You're Not The Boss Of Me

Another New Year's Eve is upon us. So, do you not have plans for this night of amateur drinkers and party goers? Don't feel bad! You are not alone and here are some things you can do to begin the New Year on the right foot:
1) Don't sit home alone. Go visit someone who is in the hospital or a nursing home. We all know someone who is there so spread some cheer to others tonight.
2) Invite some people over who are also alone. They might just be casual friends or neighbors you rarely see, but you will be doing something wonderful by making them feel special.
3) Instead of going out and drinking, spend an evening with your children or grandchildren. Take them to a movie or a special dinner and remind yourself how lucky you are to have such a wonderful family.
4) If you have no kids or grandkids, then how about your parents or siblings? They might be lonely too tonight so spend some time with them.
5) If you do choose to spend your night alone, don't allow yourself to feel bad about it. Take the night off and just chill, watch old movies, eat your favorite foods and give yourself a break...just for tonight and have a good New Year!

Here's a new message from Blog Advance:


This will be the last newsletter of 2006 from the BlogAdvance team and we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a very safe and happy new year!!

Once again we are ending 2006 on a bang by giving our members a 1.5:1 surf ratio.

Stay safe, have fun and see you all in 2007!

Jack and Deb :)

Finding ways to make money at home can bring you one step closer to becoming your own boss. One way to do this is to sign up with ChaCha . This is a search engine that assigns you a guide to help you pinpoint the exact information you are searching for. To become a guide, the best thing to do is get yourself an invitation. If you can't do that, then supply the website with your information (you must be over 18 years of age) and hopefully you can register to become a guide. You will have to complete a training cycle before you are labled a "pro" and then you can get paid to do searches. It's fun, exciting and, best of all, can earn you some extra cash!

Pretty soon you will be able to go to the mall to do your shopping and get your Botox fix. As reported in Style Dash , the number of medical spas has increased dramatically over the last few years. So much so, that these walk-in spas may just begin showing up at the mall so you can get your Botox shots and shop all in the same day. It's mind boggling that this anti-aging procedure has become so common place. Pretty soon, none of us will be able to read another's face for any kind of expression of emotion. It's literally mind numbing!

If you are a woman and currently single, you may be looking to change your status in 2007. There are lots of places you can look. In fact, I just wrote a post about a new free dating website on my other blog. There are tons of books you can read, but one book may have all the others beat by several miles. The reason is that the authors are bartenders who have witnessed hundreds of hook-ups in their combined years tending bar. The new book entitled "You Didn't Hear It From Us" (Atria Books; $19.95) by Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas, is a no-nonsense gude to finding the right man for you. This is a guys' perspective to what men really want in a woman (much like "He's Just Not That Into You") that advises women spend more time working on attitude adjustment rather than cleavage adjustment. Tips include how to appear more confident in public, how to flirt, the best way to approach a guy and when to say no. So maybe if you want to meet Mr. Right you have to go to a mister to get the right advice.

Last week I wrote a post in my other blog, Susan's Spa (see sidebar for link) about Shapely Secrets . I was shocked at how many searches were done for this product. Maybe I shouldn't be though. This is the time of year when people are just about ready to make those resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle and to lose weight. Our country is suffering from obesity more than ever. People are definitely looking for a quick fix with quick results, but really there is no such thing. Losing weight and keeping it off has eluded many people (including Oprah). So although I think that ordering a program like Shapely Secrets is a good start (you have to start somewhere), overall this program alone won't be the answer to your problem. You need to eat healthy and for that you need support and you need aerobic exercise coupled with strength training in order to achieve optimum results. I have used Body Flex which is another program by Greer Childers, the creator of Shapely Secrets. I can attest to the fact that you will see results from this program, but again, this alone will not work miracles. If you want to see exactly how Body Flex works, check out this video on You Tube .

Is there nothing cuter than a puppy on Christmas morning? I'm sure lots of people will be surprising their loved ones with a puppy this year, but is this the best gift to give? Puppies are living and breathing things that need lots of love and attention, especially the first year. How many of these precious pups will be given to animal shelters after the holiday magic has worn off? Please think long and hard before giving a pet as a gift. If you really want to do this, then visit your local animal shelter after the holidays and pick out a puppy or dog. You will not only be giving the gift of unconditional love, but you will be saving a life in the process. For more information, you can visit Pet Finder which is a wonderful organization that helps adopt thousands of pets and can find exactly what you are looking for right in your own neighborhood. Merry Christmas!

