Identity theft is an on-going crime that is costing American consumers billions of dollars and unlimited heartache every year. Although you can not entirely control whether you will become a victim, you can take steps to minimize your risk.  Learn how to protect your identity online.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), our nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends consumers Deter, Detect and Defend to help decrease identity theft.

To deter these criminals you can safeguard your information.  You can do this by shredding financial documents and paperwork with your information before you throw them away.  Do not be so ready to give out your Social Security number.  Inquire if there is another identifier method you can use. Do not give out personal information over the phone, unless you know who you are talking to.  As them to send you the necessary paperwork and tell them you will complete it and return it to them.

If you are like me, I get a lot of phone calls asking for donations.  I always tell the person who is calling that if they want to send me information on their organization I will look it over and decide if it is something I want to contribute to.  Nine times out of ten I never receive anything in the mail.

Be on your guard and take the necessary steps to detect unusual activity on your accounts.  Set up a schedule to routinely monitor your billing statements.  If you do not receive a statement when you feel you should have, contact your credit card company.

If after being diligent to protect your identity you feel your identity has been compromised take the following steps:

Notify the fraud department of any one of the three consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit report.  This will alert creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts in your name or making any changes to your existing accounts.  It is only necessary to contact one of these agencies to request an alert.

If you suspect any newly fraudulently opened accounts or tampered accounts take action to close these.

Report these fraudulent actions to the police department where the identity fraud took place.  Submit a copy of the report, or at least the case number on the report , to your creditors and others who require proof of this crime.

The FTC keeps a database of identity theft cases received from law enforcement agencies for investigation.  File your claim with the FTC.

Surfing the Internet is a daily occurrence for an increasing number of people these days, as technology expands and online services continue to grow. Many people go online to carry out banking transactions, shop, check e-mail, and catch up on news. That’s why it’s more important than ever to protect your identity while surfing the web. As identity theft becomes more prevalent, it’s necessary for everyone to be extra vigilant in protecting personal information before it gets into the wrong hands.

Every time you go online and conduct some type of transaction, whether it is monetary or an exchange of information, you put your identity at risk. Unfortunately, criminals use the Internet too, making use of the technology to perpetrate identity theft. This type of cyber-criminal gathers personal information online and either sells it to others for profit, or uses it to their own purpose.

It is fortunate that there are many things you can do to stay one step ahead of these “thieves” and keep your identity as safe as possible. The Internet platform is always changing, so you need to keep on top of things to remain as safe as possible.

To begin with you should learn about how to avoid phishing scams.  Phishers pretend to be trustworthy, actual companies, such as banks and insurance companies, by using false e-mail addresses and websites.  To access their websites people are tricked into giving them personal identifying information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

The important thing to remember is that real institutions will never ask you to verify your personal information online.  When you receive these types of e-mails, contact the sender immediately over the phone to validate the request.  This way you can provide any necessary information directly to your bank or other company.

Phishers use spam e-mail as a way to obtain your personal passwords and information.  For this reason be sure to have a good spam filter installed on your computer to keep out as much spam as possible.  As the old saying goes, “better safe than sorry.”

While on the issue of software, Windows already contains a basic firewall program, but setting up another program will ensure your safety from hackers,  allow you to control internet traffic and stop intruders from reaching your personal information.

Purchase a high-quality virus protection package.  This can  help prevent and eliminate viruses, Trojan horses, and other dangerous items designed to steal your personal information. It will also scan e-mail and IM attachments for viruses.  It is not enough to stop with just antivirus software.  Go one step further and equip your computer with the most up-to-date anti-spyware protection.  One word of advice, before installing your necessary protection check to be sure that all of your systems are compatible.  This can cause you a great deal of frustration and expense if they are not.  If you are not sure, it is worth a call to your local computer repair shop.

Scam artists are known to intercept e-mails and IMs.  For this reason do not sent any personal information through these methods of communication.

