not dead, but Mom decided to give him a funeral anyway. "He's dead to us," she said. We were sitting in the back yard at the ragged end of the day, watching the darkening sky toss up handfuls of stars. Mom shook her red halo of hair, and gathered the edges of her blouse together with her fist. "I'll stuff a coffin with clothes and fake-books. I'll slap the lid shut with some double paradiddles." She drummed on her glass.</div>
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"He'll get tired of her." I offered it like a prayer, prayed without faith. It had been two weeks since he'd taken off, and it didn't look like he was coming back.</div>
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"Not this time," she whispered. "Look, a liar's moon." A hoarse laugh died in the long, smooth throat that always smelled of lilies. She stared with her wide green eyes at the badminton net Dad had put up the summer before last. My friend Carrie and I had played every evening as our parents watched us, drinks in hand. Dad kept his sunglasses on the whole time. He was hiding something, and we all knew it.</div>
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He had taken up with other women before, disappearing backstage to call his latest, past caring that Mom was in the audience. The musicians took advantage of his absence, filling in all the spaces around her, vying for the privilege of fetching her drinks. Something in her movement, in her long-limbed body, encouraged them, and they elbowed each other out of the way, snarling insults you'd have to be a musician to get. Their interest had a smell, and it made me dizzy.</div>
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"They act like they have a chance," I scoffed, one night. "But you love Dad, right?"</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"It's complicated," Mom answered slowly. Her green eyes bore into my blue ones. "Some day you'll understand."</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The one night she let one of the men I'd called Uncle all my life lead her to the stage, changed everything. She'd been a singer when she met my father, but he shut her down as soon as she got pregnant with me. She bloomed under that spotlight, her hair on fire, the sound coming out of her throat low, sultry, hypnotic. It brought Dad out from behind the black curtain, and suddenly he was hovering over her as if the song was all his idea. Bronze curls grazing his forehead, the cords in his neck strained as he blew into the swinging brass fish.</span></div>
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The last note had hardly died when Dad turned his back to his wife, and cued the musicians for the next piece. The applause meant for Mom was severed like an artery. She stumbled back to our table, tripping on a step, and I rose from my seat to help her. I caught Dad's eye for a second, and didn't like what I saw.</div>
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Through the smoky haze, Mom and I pulled each other into the ladies' room. "Don't ever fall for it," she cried. "Love is only what you see in yourself, reflected in his eyes." Her theories had never made sense to me. Other people were happy together. Sometimes she and Dad were too, the seethe of soft murmurs under their bedroom door proof enough of that.</div>
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Tears finally dried, Mom repaired her beautiful face, becoming even more beautiful in the mirror. She rolled mascara on her already thick lashes, reddened her already red lips, pinched her already pink cheeks. She hummed a few bars of "Satin Doll," then asked, "How do I look? Better than your Barbie?" I thought of the doll with the scale stuck at 105, and nodded. Mom fluffed her orange hair out over her shoulders and opened the black-painted door to the place where she always came in second.</div>
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Her moment onstage marked the end of her marriage, but she didn't know that yet. Dad left the following week, and Mom took to her bed. She wouldn't move. She would not get up. A layer of dust settled on her bedside table thick enough to draw an SOS in. A bag of capsized potato chips listed on Dad's side of the bed. Curled in on herself, she stared at her shelf of boxed Mattel dolls. She had often joked about her "dowry," but determined long ago that "These dolls will pay for your college."</div>
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There were Barbies and Kens and Skippers and Midges. Some had Dream Kitchens, others had careers. My favorite was Astronaut Barbie, although I had never been allowed to touch her. Babysitter Barbie was the only doll let out of the box for me. Losing value, I suppose.</div>
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"I read once that 'the overriding desire of most children is to get at and see the soul of their toys'," Mom told me when, at seven, I asked why she didn't let me play with the others. "Some writer claimed that when children realize that their dolls are inanimate that their toys have no souls at all, they grow disgusted with them. I'm trying to spare you that disappointment."</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Who would spare her? Every evening, when I eased her into the tub filled with pink bubbles, she looked exactly like one of those dolls, staring from behind a cellophane window, messed up from some little brother's abuse.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Mom's eyes had burned out in their sockets. There was no light in them anywhere, and I couldn't bear to look anymore. The way her hair fanned out from her head, the color of lit matches, fascinated me for some reason, so I kept my eyes there. "I've wasted my life," she whispered.</span></div>
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I sat on the edge of the tub and washed her back. When she had enough of that, she sank below the surface of the water. I began to count. When I reached four, she burst through the bubbles with a gasp. How was I to know that she held a safety razor in her fist? I had hidden all the sharp things---scissors, nail files, razors, knives--- and locked them in a drawer. When had she broken in? She began to saw the dull blade across her wrist as if I wasn't there. I grabbed it away from her, too horrified to speak. "What the hell?" I said.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-79077682490266962432012-09-30T20:20:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:20:22.433-07:00Growing Up With a Bipolar Mother <br />
