~ The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog ~

How to bath your newborn!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Sponge baths

For the first week or so, until your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off and the area heals, it's best to stick to sponge baths with a lukewarm, moistened washcloth. Wash his/her face and hands frequently, and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change.

Tub baths

After the umbilical cord stump dries up, falls off, and the area heals, you can start giving your newborn tub baths. While a baby is tiny, it makes the most sense to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub instead of a standard tub.

Although some parents bathe their babies every day for the sheer pleasure of it, until a baby is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn't really necessary more than once or twice a week. When you do bathe your newborn, you may find it a little scary at first. Handling a wiggling, wet, and soapy little creature takes practice and confidence, so stay calm and maintain a good grip on him/her.

Some babies find the warm water very soothing. If this is the case with your baby, let him linger. Others cry through the whole bath — that's when you'll want to get him in and out. Keeping the bathing room warm can help.

Bath safety

• Never leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop him up in a towel and take him with you.

• Never put your baby into a tub when the water is still running (the water temperature could change or the depth could become too high).

• Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A child can get third-degree burns in less than a minute at 140 degrees.

• Never leave your child unattended. (Yes, it's so important we listed it twice). A child can drown in less than an inch of water — and in less than 60 seconds.

How to give your baby a bath

1. Gather all necessary bath supplies, and lay out a towel, a clean diaper, and clothes.

2. Fill the tub with 2 to 3 inches of water that feels warm but not hot, about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

3. Bring your baby to the bath area and undress him completely. (TIP: If your baby cries through every bath, leave the diaper on at first. It can give him an increased sense of security in the water.)

4. Gradually slip your baby into the tub feet first, using one hand to support his neck and head. Pour cupfuls of bath water over him regularly during the bath so he doesn't get too cold.

5. Use mild soap and use it sparingly (too much dries out your baby's skin), as you wash him with your hand or a washcloth from top to bottom, front and back. Wash his scalp with a wet, soapy cloth. Use moistened cotton balls (no soap) to clean his eyes and face. If dried mucus has collected in the corners of your baby's nostrils or eyes, dab it several times to soften it before you wipe it out. As for your baby's genitals, a routine washing is all that's needed.

6. Rinse your baby thoroughly with cupfuls of water and wipe him down with a clean washcloth. Then lift him out of the tub with one hand supporting his neck and head and the other hand supporting his bottom, with your fingers around one thigh (babies are slippery when wet).

7. Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat him dry. If his skin is still peeling from birth, you can apply a mild baby lotion after his bath, but this is generally dead skin that needs to come off anyway, not dry skin. Then diaper him, dress him, and give him a kiss on his sweet-smelling head.

~ Courtesy of Baby Center

10 steps to avoid wasting time!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:37:00 +0000

The following are a few time wasters you can avoid when working from your home office:

1. Procrastination & Excuses
- If you don’t start then you can’t finish. By continuing to reach your goals & objectives it will allow you to work toward them. If you put things off, then you’ll never accomplish what it is you set out too gain. Never make things more than they are. Don’t wait for the last minute… ACT now!

2. Rushing
- Try not to do everything at once or wait until the last minute. Create a list of what must be done and the time it takes to do it. Always schedule and plan ahead but allow for the unexpected. Avoid the costly mistakes and oversights of rushing. Do it right the first time. Slow down and take your time. Most of all relax!

3. Running Errands & Traveling
- Again, plan ahead. Arrange your tasks in order of importance and needs. Combine your tasks and trips. Don’t waste time making duplicate or unnecessary trips. Know what you need and who has it and find a good time to get it. Make sure to notify them, so they can be prepared and you don’t have to wait. Time is of the essence.

4 Paperwork, Reports & Memos
- Have a purpose for writing. Keep it short and sweet. Get to the point immediately with clear words. Keep everything where it can be easily located and used. Spell check your work before sending it out. Continually purge that which is of no use to you.

5. Meetings
- Schedule meetings carefully. Ask yourself what’s covered, the purpose, subject and scope. Find out the date, location, length, type, attendees. Prepare everyone ahead of time.

6. Telephone, Mail & E-mail
- Define your purpose and what you want to accomplish, why are you calling/writing? Who are you addressing? Prepare a brief marketing script, practice before calling or writing. Take and return calls/mail when it’s convenient for you. Give out your phone number and business address only to those you want contacting you. Don’t waste time. When you accomplish your objectives, hang up and move on to the next call, mail or e-mail.

7. Computer
- Back it up. Prepare yourself for crashes. Plan ahead the purpose for using a computer. Know what you need and where to get it. Limit your time online, get what you need and log off. The computer is a productive tool, but only when used wisely.

8. Planning & Decision Making
- Gather the facts. Weigh both sides. Plan it out in detail ahead of time. Combine tasks. Delegate. Prioritize. Decide and get the job done!

9. Television
- Are you an informed viewer or couch potato? Determine what’s really important to you. Videotape or watch it in rerun. Do other things, be a self-starter, find a hobby, start a business, exercise, read a book. The important thing is to be productive.

10. Know when to say NO & YES
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Be honest with people and yourself. Use time wisely. If you can’t fit something into your schedule, don’t accept it. Say yes only when you truly know it can be done and say no when you know you cannot.

- Avoid wasting time by giving yourself plenty of time. Relax when you need to. Understand what must be done. Build the right habits. Always schedule your day. Prioritize on importance and need. Use technology but don’t get bogged down with it. Gather all facts before starting your tasks. Make informed decisions. Tie up loose ends. Continue to implement your action plan. Know what your own “time wasters” are and avoid them. Most of all don’t procrastinate.

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…

START BYLINE
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE
------------------------

Roasted jalapeno and citrus salsa!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:17:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

2 roasted jalapeño chiles, peeled, seeded, and diced
Grated zest of 1 orange
3 oranges, peeled and cut into segments
1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments
l lemon, peeled and cut into segments
1 lime, peeled and cut into segments
2 tbsp. soybean oil
Kosher salt to taste
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. green-onion tops, diagonally cut 1/4 inch

PREPARATION

In large bowl combine chiles, orange zest, and citrus segments. Stir in oil, salt, and sugar. Let sit about 20 minutes, then stir in green onions and serve. Or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Return to room temperature and stir in green onions just before serving. Makes about 2 cups.