In opening your email, avoid opening suspicious emails or emails from unknown people.  Especially be wary of opening attachments.  I recently watched a “Medium” show on TV where a hacker had hacked into the City Hall’s computer system and sent out emails asking for update voter’s information.  This was the means that was used to accumulate personal identity information.  Might not have actually happened but does make one think.

To prevent ID theft it is advisable to password protect your computers, laptops and PDAs.  Use a different unique user name and password for each item.  Another word of warning, do not use the same user name or password for your accounts or activities online.  If a criminal discovers your user name and password on one account you want it to stop right there.  Use letters, numbers and special characters when creating your passwords.  Be sure your passwords are not “obvious”.

It is a good idea to keep the personal information that you store on your computer to a minimum.  What would happen if your computer was stolen?  I invested in an external hard drive and my personal information is stored there.

A final tip – when you buy a new computer, before disposing of your old computer invest in software know as wipe programs or shredders to overwrite the data with zeroes or random patterns which will make the information on your hard drive virtually unreadable.

I hope that this information will be helpful in helping you to protect your identity online.  Use your common sense and purchase a few good tech tools to assure your safety again these cyber criminals.

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwarymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

The cost of prescriptions is on the rise.  Many people have been laid off and find themselves without health insurance.  This situation necessitates looking for less expensive medications or different means for obtaining them.    Is this uncertain economy, affording health care and medications can be a real challenge.  I hope the tips I offer in this article will help you save money on your medications.

Go Generic – Take a close look at the medications you are taking.  If you are not already taking generic drugs, this is one place you can cut costs.  The cost is the major difference between brand-name and generic drugs.

If you are unsure, check with your physician.  Even when purchasing non-prescription items, if you check the labels you will find the ingredients are the same in store-brand or name-brand items.

Generic drugs can save you up to 90%.  If a generic-brand is not available see if there is a similar drug in the same class that has a generic version available.  As an example, Lipitor a cholesterol drug does not have a generic equivalent but Zocor another statin does.

Cut your pills in half enabling you to cut the costs. Drugs, as a rule, cost the same regardless of the dosage.  If you are taking a dosage of 50 mg ask your doctor to write a script for 100mg allowing you to split the pill in half and get “double” for your money.  You will need to discuss this option with your doctor.

Do your homework – The internet has a wealth of information. You can cut your prescription costs by 70% by shopping online.  Be sure to check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacies (NABP) at http://www.nabp.net for a list of reputable, recognizable sites.  The sites listed at NABP have earned a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) Accreditation.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration at http://fda.gov/oc/buyonline can also provide advice on buying medications on line.

Order by mail – if you are fortunate to have health insurance, many plans allows you to purchase a 90-day supply at a lower cost than what you would pay at your local pharmacy.  If you choose this method be sure to order your medications two weeks in advance so you do not risk running out.

$4.00 Generic Drugs – Many pharmacies offer a generic $4.00 per month or $10.00 for a 90-day supply for certain generic drugs.  Ask your pharmacy for a list of the drugs they provide on this program.  Here I would like to offer a word of caution.  Just because your doctor is prescribing a generic drug does not mean it is definitely on this program. I personally take Tricor and my doctor wrote me a script for the generic brand.  I was in a state of shock when my pharmacist told me it cost $144.00. for a 90-day supply.  Needless to say, I did not buy those and went through the necessary steps to have the brand-name Tricor sent out from the pharmaceutical manufacturer for zero cost.

Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs – If you have little or no prescription drug coverage, you definitely want to check into this option.

Major pharmaceutical companies provide drugs for free or at a low cost to people who qualify.  You can find more information by going online to the pharmaceutical manufacturer of your drug.  You will find applications on their website that you can print out or request.  You will need to complete the application, get your doctor to fill in his applicable section, provide copies of your last two years of income tax returns,  and social security payment information, if that applies.

There are also companies, such as RX for Less that will take care of submitting your forms for a nominal fee.  If you have the time, filling out these forms and submitting them is not difficult and will help you save the cost of administration services.

