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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.

Margaret is putting together a Bridal Show!

Posted by Margaret Salmond on May 19, 2008 at 8:00pm

OK Im working on a African American themed bridal show for the Bay Area to take place the 2nd quarter of 2009. Im excited becuase we havent had one in the Downtown area in forever, let alone one that caters to us.Im currently working on checking the Federal trademark as well as googling the name that Im interested in and getting the paperwork together for the service mark with the State of CA. Not sure if I want to do a Federal trademark or not since I dont plan on taking this out of Cali.One of the good things that I have on my side is that Im being mentored by Richard from AFWPI. He is a funny guy and we talked for almost 1 hour earlier today and he gave me lots of direction of what not to do (So good to have a mentor!)Im going to keep you all posted on how it goes down.

LinkedIn Information

Posted by Solutions Now! Radio on May 19, 2008 at 7:51pm

Hello,Please join me on LinkedIn. My information is below.--Sincerely,Candice L. MasonDirector of Communications, Solutions Now! GroupHostess, Solutions Now! RadioTelephone/Fax: 1 (888) 851-9035eMail: solutionsradio@aol.comWebsite: http://blogtalkradio.com/solutions_now_radioMySpace: http://myspace.com/solutions_nowLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/candicelmason

How to Determine What's HOT

Posted by Barbara Howard on May 19, 2008 at 4:25pm

Every small business owner knows that competition is tough, but he or she may not be able to pinpoint exactly what changes are needed in order to get to the top. Conducting business as usual may no longer be sufficient. Investing in the technology that is now available can be a great help or a bank breaker. It seems that most small business and home based business are either starving (they don’t have enough technology) or they are obese (they have everything piece of new technology that comes down the pike).There is, however, some fairly new technology that every small or home business owner needs. It can answer questions like; how can small businesses identify noteworthy trends, Identify an existing hot demand and make better decisions faster? Answer: business intelligence software. Business intelligence is the crystal ball of the 21st century.Purchasing business intelligence (BI) software is one of the most strategic investments that a business can make. Using data mining, reporting and querying, BI helps businesses understand, monitor, manage and respond to specified situations. This software empowers decision-makers — and staff — to connect the dots around key business numbers in a way previously unimaginable. BI helps you figure out:· Which customers are profitable?· Which customers appear profitable but aren't?· Are you close to — or far from — reaching critical milestones?· When is the best time to launch a marketing campaign?· What was the best performing product or service last quarter?Business Intelligence software may be more of an investment than small businesses can bear. It can certainly be pricy. Small business or home business owners, however, can subscribe to BI services on the Internet at a fairly reasonable cost. There are several to choose from.eBay also published a “Hot Items” list the first week of each month. It gives valuable information to eBay sellers who use drop shippers.Learn more at the Mentors Club.Next Post: Protecting Your Commissions

Affiliate Marketing - Do You Need a Website?

Posted by Barbara Howard on May 19, 2008 at 4:24pm

The most important and indispensable thing to assure your success 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. Therefore, you must first build a user-friendly website, which will attract your prospects and motivate them to click on the links to the products and services you are promoting and make a purchase. You must first focus your efforts in building a website that will cater to what your prospects need.Above all else, make your website full of original, relevant and useful content. 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. 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 dependable endorser of the product or service you promote. Establishing a good name is a good step in building up a dedicated consumer base. Dedicated customer bases are the life blood of affiliate marketers.You must use every possible means on your website to motivate prospects not only to visit your site but also to click and proceed to the websites of the products and services you are promoting.When you are creating your website, the possibilities are endless and are limited only by your imagination, originality, resourcefulness and resolve. You can always explore other ideas and adapt other strategies, which you think might help you become a high rolling affiliate marketer but not until you have a great website.Learn more at the Mentors Club.Next post: Identifying What's Hot

