Thursday, December 30, 2010

Julius The Poet - Inspirational Poems

Julius is an avid poem writer, offering words of inspiration and wisdom to his readers.  If you think you know poetry and tend to find it hard to understand or just plain boring, please do yourself a favor and stop by JuliusThePoet.net.  I'm sure you'll find his poetry uplifting and inspirational. 

There's something for everyone, whether you're looking for something about hope, success, fears, keeping promises, or just about anything else you can think of.  And he's always adding more.  He offers "Poems You Can Use" that are in the area of metaphysics. 

One of my favorites is What Do You Dream About?  It really gives you something to think about.  Julius writes in such a way that causes you to pause and reflect on your life, goals, dreams, and the world around you.  If you have someone special in mind who can use some moral support or just some kinds words, you can easily send any of Julius's poems through email with just the click of a button.

Stop by JuliusThePoet.net today and read some of his poems.  While you're at it, send a couple to special friends and family members.  I'm sure they'd appreciate it!

Hydroxatone review



It's impossible to turn back the hands of time and go back to our youth, though you don't have to accept wrinkles that come with age.  I always tell people that I don't want to look 20, I just want to look really good for the age I currently am.  Sun damage, a poor diet, smoking, alcohol, and not drinking enough water can all age your skin before its time.  Thankfully there are products like Hydroxatone that can help.

I'll admit, I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to buying anti-aging products, so I'm happy to do this Hydroxatone review today.  Over the past decade or two I must have spent thousands of dollars trying to find a product that really works.  Hydroxatone could be the answer I've been looking for!  You can use it day or night, and it's supposed to firm skin at a cellular level while relaxing muscle fibers to remove surface wrinkles.  Sounds like Botox in a jar!  It even has built-in SPF 15. 

One of the best things about it, besides the fact that it can erase years off your face, is that it comes with a 30 day risk-free guarantee.  You don't have to look old and you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to get rid of fine lines, crows feet, laugh lines and wrinkles.    

Esources Review

The number of people starting their own business from home grows by leaps and bounds every year.  Most people dream of working for themselves and by offering products that consumers need you can make a lucrative income from it.  The reason most people don't start their own business though is because they don't have the upfront money to buy a large supply of merchandise, and no place to store it.  Then you have to package it up and ship it out.  It's just too much trouble so people simply give up on their dream of being an entrepreneur. 

Today I'm doing an esources.co.uk review.  Esources is a website packed with wholesale suppliers and is a UK wholesale products trade directory.  The site is set up for both suppliers and buyers.  Currently they have more than 1.5 million listings on the site; everything from dropshippers and auctioneers to wholesale products and trade leads.   

You can easily get your own business started by using esources.  Simply sign up for a free account, list your buyer requests for free, and look through the wide selection of products offered.  Whether you want to sell clothing, jewelry, mobile phones, or anything else you can imagine, you'll find it here.

For suppliers, you can request a free listing, list your products, receive orders and reply to buy leads.  You can track your ad performance, list your company profile in up to 5 categories, and more.  What an easy and great way to promote your business!

This is one of the best places I've seen where buyers and sellers can come together.  I was happy to be able to do this esources review since I like showing people ways to start their own businesses and get more customers or clients.  Stop by http://www.esources.co.uk/ today and take a look around their site.  I'm sure you'll find something that will appeal to you so you can get your own business started in 2011!

Discount Auto Insurance

The other day a friend of mine got pulled over and he was driving without insurance.  Now he has a huge fine and a suspended license.  I told him many times this would happen but he felt it was too expensive, though getting discount auto insurance is easy if you just do a little research online. Well, I guess he learned his lesson a little too late! 

Today I sent him a link for affordable car insurance and he's finally going to do the right thing and get coverage. Thankfully he wasn't in an accident since driving without car insurance would have gotten him in more trouble than he's currently in. Really, there's no excuse to drive without coverage since it's protection for everyone involved.  You may need car repairs and could be injured and you would want the peace of mind knowing it would be taken care of, right? 

Everyone is counting their pennies these days, and if you feel you're paying too much for car insurance get free auto policy quotes today and see how you can save money yet still get the coverage you need. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

WebsiteReview.net - Has Your Site Been Reviewed?