I've been tagged by Jersey Girl in a meme for five things you don't know about me. Since I rarely get tagged for anything, I'm going to give a shout out to her (go visit her cool blog) and let you in on five secrets about me:
1. I have a terrible fear of heights which I have no desire to conquer (i.e. no rock climbing for me in the near or distant future).
2. I used to work with Donald Trump. Yes, you read that correctly. Years ago I worked for the Trump Organization when it was run by his dad, Fred Sr. Rosie is dead wrong when she says Donald got all his money from his father. Fred never gave anything to anyone without them earning it the hard way and that's the truth.
3. I can't drive a stick shift. File this one also under "no desire to learn".
4. I was very overweight most of my childhood and adolescence. I was lucky enough to have a friend help me lose weight for my senior year of high school so I could buy a nice dress for graduation.
5. As a result of said weight problem, I never went to my senior prom. From what I understand, I didn't miss much.

Message from BlogAdvance
---------------------------------------------

Because it's christmas not many people will be surfing, so for the ones that do we have decided to increase the surf ratio to 1.5 for every blog surfed.

We will keep this running until the 26th of December...think of it as our little gift to you all.

Finally we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a safe and a very merry christmas.

Hope santa is good to you all!

BlogAdvance Team -)

I've never done a Thursday Thirteen post, but there's a first time for everything. This one is inspired by an article I read in U.S.News and World Reports U.S.News and it is based on ways you can vastly improve your life for the coming year, without making huge changes.
1. Get happy - Easier said that done right? Just try being grateful for what you have and learn to go with the flow.
2. Exercise - No excuses! Wear your sneakers all day three times a week and walk to more destinations, climb for stairs and ride a bike (you'll save money on gas and help the environment at the same time)
3. Eat at home - Trans fat is making us fat, unhealthy and will kill us if we keep eating it. You can control the intake at home, but not in restaurants so buy a great low-fat cookbook and save yourself some money too.
4. Read a book - Books can change lives, open doors, see ourselves and the world through different eyes and help us escape from our daily lives.
5. Join a book club - Boobk clubs are more than about books; they're about bonding and friendships and sharing. It improves the quality of life to have people you can share with. If you can't find a book club to join, start your own.
6. Learn to play an instrument - You are never too old to learn and you can bring more joy and excitement into your life that may have been missing for a while.
7. Unplug yourself one day a week - Step away from your computer, your cell phone and your ipod (this would be a good time to pick up a book).
8. Learn about other cultures - The only way to better understand each other and eliminate hate is to learn more about each other.
9. Start a blog - You've probably already done this, but if not, now is a good time to begin. Blogs will open up doors for you and give you an amazing outlet to express yourself.
10. Try to be a positive role model for your kids - This is a tough one (especially if you have teenagers). Kids don't need unnatural praise to help them build self esteem. Recognize the little things they do every day and give them a pat on the back for trying to be independent.
11. Start saving for college right now - Even if you have an infant, start saving for college today. 529 college savings plans are a great way to begin.
12. Give back to your community - This includes the whole world. Help renovate a local park or give to a fund to help build New Orleans (they still need lots of help) and vote, vote, vote!
13. Improve your relationship - Show your appreciation to your partner for all the good stuff (it's like positive parenting for adults). It will make you and them feel much better!

Recently, I was reading one of my favorite blogs. I'll give you the link for it later in this post, but first I want to tell you about a woman who began a career and ended up with a fabulous idea for a business. She started out, as many woman do, selling cosmetics and skincare by Mary Kay. She made no money and she found that the products she was selling irritated her skin. Instead of giving up on a business she felt passionate about, she set out to found a company selling cosmetics that she could wear and sell to others. The company is called Beauty Bloss Cosmetics . Now, normally I would write about this stuff on my other blog, but I felt that this post was mor appropriate for this blog because this woman took an idea and saw it through to fruition. How many of us can say that we have done that? Now she sells wonderful natural mineral cosmetics. I can tell you that I purchase Bare Escentuals and her products are a fraction of the cost. You can even purchase samples from her for a very small fee to try it and see if you like it enough to purchase a larger size. That's ingenuity. If you want to read more about her, you can check out
My Mary Kay Truth .

