Moomettes Magnificents» business

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo

Moomettes — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:05:27 +0000

Travel To New England

Earlier this fall as a Connecticut Chevy Girl I had the opportunity to spend and entire day traveling solo to the Quiet Corner of Connecticut. Alone with just my thoughts, this Baby Boomer experienced the freedom of being able to stop the car at any photo opportunity that caught my eye.

For many Generation X and Millennials, becoming firmly established in a career means that you had to travel solo out of necessity.

Not everyone gets to enjoy the perks of business travel. Perhaps you have some particular travel destinations on your bucket list that you can’t find anyone to visit with you. Maybe you or your spouse have conflicting career schedules and you’re hesitant as a women to travel solo during the holidays to visit loved ones or friends. I’d like to share an article I wrote that just might persuade you to travel alone.

Consider Traveling Solo

When you like to to travel and your significant other doesn’t, traveling solo may be something worth trying. If you’re adventurous enough, traveling alone is an exciting concept and something worth considering.

Sometimes traveling solo is just as enjoyable, perhaps even more so, than traveling with a group of family or friends. People travel alone for a myriad of reasons. Traveling solo does have its downside, but life is short, so let’s look at the pros and cons.

My other half is a homebody. When I was younger I always wanted a career as an airline stewardess and wanted to see the world. In my mind’s eye, I can remember thinking that when I was done seeing the world, I’d find someplace else to go!

One of the great things about traveling by yourself is the flexibility. You can be flexible in planning your itinerary, schedules, how extravagant or frugal a trip you’d like it to be. Setting the pace of your excursion will be your own decision without having to worry about what others want to do. There are no restrictions, no boundaries and you can enjoy your trip as you see fit. The pressure of finding common ground or bonding with others is eliminated. Oftentimes when traveling with a partner or buddies, you’ll feel like you have to appease everyone’s preferences and come to a happy medium ~ the choice of accommodations, what to see and what to do; what time and where to eat. You may decide to backpack, stay in an elder hostel or a luxurious hotel. Traveling solo gives you the flexibility to spend your money and maximize your time as only you see fit.

Although I’ve been married 35 years, I like to call myself my husband’s “second wife.” His “first wife” never would have traveled by herself. Many people who’ve traveled solo will say they’ve benefited and gained a greater sense of self and adventure. Solo travelers are more willing and able to see and explore new things in the world than they would have been able to if traveling with companions.

Consider it an esteem-building and confidence-building adventure where you’ll be making decisions, meeting new people and learning about the society and culture that you are visiting.

Be prepared to keep your guard up and also expect a few discomforts and challenges when you’re traveling alone. Have you ever seen someone dining alone in a restaurant? That person usually always has a paperback book or newspaper as a dining partner. Whether away on business for the first time, or for pleasure, most people feel self-conscious in restaurants or eating establishments. One way to overcome the discomfort of eating alone is to strike up a conversation with the waitstaff or another solo diner. Talking-up the locals can also open whole new horizons and make your trip interesting.Feeling melancholy and lonely as a solo traveler for a few days of your trip is a common experience but will quickly pass. As soon as you get used to being on your own you’ll delight in the sensuality of the sights, tastes, smell and sounds of your destination.

You’ll definitely need to be cautious of your surroundings as a solo traveler. Pay attention to the people around you and what is occurring. Seasoned veteran solo travelers heed the old adage “expect the best, but be prepared for the worst.” Depending on your destination, map out your routes in advance to avoid getting lost. Purchase a small, portable GPS device that you can carry. It’s also wise to bring your medication with you in the event of an accident. Abide by your instincts and stay only in places that you believe are safe.

All that being said and done, everyone should experience traveling alone at least once in their lifetime. Yes, use discretion, go with your gut feelings and when you look back, you’ll be able to say “I did it my way.”

Girl Taking Photos courtesy of lockstockb of stock.xchng.

Republished from TypeAMom.com, Cindi Matthews, Editor 50-Something Moms

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Work From Home Mom Ideas to Get You Started as a WAHM

Moomettes — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:00:15 +0000

Be a WAHM and Work from Home!

Whether you’re a mom, grandmom or senior citizen looking to supplement your best retirement income, watch this space for more information on how to start a work at home job!

