The Rural Freelance Writer

Subscribe to My New Online Newspaper: The Rural Daily News

2012-01-25T22:16:00.001-06:00

I found this really neat website where you could publish your own online newspaper filled with articles of your choice. Since I write web content and also read the online news a lot, I filled this newspaper with some of my own personal articles along with some of the most recent news stories that I have read from my area.

If you are interested, go ahead and click on the link and subscribe. You can subscribe for free. Stay up to date with the latest articles that I write for the web, and the latest news in my area.

Subscribe to the "Rural Daily News," : Daily news from a rural standpoint. Daily news, tips and advice for the everyday reader. http://ruraldailynews.knows.it/

Winter Solitude Poem

2012-01-14T22:32:00.002-06:00

Whole Natural Foods and a Healthier You

2012-01-09T22:00:00.000-06:00

As the new year has approached, we all have goals to start eating better, trying to lose weight and making over ourselves to feel better. It can be hard making changes-especially when you've had the same habits for so many years.

I had the pleasure writing for a client about whole and natural foods. He had a very informative website that had several informative articles about healthy foods, vitamins, if coffee is good for you and children's health too. I got to read some of the articles and learn some important things that I didn't know. You learn about healthy eating at his website at: http://www.wholefoodfarmacy.info/html/wellness.html .

While it can be hard to make those changes, sometimes you just need to start out small. You can begin by changing your habits by including breakfast in the mornings. The website states that whole foods are better for you because they are not processed or refined. Whole foods do not contain artificial color or flavors. They also often contain more fiber. Fiber allows you to feel full longer-which in return-makes weight loss easier. You may start your day out with fruit such as kiwi, grapefruit, oranges or even bananas. Add a few bananas or strawberries to a bowl of oatmeal. It just might be surprising to see how long you stay full until lunch-time....

So remember-if you want to start making changes today-start small. Start with a bowl of oatmeal-or some fresh fruit....before you know it-you may want that bag of carrots-before you reach for the potato chips....

Outdoor Life?

2012-01-02T22:21:00.001-06:00

Author: Jonathan Suarez

Having so many great outdoor activities around doesn’t stop my kids from wanting to be inside all day. They love the satellite tv honolulu we get and they also really like video games but I’m always pushing them to get outside and go swimming or boating or something like that. They’re just a sedentary generation, I know that, and I wish that they weren’t because it’s not good for their minds or their little bodies. Sometimes I wonder what would happen to the world’s children if left to their own devices and I’m sorry to say I think they’d all become obese and really just learn no coping skills for the rest of their lives. They like to be spoonfed and I can’t have any of that – I appreciate that they like air conditioning but the need to get it together otherwise they’re all going to grow up with heart problems and they’ll live less years than anyone in my older generation. That’s pretty pathetic if you ask me!

Decorating Your Home for the New Year

2012-01-02T21:48:00.001-06:00

It's a brand new year, and you might be thinking of doing some redecorating in your home. There's nothing more cozy than having something soft between your toes-especially in the midst of the winter.

One of the main places of our home we often like to revamp is our living room. A living room is a place for discussion, relaxation, movie viewing, reading or listening to music. It's often the first room in a home that visitors see.

Some of the ways to redecorate your living room include adding rugs, new photographs or paintings, pillows or putting different colored slipcovers on furniture. If you are looking to buy a new rug, browse some of the comfortable sheepskin rugs at Comfy Sheepskin (http://www.comfysheep.com/catalog/Rugs/sheepskin-rugs.html).

They offer soft and luxurious sheepskin rugs that will put a new feel on the word "cozy" in your living room. You can have rugs expertly matched so that they match your designated living space. If you plan on redecorating your home and adding some extra comfort, do some of your shopping at http://www.comfysheep.com/. Once you have felt the soft rugs beneath your feet on a cold day, you might just want to buy more!

After you have got done redecorating, your home will feel like a brand new sanctuary.

New Year Poem: Raise Your Glass to Life

2011-12-31T02:04:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year 2012

Another new year is upon us. It's hard to believe we are saying goodbye to 2011. It's time to refresh, re-energize, and begin to truly hold on to our special gift of life. Even when things get hard, we must realize, that life is a gift, even when the going gets tough. Raise your glass to life in the new year.

Raise Your Glass toLife

The time has come to raise our glass,

to say goodbye, to another year's past.

From all of the days, weeks and monthswe have lived through,

It's time to put it all behind us, andbuild new memories that will ring true.

Hold on to those moments that meant themost.

Store them in your heart and raise yourglass for a meaningful toast.

Pray that life will bring you goodhealth, keep your family and friends safe,

and bring happiness, as you take onanother new year with a full embrace.

A new year gives us a chance for afresh start,

and a reason to stay close to thosethat we love the most,

without the fear of ever having topart.

Life is sacred, a real gift that weshould always care for.

While some days may feel long, time isactually quite short-

It's never quite long enough, as wefind ourselves wishing for more.

Before the chiming clock strikesmidnight,

Look in the blue sky above for thosefirst stars that shine oh so bright.

Make a wish, and hold it close to yourheart.

When we wish upon a star, it has beensaid that those dreams can come true.

A new year.

A new beginning.

Another reason for living.

Raise your glass.

Give thanks that God has given you thegift of life...

Living in all of his glory, nothingelse shall ever surpass.

ArianaR. Cherry-Shearer 2011

Subscribe to The Rural Freelance Writer's Newsletter

2011-12-26T23:58:00.001-06:00

I know that many of you already read my blog, but if you want a more personal approach, subscribe to my newsletter. I will begin a newsletter in 2012 that will feature my newest poetry and web content. Those who are interested in creating a writing career online for themselves, I am happy to provide writing tips too.

Get a more up close and personal look on "The Rural Freelance Writer's" life and get to be the first ones to hear all of my new content that I create! You will also be the first to know when I publish new books and poetry collections too...!

Enter your email address below to subscribe:

Christmas Love Poem on YouTube

2011-12-22T21:41:00.000-06:00

Earlier, I published a blog post for my annual Christmas poem, "Christmas Love." I thought that I would read it aloud for all of my readers for you to enjoy. This was the first time I was trying out a new mic, so I realize the volume may be a little low. I will adjust this for the next time that I read a poem on YouTube.

Be sure to subscribe to my channel, as I plan on reading more of my poems on Youtube in the coming year.

I hope you all enjoy listening to "Christmas Love." Have a Merry Christmas.

Long Hard Winter

2011-12-06T00:25:00.001-06:00

Long Hard Winter

Thanks to Jonathon Woods

The locals in our area truly believe this winter in Northern Texas will be one for the record books. Forecasters and old timers alike all speak the same words: ” Going to be a real cold one this year”. Many farmers and ranch owners who are up and operating are firm believers in listening to the words of their elders. My uncle has one of the largest farms in this region. He had constructed two additional barns over the summer and fall months which would be in need of power for the horses before the first snow. Being no fool to winters wrath, He knew preparation for such a long cold season takes planning and dedication. Thanks to the internet, he researched texas electricity providers and to his surprise, he discovered he wouldn’t have to increase his budget as far as he originally thought. This was great news considering no one really knew how long the winter season would last. Being prepared is the biggest challenge a farmer or rancher can face and managing a well thought out budget is as important as knowing how much snow to expect for the season.

2011 Annual Christmas Poem: Christmas Love

2011-12-04T21:58:00.002-06:00

Every year, I look forward to writing a new Christmas poem. Somehow the spirit of Christmas catches me, and I come up with an inspiring piece. I include the poem in Christmas cards, and also read it my Christmas Eve service at church. For about the last 5 years or so, it's become an annual tradition of mine to share my poem at the Christmas Eve service. I enjoy sharing my "Christmas message" with friends and family every year.

Once again, I have come up with a new Christmas poem. I hope that all of you blog readers out there enjoy reading it. Perhaps it will provide some inspiration and pass on the Christmas spirit to you too.

Merry Christmas, may you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends...
____________________________

Christmas Love

The Christmas season is about being with family...

And family is all about sharing love.

Each day, it is Jesus, who teaches us how.

He is our reason for celebrating Christmas,

Our Lord and Savior who reigns up above...

During that cold night that Mary and Joseph traveled to the inn,

they knew in their hearts, that something wonderful was about to begin.

The angels that they heard on high,

sang glorious songs from the heaven sky

As the time seemed to pass,

It was baby Jesus's cry that Mary and Joseph heard at last.

Joyful cries of halleluiahs were heard from all around.

As the new Babe of Bethlem was born,

We would learn that it was He who would wear the crown.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year,

as it is the day that we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Not only do we send good cheer,

But we spread the message, about the love of Jesus and why we are here.

Each Christmas, the smile we see upon a child's face,

reminds us of that special gift of life that Jesus has granted us.

He is the reason that we get to spend Christmas

with the ones whom we love and makes us feel safe.

The colorfully-wrapped presents that have been placed under the family tree

are reminders of the gifts that the wise-men brought to baby Jesus on the night he was born.

While it is a tradition to exchange gifts with our friends and family,

There is no better gift this Christmas,

than knowing that Jesus loves you and me.

Check Your Credit Score

2011-11-17T09:49:00.000-06:00

Today, our credit score is more precious to us than ever. Banks are getting stricter with their loan policies, and many of us are pinching pennies. While I don't think we have experienced the Great Depression like our great-great grandparents experienced in the 1920's...we have come awfully close.

Checking your credit at least once a year is also important with the rising problems of identity theft. Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. Every year, you are allowed to check your credit report. Some companies will even give you your free credit score.

I myself am a victim of identity theft. I was in my early 20's trying to get a loan to pay off my braces. It was great that my loan officer knew my family personally and had known that we hadn't lived anywhere else but Illinois. There were debts owed to utility companies in Texas and a few other places. It was hectic trying to get those removed from my credit report. I had to mail letters showing proof of where I lived and my identity.

If you are interested in more about your credit report, you should file to receive your FreeScore. Finding out where you stand with your credit is very important -Not to mention-making sure nobody has stolen your identity.