If you decide to go directly through your pharmaceutical manufacturer, be sure you mark on your calendar when you will need to request a refill so you do not run out.  This all takes some effort on your part, but the savings are substantial.

I hope that this information will help you save money on medications.

I wish you good health!

Judy Conway

http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline
http://joinjudyconway.com/digitalcameradeals
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

A very wise person once anonymously wrote, “Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles.” This statement can serve to stimulate our thoughts. A job well done does not come about out of the blue. Planning and effort have been initiated to achieve the end results.

If we are going on a vacation, the first thing we usually do is plan where we are going, what we will take with us and what exciting things we will do once we get where we are going. I find it unsettling that we put more effort and thought into planning a vacation than we do in planning our lives and future!

How often do we live our lives without a specific destination in mind? This can start at an early age. We graduate high school or college with no concrete plans for a career. This spills over into other areas of our lives. We meet that special someone and we decide to get married. Have we considered the possibility of children? What impact will children have on our careers? How many people just charge ahead without giving any thought to finances, education, and spiritual activities? These things all require planning an intelligent direction with a sincere effort for skillful execution. If we live our lives by just passing through these various phases we probably will not accomplish our goals and dreams.

Most people admit that they could live better lives achieving their full potential if they would do planning.

How often do we find ourselves wandering aimlessly around only performing a less than adequate job because we did not really plan the route to our destination. We might not be inspired by what we are doing. If we intentionally plan our future we will be more apt to fulfill our aspirations.

Our everyday skills of being a successful parent, a good spouse, employee or overall person will take focusing on those items. We will achieve skillful execution of the various aspects of our life by disciplined practice and planning. Writing down goals and tracking our progress can be very beneficial.

Napoleon Hill, in his timeless classic, “Think and Grow Rich,” recommends and promotes the “mastermind” group theory. He describes the mastermind group as any group of like-minded people assembled for the attainment of a worthwhile goal.

Directors are much like a mastermind group giving guidance and direction essential to achieve success in a corporation.  This mastermind group concentrates on an “intelligent direction.” If you are finding it difficult to execute your vision, you need to seek counsel with like-minded people to guide you in reaching your destination.

We can learn to make lemonade when we are given lemons. It takes a visionary to see an obstacle as an opportunity. Hardships serve to build our character and help us become stronger, more focused individuals.

It is our choice whether we want to live lives of mediocrity or excellence.  Planning, high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles will be the tools that will bring us excellence!

I wish you a life of excellence!

Judy Conway
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Who would think that the reason you are not losing weight might be because you are not eating sufficient carbohydrates? (Good ones, of course!)  If you have Metabolism B and are following the Metabolism Miracle eating program it is important that you remember to eat 11 – 20 g net carbs every 5 hours in Step Two.

I hit a plateau on my Metabolism Miracle eating program and was becoming quite frustrated by not losing more weight.  I went over everything I was doing and hit upon the fact that once you have come through Step One on this eating program and you begin introducing carbs back into your diet in Step Two it is imperative to consume six or more carb servings per day. These servings must be 11 – 20 net low-impact carbs .

In Step Two you are allowed to reintroduce specified cereals and grains consisting of cooked oatmeal, cooked barley, brown or wild rice, whole-grain pasta, bulgur and dry cereal with 2 grams of fiber or more.

A greater variety of vegetables and legumes are allowed in Step Two such as corn, beets, peas, sweet potatoes or yams, carrots, kidney beans, lima beans, chickpeas, black and white beans.

Various fruits are reintroduced into your diet in Step Two. I really like fruit so this was a yummy addition to my diet!  On the acceptable list is apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, natural applesauce, grapefruit, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, oranges, pineapple cubes, dried apricot halves and bananas.

