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My Dolls

Posted by trina on May 22, 2008 at 1:00pm

Hi ladies just wanted to share with you my upcoming buisiness for my doll Hippy Diva Dolls. I would like to thank I Henry for her post on crafts. When I was making my Plus Size blog for women the idea popped up about my dolls. So i want to thank you for all your informative information and all that you are doing online for the Black community. Please check out my blog atBIG GIRLS DON'T CRY SHOP

Networking, networking, networking

Posted by Natasha Crawford on May 22, 2008 at 12:37pm

Tuesday evening I went to a networking event hosted by three great groups: The Femme Network, Ladies Who Launch, and Downtown Women's Club. If you don't know about these groups in your area, I suggest checking them out. All are for the female entrepreneur and provide a community of like-minded folks (both online and in-person). Because I was on the last day if that cold, I didn't get to make the rounds as much as I had hoped. However, I did make a few new connections and reconnected with some women I had met at other events. As always, I'm glad I made myself go. Besides, it's always a good idea to leave the home office periodically.

Upcoming Events (DFW)

Posted by Paradise on May 22, 2008 at 5:27am

Ladies (and gentleman),We are so excited about the upcoming events for the National Business Women Enterprise Network (NBWEN)!! Not only do we have our monthly lunch and learns but we have some wonderful folks working on our Holiday Fundraiser (December 08) and our first Womenpreneurs Conference & Business Expo (March 09). And to top off all the fun... we just solidified our 1st Networking Cruise (September 09)!!!Please visit http://www.eventbrite.com/org/52139439?s=884350 for the schedule of events and mark your calendars!!If you have not done so already, please also join our online network at http://nbwenorg.ning.com. Introduce Yourself in our member Introduction Forum and let the world know who you are!! Our online membership is growing by leaps and bounds and other networking events are posted there as well, such as the Real Men Cook event in June and the DFWConnect Business Expo in October - we will be vendors and our members have the opportunity to display your business cards and products at our table!!Also, join us on myspace - www.myspace.com/nbwen. If you need a myspace, let me know. I will set them up and manage for NBWEN members for $25/mo.I'm so very excited and thankful to God for all He is allowing through our network. Please stay tuned!!!Hope to see you this Saturday!! Learn how to use Technology to help your Business Grow!! IT REALLY WORKS!!!

Reserve your space TODAY! Lunch is included!S. L. Williams, President/CEOParadise Legal Support & Secretarial Services National Business Women Enterprise Network

Make More Myspace Friends

Posted by LaShanda Henry on May 21, 2008 at 11:55pm

Hey fellow Sistas Making Money,

The Black Business Women Network now has a myspace friend finder, you can add your myspace page and review the pages of other Successful Sistas to find more friends! New friends! Sistas doing it for themselves.

BBWO Myspace Friend Finder
http://sistapreneurs.ning.com/directory/page/show?id=932382%3APage%3A83868

Starting a Business FAQ

Posted by Christine on May 21, 2008 at 11:30pm

In my travels on the Internet, I came upon this short FAQ from Penn State. The information is not state-specific - anyone can benefit from this Q&A.

1. What basic skills do I need to run a business?
The basic skills include a working knowledge of record keeping; financialmanagement; personnel management; market analysis; breakeven analysis; productsor services; federal, state, and local taxes; legal structures; andcommunication skills.

2. What business should I choose?
Usually, the best business for you is the one in which you are most skilled andinterested. As you review your options, you may wish to consult local expertsand businesspersons about the growth potential of various businesses in yourarea. Matching your background with the local market will increase your chanceof success.

3. How long will it take to start a small business?
As long as it takes you to complete your feasibility study, prepare yourbusiness plan, gather your money, buy what you need to buy, and arrange yourbusiness operation affairs. This could take a few weeks or many months. If youhave difficulty with any of these items, the time to learn and solve problemsmust be added.

