If you’re a work at home mom like me, you may also have struggled with finding reliable web hosting. Well, over the years (and many headaches later), I’ve come up with a checklist of essentials that your web host must have before you even consider working with them.

1. Excellent Reliability.
There is nothing more frustrating than finding out your website is down, and has been for hours. Although no time is a good time to have your site down, the timing can be just terrible. That sinking feeling when you’ve purchased advertising and you know the ad is about to be sent out and you go to your website for last minute touches and … it’s down.

That is not cool. That is not acceptable. You must make sure that the web host you select not only has good reliability, but superior reliability. This is your business on the line, not some hobby site. Treat it as such and get hosting that works for you when you need it. But, you can’t just trust a website that says they are reliable. Make sure they can prove it.

2. Superior Customer Support.
When you do need help, make sure that your hosting will provide it. One thing I recommend is to contact support to ask a simple question about the hosting, before buying. That will give you an idea of what the customer service is like before you make a commitment. Yes, customer service has a difficult job – making sure they do not confuse less-experienced customers, yet, at the same time, also making sure not to talk down to the geek types. However, you should never feel like you are a “bother” or that your question is not as important as anyone else’s.. or worse, dumb. You should find a web host with superior customer support.

3. The Stats You Need.
Several of the most popular hosts do not offer the web stats that every online business needs. You may not think that you need stats, but, how else are you going to know what is working – and what is not? You need stats that tell you where your visitors are coming from, how long they are staying, and which pages they are coming in and going from. Does your web host offer that? If they have a CPanel as their control panel, they do. Find a web host that uses a standard CPanel.

4. Affordable.
Why spend more if you don’t have to? When looking for a web host, price is always a factor. So, shop around and make sure that the web host you decide upon offers a great price.

5. Room to Grow.
The web host you choose should offer unlimited hosting. This means, that, if you add more websites to your package down the road, the price does not increase drastically for each one. Many online businesses start with one site and grow over time. Can your host grow with you?

6. Bandwidth and Disk Space.
Also, make sure that the host you choose is in the ballpark for bandwidth and disk space. Most programs offer approximately the same amount, but, especially if you plan to add a lot of audio or video, be sure to look into this, as well.

7. A History of Happy Customers.
New hosting companies are popping up daily. Some are being run by a couple of teenagers in their garage. Obviously, that’s not who I want to entrust my business to. Do you? I want to know that the company I’m choosing has been around a few years, and has a history of happy customers to show for it. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, and you shouldn’t either.

Those are the key features that any web host should offer before you consider doing business with them. Choosing a web host can be more important than any other decision you make in your online business – if you choose wrong. So, take the time and find a web host that will work with you, and help you to succeed.

Nicole Dean is co-owner of Mom Webs Hosting -  where you’ll find the host that offers everything a work at home mom needs – reliability, unlimited hosting, and customer service that never makes you feel intimidated — all at a price you can afford.

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Many of my Twitter friends know that I’m on a mission to lose some weight by February 2009.

After looking at the photos that were taken of me this past August with my new Grandson, Slugger ~ that was motivation enough to go on a diet. Some say that the camera adds 10 pounds, but really ~ the scales don’t lie. I’ll keep up updated on how things are going with Sparkpeople diet plans (it’s Free!) and Weight Watchers.

While at a doctor’s visit last week to get my flu shot, doc suggested that I increase my intake of Vitamin D. Doc knows full well that I don’t enjoy taking pills of any kind, and even said I could take 2 Flintstones to meet the daily requirement of Vitamin D that I need.

The body needs vitamins and minerals for proper functioning. These essential nutrients can be obtained from the foods that we eat, but when we are not eating the way we should, supplements do the job for us. One of those vitamins our bodies need is vitamin D.

What is so great about vitamin D? Well, first of all, it aids the body in the absorption of calcium. Calcium, as we all know, is important for strong bones, teeth, and nails. Calcium is essential to the body at every age. Babies are building bones so calcium ensures they will form properly.

As we grow up and age calcium continues to keep bones strong. The effect of weak bones is seen in older people who are bent over as they walk. Osteoporosis is a fact of life for people with little calcium in their bones to strengthen them. As a Baby Boomer, Osteoporosis is something I am hoping to avoid.