Today I learned a very valuable lesson about communication. Yesterday, I was told by my supervisor that one of my classes was being cut because of scheduling issues. Since I get paid per class, I was quite upset on the impact that would have on my salary. I simply told her that I might not be able to continue teaching with her organization since it is imperative that I make more money, not less. She is not one to immediately return phone calls or e-mails. So I was left waiting for an answer from her, preparing myself to resign and start searching for another job (a task which I truly detest). This morning when I checked my e-mail, I did receive a note from her saying that she didn't realize that I was able to work more hours and that she would do her best to help me retain the class I was in danger of losing, as well as possibly teach more classes to increase my salary. I now realize that it is my duty to open up my mouth and speak up for myself if I want to get ahead or change an unhappy situation. If you have an understanding boss, then things can and will work out. If not, it's better to know up front so you can decide to make a change if necessary to a more amiable working environment. My job will never be perfect (no job is), but I'm thankful that I said something to effect a change. If I can do it, so can you.

What exactly do you do for yourself when life seems to hand you more than you feel you are capable of handling? I, for one, have made bad choices in the past which include over eating and smoking. These are not very good coping skills and, in fact, often times add to your already over-burdened life by creating serious health problems. Many times I use my blogs as a way to center myself or, if I'm at a loss for words, I'll read other blogs to gain a different perspective. I also have a book which I got many years ago which helps me to regroup and remember what's really important in my life. The book is entitled "The Woman's Book of Confidence" by Sue Patton Thoele, which includes short meditations to help accept ourselves and learn to trust our own judgment. I keep the book nearby me in my office in case I need to grab a little inspiration or a hug, which I can get from reading some of the passages. One of my favorite mantras is "I deserve to be respectived. I respect myself. I expect and insist that others treat me with respect". I won't always get it (respect that is) from my boss or the world in general, but I remind myself that I deserve it as we all do. Another one is "I deserve to be cherished and appreciated". How many of us feel cherished and appreciated? Not many, I'm sure, but nevertheless, we all deserve that much. When I read this book, it also reminds me that I must be prepared to do the same for others if I expected all these things. If I don't, I can forgive myself for past mistakes and move on. I know one thing is for sure; I'm thankful to have something I can crawl into when the world seems a little too difficult to handle.

Reality television still rules the ratings and it shows absolutely no signs of stopping anytime soon. Besides the finale of 'Survivor' last night in which Yul Kwon's strategy paid off to the tune of $1 million, brand new reality shows are in the works to entertain us. I'm not sure what that says about us as a society and our cultural tastes, but it's mind boggling how these shows draw us in and keep us glued to our respective couches. Maybe it's because the stars are real people like you and me and, they literally represent every man, woman and even child in our country. Besides the return of favorites like 'Beauty and the Geek' (third season), 'The Apprentice (to take place in Los Angelos) and MTV's 'Road Rules' (#14), there will be new reality shows to add to your Tivo list including Jennifer Lopez' 'Dancelife' also on MTV; 'Top Design' on Bravo, which is following in the footsteps of 'Top Chef', this one for interior designers with host Todd Oldham; and, 'I'm From Rolling Stone', also on MTV which features young journalists vying for a spot with the magazine in a real life version of 'Almost Famous'. Some really dumb ideas for reality shows, which probably will draw their own audiences are 'High Maintenance 90210' on E! which features the exploits of domestic staffers of the super rich; 'Gay, Straight or Taken' on Lifetime which tests various young women and their gaydar and 'Engaged and Underage' on MTV about some very young people and their march towards the alter. It remains to be seen just how successful these shows will be, but if 'Beauty and the Geek' is in its third season, then anything is possible.

So, did you hear who made it as 'Time' magazine's person of the year? Surprise! It's you! That's right, you made it as person of the year. In fact, we all did. You are probably wondering how that's possible. Isn't usually someone who has impacted worldwide news? Well, you have. How, you might ask? By blogging, that's how. Blogging has made such an incredible impact on worldwide news in so many ways, that the magazine decided to give us the honor this year. The only problem is, we couldn't all be in one room for the cover shot, so........you'll have to click here to find that out! Congratulations by the way; you deserve it!

Before we know it, many of us will be bogged down with holiday entertaining. The mere thought strikes fear in most people. So much so, that it often takes the pleasure away from entertaining and leaves most hosts thinking "I'll never do THAT again!". There's no reason for you to feel that way. Don't let the party be the boss of you; you have to take charge. Recently, on Rachel Ray's talk show, she demonstrated a wonderful spread for a holiday buffet that took a very short time to prepare. She showed her audience who to make a cheese wheel. You can by a soft wheel (or half wheel) of cheese in your supermarket. Toast up some crushed nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) and mix the toasted, crushed nuts with some chopped parsley. Spread on a cookie sheet and roll the cheese wheel in the toasted nuts and parsley. Serve on a platter with some crackers or different kinds of sliced breads and sliced pears and apples. This is just one idea, but there are many simple and easy ideas for holiday entertaining from Rachel, including her 5 minute fudge ring, which actually takes less time than 5 minutes and is an absolutely crowd pleaser. For more information about easy ideas for holiday parties, you can go to Everything Rachel Ray .

