Well, I think I’ve survived the Pre-Holiday & Post-Holiday rush, almost. I hope you all had enjoyable experiences and safe trips. For the first time in 30 years, my DH & I didn’t host Christmas. Our oldest DD and her husband hosted the holiday at their home, and his family was down from Vermont! The momentum continues into the New Year, as oldest DD was born January 2nd (we always celebrate her birthday on New Year’s Day), and my birthday follows within a week!

As promised, I will be chronicling how I am transitioning from working as a Paralegal in the private and public sectors for over 30 years, to becoming self-employed in the eBiz ~ eCommerce Work-at-Home areas with
My eBay Store and Affordable Mineral Makeup business. If looking to establish an eBay business, I recommend reading eBay Coach’s eBook
Stay-at-Home Mom’s Guide to Successful eBay Selling to get you started ~ I know it certainly helped me. I’ll try to focus on helping Baby Boomers choose a second career, and also give insight to help Stay-at-Home Moms become Work-at-Home Moms & earn an income while keeping their business skills sharp.

I’d like to share the following article from over at Smartmoms~Smartbusiness on things to consider when choosing a home-based business.

From my family to yours, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year; and please, if traveling ~ wear your seat belt & have a designated driver!

Happy New Year ~ See you in 2008~~

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Home Based Business

As the trend of working from home continues, it’s important to make an educated decision before starting any company. When considering starting a home based business, it can be a very overwhelming process. Just taking a look at all of the various companies could send someone over the edge! In order to help you with this process, here are a few things you need to consider and evaluate before choosing a company.

1. Cutting-Edge Consumable Products This is one of the most important factors to consider…what does the company sell? Look for a company that offers consumable products ~ items that people will buy over and over again (i.e. skin care, cosmetics, vitamins, weight loss, internet downloads, etc.). If the company is selling a high quality, in demand product, then your customers will consistently buy from you, thus creating a steady stream of income.
It is also important that you personally use and truly like the products. You will be a walking testimony and people will expect your honest opinion!

2. Timing and Trends
If a company was selling records in our current market, they would quickly go out of business. Consider this same concept when evaluating companies. It is estimated that the health, wellness and anti-aging industry will be a 1 Trillion dollar empire by 2010. If you would like just a small percentage of this growth, then find a company that offers health, wellness, and anti-aging product(s)! Another big trend is the Internet, more specifically, downloadable content. More and more people are downloading music, movies, video games, ring tones and list continues. Finding a company that embraces this trend is like hopping on the money train. You just can’t go wrong!

3. Leadership and Commitment
When looking at a company be sure to evaluate their growth as well as their leadership. Growth will give a good indication if their products are selling and if they are embracing current trends and the leadership will show if the company can support such growth. Leadership can often be a key component that is overlooked, so be sure to do your homework. Often times you will hear that an older company is a solid, more reliable company. Although this is often true, be sure not to discount a newer company that offers a revolutionary concept. If a newer company offers a product that is embracing modern trends, then getting on when it’s young might prove to be a wise investment!

4. Large, Expanding Target Market
Where are the products sold? Are they only in the United States or are they also available in foreign countries? If they are sold over-seas, how does the company help you in reaching those markets (internet access, marketing materials, etc.)?

5. Internet, Support and Marketing
How the products are sold and distributed? Can the products be purchased on the internet? What is their return policy? What is their retention rate (meaning how many people continue to buy over and over again)? Does the company have an appealing, high tech website? What type of training do they offer (this is a crucial area where a lot of companies lack)? What types of marketing materials do they offer? Are you impressed with what you see? These questions just scratch the surface of important things to consider, but will give you a solid start when researching.

In conclusion, the company you choose must be a good fit. You have to be confident about the products, have faith in the company and know that you will be equipped with the right training and knowledge to actually make money!