4. How can I get my business certified as minority- or women-owned?
At the federal level, Congress considers a minority-owned business to be abusiness owned by anyone other than a Caucasian. The business MUST be owned andat least 51 percent controlled by one or more minorities. Women are notconsidered a minority. It is a self-certifying process, and no paperwork needsto be filled out. To learn more about women- or minority-owned businesses,consult the Pennsylvania Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities.

5. What insurance should I have?
An important aspect of your business is a well-planned insurance program. Typesof insurance you should consider are:

property insurance
liability insurance
product liability insurance
automobile insurance
workers' compensation
disability insurance
business interruption insurance
health insurance
life insurance

6. Should I buy a franchised business to start?
There are some definite advantages to starting out with a franchised business.There are many different types of franchises. Some offer fair value for what youpay, and others are rip-offs. Get legal or business counseling advice beforepurchasing a franchise. Approximately 40 percent of present-day retailing isdone through the franchises. There must be some advantages to owning afranchise.

7. Should I buy an existing business to start?
An existing business is already established in the market. It has existing, andhopefully loyal, customers. You avoid the hassle and expense of creatingawareness of and demand for your product or service. The key is making sure thatthe business fits your desires and capabilities. Is it the kind of business youwant? Can you afford it? Can you operate it?

8. I want to start a home-based business. What do I do?
If you are entertaining the idea of having a home-based business, contact yourcity or county planning and zoning department. Inform them of the type ofbusiness that you want to start, and where you will be doing it. They willoutline the laws and regulations that will apply to your scenario. Contact thembefore you start the business, not after.

9. Where should I start?
A great resource to learn more about starting your own business is the FirstStep workshop offered by the SBDC network. This course is offered all acrossPennsylvania.

10. What form of business structure do you recommend for a new business?
Each form—sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation—has its advantagesand disadvantages. The one you should pick depends on your circumstances,including:

your financial condition
the line of business you're entering
the number of employees
the risk involved
your tax situation
It is best to discuss this issue with a qualified local attorney who will beable to help you pick the structure that will be best for your business.