I'm always happy to review websites, products, places, people...and even other reviewers.  Knowledge is power and in this day and age of schemes and scams it's good to know what's what out there in the cyber universe.  Also, by offering reviews we can help to promote really good products and sites that may otherwise remain unknown to many people. 

WebsiteReview.net is a website review site that is sleek, clean and very professional looking.  There are categories ranging from Entertainment and Sports to Dining and Reference.  They also award really great sites their "featured site award."  There's also a free weekly newsletter you can sign up for so you can keep abreast of new and fabulous websites.

Bookmark WebsiteReview.net and read a new website review each and every day.  The site will soon launch a forum where members can discuss reviews, and even write your own mini-reviews.  If you'd like them to review a particular site just send them the link using the handy form on the Website Review site or simply share the link on their Facebook fan page.

Twittering Software And Marketing

A lot of people, like myself, are on Twitter a lot.  I interact with friends, alert readers to new blog posts, and even make money via Twitter.  But I'm sure I'm not using my Twitter account to its full capacity.  TwitteringSoftwareAndMarketing.com is a premier social Twittering software and marketing website.  How can it help you?

From this website you can relax and play hundreds of online games, join groups and plan events, keep updated with latest news, video chat with other members, and get free blog post advertising and syndication, and more!  There's even an area for free classified ads.

Sign up and become a member of TwitteringSoftwareAndMarketing.com today and learn all the secrets to getting the most from Twitter for you and your business!

Find Great Online Deals At Hyroo.com

Living a frugal life is always at the forefront of my mind.  I frequently scan the supermarket ads, shop at thrift stores, and visit sites like Hyroo.com.  If you've ever been on Woot then you'll get the idea of what Hyroo is all about, yet it's so much better in some ways.  For one, the website isn't a busy mess, and it's very user friendly.

The way the deals work on Hyroo.com is someone from the general public can submit a deal they found online. Then registered users get to vote on how good (or bad) the deal is.  Although the site is relatively new, it's already growing by leaps and bounds.  And why wouldn't it?  It's a place for people to get involved, share their best found deals, and save some money.  What could be better?

For example, before Christmas I was looking for an 8GB memory card that I could use for my Creative Zen player.  I like putting audio books on the memory cards and prefer not to take up space on the player itself.  Right now on Hyroo someone posted a great deal for a Kingston 8GB memory card and it's less than $13.  Another deal on there is a 23.6" LCD monitor for only $160, which is a good markdown from the original $219!

You can search for deals in specific categories and find out what's new.  Be sure to sign up for their emails so you can be the first to know about their newest deals.  I'm bookmarking Hyroo.com now and visiting often!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Learn Some Secrets To Making Money At MyMiniSuite.com

Who isn't trying to make more money?  Each month as bills come along you have to squeeze those pennies tighter and tighter.  You've probably given up on some small and large luxuries--maybe your morning latte at Starbuck's or yearly vacations with the family.  Maybe you haven't had a vacation in years, decades, or ever.  It's just too expensive and you don't that that kind of money.  Right?

Get rich quick schemes abound on the internet, but there are a few people who have really made a lucrative living and they want to share their secrets with you.  MyMiniSuite.com is one such site where they show you how a 29 year old took a handful of PLR articles and some imagination and turned it into big, big profits.  Now you can too!

The site has a video you can watch that shows you what you'll get with their program.  With MyMiniSuite.com you will be walked through the entire process step-by-step so you can copy what they did and make your own money.  Wouldn't it be great to have extra cash for things you want to do?

MyOutdoorCalendar.com - Online Booking and Calendar Management

MyOutdoorCalendar.com offers a professional booking and management tool for the outdoor industry.  This company's aim is to assist people in the fields of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities to stay organized.  It also helps outfitters to gain exposure through directories so they can maintain a high level of exposure. 