Vitamin D is kind of unique. It can be synthesized by the sun. Who knew? Spending as little as an hour in the sun each day allows the skin to produce vitamin D in the form of a substance called calcitriol. This substance enters the body and triggers the release of calcium from the intestines into the bloodstream where it is needed.

When calcium is needed and nowhere to be found, the body removes it from the bones. As more calcium is ingested in our food or supplements, the calcium removed from the bones is replaced. This can only happen if enough vitamin D is present to trigger the release of calcium so it can reach the bones. When that doesn’t happen, we’re susceptible to bone loss.

During the winter months, it can seem like the sun has gone on hiatus. The nights are longer and we experience more of the moonlight than the sunlight. A decrease in sunlight absorption can also increase one’s chances of getting Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). As I live in New England, I’m finding that I occasionally have bouts of SAD if we have exceptionally snowy winters. How do we get our essential vitamin D then?

Vitamin D can be ingested in the form of supplements. Supplements contain vitamin D in the form needed to trigger the calcium release from the intestines. Supplements like multivitamins contain about fifty percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. The rest comes from foods we ingest like milk that is fortified with vitamin D and green leafy veggies.

When the sun is supplying the vitamin D, the body determines how much we need. In the sun’s absence, we have to be careful, how much we consume. We get vitamin D from foods but we usually don’t eat enough of the right ones to get all of the vitamin D we need. Supplements are always in the same proportion and it is vitamin D in the needed form.

Vitamin D comes from the sun. To get it we don’t have to run, jump, or skip, just stand in the open and gaze heavenward. In its absence, supplements are the best substitute.

There’s many reputable supplements available for women, men and children. Check with your pharmacist,or, you could be like me & get Flintstones!

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I’m lamenting that I started this week out with very good intentions, as I’m sure so many of us do.  I had the whole week planned for creating an upcoming Blogoversary Post, downsizing and offering sales at my Moomette’s Magnificents eBay store, and somewhat belated fall housecleaning.

However, family responsibilities and visiting family and grandkiddos seemed to take over and my good intentions got side-blinded.  Not to mention that I got a flu-shot, and appear to have come down with the blah’s from whatever illnesses are going around.  The perils of working at home!

There are many ways to manage time while working online. The computer, Internet, and various other types of activities that can be pursued while working may prove to be quite overwhelming when it comes to time restraints or deadlines. If your income is dependent upon the financial success that you achieve online, it is absolutely imperative that you take the time to ensure that you are maximizing each and every minute of your working time.

Productivity is an extremely important element to the overall success of an online business. In order to reach a high level of productivity, time management skills are a must for every home business owner. Here are five ways to help manage your time while working online in turn boosting your productivity and hopefully income.

One of the first methods you can implement to manage your time is reducing the amount of time spent on the telephone. One of the biggest time restraints that individuals experience are telephone calls. It is quite easy to experience a severe time lapse while working due to unexpected calls, long conversations, and even calls that are necessary for the overall functionality of your business.

One way to manage this aspect of your time is to turn off the ringer and purchase an answering machine or subscribe to voice mail. Then, you should set aside a time each day to check your messages and return calls as appropriate.

The next way that you can manage online work time is to avoid the act of constantly checking email. Just like the phone, this can take up a lot of your time. You should set aside small chunks of time on a daily basis where you can go through your email and respond when needed.

For the average eight hour work day, it’s recommended that you set aside up to four intervals of fifteen minutes a day to handle the task of dealing directly with email. While this may seem like an awful lot of time at first, you will find that it actually saves you time in the end.

Do you work at home? Do you have children or grandchildren? If so, you may consider setting up a schedule in a way that works well with the schedule of your partner. This way, your partner can contend with the kids and you can focus on your work instead of sitting down to work and getting interrupted after 5 or 10 minutes. If this is not possible, you may consider implementing the services of a babysitter, daycare or mommy’s helper a few days a week. This way, you aren’t neglecting your business or your family.

If you want to learn ways to manage your time while working online from home, it’s important to express to family members, friends, and neighbors that you work at certain times and it is important that you are able to maintain a sound level of productivity while working. Come up with times that these individuals may call you to chat or come by for a visit.