For those of us who enjoy milk, Step Two has a great addition of fat-free, nonfat, 1%, 2% and skim milk.  You can also enjoy plain yogurt containing 11-20 g net carbs. Fruit-flavored yogurt sweetened with Splenda or sucralose – 11 – 20 g net carbs can be used.   If you like buttermilk you can include that in your diet (11 – 20 g net carbs).  If you are looking for desserts other than jello and flavored ricotta, you can now once again enjoy sugar-free/fat-free pudding (11 – 20 g net carb) and no-sugar-added ice cream products sweetened with Splenda (11 – 20 g net carbs).  I believe Bryers has an ice cream that will fit into this category.

Timing is very critical in Step Two.  It is important that you never go more than five hours without an 11 -20 gram net carbs serving.  You want to keep your metabolism stoked.  If you forget to do this, your liver will over compensate with glycogen.  This will cause stress on your pancreas and cause weight gain.

Step Two is a safe, nutritionally balanced diet that you can stay on as long as you like and continue to lose weight.  Once you have reached your weight goal Step Three details how you can keep weight off for the rest of your life and be healthy in the process.

As the book, The Metabolism Miracle goes into great detail and explanations on the changes taking place in your body, I would greatly suggest purchasing this book.  Mine is never very far away.  It is helpful in making up my menus and shopping lists.  It is a very small investment to make for a healthy body and eliminating the medications I am currently on.

I found that Amazon had a reasonable price for this book.  If you can find other things to put with your order adding up to $25.00 shipping will be free.  Check out the link below.

As always, I wish you great success in your journey to a healthier body.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

http://fullservicemarketingtools.com

http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

Skype ID:  judy.conway

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Have you ever dreamed of having a home based catering business?  If you have a love of cooking this would be a great career.

In many homes nowadays both parents are working.  Economic pressures require a double income.  Schedules are hectic and it is very difficult to prepare wholesome, nutritious meals.

A catering business can be very lucrative in providing daily meals for these families (singles or couples).  You would not only be preparing delicious meals but eliminating the stress that these people feel when they under the pressure of shopping and cooking.  They would have more time to enjoy each other and do the things they enjoy most.

Before you jump into your apron, here are some things you want to consider:

What will be the name of your business?

Are you doing this by yourself or will you have a partner?  If you have a partner will you both be responsible for the cooking, or will one take care of the administrative duties?  In the future you may find the need to hire a cook.  Dependability is a required.

Create a business plan that you can use if you need to get financing.

Check with your local food administration authorities about the laws governing your type of business.  Find out the appropriate licenses and permits you will need.  Check into these details first so you will not have problems in the future.

Decide on what types of meals you are going to provide.  You will want to include two or three choices daily.  Once you establish your clientele you can give them an order form of the various meals available on certain days.  You can establish the time frame you want to maintain.  A week or two ahead have the forms returned to you. You can come up with a computerized form that you can email your clients and they can email you their choices. Do whatever you can to automate your business and eliminate unnecessary legwork. You will have to decide what works best for you.  You will want a week’s notice for shopping and preparation purposes.

If you want to specialize utilizing your specific cooking/baking talents, your catering service could be for special soups, desserts or birthday cakes.  This is your choice.

Pricing your meals will be more of a challenge.  You will want to keep your costs as low as possible in order to have a desirable profit.  Call other catering businesses to get an idea of what your completion is charging.  You do not want to price your meals so high that you will price yourself out of the market.  Allow for a fluctuation margin in market prices.

You will want to buy in bulk.  Get a membership at your local wholesale club.  This will save you quite a bit.  You still want to be a savvy shopper as there are times when your local supermarket’s prices are lower than the wholesale club.

Bulk shopping will necessitate your knowledge of the shelf life of the foods you are storing. When in doubt of how to, and how long to store food items, the internet holds a wealth of information at your fingertips.

How are you going to advertise your business?  Of course, word of mouth continues to be one of the best forms of advertisement.  You should consider flyers, or posters that you can leave at various businesses in your area. You will be able to create and print these on your computer. This will cut printing costs. Newspapers and mail coupon services can get the word out to many, but will be more costly.

