Entertaining the Possibility of a Business Opportunity

A legitimate business opportunity usually requires you pay for a consultant package of some sort, but in return you're able to earn commissions off anyone who signs up under you... which if you're selling a product you really believe in, might not be that bad. I will caution my readers to investigate any "opportunity" before signing up. Check it out with the BBB and do a Google search to see what other's are saying about the company. If you're a member of any WAHM organizations or message boards, ask about it there too. Don't pay unless you know without a doubt that the business is 100% legit.

I've been a member of an online cosmetic/skin care companies business opportunity for several years now, but I've been my only customer! Still I renew each year for $15, to give myself the continued gift of a significant discount on the product lines, because I truly do love everything I've tried. Why can't I sell it? Well, it's very expensive and it's not really the type of thing anyone needs. Yes, women need to look and feel their best, but there are so many products on the market that aren't going to break the bank and probably deliver satisfactory results. I'm so not about getting anyone into financial distress just for the pleasure of buying my prefered brand. Yes... I do believe it's an amazing product, but no... I don't really think all my friends necessarily need it.

I suppose that is why this new business opportunity that I'm not looking into has me so excited. The kind of excited that I could actually see taking me somewhere. The brand is Send Out Cards and the excitement comes from the fact that this product would supplement well, any woman's work from home business... that is if staying in contact with her clients is important. This system offers the user a quick and economical solution to shopping for and sending out real cards to clients, either as thank you's, invites to events, coupons, or notices of brand changes or promotions. All in less than a minute and with 10,000 cards to choose from. You don't even have to leave your home, and a real card (not an emailed card) gets sent through the U.S. Post Office to the recipient, in your own handwriting font. Is that cool or what?

It's also a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. Sending out birthday and anniversary cards has never been so easy. In any case, hopefully I have you curious enough about this opportunity to continue following my blog. I'm planning on signing up under a friend of my sisters sometime this Spring. Then I'll be here blogging about that journey so you can read about my experiences first hand. Should be fun!

Also, I will be giving gifts to those who sign up under my name. How many consultants do this? I don't even know, but I think you'll like what you'll get under me! Plus, I'll be there to help you get your business going! I really believe in this product and have always had a love for stationary. Is that just too weird? Probably! lol I used to work for Hallmark stores and loved anything printed on cardstock! lol That, and I've always loved towels and sheets. lol Not that towels and sheets have anything at all to do with this. lol

I'll keep you all posted!

Making Money Blogging

Much has been written on this topic and since blogging is my main source for earning a side income, I occasionally go looking for advice on the subject. I could give you all my tips, but I've already done that here on Mommy Space, so I thought I'd share a few good reads from other seasoned bloggers. Who knows, maybe we'll both learn something.

Not that blogging isn't fun and usually worth my time, I've recently been fighting that urge to look for work outside the home. If you've been with me long you know this urge comes and goes quite a lot. This fall both my kids will be full-time students and the idea of being home alone all day has some appeal, but I think I'd like to balance it with maybe 15 hours of work outside the comforts of my living room. What can I say, I get lonely! lol

Anyway, for the time being I am a blogger. If and when I get another job, I'll still be a blogger. I'm not planning on going anywhere, although I might buy my own domain name... as everyone seems to agree that this is the first step to being professional. I've never been all that professional here, or on any of my other blogs, I'm just me.

Without further delay (or ramblings) here is a bit of reading to ponder on:

Make Money Blogging (most worth your time)
6 Steps to Making Money Because of Your Blog
12.5 Steps to Make at Least $150 a Month with Your Blog
Idiot's Guide to Blogging

Do you have a favorite site with trustworthy information on blogging for income? If so, do share!

It's an Earth Day Contest!

iBuyPhones.com is my new hero, now that I've learned what it is they do! These wonderful folks recycle thousands of used cell phones each and every year, saving the landfills the added weight of yesterdays treasures. There's enough of that there already... wouldn't you say? In the spirit of keeping our planet as healthy as possible and with a mission to encourage the public to take recycling to a new level, iBuyPhones is holding a $422 giveaway that is anything but random. The winner of this contest will be someone with an original (or very clever) idea for improving our precious environment. More specifically, what would you do with $422 that would make a difference, no matter how small? You submission should be limited to 200 words and you need to be sure and enter before the Earth Day deadline of 4-22-09.