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When I was a kid, everyone said my mom was brilliant, and indeed, she was. She didn't finish high school, but had my older brother instead. Once she decided she wanted to learn something, she just learned it! She had an upbeat personality. People liked her energy and witty sense of humor. She was a young mother of seven children. She also had bipolar disorder.</div>
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<b>How Her Mental Illness Progressed</b></div>
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At first, she started doing strange things like running outside barefoot in her nightgown at night in the middle of winter. Her temper became worse. I told myself that most of these symptoms would have occurred in anyone because of the pressures of raising a large family on a farm.</div>
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Then, one day in a fit of temper, she tried to kill me with a carving knife. My older brother and I placed a cowbell on my door, so that if she came into my room in the middle of the night, I would know she was there, and be able to defend myself.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A Wrong Diagnosis of Schizophrenia</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Our dad had her placed in a mental hospital where she stayed for some time. This was the 1960s before too much was known about various mental illnesses. The psychiatrists diagnosed our mom with schizophrenia, gave her some medication, and sent her home.</span></div>
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The medication made her feel funny, like she wasn't fully herself, and so she didn't take it. Another suicide attempt sent her back to the hospital. After she came home, things got progressively worse. She went back to the mental hospital, and I took over the household. At the age of twelve, I became an adult. I cooked, cleaned, took care of my brothers and sisters, and worked outside in the barns.</div>
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Finally, when my mom came home, I didn't want anything to do with her. Our dad begged for a truce between us. Bitterness, anger, and hurt filled my heart. My hatred for her became apparent to everyone.</div>
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About the same time, our parents announced that they were getting a divorce. It upset me horribly. Our mom and dad separated, and our mom moved out, taking the four youngest children with her.</div>
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<b>Losing Hope and Faith</b></div>
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When I was younger, I had prayed for God to heal all of us, and make us happy again. We had been such an idyllic family! As things became worse, we stopped going to church, and I stopped praying. It seemed hopeless.</div>
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Fast-forward to 1999. My husband and I were in San Francisco when my older brother called, and said that our mom had tried to kill her husband. (Our mom had remarried one year after our parents divorced.) They took her off in a strait jacket, and placed her in mandatory detainment in the state mental hospital.</div>
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<b>A New Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder</b></div>
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While detained in the state's mental hospital, the psychiatrists diagnosed her with bipolar disorder, not schizophrenia, and placed her on the right medication for the first time in her life. It calmed the manic part of her personality, stopped the cycling between mania and depression, and she became stable.</div>
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<b>What Did I Learn Through All Of This?</b></div>
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First, I learned that bipolar disorder is hereditary: a person may inherit the whole thing or inherit it in part, the fullest cycling or a lesser cycling, or one may get either the manic side or the depressed side. It was truly a revelation. It explained a lot about me, and my brothers and sisters. Knowing this, we have a much better chance of trying to control it.</div>
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Second, I learned that I do love my mother. Bipolar disorder demands that she always be the center of attention. That is part of the illness. She has all the potential to be normal when she takes her medication, and then she can be very sweet and loving.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-11166863924458217642012-09-30T20:19:00.003-07:002012-09-30T20:19:40.726-07:00Pamper Yourself on Mothers Day <br />
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Mother's Day is coming up. If you're a mother, why not just take the day off to pamper yourself? Why not buy yourself a nice, luxurious gift? These days, comfort and style go hand in hand. You can feel beautiful and relaxed at the same time. To get you started, here is a list of three brand names you will be hearing a lot of in the future:</div>
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o Barefoot Dreams. These soft robes made on a list of Oprah's "Favorite Things". This company began in 1994 and has created clothing lines for children and adults alike. If you really want to pamper yourself, you need to get yourself a soft, warm robe that comes in a variety of different styles and colors. If you want to get your daughter or mother something to match, you can do that also.</div>
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Barefoot Dreams is setting the standards for comfort and luxury. If you like the softness of chenille blankets, you'll love these robes. This company is also environment-friendly. They are incorporating bamboo and other high quality, eco-friendly materials in their products! Whether you're a young mom or a grandma, you will feel like a diva wearing one of these unbelievably soft robes!</div>
