Having quite a bit of business experience on a personal level, I know exactly what it means to master efficiency and time management. We have an amazing amount of technology right at our fingertips to make our lives more manageable, and bring our levels of success to a whole new level. Although I have changed my business style, and stick to a simple method of choosing affiliates to take care of most of the business details for me, not everyone will have my own level of experience to handle all the little details and truly succeed.

I can see the tremendous value of utilizing a company whose main focus is exclusively on improving the interactions between businesses and their consultants. Mavenlink is the first company to do just this, and they have not disappointed me with their level of insight and professionalism. I am really quite impressed how they have managed to create an intuitive technological platform which embraces the consulting lifecycle, while managing all business relationships and transactions so that your projects have a greater opportunity for success.

For Businesses

From a business aspect, you can invite Colleagues to your Workspace, and the ability to invite other colleagues to a workspace gives you the option to create the following actions.

~ Collaborate with other team members to get buy in or feedback.
~ Provide immediate visibility to management, peers or direct reports as to progress or updates on a particular project.
~ Get help completing your obligations, if any, related to the project deliverables.

You will be notified of all key communications that occur within the Mavenlink system via email, so you don’t have to worry about missing something that happened on a project or live in front of your browser. Whether you’re on the road, in a meeting, or checking in from a vacation, your email will provide you with a comprehensive view of your important to-do’s and updates originating within Mavenlink.

For Consultants

Since Mavenlink provides services and a workspace for both businesses and consultants, you may be pleased to know that all client communications, project notifications, due dates, and deliverables related to your working world is captured in one place: your Mavenlink dashboard. As you begin working within the system
whether with new or existing clients, you will quickly realize the advantage of a single view of your client-facing activities.

Just imagine bringing your online resume to life with actual work samples, robust project histories, live references, and a robust feedback system. Mavenlink’s profile offers a true reputation building model for professional service providers.

Featuring Mavenlink’s Comprehensive Platform

Mavenlink’s built-in, all-inclusive system guides you, your clients, and your team down a clear path from proposal to final payment.

~ Maketing & Lead Generation
~ Proposals
~ Negotiation
~ Contracts
~ Collaborative Workspace
~ Invoicing & Payments
~ Reputation Management
~ Business Networking

It is quite obvious that we all need to be up to speed, keeping up with the times, and Mavenlink is here to deliver the innovative technologies and services that will forever change the way people work together. I really like their Free Trial on all Plans, with no credit card required, and would like to encourage you to check it out for yourself.

Rock Band!

Yep, when I got my first ‘flawless’ on Bon Jovi’s ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’, it was all over. Next thing we knew, we had earned a new manager, and started getting popular enough to go on tour, hire some roadies, compete for a new tour bus, and we even played our booties off for our very own jet plane! Now we were travelling in style… yeah baby!

I think I started gaining the most enjoyment once we moved out of easy mode, into medium difficulty. By then, speaking for myself, I was much more comfortable, and it seemed much easier to kick back and enjoy playing the guitar without stressing over hitting the correct keys. I was totally comfortable enough to let my fingers fly and have loads of fun with the songs. Some songs are really fun to play, and sound totally rockin’ when we hit the notes just right.

What I love most is that I can do really well singing the songs. I really like to challenge my voice to make each song my own, while keeping the essence of the song intact. Some songs kick me in the butt, and I struggle to match the tones, and I sometimes give up and just hum… LOL

But hey, I did get that ‘flawless’ score in singing ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’ by Bon Jovi… one of my most favourite songs ever! Although ‘Orange Crush’ by R.E.M. nearly killed me… again, and again… hehehe. I really think all this singin’ action has placed a bit of stress on the mic. I am thinking the Rock Band Official Microphone (PS3, Wii, Xbox360) seems the best option, and I am certain it is the standard mic already in use. I would totally appreciate any feedback on this particular mic, or a preferable option.

Speaking of Rock Band, I think it is just about time for a rock break! Enjoy…

I decided to go online to check around and find out how easy it would be to file my son’s taxes for him, so he would not have to pay a huge fee to have someone else file for him. I discovered it is really quite easy to file our own taxes, as we are given step by step instructions, and this saves time as well as money. I also like the fact that at places like eSmart Tax, we can actually figure out our Federal taxes and file for free!

eSmart Tax, the premier online tax preparation service powered by Liberty Tax Service, is offering two ways American taxpayers can file their federal return online for free this year: the always-free Basic edition and the free Deluxe edition for persons with the last name of Johnson.

And get this. If your last name happens to be the second most common name in the United States, which just happens to be Johnson, then you and 2,121,489 other Johnsons file free!