Shout-Out to Blue Sky Scrubs: Need Scrubs?

2011-11-17T09:31:00.001-06:00

If you are just starting out a new job as an RN or working in a nursing home, or anywhere else that you need a pair of scrubs, you should check out Blue Sky Scrubs at: http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

Many of the jobs that are still in need are RN's. If you have had training and attended school for the position, then you may be in luck. With an economy that has been shaky, and the U.S. feeling the recession, jobs have been lacking-but one job that always seems to be in need is an RN.

As you begin your new RN position and you need nurse uniforms and supplies, then you can take your shopping list to Blue Sky Scrubs.

Spending the Holidays with Family

2011-11-09T23:41:00.004-06:00

Traveling Down Memory Lane

Since about 2 years ago when grandma Cherry passed away, I think about her a lot during the holidays. I was looking at some of the old photos that were posted with her online obituary and I came across one when she was younger. In a way-it reminded me of myself. I never realized it before, but if you look close, I kind of looked like her... With this new realization, it makes me feel just a little bit closer to her again ...

With an economy already unstable, not only does that make the holidays rough, but sometimes it's still hard not having those that you loved with you during a time that is described as happiness and cheer.

The holidays is definitely a time for family. And even if there are those in your family who are without jobs this season, or are having trouble struggling financially-you can at least be thankful that you have each other. Spend the holidays with your family and hold them close. A hug is always worth more than a wrapped up gift...

Save Energy & Money Washing and Drying Your Clothes

2011-10-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

Many appliance companies are developing products to help customers save energy and reduce costs in our power bills. Also, with a shaky economy, it is more important than ever to save money wherever we can.

Most of us do laundry at least a few times a weeks. Those with larger families do laundry almost every day. Instead of doing many small loads, you should always full loads. This will save on money and the cost of running your laundry machine. Use cold water each time to wash your clothes too. Many detergents are now specialized to use with cold water.

To save on money using your dryer, you should take out clothes that dry quicker halfway through the drying process. During warm and sunny days, instead of using your dryer, hang your clothes out on the line. It won't take any energy at all to dry your clothes naturally. Our ancestors dried their clothes this way-why can't we use inherit some of their habits?

If we use these tips to save money and energy when washing our clothes, our wallet and planet will thank us...

Central IL Hometown Poetry Club in the News

2011-10-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

I have a poetry club that has been together since 2005.

While we are a small group, we keep on trudging along, trying to bring inspiration and happiness with poetry. We are always on the lookout for new members, and welcome any type of poet with open arms.

Awhile back, I was interviewed by an online magazine about my club. The magazine centers around taking care of those in nursing homes. I was quite surprised to get the call. I have been waiting for quite some time, wondering if it had ever been published. After not hearing for quite awhile, I pretty much gave up.

Just recently, I found the link while doing some Google research--seeing where my website ranked, etc. The story about my club reading at the nursing home had been published!--back in February....And now--8 months later--I find out....Better late than never!....

It is a lovely article. You can see the article about my club reading at the Arcola Healthcare Center by clicking on the link below:
http://www.caringfortheages.com/news/ltc-features/single-article/facilities-find-residents-receptive-to-poetry/1b6ebf73d917f373abd0d1109e29933f.html

One of our other hopes of the club is to gain more members... If you are in the central IL area and enjoy poetry or know of others who are, our club is always in search of new poets....Read more about our club at:
http://www.arianacherry.biz/poetryclub.html

Tuning in to the new Ringer TV show

2011-10-07T10:20:00.000-05:00

Guest post written by Anna Castle

I really get excited for the fall season because of two different things, fashion and TV. I know that there will be all kinds of really great clothes filling up shop windows and clothing racks that I can't wait to try on and buy. But I also love watching the new seasons of all my favorite shows in the fall. It seems like there are some really great shows premiering this season too. I've been watching the show The Ringer with Sarah Michelle Gellar in it and I love it so far!

My favorite type of TV show is drama and this one is really fitting the bill for me. I was online reading an interview she did about teh show when I ran across some info on direct tv bundles. I showed it to my husband and after that we decided to change over our internet and tv to one of those bundles.

My husband and I are both wondering what the big thing the bad twin's up to is on the The Ringer TV show

Life, Family and Friends

2011-10-03T00:57:00.000-05:00

One moment you are living your life just like you do every day. You take the kids to school, go to work, come home, cook dinner, watch some T.V. or get on the computer and then go to bed. Every once in awhile, you see a movie, have date night with your spouse, or get together with your family.

One day can change all of that. It can be an incredibly happy day and the next day, you can be shocked with news. I have advice to all of you. Appreciate your friends and family every day-no matter how mad they may make you at times. They are the only ones you have. In the last few years, it just has seemed like I have started to lose those that are close to me in life. I've lost my grandmother (my father's mom) whom I loved so dearly, I've felt like some of my friends have drifted apart, my father-in-law lost his mother, and some of my family have been really sick. And now just recently, another special close friend of mine has passed away unexpectedly.

This is what I fear about getting older. Losing the ones that I love the most. You can be going about in life, and then one day-somebody's gone. You don't get to pick up the phone anymore, you don't get to hug them hello and goodbye....they are gone. ....Although, one day, as I believe, we should all meet again in Heaven..in eternity. And I so hope that I do, because I miss so many so dearly...

So remember, tell your friends and family that you love them today.... You just never know when your last goodbye will be....

I've come up with a poem about Life's Philosophy in the thoughts of all of this. Feel free to read it at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8991393/lifes_philosophy.html?cat=34

Remembering 9-11....10 years ago.

2011-09-10T02:21:00.002-05:00

I don't remember a lot from 10 years ago or the day before on September 10th... But I do remember 9-11.

I remember important family events and some of my daughter's "firsts" as she was just a month from being a year old on September 11th, 2001. She was a little baby, safe from all the worries and disbelief of that horrific day.

When I first awoke that morning and was told by my husband of what happened, I didn't quite believe him at first. There had to be some sort of mistake. But then just minutes later, I heard of the second attack, and then the Pentagon being crashed into.... It seemed as if the world was ending that day... I literally sat glued to the television that entire day, watching in silence as the events unfolded...

Being only 20 myself that year, I myself have never seen Americans in such fear. The looks on the faces of all of those from downtown New York were unforgettable. The tears of those who wept that lost loved ones. The looks of worry upon those who held photos of missing family and friends on the news. It was heart-breaking.

I being an avid soap watcher had set my VCR to record my favorite soap that day. I still have about an hours worth of news footage from CBS from Sept. 11th, 2001. There hasn't really been a day that I have been able to watch it again. When those two towers fell---it seemed like the end was coming.... Perhaps the end of America and how we were.....10 years ago we felt safe.... perhaps we were naive?.... Or that nothing could touch us. Terrorists that day proved us wrong. Since that day, many of us have grown ...America still hasn't quite recovered, but many of us do look over our backs now....

That day is engraved into our memories forever... It was a hard learned lesson that we should have never had to experience. So many lives and innocence was lost. And now, as the years go by, America can only continue to overcome what happened...and continue to fight back....

Below is a poem that I wrote 10 years ago about that horrific day......

In Memory: September 11th, 2001

The day that America cried,
The day that we as a nation, almost lost our pride.

‘Tis was a sad and heartfelt day,
I believe that the memories will never fade away.

Our heroes who fought for their lives to save the next target,
The heroes who worked day and night, to rescue the wounded
This was the time that our nation came together as one,
As we united and mourned together of the tragic events that struck our life

America and its generation will never be the same,
Or will we live without fear or pain…
Our minds are grief stricken…
Our hearts are broken…

This is a time for healing,
A time for uniting
A time to pray
Not to run away…

America, our nation, we are scared and hurting for those at war,
For those who lost their lives.
But we as a people,
Shall stand together,
To unite and protect
Our fathered land.

Finding a Job During the Recession

2011-09-08T02:00:00.000-05:00

The unemployment rate has barely moved in the United States. Businesses are still hesitant about hiring new staff, and consumers are still holding on tight to their money. There are just a few new businesses that are opening their doors. Those that were planning to start are waiting just a little bit longer until the economy gets better...

The question is.....When will it get better?

As smaller businesses continue to lose hope and close their doors, it makes the rest of us uneasy. Prices of products and fuel rise, and we begin to wonder where all of that money in our pockets are going. It makes it scary to walk up to that fuel pump-or even buy that gallon of milk that we need.

Let's face it. Things are just plain scary.

So comes a time when we need to take matters into our own hands. If you are currently out of work and collecting unemployment, there are other small-type jobs or side businesses that you can do while you wait for employment. Perhaps they just might turn into a business and you won't need another job. Or as you find other tasks to do, you can continue a strong work ethic and keep your mind busy.

All it takes is some planning and deciding what your best assets and job strengths are. Do you like to do landscaping? Or perhaps you enjoy watching small children... What about baking? You could bake birthday cakes. Everyone has their own special talents and the possibilities are endless.

There are still some recession proof jobs that you can do. Not every job requires a boss looking over your shoulder....You can take matters into your own hands and create your own job or small side business....Put your creative mind to work and see what you come up with!.....

Or you can read this article..."Simple Start Up Jobs During a Recession" and get some ideas!....

RN: Rising Job in the Employment Market

2011-08-28T13:04:00.001-05:00

If you are one of the millions still looking for employment, then you might consider looking into a position as a RN (Registered Nurse). Every day when I look in the newspapers and the help wanted section, I see many positions open asking for RN's. If you are the type that can handle a little blood here and there, don't mind giving shots or you enjoy caring for others, you might succeed as an RN.

For those who are interested in a position as an RN, you will need to head back to school,take some tests and become certified. A certified RN will be offered more of a salary than one who isn't. Check with your local colleges in the area to find out more about RN programs and where you can take classes to become certified.

Check out the Registered Nurse website (http://www.registerednursern.com/) to learn more about the history, salary and outlook.

And of course, RN's need uniforms too! If you are looking for scrubs, check out:
http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

Identity Theft Protection

2011-08-28T12:52:00.000-05:00

A new article on Yahoo!, is informing debit card users of where NOT to use their debit cards. Identity Theft is still a big problem in the United States and more people must be aware of the consequences.