Taking Back Our Business

Posted by Kasheia on May 19, 2008 at 3:00pm

In dollars spent, the beauty industry is one in which black folks put a lot of hard-earned cash into. But in terms of dollars earned, we are far behind. This is utterly saddening.So, finally after months of deliberating what business I will start, I've decided to combine my love of hair, product-junkieism, and my people to open a beauty supply store that will feature black-owned product lines that aren't found in the Korean-owned BSS and even in black-owned salons.After starting a hair care journey that has tought be so much about my hair and the misunderstandings I carried all my life, I learned about the products I use and why I used them. This also meant cutting out completely many of th products that I used since childhood. I even wore my hair chemical-free for a year and a half before recently deciding to relax again, for now. Most disturbing about my journey, however, was the awakening I received about the products sold in the drug stores and BSS. Some of the most popular products marketed for "our" hair were full of carcinogenics, neurotoxins and other harmful and questionable ingredients. After searching and searching for products that weren't going to destroy my hair, I came across women who were fed up with the products of big companies who knew nothing about our hair. I met women who were full of entrepreneurial spirit and took hair care into their own hand, creating some of the best products available to black women.These products are free of the harsh chemicals that have been destroying our hair and full of natures most nourishing gifts. These kitchen scientists have created successful ventures and have blessed many a black woman who has been looking or alternatives to bad hair care products.Unfortunately many women still don't know why their hair won't grow past shoulder length. Many women still believe that petroletum and mineral oil greases are the best thing since sliced bread. So I plan to use my knew found knowledge to spread the word about hair products that are truly designed for our hair by offering these products for sale to women in a store dedicated to uplifting black entrepreneurs and educating black women about their hair, whether natural or chemically processed.My plan is to offer not only black-owned hair care lines, but also skin care lines, cosmetics, hair supplies and beauty tools.

My Name IS Beautiful!

Posted by Nicole on May 19, 2008 at 2:52pm

Black Women Embracing & Defining Our BeautyJoin in as we celebrate the things our beauty, radiance and strength as Black women. No two butterflies are alike, yet they are all described as beautiful. We are each unique and possess a beauty that is our own. Check out the My Name Is Beautiful project at: http://www.mahoganybutterfly.com/allprofile.aspx.Stay Beautiful!Nicolewww.mahoganybutterfly.com

Do you need your hair with a Weave that look like a star call Denise

Posted by Paula Moffett on May 19, 2008 at 2:43pm

Are you tired of weaves that just do not look right on you? Are you still looking for that natural looking weave? Are you tired of open crowns, lumps and bumps. Now its time to stop looking!!My name is Denise Nelson and I have been a licensed hair stylist for 25 years. I specialize in hair care and hair treatment for damaged hair. I only use and sell high end professional hair care products sold only to licensed salons. As you know your scalp is just as important as your hair. Without a healthy scalp you can not have healthy hair.****Special***** Full Head Weave any style(Sewn In Or Tracks)To make an appointment contact Denise 310 678 0499 or 310 532 7299Connaisseur of Hair & Nails 13975 Van Ness Ave Gardena, CA 90249-2913http://www.astepaboveyourvision.com/salon.html

Loving Yourself

Posted by Courtney R. Franklin on May 19, 2008 at 2:39pm

If someone asked you if you love yourself, what would your answer be? Most young people will quickly answer yes without giving any thought to what it means to show themselves real love. So many of the teens that I meet talk about being in love with someone else, but when I ask them if they love themselves, they are often left speechless and confused.Loving yourself means accepting yourself for who and what you are right now. It means letting go of the past and being confident enough to trust that you will find the path to a bright future. Criticism and negativity are the enemies of self-love. When you are overly critical of yourself and hold on to negative feelings, you will remain stuck in a cycle that is being driven by your own negative thoughts. Until you silence that negativity, and show yourself UNCONDITIONAL love, you will never be able to heal yourself and move forward.Self-love is an issue for many of the teens that I meet. They go from one relationship to the next, each time giving more and more of themselves, and getting very little in return. They often ask me what they are doing wrong, and my answer is always the same: your relationships WILL NOT succeed unless you love yourself FIRST. When you love yourself, you demand the highest levels of respect and treatment from others. Your love for yourself will not allow you to accept less than what you know you deserve. Once you begin loving yourself, not only will your relationships with others improve, but you will also be comfortable enough with yourself to know that you do not need to be in a relationship to be happy.Loving yourself can end the pain that comes from rejection, lost relationships, low self-esteem, a troubled past, etc. With a love for yourself, you are able to put the past behind you and move forward without fear. Instead of judging yourself, learn to love yourself. Appreciate yourself for who you are and know that you deserve only the best that life has to offer!Courtneywww.guideourgirls.ning.com

So you want to start or are starting up a business?