NEW, July 2010 TIPS

Here’s some tips whether you’re interested in working from home or if you’re already a WAHM

Work From Home Resources

Turn Your Talents And Food Related Ideas Into A WAHM Job

Easy Way to Work From Home ~ Start a Recipe Blog With Your Own Recipes

Manage Your Business and Family Time Easily With Planners and Calendars

Why Business Blogs are a Necessity for a Work-At-Home Mom’s Success

Secret To Getting Kids To Respect Your WAHM Office Time

Learn How To Recognize Your Procrastination Triggers When Working At Home

Stay Focused: How Phones Can be a Distraction to Online Business Owners

WAHM ~ Generate a Passive Source of Income by Becoming a Squidoo Lens Master

What is Social Networking and Why It Is Important If You Work From Home

What is Facebook All About and Why a WAHM Should Have an Account

So You’re a New Blogger: What Makes Twitter so Hot?

Reasons Why Twitter Can’t Replace a Blog

Download 15 Days of Marketing eBook Free from Jessica Knows

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Plan For Success With Daysteps Personal Lifestyle Planner

Moomettes — Wed, 19 May 2010 01:43:15 +0000

Are You Ready to Make Life Changes?

Gain Some Leisure Time

It’s said that baby steps are the key to success. This is true whether you start to make changes to improve your personal or business life. By starting small you can attain more realistic goals.

I’ve put this line of thinking to task recently when I decided I needed to lose 25 lbs and set my mind to it (so far, I’ve lost 20 pounds!)

As women, we know that life can often be difficult and full of worries, and when you’re not taking good care of yourself, things can become quite demanding, causing unwanted stress and anxieties in our everyday living. A person who plans isn’t constantly making decisions, and therefore this frees up our minds from stress or chaos.

Awhile back I had the opportunity to review the Personal Lifestyle Planner series from Daysteps.

The Daysteps Personal Lifestyle Planner is unlike any other you may have used, and was developed by three women who spent 12 months creating it – Kelly Wagner; Cecilia George and Bobette Kyle, along with their graphic designer, Laura Thake.

I’ve been offered the opportunity to Giveaway two July-December 2010 planners to my readers!

This second-half of the year version covers:

Priorities and intentions pages for reaching life goals

Space fo clearing your head of cluttered thoughs and recognizing all you do each day

To do list for accomplishing day-to-day tasks

Personal pages for filling your heart through introspective writing

Fitness and nutritional tracking sections to help you feel your best every day

Calendars for schedules and appointments.

A major part of improving your personal life revolves around elements that can keep you from going off the deep end.

Use your time wisely for choosing as you draw up schedules to manage your time and gain some leisure time for yourself!

For More Information visit: Daysteps

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be two (2) winners of a July-December version Daysteps Personal Lifestyle Planner.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule: (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Daysteps and leave a comment about another fact not mentioned in this post and why you’d like to win this product.

This contest will run until June 2, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EDT

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Choose Your First Home: 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits Available

Moomettes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:40:22 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’re ready to move out of your apartment or your parent’s home, there isn’t any time better than the present. Right now, first-time homebuyers, or those who haven’t owned in the last three years, can receive up to an $8,000 tax credit.

Beginning to search for your first home is an important step to having the ability to build better finances and to live in a place that’s comfortable. If you’re considering a new home for your family, there are specific things that you’ll want to know before diving in.

Before you even begin to look at homes, make sure that you conduct your own investigation. This will mean that you should find the going rates, how much other owners are paying every month, and what you can or aren’t able to afford. Current homeowners who have lived in a current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a $6,500 tax credit when purchasing a home.

You will also want to see what types of houses are going and what they are going for. If you know the basics of what’s available, it’ll be easier for you to get exactly what you want. You should also consider things such as your credit rating and your paycheck. You don’t want to walk into something that is over your head or start to look for something, only to find out that you won’t be able to move in.

Making connections with the right people is important. One of the most important decisions that you can make is to find a real estate agent that you feel comfortable talking to. This will make a difference in the type of deal that you get as well as what type of home and mortgage you end up with. Real estate agents have the ability to do investigations for you and find something that is best for you. You’ll also want to make sure that there are connections with home inspectors and the right lenders. Without the right people set in place, you might encounter problems getting the best deal on your new home.