From: http://www.sbdc.psu.edu/Starting-a-Business.htm#quest10

15% OFF SALE

Posted by Amber Williams on May 21, 2008 at 9:37pm

ENTER CODE THNKS5 AT CHECKOUT FOR 15% THE ENTIRE STORE.LOVE,WWW.ALWAYSACCESSORIZE.COM

3 Necessary Tools for the High Rolling Affiliate Marketer

Posted by Lisa Simpkins on May 21, 2008 at 6:43pm

What does it take to become a successful Affiliate Marketer? What are the ingredients of an affiliate marketing success story? Is there a shortcut to Affiliate Marketing glory? All these questions play around in the minds of affiliate marketers who want to make it big in this business.Although affiliate marketing is touted as one of the easiest and most effective ways to earn money online, it is not as easy as it sounds. The wise affiliate marketer plans every action and executes it the best way he can. He should also maximize the potential to earn by utilizing the right tools necessary for a successful Affiliate Marketing business. We have consulted some of the most successful affiliate marketers in the business and below are the top three necessary tools for a successful affiliate marketing business.Important Tool #1: Your Own WebsiteThe most important and indispensable tool in Affiliate Marketing is your own website. The first step in any successful affiliate marketing business is building a good, credible and professional looking website. Your website is the jump off point of all your marketing efforts. Thus, you must first build a user-friendly website, which will appeal to your prospects and encourage them to click on the links to the products and service you are promoting and make a purchase. Therefore, you must first concentrate your efforts in building a website that will cater to what your prospects need.The most important thing you should consider is that almost all web users go online to look for information, not necessarily to go and buy something. Above all else, make your website full of original, relevant and useful content. People will love articles that are appealing and helpful. Keep in mind that, in the internet, content is still king and good quality content will not only build your credibility, it can also help you achieve a higher search engine ranking. By posting relevant and useful articles, you establish yourself as a credible expert in the field, making you a more trustworthy endorser of the product or service you promote. Establishing a good reputation is a good step in building up a loyal consumer base.Important Tool #2: IncentivesCompetition is extremely tight in the internet world. You must always be one-step ahead of your rivals to ensure that you capture a significant share of your target market. Therefore, you must use every possible means to encourage people not only to visit your site but also to click and proceed to the websites of the products and services you are promoting. Building an opt-in email list is one of the best ways to gather prospects. Offer a newsletter or an e-zine. Better yet, offer incentives to your prospects to encourage them to subscribe to your newsletters. You can present free softwares, access to exclusive services and other freebies that will be helpful to your prospects.Important Tool #3: Link PopularityThe importance of driving highly targeted traffic to your website cannot be emphasized enough. The all-important web traffic is at the top of the list of the most important entities in the internet world. Attracting people to your site should be the first step you should carry out. Do everything to achieve a high search engine ranking. Link Popularity is one of the factors that search engines use to determine search engine rankings. Therefore, to enhance your link popularity, you must launch an aggressive reciprocal link campaign.One of the best ways to do this – at no cost at all – is by submitting articles, with your website's link at the resource box, to e-zines and free article sites. You will not only gain exposure, you will also have the opportunity to advertise for free, just include a link back to your site. The more sites you submit your articles to, the better your link popularity is. Make your articles original, relevant and useful so that more websites will pick it up and post it.These are but three of the many tools that an affiliate marketer can use to maximize earning potential. The possibilities are endless and are limited only by your imagination, creativity, resourcefulness and determination. You can always explore other ideas and adapt other strategies, which you think might help you become a high rolling affiliate marketer.Lisa SimpkinsLisaSimpkins~BBS Global

What’s with MLM home based business?

Posted by Lisa Simpkins on May 21, 2008 at 6:41pm

Considering an MLM home based business?If so, it could be a very lucrative home based business option for you. But you should also know exactly whether or not what you are getting into is truly an MLM home based business or something else. It may be a scam waiting to pounce on you.Plus, you need to weigh out the positives and negatives of an MLM home based business before you decide that if it is the right business for you.Making sure you are actually getting involved in a legitimate MLM home based business is important to save yourself some difficulties later on.An MLM home based business involves the direct selling of products or services through the recommendations or endorsements of independent representatives.If you are the representative, you receive a commission on any sales that came from your endorsements.Understand that most products sold through an MLM home-based business are not necessarily advertised through mainstream media or in stores.The confusing part of determining if your MLM home based business is genuine can be quite difficult because of there are a number of pyramid schemes out there that are dangerously similar to a legitimate MLM home based business concepts.Remember, a pyramid scheme is illegal, and getting involved in one can cause you more trouble than you can possibly imagine.You will need to do your research into the MLM home based business that you are considering so that you are sure that the kind of MLM home based business you are going to run is valid and legal.Usually if your investment is proportioned to the product or service you are selling, your MLM home based business is valid.There are a number of advantages to having an MLM home based business.First of all, you will be working from home where you can virtually set your own hours, which is probably why you are considering an MLM home based business in the first place.Also, you will not have to manufacture any products, because you are usually selling things that are already made. The MLM home based business will usually come with a pre-determined marketing plan.Many people suffer through the process of determining the most effective methods for marketing their products, but with an MLM home based business, you are relieved of that stress.The disadvantage of having your own MLM home based business, though, depends on your personality.If you have good leadership skills and is a self-starter, then an MLM home based business will pose a little hardship to you.However, if recruiting and selling gives you hives, then starting and maintaining an MLM home based business may be more of a challenge, since your success depends on your ability to create a downline of recruits.But then, having your own MLM home based business means that you can live out your dream of being your own boss and having flexibility in your work schedule.You do not need any prior experience, and you can rely on your personality to recruit and maintain your downline. You only have to hard working and consistent in getting downlines.Do your research to make sure your MLM home based business is a legal business. This way, you can truly enjoy the freedom and the profits that the MLM home based business offers.Lisa SimpkinsVeretekk Marketing System