Some of the services involved with My Outdoor Calendar are -
  • Calendar Management System
  • Online Booking Tool
  • Client Payment Portal
  • Customer Support
  • Marketing for your Business
  • Team Management
  • Point of Sale System
  • Multi-Guide Management
  • And Much More.
The system is very simple to use.  If you run outdoor activities you can go through the MyOutdoorCalendar.com website and give your customers a way to book on your website or over the phone with the multi-purpose interface.  When you have an upcoming event you post it to your calendar.  Clients visit your website, check for trips, book their trips, pay for and check out online. 

But that's not all since My Outdoor Calendar will also distribute your availabilities to their network for added exposure and possibly more bookings!  You can choose to pay a monthly fee for their service or a per-sale percentage.  They even offer reporting tools so you can compare your sales per category, monthly sales, and more.  And, there's no set-up fee. 

If you have a business that centers on outdoor activities you should definitely try out My Outdoor Calendar.

Get organized and gain exposure with MyOutdoorCalendar.com.

Jim Huebner - Old West Lawman's Forgotten Memoir

If you love the Old Wild West then you need to check out OldWestLawmansForgottenMemoir.com.  The sales page alone is enough to suck you into that time period when life was simpler in many ways, yet men had to fight for their very lives on occasion--some more than others.  Jim Huebner was lucky enough to happen upon the memoir of  "Pistol Pete."  The book is an account of his life and times living and fighting and living to fight again in the Wild, Wild West.  He survived to nearly 100 and killed almost a dozen men in his time.

I have special interest in the Old West since my great (great, great, etc) uncle Bill Power was part of the infamous Dalton Gang.  I've read a lot about the history of cowboys, gunslingers, and life on the range and on the run.  Shows like the Lone Ranger and Bonanza can be entertaining though as far from reality as can be.  In Pistol Pete's memoir you'll get to experience the Wild West as if you're actually there.  A bystander or even participator in showdowns and standoffs.  Nothing is sugar-coated or toned down for fear of offending anyone.  You get it all--raw and untamed.

Jim has preserved Pistol Pete's memoir and put it into a book that every Wild West enthusiast can enjoy.  (No longer is it hidden in a stagecoach trunk with a pair of rattlers nearby, seemingly guarding it.)  And guess what? If you don't like the book--and you're plumb loco if you don't!--he'll refund your money if you send the book back.

Stop by OldWestLawmansForgottenMemoir.com and get a taste of the Old West as it was meant to be, then order Jim's book and steep yourself in it!

Where To Buy Jewish Gifts Online - YourHolyLandStore.com

Several of my friends are Jewish and they're always looking for websites to buy jewelry and other items, and I'm always trying to find places to buy that special gift! Today I came across YourHolyLandStore.com and it's overflowing with interesting and beautiful products.  They have a long list of items for sale.  Everything from Dead Sea minerals and Moroccan hair oil serum, to a sterling silver pendant with a book of psalms. 

They sell candlesticks, magnets, home decor, and even children's items.  Besides clothing and food, YourHolyLandStore.com is really a one-stop shopping place for just about everything you could need or want. (The Hebrew Blessing magnet is especially beautiful and is an inexpensive gift.) If you don's see anything that catches your eye at the moment, sign up for their mailing list and they'll alert you to new products as they arrive. 

While I was browsing the site I saw that they also offer zodiac jewelry and Israeli hand watches.  They're all nicely made.  Why not buy something for a special friend, family member, or even for yourself?

MoreSpinTennis.com - Learn To Play Or Perfect Your Game

 Now that the new year is approaching I've been looking for ways to get some exercise yet have fun.  I'm frequently around the Irvine Orange County community since I spend half my time in Southern California and the other half in Tucson, AZ.  Tim Ludeke offers professional tennis instruction to groups and private lessons through his company MoreSpinTennis.com.

I'm a complete newbie at tennis, but even if you've been playing for awhile and would like to improve your forehand or backhand, Tim can help you.  Not only has he been a tennis coach for 25 years, but he offers slow motion video analysis of your swing to see exactly why you may be having trouble with your serve.  The video can be viewed at 7-30 times slower than real time so Tim can show you where you need improvement. Finally, you'll be able to make the perfect serve and avoid hurting your elbow, wrist and shoulder!

His prices are very reasonable, especially if you and a few friends want to book him for group lessons.