After you begin to look around with your real estate agent, be sure that you begin to understand the terms that are being given to you. Loan terms, terms about the market, and other real estate ‘jargon’ will oftentimes be mentioned. If you don’t know what something is, ask, research it, or check with someone who’s been through the process before. Getting into a first home is a tremendous step up from an apartment, making it important that you understand excactly what it is that you’re getting involved in.

Keep the following in mind to not miss out on 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits.

Future extensions may not be availabe, so all qualified homebuyers are urged to act and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010, and must have a closing by June 30, 2010.

The income limits for singles is now $125,000, while for married couples it is $225,000 with a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

While searching for a new home can be fun, it’s also a challenge.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

ABC Neckties: Affordable Affordable Mens Novelty and Fashion Ties Review

Moomettes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:42:18 +0000

The nature of my husband’s profession doesn’t require him to wear a necktie quite often, but when he does, he cleans up quite nicely.

His sister always enjoyed picking out dress clothes for her brothers, and was quite adept at coordinating ties and shirts. After we were married, that job fell to me.

It’s an art to match the tie correctly with the rest of the clothes and the occasion.

I recently had the opportunity to review an affordable necktie from ABC Neckties, and picked one out for my charming son-in-law. While he doesn’t normally wear a necktie for his job, he and my daughter go out on the town more often than my husband and I do.

We received a Baker Silk Fashion Tie in black. It has a subtle pattern, and can easily go with a shirt of any color.

100% Silk

Bocara Label

3 1/2″ x 58″

Hand Made

Dry Clean Only

At Christmas, I purchased a tie for charming son-in-law from a well-known department store. Many of today’s top mens fashion designers such as Furmagalli, Gucci, Valentino, Armani, and Zegna have silk neck ties in their collections. I paid much more for essentially the same quality tie that ABC Neckties offers. I really was impressed by the tie we received.

You may ask how do you perfect the tricks of choosing a tie on-line?

Always buy the tie of correct length. An appropriate tie length is when the triangle tip of the tie touches the belt buckle.

Casual, regular office ties can be polyester blends, but business meetings and other occasions require silks or silk blend ties.

While a safe bet are solid colored, striped or dotted ties, the eye optician I regularly visit is a fan of Jerry Garcia ties – and ABC Neckties has a selection of those, along with:

animal print
armed service
art
Harley-Davidson
patriotic
religious, and
themed ties

Whether you’re in the market for an inexpensive new tie for that next job interview, or a gift for Father’s Day in June, ABC Neckties offers a Money Back Guarantee as well as Secure Ordering.

Visit On Twitter: @ABCNeckties

Become a Fan Facebook

For More Information Visit: ABC Neckties

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a $25 Gift Certificate to ABC Neckties.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

b) Visit ABC Neckties and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and the name and color of the tie you think you would choose if you won.

*Open to USA and Canada Only

This contest will run until March 19, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Custom T-Shirts for Women from VistaPrint: Get Ready for your next Fundraiser or Blog Conference!

Moomettes — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:20:50 +0000

Market Your Brand

One of the most common ways of introducing yourself to new clients is by distributing a business card.

Those who attend blogging or marketing conferences probably have received many such cards. Even moms with children in daycare, preschool or playgroups hand out mommy cards!

My husband owns his own business and one of the ways he markets and rewards his customers is by distributing custom designed t-shirts, caps and sweatshirts.

I have all my business cards printed at Vistaprint, and was delighted to find out that they now offer Custom-Printed T-Shirts for women!

What a fabulous way to market your brand and blog at conferences such as BlogHer10, tweet-ups or affiliate marketing conferences!

I received three custom printed ladies T-Shirts: a long sleeved one and two short-sleeved shirts.

Here I am wearing the long-sleeved version with my Moomette’s Magnificents logo. (Cosmetic makeup and hair products were also previous reviews!)

Cindi - Moomette

Although my blogs may be very familiar to readers in the blogosphere, now I have a way to show off my Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes and Moomette’s Magnificents logos when I go to the grocery store, and possibly an opportunity to then hand out my business card!

All T-Shirts are:

100% preshrunk cotton T-Shirt

Easy to design and order

Available sizes are: S, M, L, XL and XXL

If you’re going to be in a bridal shower this wedding season, have some made up for the bridesmaids in the wedding party, or as a gift for the bride-to-be for her bachelorette party!

Order for your next PTO or sports team fundraiser!