Betsy Canevari is a work at home mom with a toddler. She co-owns Smart Moms – Smart Business; an online resource dedicated to educating women on how to earn multiple streams of income from home. For more information about the Smart Moms, visit Smart Moms Blog or contact Betsy at betsyc06@yahoo.com
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Kids Holiday Cookie Party

December 22, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under cooking, recipes, sahm, wahm

1 Comment

Peg, over at SMARTMOMS~SMARTBUSINESS,
is an authority on Cooking with Kids. Here she shares another of her goodies for us to enjoy!

Kids Holiday Cookie Party

The holidays are upon us and we’re busy with everything from decorating the house to wrapping presents. The kitchen plays a big role during this time, and depending on your kids’ cooking skills they can play the lead or be part of the supporting cast. One fun way for your kids to get involved in the kitchen now is to have a Kids’ Cookie Exchange Party. Christmas is a good time to have this kind of party, but you can do this whenever you want. Just ask your kids, cookies are good anytime!

First of all, invite as many kids as you’re comfortable with. It could be just neighborhood kids, school friends, or the kids from your extended families. Let your kids make the invites and encourage them to be creative. How about a hand-delivered cardboard invitation with animal cookies glued around it?

To make this party extra special, you can ask everyone to bring one wrapped book for a gift exchange. Also, do you want them to dress up in holiday attire for this party? It could make for some very special pictures.

The rules aren’t complicated:

1. Every child needs to bake the cookies themselves.
2. They need to be baked (no-bakes are no-no’s for sanitary reasons). Bars are okay.
3. Have them bring 2 dozen, which they should be able to get from one batch. This leaves plenty for eating at the party and taking home to share with siblings.
4. No chocolate chip cookies (already been done a zillion times).

Have your kids decorate the table any way they choose. The table is where all the cookies will go so they’ll want to make it look festive.

Your children can practice their hosting skills by greeting their friends at the door and taking care of the cookies that were brought. They can then be in charge of arranging all the cookies around the table and bringing out the plates, cups, milk and punch. Remind your children to only give positive comments about the cookies that were brought. You want to head off any “Gross!” or “Why are they such a weird color?” type comments.

After all the guests arrive and suitably ooh and ahh over the cookies, you can have them play a few games before eating. This would be a good time for the gift exchange, if you’re doing that.

I think its fun to give out awards to every child at the cookie exchange; prettiest cookie, most interesting-looking cookie, best use of chocolate cookie, biggest cookie, most unusual cookie, best color for a cookie, etc. The kids are so proud of what they’ve created and love to show their cookies off. They just may be on their way to becoming the chief cookie maker of your house!

Peggy is the editor of the popular Cookin’ Kids Newsletter. Interesting themes, fun facts, silly clip art, easy recipes, kid jokes, cooking terms, and safety tips make this newsletter a hit with kids! Learn more about it at http://cookinkids.com_________________
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Announcing I’m an Independent AFFORDABLE MINERAL MAKEUP Consultant

December 19, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under family, internet marketing, parenting, sahm, wahm

Creating Holiday Memories ~ A Fancy Holiday Dinner Party… For Kids?

December 12, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under children, cooking, recipes, sahm, wahm

2 Comments

Some folks just have the most creative ideas! Peg, over at SMARTMOMS~SMARTBUSINESS, is an authority on Cooking with Kids.

We’ve always dined out with our two DDs when they were growing up ~ so they were pretty much attuned to what was expected when we went out. Moomette’s mom though, was a challenge ~ my ‘high maintenance’ child. My DH & I still can’t get over how we almost had to leave a restaurant when she was 2 as she had just gotten new, hard white ’shoe shoes’ that she kept banging under the table! However, when she went off to college, her school actually offered a course in business dining etiquette! Now there’s a life-skill course all students should take ~ whether a Business major or not!

Here’s a great tip for developing social skills that will be valuable throughout their lives, while at the same time, encouraging family time together!

A Fancy Holiday Dinner Party… For Kids?

