Beat the heat

Ugh this heat in the east has just been oppressive. The only thing I want to do is stay in enjoy air conditioning involved activities. My computer becomes a good friend of mine during the heat. The comfort of the PC chair, the socialness of things like online games or facebook keep me feeling connected while avoiding the heat! Keeping active while keeping cool is a high priority for me. I do not like to just sit idol but at the same time I definitely do not want to battle the humidity we have in the Mid Atlantic states!

Spending time connected to an online game keeps my brain active. I definitely find word games to be quite addictive. The fact I can play some for free is even better! There are also a lot of games out there to keep your little ones busy during the summer months and save your sanity. Cute little games with princesses are always a favorite with my nieces.

My favorite is being able to connect the free online games to my facebook and let my friends stay involved. That brings in the social aspect so I stay connected even though I never leave the comfort of my home! The best is spending the morning in pj's having a good time online! So if you are living in an area affected by this heat wave I encourage you to take a break and do some free gaming to keep busy!

Emotions

Do you ever wonder why you feel the way you do? Is it something from within that makes you or is it a accumulation of the events that have unfolded in your life adding up and mixing to make the person you are? I will never know the answer but I do know that feeling misunderstood makes you feel alone. Striving always to find that perfect balance leads you exhausted. Blogging is a great way to get it out and allow you to just lay it all out there. Clear your head and be able to let it go. I would suggest to everyone to have an outlet for your feelings.

The Big C hitting home

I am awaiting the return of Nurse Jackie and the Big C to Showtimes unstoppable tv series line up. After the confusing end to The Big C last season I am waiting to see if Cathy's husband is actually dead or alive. The cliff hangers in series always get me! I did not think I would be able to get into a show about the horrible disease called cancer but the characters are so real and just make you have the ability to see how lucky you really are. Direct tv brings me the series in reliable, high definition broadcasting keeping my cravings satisfied. I have found that The Big C was my most surprising tv series find. You would think a series on the subject would be depressing and slow dragging but the writers have found a way to bring the topic to light while making you feel a connection to Cathy's life and friends.

Nurse Jackie is on the other end of the spectrum of tv shows. The lead character Nurse Jackie being someone you might find it hard to emphasize with but you just want to see how it ends so you keep your self glued to your dx3 direct tv. I find it hard to emphasize with the character as the entire topic of leading a double life is something i can not grasp. I have a hard enough time keeping up with one life. Nurse Jackie does allow me to see life through someone on the opposite end of realities eyes. The series start in May so we do not have a lot more time to wait to find out what this next installment will bring. Until then I will check www.dx3.net for schedules, update and all the nest ino on Direct TV.

Finding a good deal on a car

Buying a car is always a difficult choice. We all hate spending days on days searching lots while shady car dealer sales people chase us down bothering us every step of the way. Twenty years ago you had no other option but to be harassed and bothered during this experience. Or the fake sticker prices that are always marked up thousands of dollars to trick you into thinking you are getting a good deal. I am not always a fan of the internet but I have found it makes car buying a lot easier. It has introduced many new sources to help the average person find the right car at the best price. From car reviews to the ability to look up facts on a specific car using the VIN to make sure it has not been in an accident or totaled out the net helps to protect us from potentially devastating purchases that we will regret for years.

There are some awesome websites out there that assist you in finding used cars. Shop4usedcars.com is an amazing resource. It allowed me to see what vehicles were available without leaving my home. It also has listings for different makes of cards saving your gas from driving to the different dealerships before you know they have what you want. Buying a used car just got less frustrating! I saw an amazing Durango on Steve Hansen Hyandia that was for sale. It really peaked my interest with having four dogs the space is really an issue for me! Or perhaps a Pacifica a little more modern stylings but with the same room inside for the furry friends from Dewey Chrysler dealer. No matter what you are looking for find it from the comfort from your home and then go to deal with the process of test driving and haggling. One less stepo in the annoyance of buying a used car!

Getting a Website

This guest post from Werner Rogers

It is clearly time for me to get a website for my company that potential customers can browse to see examples of my work, check out prices and specials, and learn about me. I can’t even tell you how many potential customers have asked me over the last few years “do you have a website?” or “what is your web address?” I always wanted to come across as a mom and pop type shop, but in this day and age, to not have a website is putting me drastically behind my competition. I recently searched my competition on the internet, and each one of them have not only a website, but a good website. I am searching www.smallbusiness.xo.com to look for some guidance in this area. I am really not all that tech savvy, and I have previously been a little intimidated by the whole idea of getting a website and managing costumers that way. I am going to have to take the leap, though, if I want my business to thrive and last.

Data

As a small business owner we are always faced with the task of keeping our data safe. Whether it be tax information, client information, or important knowledge based information I find it to be a struggle. Finding reliable and cost effective business solution has been a challenge. I spend most of my time running the business and taking care to make sure daily operations go overly smoothly. My personal preference is working with a reliable company that offers all of the services that I need. To have your data needs spread out over multiple companies can get just as confusing as the decision themselves!