I myself was a victim of identity theft. Back when I was around 21, I tried applying for a personal loan, and found out that someone in the area of Joshua, Texas had been using my social security number. Addresses and a few closed utility accounts were on my credit report-and they didn't belong to me! It took me forever to get all of the information off of my report that didn't belong to me-and also affected my credit score.

And now, not only must we protect our social security numbers, but we must protect our debit cards as well. The article advises that we should not use debit cards in restaurants-as there are too many prying eyes. Also, sometimes, customers may not even get their card returned to them.

The article also informs readers not to use debit cards for security or rental deposits. The reason for this is because when the money will actually be taken out of your account (and then returned when the equipment is returned). If you use a credit card-the money will just be "frozen."

Also -never use your debit card at WiFi hot-spots. Hackers could easily break into your computer and steal your private financial information.

Before thinking about using your social security number or debit/credit card, make sure that you have proper identity theft protection.If you need to protect your identity, IdentityHawk offers a variety of services to help keep you protected.

Illinois Festivals

2011-08-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

There are a few festivals that are currently going on and also just around the corner. It's hard to believe that summer is almost coming to an end. Usually one of the best ways to end those long summer lazy days is with a festival. Festivals are full of friend foods, foods on a stick, a variety of meat sandwiches and the favorite thirst-quenching shake-ups. I myself enjoy fries with plenty of vinegar and a lemon or strawberry shake-up.

Below are some links to area festivals coming up in the area. These include the Champaign, Urbana Illinois Sweetcorn Festival, Arthur Cheese Festival and Arcola Broomcorn Festival. Save some cash and get ready to eat your way through some of the most popular festivals....

1. Munch on Sweetcorn in Urbana, IL
http://www.examiner.com/food-in-chicago/munch-on-sweetcorn-champaign-il

2. The Arthur Cheese Festival and Arcola Broomcorn Festival
http://www.examiner.com/food-in-chicago/upcoming-festivals-near-the-champaign-illinois-area

Poetry Podcasts, eBook Stores, Book of Poems: Just a few projects in the works!

2011-08-15T01:01:00.000-05:00

So, while I have been busy writing content articles, in the mean time, I have a few other projects in the works too. One project was creating a few podcasts at Spreaker. I still need to do some more there.

If you haven't already, listen to me reading a couple of my poems down below .

*My Little Muse

Small Town Poetry Beat on Spreaker

Through the Trees

Small Town Poetry on Spreaker

The next project is extending the sales of eBooks. I thought it would be a nice compliment to my income. While it may take some time to get started, there have been some sales on eBay-but the prices have been low. Prices may be low because of a still staggering economy. But the way that I see money now--every penny adds up! Below I have listed some of my eBook auctions and my eBook webstore that I am still adding to.

eBooks on eBay-<-Click to view my eBook Auctions

The eBook Sale <---My growing eBook Store

Last of all, I am still working on my 3rd collection of poems, titled "Poems from Home." I really hope to have it finished by the end of this year. The book is still in design mode and I still need to do some editing. Right now, I don't really have any links to show updates on my book, but it does include poems such as the one that I wrote for Douglas County Relay for Life: "The Fight of Their Lives" , An Animal for the Day and "There is No Predicting Rapture."

As these projects get closer to being finished, I will post them here. They all will get completed a little bit at a time-as I do work part time outside my home, have a family and of course--somewhere in between there--I need to sleep! lol.....

Poetry Reading Podcasts

2011-08-04T14:08:00.000-05:00

So, I discovered Spreaker while browsing in the Chrome Web Store the other day. Spreaker is actually pretty useful and kinda neat. It allows you to create your own live radio show or recorded podcasts. I thought-what a perfect opportunity to read some of my poetry to my viewers. I know that I could easily do this in front of a webcam and put it on YouTube, but I'm not really fond of my webcam. While its fun to use to talk to people I know, I'm a little shy about putting myself out there for everyone on the web to see... After-all, poetry is about the words----not about what I look like....

So I will be placing some of my podcasts on here for you to listen to. Sometimes poetry can sound better spoken then just being read on a piece of paper or in a book. .... I look forward to sharing my poems with you.

Remembering Girl Power: The Spice Girls

2011-07-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

So I took another walk down memory lane to remember another fond memory of mine:
The Spice Girls.

This group of girls were totally my idols growing up as a teenager. I danced and listened to their music as loud as I could (without my mom telling me to turn it down!) and even won a lip-sync contest "singing" to these girls.

It was in high school during my junior year. I put on a tiny little black dress and decorated it with glow in the dark stars. The stars spelled out "Spice Girls" on my dress. I put my hair in pig tails and played the roll of "Baby Spice." It was quite a moment to me, because in high school-I was pretty quiet most of the time. So once I hit the stage and threw off my jacket and danced down to the Spice Girls in front of my high school classmates-jaws were hitting the floor. It wasn't something that the shy quiet side of me would normally do.... Yet deep down inside-I loved every minute of it!...

In fact, I loved the Spice Girls so much, that I drew a big huge cartoon picture of them on my bedroom wall. Later on after I moved out, I believe that my dad didn't really have too much fun painting over that picture...lol..... I took an entire day to draw that.. Was quite a piece of artwork!

Sometimes I still find myself singing their songs. I even showed some of their videos to my daughter. She found herself liking a few of them. Every now and then, I wish that the girls were still together, but I know they have grown up to have families of their own, and also have went on to pursue personal interests as well. At least I will always have the memories!

.....You can read my memories of the Spice Girls by clicking on the link below:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8151177/remembering_girl_power_the_spice_girls.html?cat=33

Remembering Fred Rogers and His Neigborhood

2011-07-02T01:20:00.000-05:00

A little while back, I decided to write an article about Fred Rogers.

I grew up watching his show and loved watching him every day. I was awed by his trick of throwing his shoes up in the air and giggled when he tried to make homemade peanut butter in a plastic bag. He actually took some peanuts, a little bit of sugar and some butter and squished it all together in a plastic bar. Mr. Rogers tried to look surprised when the finished product didn't quite taste like peanut butter. That episode always sticks out the most in my head.

I have read both positive and negative remarks about Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Some say he gave people the creeps because he would say that "I love you," or "Let's be friends." But sometimes--kids needed somebody that they knew loved them, or who wanted to be their friends... Mr. Rogers was something nice to sit down and enjoy as a kid. He showed you new things, how different items were made and even had a little land of make-believe. Sometimes he was something a child could turn to for awhile after a bad day of bullying at school...That show was one of my top favorites.

So, in honor of his memory, I wrote a short article at Yahoo! and thought I would share it with you all. Fred Roger's was definitely not someone to be creeped out by. He was a role model, and really loved you for who you were...

Click to read the article: Remembering Mr. Roger's and His Neighborhood

Douglas County Cancer Relay for Life 2011

2011-06-13T01:23:00.000-05:00

On Saturday night, June 12th, 2011,
I got the honor of writing and reading a poem for the Cancer Relay for Life for Douglas county in my area. It was a pleasure writing the poem and getting to read it. While I was somewhat nervous reading it (the crowd was a little larger than I was used to), it was definitely for a good cause. I have lost 2 grandfathers to Cancer, and have had other relatives fight the battle as well.

Below, you will find the poem that I wrote that was read at the Douglas county Cancer Relay for Life 2011 during the Luminary Ceremony...

_______________________

The Fight of Their Lives

God gave each and everyone of us a precious gift of life.

We learned to love and laugh

and develop inspirational dreams.

But for some,

their gift of life was cut a bit shorter at the seams.

They were family who shared a part of our lives,

and friends, whom we cried together,

with tears in our eyes.

We held their hands through each and every difficult part

And with strength and courage,

we fought all the way until the very last beat of their heart.

God blessed us with their cherished gifts that they brought to our lives.

And today, their love and memories are what enables us to fight

through this stride.

While their passing made us tearful with sorrow...

We have to realize that our life here on earth

is just a short time to borrow.

Each day is another courageous fight,

So that we get another chance to say

“I love you, and good night.”

On some days, there will still be some that are scared and unsure,

But there are many of us joining our hands together,

that believe in a miracle cure.

Our undying faith will lead the way.

Because in our hearts,

we all know that prayers can be answered

each and every day.

Identity Theft Crimes

2011-05-30T23:53:00.000-05:00

Around 27 million people have been victims of identity theft. Its becoming a common crime as technology continues to develop. Stealing identities is more about just taking social security numbers. Now identity thefts are taking debit and credit card numbers too.

A news story reported that customers who had shopped at a Michael's craft store had became victims of identity theft. Thieves who made themselves looked like repairmen, installed special chips into the store's card readers so that they could have access to many credit and debit card numbers. Within hours, unknown transactions were being reported on customer's cards. Luckily, local law enforcement was able to catch it and the victims were able to undo their transactions. Although, I am sure that store will be more careful about who comes to "repair" their equipment from now on.

Identity theft protection is more important than ever since the crime is becoming more common. Not only is it up to the law to protect you, but you must take action to protect yourself too. Companies such as IdentityHawk is also offering services to help others not to become victims of this personal crime too. IdentityHawk was created to help consumers safeguard their assets, their properties, and their good names. Through their suite of protective benefits, IdentityHawk members can view the health of their identity protection, identify areas where they're most at risk, and take proactive steps to reduce those risks.

Some ways to protect yourself include:

*Never giving your social security number out to individuals. You really should leave your card locked up unless you are signing up for services or licenses that require it

*Keep your debit/credit card in a plastic case and keep it close to you at all times. Some identity thieves are now carrying special equipment to scan your wallets and purse to obtain card numbers

*Don't give your debit/credit card numbers or pin numbers out to anybody. Keep the information locked away and only available to those who are close to you should something happen to you later on.

The Rising Popularity of eBooks & Ebook Publishing

2011-05-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

A week or so ago, Amazon reported that it sold more eBooks than paper-back books for the first time. Do you think this could be that paper-backs are slowly leaving our bookshelves? With new tech gadgets such as iPads, the Nook and Kindles, eBooks are becoming increasingly more popular.