The holidays are here and it’s time for food and fun. For a different twist, why not host a fancy holiday dinner party… for your kids and their friends? Our whole family had so much fun with this that it’s become a yearly tradition.

A fancy dinner party for the younger set has many benefits. Your kids learn to plan, organize, shop, clean house, be good hosts, and everything else that goes along with hosting a party. They get to dress up in their finest clothes, practice their “company” table manners, and learn dinner conversation. This is a night where kids are king, and boy do they feel important!

You can certainly make your own rules, but this is how we do it. First, the kids create an invitation list. 8 kids is the maximum our table can comfortably hold and I can comfortably cook for.

Next is the hard one – trying to pick a night when there are no extracurricular events we’ve already committed to. The kids then make formal invitations on the computer and mail these out. I admit I tend to lecture a bit about what the RSVP in the invitation means and how important it is to always respond when someone asks you to RSVP.

While we wait for our invitation responses, we decide what will be on the menu. The kids come up with two choices each for the main dish, sides, and dessert. They pour over my cookbooks (mostly just look at the pictures), pick recipes, and make up a shopping list. One of the things they pick out is an easy appetizer that they will make themselves ahead of time. Mom and Dad shouldn’t do all the cooking!

On the day of the party, the kids set the table with our good china and lots of candles. Rather than taper candles, we use tea lights in small glasses as a safety precaution.

On the eve of the party, all the kids dress up in their finest attire. This alone, makes the night feel so special. As a surprise, I create fancy dinner menus and “laminate” them with clear contact paper. Mom and Dad take on the role of chef. Not only do we do the cooking, but we are transformed into French waiters with dubious accents and are dressed the part. We don’t hover around the table, but disappear back into the kitchen when not needed.

It’s a new thing for many children to sit at a table, order their own food off the menu, and be responsible for themselves without any grown ups telling them what to do. And they love it! In order to promote good table conversation, I write up some conversation prompts on paper scraps and put them into a bowl. While they are waiting for their meal or dessert to be served, they read their prompt out loud and answer it. Examples are “If you could get on an airplane right now and go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?” or “What do you think would be the worst job ever to have?” or “What do you have sitting on the dresser in your bedroom right now?” Of course, all the kids chime in with their answers!

We’ve come to think of the fancy holiday dinner party as a Christmas gift we give our kids. We are there to serve them, no strings attached, and they enjoy it immensely. The other benefits for them are learning how to host a gala and all that it requires – planning and organizing the party, making seating arrangements, learning how to set a fancy table, planning the food, etc. While this is maybe not at the top of the list, it’s just something nice for children to learn. Every year the flavor of the dinner party is a little different, because they grow and change. This makes every year so special in my eyes.

If this sounds like fun to you, give it a try and adjust it to fit your family. I guarantee it will be a night to remember for all of you. Don’t forget to take pictures!

Peggy is the editor of the popular Cookin’ Kids Newsletter. Interesting themes, fun facts, silly clip art, easy recipes, kid jokes, cooking terms, and safety tips make this newsletter a hit with kids! Learn more about it at http://cookinkids.com
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Eep! Tagged!

December 10, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under internet marketing, meme, parenting, recipes, sahm, wahm

3 Comments

Stephanie @ Home with the Kids has tagged me. This meme is a wonderful way to “get to know you” and discover other great blogs. It does come with some basic rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know they have been tagged and comment on their blog.

I can’t believe someone wants to know more about me! I consider myself your pretty average gram. Ok, I’ll give it a try.

1) My favorite foods: Anything sinfully Chocolate; really good well-prepared Pasta; and ~ Seafood (especially Fried Clams – a New England favorite, and even more so when being consumed down at the shore, with the smell of salt water waifing in the air.

2) Things I Miss: The smell of burning leaves that signaled Fall when I was a kid. Most towns don’t allow it anymore.

3) Some Places I’ve Never Been to: Well, most places about cover it ~ The West Coast, Europe (except England, I’ve been there) & I have to include Hawaii. Someday, maybe.