7 Ways to Drive Laser-Targeted Traffic

Posted by Lisa Simpkins on May 21, 2008 at 6:38pm

An affiliate marketer may have all the things needed for him to be able to succeed in a business such as affiliate marketing. He may have the necessary drive, diligence and perseverance to be able to understand how the system works. He may have all the tools necessary in maintaining the business, including a really unique and interesting website which could earn him a fortune if only the whole world could see it. However, all these would prove useless if he does not know how to drive traffic to his website. His business would sink into oblivion together with all the sales, fortune and dreams that he might have realized if he only knew how to do this particular task.Getting people who matter to see one’s website is a difficult undertaking if he tries to consider the fact that there are rivals everywhere waiting to pin him down. The immensity of the internet as well as the affiliate marketing world has given birth to the fierce competition between affiliate marketers, each of whom has his own great product to offer. With all the websites piling on top of each other, how would one be able to stand out? The seven best ways to drive laser-targeted traffic to one’s own website would help those who are bent on sticking it out with this business wherever it is bound to take them.The first step in driving traffic to one’s website is by relying on search engines and what they can do for the affiliate marketer concerned. Because they are popular for driving free targeted traffic, they should not be ignored by all means. Having top search engine rankings is vital in building popularity links, and the use of the right keywords is important in attaining this goal. Once a website is on top of the list, it is easily accessible to anyone who wants to see it for himself.The second way in driving traffic to one’s website is by contacting other webmasters for a possible link exchange partnership. Locating websites that are related to one’s own website is the primary task. Once there, he should be able to establish communication by personalizing everything as much as possible. It is then possible to make reciprocal link exchanges between webmasters whichever way the affiliate marketer prefers.The third way is through writing one’s own articles. This is an effective way in promoting a website, because good content that are appreciated by readers will lead them to visit the writer’s very own website out of sheer interest.The fourth way is through joint venture marketing. This is one of the most effective ways of promoting a product or a service. Having a partner through ad swap or link exchange is beneficial to both parties as it allows them to reach a wide customer base in a short amount of time.The fifth is through joining affiliate programs. Having affiliates to do the work means allowing them to bring tons of traffic to a website. Skyrocketing sales would be realized as a result, and both the affiliate and the website owner will benefit from the situation.The sixth is by having a list of subscribers that one can refer to every so often, because they are those which would prove to be valuable assets for the marketer concerned. The use of autoresponders and personalized newsletters is one way of keeping track of them all, and holding on to them by letting them know about new products and services is an essential task that should be done by the affiliate marketer concerned.The seventh is by knowing one’s market through and through. It is important for traffic to be targeted to those who might have a special interest in the theme or topic of one’s website. This way, a solid customer base is going to be created. Once a potential customer shows an interest in a particular website by paying it a visit, one must not waste time in trying to show him that his effort is worth it.Traffic generating strategies are important in trying to make one’s affiliate marketing career inch forward. It is always advantageous to plan one’s moves in any business that he might undertake. This is particularly so in affiliate marketing. If one knows how to get people to see what he has to offer, then he is on the right track.Lisa SimpkinsFreemanResearch Advertising Portal