Oops! I almost forgot to tell you that you can learn more about John Edward at
John Edward . Check out his website and sign up for his mailing list.

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing John Edward at a nearby theatre. Lucky for me, John is a native New Yorker and he is very comfortable in his hometown surroundings. First of all, let me just say that I went in feeling a bit skeptical about his ability to talk to dead people (they actually talk through him), but his seminar made a complete believer out of me. I could tell you that he amazed me with obscure details of the lives and deaths of the loved ones of audience members, but something he said prior to his readings struck me and I felt they were perfect for this blog. He said that everyone in life picks one motivation from which they operate and make all decisions: the first being fear, the second being love and the third being time. Functioning out of love is the best possible scenario. All your decisions will be made with your loved ones in mind and what's best for them and yourself. In this state, you are open to your loved ones who have passed over because you have set up no blocks to get in your way. They (your decased loved ones) have no blocks. They are there with you whether you want to believe that or not. Those who operate out of fear are the most unlikely to acknowledge all the signs. They are usually the ones who shut out their loved ones for fear of rejection and of many other things. Those who operate because of time, see everything as having a time limit, but there is no time limit for your soul. Your body is just a vehicle and eventually it will die, but your soul's energy is forever out there. I'm not writing this to convince you to believe; I'm writing this so that you can ask yourself when you have to make a decision, "Am I doing this out of fear, love or time?". Hopefully, this will allow you to make the right choice.

Love her or hate her, Star Jones isn't going away quietly. Her dramatic exit from 'The View' caught entertainment headlines for weeks after her departure, but she has been quietly reassessing her career since then. She had made a few guest appearances on other cable shows since, but has been busy working at home on other projects. In a recent interview, she was quoted as saying that she has entered a new chapter in her life and she is now ready to return to her public life, but not as a TV talk show host. Besides being invovled in several projects as a producer, she will be appearing next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on 'The Michael Eric Dyson Show', a syndicated talk show owned by Radio One Company. The talk show is available at Dyson Talk . The show which airs at 10 AM will revolve around real life issues and current events as well as a segment she calls "Ask the Lawyer". Frankly, I was never a big fan of Star's, but after Rosie O'Donnell took over Meredith Viera's slot, I miss Star's common sense lawyerly approach to current issues, as opposed to Rosie O'Donnell's overbearing and self-righteous opinions. Some times you don't know what you miss until it's gone.

Last night was the season finale of 'Biggest Loser' with Eric walking away with the grand prize of $250,000. To win it, he had to have lost over 180 pounds and he did, indeed, accomplish that. In fact, all of the contestants lost over a whopping two tons, including everyone who entered from all fifty states. Heather had to remove herself from the competition because she is five months pregnant, but walked away with a beautiful, fully furnished nursery. The ending of this show comes at a time when people have already begun their holiday binging. One of the trainers, Bob, gave viewers some sage advice..."Don't wait until January 1st to begin your diet...start right now". Although losing weight can feel overwhelming (I know; I just lost 22 pounds myself), there is plenty of help online, including their own website Biggest Loser.com . You can opt to receive their newsletter or join for full support for about $20 a month. The most important step you take is to get some help whether it's Weight Watchers or any other online group (there are many). Like the Nike ad campaign says: just do it!

Making changes in yourself for the new year, has to begin with purging. One aspect of stress is rooted in anxiety. Anxiety is often born out of the overwhelming feelings that there is too much to take on so people often go into avoidance mode. When beginning the task of getting rid of all that stuff you no longer need or want, take it one step at a time, or it will never get done. As I write this, I can tell you that you are not alone in your task. I am sitting here staring at a desk filled with papers, greeting cards, calendars, newspapers, magazines, pens, pencils, white out (which I really don't need for my computer)and, somewhere buried under the piles, is my telephone. At some point, I will tackle the desk, but I have no fear; I've done this before. What's the pay off for purging? Besides a clean desk, I have the feeling of finally completing the task that has been staring me down on a daily basis. Maybe when I'm done with that, I can move on to that junk drawer in the kitchen!