You may want to consider designing a web page so that you can create an internet presence. Print up business cards including your web address. Get permission to leave this in places such as the doctor’s office, dentist, or hairdresser. Design your website so you have your weekly choices listed and your contact information.

If you go this route, you will want to find a web hosting company that also provides you internet marketing tools.  I know of one company that has a bulk emailing program, with an auto responder where you can set up various campaigns. It also provides a video producer with templates that you can create for your specific business.  The best part of this company is that they have training by professionals in the industry.  If you are a cook, more than likely, you are not overly versed in computers!!

How are you going to get the meals to your customers?  They can pick them up from your home or you could deliver to their place for a set fee.  You will need to put great thought into planning your cooking and delivery schedule.  As a suggestion, allow yourself about one hour to an hour and a half.

What type of containers are you going to use to pack your meals? As there is a possibility that the food may need to be reheated, you will have to take this into consideration when purchasing containers. Look into microwavable items. A wholesale club usually has great prices on food containers.

Be a good planner.  The internet will provide you with an endless supply of recipes and ideas for different meals.  If you are cooking for a family with children, take this into consideration. Spicy does not always work with little ones!

When you purchase your fresh produce make sure it is cleaned properly and when possible cut and ready for use.

Keep a cautious eye on your costs.

You want to develop a good relationship with your clients.  When possible, satisfy special requests. Always be the type of person that you would want to work with.

As suppliers are an important element in your business you want to develop a good relationship in this area.  This will go a long way in getting better service.

It is up to you to decide on how large of a business you want to create.  A small business will be easier to handle.  Once it grows it will necessitate hiring additional staff members. But then again this would translate into greater revenue.

As an added suggestion, be sure to keep your recipes either on the computer or in a binder in protective sheets.  Who know, someday you can add to your business profits by publishing a cookbook of your catering recipes.

I hope that your love of cooking will be the first step to initiating a profitable home based catering business.  I wish you all the best and a kitchen filled with aromas of happiness and success!

Happy Cooking,

Judy Conway

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

February 2nd, 2010 update!!  Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning … so we will have six more weeks of winter!!

Earliest references to Groundhog Day can be traced back to February 4^th, 1841.  Pennsylvania at the Historical Society of Berks County has information noted by James Morris, a storekeeper from Morgantown, in his diary on February 2^nd making reference to a German holiday known as Candlemas day (precursor to Groundhog Day) back then.

German tradition stated that if the sun comes out on Candlemas the groundhog will see his shadow and retreat back to his winter quarters for another six weeks.  After arriving in Pennsylvania the Germans continued this tradition using what we know as groundhogs to predict the weather.

Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on February 2nd, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  Clymer Freas, the editor of The Punxsutawney Spirit, posted a proclamation that at the time the paper went to press the groundhog had not seen his shadow.

The following year The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club (of which Freas was a member) made the first legendary trip to Gobbler’s Knob in search of “Phil” the Punxsutawney groundhog.  The groundhog’s full name, as given by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in 1887, is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”  Phil’s fame has spread world-wide.

For the better part of the year Phil actually lives in a climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library.  On February 2^nd he is taken to Gobbler’s Knob and placed in a heated burrow underneath a fabricated tree stump on a stage.  He is then pulled out at 7:25 AM to give his prediction.

People, including news reporters, travel annually to Punxsutawney, located in Western Pennsylvania about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to cover Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction.   It is a big celebration.  If you are planning on being part of this annual weather prediction plan to arrive no later than 6 AM.  There is no parking at Gobbler’s Knob so you will have to take one of the shuttles.  You might want to make it a weekend excursion and enjoy all of the action-packed activities ranging from a chili cook-off, trivia contests, ice carving exhibitions, the Prognosticators Ball, sleigh rides, etc.  There are even groundhog day weddings and if you celebrate your birthday on February 2^nd you can share the special day with others attending Phil’s Birthday Celebration.

The amount of attention Phil receives must be the envy of our “technical” weather forecasters!