To design your own Custom Printed T-Shirt visit: Vistaprint

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Surviving Selling Online Through Better Communication

Moomettes — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:34:55 +0000

Business Sense

My Internet presence began back in 2007 when I became an eBay store owner specializing in vintage collectibles. Since then I’ve changed venues and now sell on Bonanzle. At that time, I was a moderator on an eBay Forum and participated in conversations where many members were becoming fledgling online sellers.

That trend continues today as many companies are now doing the majority or even all their business online and foregoing the “Brick and Mortar” storefront. It’s easy to see why that trend has happened. For example, the cost of setting up such a business is relatively inexpensive and easy. There’s no need to pay for the overhead of a physical building, while the cost of maintaining a web site is minimal. Moreover, the Internet provides a convenient and efficient way of marketing products. As more and more people are spending time on the Internet, the market of online customers continues to grow.

My late mother-in-law was a woman business owner of a gourmet emporium. Over the years I had helped run her store and gained a business acumen of growing your business through establishing relationships with customers. It’s important to get to know their likes, quirks and dislikes.

Yet when businesses shift from face-to-face customers to anonymous online customers, there’s a loss of that personal connection and trust. When running an online business, how are you gaining and maintaining customer trust? What are you doing as an online vendor to communicate to your customers?

In an online world, business just doesn’t stop after hours and on weekends. What are you doing to answer your customer’s questions?

Here are a few things that you can do to improve communication with your customers:

1. Make certain that your Internet host is reputable and offers a fast and efficient business ethernet connection, as well as reliable cart support.

2. Offer a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page and online product support information.

3. Add a support email link on your website for issues that can’t be resolved by you or your website support administrator

4. Provide a message board or forum for customers to voice their opinions, add comments, and interact with each other.

In today’s global economy, spending time and effort on better communication with your customers will pay off. Whether you sell on Etsy or have your own company, in order to grow, your success will depend not on the customers you gain, but on the customers that you don’t lose.

photo credit: hospi-table

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Cell Phones and the WAHM

Moomettes — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:51:25 +0000

Mommy Brain

As moms and grandmoms, we change hats quite frequently, depending upon “who’s calling us.” And I don’t necessarily mean on the phone. It’s either the kids, pets, husband, significant other – always somebody wanting our attention.

Cell phones, however, have become a way of life for most of us.

Do we really want to be available for everyone and anyone on a 24/7 basis? What do I mean? A famous person once said that the more available you make yourself; the more available everyone will expect you to be. People will actually be annoyed if you aren’t constantly and instantly available at all times. People expecting you to be available all the time may be annoying. Cell phone calls follow you everywhere you are including your bathroom. Even during the evening when you’d like to decompress and relax at day’s end, cell phones may continue to ring and annoy you. If it’s important – not a problem, however if it’s very menial, why must you be bothered so late in the evening?

Today we live in a modern society and with the proliferation of cell phones we see people talking anywhere and everywhere. Smart phones are essential if you run a work-at-home mom business, and this may actually prove to be very effective if you’re running in and out of the house during the day. It’s great to be able to keep in touch with not only the kids and family, but your business associates when you need to.

Cell phones have become a necessity nowadays, that’s why most people use them. My youngest daughter and I share a “family-plan” on the Verizon network. She has a new Blackberry that she recently upgraded to, and I’ll be getting one on my next upgrade “New Every Two” plan. Cell phone manufacturers have continuously developed different usage and functions for this very small gadget – alarms and calendars help us to effectively manage our time.

Follow certain degrees of cell phone etiquette though; and this tool will be very helpful to you, your family and work-at-home mom business.

Verizon and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and they asked me to talk about the ways my smart phone affects my life as a parent.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

How You Can Choose a Good PLR Service

Moomettes — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:17:35 +0000

FAQ’s on Private Label Rights Articles

I’ve written about using PLR articles versus free reprint articles recently. If you still have some questions on Private Label Rights articles, hopefully this information will help you decide how to choose a good service targeted to your particular blogging niche, and help you get over writer’s block.

Benefits of PLR Articles

By Nicole Dean

Private Label Rights (PLR) articles are hot right now. The only problem is that many people have tried them and been very disappointed. I can’t say I blame them. I’ve been disappointed, too.

Oftentimes, the PLR services you may have tried are lacking in several areas. So, what makes a good PLR service and how can you make sure that you don’t waste you money on a bad one?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before investing any money into a PLR package or membership.