This year, learn to play tennis or improve on your game by hiring Tim Ludeke of More Spin Tennis to coach you.  You'll not only get excellent exercise, but it's a fun and competitive sport as well.  If you don't feel like you're exercising then you'll stick with it.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Real Alien and UFO Pictures On Alien-UFO-Research.com

This is an area that I really find interesting: Aliens from other planets.  I wholeheartedly believe that we aren't the only beings alive in this huge universe, and I also believe that other life forms have, and still do, visit our Earth.  A lot of people may think that it's nonsense since they haven't seen anything with their own eyes, but plenty of people have--including myself.

About ten years ago I was standing outside at night looking up at the sky.  It was an exceptionally clear summer evening.  We lived away from streetlights and there was a farm next to us so I had a good view of the night sky above.  As I watched the sky I saw several "stars" in perfect V formation.  They began to move forward together and I figured they were jets flying very high up.  Suddenly they began to zigzag and loop around like unlike any plane I had seen!  In an instant they were back in perfect V formation then took off at the speed of light.  Nobody's going to tell me that those were military jets!  I watched this take place for at least a minute. 

Even if I hadn't witnessed that strange sighting, it just makes sense that intelligent life exists out there in the universe.  And, some of those beings are likely more technologically advanced than we are, just as we're probably more advanced than some other life forms. 

Looking around the Alien-UFO-Research.com website is not only fun, but it's informative and eye-opening.  It has information about ancient aliens and crop circles, plus older stories that most UFO buffs are familiar with, such as the Betty and Barney Hill story, and also new UFO sightings, reports, pictures, and videos. 

If you find the possibility (or fact) of Aliens and UFOs to be interesting then check out Alien-UFO-Research.com.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Free 2011 Calendar From Azalea.com

Who doesn't love freebies?  Especially with the economy being so tight right now.  We need to save every penny.  Azalea.com is offering 4 free 2011 one-page calendars that you can download and print out.  Send them to your family and friends, post one in every room of your house, and spread the word about Azalea.com.

Why?  Because, their free calendars are really nice.  I haven't seen designs like this anywhere.  My favorite is Hot Duck.  It sort of fits my quirky (aka weird) personality.  Besides, it's a nice gesture to tell others about good products and good people.

I just printed my free calendar out and hung it over my desk.  That little duck makes me smile and it will remind me of what day it is.  As a freelance writer I'm often in my own world and usually forget what day of the week it is.  Not good when you have deadlines to meet!

Get your free calendar now.

UserOverview.com - Free Survey Creator

If you have a blog or website you probably want to get some feedback from your visitors, clients, and customers.  Maybe you want their opinion on your website in general, or products or services they've used or would like to see in the future.  Whatever you can come up with, you can create a-survey for it with the help of online tools at UserOverview.com.

Their Basic Account is absolutely free and allows you to send out an unlimited amount of surveys, has 14 different question types to choose from, a template library, response collection, and up to 150 responses allowed per survey.

Their Pro Account is very low-cost at only $5 per month and includes everything that the basic account plan does, but more.  You can also add a custom logo and redirect people to a thank you page. You also get an unlimited number of people who can respond to your survey.

For blogs and sites just starting up, the Basic Account would probably fit your needs, though with the cheap price of the Pro Account you can get so many more perks.  Obviously, those with higher traffic would want the paid account so they can get a lot of feedback on their survey. 

Surveys are a great way to collect data about your visitors and get them to interact with you!  And with the easy-to-use survey templates on UserOverview that you add your own personal touches to, it's simple as can be to create your own surveys.

GiftStumped.com - Where To Go For Last Minute Gifts

Ahh!  Christmas is just around the corner and I haven't gotten everyone on my list a gift yet.  Thank goodness for GiftStumped.com.  They have last minute gift ideas for people like me who have the best intentions of shopping early but never get around to it.  Or, there might be someone on your list you forgot to buy a gift for and you don't want to be embarrassed or feel bad if you don't get them a little something.  This always seems to happen when I'm working in an office.  You do the whole Secret Santa thing and buy the one gift, only to find out that a few other people got you something and you're left feeling like a jerk for not thinking of them.  It can be stressful!