Below are 4 things you might not know about groundhogs and their role in weather prognostication:

1. Groundhogs, scientifically known as Marmota monax, are related to squirrels.   If predators are scarce and a groundhog can find abundant alfalfa is abundant, they can grow to three feet in length (tail included) and may weigh as much as 30 pounds. Groundhogs have been known to live as long as 22 years in captivity. Zoo life agrees with them as well.
2. American groundhogs, mostly brown tinged with gray, are found from Alabama to Alaska. They live in the lowlands.
3. Groundhogs are called by many names.  In some areas groundhogs are they are as marmots; in others they are called land beavers or, sometimes, “whistle pigs” because of they are inclined to sit on their hind legs near their burrows and make a whistling noise to alert their neighbors when danger (a coyote or an eagle, for example) approaches.
4. Regardless of the hype, groundhogs’ ability to predict the weather for the final six weeks of winter (that amount of time is fixed by the calendar) is no better than random chance.

So as Groundhog day is upon us, start your own tradition.  If you do not already own a copy of the Groundhog Day movie starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, consider getting one.  Curl up with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy your evening.

Here is hoping that we are NOT going to have six more weeks of winter!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

http://fullservicemarketingtools.com

http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

Skype ID: judy.conway

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Here is a solution for hot cereal for this cold weather we are experiencing.

I love a hot bowl of oatmeal on cold mornings. We seem to have an over abundance of those mornings lately. One big problem I find is regular oatmeal is not allowed on a low carb eating program. (5 grams of carbs, or less) This morning I set out to look for a solution to my dilemma!

I am on the Metabolism Miracle program and woke up craving a bowl of hot cereal. I got out my book, and low and behold, I found recipe for “A Taste of Hot Cereal”. This is listed as a no carb count. I am posting the recipe below for anyone who misses oatmeal as much as I do!

A Taste of Hot “Cereal”

1/4 cup finely chopped almonds (I used prepackaged sliced almonds)
1/4 cup finely chopped Brazil nuts (I substituted walnut halves)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 teaspoon butter
1/4 cup light cream
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 packet Splenda
Pinch of salt

In a food processor, finely process the almonds, Brazil nuts (or walnuts) and sesame seeds.
Place the nut mixture in a microwave-safe cereal bowl.
Add the butter, light cream, cinnamon, Splenda, and salt (if desired) and mix well.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until the butter is melted.

Stir, close your eyes and think “hot cereal.” I was really pleasantly surprised and hope you will be too.

As an update on my progress on the Metabolism Miracle program … December was not a good month to start a new eating program. Faced with 4 birthdays, a Christmas gathering with some dear friends, Christmas and New Year’s, I must admit towards the end I strayed from what I should have been eating.

I want to encourage everyone who has set out to lose weight and either following this program or any other for that matter, do not give up. I have had a hard time getting back to basics but am determined to succeed. Sad to say this past week was the first week I was able to “totally” be true to what I should be doing. In any event, I have not gained back any of the weight I lost (15 pounds) and have lost another two or three. So I encourage you all when you have times where you slip away from your eating program, DO NOT GIVE UP!! The weight did not suddenly appear on your body overnight and contrary to what we would like to see, it is not going to melt away overnight.

I hope that you enjoy this “Hot Cereal recipe. I have tried recipes on other programs in the past and even my pets would not eat what I had prepared. The Metabolism Miracle book has quite a few recipes in it and everyone that I have tried so far have been very tasty. Even my grandchildren have said they thought they tasted good

I encourage you to keep up the good work. We can do this!!

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Have you ever found yourself engaged in a conversation being more eager about talking about yourself than listening to what the other person is saying. Successful communication requires having an attentive mindset as well as verbalizing your thoughts. Many associations fail because people talk “at” each other.