Although not always intentional, these friends and family will end up testing you initially and drop by and call anytime. However, if you let them know it is not acceptable and set up appropriate times for these activities, you will find yourself getting more accomplished during these times.

The last way for you to better manage your working time is to take breaks. Believe it or not! You may not believe that by taking a break you can actually increase your overall productivity, but it’s quite true! Why do you think employers allow their employees to take small breaks?

It allows the employee to experience a short time of relaxation and also provides them with the opportunity to refresh! You can experience this too, so be sure to work in those breaks and take them – you can always finish what you started when you get back!

Clearly, there are a number of ways to successfully manage your time while working at home online. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity and persistence to come up with successful time management techniques. Here’s to a better organized and more profitable online working environment.

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Health

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It’s hard to believe, but even though I have one daughter who’s 21, I still get slipped little notes to “Santa” about what’s on her Christmas List. When she was little, I always used to save her lists and put them in her baby book. Its fun to drag out the baby books and reminisce every now and then.

If you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet and are looking for some neat stocking stuffers, Bella Sara is a trading card game that’s complimented by the magical online land of North of North ~ home to the beautiful horses pictured on Bella Sara trading cards. Bell Sara has captured the hearts of young girls across the country, offering positive, inspirational messages.

The Bella Sara family of horses is expanding as they welcome Baby Bella foals, complete with new trading cards featuring gall of the brand-new babies. On November 6th, the website is kicking off a 10-day celebration where kids can qualify for daily prizes, print of babies’ birth certificates, read stories, and get access to special codes and more.

Each card is approximately the size of a playing card, and features an inspiration quote and comes with a checklist.

Whether you’re looking for something unique for your own daughters, nieces or granddaughters, these cute cards are worth checking out!

Baby Bella Card Packs will retail for $2.99 each, and are available at major retail outlets, booksellers and toy, hobby and equestrian shops in North America.

For more information, visit http://www.bellasara.com

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Follow Me on Twitter
@Moomettes

Now that we’re officially enjoying a gorgeous fall in Connecticut, one must keep in mind that we’re coming into the cold and flu season.

The crisp New England mornings, frost-on-the-pumpkin and sounds of the heating furnace reminds us that the windows are officially shuttered for the season. One of the things I like best about fall is that first smell of wood-burning stoves waifing through the air.

One of our family members is a fat, lazy, spoiled 11-year old house cat. Occasionally he tries to escape (why, I don’t know ~ he has it so good here.) He became a member of the household when my daughter, now 25, got straight-A’s in 8th grade. We previously had a purebred Black Lab that lived to be 12, and then we were fur-free for awhile. It soon became evident that darling daughter….might be allergic to cats.

I’m pleased to have the opportunity to review Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray.

Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray helps to reduce common indoor allergens such as cat dander, dog dander and dust mite matter up to 90 percent. This is important to our family since I now have two grandchildren whom I’m fortunate to see almost on a daily basis! Lil Moomette just turned 2, and Slugger, my new grandson, is 2 months old.

When darling daughter was younger she was the typical teenager ~ and we all know how most teenagers are always on the go, and we constantly have to remind them to pick up their rooms. My, how times change. After living away at college, she actually became a changed person! Not to mention that my Charming Son-In-Law has some wonderful qualities in the housekeeping department!

If the pacifer gets dropped on the carpet ~ it’s immediately boiled for 5 minutes!

Now I can use Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray for any soft fabric surfaces around the home where indoor allergens can thrive: cushions; upholstered fabrics; curtains; carpets; bedding; stuffed animals and pet bedding. When used as directed, it’s safe to use on virtually all fabric surfaces, and gentle enough to use around the kids and pets ~ it’s dye and fragrance free. When sprayed there were no harsh fumes.

Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray has a fine mist trigger that won’t leave behind any harmful residue on fabrics, which is great since ‘Lil Moomette climbs all over, and the kitty likes to get comfy in the winter.

Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray retails for approximately $2.99 and is available in home care iaisles of major retailers, or online at www.clorox.com. For further information, you can also call 1-800-277-1860.

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As the seasons change, I’ve decided to try to reinvent myself. I think there should be less of me.