Now that you know that iBuyPhones recycles used cell phones, it's time to check out that "junk" drawer in the kitchen and pull out how ever many cell phones you have buried under the paperclips, refrigerator magnets, and that little plastic thing you found on the floor last week that you have yet to identify. Recycle your phones and reclaim that space... even if it's a small space. You'll have more room for rubber bands and pennies.

Do a little brainstorming, then enter Earth Day contest with your best eco-friendly idea. Share this contest with your earth loving friends and remind them that April 22nd is Earth Day!

Ten Cent Photo Prints at Walgreens!

I found this exciting and thought you might too. Yesterday I found that Walgreen's online is offering 10 cent prints now through Saturday the 18th. I went ahead and ordered 22 photos, then picked them up last night and they're awesome! No sacrifice in quality whatsoever! So... now that I've tested those waters with satisfactory results, I'm going to be placing a larger order in an attempt to finally get hard copies of all those photos sitting on my memory card.

The only downside to our Walgreens... not sure if it's the same everywhere, but the only option for in store pick-up is glossy, and I prefer matt finish, but I'll get over it! lol Last night I came home and ordered a couple 8x10's and a few 5x7's of my husband's grandmother who passed away on Tuesday morning... no discount there, but I'll let you know how they turn out.

Here's the discount code for entering online when you visit Walgreen's Photo Center... HEARNEWS. Just type that in and update your total and you should see the price drop from .19 cents to .10! WooHoo with chocolate sauce!

Shopping at Goodwill... Yet Another Way to Save Money

If money's been tight for you and your family, it might be time to consider shopping at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army thriftstore. This is something my father has done for years, but it was only recently that I started looking there myself and so far I've found a pair of Levi's in my favorite cut for only $8 that look and feel new, as well as a hanging sweater bag for my closet that is 10 times nicer than the one I bought last month for $15... and yet I only gave $2!

I'm going there again today, just to see what they might have. Thing is, you really never know. It's like shopping an ongoing yard sale, in a way, except that you can make returns if you change your mind later. I suspect it's just for store credit, but that still works! Additionally, you get the added benefit of knowing you're helping someone in need.

If your thinking that Goodwill stores only sell junk, or other people's junk, you might be surprised at what you find there. Seriously, about 90% isn't anything I'd want or need, but then there's always that little something that I was actually in the market for anyway, like those blue jeans that I really had a need for. That's when the trip to the store really pays off!

Is it Getting Harder to Find a Job?

Whether you are already working from home or seeking a new opportunity from home, have you found the current economic conditions to be an impediment? It's hard for me to say one way or another as I have ups and downs year round and have since starting this journey some 7 years ago.

Considering the nature of how I earn from home, which for those who don't know primarily comes from blogging, I didn't anticipate a lot of variance with the current state of the economy, but I have seen it effect many people working on the outside... which must mean it will eventually make it's way to my front door.

Some days I swear it is effecting me personally, other days I'm just not so sure. In any case, I do plan on possibly working a few hours outside the home this fall and wonder what that job market will look like. I've even considered donating my time somewhere just to get my foot in the door. How could someone say no to free after all? Even if only to build up a resume and gain some work experience in unchartered territory, I might just be up for it.

So what say you? Have you hit bumps in the road over last year or so? Maybe it's just over the last few weeks? Maybe not at all? If you have a comment be sure to tell us what it is you do (or plan to do), since all work from home moms are naturally curious about what the rest of us are doing! lol

Charter's HDTV-A-Day Sweeps... Oh How Sweet It Is!

In the spirit of true competition between cable companies, Charter is giving us all a reason to cheer with it's HDTV-A-Day Sweepstakes. Customer's who register for services (or upgrade) through Charter.com have an opportunity to win a 22" flat screen HDTV! Do you have a flat screen yet? Oh, they're so worth it and Charter will be giving one away every day in April!

What does Charter want you to know? Start off with the announcement of a great state of the art website where you'll find all the tools necessary for customizing bundling services and saving yourself money. With the economic conditions what they are, you owe it to yourself to save where you can. Build the bundling service that best suits your needs and avoid paying for what you don't want, or paying too much for what you just can't live without.