Just the other day I was reading an article about the liability a company can incur during the yearly office party. I really never gave it much thought, but I suppose one can truly hurt themselves photocopying their butt after ingesting a gallon of eggnog. The last holiday office party I attended was many years ago. I was a secretary to two partners in a rather large and prestigious law firm that had connections to a very powerful political family (yes, that's the one). They shuttled us in buses to a private country club where we were treated to filet mignon and lobster tails along with unlimited champagne and lots of other alcoholic beverages. I now realized why we were taken on buses, as one by one I observed some of the most powerful partners, falling down drunk. Now, it makes me wonder how smart it is to hold such a party. At the very least you can make an utter fool of yourself and, at the worst, possibly incur an injury, costing the company thousands of dollars. If you can't throw a party that will show your appreciation to your employees, while minimizing the consumption of alcohol and office antics, how about taking that same money and putting directly into your employee's pockets? This year I am required to attend a holiday dinner with my employers and nine other teachers. None of us wants to go and the money they are spending on this dinner could have been given as holiday bonuses to us. We got no bonuses and are made to sit through a dinner, jumping through hoops, pretending that we really like each other, when we don't. I am beginning to believe that these holiday traditions are more for the employers to make them feel like they are really nice and ordinary people like you and me. To them I say, just send me a card with a check and I'll be happy spending that money the way I see fit and that would not include sitting through a meal with you.

Are you all ready for another season of 'The Simple Life'? Yes, the newly reunited friends are going to soon be taping yet another season of their hit show for 'E'. Given Nicole Richie's recent arrest for driving under the influence and alleged eating disorder problems and Paris Hilton's arrest for basically the same thing, perhaps these girls should begin season three of their show in a rehab center. Shamefully, these girls names appear at the very top of the internet search list and young girls hold them up to be role models for them. Why this is, I truly don't understand. Neither one of them has shown any evidence of any talent other than keeping their publicity machine whirring 24/7. If you have a young daughter like I do, make sure you help them to understand that these girls haven't really achieved anytthing honorable. Their only claim to fame is their money and celebrity connections. They can't even be admired for their fashion sense, as they have none to speak of. Unfortunately, these girls and others like them (Lindsey Lohan for one) grab all the celebrity headline news, leaving less well-known young people who have achieved much more, in the dust. However, from every bad thing comes something wonderful. Use these events as a stepping stone to opening up discussions with your own kids. Ultimately, parents really are the best defense against drinking and doing drugs.

As mothers, it feels as if we are always multi-tasking. This time of year can be particular stressful and lots of moms, like me, probably wish that they can just go out with their friends and kick back. The problem with that idea is too many moms just don't have anyone to take over when they want to go out. One solution is have a home party. You can take the kids with you if you have to and just have a girl's night in. One fun thing to do is a clothing swap. Everyone bring a bag of clothes and accessories you no longer wear and swap with your girlfriends. Do you long to do crafts, but can't find the time? How about organizing a fun and easy craft to do with your girlfriends. It's a great way to de-stress and just have some fun. If you long to share a meal together, but that feels too time consuming, how about a dessert party? Everyone bring a dessert and share with some flavored coffees and teas. If you can get out without the kids, then do something very adult, like have a wine-tasting party with cheese and crackers. Doing something like this can help you regroup for all those things you need to do to get ready for the holidays. For a great blog, that's more than a mommy blog, check out Mommy Space . It's very informative, well-written and just plain fun to read!

It's not unusual for people to make resolutions for the coming New Year, but how many of us keep our resolutions? We all tend to make unrealistic demands on ourselves or our loved ones. We tend to make too many resolutions with no real plan in place for how we will execute them. Dr. Phil recently told 'Good Housekeeping' magazine some concrete ways for people to set forth realistic resolutions that they can make and follow. For instance, if you resolve to lose weight, make sure you have a game plan in place. How will you lose the weight, how much weight do you want to lose and how much time will you give yourself to reach your goal? Without having answered these questions, you may end up breaking your resolution before you even begin. If you resolve to have a better marriage, then you must be prepared to be a better partner first. We tend to put the responsibility on our partner to make our relationship work for us, but the buck stops with you. Be more loving and kind even if at first it feels unnatural to you. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel and the old saying 'what goes around, comes around' definitely applies here. Another big resolution is changing employment status. Again, be realistic. If you are making $28,000 a year now, you won't be making six figures by the end of next year. Changing jobs involves planning. Dr. Phil advises to update your resume and get professional help from a job counselor to optimize your search. Also, consider going back to school at night to help you in your goal of obtaining a better job. College graduates earn quite a bit more money than those with just a high school diploma. Take a look at your expenses as well and see where you can cut corners to save money. Cut down on eating out, expensive coffee and satellite TV if you have to. Don't just live for today; plan for your future. If you want to get your kids to behave better, then be prepared to take a look at your own behavior and how it impacts them. Do you yell a lot or give unrealistic punishments (no TV for a month would qualify here)? Again, change your own behavior and theirs will follow and be specific about what it is you want them to change so you can both work on it together. Children need your support so be there for them regardless of how they behave and give them praise when you catch them being good. Finally, set up a timeline for yourself for all your resolutions so you won't give up on them by mid-February. Be honest with yourself about what isn't working in your life and set forth to change it. If you need to get help for it, then do it. As Dr. Phil says, "Answer the question, then take the necessary steps to adress your problem and you'll be living in a whole new world this time next year".