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o Longchamp. This French company got its start 60 years ago, when it was named after the famous Paris horse track. Most famous these days for its "IT" bags, this name brand company is quickly rising to the top of the fashion industry. It's Le Pilage collection is made up of zippered, nylon totes that are known for being durable, lightweight, practical, and, of course, fashionable.</div>
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You should be able to fit everything you want into a lovely, yet practical, Longchamp bag. Whether you need a bag for work, school, or for personal reasons, this is the name brand you need to go with. Their Le Pilage collection is especially a popular choice, and it's not uncommon these days to see celebs out and about with one of these nylon bags or purses!</div>
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o Spanx. No "luxury" list would be complete without lingerie. Even if you couldn't see yourself dressing up in sexy lingerie, you will change your mind once you get a hold of one of these panties, slips, or bras! This is shapewear that will really give you the shaping and smoothing you've been hoping for, as well as comfort. Unfortunately, shaping and comfort don't go hand in hand, but Spanx has proven that the two CAN go together! Many celebrities use this lingerie to hide saddle bags and back fat. If they can do it, why can't you?!</div>
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And there you have it: three names you need to remember on Mother's Day, or any other "pampering" day. If you think you deserve to be pampered, then you can indulge yourself with Barefoot Dreams, Longchamp, and Spanx.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-33545479393267450492012-09-30T20:17:00.001-07:002012-09-30T20:17:58.355-07:00The Best Mower For Mom <br />
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More and more women today are playing the role of groundskeeper as well as homemaker. They count themselves lucky to have a yard to take care of, but in their busy lives, finding the time to do it all can be quite a challenge. They know that choosing the right mower can make a huge difference in how much they get accomplished!</div>
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Mothers are busy enough trying to maintain home and family, but they know that having a well-maintained yard is important, not only for the look of the neighborhood, but for the health of their children. Having a place for children to run and play barefoot is a big blessing and for those who are lucky enough to have their own piece of lawn, they wouldn't trade it! For many women, electric lawn mowers are a godsend! No more cords to pull over and over again until they're worn clear out before the darn thing starts! Just plug it in, press the lever and away you go. You do have to watch out for the cord as you mow, but that's a small inconvenience compared how quickly it starts! And no more messy, smelly gas cans to store or handle or worry about the kids getting into.</div>
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For those busy working women who find a day in the yard a source of relaxation, having the best riding lawn mower can almost be a recreation. If they sit in an office all week and mowing the lawn is needed exercise, then the pull-cord gas-powered mower may be something they actually want - or better yet, they may want push lawn mowers! The size of lawn must be considered when choosing the right mower because most women today simply do not have time to waste and no matter how much they might enjoy the work involved, finding the most efficient mower for the time they allowed them is the most important thing.</div>
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Most women know that the best way to make the smartest choice in making any purchase is to do their homework and find out what type of machine will best fit their needs. The Internet is a great tool for looking up reviews about makes and models which can be a great way to also learn what kind of options are available. Price is always a consideration, but every woman knows that the real value of any tool is in how it performs as well as how much it actually costs.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-61532831697788083752012-09-30T20:16:00.002-07:002012-09-30T20:16:07.413-07:00Work At Home Parent: The Life Of A Daughter Of Parents Working At Home - True Story <br />
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Mateo and Cecilia, my parents came as immigrants to the United States 22 years ago, they came with only few dollars to the U.S and knew nobody. Like everyone else they wanted the American Dream and possibly make money for their upcoming baby, me. I was born in Los Angeles and after the hospital I came to a small bed-room, living with my mom and dad along with other people in the house. The room was so small only a small twin bed and a small furniture could fit. My parents didn't have enough money to buy me shoes, sometimes I was barefoot and if I was lucky enough I would get some shoes from the 99 cents store only. My dad had a job and my mom was working for a small family who owned a small business but it was still not enough. A year later, they noticed they needed more money because my baby sister was coming so they decided to become their own boss and start a small business.</div>
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<strong>How It All tarted</strong></div>
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My mom started selling clothing and shoes as she bought them at a wholesale price and sold them at retail price from home. As far as I can remember I was always with my mother going house to house distributing merchandise. My father was still working at his job. As time passed my mom's small business working from home was kicking off and they were building their list of customers. My dad decided to get together with my mom and do the business together, I was about 12 years old when they decided to rent a warehouse because their business and merchandise could not fit in my parent's room anymore.</div>