I have found a variety of options for hosting my data elsewhere so that I do not need to fear a crash of my personally owned external HD's is to use a cloud hosting situation. The biggest concern is then my security but when the cloud is a private cloud. This way I know I am the only one with access to the data. There are just so many options that a small business owner would never know about without the help of a trust worthy data solution company. If you have ever experienced a hard drive crash you know how devastating that can be. Losing years worth of valuable information can bring down a wall of stress onto your head. I unfortunately had to deal with this a few years ago. It taught me an invaluable lesson! Data recovery is possible but not always a true option. Sometimes data just can not be restored. I spent a night crying about the loss of some important tax information that I was unable to retrieve. After stressing and fearing the worst I realized that when we have important information we must do our best to keep it safe. It is sometimes as valuable as our favorite jewelry and we would never leave that just lying about unsecured.

I am by no means a complete computer geek so I do not understand all of the terminology or the options. Having a trusted company explain these to you definitely helped set me into the right direction. So take it from one business owner to another please step up and protect that valuable information before it is too late!

Taxes taxes and well more taxes!

With tax season upon us an the climax approaching quickly I was giving it some thought to what a great way it would be to make some extra cash being a Registered tax preparer. There is so much work to be had during tax season with just a little bit of training. An
income tax courseincome tax course does not take long and after a bit of training you can become a tax preparer. I always see places with help wanted signs during the busy season.

It is always hard to find something to do to make some extra money that does not involve horrible working terms. I think that with a bit of number crunching and expertise with paper work preparing taxes would be a stable way to make some extra cash. Let's face it there are two things that are certain taxes and death! I would definitely be involved in an industry dealing with taxes over one dealing with death.

Brother's Advice

The Author of this post is Cheryl Martinez

My brother was telling me about Gexa Energy Haslet and I thought it was a really smart idea – an energy company that actually cares about the environment? So that got me thinking that I should really spend some time figuring out some whttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifays I could give back around here so http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifI’ve started recycling and I’ve even been working with a local church to start a community garden! I think it’s really important to give back where you can and no one needs our help right now more than mother nature so I’m doing my part to try and make this earth a better place to be. Who would have thought at the end of the day that I’d be Ms. Environmental, me, who drove a Suburban to and from work for years? I guess it’s better late than never when it comes to realizing your flaws but you know, that’s the way the cookie crumbles! No one can fault me for just now getting to it.

The things that keep us busy!

I find my cell phone keeps me busy. There are times when I find myself sitting and waiting bored out of my mind. I turn to my trusty cell phone friend and search through apps to find something to keep me busy. I have phone my fingers stopping at words with friends. Challenging other people and seeing what we know is a great way to pass time. You also pick up on new words. Finding someone to play with is easy as can be too. Why play a solo game when you can really push the limits http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifto the fun you have when it is with a friend. Sometimes I get stuck on certain words. Lets all face it how many words with q do we really know?

Sometimes I feel the need to reach out for a little help especially when I am playing with some smart know it all! Words with friends cheats can be helpful just to make it so you can prove a point to that know it all! I have found some of my friends really have big heads and get really competitive when it comes to Words with Friends. So sometimes it is nice to give it to them even if you needed a little help to get there.

There are other reasons to use the web you might need a words with friends dictionary to make sure people are not playing you. Using the net to double check is a quick way to keep sane while having fun! Tom Words with Friends cheat website has come in alot of handy while playing my game. I would invite you to check it out and see for yourself!



Anchor text 3: words with friends dictionary

URL: www.topwordswithfriendscheats.com/dictionary

Home office upgrades

Being a complete nerd causes some storage issues. I find myself having to house two laptops, two desktops, an ipod touch and a tablet! I know no one needs this much stuff but it just does not pay to get rid of your older systerms and sadly with the way things are upgraded now you can really get a new system of some sorts every two to three years or else you fall behind in the times. Doing work that requires fast paced, memory hog programs for graphics and photography really requires you stay on top of the game. My computer room is a mass of stuff from desks to chairs to laptop bags. I would really like to find a good laptop storage option to make my laptop both accessible and convenient.

My desk tops each have large desks that take up too much space. The thought of shoving a large laptop cart in the mix makes me cringe. Something small and movable with wheels would serve me best. I tend to move around alot in my work station space so having a portable cart would prove useful. Lets also face it having a chair with wheels keeps you moving from side of the room to side of the room so why not take your laptop with you! I also am a bit of a snob and like the options of different looks so it all congeals together in the room. I conduct a little bit of business in there and do not want it to look a mess when people see it.

I am looking at two laptop carts to solve my storage and usability issues that I currently am facing in my home office. Som ething in a light wood and glass would really fit into the space.