Search Engine Optimization for Affiliate Marketers

Posted by Lisa Simpkins on May 21, 2008 at 6:35pm

There are no secrets on how to rank high with the major search engines because effective search engine optimizations are now immense. What is search engine optimization? Before we discuss that thing, you have to understand first how search engines work and a bit of know-how.Search engines are into providing their users with the most relevant and up-to-date information to match the search term that was used. They are sophisticated pieces of technology which allow users to quickly find relevant websites by searching for a word or a phrase. Search engine results are useless to users if the information doesn’t relate to the search term, or if the results are old. People expect the most up-to-date and fresh information that is useful to them.Updating your website everyday and adding some materials will help you get noticed by the search engines. So, if you are going to sell any type of product or service online, you have to optimize your website for the search engines, in order to boost traffic and sales. It is because over 90% of your business will likely come directly from search engine results. And for that reason, it is absolutely important to optimize your site for search engines for you to have the greatest deals in the entire world.Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process by which webmasters or online business owners utilize strategic copy to augment their website’s status. It is certain that the internet has grown so fast over the years and the competition for the best search engine position has created an enormous market. Therefore, better understanding the fundamental elements of Search Engine Optimization is vital for an online business’ success.Making use of effective search engine optimization techniques will improve the page rank of your website. There are many tricks that can be used to increase page rank; the most effective method is to provide high quality content consistently. This seems like a simple concept but there are many websites that fails to provide content that visitors find interesting. Sites which provide content that are interesting, well-written and regularly updated create highly engaged visitors who are more likely to return to the website in the coming days. So, if you can set your website apart from those boring, lifeless sites then do it. You’ll surely have a step closer to achieving high page rank through search engine optimization.The next significant factor for an effective search engine optimization is to include keywords and phrases within your content. To make sure that you are properly targeting your market, you have to make sure that the keywords and phrases you have on your site are the keywords and phrase that your site is actually optimized for. The more keywords you use in your content, the more likely it is that online visitors will find your site when they do some research with those words. If you are unfailing with these techniques, then your overall search engine optimization will increase, boosting your page rank.You should also have to develop a linking strategy as a part of your search engine optimization. Not only does this provide free advertising for your site, but it makes the impression that your site is imperative because of its affiliated links. For each link that you have pointing back to you, that is another chance for your potential customer to find you. The more inbound links that you have pointing to your site, the higher you will be ranked in the search engines.Another is to develop a content stratagem. People who get to search from the internet are looking for information. The more information you provide for them and the more helpful it is, the more likely you will make the sale. Writing articles is the most effective way to build up content for your site. When writing articles to post on your site, make sure that you develop a clear means of arranging their content. You can do this by simply adding a new page to your site. This will allow room for extra articles to be added as you write them, and will allow you to build up an archive of articles which will maintain to draw online visitors. Make sure also that you have included your archived articles in a directory that is next to the root web of your site so that the search engines will catalog your online articles.Always keep in mind that search engine optimization methods are important in developing your site’s status. With that thing in mind, make sure that you write high-quality, keyword rich content and link your site to and from a deliberate family of other sites. These things will help improve your site’s popularity and coerce increased business through your online business.Lisa SimpkinsLisaSimpkins~BBS Global

Way's We can Prevent And or Maintain Diabetes

Posted by Black doctor. org on May 21, 2008 at 6:00pm

Many African Americans do not know the severity of the strong prevalence Diabetes is within The African communities. I want to know where you stand on this issue. I want people to discuss ways to make this known throughout communities. I want you to check out ways we help ourselves has African Americans conquer diabetes. I have article I would love to put up to start a discussion on this topic you can also check out topics of your choice at www.blackdoctor.org

A Goddess's Hair Story

Posted by Leanne on May 21, 2008 at 3:47pm

I do have relaxed hair, but I am going to transition eventually. I've always been fascinated with natural hair. The versatility, beauty and funkiness of the style--a style once deemed "taboo" as opposed to innately individual. Candace sent me this email and it inspired me so much because I personally can relate.I don't know very many people would would support my decision to go natural (I'm not even sure if I know many people who would care), especially since I know my own hair texture (transitioned before and I stretch for about 3-6 months between touch-ups) might not go over too well with some folks. (Keeping it real, I am AM a nappy-headed ho... i guess.)But, this story was so cute and touched base with so many of the inhibitors that keep many black women from wearing their hair they way it (to be frank) should look. I have no qualms against relaxed hair (hello! I am chemically-treated myself!) but, lets be honest... I don't think God intended black women to be born with relaxed hair or else the market would produce relaxers for newborns.But, I hope you all enjoy this little tidbit as much as I did. I will feature advice from her more often so look out for that!read more

New Music Industry Blog Posts for Producers, Songwriters, Managers, and Artists!