With the increase of eBooks, having the ability to self publish is also becoming easier. There are many programs that allow you to turn your written document from WORD into an eBook with simple PDF creators. Some websites allow you to upload your eBook for free for others to read. You can also sell your own eBooks on eBay and Amazon too.

Since eBooks are becoming more of a trend, I thought I would try selling some of them on eBay. I won't report my source, but I have access to a variety of different eBooks that I have reseller's rights to, and have started to sell them on eBay. Pretty soon, I will probably begin listing some old paperbacks too. I may try my own little test, and see how well they sell....

If you would like to take a look at my current eBooks for sale on eBay, click on the link below:

ARIANA's eBOOKS for SALE on EBAY

For more information, read about eBook publishing by clicking on the article link below too:

*Ebook Publishing Software for Authors

WCIA Channel 3 News Visits Arthur, IL

2011-05-27T21:59:00.000-05:00

The WCIA Channel 3 News team visited the little town of Arthur, Illinois this week as part of the "Our Hometown" series tour. They spent time interviewing residents and local businesses. Some of the places they stopped were Dick's pharmacy, Miller's Goods, the sewing store and even the Arthur Elementary school.

It was a lot of fun watching them broadcast live this Friday, (May 27th, 2011). I got to see the news team in action as they interviewed a variety of people, taste tested the one pound burger from The Berg and even reported the weather. I also got to meet Jennifer Ketchmark who was very friendly to speak with! It was a pleasure meeting her. And as the poet that I am, I also left her with a little souvenir from Arthur-a poem written by me! :)

If you want to read more about their visit, read my article by clicking on the link below:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8098161/our_hometown_arthur_wcia_channel_3.html?cat=16

Oh, and I also got to have my picture taken with the Sunny Bear Mascot of Channel 3 news! For fun, I did some of the weather reporting lines, so I just might get a chance to see myself doing some weather this summer on channel 3 news!

There is No Predicting Rapture

2011-05-21T12:42:00.001-05:00

So they all say that the world is going to end on Saturday, May 21st which is today..Or not quite end, but be the day of RAPTURE...well...Nobody knows that day except for God...so here is a poem in tribute to the day of RAPTURE.....

_______________________________

There is No Predicting Rapture

There will come a day when we may have to choose,

or the day, that God will take all of those who believe to heaven

Nobody can guess the exact day, time or date…

It’s up to God, who gets to go through that gleaming pearly gate.

Many will try to foretell the future,

And tell us when they think God will come back again,

But time and time again, it is our Lord who will prove them wrong and win.

If you believe in the holy spirit, there is no reason to fear,

As long as you believe, God will always be near.

Nobody can predict a rapture or the end of days…
It’s up to God, and how he decides how we all should part ways…

Somewhere up above, there’s a heaven waiting for all of those who believe

A place, where we will never have to feel alone, or have to leave…
A place full of hope, forgiveness and love
It’s a place called heaven

Way up above the trees…

So to all of those crazy fortune seekers…

Quit predicting the day of rapture…please…

Vegetable and Flower Gardening

2011-05-20T09:56:00.000-05:00

I spent a good portion of my day working out in the garden yesterday. Well-my vegetable garden that is.

There had been so many days of rain, that I hadn't got a chance to get most of it planted yet. I was able to put out some tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and banana pepper plants. Some strawberry plants were already growing in my garden, and I hope at some point that I will have some delicious juicy red strawberries soon!

Besides vegetable gardening, I also enjoy planting flowers. While annuals are very pretty and provide lots of color, I do like to plant perennials too. Perennials will come back year after year if you plant them just right. This way, you can ensure that you will always have pretty flowers blooming come spring time.

Most perennials will stick around till fall or the first frost. This is one reason that I love them so much. You don't have to continually plant flowers to keep your yard looking colorful.

If you are interested in planting some perennials in your flower garden, here is list of 5 perennials that you can include in yours:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5639508/five_perennials_to_liven_your_fall.html?cat=32

FYI: Need Web Content? I offer Writing Services! 400 Words for $5

2011-05-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

If you own a website or blog, I would be happy to provide content for you. I often offer web content writing services on eBay as well. Most of my prices begin with $5 per 400 words. Writing is something that I enjoy and I have been writing web content for a little over 5 years.

To see my writing services eBay auctions, click on the link below:
http://services.shop.ebay.com/Web-Computer-Services-/47104/i.html?_catref=1&_fln=1&_ssn=sentimentaljewelsnbeauty&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282

Below is a list of services that I offer from my website: Your Web Content:
http://yourwebcontent.media.officelive.com/Services.aspx

If you are looking for a specific quote, I would be happy to give that to you too. You can email me at yourwebcontent@yahoo.com

Getting Help with Summer Utility : LIHEAP SUMMER COOLING

2011-05-17T05:00:00.008-05:00

In my area, the temperature can jump around.

One week, we may find ourselves nearing 80 degrees. Within a day's notice, day-time temperatures can drop back down to the 50's and 60's-of course that is what you call Illinois weather. Unpredictable.

But once summer comes around, our electric bills can take a beating. On hot and humid days, we have our A/C's and central air units running. While they are running, the numbers on our meters just keep on spinning. Somewhere in the back of our minds, we are hearing the "Ca-ching" bell sounding or imagining the hole in our wallet growing bigger...

If you are a senior, have children under 3 in your household or are on disability, you may be eligible for the Summer LIHEAP Program. This often runs in the month of July. To find out if your area is offering it, contact your local outreach agency or community center. Seniors can contact their nearest senior center to question them too.

For households that don't meet these qualifications, you can try to keep your home cooler so that you don't have to let your electric bills sky-rocket.

Get creative and try some ways so that you can conserve energy to lower your electricity bills. On hot and humid days, keep your blinds and curtains closed. Use ceiling fans to rotate the air. Set your thermostat at one temperature so that your unit does not continue to run. Try setting it to temperatures between 70 and 72. Also, stay hydrated and drink plenty of water! Use ice packs to place on parts of your body that are warm. Or --go jump in a pool somewhere to cool off. If you don't want to use your own electricity, go to the mall and hang out there where it will be nice and cool-or perhaps the library.

If you are really having trouble with your utility bills, try speaking with the customer representatives and be honest about your situation. Tell them why you are having trouble (such as unexpected car repairs, medical bills or you have been laid off from work). Most commonly, if you have always been good about making payments, they will work with you on a payment plan. The worst that you can do is ignore the electric company. Be upfront and honest, and they just might work with you...

For those who are seniors, have children under 3 or are disabled, click here to find out more about getting help paying your summer electric bills.....

Click here for more information about how to conserve energy to lower your electricity bills.

Money Saving Tips

2011-05-16T06:00:00.022-05:00

In today's economy, many individuals are finding themselves without a job, we are using about half of the money in our wallets to pay for gas and we are struggling to pay the grocery bill. It's getting plain hard to live and families are having to come up with creative ways to save and earn money.

More and more, we are finding ourselves pinching and putting back every penny that we can. Some of us are deciding whether cable television is really that important, how many cell phone minutes do we really need? and creating menus to try to use all of the food that we have at home before heading to the grocery store.

I wrote an article awhile back titled, "How to Save Money While You are on a Budget,"(CLICK THE TITLE TO READ MORE) and the advice that I listed is something that you can still incorporate into your daily life. Learn about some of the ways that you can save money, so that you can still afford to pay the rent, your mortgage, groceries , the utility bill and transportation...If you are lucky-you might have a little bit of money left over!....

The Old Days of the Cassette Player

2011-05-15T00:41:00.001-05:00

Back in the day, I remember using my portable cassette player or walkman. I used to sit on my bed or at my desk while listening to myfavorite tunes. Some of those cassettes included music that I recorded straight off of the radio, the Spice Girls and Paula Abdul. When visiting music stores, I'd search for the latest single on tape, and buy it so that I could play it on my walk-man or in my boom-box... Those days just seem like yesterday. Stored away in an old shoe-box, I still have some old cassettes-and they still play in an old stereo that I have.

While you can hardly find cassettes anymore (unless you visit a garage sale or antique shop), they are nice memories of my childhood to hang onto. Of course, if you talk to my parents, their cassettes were their 8-tracks.... As I had no idea what an 8-track was, my daughter really didn't know what a cassette tape was!...

So in celebration of the old walk-man, and those good ole' days of listening to tapes, you can find an article that I contributed to EggnChips.... Click on the link below to read it..

"THE WALKMAN EVOLUTION

Summer is Just Around the Corner!

2011-05-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that we are pretty much in the middle of May now!

Pretty soon, summer will be here and the kids will be home from school. After the first few weeks that they are off, we may start to hear the "mom/dad--I'm booooored!."

With the economy barely standing on its too feet, and most of us watching the cash in our wallets, it can be hard trying to come up with ideas that won't put a dent in your checking account. If you are looking for some budget friendly ways to have fun in the spring and summer without spending too much money, you can read one of my articles, "Your Guide to Spring and Summer on a Budget." I did some brainstorming and tried to come up with ways to have fun without leaving your backyard or going too far away from your local town.

One thing you can always do is get closer to nature when the cash is low. Looking around at nature is always free, and its live entertainment 24/7. You never know what the birds, squirrels, bunnies or insects are gonna do next!

Click here to read my article on tips to have fun on a budget...

Being Eco-Friendly

2011-05-04T01:48:00.000-05:00

As some of our natural resources begin to slowly fade away, we begin to remind ourselves the importance of the world around us. Some of us are trying new ways to save energy, conserve water and try to use less waste. After-all, we only were given one world, and its the only one we have. Some of us are turning more and more to using eco-friendly products. The more people that begin to use eco-friendly products and resources, hopefully the more we are trying to save our earth.

While there are eco-friendly paper products, cleaning supplies and even t-shirts made out of recycled coke bottles-there are now eco-friendly toys and gifts that you can buy for your children, grandchildren or all of those favorite nieces and nephews. Earthwhile sells eco friendly sells cute pull wooden toys and building blocks for little children.