My new grandson, Slugger, was born in August, and I was looking at all the photos of me that were taken over the summer. Now I understand that the camera is supposed to appear to add 10 pounds to a picture ~ but really! I figure fall is as good a time as any to go on a diet, so I’m trying the Special K ~ Lose a Jean Size in 2 Weeks. I’d been doing really well, and lost about 10 pounds in 3 weeks .

This past weekend was difficult, diet wise, as the family celebrated ‘Lil Moomette’s 2nd birthday and Slugger’s baptism. Charming Son-In-Law’s parents were down from Vermont for about 4 days, and the festivities just went on and on. Come Monday, I was determined to try again and reverse any damage I did from all the partying.

I’ll keep you posted on how things are going along. In the meantime, with Halloween fast approaching, I’ll leave you with these wonderful tips. The holidays are a difficult time to stick to your nutrition program. While weight loss may not be practical, weight gain can be avoided.

7 Tips to Avoid Halloween Weight Gain by Mitchell Lee

For those of us who are watching our weight, Halloween can be a scary experience! Although the dreaded holiday weight gain is usually associated with the month of December, pumpkin season is really where the pounds start to pile on. A study published in the Nutrition Review in December of 2000, showed that while the average American gains only a pound or two during the end-year holidays, those with weight problems often gain five to ten pounds.

Although a few pieces of Halloween candy won’t derail your weight loss program, the temptation to get carried away can really pack on the pounds. The following tips will help you stick to your healthy weight loss plan without taking all the fun out of the holiday.

Tip # 1 – Don’t buy candy until Halloween day. Having an unlimited supply of lollipops, candy corn, and tootsie rolls only entices you to have some early. If you must buy the candy before Halloween, select the kinds you don’t like in order to reduce the temptation to dig in.

Tip # 2 – Purchase the treats with the lowest amount of calories. There are plenty of “snack size”, “treat size”, and “fun size” options available that will save you, your children, and the neighborhood trick-or-treaters a ton of calories.

Tip # 3 – Set a deadline by which all holiday candy will be thrown away. Your best bet would be to toss the junk out the following morning, bring it to work, or give it to someone who can distribute it elsewhere.

Tip# 4 – Maintain control by giving yourself permission beforehand to enjoy some “goodies.” Halloween is a bad day to test your will power and discipline. Trying to stay away from the candy and failing is worse than allowing yourself some pre-planned leeway as “giving in” is associated with feelings of weakness and guilt that can drive you to emotionally eat for days on end. Make a deal with yourself that you will not have any desserts 3 days before Halloween. This will give you some breathing room come October 31st.

Tip # 5 – In order to counteract the extra calories that will be consumed, try to increase your physical activity that day. Autumn is famous for its outdoor activities like haunted tours, public tent markets, bon fires, and hayrides. You could take a long walk in a wooded park with your friends and pets, make sure you hit the gym that morning, or simply trick-or-treat with your children.

Tip # 6 – Control blood sugar spikes and insulin surges by eating a high-fiber fruit such as an apple, or some form of protein like an ounce of low-fat cheese before you decide to have some candy or dessert. This is especially helpful for diabetics.

Tip # 7 – Your goal during this holiday season should be weight maintenance rather than weight loss. If you can accomplish that, consider it a huge success!

For more helpful weight loss information, please visit http://www.HealthyHabitsNY.com or call (917) 648-8312

Article Source: WAHM Articles

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Reporting on my work-at-home experience, I can say I’ve finally become more comfortable using Twitter.  I’ve made many friends, developed a sizable following, and have received a Twitter Grade of 97 from Twitter Grader!

Micro-blogging is a good thing and using Twitter makes it even better. However, Twitter will never take the place of a blog. The bottom line is that Twitter is not a full fledge blog. It is simply a way for you to get your words out to the masses in a more expedient manner. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons Twitter will never replace a blog.

The number one reason why Twitter can never replace a blog is because you can only post up to 140 characters at any one time. There’s just no way to squeeze 1,000 words into such a small space. Not to mention, trying to send 7.14 tweets back to back, will not go over well with your followers. There is nothing like a person who tweets excessively. Doing so will cause you to lose followers and your goal with Twitter is to gain a friends not turn people away. You want Twitter to be tool that leads to your platform – your blog – the place where you share your story, product, or business.