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After school instead of going home I will go to my parent's business retail store. People will go in and out of the shop as I will do my homework. I was always with my parents, in my parent's break we will always eat together. They never missed seeking me and my sister grow.When kids at school asked me what my parents did for a living I will always say they sale clothes and shoes. I knew I didn't have a normal life because all my friends had parents working for someone else, at a restaurant, construction, at a warehouse and here I was with parent's working from home. I sometimes felt left-out and confused of why my parent's didn't have a job like everyone else. I wanted to be normal.</div>
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As their business grew bigger, we bought a home of our own in 2005, the house was so big they decided to get all the merchandise and business and bring it into the new home. The retail store was fine but it was until then the housing market crashed and we were forced to move all the stuff inside a home once again. They don't regret it in fact they like it better, working from home doing almost everything online was something they are grateful about.</div>
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Since I was 17 I have been working at my parent's home business, creating invoices, and sometimes calling customers but like any other person I felt I needed to have something on my own. So I started my own home based business as well while going to college and it was the best decision I could have made.</div>
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<strong>Would You Do The Same Thing</strong></div>
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Since I could remember I was always with my parents, I thank God for not knowing what is like having parent's work away from home. I was always there with them and I am sure when it is time for me to spread my wings and leave away from home they won't feel as, "I was working too much I didn't have a chance to spend time with her." My parent's saw me growing from the time I will get my awards for being the best student in elementary school, parent conferences, during break they will be there when I had trouble learning subtraction, the first time I became a young lady and my mother went to the store to get me pads, the time they decided to enroll me to a dance academy and watch me and my sister perform, they met my first boyfriend, they were there when I got my heart broken for the first time and my mom telling me everything was going to be OK. They saw me getting ready to go to prom and since they worked from home they had no problem going to my high school graduation. Now I am 22 and I realize having parents working from home was the best thing that has ever happened to me.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090590806213108485.post-33657269499374462012012-09-30T20:13:00.003-07:002012-09-30T20:13:47.526-07:00Choosing Mother of the Bride Shoes - 10 Do's and Don'ts <br />
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As we get older, our backs and feet aren't what they used to be. So what's a mom to do when she knows she must wear fancy dress shoes at her daughter or son's wedding? Don't use excuses about comfort to avoid looking the best you can on your child's wedding day. Your shoes can make or break your outfit. Those wedding photos will be around forever, so make sure you look your absolute best, from your feet up, on the big day.</div>
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If you're not sure how to make the transition from sneakers to stilettos, then here are 10 Dos and Don'ts for choosing the perfect pair of Mother of the Bride shoes.</div>
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1. Don't buy shoes that can be dyed. Perfectly matching the color of your shoes to your mother of the bride gown is very passé. Plus, when your feet sweat, your feet will turn color.</div>
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2. Do break your shoes in before the wedding. Vacuum in them. Walk up stairs in them. Otherwise you'll be walking around the reception with big blisters.</div>
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3. Don't change into rubber or plastic flip flops during the reception, or even worse, go barefoot. Is the dance floor a dormitory shower, or the boardwalk? Change into a lower heeled formal shoe if you must, but respect the formality of the event.</div>
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4. Don't choose mother of the bride shoes with boxy or squared toes. These heavy, clunky looking styles do nothing to elongate your leg, and are best left for more casual outfits. Fine occasions call for fine shoes.</div>
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5. Don't buy shoes that are not your size! Too many women fall in love with a shoe that's a half size too big and end up stepping out of it, or they buy a size too small hoping they'll l be able ignore the pain. You can't. If you really can't get the store to locate it in the correct size, move on!</div>
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6. Don't wear a heel you may slip out of, or fall off. A mule or a 5" stiletto heel will give you rolled ankles and swollen feet if you are not used to wearing them. Let's make sure the limo, not the ambulance, is what transports you from the ceremony to reception!</div>
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7. Don't opt for price over quality when buying Mother of the Bride shoes. Expensive, well-made shoes are worth the investment. Scrimp on less important things. (We won't tell anyone those earrings are faux-pearl!)</div>
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8. Do try wearing a neutral or metallic shoe like gold, silver or pewter, instead wearing a shoe the same color as your mother of the bride gown. It is much more sophisticated and classy!</div>
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9. Don't wear flats to the ceremony. If high heels make you squeamish, try a kitten heel or a wedge instead - you'll walk taller and look slimmer with some extra height!</div>
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10. Do choose age appropriate shoes. Ditch the Granny orthopedic wannabes, but also don't choose a shoe that looks like it belongs in your teenage daughter's closet. Anything too strappy or sparkly will look tacky on a woman over 40.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06645887254610180143noreply@blogger.com0