Posted by Thedy B on May 21, 2008 at 2:15pm

Hi ladies! If you know of anyone that would benefit from reading these blogs, please, please refer them! My blogs have gotten raving reviews as helpful, informational and resourceful. Here's a list of my blogs and just a little bit of what each blog contains! I thank you in advance for your referrals!hitsamillion.blogspot.com - new: learn about upcoming songwriting contests, upcoming music conferences, how to hire, find, and fire an entertainment attorney, places to network, brand, and build your business, get placements with recording artists, get your music in film, TV, and radio. Get industry information, tips and advice from hitmaking producers and songwriters!Interviewed.blogspot.com - new interviews from members of The Clutch, Bryan-Michael Cox, Midi Mafia (Fantasia), Chris Blackwell (Prez. of Island Records), Stephen Hill (VP, BET), Irv Gotti, Jimmy Iovine, Kanye West, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, and the list goes on. Watch these videos and get great advice and inspiration from industry professionals on how to step your music game up, how to write a hit, how to survive in the industry, how to expand your money, etc.

Musicpanels.blogspot.com -see video footage from the ASCAP I Create Music Expo during a panel with Johnta Austin, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Greg Watkins (allhiphop.com), Carvin Haggins & Ivan Barias of Karma Productions. There's also video footage of the Southern Entertainment Awards Panels with the TMI Boys and Music Mogul Wendy Day. Also watch videos of Bryan-Michael Cox, Russel Simmons, TJ Chapman, and Killer Mike at recent conferences.

Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com-learn about which mobile companies are providing opportunities for recording artists to brand, market and promote themselves, connect with fans, and make more money. Learn some of the key players in the mobile music business. See which recording artists have already started going mobile with their music.

Musiclabels.blogspot.com- here you can find out about Jermaine Dupri's new label, John Legend's new record label, Bryan-Michael Cox's new music publishing and film and television company, and Jazzy Pha's new label. You will also find contact information and discover what each label is looking for.

http://globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com - learn different methods of taking your music to the international market. Here you'll find music resources, contacts, industry news, and websites that will be useful in helping you as a songwriter, producer, beatmakers, artists, and artist managers. You'll learn how to brand, market and promote yourself overseas.

Keep checking these blogs, subscribe and/or bookmark all of these sites! You will be glad you did!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

All Disney hotels get green designation

Posted by Debrah on May 21, 2008 at 1:52am

Friday, May 16, 2008Orlando Business JournalDisney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort recently earned the state's Green Lodging designation.All 23 hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and the company's Vero Beach resort have now been certified as meeting voluntary environmental guidelines.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection established the Florida Green Lodging Program in 2004. Properties must meet environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. To date, 165 hotel properties across Florida have earned the designation.Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order in July requiring state agencies and departments to hold meetings and conferences only at hotels with Florida Green Lodging Program designation whenever possible.Disney's BoardWalk Inn was the first hotel in Florida to receive the Green Lodging designation in 2004.Disney properties installed EnergyStar rated appliances, energy efficient lighting and took other measures to reduce electricity demand. In addition, the resort also implemented a towel and linen reuse program and installed low-flow faucets to reduce water usage.All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

Listen to Author Ananda Leeke's Interview with Shawna Renee on Cocoa's Corner Blog.