Gift Stumped has a last minute gift ideas page where you can find something for everyone on your list, no matter how close to Christmas you order.  Now, you may think that you'd have to pay huge shipping fees for a gift to be sent that quickly, but not if you send a digital gift.  People love instant gratification and you can send an instant gift such as a subscription to Archives.com where they can build a family tree.  If you have a little time before you need to get the gift to the person, why not get into the account and start the family tree for them or even finish it?  This will make it even more personalized.

Another great last minute gift idea is a digital magazine subscription.  You can show the recipient that you care about them and the planet.  With each magazine issue sent to their email it will be a reminder of your thoughtfulness.  It's a gift that will keep on giving throughout the year.  Digital magazines don't clutter up the house, don't get left on the subway or in waiting rooms, and they save trees.

If you're scrambling to find the perfect gift for people on your list yet you've run out of time or ideas, stop by GiftStumped.com today.

Telomere Cell Cream - Goodbye Wrinkles!

Getting older doesn't mean you need to look older, but trying to find a skin care cream that really does the job of getting rid of fine lines, crows feet, laugh lines and making your skin firmer is difficult.  There are a lot of products on the market that claim to make you look 21 no matter how old you are or how bad your skin looks.  Anti-aging is a multi-million dollar industry, second only to diet and sex products.  We don't want to be fat, we want amazing sex lives, and we want to look as young as possible.

Telomere Cell Cream isn't the same old thing when it comes to anti-aging skin care.  They consider their product a cosmeceutical - it's cosmetic yet pharmaceutical.  They've got science backing their skin cream since it works to detoxify, and also maintains DNA repair.  As we get older and depending on our environment and lifestyle, DNA production can dramatically slow.  Telomere Cell Cream is marketed as a product that not only helps fight and erase wrinkles, but it can visibly reduce all signs of aging. 

The site has an evaluation of consumer results and nearly all people who tried it reported less redness of the skin, less wrinkles, reduction in sun spots and pore size, and more firmness, tone and elasticity.  You can take a look at the photos and see for yourself. 

What I like about the pictures is they look real. I've been on too many wrinkle reduction products sites where they take someone who's 85 and make them look 25 with a heavy dose of Photoshop or just two totally different photos.  Telomere also lists the ingredients of their product, nothing is hidden.  If you buy 4 jars you get an incredible discount.  It's like buying two and getting two free!

If you're trying to fight signs of aging, stop by the Telomere Cell Cream site today and take a look around.  See if their product just might help you turn back the hands of time.


 

Interview With Richard Franetzki Of FreeBusinessAudits.com

Hi Rick, thank you for joining me today

  • You recently launched the website FreeBusinessAudits.com. Can you tell my readers a little bit about this site.

I’d be glad to. Creating a new division of Capital BCS Consulting, we have joined several related business programs together to create their own website and internal business entity (www.FreeBusinessAudits.com). We provide businesses with "4 FREE Ways To Save Thousands of Dollars Annually" without it costing them an out of pocket penny $0.00! We use industry experts to identify cost reduction and cost recovery areas, with our only payment being a percentage of actual hard $ savings realized and approved by the client.

  • What are the specific services you offer and would this be mainly for big or small business owners?

We have four standard cost reduction programs that concentrate on the areas of:
  • Workers Compensation Insurance Premiums
  • Merchant Card Processing Fees
  • Commercial Lease Overpayments/Errors
  • Solid Waste Disposal Overpayments/Errors/Best Use of Resources
Our services are not specifically focused on small, medium or big businesses, but more on how our four programs are used at the business. On our website we detail who are the best candidates for each program, so I would recommend all businesses visit the site to see if they qualify for our free services.

  • What’s your background in this area?

I have been helping businesses save money for over 20 years from both internal and external positions. With a business management degree and a Masters of Business Consulting, my background includes being a Division Director for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC (who’s mission is to promote and stimulate US Business) and spending 13 years as Director of Research & Development Financial Operations (budgeting, grants management, strategy, finance, etc.) for an international non-profit organization. Now at Capital BCS Consulting (my consulting business) I take this diverse business experience and apply it directly to my client’s goals and challenges.