1. What topics are you getting?
I mean, seriously, if you are promised 100 articles each month, but you end up receiving a selection on Laser Hair Removal and Divorce, when all your websites are about cooking… You just wasted money.

2. What quality are you getting?
Say you’re lucky enough to get a series of articles on your topic. Take a minute to look at them. Are they pure fluff? I’ve paid for articles that had no original ideas, or worse, were written so poorly that there’s no possible way I’d put them on my website. Make sure your PLR package contains quality articles. Otherwise, you just wasted money.

3. How many other people are getting the exact same articles?
If 1000 other people signed up to get the same articles, are you really receiving any value? Perhaps, if you don’t mind reworking the articles. However, if you’d like more unique articles, then you may consider a more limited PLR service.

4. Does the PLR service give you any extras?
Are they offering training on ways to use their PLR articles? Do they provide you with ways to monetize the articles you’ve purchased? Some PLR sites will include recommended affiliate programs and training on how to use their articles to get the most benefits from their service.

Really assess the value you’re receiving when investing in any PLR package or service so that you don’t end up wasting your money. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

Article written by:

Nicole Dean is the owner of www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities. The PLR articles at EasyPLR are professionally written and professionally edited — top quality at an affordable price.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

How To Get Paid to Write Every Day as a Ghostwriter

Moomettes — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:51:45 +0000

Work At Home Ideas

Do You Have Writing Skills?

If you have ever dreamed about having a career in freelance writing, you might look into the growing opportunity of ghostwriting. Ghostwriting is the practice of writing works (books, articles, etc.) anonymously for a client. In turn, the client gets full rights to place her name on the writing and publish it as her own.

Side Note: If you’ve heard of ghostwriting before and you already know it’s a career path you’d like to pursue, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will show you exactly what you need to know to get started.

But if you’re new to the idea of becoming a ghostwriter, here’s more you should know.

To get into ghostwriting, there are a few skills you should have or work to acquire:

Excellent Writing Skills: Certainly to be a ghostwriter, you need to be able to write well. Your writing should flow well, cover topics thoroughly and in many cases, your clients will expect you to capture their unique voice in your writing.

Research Skills: As a ghostwriter, you’ll be responsible for finding and process all of the information that you will need to be able to do your writing on a specific topic.

Grammar & Spelling: It might seem obvious, but it’s important to note. All of the work that you turn into your clients as a ghostwriter must be free of any grammar and spelling errors.

Many different types of businesses and individuals readily use ghostwriting services. Authors, business executives, celebrities and others may look to ghostwriters to write books for them.

Online business owners, blog publishers and other websites hire writers to create articles and other content. Information product sellers look to ghostwriters to publish ebooks, how-to and other instructional guides. The sky’s the limit when you’re looking for people who want to hire ghostwriters.

There are many things you can do put yourself ahead in this field (and the How to Become a Ghostwriter Guide covers these and more in depth).

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Start building a resume that will get you noticed. Highlight any writing experience and if you don’t have any, you can offer to do a few free small projects to build your resume. Approach a non-profit business or someone that you know that might need writing services.

Determine which topics you’re qualified to write about. Although many ghostwriters are well-rounded and can write on many researchable topics, having a specialty can help you get work. For example, you might have special knowledge of cooking, crafting, green or environmental, health, finance or parenting topics. Use this to your advantage.

Have relevant samples readily available to showcase your writing skills. Many clients are more concerned with how well you write, rather than the amount of experience you’ve had.

To get more help, get a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will help you discover if ghostwriting is indeed the right career for you, how to break into the business, service rates and more.

Ghostwriting can be a competitive business, but there is plenty of room for new writers if you’re armed with the right approach and that’s exactly what the guide will give you. Click here for all the details.

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Moomettes Magnificents» business

Learn To Build Confidence As a Woman: Consider Traveling Solo

Consider Traveling Solo

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Plan For Success With Daysteps Personal Lifestyle Planner

Gain Some Leisure Time

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Choose Your First Home: 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits Available

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Cell Phones and the WAHM

Verizon and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and they asked me to talk about the ways my smart phone affects my life as a parent.

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How You Can Choose a Good PLR Service

Benefits of PLR Articles

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How To Get Paid to Write Every Day as a Ghostwriter

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