Posted by Christine on May 19, 2008 at 2:00pm

Every business begins with an idea and a goal. Sometimes the goal is to make money, to help others, or a desire to share one’s knowledge or creations. In any event, many people start businesses for different reasons. Statistics from the US business administration show that in 2006, 649,700 small businesses opened and 564,900 closed. From this statistic alone, it seems that many small businesses do not survive for the long haul.Unfortunately, I witnessed this statistic first hand with a black bookstore in my neighborhood. When the store first opened, of course, it was a novelty, and many folks from the neighborhood stopped by and made purchases. A black bookstore? Whoa! I was there almost every week because it was such an enjoyable experience. Where else could you go where you could browse through books that reflected you (or at least someone you knew, lol)? And it was not just fiction. It was here where I first discovered the science fiction writings of Octavia Butler and Dr. Alvin Poussaint. (But I do digress) The point is, within the next two years, the shelves became more bare and dusty and the people scarce. The owner even solicited his customers with money to keep the shop going and collected over $10,000 from us. Even after that effort and support from the community – the store still closed!What happened? Well, I know from my own observation, the wife of the owner would often come into the shop and take cash from the register and comment to her husband that she was going grocery shopping (I kid you not!). They drove the latest model of Mercedes Benz sedan (not a problem with that, but then don’t solicit your customers for $$$ to keep your store open) and often, the store was closed in the middle of the day. There were no sales, no specials, no saving programs, no new book introductions, no children’s story on Saturday – nothing. Certainly, he was personable enough and very willing to help customers, but did not seem to copy the business practices of the larger retailers. As a side note, I ordered a cookbook for my mother, and it took him a MONTH to get the order in.I write all this to say that it’s great to start a business, but for those just starting out, like me, and for those who have been in business for years, know that to do it correctly, to be in it for the long haul and to NOT become one of those statistics it takes hard work, dedication and a determination to achieve those goals and to make your work profitable. Over the course of my blog, I hope to both share my experiences of starting a business, running a business, and the business resources that assisted me along the way.Please, if you have specific questions, feel free to message me or post them in the comments.

Calling in sick...

Posted by Natasha Crawford on May 19, 2008 at 1:18pm

I was so excited to start my blog to document the journey of my business. I thought for a while about what my first topic would be. And the only thing on my mind right now...is that I can't call in sick. It's one of the "luxuries" of working for someone else that I hadn't realized I gave up - until this morning. So, here I sit at my desk, with a cup of tea and a big box of Puffs. Calls must be made, meetings need to be kept.It just reminds me of the importance of taking care of my physical health. The business doesn't run if I'm laid up in bed for the day. I'm just grateful that I don't feel too badly. So maybe everything on the "to do" list won't get done. And I may need a mid-day nap. But for now...I'm off to prepare for a conference call.

a little about me!!

Posted by Cassandra on May 19, 2008 at 11:50am

Hello all!! welcome to my little part of the world.I am passionate about all areas of fashion! My personal passion is plus model development. Being a model, I understand the current fashion industry standards of what a model should be-you only want to aspire to be what you have seen and what you know. This doesn't mean that there isnt room for a different perspectiveFashion is inclusive of all shapes and sizes. I am a model who loves the runway people!! I am a resident model for local Ashley Stewart Stores. Participated in and secured a sponsorship for the Detroit leg of the Stilettos and Curves fashion show tour.I am a freelance fashion writer as well. I am the current fashion contributer to SassySistah.com-a online mag designed to eliminate labels placed on models.I am C.E.O. of 3diva productions. The company specializes in fashion show production.I am so looking forward to networking with all of you. Thanks so much for stopping by!!Peace and Blessings!!

FREE MONEY MAKING WEBSITE

Posted by LINDA MCCLENDON on May 19, 2008 at 1:47am

Order Your Flat Iron or Hair Dryer in 2 Days with FREE Shipping!

Posted by Elana Pruitt on May 19, 2008 at 12:16am

"Talk about convenience! Missiko.com, a Philadelphia-based consumer-driven Web site featuring the newest innovations in the hair & beauty industry, offers 2-day FREE shipping on purchases $50 and over. That's an amazing deal, especially if you're like me and truly hate waiting on the products you crave.I heart my pink CHI flat iron, as it is has been my must-have hair care tool for the last year..."READ MORE!Hugs,Elana

"It's A Girl" 2pc HandPoured Soy candle set =Sale=

Posted by Shavonne D. on May 18, 2008 at 11:52pm

THE PERFECT BABY SHOWER GIFTSet Includes: Two round glass jar container candles( As seen in picture above )Color: PinkScent: Pink VanillaIt's a Boy Candles also avalible at my site check them out alsoThis Set Only : $15.00

CLICK PHOTO TO GO TO MY WEBSITEThank You,Little Lite Candles

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Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.