Unless someone hears what has been said the words have little value. The person trying to communicate feels that their contribution in the relationship is of little value. When we feel that we are being heard we are more likely to engage in negotiation and compromise. Listening involves far more than words. Facial expressions and body language is often a far more accurate barometer than the words that are being used. In the case of consoling a person, you might want to gently touch their hand, or even give them a hug to show you really care. You need to listen actively to be an active listener.

Here are several pointers that may assist you in becoming a more effective listener. Make eye contact. Do not just verbalize while you are looking all around the room. Look at the person you are speaking to. Read the body language of the talker. Are they relaxed, anxious, angry? It is easy to recognize the extremes, but the message is sometimes more subtle. React in a like manner to subtly mirror the other person’s body language. Nodding in response to what is being said to you shows the other person you are listening.

Make appropriate responses. If you are unclear about what is being said, ask relevant questions and ask for clarification. Do not just nod in response at what you “think” was said.  This can end up being very hurtful and embarrassing if your response is negative when it should have been positive.  At the close of the conversation, summarize your understanding of what was said. The “who”, “what”, “where” and “when” open ended questions are recommended. When responding to questions, and interacting in a conversation, make sure the tone of your voice does come across as judgmental. Do not elude an interrogative manner. The old saying, “It is not so much what you say, but how you say it” rings true in this instance.

If the person you are conversing with is relating a traumatic experience or hardship, be empathetic. Acknowledge difficulties being careful not to relate similar experiences you have had. Simply say, ” I sense that you are finding this rather difficult”, rather than “Oh I know how you feel, a similar thing happened to me, but it was a lot more difficult.” It is important that the person you are speaking with senses your honesty and sincerity. It will be obvious if your conversation lacks these qualities.

Do not make the mistake of thinking ahead to what you want to say next. Doing this takes your mind off the conversation at hand,and and you come across as having a lack of interest attitude. Be totally attentive. It is amazing how much more enjoyable a conversation is when we allow the input of others! You will also learn a lot.

Happy listening!

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools/com
http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline
http://joinjudyconway.com/digitalcameradeals

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Our world of technology grows by leaps and bounds. Every day there is another development in the world of technology. Some of these inventions help us expedite our workloads while others enhance our world of entertainment.

The Kindle is one of those new items. Its usefulness would fall into both categories. Not only can you load your favorite novels, newspapers and magazines but you can also use it for work files.

Macintosh and Windows users can download and transfer through the USB connection Kinddle content, personal/business documents, MP3 and Audible files. When connected to your computer’s USB port Kindle will show up as a removable mass-storage device.
The necessary system requirements are as follows:

• Windows-based: Windows 2000 or later
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.2 or later
• USB port: You can use an available port or an attached USB hub with an available port

The Kindle has a built-in PDF Reader. Just think about the convenience of being able to unload the loose papers in your briefcase, such as case studies, manuals, financial statements, etc and put them all on your Kindle. This would allow you to take all your papers with you and read them on the go.

Another remarkable tool on the Kindle is the “Text-to-Speech” feature. This will read (in English) your newspapers, blogs, books or magazines to you. If you get tired of listening, you can switch back to reading. This is hands-free as when the Kindle is reading to you it automatically turns the pages. If you have a preference between a male or female voice you can make that choice. You can even adjust the speed at which the reader reads to you. You can use the Kindle to read your books to you if you are in your car. It is absolutely amazing all this device does!

If you are a person that finds it difficult to start your day without reading your paper you will really enjoy Kindle’s feature of having your newspapers automatically delivered wirelessly to your Kindle before they reach the news stands. Just think if you are traveling you will not have to rush out to pick up a paper. You can make your coffee in your room, or go to the restaurant for your breakfast and your paper will be waiting for you on your Kindle. Kindle has a 5-way controller allowing you to flip between articles. If you come across an article you want to save and reread later you have the option to clip and save the entire article to read it again later.

I know that when I first thought about using a Kindle I did not think it would work for me as I like to read with a highlighter and be able to make notes in the material I am reading. Kindle’s QWERTY keyboard allows you to add annotations to the text. Because it is digital you can edit, delete and export your notes. Do you ever lose your place when you are reading? This will not happen with the Kindle. It remembers where you left off and opens to the last page you read. This is a real time saver in itself!