4) Some of my Favorite Places I’ve Been to: Cape Cod, Massachusetts ~ I never tire of it. Sometimes it can be so nostalgiac. Block Island, RI ~ again, nostalgiac & tranquil. Same for Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, and I loved Hilton Head, SC and riding bikes on the Beach.

5) Most Unluckiest Moment: Arriving in Bermuda on a Saturday afternoon, and falling off a scooter on a Sunday morning. Broke my wrist. Got to see Bermuda’s finest orthopaedists in action, put me right under anesthesia. Spent the rest of the week in a cast, and more surgery followed at home. Physical Therapy for 5 months afterwards. I have a souvenir tetanus shot certificate from Bermuda in my scrapbook.

6) Luckiest Moments in my Life: the births of my healthy, 2 daughters; the birth of my healthy, beautiful granddaughter; the marriage of my oldest daughter and her wonderful husband-I couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic Son-In-Law (Karma) ~ and I got a BONUS ~ SIL has a twin brother!

7) And lastly ~ Now that I’m older, my feet don’t hit the ground running in the morning anymore ~ I do most of my best creative thinking at nite!

And now the really hard part… tagging. Who, oh who shall I tag? Need to find some folks who I don’t think have done this one, at least in recent times. Let’s go with…

Chef Michele’s Adventures

Now that was fun! Happy Reading!

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Tips to Ease Holiday Travel with Toddlers in Tow

December 8, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under children, sahm, wahm

2 Comments

My granddaughter ‘lil Moomette does her fair share of traveling out-of-state to visit her Grandma & Gramdpa on her Dad’s side. It’s about a 3-1/2 hour trip, and my granddog, the Black Lab also is in tow. She was away for Thanksgiving, but will be at home for Christmas. I can recall coming back from a vacation in Maine with Moomette’s mom, then 2 years old at the time, screaming until we were about a half-hour away from home, when she finally fell asleep! I think I spent the entire time facing backwards. Luckily we had my MIL in the backseat!

I’d like to share some great tips on how to make traveling more enjoyable for everyone in the family this Holiday Season! Have a Safe Trip & don’t forget to wear your Seat Belt!

Traveling can be taxing and difficult on its own, nonetheless, traveling with a toddler. In order to ensure a good, fun, and happy trip, here are a few helpful tips!

1. Bring A Special Bag
My daughter is currently obsessed with Dora and Diego. So in preparation for a recent trip, we purchased a Diego backpack for all of her toys. Not only was my daughter thrilled with the backpack, but she was also able to wear it while traveling, thus freeing my hands for something else!

2. Pack Lots of Toys and Drawing Supplies
Being prepared is the key for pleasant travels. You can never have enough books, coloring books, crayons, stickers or toys for a toddler. To make sure that it’s really special and new, start buying supplies in advance. That way there is extra excitement and eagerness to read a new book or use new crayons. A great place to find inexpensive and small items is the Dollar Store.

3. Bring the Favorites
A great tip I learned from a seasoned mom is to start putting away favorite toys before a trip and then re-introduce while traveling. Not only are the kids excited to see the toy, but you already know they will happily play with it!

4. Don’t Forget The Snacks
Food and drinks are always a necessity while traveling. Juice boxes and goldfish are an essential; however, bringing new items may also work. Try making trail mix and have two bags…one for the trip there and one for the way home. And be prepared, if you are flying, security may seize your opened containers. I found that they allowed my daughter’s sippy cup with juice, but that might not be the case at all airports. Bottom line, have a “plan B” in place!

5. Maintaining A Schedule
Although you’re on vacation, following your typical schedule and routine can be comforting to a toddler. If your child is use to taking a daily nap, do everything in your power to maintain that schedule. Otherwise, you could be vacationing with a cranky and unpleasant child…which isn’t relaxing or fun!

Traveling with a toddler can be lots of fun, but be sure to plan ahead. Be prepared and expect the unexpected! If you can roll with the punches, everyone is sure to have a great time!