If you are a frequent shopper and don't want to choose "paper" or "plastic," then buy a few reusable shopping bags. This way animals won't get harmed if they should get mixed up with a floating plastic bag somewhere. Also, the more customers that use reusable shopping bags, the less paper and plastic bags a store would have to order. It's convenient to have your own bags. Not only are they useful for shopping trips, but you can use them to take to the beach or as a bag that has toys and coloring books for your children on those long boring car-rides...

By buying some of these eco-friendly products and toys, it can be fun helping the environment....

Using Your Television as your Computer Screen

2011-05-04T01:36:00.000-05:00

If you want a little extra room on your computer desktop, try hooking your computer up to your television. Most new HD televisions and other newer versions allow you to hoop up your computer to your television with special cords. By doing some research, you can find out what types of cords you will need so that you can turn your television into your computer screen .

Doing this can be useful when you want to work on a PowerPoint presentation, or if you want to watch movies from your computer on your television. This would be ideal for those with Netflix accounts or like to watch their missed shows on websites such as Hulu.com.

If you believe you need extra cables such as VGA cables, you can find them online at Optimization World or sometimes at your local retail stores such as Wal-Mart or electronics specialty stores such as BestBuy. On occasion, I like to use my HD television as a computer screen to watch television shows or movies. This is useful for when I don't want to sit at my desk. If I want to relax, I bring the laptop to the bedroom, hook it up and then sit down to my favorite television shows....

Of course, when I am not relaxing and enjoying my favorite television shows, then I am writing. If you are a writer or a student in school and need assistance, you can check out ACI-Plus to help you with your writing skills. They help with writing important papers such as your thesis and term papers...

Basic Hygiene Care For Nails

2011-04-30T09:58:00.002-05:00

I started writing for the Daily Glow not too long ago, and had my first article published. I decided to write about the basic hygiene care for your nails.

I seem to always be having trouble getting my nail polish to stay on, as it always seems to chip away after I put it on. So if you are looking for some basic care tips for your nails, check out this article: Basic Hygiene Care For Your Nails

(Here's a little peak into the beginning of the article)
______________________________

It is important to have healthy, clean, and strong nails, especially if you work in a place where clients or customers see your hands on a daily basis. Your nails should appear smooth and clear without any ridges. Basic hygiene care for them should be an important part of your daily routine.

One of the first basic steps of nail hygiene is to protect your hands.If you have just had a manicure (whether it was professional or you painted them yourself), you should wear gloves. When you are doing chores at home, such as cleaning dishes, dusting, or anything else that involves getting your hands dirty, wear rubber gloves. This will keep your manicure from getting ruined.....

Click here to continue reading more....

Search Engine Optimization and SIMPLE Optimization

2011-04-29T23:45:00.000-05:00

Getting Plugged in

Search Engine Optimization
"GETTING PLUGGED IN"

The all important 3 words when it comes to advertising your website and creating web content. We all want our websites to be listed in the top 10, and we all want a huge readership when it comes to reading our blogs and articles. If you are going to be successful, then you need to know the ins and outs of SEO.

I am still learning the concept. There must be careful planning of keywords-as well as CAREFUL PLACING of them too. You do not want to over or under-do it. If you over-stuff with keywords, the content starts to sound all garbled-plus you might just get accused of spamming too...

There are companies who can help you with SEO. And perhaps sometime, if you don't have the time or haven't quite learned the skill, you might want to leave it the professionals....

If you need help with writing other documents other than SEO, you might also check out services offered by ACI-Plus. There are term paper, thesis and dissertation specialists available to help you out.

On an simpler note, after all of the hard-work of SEO---there is still SIMPLE OPTIMIZATION. This is basically finding equipment and accessories to make all of your favorite electronics and computers work better---Perhaps you might have better luck-and a better understanding of OPTIMIZATION....instead of SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION or even writing those hard term papers

If you are doing some optimization for electronics then you might need some cable cords...Or perhaps you are looking for VGA Cables....

If so, then check out Optimization-World.com

Unplanned Car Repairs

2011-04-29T23:29:00.000-05:00

Cars are an important part of our lives. So when something goes wrong or we need repairs, it can put an unexpected dent in our budget. Although, it is important to have a reliable car for transportation. We need it to take our children to school, go to work, pay bills and buy food for our home. While those may seem like mundane things, sometimes a car is nice to have for entertainment such as dates, going out to a movie or traveling on a road trip.

So when a car breaks down-we must get it fixed. Seems like with our family, we are always having car problems. Of course, that was when we had an old Dodge Neon. It was one of my husband's first cars-he bought it right after he graduated. Ten years down the road, the car sorta got old and began to give us all sorts of trouble. We had to put brakes on it, change several things in the engine--till eventually-one day-the timing chain broke and it ruined the entire inside of the car. Bye bye Neon.... That was the end of that one...

Although, when you do have a car repair that you need to get done-its best to get a
car repair estimate. This way, you know exactly how much money you will have to spend. This way, you can adjust your budget. If you find that you are in need of a car repair, check online for an estimate.... You'll be happy that you did.

Dangerous Spring Storms

2011-04-29T23:16:00.000-05:00

In the past few weeks, southern part of the United States have experienced some dangerous storms that have included tornadoes, strong winds, hail and lots of rain. Its sad too, that some have even lost their lives. Spring storms can be quite scary, and also leave our houses damaged or give us a lot of extra debris to clean up after. It is important that you take safe cover before any dangerous storm hits. When warnings are issued, it is time to take cover so that you can save your family's lives, as well as your own.

After a storm hits, clean-up can be quite stressful-especially if you have had a lot of damage. Thankfully, there are companies available who offer their services and gratitude that are ready to help you at your moment in need.

If you are needing someone to assess the damage around your home, you may contact storm damage specialists Austin if you live in that area. They can help with water extraction and help analyze the damage.

They also offer a variety of other services besides storm damage too. You might take a look at their website to see what they have to offer you:
http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-cleaning-services/upholstery.shtml

Download a Free Trial of WhiteSmoke Editing Software

2011-04-29T14:25:00.002-05:00

A little while back, I downloaded a useful tool for my writing. It came with a free trial, which allowed me to try its services before purchasing. This useful tool was WhiteSmoke. It assists you with your English and grammar skills. Sometimes after writing content, we don't always see the mistakes ourselves. It helps to have someone else read it, or to use editing software such as WhiteSmoke.

It offers a numbers of features in its software... Some of these include:

Grammar and Spelling
Have your texts enhanced with advanced algorithms that
check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and more

Full-Text Translation
Using advanced statistical machine translation (SMT) technology you can translate full texts in one click

- Multilingual Dictionary
  Translate single words and get usage examples for every word you translate.
- Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence and natural language processing (NLP) technology are at the core of our solutions
- If you are looking for software to help make you a better writer, check out WhiteSmoke to see what it has to offer you. .

Download Your Free Trial of WhiteSmoke

The Importance of Your Credit Score

2011-04-29T13:52:00.000-05:00

In today's economy, it is more important than ever to carry a good credit score. Without a good credit score, your potential to be approved for a loan is next to nothing. If you carry poor credit, and you need a loan, you may have to have someone co-sign the loan or have a second person listed on your application-and that second person must carry good credit.

Every year, you have the chance to check your credit report. Legally, everyone is allowed to check their credit report once per year. It is free to check your credit report each year-but only one time. If you would like to, you can also check your free credit score while you check your credit report too. This will help you understand where your credit stands should you need to apply for a loan, credit card or perhaps buy a new car.

So as the new year begins, always make sure you file to check our credit report. Checking your credit report can also help you guarantee that nobody else has stolen your identity, and that there are no errors on your personal information as well. Be sure to check it with the 3 credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

2011-04-29T13:27:00.000-05:00

A story from one of our readers...Science Fiction Memories....

I think the first show that I ever saw that got me hooked onto mechas and the entire space slash science fiction genre is Neon Genesis Evangelion. It is one of those memorable shows of my youth that I'll never forget. I even remember all the words to the theme songs, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," "Fly Me to the Moon" and a "Beautiful World." I didn't know it at the time, but "Fly Me to the Moon" is a Frank Sinatra song by the same name.

The premise of the show starts in the year 2015. Half of the Earth's entire population is dead -- victims of the disaster known as Second Impact that occurred 15 years prior. A young 14 year old boy named Shinji Ikari arrives in the rebuilt city of New Tokyo-3. His enigmatic father has summoned him for reasons unbeknownst to him. Just as he reaches the city, a gigantic creature identified as an “Angel” attacks. This forces Shinji into the cockpit of a giant bio-mechanical construct known as an Eva. Turns out that the most "capable" pilots of an Eva machine are those who were born after Second Impact.

I just started watching it over again on satellite TV from directstartv.com via the Anime Network and it's definitely just as good today as it was back in 1995 when it first aired.

How to Wear Handmade Jewelry with Scrubs

2011-04-28T01:36:00.001-05:00

Doctors, dental assistants, Nurses assistances, veterinarians and anyone else involved in caring for others or animals might wear scrubs to work. This is useful so that they do not get their own wardrobe messy or ruin it. Sometimes it can be hard trying to pick out scrubs that colorful or fashionable to wear. If you are looking for some colorful scrubs, try checking out these nursing scrub uniforms. It's always good if you can feel comfortable and be colorful all at once.

If you are looking for quality comfortable scrubs, visit:
http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/

If your place of employment allows it, you could add one simple handmade bracelet or necklace to go with your scrubs to add just a bit more pizazz! It can be a simple beaded necklace with seed beads or swarvoski crystals.Or you can wear a bracelet with small lampwork beads or swarvorski crystals too.

Keep in mind though, if you have patients who like to pull on things, it may not be a good idea. But if your place of employment accepts at least one piece of jewelry, a handmade item can really jazz up your scrub outfit.

One website, known as Blue Sky Scrubs, offers a variety of fashion scrubs that can make your work uniform more colorful. You can see some of their designs at:

http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/

Pair some of their work-wear along with a handmade jewelry item or two, and you will look fashionable for the day as you go about "your business."