This is the time of year when people begin assessing their lives and, more importantly, their employment or lack thereof. If you are at a crossroads right now in your career, want to make a move and don't know how, or you are simply unemployed, then think about volunteering. I've always volunteered for things, especially when my children were little and I enjoyed the self satisfaction I gained. Now that my children are older, I wanted to find something that I could do that would enrich me in more ways than just financially. I contacted a local teaching hospital and got involved in their volunteer program. They trained me and placed me in a position which suited my skills and personality. Now I work with children (mostly cancer patients) and their families in the hospital's family resource center. Although I'm there one day a week and it is a volunteer position, I have learned so much about myself and others who are dealing with difficult situations. I have gained much more compassion, understanding and a better perspective about my own life. If you need to do the same, then think about volunteering. Of course you may not know where to begin and that's okay; most people don't know what to do first. There are lots of websites such as Volunteer Monster which can point you in the right direction. You can also research local hospitals and animal rescue organizations in your area. The possibilities are endless and the empowerment you gain from volunteering is immeasurable. It's a great way to help gain more control over your destiny while helping others and this is really the best time of year to give back in any way you can.

Below is a message from Blog Advance about a contest they are running. For more information you can click on the Blog Advance icon in my side bar, but read here about the contest:

As our members know we are running a surfing competition this month. Basically the member who has surfed the most by December 15th instantly wins the $100 paid directly into their paypal account.

However, we would like to let you all see who is currently in the top 10, by placing the top 10 on our BlogAdvance home page. The only problem with this is some members signed up with their real first names and may not want their name displayed.

So, we are currently running a thread on the BlogAdvance Forum for people to let us know by the end of this weekend if they wouldn't mind their name being displayed, or if they do they could change their details in the profile. So please login and let us know.

http://forum.blogadvance.com

This competition is sponsered By Intuity Hosting.

Tips From The Money Godess has written a great post about sites that will pay bloggers to write. Check out her post and read what she has to say about these sites and what you need to do to be accepted. There is money to be made blogging so do your homework and you too can be your own boss!

Sometimes bosses have to admit that they can only do so much in a 24 hour time period. That doesn't mean that you are a failure, it means you're only human. Such is the case for 'Project Runway' guru, Tim Gunn. Much of the show's creative segments are filmed at Parson's, The New School of Design, where Tim is the chair of the fashion design department and has been for many years. Now Tim cannot commit to the next season of 'Project Runway', but the show's producers are adament about creating a schedule that will work for him. He is a valued member of their team and a favorite of viewers. He spoke up and hopefully his needs will be met. Good communication is the key to making working relationships optimum. Too bad not enough bosses are aware of this....including my own.

If you would like to make more money blogging, then check out Creamaid . I have no idea what the name means, as it has nothing to do with cream or aid, except that it will aid your blog in making you more money and earning you more traffic. All their offers have been fun to blog about and it didn't require me to endorse anything either negatively or positively. Their acceptances come fairly quickly and they pay within 24 hours after acceptance. Their widgets, which appear at the end of each of their posts, not only draw more traffic to your blog, but anyone who accepts an offer through your widget, earns you even more money in referral fees. So give them a try by either applying through their website or you can go to my other blog, Susan's Spa and check out my two most recent posts for them. Of course, feel free to accept one of these offers through the widget that appears at the bottom of the post.