~Courtesy of Latina Magazine!

Installing a car seat!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:19:00 +0000

You might think that anyone who can read an instruction manual and follow directions could install a car seat. In reality, though, it's not so easy. And according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 85 percent of all car seats are improperly installed.

In the following, we outline the most important factors to pay attention to and suggest where to turn for more help if you're confused. (Illustrations courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.)

Placement and orientation of the car seat The safest placement for a car seat is in the center of the rear seat, or of the center seat in a van or station wagon. Never install a rear-facing car seat in a front seat equipped with a passenger-side air bag. Keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat until he reaches 12 months and 20 lbs. at a minimum — but the longer you can keep him in a rear-facing position, the safer he'll be. (Read our article to find out more about why and when to have your child face forward.) If your baby's head flops forward, you can make the seat more level and comfortable by wedging a folded towel, blanket, or other firm support under the front of it.

Once your baby is at least a year old and has outgrown his rear-facing car seat, he can ride facing forward. The middle of the back seat is still the safest place for him to sit.

Booster seats — used for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds (about ages 4 to 8) — are intended for use with a shoulder belt, ideally in the back seat. For more information about booster seats, read our BabyCenter article.

Steps for installing your seat successfully

• Read your car seat and vehicle manuals to make sure you understand the mechanics of installing the seat. If the information isn't clear, call the automaker, the safety-seat manufacturer, or both. Or take a 30-minute workshop to make sure you get it right (see "Getting more help," below).

• Use the new tether system if possible. All child safety seats and vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, must be compatible with the LATCH system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (some cars manufactured between 1999 and 2002 also have the system). The LATCH system is designed to make installation of a car seat easier and safer by attaching it directly to anchors permanently attached to the vehicle instead of using the seat belt to secure it. Although only front-facing infant and toddler car seats manufactured on or after 2002 are required to have both the upper and lower attachments, all child safety seats with a five-point safety harness (including rear-facing infant car seats) are required to have the lower anchors. If you own a vehicle that doesn't have the anchoring system, consider having your car retrofitted (check with your local auto dealership for information on cost and feasibility). If your car is LATCH compatible, but your safety seat isn't, you can buy a conversion kit.

• If you're installing a forward-facing seat, make sure it's flat against the seat's bottom and back. Use your hands to push down as hard as you can on the car seat — or better yet, place your knee on the car seat and push down with all your weight to squash the air out of the cushion underneath it.

• Make sure the car's seat belt is threaded through the correct slots, and pull the belt as tight as possible so there's no slack. Once you've buckled the belt, give it a yank to make sure it's locked.

• If your car is a pre-1996 model, chances are the lap-and-shoulder belts don't lock in place unless the car comes to a sudden stop. (To test them, see if you can move the car seat more than an inch to either side or toward the front of the car when the belts are buckled tightly.) If the seat moves, you'll need to secure it with a locking clip, a small metal device that looks like an oversize paperclip. The locking clip fits around the seat belt (about a half-inch above the buckle) to hold the belt firmly in place. If your car seat didn't come with a locking clip or you've misplaced it, contact the manufacturer to order a replacement or purchase one at a children's supply store.

• Check to make sure the seat is secure and resists side-to-side motion. If you can still tip the car seat forward or sideways more than an inch or so, unbuckle it and try again until you get a tight fit.

Using the installed car seat

• Be sure you know how the buckle system works. You can tighten and loosen the straps around your baby with the harness adjustment lever.

• Adjust the harnesses to make them snug. If there's a plastic harness clip, keep it at armpit level to hold shoulder straps in place.

• Don't allow the straps to get twisted — they should lie flat.

• After you buckle your child in, tug the straps to make sure they're locked.

• Place rolled-up cloth diapers, blankets, or towels around newborns to keep them snug in the car seat. You can also purchase head, neck, and body supports to secure your baby.

• If your infant's head flops forward, make the seat more level by wedging a folded towel or other firm support under the front of it.

~ Courtesy of BabyCenter!

Tips for breastfeeding success!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Many mothers find breastfeeding to be one of the most amazing acts of motherhood as, for the first time, they provide nourishment for their baby. Having said that, it's important to be honest about breastfeeding: although it is a natural act, it does not always come naturally. In the past, new mothers had older generations of mentors to help teach breastfeeding, so it probably came "naturally" because it was being taught to them!

Nowadays, many new moms get a crash course in breastfeeding at the hospital right after their baby's birth. Unfortunately, this one-time instruction may not be enough. Breastfeeding takes patience and practice. If you are having trouble with, for example, getting your baby to latch on, or you find that the process is causing you pain, then seek out help from other mothers, from your nurse or midwife, from a course taught at the hospital or other support center. Breastfeeding is good for your baby, and for you. But it should be a pleasant act, not one filled will worry and tears.

The following tips can also help develop successful nursing:

* Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when your infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though you won't be producing milk yet, your breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies.

* Proper positioning: Your baby's mouth should be wide open, with your nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This will minimize future soreness for you. A nurse, midwife or other knowledgeable person can help you find a comfortable nursing position. If you're very sore, chances are your baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.

* Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. Feeding on demand will stimulate your breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, your baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies.

* Expect engorgement: As a new mother you will usually produce lots of milk, which can make your breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement, you should feed your baby frequently and on demand until your body adjusts and produces only what your baby needs. In the meantime, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply warm, wet compresses to your breasts, and take warm baths to relieve the pain.

* No supplements: Don't give your baby sugar water or other supplements if you feel that you're not producing enough milk. This may actually interfere with your baby's appetite for nursing, and that can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more your baby nurses, the more milk you will produce. If you are concerned about your baby not getting enough to eat, talk to your doctor.

* Delay artificial nipples: It's best to wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier, so that your baby doesn't get confused. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle can also confuse your baby, making it hard for him to be breastfed.

* Use nursing pads: Use nursing pads, such as super-absorbent, cushioned JOHNSON'S® Nursing Pads, to help eliminate embarrassing leakage between feedings.

* Spitting up: It's common for babies to spit up during or after a feeding. You can use null for a quick and easy clean up. To learn more about spitting up, visit babycenter.com.

* Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until your nipples toughen, you should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking and getting infected. If your nipples do crack, you can coat them with breast milk to help them heal.

* Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever, painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.

* Eat right and get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, you'll need to eat a balanced diet which includes an extra 500 calories a day, and drink six to eight glasses of fluids. You should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

~ Based on content from JOHNSON'S® Learning Place and FDA Consumer, a magazine of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Parenting tips ~ Help after baby arrives!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Between your mother-in-law, coworkers, siblings, and well-meaning neighbors, you'll probably get lots of offers to help once the baby arrives. If you're the type who used to politely decline all offers of aid (moving, carrying groceries, opening doors), now's the time to change your tune -- and to give these do-gooders some guidance! When people ask if they can help, say, "You're so sweet! I'd love it!" Then suggest one of the following.

• Food: New Recipe Center Some of best baby gifts involve food -- the kind you don't have to give any thought to. A rotisserie chicken with an easy bag of salad greens, a pot of chili ready to be heated up, lasagna that can stay in the freezer until you need it.

• Laundry: Pick a day, and invite someone over to wash and fold. You'll appreciate the time to do something else -- anything else.

• Babysitting while you sleep: Sleep when the baby sleeps? Easier said than done. Get Grandma to take the babe for a walk one weekend morning while you and the hubby get your snooze on.

And baby makes four -- whoa!

~ Courtesy of Parents!

Picadillo!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:17:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced (1/4 inch or less)
1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely diced (1/4 inch or less)
1 tbsp. fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. coarse, freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced into inch cubes
2 large tomatoes, cored, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

PREPARATION

Heat large skillet over medium heat, then add olive oil. Add ground beef and cook until lightly browned. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, salt, black pepper and cumin, and cook 10 minutes, stirring often. Place potatoes in skillet, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook about 40 minutes. Add tomatoes, and simmer 5 more minutes while covered. Remove from heat and serve over 1 cup rice or with whole-wheat flour tortillas.

Simply Delicious!

~Courtesy of Latina Magazine

Are you adding your signature file to your emails?

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:32:00 +0000

What better way to advertise your product than by adding your sig file to your outgoing emails? This is a must!

Your SIG File should not be more than six to eight lines. Do not try to include every single affiliate program, or promo to it all at once. It turns the reader off. That will only get the reader confused. Make your sig file precise to what you are offering.

Your SIG File must attract attention. If it dosen't, you might as well forget it. Make your reader want to know more. Your SIG File should contain enough information for your reader. It should never be vague. Make your reader re-act. Would they want to click to find out more?

Use action stimulating words. Here are ten examples:

1. You won't want to miss this!
2. Act now!
3. Its free!
4. Yours for the asking!
5. Click here now!
6. Get started today!
7. Don't delay!
8. See this now!
9. Hurry...while supplies last!
10.Stunning...Must see!

Create a sense of urgency. People will respond better when you make the situation urgent and offer them a bonus for example: for the first 100,redeem a price in two minutes, first 200 gets free e-book, this offer will last until, etc.

Remember, include your signature file to all of your outgoing mail for FREE advertising. This is the second most important form of advertising next to "word of mouth" advertising. Don't go without it!

Good luck!

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…

START BYLINE

Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE

--------------------------

The Plan - 4 steps to a website brand!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:14:00 +0000

In this guest post, Jerry Bader writes "The Plan - 4 Steps To A Website Brand!"

Do you have a plan? Most companies spend a considerable amount of time, energy, and money planning what to do and how to do it.

Let's say you need a website, so you develop a plan, present it to a bunch of website designers, and get quotes or proposals. You're not going to get caught with your pants down like the last time by some nerdy geek, you know the skinny kid with the scraggly beard, whose techno-babble gave you a headache, or the bizarre young lady dressed in Gothic chic with the black lipstick and tattoo to match - yikes, no thanks, not this time, this time you got a plan.

Human Motivational Optimization

You read all the blogs on website design, you know all the ins-and-outs of search engine optimization, and Google Adwords. No one is going to pull a fast one on you. You know your business, your market, and your needs. Or do you?

How much do you really know about how real people interact with your website? How much do you really know about what we call Human Motivational Optimization? All the stats, logs, and number crunching analysis that forms the basis of many website development plans does not truly give you the visceral understanding of how to connect to an audience, and isn't that what you want your website to do?

So maybe your plan is the wrong plan; it's like planning a trip to Home Depot to buy a cabbage; it just doesn't make sense. So how about a plan that does make sense, something simple, understandable, easy to implement, that is if you hire the right people to do it. But before we tell you the four steps to creating your very own Website Branding Plan, let's talk about Don LaFontaine.

Every Company Needs A Movie Trailer

Chances are you don't know who the late Don LaFontaine was, but you've heard his voice many, many times. Don was the most famous and influential voice behind thousands of movie and television trailers. He had a distinctive deep, gravely voice, and a writing style that reinvented the entire movie trailer format. But why should you care? Simple. Movie trailers are the ultimate elevator pitch, a short memorable performance that compels you to action, kind of like what a mission statement is suppose to do, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning, or rather, the end.

Branding Starts With Thinking Backwards

Most people like to start a project at the beginning and work their way through until they reach the end. Makes sense, or does it? If you don't start with where you want to end-up, it's unlikely you'll ever get where you want to go. Remember our cabbage? Planning a shopping trip to Home Depot because they got cool stuff, doesn't help if what you want is a cabbage.

Branding is no different. If you don't start with how you want your audience to think about you, they will probably never think about you at all. So now that we got that straight let's start our plan where it makes sense, the end.

The 4 Step Web-Branding Plan

1 - The Slogan

Your slogan, you know the thing that sits underneath your logo, that simple little phrase somebody in your office came up with that makes you sound important, stuff like "the cool air conditioning company." Most small and medium size companies don't think too hard about this little marketing gem, and as a result they either have something really cheesy, or some meaningless platitude that has no memorable meaning at all, like "the best people for the best job."

Just because you're small and don't have millions of dollars to spend on television ads promoting your pithy little motto, doesn't mean you shouldn't have one. That catchphrase is who you are, and how you want people to remember you, short, memorable, and to the point. I remember my sons arguing over some complicated bit of business when one of them in frustration finally said, "Enough already. Give it to me in one word or less!" a demand to articulate what was important without all the peripheral issues; a lesson all businesses should pay attention to.