Do You Ever Have Hand Pain From Excessive Computer Use?

2011-04-28T01:31:00.000-05:00

As a writer and jewelry maker-not to mention, someone who has been using the computers for years, I often get hand pains. Way back when, I think I even remember being put on the computer at 5 years old in Kindergarten in a program called "Writing to Read." I think perhaps that is what sparked my interest to writing as I grew older. We would sit and type up stories about cut-outs we found in magazines and learn our alphabet and words.

Today, I spend quality amounts of my time at the computer writing content articles, poetry and probably a more than equally amount of time on Facebook. So--there's probably a lot of work going through my fingers and hand that can make them hurt quite often. Awhile back, I already had a doctor tell me that I had the starting of Carpel Tunnel. Immediately, I started talking to others who experience the same pain, and they told me try to Vitamin B or even Vitamin B6. As long as I take those continuously, my hands don't hurt as much.

As i was searching the Internet, I found a website that offers products to those with severe hand-pains. Become.com offers what are known as arthritis gloves. Apparently these can help you while you do activities such as knitting, typing or other crafty things. They keep them warm while offering circulation therapy. They can be somewhat described as finger-less gloves---except these make your hands feel good!

When I searched farther on the Become.com website, they also offered other care items too such as home and garden tools, electronics and even those sonicare replacement heads for those great expensive toothbrushes that I would like to invest in one day....

Anyway--if you are looking for other items to help hand pain you could be having, you might just check out that website.

eBay Auctions, Free Listings and Spring Cleaning!

2011-04-18T01:45:00.001-05:00

I've been busy trying to put up some eBay auctions to clean out lots of extra clothes and sell my jewelry too. For those of you who frown at the listing prices, starting April 19th, you can list up to 50 items per month starting at any price that you want for free. Of course, you will still pay the final value price, but the listing fee will be free. It even said something about adding a buy it now button for free too.

If you are like me and would like to do some spring cleaning or need to make some extra cash, you might think about posting stuff on eBay with the new FREE LISTINGS coming up.

I will be selling some of my handmade jewelry, some clothes, (of course my writing services too!), and I have a few neat lists that are full of wholesale and drop-shipping websites too.

For those of you that would like to see what I am selling on eBay (and yet, there will be more to come), check out my eBay link below. Happy Spring Cleaning!!

http://shop.ebay.com/sentimentaljewelsnbeauty/m.html

Online Zoo Webcams

2011-04-07T10:12:00.001-05:00

It can be a lot of fun visiting the zoo, but it also can be a bummer when you can't get there. Especially if its raining or you have just been too busy to get away. There are a variety of virtual zoo cameras online where you can see zoo animals every day...

Watching animals online is a great way to teach your children about wild-life as well-not to mention-very entertaining! You can see gorilla's, seals, elephants, pandas and so much more... If you are looking for zoos to visit online, check out this article about zoo webcams.

Affordable Web Content Writing Services ($5 for 400 Words)

2011-03-12T10:11:00.000-06:00

I have started a new web content writing service called "Web Content For You."

Web Content For You provides unique fresh content for websites and blogs. Web content services are affordable beginning at just $5 for 400 words. There are also web content packages to choose from that include more than one article to purchase too.

I have been writing since 2006, and thought this would be a great opportunity to start providing my content writing to businesses and clients.

If you are interested in having content written for your website or blog, you can check out my services at:
http://yourwebcontent.media.officelive.com

THE FALL OF AMERICA

2011-02-19T11:45:00.000-06:00

I think it began sometime after the two New York towers fell.

At least back then, America was more like a team,

trying to prove our freedom as one.

Somehow since then,

It feels like its all falling apart.

Somewhere along the line,

Many politicians have started to lose their heart.

A recession has taken toll on many lives and businesses.

Ma and Pa shops are closing,

small towns are fighting to keep their faith.

Somewhere along the line, God has been lost in their hearts too.

Families are becoming grief-stricken with the loss of jobs

and applying for government assistance to try to stay afloat.

Before we know it,

That ship too will have sailed, and we will lose that also in the fleeing boat.

Unemployment lines are growing long and dim.

Whatever happened to that bright smile of freedom?

Are we really going to let those heartless greedy politicians win?

Years ago as a child, I had the American dream.

There was so many things that I wanted to be.

And now, I fear for that dream for my child today...

Will she get to be all that she can be?

I pray every night to God,

with all of my heart and might.

Please let their be a light at the end of the tunnel...

Take those politicians to Oz,

Dear God, give them a heart.

Americans need to come together,

be that team that they once were

when that sad day of the towers fell.

If we could remember some of that strength we had then,

Maybe we could fight for what we still believe in.

Or has it finally happened,

That America has given up?

What ever happened to that dream...

What about our veterans who fought for our freedom?

Certainly there are still a handful of us that care

The pull down of the American flag, is a sight that I can't hardly bare...

Its true, many of us now find ourselves sitting at home,

perhaps wondering how we are going to pay our next bill,

or where our food is coming from.

But the time is now...

Our freedom is at stake,

Our children...they still deserve that heartfelt dream.

With God on our sides, we can be a powerful mighty team.

I know some of you might be afraid--

and that's okay,

But those Americans in the past-

they didn't fight for just nothing...

They fought for their families,

and a future for us...

It's time we begin to raise the American flag high...

Raise it up for tomorrow's future...

Because forever more,

It's always been,

IN GOD WE TRUST

Meet My Parakeets

2011-01-18T00:24:00.001-06:00

My Parakeets now have officially become Internet Stars! Well, not really, but maybe one day they just might be! I have put them live online for all of you to enjoy.

I posted a live webcast of them (hopefully with sound as well) at LiveStream.com. You can log onto the channel URL itself or watch them right here at my blog. They will be on during the day, but will be sleeping at night.

If you like parakeets and like watching them play, you can enjoy the 5 of mine if you want :) They are here for your enjoyment :) Have fun! Feel free to leave me a message too!

http://www.livestream.com/parakeetworld

Are You a Young and the Restless Fan? - My Dream Job

2011-01-14T16:05:00.000-06:00

I've been watching Young and the Restless probably since I was at least 5 years old. I know that I used to sit and watch it with my mom back when I was younger. In junior high and high school, I would record the episodes that I would miss, so that I could watch them after school. I have been an avid watcher for years.

Since Yahoo! recently acquired Associated Content, more opportunities have come my way. One of them is writing episode recaps and other content about Young and the Restless. I feel so blessed, and lucky to be able to watch the show and even get paid to write about it! This has become one of my dream jobs, and I feel very lucky to have been given this chance...

If you are a fan of the Young and the Restless, I have created a blog, that includes content and updates that I write for Yahoo! Television. You can read updates on the Young and the Restless at my new blog at:
http://www.youngandtherestlessrecap.blogspot.com/

If you would like to support my writing and also read about the latest on Y&R, please feel free to read my blog at anytime: http://www.youngandtherestlessrecap.blogspot.com/

Ted Williams: The Man with the Golden Voice

2011-01-06T14:36:00.002-06:00

So, what do you do when you are down in your luck? Ted Williams realized he was blessed with something special, and with his belief in God, he was definitely destined to go somewhere. Although Ted fought his battles with drugs and alcohol, he found his way through the darkness and found the light. With a great amount of bravery, he pan-handled by busy roads to show off his gift from God. Ted definitely does have a "golden voice."

The Internet also helped a great deal in spreading the word about Ted. With a simple video posting on YouTube, it went viral and now it has over 3 million views. We all can learn a very simple lesson about Ted...

Even though we are down on our luck, or if things are really looking gruesome, there is a way to pull ourselves back up. Sometimes it takes the most biggest disasters for us to really see that life is a special gift. Ted Williams also teaches us-that just because you may be out of work -or perhaps even maybe moving from shelter to shelter-you won't be there forever. God indeed will look after you--you will get back up again. All it takes is some prayer, a little bit of hope, courage and the motivation to know that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

I have a Dream

2011-01-01T22:09:00.000-06:00

Its the beginning of a new year and we all have dreams and resolutions. Some of us are wanting to lose weight, find a job, spend more time with friends or family or perhaps find a new hobby.

While we are busy trying to start the new year off right in January, we also need to take time to remember a historic icon, Martin Luther King. He definitely made us all believe and have a dream--that one day we all would be created equal. And today, his dream lives on. Martin Luther King is definitely someone all of our children should know about.

If you would like to have some ideas on how to teach your child about Martin Luther King, check out the link to the article below:

How to Teach Your Child About Martin Luther King

New Year's Resolutions for Children

2010-12-22T23:09:00.000-06:00

While all of us take time making New Year's resolutions for ourselves, did you ever ask your child what their resolution is? Are they interested in creating a New Year's resolution too? Just as we have many goals we like to accomplish, there may be special things a child would like to do for the new year as well. If your child is having trouble deciding on what their resolution may be, perhaps you could help them with on. Here are a few steps that you can follow that can help a child decide his/her New Year's resolution.

1. Talk to your child and ask her what the new year means to her. Ask what she would like to do for the year ahead.

2. Help your child write down his ideas on things that he would like to do for the new year. Place a star next to his favorite ones.

3. Pick out her favorite resolution and draw a picture about it. Talk about the resolution with your child and see when or how she would like to make that come true. Hang up the drawing in her room or on the refrigerator so that she can see her picture every day.

4. Click here to continue reading about how to help your child with their New Year's resolution...

Experience the Pending Birth of Jesus Through Facebook...

2010-12-21T10:38:00.005-06:00

A Social Network Christmas.....

The story of Christmas is told by Facebook..... If Mary and Joseph lived today, this is how the story would look on Facebook. This definitely puts an easy understanding on the true meaning of Christmas. If your spirits are low this year, this video will raise them up... We celebrate Christmas every year to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus... Enjoy watching the video.

Some Very Talented Dogs!-Watch these guy decorate a Christmas tree!

2010-12-21T10:30:00.000-06:00

These are some cute and talented dogs! Watch as they decorate the Christmas tree. These dogs are trained by a method called "mirror method." This video will definitely make you smile. Enjoy!