  • How many people work for you or with you?

I am the sole employee with Capital BCS Consulting, but have expert contractors under agreements to bring clients the very best services within the industry. Specifially, two local colleagues support the business on an ongoing basis, with 6-8 CPA’s and Auditors directly supporting our FreeBusinessAudits.com division. These really are some of the best talent within their areas of specialty. I am lucky to have them on board at Capital BCS.

  • Why do you feel a business audit could help owners?

I see there being three very significant reasons why our services should be seriously considered by all businesses:
  • Our services are structured so that our clients never pay an out of pocket penny $0 for our services. If the results of our work generate actual hard dollar rebate checks or savings, we split a percentage of these dollars with the client. This takes all the financial risk out of working with our company.
  • Our program areas are proven to be riddled with overcharges and errors (we quote some statistics on our site), plus business owners/staff often take the attitude that there is nothing they can do about the amount being charges or that they already know they are paying correctly. This attitude only hurts them in the end.
  • The time it requires a business to participate in our programs is very small, considering the potential for $1,000’s of dollars of savings each year. The average Workers Comp refund check for our clients is $10,000. For the Merchant Card Processing Program, all we require is copies of their last four statements and a signed agreement. Maybe that would take a company 15-30 minutes tops? In today’s economy, who can pass up that opportunity?

  • I’m sure that your service could help business owners save money. What are some common mistakes owners tend to make that they should avoid at all costs?

First, as mentioned earlier, don’t assume what you are currently paying is totally out of your control and/or being billed correctly when complicated pricing models and contractual terms are in place. How many of us naturally get presented with a three pages small print contract where they only really understand the key terms contained within. Often those other terms are hiding billing calculation formulas or schedules that should be verified by an expert that they are being applied correctly.

And second, I would say don’t assume that your regular business reviews/audits catch overcharges of this nature. Very few general auditors or staff have the experience to understand if all of their merchant credit card charges have been applied the correct Interchange Rates, or that their commercial lease landlord is correctly calculating the pass-through expenses being applied to their bill. Realistically, it takes experts in the industry working for you to make sure you are not overpaying.

  • I saw that you have a “work for us” page on your site. How would someone work for your company? Would this be as an affiliate or sales rep?
Yes, we greatly appreciate business referrals, and pay well for other’s efforts. You can formally become a sale rep/locator by joining our program through a simple independent contractor agreement. There is no cost at all to work with us, and we provide all the training and materials necessary to identify potential new clients for our business. And unlike many other affiliate/sales rep programs out there, we have the added benefit that our services are free. So anyone who believes they can give away free cost recovery audits to businesses, should really consider this work-from-home business opportunity (part time or full).

  • What’s one tip you can give our readers if they own a business?

Take a few minutes out of your day to contact me by phone or email to see if we can help your business save a lot of money. If we can’t help your situation, I will be the first to tell them, and thank them for their interest…….but if we can help, then the small time investment they make could produce a 4, 5 or even 6 figure refund check. Others are benefiting, why not them?

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Set Your Home Alarm To Protect Yourself And Your Belongings

Thanks to Lemuel Craft

Winter time brings with it some dangers that make it important for all of us to always be aware in order to stay safe. Sometimes we forget that winter brings new challenges for us as well as those that wish to do us harm.
That is the reason it is so important to do everything we know to keep ourselves and the ones we love as well as our possessions as safe as we can.

Safety means making sure that the ice is scraped off the sidewalk during those frozen days of winter so that no one slips and falls and breaks something like a leg or arm. It also means that you prepare your car for those slick roads that are sure to follow when it snows or the snow is melting. One thing that we don't always think about when it comes to winter safety is that winter gives burglars even more reason to break into our homes.

Setting your home alarm (adt home security deals) so that those things cannot happen not only keeps your possessions safe it can also keep you safe as well. Imagine what it would be like if you woke up during the night and found that someone else was in the house with you and you didn't invite them.