Featuring eSmart Tax Deluxe Edition Which Includes:

~ Federal Tax Preparation and e-File – All the forms you need are right here, along with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that make free e-filing effortless.

~ e-File State Taxes – Only $5.95!

Seriously, even though my name is not Johnson, I would definately offer up my recommendation to those millions of Johnson’s out there, to just take a few moments and see what eSmart has to offer. It is totally free to check out, and just takes a few moments. I am not one to pass up a good opportunity, especially when it is so simple, and something which will save me precious time and the costly fees of hiring someone out to prepare my taxes. I always choose my best and greatest option.

The site can be a bit slow to load, but the different areas are colorful and imaginative. The games are standard fare and girls can view videos featuring their favorite Barbie™ movies. She can also enjoy an enhanced Barbie Girls® experience with a V.I.P. membership, which would grant her access to exclusive areas, allow her to adopt virtual pets, “spend” B Bucks®, and play a number of great members-only games.

Did someone say fashion and boys all the same sentence? Two of the hottest subjects of most girls, so this Virtual World just may have some kind of special appeal to those girls between the ages of 8 – 15.

Cost: Free for basic membership, $5.99/month for VIP (multi-month discounts available)

As always, our kids safety is top priority. Please always remember to visit a site with your child to decide if it’s the best site for your family rules and values. Although the best of safety measures have been incorporat

I am in the market for a new cell phone for both my daughter and myself. We are looking for something that carries all the features we need to get the best bang for our buck. Basically a phone such as the SANYO Incognito, in which there is no contract required and they have nationwide coverage, with an unlimited plan. This phone looks like it just may keep us very happy, with some pretty cool features.

Basic Features

~ Model Number: SANYO Incognito™ SCP6760
~ 2MP Camera with VGA Camcorder
~ Music and Video Player
~ Enhanced Web Browsing
~ GPS Navigation Enabled
~ Nationwide Coverage
~ 3G Speeds where Available
~ Voice Activated Dialing
~ QWERTY Keyboard with Dedicated Text, Camera and Emoticon Shortcut Keys
~ Large 2.6″ main display, Camera/Camcorder, Stereo Bluetooth® and MP3 player
~ Price point: $129.99 (excluding taxes) with Free Shipping when purchased through the required link

With EVDO capabilities and a full QWERTY keyboard, friends and families can stay connected via their favorite social networking sites and share content within seconds.

Additional features include Multi-Media messaging (Picture & Video), Stereo Bluetooth® Capable & GPS Enabled.

*Special Note – SANYO Incognito™ pairs perfectly with the Boost Mobile $50 Monthly Unlimited Plan which offers unlimited talk, text & web with no contract.

Vino-Air Wine Aerator and Pourer

What is the Vino-Air Wine Aerator and Pourer?

Ingenious construction complemented with optimal convenience, this on-bottle wine aerator does it all serves up a perfect pour, eliminates drips, and fully aerates and oxidates your wine for maximum flavor and quality.

Using innovative technology, this wine aerator has a specially designed, dual venturi chamber that pulls twice the vacuum as the leading venturi aerators to more fully oxygenate your wine (unlocking premium flavors and aromas), while the sleek, compact size makes for effortless portability. Simply place aerator on the mouth of your wine bottle, smoothly pour yourself a glass, and voil perfectly oxygenated wine in seconds! Works with both red and white wines. Wine aerator measures 7″ long.

Well then, I am quite impressed with this totally cool Vino-Air Wine Aerator and Pourer, and I simply must have it! And just think what a great gift this would be for the wine connoisseur in your Virtual Realm.

One aspect of my personality that seems to attract others is my positive attitude. I am always going out of my way to help others. I have made it a personal goal of mine to look for ways to improve upon myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My path seems to lead me to just what I am looking for, right when I need it.

Someone like me still needs a bit of inspiration from time to time. When it comes to living our Dreams, nothing can stand in our way of achieving our goals, as long as we learn how to do this in a good way. Sometimes we despair about our Life situation, and just need a little boost to get us going again. I have a great desire to live my Dreams to the fullest, and let the pain of the past stay right where it is; in the past.

I have discovered a great coaching tool in the form of a book called Blast Off! written by leading Life and Career Coach, Allison Maslan. I am truly ready to take my Life to the next level and wholly realize my greatest desires and make my Dreams a reality. Allison reveals her failures, as well as her successes in this eye opening book, designed to help others gain the personal and professional happiness that she herself has achieved.

Hear what others have to say about Blast Off!