Spring time is almost here

Well it seems spring is fast approaching. I like to start getting ideas for how i want to do my spring cleaning in advance. This year I find myself in need of a new shed to get the process going. I have this tiny little shed that came pre built with my home but it barely holds anything more than my lawn mower so I decided it was time to upgrade. Having a larger shed will help me declutter my house and put the outdoor items right where they belong! I started to look around for some design ideas and found Arrow Sheds is a good match for the type of structure I desire.

When looking for the perfect storage shed I wanted to go with something sturdy and durable. My backyard suffers from standing water when we have any kind of substantial rain so I needed a shed that wcould with stand this. A nice looking yet functional shed was really my goal. I also needed one that would match my current exterior color scheme as I do reside in an assiciation that will not tolerate mismatched colors.

After careful consideration I decided a steel shed would meet not only my price range but also the size and durability I would like. Back in the day we thought of steel sheds to be unattractive but with design changes they haveblown this issue out of the water. Versatile and roomy a steel shed can be a welcome addition to your backyard. I am really excited to have mine up and running so that I can get a start on the spring cleaning of my home. Without the addition of the storage space that a new larger shed spring cleaning would just be alot of frustration trying to find place for the items that currently have no place to call their own.

The world of apps

I have to admit having a droid smart phone has really changed my life. I can not imagine living without one now from all of the apps and connectivity that you get at your finger tips with the phone not to mention it comes in handy in emergencies! Remember the day when calling meant a pay phone Having to drive in circles because you did not have GPS or not knowing what a recipe calls fopr while you are in the grocery store. Well the answer to all of this is they have an app for it! We now have apps for everything from a flashlight, a budget app, heck even an app to remind you of your fertility times of the month. So I am always on the look out for some good app web sites to see what is new out there to keep my life either better organized or filled with more entertainment. Some of the apps can get quite pricey so having a reliable site to find good priced apps helps take the guess out of searching.

The ability to take entertainment in the palm of your hands has really changed so much in the world. I love watching a good movie or tv show while I am waiting for my doctor's appointment to keep my mind occupied. I have found this to really bring a sense of calm to me in even the most stressful situations. Or to veg out to music while I ride in a taxi cab makes it all go by so much faster. I was one of those people that said I never want to be a slave to my cell phone but now I find my phone to be my friend allowing my world to be expanded even when I do not have the time to do it from the comfort of my home.

I keep up with the app sites and have found a great place to save on apps, movies and more. I reccomend always staying up to date on the newest developements as you never know what might come into the world of apps and help make the every day grind a little more enjoyable. To me that is worth all the time in the world!

Smart reliable advertising!

When you are starting your own business you really need to find a way to get the word out there without breaking the bank. I have found using a pay per click service really allows you to keep a good control on your advertising budget. Alot of services charge an arm and a leg without giving you the ability to only be charged when people click the link. That is alot of money down the toilet when you are really getting nothing out of it. Having the control to only be charged for the advertisement you know you are getting some feedback from will allow you to always rate your progress as a business.

Having a way to reliably rank your traffic will allow peace of mind to verify your company growth. This is really the true goal for all business owners we need to find a way to keep progress going while keeping costs manageable.

I have also found finding a true community to keep you going and stand behind you allows for businesses to work as a team so to speak. The world wide web is a huge place and a little team work never hurt anyone. Within a pay per click advertising environment your business will thrive and allow you to get the word out there about the services or products you have to offer. The hard part really is finding the image you want to portray in your advertising because the advertising part just got a little bit easier!

Custom made gifts!

I get all my printing done from Vistaprint. If it is business cards or magnets for my car door Vistaprint has always done a great job. They offer quick shipping which is free or for lighting fast you can upgrade to their even faster option. The business cards have always gotten me noticied and are of a high quality. The current ones i have are black and white and are still stunning.

A great place for gits as well! You can make custom shirts for grandma or grandpa so they can show off their grandbabies. Also another great gift idea are photo calendars or mugs. I think we have all gotten tired of the same old gifts from Walmaert. Lets show we put some thought into it and make something truly customizable! I have nothing but good things to say so please give the company a shot and see where your creativity takes you for some great gifts!

Vintage gift wrap to match my holiday decorations

Guest post written by Nicole Furman

I take great care in decorating my house, so it should be no surprise that I really love to make sure that my house is nice looking and decorated for the holidays. I think that most people feel that way, but my husband has told me that I take it to the extreme some times. He probably has a point too because a lot of my holiday decorations are homemade, but I enjoy making them and I think I even save us some money sometimes because of all the DIY stuff that I do.

I'm very into the vintage and retro look, but in a tasteful, not tacky way. So I thought that this year I would take it a step further and try to carry that theme over to our gift wrap. I looked online to try and get some gift wrapping tips for how people used to do it decades ago. That's when I ran across South Carolina Sears and decided to use them to remodel our kithcen in January, which is what my husband is getting me for Christmas.