Center For Metaphysical Research

I'm a firm believer in metaphysics and have been offering psychic readings for 20+ years now.  Always on the lookout for websites that offer information, guidance, classes, or instructions on metaphysical subjects. Center For Metaphysical Research is an excellent website for exploring your inner self and higher self.  They're mission is,"To assist human beings in the journey of self-discovery and self-analysis so that they may find the road to health, happiness, success and prosperity."

We're are all deserving of happiness, success, and prosperity, but there are so few who know how to attract these energies.  Instead, we stay poor, miserable, overweight, or just getting by.  Why should that be when we're all capable of greatness? 

The Center For Metaphysical Research has informative articles such as, "Twelve Types Of People On Earth" and "If You Could Turn Back The Clock."  They also offer many reports you can receive once you become a member--which only requires a donation.  The reports include: Complete and Detailed Profile plus Forecast, Pathfinder Report, Life Progress Report, Personality Report, and access to the executive director.  In all, you will receive more than 200 pages of information that can help you on your path in life.

Who are you?  Where are you going?  What's your purpose?  How can you make changes?  What do you truly want and how can you get it?  These questions and more can be answered when you pursue metaphysics.

Ojolie eCards - Unique And Original eCards For All Occasions

With the price of stamps climbing higher each and every year, it can get expensive sending a traditional card through snail mail to everyone on your list.  Not to mention the fact that it may not arrive in time for a holiday or special occasion, or could even get lost.  This is why I prefer to send ecards.

Today I came across the website Ojolie.com that offers unique and original animated ecards for many occasions.  There are free ecards, as well.  When you browse the many cards offered on this site, the first thing you'll notice is that you've never seen cards like this on other sites.  That's because Frederikke Tu painstakingly creates each ecard so it's something interesting, sweet, beautiful.

I have a lengthy list of people I want to send Christmas ecards to and I'm going to send them all an Ojolie card this year. Since I'm a music lover and a cat lover the Jazzy Christmas ecard is one I'm sending.  You can add your own photo and message to each card so they're personalized.

Stop by Ojolie eCards today and look around to find the perfect Christmas eCard for everyone on your list.  This will save you time and money from having to send out traditional cards, and you're also helping to save the planet by not using paper cards.  

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Lepingo Pain Management - Where Technolgy and Holistic Healing Meet

Sometimes I think I was born with pain receptors that are constantly on red alert.  Not only have I suffered with decades of migraines, but I also have arthritis in my back and joints.  Some days I feel 150 years old!  Taking over the counter pain medication can only do so much, and your body eventually gets used to it anyway and it doesn't work as well.  Not to mention the fact that it's hard on your liver.

LepingoProducts.com offers pain management products that can help those who suffer from facial rejuvenation, back, head and neck, wrist, shoulder, and knee pain.  In my case I could probably use them all!  Last week I re-injured my right wrist.  It's an old skateboarding accident that acts up if I over strain it.  Typing is difficult and as a freelance writer that's what I do for many hours a day.  So what do I do?  Pop a few more Excedrin.

Looking around the Lepingo Products site I see that they have a wrist pad you only need to wear for about an hour each day to diminish or completely take way the pain.  These pads are supposed to produce extreme circulation so the blood really flows and releases the pain and tension in joints and nerves.  

Their products come with a 30 day guarantee, so you can try them for yourself risk-free.  If you suffer from chronic pain and are tired of taking medication or constantly wearing braces, try out the Lepingo product that suits you.  They have many positive testimonials and use a combination of new technology mixed with holistic healing--the best of both worlds!

Easy Quick Cash System

Isn't this what we're all looking for: Easy Quick Cash! And we all need a system to do it.  Let's face it, money is not going to fall in your lap, no matter how much you wish it would.  You need a strategy, a plan, and someone who can show you the ropes. 

Jerry Navarro is offering the Easy Quick Cash System to the public so you too can make the type of money you dream of.  His page is full of information that will inspire and excite you.  He doesn't say you'll start this system then wake up tomorrow a millionaire.  What he does say is that once you learn the trick to making $10 a day then you can replicate it and make more money the next day, even more the next, and a whole lot more in the near future. 