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How To Survive the Holiday Gift Giving Season Without Breaking the Bank ~ Help your Child Avoid the "GIMMES"

December 2, 2007 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under children, sahm, wahm

4 Comments

Whew! ~ Holiday Shopping demands a lot of patience, energy and funds about now! While in the car yesterday listening to the radio, there was a Parody Song done to the tune of “Deck the Halls“…it made me chuckle while going on about ‘Shopping Malls, No Gas in the Car, No Money in the checking account.” Actually, these are not laughing matters. While gifting in the spirit of the Holidays is what we all aim for, the frustration of actually doing so can add to financial problems & depression.

Here’s a super article on avoiding the “Gimmes” from a Member at Mom Pack ~ a very informative site I highly recommend for SAHMs & WAHMs.

Is Your Child Suffering from The Gimmes?

This horrible, debilitating disease can transform even the kindest, sweetest children into horrible thoughtless monsters!

Has this ever happened to you?

–You walk into the grocery store with your little angel by your side. She asks if she may please have a box of Starry Fish Gummy Fruit Snacks, and when you say, “Not today honey,” your princess transforms into a screaming, raging beast, stomping her foot, shrieking loudly, accompanied by fake sobs. Spectators look on, wondering how you could be so cruel.

–You take your children to visit their 97 year old Great Aunt Thelma. She is bedridden in a nursing home, and just as soon as she appropriately pinches both their cheeks, they simultaneously chime “What’d ya get us?”

–Your teenage daughter has three dressers in her room. Her closet is overflowing and she has overtaken the closet in the guest bedroom. It’s time for school. You ask what is taking so long for her to get ready. She replies “It’s just not fair. I don’t have any clothes.”

–You scour the stores at Christmas looking for a Go-Go Rabbit Power Hero – the toy of the year – for your seven year old son. After waiting in line for eight hours, you are pushed out of the way by a throng of desperate parents. Finally exhausting all other options, you pay $200 for one on eBay. On Christmas morning, your son opens his package….and promptly tosses it aside. “I wanted to red one,” he complains.

–Your children have boxes and boxes of toys laying about their room that they don’t play with. Yet every time they find themselves in a store, they whine and moan about how they “Never get anything” and how “We don’t have anything nice to play with”.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Your children may be suffering from a common affliction know as: The Gimmes.

This disorder is brought on by having Too Much. It rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times, usually in front of family members or the general public, causing a second-hand effect of acute embarrassment for the parent.

Never fear! There is a cure!

The only cure for The Gimmes is Less.

Yes, that’s right; in this case, Less is More.

Clean Out Your Children’s Room
Get rid of 75-90% of their toys and clothes. In addition for providing relief to The Gimmes, you will notice a remarkable difference in the cleanliness of said room and your children will experience an increased desire to play with the remaining toys. All this, because they can finally find them!

Don’t Buy Off-Season
Stop purchasing little toys and trinkets for your children between holidays. Give your children a small allowance instead, and make it clear that they are responsible for buying these items. The Gimmes clear up quickly when a child needs to spend his own money!

Purchase Less on Holidays
Keep your holiday gift giving simple. Only purchase 1-3 items per child for each gift giving occasion. Children become over-stimulated when presented with too many options, and receiving gifts is no exception. Between the gifts you give and the ones friends and family members give your child, it is easy for a child to confuse the gift itself with the thrill of getting. This is the root cause of The Gimmes.

Your family can overcome this. Your child can become a respectable, caring individual who doesn’t place his needs above everyone else’s. You can beat this disease. We’re all rooting for you! .

—

Rayven Perkins is an expert at saving money at home. She has spent 7 years finding and implementing unique cost-cutting tips that allow her family to live comfortably as a one-income family. Her site Stay-A-Home-Mom examines resources and tips on Reducing Expenses, Stretching Your Dollar, and Supplementing Income in order to stay a SAHM.