2 - The Story Line (Logline)

To my mind, mission statements are a totally dysfunctional marketing element, misused and abused by a bean-counter attitude, born out of trying to squeeze every last drop of information into a statement that won't offend anybody. A wise man once said, "If what you're saying doesn't offend somebody, maybe you're not saying anything" and most mission statements that are full of meaningless platitudes and toned-down amendments, fall into the category of not saying anything, at least, anything worth hearing.

Okay so let's forget about mission statements, after all this isn't the military, and we're not planning the next Desert Storm. Instead let's think loglines, or what you can think of as your brand story line.

You know those short statements you find in TV Guide, or your weekend television insert, prompting you to watch the next episode of 'House,' or 'Desperate Bimbos.' They are a short form text version of a trailer, intended to get you to watch the movie or television show. For our purposes, we want people to go to our website, and stay-tuned long enough to get our core marketing message, and not walk out half way through the presentation. So, how do we do that?

The Six Elements of Effective Web Trailers

In order for us to come up with a compelling statement that prompts people to view our website presentation, we need to refer back to our old pal Don LaFontaine. What if Don LaFontaine wrote our website trailer. How would he do it?

Don had a very distinctive style that you've heard a thousand times for a thousand different movies, but they all followed a similar format. Each trailer needs to cover six distinct elements, who, what, where, how, why, and when. All the things businesses should be presenting in their elevator pitch, but with one extra ingredient, personality.

Here's the format used in many movie trailers: "In a place (where), one man (who) brings stability to chaos (what), in an epic tale that will both amaze and inspire (why)! Coming soon (when) to a theatre near you." Sound familiar?

Let's take our air conditioning example, you remember, "the cool air conditioning company." Let's say our fictitious company is called Kool Air Conditioning, their website trailer might sound something like this:

"In a town where summer heat melts the cool of the coolest homeowners, one air conditioning company comes to the rescue. When the mercury rises to eye-popping, mind numbing numbers, the men from Kool spring into action, bringing relief to the sweltering masses. The Kool Guys will amaze you with their prompt service and installation know-how. The heat is on. It's coming sooner than you think; it's coming this summer to your town, your neighborhood; your house. Kool, the cool air conditioning company."

Over-the-top? Maybe, but we've covered all the bases, we know who (Kool), what (air conditioning), when (this summer), where (your house), why (the heat) and how (prompt service and installation know-how). Now that's a mission statement; one with a little style, panache, and personality; one that will get you remembered and prompt your audience to action.

3 - The Personality

Movies like businesses all fall into certain genres or categories. There's the action movie format that's suitable for sports related businesses, the chick flick style that's ideal for cosmetic or fashion industry businesses, and the family comedy format suitable for entertainment and recreation based companies, and of course the kids movie version perfect for any business selling things for children. The point is that every company and website has to have a personality.

Many hardnosed business executives scoff at the idea of spending money on such seemingly trivial marketing concepts as company personality, but ignoring your website persona, is a big mistake. You can either invest a little in developing, creating, managing, and promoting this personality or you can let the marketplace decide for itself, or worse, find you completely redundant and irrelevant.

4 - The Delivery

You may be asking yourself, this sounds good on paper, but can it really be done, and can it be done for my business, on my website? The answer is damn straight it can. Like most things in life, and in business, it's not grasping the concept that so hard, it's implementing it.

With a little investment and a willingness to take some chances, you can be the market leader. But if you thought you could simply take your newly created movie trailer style website elevator pitch and slap it onto your website in text form, you would be mistaken. How you deliver the message is as important, and in many cases more important, than what you say.

Whether you sell lipstick, licorice, or lingerie, you probably have lots of competition, so how you deliver your message is what's going to make the difference.

You want your website presentation to motivate people to email or phone. You want to deliver a compelling performance that is more than a sales pitch, a presentation that uses voice, visuals, words, and music to create a website personality, a lasting impression; one that is going to allow you to stand out from the crowd and give you a competitive advantage.

Nothing will convince better than seeing an actual example, and guess what, we just happen to be able to provide you with one: check out http://www.SonicPersonality.com and see what an effective website presentation sounds like. If nothing else, you may get a chuckle or two.

About the Author: Jerry Bader is Senior Partner at MRPwebmedia, a website design firm that specializes in Web-audio and Web-video. Visit http://www.mrpwebmedia.com/ads, http://www.sonicpersonality.com, and http://www.136words.com. Contact at info@mrpwebmedia.com or telephone (905) 764-1246.

Tocino del Cielo!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:53:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

2 cups sugar, divided
6 egg yolks, beaten
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp. Grand Marnier

PREPARATION

To make caramel, stir 1 cup sugar constantly in small saucepan over high heat until it turns into golden liquid. Remove from heat and quickly pour into 6 heatproof custard cups, coating bottom and sides evenly. Place cups in ovenproof pan and fill pan with cold water to halfway up cups´ side.

To make custard, preheat oven to 350°F. In bowl, whip together 1 cup sugar and egg yolks until mixture is thick and fluffy. Stir in whipping cream, vanilla extract, and Grand Marnier. Pour mixture into caramel-coated cups and bake in oven, center rack, 50 to 55 minutes. (Custard may be cooked even if center is not completely gelled.) Cool to room temperature, then chill. Serve in cups, or run knife around cups´ inside surface to separate custard and invert onto plates. Makes 6 servings.

~ Courtesy of Latina Magazine!

10 things to consider before quitting your job to freelance full-time!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:30:00 +0000

In this guest post, Pamela Slim writes about the "10 Things To Consider Before Quitting Your Job To Freelance Full-Time!"

"I don't like my job." "The cube walls are closing in." "I'm walking out of this job right now." "I need to get out of here!" You know you've thought it at one point or another, and suddenly, the life of a free-spirited, self-made freelancer sounds all the more appealing. Before you rush and type your resignation letter, there are a few things that you will have to consider. Pamela Slim, a former corporate manager turned entrepreneur and author of the book Escape From Cubicle Nation, weighs in with 10 important questions you need to ask yourself before you make the jump.