Whether you're a new or existing customer, you'll automatically be entered with the purchase of Cable, High Speed Internet or a telephone line made through charter.com, so long as you order before the end of April. Not to put the pressure on you or anything, but remember... there will be a winner every day in April... think about it... every day someone will win a 22" flat screen HDTV!

Additionally, there will be grand prize winner of a 52" LCD flat HDTV, with a Home Theater System and a year of free Charter Digital Cable with HD programming. I told you this was sweet didn't I?

Need more convincing? How about a free $150 gift card with the purchase of 3 services through Charter? Between the sweepstakes entry, the gift card, and bundle offers starting at under $100 a month, you have nothing to lose!

If you're a Twitter bug you'll want to know about their newest venture into that realm as a means of connecting to consumers and improving services and products. Check out Twitter(@chartercom) and tweet away!

2 Fabulous Mom Blogs

I've recently found a couple mom blogs that I'd like to share with you all... so as long as you promise to come back, I'll allow you to check them out! teehee Very different they are, but each has it's own unique value in a mother's life.

The first blog I'd like to share is written from the perspective of a self-employed (work at home) mom of 2o+ years who now finds herself looking for work on the outside. She's there to share her unique journey, with all it's triumphs and failures (hopefully mostly triumphs!... we're pulling for you Catherine!), along with all the advice a motivated woman on a mission can think to share! Join Catherine as she journeys into the rat race and cheer her from the sidelines as she searches for that perfect job. Maybe we'll all learn a thing or two from her personal experiences that can be applied to our own job searches. Whether it be home-based or traditional work we seek! Jump on over to Job Seeking Mom and let her know you were there!

If you're looking for a little fun, maybe a giveaway or two... perhaps catch a book review and maybe find inspiration for a handmade birthday card for your mom or a sister who lives 3 states away, be sure to visit The Nerd Mom where you can do all four in one visit. Don't you just love a good run-on sentence? Probably not as much as you love the impossible to forget title of Nerd Mom. I found this blog a couple hours ago, then went to get my kids to bed and came back to find my husband on the computer and all my windows were closed. Can you relate? Well, fortunately this blogger came up with a name I could not only relate to, but never forget, so I was able to track her back down with just a few keystrokes and the click of a mouse. That's the way to do it!

Trendy Spring Designs for Baby

Looking for a little something special for that expecting friend? Maybe it's your own children you're shopping for as you pack away the Winter and bring out the Spring!

If designer clothing is on your shopping list, visit the Baby Boutique that has it all. I just love this little birthday dress! What a perfect fit for your baby girls trip to the portrait studio.

Afterdag Kids has well over a dozen featured designers, each offering a truly unique style. Me too offers such vibrant colors! I always look for this when shopping for my own children. The colors are full of energy which really comes through in a photograph.

Oh, and they have the cutest clothing for boys too... love this puppy shirt that is available up to size 4T! This would be perfect for transitioning from Winter to Spring or from Summer to Fall. One of those little extras to pack away in your mommy bag!

Template Changes... And The Verdict Is

I don't love my new look, but I think it looks slightly better than what was here before. My problem is I want to do everything myself and not pay anyone to do "it" for me, even though they'd like do "it" better. In my case, "it" can be almost anything at all... from making my own headers and banners to contemplating repairing our downstairs toilet that has been leaking for over a year. When I asked my husband if he might be ready to do something about it as I was tired of emptying the collection cup everyday, he asked that I find a big bowl instead! lol Alrighty then.

So back to my blog. Feedback, any feedback would be very insightful. Since I spend so much time staring at my site, I don't have a feel for how it hits first time viewers. If you're new here and you see something off, or you have any ideas for spicing things up a bit, or maybe even switching to something more plain, I'm all ears. If you're a regular visitor and have any thoughts, speak up... purrrty please. :o)

Yesterday I was at a friend's house and viewed my blogs from her laptop. It was crazy how different everything looked on her computer as compared to what I see on mine. I especially realized how off my headers were on a couple of my sites and have made an attempt to fix them. I think they're better, but definitely not perfect. I'm not sure what the trick is, but when you make a blogger template 3 column, it seems to throw the header off center. I know just enough HTML to almost do what it is I want to do. lol