I recently had a long talk with my own boss about my job. She gave me something to do which I felt was beyond my abilities. I recitified the situation myself since I work fairly independently and autonomously. She asked why I didn't come to her and I told her that I felt that she appeared overwhelmed most of the times and unapproachable. She was shocked that I felt that way, but she has been giving me mixed messages all through my employment. If she didn't know the answer to one of my questions she would just say "I don't know" and never follow up with me about any of my concerns. She only comes to me when she's in crisis mode herself. This is not a good working relationship, but since I work on my own, I don't have to be in contact with her on a daily basis. If I did I probably would have quit by now. This is what I mean by some people who are bosses, don't necessarily know how to be a boss. Here is a list of things from a Bill of Rights written by Lucinda Bassett in her book "Life Without Limits". These are some good tips to keep you in check about your own career requirements:
* You have the right to have a career.
* You have the right to enjoy your job every day.
* You have the right to change careers at any time in your life.
* You have the right to acquire new skills.
* You have the right to be the best you can be.
* You have the right to set goals and go after them.
* You have the right to make your own decisions.
* You have the right to work part time.
* You have the right to be proud of your work.
* You have the right to your own professional life.
I'll add a few of my own to this list:
* You have the right to be treated with respect.
* You have the right to take time off for illness or personal issues.
* You have the right to refuse to do things that are beyond your limits and/or that you weren't hired to do.
* You have the right to have all your questions answered so that you can do your own job to the best of your ability.
* You have the right to quit your job if it's not working for you.
In other words, treat yourself with respect and others will hopefully follow. If not, then maybe it's time to move on.

If you're like me and you have a senior in high school, then you are anxiously waiting out the outcome of the college application process. Yesterday, we hit a minor bump in the road, when one college erroneously sent us a letter saying that my son's application was not accepted for early action. It turns out that his grade point average is just half a point below their requirements. When I called the admissions office to tell them that he never applied for early action, they apologized profusely and said his file would be put back into the regular active applications. I was told that if he pulls his mid-term grade up just one half point, he has a good chance of being accepted. Of course, he was disappointed, but I told him that he needs to prepared himself for all possibilities during this process. Being very young, he is idealistic about his future and this is his first major venture out into the real world. I told him that it was okay to be disappointed, but that he needed to move past it and make a plan for himself. I also told him that receiving the letter was a blessing in disguise since now he knows what he has to do in order to improve his chances of getting into any college. This is really the beginning of developing a good set of coping skills to meet all of life's challenges, big or little. The only way we can truly take control of our own lives is to set a good plan of action into motion and to be well prepared for any outcome, good or bad. This can apply to anything in life including your job, your financial situation and/or personal relationships. If you think you might need a little help in this area, you can read a great book by Lucinda Bassett called 'Life Without Limits'. Lucinda is the creator of Attacking Anxiety and Depression and the author of many books. In this one she shows you how to clarify what you want, redefine your dreams and become the person you really want to be. She can teach you how to devise a solid plan of action that really works, acquire an attitude of success, achievement and maturity, learn to be a risk taker and make effective decisions, learn how to stop worrying and start Power Thinking and work with universal energy and intuitive principles (in other words, weed out all that negative energy and surround yourself with positive energy instead). When you follow a few simple steps, you can really take charge of your life and be the boss!

Lots of folks will be shopping online this holiday season, much to the chagrin of retailers who count on mall sales to boost profits. If you are like me though and are crunched for time, shopping online is incredibly easy, but there are a few things you need to know before you start. Here are a few pointers:
1) Here's a great website called Scam Busters . This will help you weed out any scam offers that come your way. Also, when shopping online, make sure you have the most updated anti-virus software installed.
2) Be wary of e-mail offers that request sensitive information like social security number, credit card information, paypal account password, and/or bank account information. These scream "SCAM".
3) When considering shopping on a website, check for watchdog logos like BBBOnline or TrustE. This will let you know that the site is being checked regularly.
4) Check the website's policies on shipping and returns, but also on their privacy policy. You don't want them to submit your information to a list.
5) If product reviews are offered on a site, take them with a grain of salt. Some people just like the power of giving bad reviews if they are cranky or disgruntled. Read all the reviews, and if there are only a couple, then ignore the bad ones.
6) Don't pay online with a debit card if you don't have to. They don't offer you much protection. Opt for credit cards only when shopping and, if possible, dedicate one card only to shopping online.
7) When supplying credit card information, make sure the site is secured. Usually, a notice will pop up that the site is a secured one.
8) If a site asks you to register first, be careful about what information you give them. Don't ever give them your social security number (make one up if you have to). Same with birth date and mother's maiden name. If you feel suspicious about sharing, then go with your gut feeling and don't do it.
9) Print and save confiramtion pages so that you have a hard copy of your purchase details.
10) If you used a comparison site to make your purchase and things did not go smoothly, alter the comparison shopping site. If they hear of a problem, they may be able to step in and help you out, or, at the very last, drop the site if they are unreliable.
Be sure to check Susan's Spa today for some great online shopping sites.