I wish there were a secret formula to ensure that the freelance business you have been madly working on is going to generate enough income to compensate for your current salary as an employee, if not much more. Unfortunately, there are many, many factors that go into determining business success.

To get some insight into your readiness to say goodbye to your day job, read over this checklist and see how prepared you feel.

1. Chest-Bursting Enthusiasm

In order to birth your business idea, you are going to have to have a tremendous amount of energy and stamina. When you are totally enthusiastic about an idea, you don't have to worry about "staying motivated" or "dealing with procrastination," concerns voiced by many prospective entrepreneurs. Here are your enthusiasm checkpoints:

When you think about the work you do on a freelance basis, do you get a big smile on your face?

If you had your daily expenses taken care of, would you work on this business anyway because it is so exciting to you?
Do you see how this business fits into your overall life plan?
Would being successful in this business give you the kind of life you want? Would you be happy while doing it, not just once you were making money?

2. A Solid Business Case

Passion without a business model or viable market is a sure road to perdition. Business case checkpoints:

Have you prototyped and tested your idea with real people in your target market?
Do you have a viable business model? Could it survive if the market shifted?
Can you describe what makes you different, more effective or more appealing than your competitors?

3. An Eager Market That Has The Means To Buy What You Are Selling

You know that your business cannot serve everyone in the world. Who, exactly, do you want to serve? Do they have deep, important problems that your product or service will address? Market checkpoints:

Can you define your target market in clear and specific terms?

Do you know where they congregate in person, online, in associations or in the media?
Do they have access to cold, hard cash to pay your for your services?

4. A Money Plan

If you don’t manage the money side of your business, you are destined for misery. Financial checkpoints:

Are your personal finances organized and tracked in a systematic way?
Do you have 6-12 months of living expenses saved?
Do you have a solid plans B, C and D that you can activate if things don’t work out as planned? (Remember, they never do)

5. A Marketing Plan

You may know exactly who you want to work with, but if you can’t actually talk to them, how can you expect to make any sales? It may take a good, long while for you to build a relationship with mutual knowledge, respect and trust, so you must get started right away. Marketing checkpoints:

Have you chosen a marketing model and are you implementing it step by step? (Duct Tape Marketing, Action Plan Marketing and Michael Port are all great models)
Do you have a functional website that clearly nudges people to do what you want them to do? (sign up for your list, download your product, join your community)
Are you doing a handful of marketing activities consistently each month like writing articles, blogging, speaking, participating in online forums or inviting interesting people to lunch?

6. A Healthy Approach To Sales

I worked with salespeople for years and am convinced they are born with special (some say mutated) genes. Excellent, ethical salespeople are totally excited by the sales process. Most first-time entrepreneurs, on the other hand, feel like throwing up at the thought of asking prospects for money. Selling checkpoints:

Do you know what problem your product or service solves?
Do you know what your sales process is?
Do you lead your prospects through it or wait for them to take the lead?
Do you know how to ask for a sale?

7. Time To Create The Business

It takes time to get your business up and running. If you have to continue working as an employee while you develop your business, create a project plan and carve out time in your schedule to make steady progress. You may need to forgo activities that make you happy such as evening television, golfing weekends or excessive volunteering. Time checkpoints:

Do you have efficient processes in place for managing your email, tracking projects and accomplishing tasks?

Have you wiggled out of any non-essential obligations?
Do you know the major milestones you have to accomplish to get your business off the ground?

8. Support From Your Family

Starting a business is a very emotional experience, and you will need all the support you can muster from those closest to you. Family checkpoints:

Have you listened at length and without judgment to the concerns voiced by your spouse?

Do you have mutually-agreed upon metrics like amount of money in bank account, length of time to get business off the ground, amount of hair you are willing to lose before pulling the plug?
Have you clearly discussed the risks he or she will assume if you are married? (credit rating, co-signing for equipment or contracts, etc)

9. Support From Your Tribe

If you have grown up inside corporate environments, many of your friends may not be experts in entrepreneurship. You don't need to know everything about your new business, but you should know people who do. Support checkpoints:

Do you have active networks on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter?
Do you have at least one mentor, mastermind buddy, staunch advocate, technical expert and friend at your fingertips?
Do you regularly and willingly help others, share information and provide resources without being asked and without expectation for reciprocation?

10. A Mixture Of Faith And Mistrust In The External Market And A Backup Plan

I have now lived through two significant upheavals in the financial markets as a business owner: Silicon Valley in 2000 and Phoenix, Arizona in 2008. What I learned by living through the busts is that nothing last forever (both the good and the bad). If your business success depends on the economy staying the same for the next 5 years, you are doomed to intense moments of panic and possible financial ruin. Market checkpoints:

Have you learned as much as you can about the market you are operating in?
Do you have a positive mindset and constructive thoughts about your new venture?
Are you willing and able to look on the bright side of the most stormy market condition, even if it means radically adjusting your plans?

About the author: Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur, is a former corporate manager turned entrepreneur focused on helping frustrated employees break out and start their own business. For more information, visit her blog at www.escapefromcubicalnation.com.
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Did you get your FREE Trial?

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Have you been searching for FREE quality information that you can use to build a successful online business, but getting totally frustrated by the lack of *useful* content out there?

Believe me, I feel your pain! I was in the exact same boat that you're in right now...

No matter how *much* I searched, I just kept coming across line the same old recycled tips from a bunch of so-called "experts," which turned out to be nothing but thinly disguised plugs for products nobody needs or even wants!

But then I came across Internet marketing guru Derek Gehl and his team at the Internet Marketing Center...

... and I quickly discovered that not all experts are created equal!

See, thanks to a lot of advice and help early on, Derek took a $25 investment and turned it into $60,000,000 in online sales -- and now, in appreciation for the support he received when he was starting out, he's determined to give back.

(For instance, in the past couple of weeks alone, he's given away over $450,000 worth of free eBooks. Talk about being committed to helping YOU succeed!)

Anyway, Derek's now offering FREE TRIAL subscriptions to his exclusive members-only online profit newsletter, "Secrets To Their Success," and he's agreed to reserve a few for my best customers!

If you haven't heard of "Secrets To Their Success" before, be prepared to be blown away, because every month, Derek and his team put together TWO extensive case studies of real people like YOU who have created online businesses that make a minimum of $100,000 a year.