Another reason why you can never replace your blog with simple tweets is because you just don’t have the same control to customize. Sure you can create a profile that says something about you but not the way you can with your blog. For example, here’s my About Me page where I go into detail about who I am, and why I blog. With a blog you can also customize the whole kit and caboodle. You can add tools, plug-ins, and even more networking opportunities through your blog.   I have links to the various forums and social networking sites I can be found participating on ~ Mom Bloggers Club, Twittermoms, Mom Masterminds, etc.  You can’t do all that with Twitter alone.

Then we have the website name issue. You can’t attach a domain to twitter. My domain is Moomettesgram’s Musings. I also try to use Moomettesgram as the moniker for all the forums in which I participate.

On Twitter you will always be www.twitter.com/whateveryournameis and that is it. Your username or extension is how people will recognize you on Twitter, but it’s not the same as a domain name for an entire website. In essence, Twitter owns your profile, not you.  But your domain name – now that’s all yours.

If you’re an affiliate marketer or belong to many of the wonderful websites that offer coaching resources, you want to talk about what you are promoting and, as was stated earlier, you only have 140 characters to say what you really want to say. That’s not as effective as a blog post or blog series that can send the message more effectively. That’s just one more reason Twitter can never replace a blog.

Don’t try to replace your own blog or website with twittering. Instead, learn to use Twitter as an effective tool that makes people want to learn more about you. Your blog is where you get down to the nitty-gritty and allow people to become more knowledgeable about your life, your product, service or whatever it is you are promoting.

Want to know what I’m doing?  Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moomettesgram

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@Moomettes

Health

This weekend is going to be exceptionally busy for my family! Slugger is going to be baptized, and ‘Lil Moomette turns 2 ~ already!

Of course, I’m going to be busy in the kitchen helping my daughter out with all the preparations. Charming Son-In-Law’s parents are coming down from Vermont to join in the festivities. Meanwhile, CSIL came down with some sort of bad cold today.

Winter is notorious for bringing with it higher incidents of cold and flu. Both are caused by a virus so there are no cures to speak of. Instead, the best way to prevent it is to take care of yourself beforehand. Learn about ways to avoid cold and flu.

How we feel is linked to what we eat. Eating makes us feel good. Eating the wrong foods can make us look not so good in the long run also. But, eating certain foods can fight infections and other nasty things that attack the body.

We know that colds and flu are more likely to find us if we are rundown and tired. One way that we get tired is from stress. Stress does change how our body reacts. Our immune system defenses are less able to fight against any infection.

Stress causes us to make poor eating choices. We’re on the run from sunup to sundown and we don’t have time to eat a proper diet. At first it may seem that chips and soda from the vending machine isn’t doing any harm but over time, the effects of a poor diet take effect.

What we eat is important. It’s our food that provides the nutrients to sustain our body’s metabolism, cellular function, and defenses. A lack of those nutrients and the body starts to feel ill inside. Lack of calcium in the food we eat results in losing it from the bones. Lack of protein means the muscles are robbed for it.

Certain foods can help with that. Eating fruits and vegetables bring us plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Citrus fruits provide vitamin C. This is an antioxidant responsible for cellular repair and preventing disease processes like cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

They also provide Folic acid. Folic acid is given to expectant mothers to aid in the formation of the neural development of their unborn children. Folic acid can be found in oranges and orange juice.

Vegetables provide, vitamins A, C. D, E. and K. These vitamins improve the skin, hair, and nails (vitamin E). They also improve heart health, elasticity of blood vessels, increase serotonin levels to improve mood, and provide potassium. Many vegetables provide more than one vitamin or mineral.

Omega-3 fatty acids are instrumental in heart health. It can be found in salmon, mackerel, herring, and nuts like walnuts and flax seed. Eating fish twice a week boosts the amount of omega-3s in the body.

Zinc strengthens the immune system. Meats like beef and lamb contain this helpful mineral. Eating lean cuts of beef twice a week along with chicken, lamb, and pork is healthy for the body and the immune system.

Watch what you eat. It not only tastes good on the outside but does a body good on the inside.

I sent my daughter back home tonight with some good old fashion chicken soup for her hubby ~ hopefully CSIL will be on the mend before everyone arrives.

Don’t forget to get your Flu Shots now ~ call your family physician or check out many of the local pharmacies for dates when they’ll be offered.

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