Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Over the years I have attended many Fairs where face painting was existent. That might be the best term that I could use because it is not the type of face painting that you might be use to if you were to go to Disney or Six Flags. When I see the job that these people do on these kids, it makes me want to go out and buy them a face painting video. With that said, I knew of a mother that wanting to throw here 6 year old a party and the kid wanted her to hire a face painter. It was all she could do to afford to have the party for her son and you could see that it tore her up inside. Her best friend convinced her husband to order a face painting dvd and learn how to do it so that they could help her out. The neighbors were a hit at the party.

makeup

kids halloween costumes |   homemade halloween costumes

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AFTER

In today’s economy, a franchise business opportunity provides risk minimization that you won’t find with other business startups. Most studies show that more than 90 percent of new business fails within three years with the primary reason being the learning curve of operating a specific type of business. Franchise opportunities on the other hand already have proven results and rarely fail. FranNet performs in-depth interviews and thorough questionnaires for each of its clients interested in a franchise business opportunity. This allows them to guide their clients into a franchise opportunity that is right for them. If you are thinking about starting a business or interested in a franchise business opportunity FranNet can help you.

I have been a blogger for today.com for a long time. I originally joined because I loved to write about sports. The additional pay of $1 per post and $.0022 per unique visitor was an added bonus. When the opportunity came through to add another blog throughthem and earn more money, I jumped on it. It was at this stage that the issues began to grow and frustrations developed between the staff as well as its members. The biggest hit came when Today.com reversed the contracts that they gave all of these VIP bloggers and stripped the pay per blog away from them.

The founder of today.com cited this as being necessary because of the decline in the quality of work that was being posted. With that said, the quality could not have been that bad as today.com went from a page rank of 3 to a 6 just in the time that I was there. Once the money for the second blog was removed, that is where the proverbial shit hit the fan.

Dave, the top administrator (and owner as I understand it) basically started telling bloggers if they did not like it, then leave. My issue to that is if it were not for ALL of the bloggers on today.com, they would have never gotten to where they are today. With that said, all the bloggers starting hitting the forums and it got nasty. Dave posted a final message to the bloggers in the forum and this very message is the reason why I left today.com for good.

Dave is correct in the fact that we need to value our time. He states “One thing is people are undervaluing their time…..” The problem is, today.com is the one that set the price to begin with and everyone agreed to that price by signing up. All they are wanting is what is RIGHTFULLY theirs and was taken away.Dave closes out stating that today.com must do what they need to in order to survive in this market. He also refers to other avenues of revenue that have been gained by the hard work of all of these bloggers.

In the end, today.com can be the winner and the loser. If they keep telling their writers that they do not care if they leave, they will soon have no bloggers. Without bloggers, you do not have advertisers either.

One thing that I learned a long time ago is to take care of the hand that feeds you. $30 month is easily replaced, however, 1500 bloggers are not.

As spring is being ushered in in many parts of the US and Spring Break rapidly approaches, many people turn their attention to getting away. Have you ever thought about taking a cruise that caters to the singles? Well, believe it or not, there are cruises out there that are designed with you in mind. Holidays for Singles are all over the place if you know where to look. It really is not that hard to find them either. With a cruise like that I am sure the night life would be a blast with dancing and drinking into the wee hours. And the excursions can be the the pinnacle of fun that a single person is allowed to have.

Single Cruise trips are just waiting to be plucked up and you know that you are ready to go! Think of all the stress that you can leave behind. From frolicking in the warm ocean waters to exploring ruins, the real question is why you have not booked your cruise yet. Singles Holidays have got to be some of the most fun that I can remember. Even though I would not trade it for what I have now, it still brings back fond memories.

Today I got a chance to sit down and read an article that Fred Chamberlin wrote on EugeneLoanGuy. The article talks about some of the foreclosure scams that are going on in today’s market. If you are not aware of these, then this is definitely an article that you need to read.

Via Fred Chamberlin on Neighborhood Expert Online:

Today is the last day of National Consumer Protection Week and the Federal Reserve Board has compiled some items to protect consumers from becoming victims of foreclosure avoidance scams. Reports of mortgage foreclosure scams are on the rise. Knowing what to watch for and where to turn for help is vital for families who are struggling to remain in their homes. It’s important for consumers to know that housing counselors and other resources are available at no or low cost to assist homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. One note before we get into the following information, the best and safest way to avoid foreclosure is to make your payments on time.