And these are NOT just "fluffy" personality profiles...

Using intense "question and answer" interviews, Derek totally *dissects* each business, and exposes every tip... every strategy... every tool they used to start, build, and grow their businesses to their current success.

You'll even hear about the mistakes they made, and how they suggest YOU avoid them!

I've been a subscriber for YEARS, and the things I've learned have added more to my bottom line than I can even guess.

You should check it out. Like I said, it's totally FREE to try. Here's the link to find out more:

http://www.secretstotheirsuccess.com/t/771270/free

Enjoy!

P.S. Derek might be *enthusiastic* when it comes to giving stuff away, but he's not crazy. He's only got a limited number of FREE Trial subscriptions to go around (he IS running a business, after all), and once they're gone, they're gone...

... and I have NO idea when they'll be available again (the last time he offered them was over 3 years ago)!

So you should claim your FREE TRIAL right away. Go to http://www.secretstotheirsuccess.com/t/771270/free
-----------------------

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…

START BYLINE

Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
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Top ten money making tips for a successful online business!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:35:00 +0000

There are a few things you must do to have a successful online business. Below I’ve listed the top ten:

1. Quality Product/Service
- You must be able to provide a quality product/service which people want and need. There has to be a demand for your product/service.

2. Customer Loyalty/Service
- You must help your customers feel that they can trust you. Be honest and trustworthy. Offer money back guarantees and stick to your business policies. Treat your customers like gold and never ever share their personal information with anyone.

3. Offer something of vale and for free once in awhile
- Your customers don’t really care how great your company is or how wonderful you are for that matter. Their only concern is how your product can help them! How will it meet their needs; improve their lives; make them happier; etc. Offer something of value and they will buy what you’re selling, also throw in a FREEBIE, everyone loves to receive FREE stuff.

4. Creative/Unique Products/Services
- You must own and control your products/services. Offer something that only YOU can provide. Have exclusive control over at least one of your products/services. It should be something that people cannot find anywhere else and wanted by a lot of people.

5. Make Money to Spend Money
- You must spend money on advertising and promotions. Although there are many free methods to work within your budget, you will still need to spend some money in order to make money for business success.

6. Put back in what you harvest
- You must continue to take a portion of your profits and re-invest that money back into your business. Use that money to purchase more ads, brochures, catalogs, t-shirts, flyers, etc. Grow and multiply that harvest and your business will succeed.

7. Put others first
- Satisfy the needs of others. Help them achieve their dreams. Show your expertise and in the process others will follow your lead.

8. Seek the Help of Others
- Use services to help reach a wider audience, such as dealers, distributors, Internet, customers and social networking sites.

9. Other Successful Business Owners
- Always seek the advise of other successful people. Find someone who is making the kind of money that you want to make. Do exactly what they are doing, why re-invent the wheel?

10. Get Personal
- Know your customers by name. Thank your customers and acknowledge them. Excellent customer service is key!

There you have it the “Top ten money making tips for a successful online business”!

Tell me what you think. Do you have other money making tips for a successful online business? Share your comments below.

Thank you!

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…

START BYLINE
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE

Papaya-Carrot Batido!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:22:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

2 medium papayas, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 cup carrot juice
1 cup orange juice
Juice of 2 limes
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup whole milk
6 tbsp. sugar
1 cup crushed ice

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients in blender and frappé until smooth. Makes 4 to 5 servings.

Que Bueno!

~Courtesy of Latina Magazine

Are you writing quality content for your blog?

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Writing quality content for your blog is an important part of the entire blog process. Let your readers get to know you first and foremost. Be yourself as you write and your personality will shine through. Engage your readers with your writing and provide the type of information that will benefit your readers.

What should you write about?
- Provide basic, real, useful information as well as resources to go along with the information you’re writing. What are your interests? Will it interest your readers as well?. Offer “how to tips” and how it made you successful.

What are you an expert at?
- Can your readers benefit from it too? How has it worked for you? In my blog I share business articles and links that have helped me succeed with my blog. Have you had this experience also? If so, let your readers know they too can benefit.

I can’t find anything to say!
- There will be times when you are going to encounter writer’s block. It happens to the best of us. Not to worry, look for other interesting articles that are related to your blog theme and that will spark an idea or two. You can also guest post but remember to ask for permission to use an article and never alter the content of a guest article. These can help when you’re experiencing writer’s block big time!

Be creative!
- Check out 5 important tips for your blog and apply them to your own blog.
Another great tip for your blog is to spice it up! Add additional resources that may help your readers with their blogs too.

Below are a few great places to start:

Associated Content browse for free content and videos in many categories.

LinkWorth is quickly becoming the name people reference when text link advertising or natural listings are spoken of. Check it out today!

Blogvertise is simple. Earn cash and generate extra income from your blog!

Associate Program lets you get paid to post a banner on your website. Join our #1-Rated Affiliate Program for FREE and you’ll have all the tools you need to generate HUGE monthly commission checks of up to $375-$4,500+– just by sending visitors to our web site!

Get paid to blog at PayperPost about the things you love! Showcase your writing skills by writing about web sites, products, services, and companies and earn cash for providing your opinion and valuable feedback to advertisers. Also, become an affiliate and earn more money!

Check out Chitika to monetize the traffic to your blog(s). See what they can do for you.

Most of all, have fun! Find something that doesn’t feel like a task but is fun to write about. Show your personality through your writing and make your readers feel comfortable!

There are many other ingredients to spice up your blog and add important value to your readership. Remember start with writing quality content and everything else will fall into place :-)

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…

START BYLINE

Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE

----------------------

Sueño Mexicano!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:43:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

* 4 oz. rompope (bottled eggnog-like rum drink)
* 1 1/2 cups strawberries, stemmed and hulled
* 1 cup fresh or frozen mamey pulp
* 2/3 cup cream of coconut
* 3 cups crushed ice
* 1/2 cup whipped cream
* 1 tbsp. cassis

Combine rompope, strawberries, mamey pulp, cream of coconut, and crushed ice in blender and purée until smooth. In small cup, stir together whipped cream and cassis until well mixed. Garnish each serving with dollop of cassis-flavored cream. Makes 4 to 5 servings.

Simply Delicioso!