I've written in a previous post that I would let you know about other multi-level businesses that offer easy and relatively low-cost start-ups. One such company is Mia Bella . Mia Bella is a candle company, but it's not just any candle company. Their candles are all natural, soot-free candles with natural fiber wicks (no lead). Also, their candle wax cleans up with plain soap and water, unlike other candles. This is a bit different from selling cosmetics and jewelry, which tends to be over-saturated in many areas. One former Mary Kay rep wrote that directors were fighting over each other to get new reps signed up. It's important to try to find a multi-level sales company that can offer you a territory with many more opportunities. Additionally, doing home parties is a great setting for selling them because they not only visual, but they offer wonderful scents that set the mood for anything. So, if you are like me and love candles, think about this as an alternative to the usual.

Do you want to learn a little bit about buying and/or selling on Ebay ? Then, check out my latest post on Susan's Spa .

Here's a new message from Blog Advance. Remember, if you need more information, just click the Blog Advance icon in my side bar:

Well, Christmas is coming up and we could all do with some extra cash during the silly season, so BlogAdvance is going to help one lucky blogger. The ultimate surf competition is now underway with a cash prize of $100 up for grabs.

The competition will run from now till the 15th of December and the rules are simple:

* Make sure your blog has your BlogAdvance referral button on display in your sidebar
* Surf via BlogAdvance!!!!

Pretty easy and no strings!

On the 15th we will send the highest surfer $100, via PayPal, to do with as they please. Remember: if the highest surfer is not displaying their BlogAdvance referral button, the prize will go to the next blog that does. So stay tuned for the next newsletter where we will announce the winner.

Special thanks to Intuity Hosting for sponsoring this competition and if you're using a free blog platform and have been thinking of taking the next step of owning your own domain, go and visit http://www.intuity.net/ where you'll find the right package to suit your blog's needs, with competitive pricing for top quality service that costs next to nothing




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3. BlogAdvance Forum

BlogAdvance Forum has has a facelift. In fact, it would be fair to say it's had a new lease of life!

Come take a look, register and participate in the blogging community forum that started it all. While we can no longer boast of being the largest blog community forum on the internet, we still offer advice for better blogging, blog reviews from several members to give a broader base from which to improve from and it still has a lot of heart.

Re-register today and come in on the ground floor.

http://forum.blogadvance.com


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4. Where Have My Credits Gone?

We are receiving some emails from members asking why they haven't received their credits from surfing. We would like to make it clear that all credits earned from surfing are allocated directly to your blog(s) to release the credits you have to click on your blog(s) and edit the credit allocation from within your user control panel. Once you have done that all credits will be transferred to your account and you canbegin allocating how many credits you wish to use.

If you're still having problems please check out our tutorial section on the BlogAdvance forum.

http://forum.blogadvance.com

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5. FREE CREDITS

This is for our new members, so you old timers can skip to the next section and get an extra 3 minutes of surf time in.

When you join up with BlogAdvance, you receive 25 free credits to help kickstart your blog on our rotation, but you need to allocate those credits to your blog. Simply go into your User Control Panel, which is up the top of your screen when you first log in and click on Allocate Your Credits. Once you've clicked on that, it'll take you to another screen where you can allocate your free 25 credits to your blog. Having trouble finding this option? Well we've colored this option in red and we've made it bold, all the harder to miss!

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6. SURF RATIO


Just to help you that little bit further, BlogAdvance will be upping the surf ratio from 1:1 to 1.5:1 on the weekends. So from Friday to Saturday, you have a chance to not only better your chances in the $100 sweepstakes but to drive more traffic to your blog. Watch out for days when we're feeling extra generous and bumping up the ratio an extra .5 per click and we go 2 for 1! We won't be announcing it, so log in and see if you get lucky.

Danny Devito may have been the boss of 'Taxi', but he definitely wasn't the boss on 'The View'....that would be Barbara Walters. Apparently, Danny arrived on the set of 'The View' to promote his new movie, 'Deck the Halls' after having spent the night drinking with George Clooney. Everyone enjoyed his jovial behavior, except, Barbara, the boss, of course. All was forgiven the next day though and Barbara, who has been taken to task since Rosie O'Donnell arrived on the set, says all is forgiven and he is welcome back any time.......So, who is the highest paid actress in Hollywood? It's Nicole Kidman, of course. She's the boss when it comes to salaries and is the highest paid with a salary of 17 million for her last picture which has yet to be released. Other top earning actresses include Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon who both earned 15 million for their last films. It's nice to see that women are beginning to earn the same salaries as men somewhere in the world. I just wish it would trickle down to the rest of us! For more information about the entertainment industry, you can go to People or TMZ .