Solicitors of foreclosure schemes reach out to potential victims by a variety of means using the Internet, the telephone, and direct mailings. Some solicitors go door-to-door or approach homeowners at events related to home preservation. The information the Federal Reserve is providing, which is part of its “5 Tips” series, is intended to give consumers the basic information they need to recognize and avoid foreclosure avoidance scams. Consumers are urged to check the credentials of counselors and to avoid working with someone who collects a fee before providing any services or accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer. Consumers should not pay for a service without knowing exactly what they are buying.

“Saving a home from foreclosure requires fast and informed action but the solution doesn’t have to be costly,” said Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth A Duke. “It shouldn’t hurt to get help.” Avoiding foreclosure cannot be guaranteed–regardless of the circumstances. Working with a legitimate counselor can increase the chances of keeping a home, but consumers should be wary of people who tell them it’s a sure thing. Details of the transaction, along with any promises, should be provided up front and in writing.

The tips to follow from the Federal Reserve Board will help consumers select a reputable counselor and avoid fraudulent foreclosure scams.

1. Work only with a nonprofit, HUD-approved counselor.

If you are looking for help to prevent foreclosure, be sure the counseling agency is on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s list of approved agencies. Visit HUD’s website for an easily searchable list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, or call 877-HUD-1515 (877-483-1515) for more information. If you are approached by foreclosure counselors–by mail, phone, or in person–make sure the counseling agency is HUD-approved before you do business with them.

1. Don’t pay an arm and a leg.

You should not have to pay hundreds–or thousands–of dollars. Most HUD-approved housing counselors provide no-cost counseling services and many more provide low-cost counseling. Do not agree to work with a counselor who collects a fee before providing you with any services or who accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer. In general, do not pay money to anyone unless you know exactly what services you will receive.

1. Be wary of “guarantees.”

A reputable counselor will not guarantee to stop the foreclosure process, no matter what your circumstances. Working with a legitimate counselor can certainly increase your chances of keeping your home–but be wary of people who promise a sure thing. Again, get the details of your transaction, along with any promises, in writing first.

1. Know what you are signing–and be sure you sign it.

Don’t let a counselor pressure you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read through carefully or that you don’t understand. Don’t sign any blank forms or let “the counselor” fill out forms for you. Be sure to talk with an attorney before signing anything that transfers the title of your home to another party.

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you feel you may be the target or victim of foreclosure fraud, trust your instincts and seek help. For tips on spotting scam artists, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s webpage on foreclosure rescue scams. Report suspicious schemes to your state and local consumer protection agencies; which you can find on the Federal Citizen Information Center’s Consumer Action Website.

Protection of your rights in a foreclosure procedure is very important. Make sure you make use of the programs and organizations that are available to help you. The Oregon Department of Insurance and Finance also has some very good information on their website about things you can do to avoid foreclosure. Here is a link to their PDF pamphlet about how to avoid foreclosure.

In my 20 plus years in the mortgage industry, I make it a point to tell people that they need to review their credit report regularly. That is still true today; maybe now so more than ever. There is so much fraud going on that if you are not keeping an eye on your report you may never know until it is way to late. One report that I read states that more than 10 million Americans are victims of identity theft per year. When I hear that number, I have to wonder how many of those could have been caught and resolved in the early states if the victim had been monitoring their credit report.

Today, monitoring is easier than ever. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) now requires that all of the major credit reporting agencies supply a free copy of your report to you once a year. The catch to this is that for you to get your free credit report, you have to request it. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are all mandated by the FCRA and have to comply in this request.

There are many companies out there that are designed to help you in monitoring your credit. With today’s economy, you need every advantage that you can get with the creditors. Why not know what they know when they pull your credit?

This morning I had a video sent to me on facebook. I am glad that it was. This might be one of the most powerful messages that I have seen in sometime. I want to thank the person that made it and the one that sent it to me. It is truly an honor to live in a country where we are free to do what we want. With that said, respect cost us nothing. Our military personnel give up a lot to protect what we have. It does not seem like a fair trade off, but for most of them, respect is all they really want.

I hope that you take the time to watch the video.

There are a lot of ways to protect your car – keep it in a garage, use car covers whenever possible, wash and wax it regularly, and keep up the maintenance on it. Whichever you choose to do, just be sure that you commit to it so that you’re car will look the same ten years from now as it did on the day you brought it home. I prefer to use a car cover at all times, even if my car is in a garage, simply because it’s a great way to protect your car from the elements, and when I’m in the market for a new car cover, I get mine from Empire Covers. Their selection of car covers, truck covers, motorcycle covers, and boat covers is one of the most impressive I’ve seen and I’m sure you’ll agree with me after you check out what they have. Go browse their selection and I’m confident you’ll agree with me.

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This site is designed as a network where people can come in and create their own photoblog and have the accessibility of it being in a network with other members that are photo nuts just like us. So, if you are curious, then check us out today.