~ Courtesy of Latina Magazine

How to rank #1 in Google

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Would you like to discover how to flood your website with FREE traffic with #1, #2, or even #5 rankings in Google, Yahoo and MSN?

If your answer is “Yes,” then I have great news for you.

I just found out that for the first time ever, Internet marketing powerhouse Derek Gehl is giving away 30-Day Trials of his exclusive “Search Marketing Lab.”

For the next 30 days, you’ll get an “all access” backstage pass to Derek’s private search marketing testing labs where, using his tutorial videos, breaking news reports, and discussion forum, you’ll discover how to flood your website with unlimited FREE traffic from Google, Yahoo, and MSN…

… Using the same *secret formula* Derek has used to beat out 294 MILLION competitors for #1 and #2 rankings for three years running.

To get your 30-Day Trial Pass to Derek’s “Search Marketing Lab,” visit:

http://www.marketingtips.com/backstage-pass/t/771270

I look forward to seeing you in the search results!

All the best,

P.S. Derek is only offering this 30-Day “backstage pass” for a very limited time, since anyone who signs up for this trial gets unlimited access to his own, private SEO genius, “Nicole.”

Her time is limited and as you can imagine, Derek wants her working on HIS businesses. So as soon as she’s reached maximum capacity (which I expect will happen quickly), this page will be coming down.

To get your 30-Day Trial Pass to Derek’s “Search Marketing Lab’ before it’s too late, visit:

http://www.marketingtips.com/backstage-pass/t/771270

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…
START BYLINE
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE

10 steps to avoid wasting time!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:49:00 +0000

The following are a few time wasters you can avoid when working from your home office:

1. Procrastination & Excuses
- If you don’t start then you can’t finish. By continuing to reach your goals & objectives it will allow you to work toward them. If you put things off, then you’ll never accomplish what it is you set out too gain. Never make things more than they are. Don’t wait for the last minute… ACT now!

2. Rushing
- Try not to do everything at once or wait until the last minute. Create a list of what must be done and the time it takes to do it. Always schedule and plan ahead but allow for the unexpected. Avoid the costly mistakes and oversights of rushing. Do it right the first time. Slow down and take your time. Most of all relax!

3. Running Errands & Traveling
- Again, plan ahead. Arrange your tasks in order of importance and needs. Combine your tasks and trips. Don’t waste time making duplicate or unnecessary trips. Know what you need and who has it and find a good time to get it. Make sure to notify them, so they can be prepared and you don’t have to wait. Time is of the essence.

4 Paperwork, Reports & Memos
- Have a purpose for writing. Keep it short and sweet. Get to the point immediately with clear words. Keep everything where it can be easily located and used. Spell check your work before sending it out. Continually purge that which is of no use to you.

5. Meetings
- Schedule meetings carefully. Ask yourself what’s covered, the purpose, subject and scope. Find out the date, location, length, type, attendees. Prepare everyone ahead of time.

6. Telephone, Mail & E-mail
- Define your purpose and what you want to accomplish, why are you calling/writing? Who are you addressing? Prepare a brief marketing script, practice before calling or writing. Take and return calls/mail when it’s convenient for you. Give out your phone number and business address only to those you want contacting you. Don’t waste time. When you accomplish your objectives, hang up and move on to the next call, mail or e-mail.

7. Computer
- Back it up. Prepare yourself for crashes. Plan ahead the purpose for using a computer. Know what you need and where to get it. Limit your time online, get what you need and log off. The computer is a productive tool, but only when used wisely.

8. Planning & Decision Making
- Gather the facts. Weigh both sides. Plan it out in detail ahead of time. Combine tasks. Delegate. Prioritize. Decide and get the job done!

9. Television
- Are you an informed viewer or couch potato? Determine what’s really important to you. Videotape or watch it in rerun. Do other things, be a self-starter, find a hobby, start a business, exercise, read a book. The important thing is to be productive.

10. Know when to say NO & YES
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Be honest with people and yourself. Use time wisely. If you can’t fit something into your schedule, don’t accept it. Say yes only when you truly know it can be done and say no when you know you cannot.

- Avoid wasting time by giving yourself plenty of time. Relax when you need to. Understand what must be done. Build the right habits. Always schedule your day. Prioritize on importance and need. Use technology but don’t get bogged down with it. Gather all facts before starting your tasks. Make informed decisions. Tie up loose ends. Continue to implement your action plan. Know what your own “time wasters” are and avoid them. Most of all don’t procrastinate.

All the best,

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…
START BYLINE
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE

Healthy arroz con camarones (Rice and shrimp)

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:41:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp. olive oil
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 small green bell paper, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 cups reduced-fat chicken broth
1 cup canned diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cup brown rice
1 tsp ground achiote chile powder
2/3 cup frozen green peas
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION

In 3-quart covered casserole or nonstick Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and peppers, and cook until onion is translucent. Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes, until shrimp turn pink. Using tongs or fork, remove shrimp from pan and set aside on rimmed platter. Add broth, tomatoes, rice and chile powder to pan. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is fully cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp and peas and cook 3 more minutes. Season with salt and black pepper and serve hot. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Delicioso!

~ Courtesy of Latina Magazine!

How to handle the challenges of a home based business!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Having a home based business is definitely a challenge. Not only must you tackle the day to day business activities but there’s the mix of family matters surrounding your work environment. That is why concentrating on the tasks at hand require a balancing act:

Setting business expectations:
- Maintaining a set schedule is imperative to any business especially a home based business. It will keep your days organized and provide a routine momentum. You’ll find that your business will be easier to manage.

Setting family expectations:
- We all know that family needs are unpredictable, that is just a fact of life. However, the beauty of working at home is that it becomes that much easier to partake in any situation right there and then while still running your business. Nevertheless, it is also important that your family understand when you are available to them. Therefore, keeping a family schedule is key.

- As a work at home mom, I tend to keep a balance between business and family needs by working in the early am hours of the day, before my family awakens, and late hours after they sleep. That way, I am there for them in between my home business. This system works for me. However, it may not work for everyone which is why you MUST find your own balancing act if you want to keep sane!

Organization:
- This is another important element to the sanity mixture of running a home based business. We all know that as soon as you start a business, you will receive a mountain of correspondence from various federal and provincial agencies and not to mention an assortment of advertising mail which may or may not be of interest or value to you. Let’s not forget your regular mail that comes in too. So, if you organize your home-office properly from the very beginning, the paper work won’t bog you down and you won’t feel overwhelmed.