Posted by Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke on May 21, 2008 at 1:12am

Blessings All,Great News! Shawna Renee, Founder of Cocoa's Corner blog, interviewed me on Friday, May 8, 2008, about my creative life and debut novel, Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book One. Tune into the Shawna Renee's interview:http://cocoamode.blogspot.com/2008/05/loves-troubadours.htmlLet me know what you think about the interview.Enjoy your week!Peace and Love,Ananda

Mississippi River Boat Cruising

Posted by Teresa on May 21, 2008 at 12:14am

Mississippi Riverboat CruiseThe Mississippi river was named so by the Indians that once lived on the shores of the waters. They named it "Messipi", or Big River. Today you can experience the wonder of this river that has carved itself into the soul of American History. A Mississippi River cruise is the leisurely way to experience river culture firsthand.On the Mississippi Riverboat cruise, there is a lot to see and do. Local Mississippi River cruises are an excellent introduction to the river traditions. Ask questions, and the people of the river will be happy to share their stories with you. You can jump right into the heart of the river by taking a Mississippi River cruise.The Mississippi River is the largest and longest river in North America. This body of water is host to a diverse mix of ecosystems. The northern part of the river, known The Headwaters, begins in Minnesota at Lake Itasca as nothing more than a small stream 2ft deep. The water makes a steep descent as it passes through swamps, glacial lakes, rapids and dams. The Minnesota River meets the Mississippi at St. Anthony Falls. This area, known as the Upper Mississippi River, is where the river widens tremendously.You can make the most of your Mississippi Riverboat cruises if you decide in advance what you'd like to do. Nature lovers will love these trips, visit from January to March and be sure to bring your binoculars if you'd like to eagle watch. Some great fishing is to be has as well, you can bring your own pole but there is always one for rent. If you enjoy dinner there are lots of different offerings from dinner and dance cruises to candle-lit romantic evenings on an overnight excursion.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has inspired many a river lover, and created generations of Mississippi River Boat cruises. The Lower Mississippi is a faster moving body of water, and it is more remote, with large stretches of woodland on either side. Here, the cities and towns are further set back from the water.Wisconsin is the second state on the rivers journey south. Next, the Mississippi stretches to a width 4 miles as it flows through Iowa. Illinois is the next city on the Mississippi, and here, at Lock AND Dam 18 is where you can see Bald Eagle watching and Walleye fishing. Further south as you pass Quincy, Illinois is the Governor John Wood Mansion, a stunning example of Victorian Architecture.Next the river winds through Missouri, where at St. Louis it joins up with the Illinois and the Missouri river, which is the largest river in the United States.

The Mississippi delta is a music lover's dream. This area is the birthplace of Zydeco, Rhythm and Blues, Ragtime, and Gospel. Be sure to try some of the southern inspired food, like gumbo: a spicy stewed rice dish with meat and beans.At its final stop, the Mississippi meets Louisiana. Its winds like a snake through the backcountry. Some nights the river is shrouded in the gentle fog. The sound of crickets chirping and the abundance Spanish moss, add to the magic of the tender southern evening. Here you can watch the river make its way out to sea at the end of its journey.© 2008 Destination360 All Rights Reserved

The start of my story

Posted by Tracey on May 20, 2008 at 2:30pm

Hello ladies,My reason why I decided to start my own business. I have always as my mother said had a problem with authority LOL. I just do not like having to answer to some one else. I have recently started my virtual assistance businessat http://www.traceysvirtualassistance.wordpress.com/ because I wanted to work from home. I am a single mom of a beautiful 7 year old little girl, who I also home school. I did not want to work outside the home and was absolutely committed to finding a way and am still in the process. I have also decided to get in on the online entrepreneruism; to have mutilple sites bringing in mutiple streams of income and have it be portable. I am going to be participating in the 30 day challenge that has been successful at teaching people how to make their first $10.00 dollars online. Perhaps you have heard the saying if you can make $10.00 then you can make $100.00,$1000.00 and so on and so on,etc. You can check out the 30 day challenge site at Click Here.

. I would love company so if you feel like it go ahead and check it out and join and let me know. I will be sharing my journey in the thirty day challenge along with any business or lifestyle information, that helps me have a successful VA and Online business and balance raising my daughter. I am also posting at my personal blog at http://www.www.singlemomliving.blogspot.com/. I hope eveyone has a great day. Blessings and Dream Bigger,Tracey

How it all began....