“How sweet is this! A beautifully crafted book, jam-packed full of bright wisdom, heartwarming stories, and brilliant ideas. Let it be your personal coach and you cannot go wrong. It will guide, advise, encourage, and even cheer you on at each and every step of your way, as you craft a vision, breathe life into your dreams, and make them come true.”
Miranda Castro, FSHom, CCH, homeopath and author, The Complete Homeopathy Handbook; Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Your Baby’s First Years; and A Homeopathic Guide to Stress

“Allison Maslan is amazing. My dreams have come true after working closely with her program. Blast Off! is completely unique and led me to my road of success. Years of dreaming are now manifesting as a speaker and writer due solely to her program. Thank you, Allison!”
Jeanne Stryker, M.D.

These are just a couple of the wonderful comments people have on this amazing book. Are you ready to take your Life into your own hands and create a Path to make your Dreams a reality? Take a chance and focus on what it is you want out of Life. This is definately on the top of my ‘must have’ list, and what a great deal for only $24! Blast Off! has officially launched as of January 19th, 2010 and is available on Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble websites. It will also be available in all other major bookstores!

So I decided to find some great tools to help get us started. Of course, I am already a fan of LeapFrog, so it was an easy guess that I would find something quite simple to get us going. When I saw the LeapFrog Scribble and Write, I knew I was on the right track. Let me just post a couple of reviews to let people see how others have responded to this cool little gadget.

BoysMommy says…

This was an Amazon gift from the grandparents to my 4 year old. He LOVES this! It teaches your child the proper way to make their letters. (My 8 year old needs one LOL!)He loves tracing the dots and sliding the eraser. It cheers the kids on after they push the paw print. He will sneak to play with it when he is suppose to be sleeping. It is currently at show and tell at his pre-k, he loves it that much. One week of use and he is going all over the house writing the first letter of his name. He has shown off his letter writing skills at the Drs. office. He now writes his letters better than his big brother in 3rd grade!

Daddy B Me writes…

My 3 year old is starting to write and draw and this is really helping with her learning to write her ABC’s and shapes. She really loves the dog Scout and the cute audio. The size of it is right on the money and is easy to take along in the car. Every letter brings out some cute responses too.

Mother of 2 Boys tells us…

My 3 1/2 year old son got this scribble and write for Christmas. He loves following the dots to draw, does great with the letters, still a little slow with the picture part but is so proud when he writes the letter properly. And the best thing of all, he enjoys using it (and he’s learning without even knowing!!)

Well then, I am definately of a mind that this is a great gift, as well as a sweet little learning toy. For the price, it is worth checking out… what a wonderful addition to our travel toys to keep those little ones occupied on the road as well!

Although I love to spend a lot of time outdoors, there are times when I just like to kick back and catch a good movie or watch my favorite shows. This doesn’t happen often enough with my busy lifestyle. Since I don’t always have the time to run out and look for an entertaining flick, I like to be able to take advantage of the virtual options available to me. I also get pretty tired of missing my favorite programs when my life takes me out of the room during the best parts!

In comes the totally cool feature of On Demand. Since I am pretty picky, and like to take advantage of my best options, I have decided to hop on over to learn more at charter.net/ondemand to see what they have to offer. You may not know it, but if you have Charter digital, you have On Demand. And it’s totally free to access with your service.

If you are anywhere near as busy as I am, you will be happy to learn that there are over 6,000 movies and shows to watch anytime you want. This is especially convenient when the grands stop by for a visit, and are looking to me for their entertainment. No more waiting for Dora or Spongebob… just click and go!

From what I have learned, Charter also has hundreds of HD shows available. I mean, after all, HD is totally the new thing in our modern virtual world and I like to take advantage of a good thing when I find it.

So if you are tired of missing your favorites, like The Office, Heroes, or 30 Rock, well then perhaps it is time to check out what Charter On Demand has to offer. You can even get updates and fun extras on Charter’s Facebook page. This is definately worth taking a few minutes to take a look and see what all the buzz is about.

I would like to get her something small enough to carry around in her pocket or purse, yet still have enough virtual memory to get plenty of footage. We need something simple to operate, with enough features to make it fun, and allow her to express her creative nature. We are always looking for new material to work with in our Artistic Expressions class. She loves to share, so the video camera will also need to carry the proper software to upload videos easily onto YouTube and such.

We are quite fortunate that technologies are advancing as quickly as they are, because I do believe I have found the perfect fit for our needs. Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom comes loaded with the features we are looking for! Let me give a quick view of what this sweet little pocket video camcorder has to offer.

Technical Details

~ High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 8 GB of video storage capacity
~ Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
~ One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
~ Record up to two hours of HD video footage or up to four hours of video at VGA resolution
~ Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with included HDMI cable

Manufacturer Product Description

From the Manufacturer Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button.

Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment.

Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 8GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording and playback per charge, up to eight hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI cable included, A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing.

System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with soft pouch, HDMI cable, and USB cable.