The following methods will help keep you organized:

Filing Cabinet:
- You will need a four-drawer filing cabinet. Keep all your business and personal information separate.
Allow lots of room for files. Buy suspension frames for each drawer and legal-sized hanging files and file folders. Add tabs to the file folders for easy visible identification. You should place the files you use most into the top drawer.

- Establish the following hanging file and file folder for the following and add to it as your business needs change.

* Federal Papers
* Licensing Agencies
* Cash expense file for business expenses
* Sales invoice
* Advertising file
* Bank statements
* Business start-up Costs
* Correspondence
* Financial for monthly accounting papers
* Contacts and follow-up

- Each day as soon as your mail arrives, open it. Make piles for accounts to be paid, checks to be deposited, advertising, and other important items. Tackle one pile at a time. Do the same for your personal mail as well and soon you’ll find the rhythm to keep on top of a weekly routine to achieve this goal.

- An effective balance of home and work life is something for which every working professional strives. Being self-employed has its definite advantages, but sometimes it can be hard to spend enough time with your family and friends while you are busy devoting time to build your business.

- My desire is that the above points will help you handle the challenges of a home based business while balancing your family life with the utmost love and the greatest and highest degree of sanity and success!

All the best…

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Creative Commons License. This is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
* Articles may be used with permission from Sonia Colon of My Fashion E-Mall Blog
To re-publish content from this article written by Sonia Colon, please include the following paragraph byline…
START BYLINE
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
END BYLINE
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Is lack of money stopping you from owning your own successful Internet business?

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:08:00 +0000

If so, I’ve got something that’s going to ELIMINATE that hurdle for you…

I’ve just heard from my friends at the Internet Marketing Center, and they’ve agreed to let me offer you a 30-Day Trial to their #1 best-selling profit system, “Insider Secrets To Marketing Your Business On The Internet!”

So for one full MONTH, you can have UNLIMITED access to the same step-by-step Internet business-building system that thousands of others have already used to make their fortunes online.

http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/771270/coursetrial

Activate your trial, and uncover easy techniques for finding lucrative markets with little or NO competition… for creating winning websites, even if you have NO technical experience… for driving throngs of eager shoppers straight to your new site (for FREE)… and MORE.

And you can use as MANY of these proven profit-generating strategies to create YOUR new site as you *want*!

This is your best opportunity to “test drive” the how-to system that’s created more six-figure incomes online than any other — WITHOUT RISK.

To activate your 30-Day Trial of “Insider Secrets,” just follow this link:

http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/771270/coursetrial

In LESS than 5 minutes, you’ll have unlimited access to this entire system, so you can start YOUR new, highly profitable website TODAY!

http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/771270/coursetrial

P.S. My IMC friends are telling me that they’ll only be able to honor this 30-Day “Insider Secrets” Trial offer for a few days…

… so if you want UNLIMITED access to this entire step-by-step blueprint for making money online, you’ll need to activate your trial NOW:

http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/771270/coursetrial

Top ten money making tips for a successful business!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:38:00 +0000

There are a few things you must do to have a successful business. Below I’ve listed the top ten:

1. Quality
- You must be able to provide a quality product/service which people want and need.

2. Customer loyalty/service
- You must help your customers feel that they can trust you. Be honest and trustworthy. Offer money back guarantees and stick to your policies. Treat your customers like gold.

3. Offer something for free once in awhile
- Your customers don’t really care how great your company is or how wonderful you are for that matter. Their only concern is how your product can help them! How will it meet their needs; improve their lives; make them happier; etc. Offer something of value and they will buy what you’re selling.

4. Creative/unique
- You must own and control your products/services. Offer something that only YOU can provide. Have exclusive control over at least one of your products/services. It should be something that people cannot find anywhere else and wanted by a lot of people.

5. Make money to spend money
- You must spend money on advertising and promotions. Although there are many free methods to work within your budget, you will still need to spend some money in order to make money in order to harvest your business.

6. Put back in what you harvest
-You must continue to take a portion of your profits and re-invest that money back into your business. Use that money to purchase more ads, brochures, catalogs, t-shirts, flyers, etc. Grow and multiply that harvest.

7. Put others first
- Satisfy the needs of others. Help them achieve their dreams. Show your expertise and in the process others will follow your lead.

8. Seek the help of others
- Use services to help reach a wider audience, such as dealers, distributors, Internet, customers and networking.

9. Other successful business owners
- Always seek the advise of other successful people. Find someone who is making the kind of money that you want to make. Do exactly what they are doing, why re-invent the wheel?

10. Get personal
- Know your customers by name. Thank your customers and acknowledge them.

There you have it the “Top ten money making tips for a successful business!” Can you think of other top ten money making tips for a successful business?

Please comment below!

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Sopa borracha (Rum Cake)

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:25:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS

For the cake:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar

For the syrup:
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks, each broken in half
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pieces lemon peel (2- to 3-inch-long strips)
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup pitted prunes, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup rum, light or dark
1/3 cup sherry, dry or sweet

PREPARATION

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside. Add the egg yolks and sugar to a bowl and beat well, until creamy. Using a wire whisk or electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until the whites have stiffened and formed peaks. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture, and then fold into the flour mixture, stirring only enough to wet the dry ingredients.

Pour batter into a lightly greased 8- or 9-inch square baking dish, and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick or knife tip inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup by adding the water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, lemon juice, and lemon peel to a saucepan and bringing to a boil over high heat, stirring briefly until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the raisins and prunes during the final minute of cooking. Remove from heat and stir in the rum and sherry. Allow syrup to cool for at least 30 minutes, then remove cinnamon sticks and lemon peel before assembling serving portions.

To assemble, cut the cake into 2- to 2 1/4-inch squares and arrange on a platter. Spoon syrup over each square until well saturated, topping each with some of the raisins and prunes. Makes 16 squares.

Yummy!

~ Courtesy of Latina Magazine

Job Kernl: Job Advice from Tory Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Women for Hire is hiring!

Internet success stories!

noreply@blogger.com (The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom) — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:37:00 +0000

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