Posted by Christine on May 20, 2008 at 2:04pm

To be honest, I didn’t set out to become a natural bath and body maker. I sort of fell into the whole business! My daughter, who is now 3, developed weeping eczema when she was 9 months old. Yes, WEEPING eczema, and believe me, the eczema wasn’t the only one weeping. I had no idea how to deal with this condition and I could tell that the skin was bothering her. I talked to her doctor, and she recommended Vaseline. Yuk. The next suggestion, as she grew older, was hydrocortisone cream. Double yuk. I’d read that the hydrocortisone cream could actually thin the epidermis. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know, but I wasn’t into slathering all sorts of junk on such a young baby. We all know that medications and other material that is supposed to be safe today will be the cause of numerous diseases tomorrow.I jumped on the Internet and found out about shea butter. I ordered some and was dismayed to find out how hard it was – I had to rub it between my hands then carefully apply it to her legs. A bit more research later, I purchased some evening primrose tablets, mixed it with the shea in my palm and applied it to her legs. It worked very well – her eczema cleared up, the scratching stopped (for the most part) but it was pretty messy. Then, the beginning of the end….I found candletech.com, now known as craftserver.com. Talk about bath and body heaven! I found suppliers for containers, fragrances and more natural fats than you could shake a stick at!I’ve made shea sticks (96% shea butter in a roll up stick), lotion bars (in tins) and finally I started whipping the shea with other oils and butters. Once it got to the point where a small corner of the basement was filled with my “stuff”, people were asking for shea sticks, or lotion bars, I decided to take the plunge.Yet more research….I finally decided to become a limited liability company in the state of New Jersey, got a post office box, insurance and obtained a tax id number. So in December of 2006, I was official. Wow! I put up a website (talk about trial by fire) and took a deep breath, because I knew my work was just beginning.

BLOG Talk Radio: Had A Great Show Last Week! Come Join Us Wed., May 21st at 11 a.m. (EST)

Posted by Altha Sood on May 20, 2008 at 11:29am

Good Morning!Please visit my page, www.ryze.com/talkradioproducer. We would love to have you join us on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 11 a.m. (EST) on www.blogtalkradio.com/wbo-radio. The dial in phone number is (347) 205-9229 or join us in the chatroom on the host page.You can find more information about Women Business Owners' radio talk show and our featured guests in our blog.Be sure to sign our guestbook, rate our show or add comments!.See you tomorrow!Althawww.ryze.com/go/talkradioproducerAdd yourself as a friend! Keep up to date on our show news!www.blogtalkradio.com/wbo-radioCome Listen May 21st! Rate our show!

Let's get Started!

Posted by Nirvana - Pure Romance on May 20, 2008 at 2:40am

Ok Ladies, I figured I would start with how I got started in this business:In January of 2007 a friend of mine from High School approached me with the idea of starting my own Pure Romance business, at the time I was working full-time as a Program Manager for a National Non-Profit organization and while I loved the work, the woman I worked from was making my daily life miserable and I needed something else.This friend, knowing my preoccupation with both sex and money, figured this would be the perfect fit for me...and she was RIGHT! :o) I went over all the information she had provided me and purchased the smallest starter kit available ($250) on February 2nd and went for it! One month later I hosted my first party in my home for some friends and family and at the end of the night, not only had I had fun but I had $600 in profit in my pocket for 3 hours of work...I knew I had found something almost too good to be true.Now, while I have had a lot of parties over the last year and a half and the money has been great, I have also had a lot of satisfaction in opening the minds of a lot of women when it comes to the many taboo topics that I talk about during my parties. Many women are conditioned to think of sex as something we are only good at and/or enjoy if were are loose or trampy, while a man is considered a stud and a "real man" if he does the same! Pure Romance parties are about teaching women to love themselves and love their partners in many different ways. Sex is something different to everyone and one the things I love about the products is that they cater to all: straight, gay, and everything in between.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.