Ariana's Annual Christmas Poem: The Family Christmas Tree

2010-12-20T00:14:00.001-06:00

This year, my annual Christmas poem was inspired by the Christmas tree. Every year, families come together to decorate their tree. Little kids often love putting up their favorite holiday ornaments on the tree or even adding the special ones that they made at school. At our church, we even have a special church service that is dedicated to adding all of our special Christian symbols on the tree... The Chrismon Service.

I began thinking of all the past years that I have helped decorate a tree, and how now, I put up my own Christmas tree as well. Each ornament and decoration has a special meaning when it comes to the Christmas season. Also, there are ornaments that all have a special place in our heart as well. Like those that were family heirlooms, special projects from school or even those given to us by family friends and neighbors. There really is a lot more to the Christmas tree when you think about it....

Take a moment and read my poem, "The Family Christmas Tree" (click on the title). I think you will really enjoy it .... It just might make you think the next time you put up your Christmas tree...

How to Write a Holiday Christmas Poem

2010-12-20T00:06:00.000-06:00

Every year, I like to write my annual Christmas poem. I usually always read my poem at my annual Christmas Eve service at church. The poem is also included in all of my Christmas card mailings as well.

Writing a Christmas poem should be fun, and not stressful. Actually-by keeping all of your favorite Christmas memories in mind, and then combing the actual meaning of Christmas along with those memories -it should be quite enjoyable to write. If you will be sharing poetry this Christmas season, here are some tips on writing your poem.

1. Review the story of Jesus' birth in the bible. Listen to some inspirational Christmas hymns about Christmas and about the baby Jesus.

2. Write down some of the things that mean a lot to you at Christmas time. Think about what Christmas really means to you.

3. Speak with your minister to find out what kind of Christmas church service there will be and see how your poem could fit in with the service.

4. Click here to continue reading the steps on How to Write a Christmas Poem....

Fun Outdoor Activities and Games to Play in the Snow

2010-12-18T15:40:00.000-06:00

During the winter is a fun time to get to play in the snow. Many kids like to build snowman, have snow-ball fights, build forts or have fun laying out snow angels.

Although winter is a cold season, you can stay warm by playing plenty of fun winter games and drinking warm steaming hot chocolate. Just remember to change into something cozy and dry once you have finished playing outside.

Here is a list of fun games and activities that children can do out in the snow...

1. Snowman Making Contest

Host a snowman making contest. Gather together about three children per group if there is a large number of children. Be sure that there are extra scarves, carrots, items for buttons and eyes, food coloring, twigs or anything else creative that the children can come up with to create their snowman. Use a digitalcamera to take pictures. Ask another adult to vote for the best snowman or if there isn't one present, have the other children vote.

Go Ice Skating

Go outside to the nearest rink and allow your child to bring some of his/her friends. Dance away to any music that might be playing. Help those who are just beginners so that they can have fun on the ice too.

Click here to read about more fun activities to do in the snow!

My Top 5 Christmas Movies of All Time....

2010-12-16T02:24:00.000-06:00

Watching Christmas movies are an enjoyable way to celebrate the season and cuddle underneath those cozy blankets during the cold winter season.

There are Christmas movies that stick with us throughout our entire lives that really touch our heart.

Here are a few that have touched mine:

#1 It's a Wonderful Life

This movie makes you feel like there is a reason for living for everybody. It gets you in the Christmas spirit after that little bell rings at the end of the movie... There's nothing like watching a little bit of George Bailey when you are feeling down on hope...

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#2. The Christmas Shoes

Learn the spirit of giving and what it means to truly be a part of Christmas. While the movie is sad, it makes you appreciate all of the loved ones around you and reminds you-we are all not here forever...-->Click here to continue reading about my TOP 5 CHRISTMAS MOVIES

Top Christmas Webcams on the Web: Virtual Holiday Fun

2010-12-08T01:13:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for a way to introduce a little Christmas cheer into your household, and you can't travel abroad, there's always virtual travel on the Internet by webcam.

Christmas is a lively and spirited time of the year. It's always beautiful with all of the magnificent colorful Christmas lights, holiday decorations and cheerful music that plays all throughout cities all over the world. It can also be exciting to see how other areas beautify and celebrate for Christmas too. There are a variety of online Christmas webcams that we can watch throughout the Christmas season.

For those who want to peak in on Santa Claus, they can view the inside and outside of Santa's office at the Artic Circle in Finland. Tune in while you listen to Christmas music and watch the lights or see the light fluffy snow on the ground. There is also previously recorded video of a morning in Santa Claus village or you can observe the daily activities of the people who come to visit the office too. The website also provides information on how children can mail Santa Claus a letter too......

Click here to continue reading more about Christmas webcams that you view on the web.....

5 Cool Ways To Use Your iPhone 4 as a Computer

2010-11-30T01:17:00.000-06:00

iPhones are the new trend when it comes to cell phones. There are so many applications and uses for them. It's almost like having a computer and the Internet available at your finger-tips 24-7. If you are usually always on the go, an iPhone may actually replace your computer.

There are several ways that your iPhone can act as a computer. One of them is simply logging onto the Internet. With the purchase of iPhones, you usually are required to purchase a data package which includes access to the Internet. You are able to read and send email, browse and bid on Ebay, search for information on Google or Wikipedia, read the latest news, update your status or see your friends' statuses on Facebook and much more. Almost anything you usually had done on the Internet at home, you can do on your iPhone.

With iPhones, you also can send or create documents. If you have an important blog post, article or form that needs sent to your boss, you can create and email it to him/her. You could begin writing your first drafts for your novel. You can save it to your phone or save it in an online file storage account. For college students, you can proofread or finish up the last few paragraphs of a report before emailing it to your teacher.

If you are an individual who loves to take and share pictures, you can also do this with your iPhone. Take pictures with your phone, and share them at photo-sharing websites or even get them developed. Upload them to stores such as Walgreen's and then pick them up later. Email photos to your friends and family or share them on Facebook.

Is it time for monthly budgeting of the bills again? Instead of sitting down at your desk at home which is piled with papers, sit down in peace somewhere out in a park or a quite place such as a library to gather your thoughts. Figure your bills online with your iPhone and then pay them online. Use spreadsheets to find out how much you will have left over once everything is paid. If you are traveling and need to know your bank or credit card balance, you can also check it with your iPhone too.

For those long stressful days, there's always plenty of games to play on your iPhone. Download applications or surf the Internet for them. Relax, kick back, and enjoy some “me-time” while you use your phone to play some fun games. You won't have to fight a family member for computer time or sit down at a desk to play. Simply pull out your phone, load your favorite game, and play away.

"Once your iPhone has all of the features that you want it to have and it begins to replace your computer, you can also decorate it with accessories. You can buy decorative earbuds for when you are listening to music or purchase designer iPhone covers. There are a variety of designs, colors and themes that are available in iPhone covers. Not only do they decorate your phone, but they can protect it as well. "

So if you are looking for a phone with all of the bells and whistles or you are a person on the movie, an iPhone is an ideal accessory to own. There are many activities that you can do on an iPhone that you would normally perform on a computer. This can make your life easier, simpler and help avoid fighting for computer time with others who live in your household.

More Gift Ideas for Christmas: Fishermen Gifts

2010-11-14T22:57:00.003-06:00

Do you have people in your family who enjoy fishing or even make a sport out of it?

The holidays are just around the corner, and there is a great new tool that every fisherman should bring with him on his fishing trips. Now you can fish with a remote control fishing boat!

When you are out fishing, you won't have to deal with any screws, glue or tools. The fishing pole is actually mounted within the remote control fishing boat. The RC Fishing Pole will be able to fit to any fishing boat. During your fishing outing, simply drive the boat around the lake until you find a good spot to begin fishing. Once a fish hits, you watch the line come off of the boat, and then it reels in the fish. Or instead of waiting, just keep on driving the remote control fishing boat around until the prize fish hits the line! The line can go out to 200-300 feet. This will give you plenty of opportunity to catch some of your favorite fish.

You can catch a variety of fish using the boat. This includes Bluegill, Bass, Cripe, Catfish, Pike, Crappie and more! This could be one of the best gifts that any fisherman could ask for. It could also make a great gift for kids who go out on fishing trips as well. RC fishing will make it fun for younger fishers who may enjoy steering around the remote control boat. The gift is actually very affordable as well...Its around $20 with a $3.95 shipping fee... If you have friends or family that enjoy fishing-show them a new and fun way to fish for Christmas...

Christmas Shopping for the Holidays: Rocky the Robot Truck

2010-11-10T18:18:00.000-06:00

Are you shopping for the Christmas holidays? If you have a little boy or have a nephew, cousin or grand-boy who is into trucks and robots, then Rocky the Robot Truck could become one of his favorite toys. Rocky will load up and unload heavy loads, dances and even speaks. Rocky can say up to 100 different phrases! Perhaps your little one will never run out of things to say with Rocky. He can even put on his favorite song and dance right along with Rocky too.

Rocky the Robot Truck has other truck sound effects such as honking, lighting effects and engine sounds too. When your little boy puts away Rocky, he is sure to put in a good night's sleep. Rocky will fall asleep and might even snore until he is ready to play again the next day.

If you are curious what others have to say about Rocky the Robot Truck to help you decide if he is the right toy for your little one, check out the Rocky the Robot Truck Review....

Going Retro......

2010-10-28T16:31:00.005-05:00

Hello readers. I have started writing for another website. The new website I began writing for is called EggnChips.com. This one has a lot of retro content. Anything that is retro goes. You can read about old Atari games, Nintendo games, old television and movies, and more.
It has been fun to read and write about retro because I love to think about the old days. Sometimes it seems as if the games and toys back then were funner at times.

If you enjoy reading about retro-or even playing old games (some of them are on the site for you to play for free!), then you might check the website out.... http://www.eggnchips

I wrote my first article about 90's stars Melissa Joan Hart and Joey lawrence. You probably remember Melissa from shows like "Clarissa Explains It All," and "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch." Joey Lawrence is best know for his acting in the family sitcom, "Blossom." The two starred together in a movie, "My Fake Fiance," and they did so well, that they are now airing in a family sitcom appearing on ABC Family called, "Melissa and Joey."