If you enjoy audiobooks you can go to audible.com and have the option to download from an inventory of 50,000 titles for a three month trial cost of $7.95 a month. If you decide to stay with this service the cost increases to $14.95 per month after that. I personally enjoy audiobooks when I am spending long intervals working on the computer. You will never be at a loss for reading material.

Kindle has a high-resolution screen that boasts 16 shades of gray giving you sharp images and photos. What a convention way to carry your favorite photos.

The Kindle DX with a 9.7” diagonal E-link® is 10.4” 7.2” x 0.38” and will hold 3,500 books. The smaller version, the regular Kindle has a 6” diagonal E-link® and is 8” x 5.3” x 0.36” and holds 1,500 books. With this type of storage you can clearly see how it will lighten your load when traveling.

Your biggest decision is to decide whether you want to purchase the Kindle DX for $489.00 or the first Kindle that sells for $259.00.

I have included links to Amazon to learn more about the Kindle. Amazon also has a great service involving the Kindle. You can purchase and download books, etc. directly to your Kindle or to your PC. There is even a great assortment of Free Books. Be sure to check this out.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you in making a decision on purchasing a Kindle. After reviewing this information, I personally feel that it could be a great asset.

Happy reading!

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com

http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline

In compliance with the FTC Compensation Disclosure Guidelines I am required to inform you if you click on my links and join a program or purchase a product I may make a commission. I hope you have found useful information on this site and will stop back again soon.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Affiliate marketing is a working relationship between a merchant and an affiliate marketer’s website. This method is used by many internet marketers trying to create revenue for their site. Done properly affiliate marketing can be an effective cost-efficient, method that will deliver long-term results. Affiliate marketing is quickly becoming a trend in the internet marketing industry.

Many benefits are realized by the merchant . To begin with, they will have a more extensive market in which to sell their product. Having more outlets serves to create more sales for the merchant. It will be beneficial for the merchant to do research to be certain the proposed affiliate marketer’s niche will be advantageous with his product or services.It is important that the merchants needs align with the interested affiliate website. If the merchandise coincides with the affiliate marketer’s website there would be a better chance to generate income.

There are many markets and customers that a merchant does not have the time to research. Think about all of the banner ads you see on the various sites you come across. These all serve to create business and profits for the products/services being promoted. After seeing a banner ad a person might be interested in checking further into the information they saw. If a sale is forthcoming the affiliate marketer will make a commission and the merchant makes a sale. This is a win-win situation. The merchant benefits from repeat customers and their word of mouth recommendations to other consumers. The more sites a merchant’s product is seen on, the more his earnings increase.

There is a learning curve when you become an affiliate marketer. You want to be sure that the merchandise you are promoting on your site lines up with your niche and the articles on your site. You would not promote horses if you were writing about exotic cruises!

As an affiliate marketer you want to offer appropriate products and services to the users that will visit your website. Be sure to do your research to determine what your user base would be interested in. Are you appealing to stay-at-home moms, other internet marketers or the business industry? Remember you more than likely can not be all things to all people.

Affiliate marketing is a non-disruptive means to generate additional income from your website.You will need to research the dynamics of banner marketing if you choose to go that route. Learn the proper ways to add links and merchant information to your web pages. Just do not throw a web page together. Take your time, do your research and it will pay off in the long run.  To assure that you will be getting more traffic to your sites, be sure to add new content to your articles on a consistent basis.  We all know that the Google spiders enjoy new content!

When a relationship is developed between an affiliate marketer and a merchant it can be an advantage to both parties.You can turn a website that currently is an out-of-pocket expense to a site that is self-paying.

I hope that this information has been helpful and given you some ideas to create additional revenue from your blogs and websites.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

Skype ID: judy.conway

http://jconway.gogvo.com

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…