If you would like to read my article, click the link below:

90S STARS MAKE A COME-BACK TO SITCOM COMEDY

Selections from Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence:

Flying to be Free

2010-10-20T02:19:00.000-05:00

Bandwith for just $0.01 for the First Month

2010-10-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

I know as a writer or even an Internet entrepreneur, it is important to have a website, blog, my own domain and even some affordable hosting. I have a client on Fiverr.com who is offering unlimited domains, space and bandwidth for $0.01 for the first month. They also can get you a WordPress blog set up in under five minutes just to get you on the road to the fast-track.

Hostgator Review is trying to make easy when it comes to choosing web hosting and domains...They also want to make sure that their services are want will work best for you--as they instruct you to read all of the contents on their front page before continuing.....

To get started, they are offering a special $0.01 sign up!
When you check-out, just simply type in the text "1CentReview."

-->Click here to find out how you can get unlimited space, bandiwdth and domains virtually free for the first month

This way, during your first month, you can basically test drive your website--to exactly what you will need to promote your business on the web....

Self Publishing on Barnes and Nobles

2010-10-16T01:03:00.000-05:00

All of us writers and authors all want to publish a book or get published in a book!

We have submitted and submitted--and sometimes still get those annoying "NO" letters... While some of us have had success getting published, there is something about SELF PUBLISHING that is more satisfying.

A client of mine on Fiverr.com, Maria Gudelis is an author, entrepreneur, Real Estate agent and an Internet Marketing Expert. She wants to let others know why they should get published on Barnes and Nobles...

Here are her 4 reasons for getting published on Barnes and Nobles:

1. It gives you instant Credibility
2. It separates YOU from the rest of your competition
3. You use the book as your “Lead Generation Magnet” and each buyer of your book becomes a customer that can buy even MORE from you as you establish a relationship with them
4. You can use the book as a instant ‘conversation’ piece at networking events.
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You have to admit, these are all pretty good reasons. For an author to get their book into a well known market such as Barnes and Nobles is a great success--and its also a great way to release your book to millions of consumers on the market....
Maria Gudelis wants to tell you even more information about publishing and she has plenty of tips and advice to give you on her blog.... For those who are interested in self-publishing, they should all definitely give it a read....

The Business of Fiverr.com

2010-10-16T00:46:00.000-05:00

In the last month, I have had many orders and have obtained some new clients from Fiverr.com. I actually found this website information in a Woman's Day magazine. There was an article about 12 ways to earn income online, and Fiverr.com was one of the websites listed.... Ever since day 1 of signing up there--I have had an order.

You basically set up a gig that you are wiling to do for $5. You complete the gig, Fiverr takes $1 and you get paid $4. The only downfall is that Fiverr holds your payment for up to 2 weeks. But then you get paid. While $4 doesn't seem like much--after awhile---it adds up quick! Especially after you have many orders!

I wrote an article explaining more about Fiverr.com and if you are interested in making an income doing whatever kind of task you want for $5 (some are even as strange as singing Happy Birthday Marilyn Monroe style for $5),

then check out my article:

THe Business Benefits of Fiverr.com

Losing Weight

2010-10-16T00:38:00.000-05:00

If you are like most people, than losing weight can be hard sometimes. I know I have had my ups and downs about it myself. There is so much different foods to try on the market, and even more technology available that seems to keep us inside. It is important to get outside and exercise, or even exercise to videos in the home if we can't get out-and its also VERY important to keep a healthy diet and eat the foods that are healthy for us...

On Fiverr.com, there was a client who had a weight-loss program that they wanted me to blog about. It's called The Mediterranean Diet.

Here is the description of the Mediterranean Diet:

Do you love eating well? The Mediterranean diet is based on delicious foods. It is a way to live well, be well, and get to a healthy weight (and stay there) without feeling deprived or hungry.

I know that I would like to be able to eat what I want-without feeling deprived--and then actually stay at my goal weight! You can still eat what you want (in moderation)-have a positive mind set-YES -you can meet your goals, --and have plenty of optimism..... A positive mind with happy thoughts-will help you get to where you want to go! With the Mediterranean diet, you can learn how to lose weight naturally, lower cholesterol naturally, (for pregnant women-learn to eat a healthy pregnancy diet) and learn about monounsaturated fats.

Introducing: Pyxism....

2010-10-16T00:26:00.000-05:00

At Fivver.com, one of my clients wanted me to tell you a little about his company, Pyxism.

Its actually a travel company where you can get discounts on products and vacations that you can sell at retail. Those who decide to take advantage of this new home-based-business will have access to thousands of resorts world-wide at steep discounts-That they can then offer to consumers. Sellers can also have the chance to book their own travel as well. When you sell one of these great get-aways to a customer, you earn commissions.

If you had always wanted to get into the travel business, and offer exotic vacations, then this is your time to lock into Pyxism's home based business... Should you be one of the millions who have found him/herself out of work and looking for a new opportunity, perhaps you can read more about this business...

http://fortuneladders.com/http://www.FortuneLadders.com

Busy as a Bee!

2010-10-16T00:17:00.000-05:00

The Rural Freelance Writer here has been quite busy! I have had many writing orders and clients in the last month or so. Recently, I found a new website to provide writing services to called, "Fiverr.com." I offer to write 300-400 word articles for $5. There also is a new Twitter and blogging service that I just started offering, so you may see some new advertisements or reviews about websites to come on this blog too.

Then, I got a cool idea to start advertising my writing services on Ebay! I don't know why I didn't think of that before! I also have been getting many clients from Ebay and have been trying to keep up with orders there as well. It has been a very busy time for me.

To some, it may not seem like much-but in one day-I made $114 just from writing--It was great to feel that I made that just from my own writing services.... Was really awesome....

--So be ready readers--you may be meeting some of my new client friends here at the Rural Freelance Writer--as I review their topics and introduce them to you......

So if you don't hear much from me much---Its because my fingers are busy typing and dancing all over the keyboard!.... I promise to check in every now and then though!

Technology Blog

2010-09-12T22:38:00.000-05:00

Hello to all of my readers who read my blog:) I've been keeping busy with local festivals and trying to find ways to get more hits on my articles and blogs as well.

I have started another blog--a "niche" blog focused on technology. Since I am a featured technology contributor at Associated Content, I figured that I would begin to share some of my technology articles.

For those who would like to follow or start reading my technology blog, you can read it by clicking on the link below:

Technology and Family
http://technologynfamily.blogspot.com/

It will feature articles about games or websites for children, new electronics, useful websites or links to free software and tips on using the Internet. I mostly will try to feature basic or daily Internet tips or websites that are focused on family or children--instead of advanced users...

Hope you decide to come on over and take a read :) ....

Yahoo! News Bytes August 12, 2010

2010-08-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

I write for Associated Content and now Associated Content is a part of Yahoo!.... Thought I would post this video for you all to see :) It's kinda neat....

Okay--So It seems I took the summer off from blogging

2010-08-15T00:51:00.000-05:00

Alright readers---are you still here? .. Perhaps there is new readers? ... It seems that I have taken the summer off from blogging without actually meaning to. I've been sorta busy with a few mini vacations, writing for other websites, working at my out of home part time job and just doing thing around the house. I guess I have neglected my little blog here.

With school starting in just days, I figured I would get re-acquainted with this blog of mine and begin writing as the "Rural Freelance Writer" once again.

I am still writing for some websites---these websites include:

*Demand Studios
*Associated Content
*Examiner.com
*123 Experts (on occasion)

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Recently, I also submitted an article to my local newspaper to see if I could possibly catch a by-line... I will find out soon to see if it will get published. It was an article about saving money for school supplies. I have also been busy writing tech articles for back to school at Associated Content as well.

Here are some links to my back to school technology articles:

5 Popular and Affordable Cell Phones for Students

10 Affordable Gadgets for Back to School

Five Back-to-School Budget-Friendly Laptops for Students

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I am trying to come up with new articles for Examiner so that I can begin to make money there as well. At Examiner, I am only paid for page-views but some writers seem to do extremely well over there. So if you know of a food festival, restaurants, popular grocery or specialty food stores around the Champaign, IL area--please let me know :) I would be happy to write about them and give them online exposure...

For now--I am signing out---I will be back again and promise not to stay away for so long next time!...

Taste of Champaign-Urbana Arts & Crafts Festival (June 11th-13th 2010 )

2010-05-27T12:31:00.003-05:00

Taste of Champaign-Urbana

Arts Crafts Festival

(June 11th-13th 2010 )

Click here for more details about the festival...

In the mood for trying a variety of delicious food, listening to live music entertainment or browsing creative handmade crafts? During the second week of June, Champaign, IL's park district will be hosting the Taste of Champaign Arts and Crafts Festival. There 20 food booths that are expected, 3 days of live music and entertainment, a family fun zone and crafts such as jewelry, painting, pottery and more. 50,000 people are expected to attend...Read more.

Now Examining Food in Champaign, Illinois....

2010-05-22T23:25:00.001-05:00

So, I am exploring another writing venture...

I have been reading and checking out the website, Examiner.com.(here's my new page) I had applied, and got accepted into their writing program. You are paid for the amount of traffic that you receive. You also get $50 for every person you refer if they become an Examiner as well...

Some websites I have read that people earn well at Examiner---some earn around $400 a month, while others can earn up to $2,000. I guess it is all about how much SEO you know how to do, and how much effort you also put into your marketing... I just got signed up late last week, and have added two articles so far...

---So, as of a couple days ago-You are now looking at the new Champaign Food Examiner. I will write about different types of restaurants, food stores in and near Champaign. So, I guess finally-I couldn't get more local or rural ...

If you like to check in with me every now and then-keep your eyes open for posts from Examine... I'll be letting all of you know when I publish something new there too :) ---Hope this leads to an exciting and perhaps lucrative side job ;)
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