He talks about a practical amount of $100 a day.  Come on, that's pretty good money!  But too many people have stars in their eyes and want to make a thousand dollars a day with no effort.  It ain't gonna happen!  Through Jerry's Easy Quick Cash System he'll show you 7 proven ways on how you can generate instant cash.  

I'm sure you've heard it all before and figure this is just another one of those get rich quick schemes only meant to take your money but not deliver.  Not this time!  For one, Jerry's information only costs $9.95.  That's a steal if you've seen other money making strategies listed online.  Most love to sell for that $97 price.  As if I'd part with almost a hundred bucks?!  No, but I would easily take a chance with ten bucks.  I'm sure you would too.  And guess what?  Jerry offers a full 60 day money back guarantee if his strategies don't work for you.  You want to make money and he's offering 7 proven ways to do so!

Jerry Navarro is also the author of a new report on wealth secrets

The Web Guru Guide by Josh B Dolin

One of the reasons I love doing reviews is I get free stuff.  That's one of my ways of living a frugal life, but I'll be honest, many of the freebies I get just aren't worth it.  If something's really bad I'll post it here, if I like something I'll post it here, but many things just fall into that gray area where I don't hate it but don't love it so I don't say anything about it.  Well, I really enjoyed the following book:

Josh Dolin sent me his eBook titled The Web Guru Guide - Essential Secrets And Strategies For Web Success.  Let me tell you, if you have a website and you're selling a service or product then please check out his book.  It's filled with practical and essential tips on how to make it online without getting eaten alive.  Josh walks you through every step of the process, from finding a niche and creating your hook, to coming up with a catchy domain name.  Further on in the book he talks about choosing attention-getting graphics and website layout and design.  He even talks about content, social networking, and search engine marketing.

Whether you're a total newbie or a well-seasoned internet user and business owner, there's something for everyone in The Web Guru Guide.  The author takes you by the hand and walks you through every single step from start to finish.  No stone is left unturned, but he doesn't treat the reader like a first-grader, nor does he use a truckload of tech talk without explaining what it is.  He covers it all so that when you're done reading his book you'll feel 100% confident that you can create a solid online business and make it work.

You can purchase The Web Guru Guide in both paperback and as an eBook.  I'm all about instant gratification so I usually choose electronic books.  Start the business you've always dreamed of or polish up your existing ecommerce site!

Pink Monkey Planet - You Got Something To Say?

Do you have something to say? Do you want to share it with the world and get their opinion on it?  PinkMonkeyPlanet.com is a microblogging site where members can offer their opinion or ask a question about a topic and people are free to jump in with their feedback -- do they agree or disagree?  After 48 hours, or more if the topic is really hot, then the votes are counted and members can see if the post got more negative or more positive opinions/feedback.

For example, there's a post asking, "Is downloading music illegally wrong?"  67% of the voters believe it is wrong.  You can read member comments and how they voted.

This is a great place to explore topics, give your opinion, and see what others are saying.  Why not join and jump in with a topic of your own?  I don't usually join every site I review, but this looks fun and interesting so I just signed up.  I'll post a topic/opinion and see what people say.  ;-)

Why not head over to PinkMonkeyPlanet.com and have a bit of fun and give your gray matter something to think about other than work and bills?  Invite your friends along too.  Post your own opinion and see if people agree or disagree.  Do you think like the in-crowd or do you live on the outer fringes of space, time and reality? Find out!

Traveling For The Holidays

Guest post written by Clarice Henderson

When the holidays come around, my husband Mark and I find the holiday season to be extra special. Not only do we have a lot of family time and Christmas festivities to look forward to, we also have our anniversary to enjoy. Our anniversary falls on the 16th of December, and we usually take a little pre-Christmas vacation. We've been retired for the past 3 years already, and without fail, we have gone on a little vacation before the Christmas season. We think it's very important to commemorate the year we got married, and we always do so in a big way.

This year, we are taking a trip to Tennessee. We are big music appreciators, and we've always wanted to see Memphis and Nashville. We even plan to get new hearing aids from Miracle-Ear.com so we don't miss a thing. We also plan to bring back little souvenirs for our Christmas party. We think that we will definitely have a lot to talk about with our family members this year. Mark and I are always glad to have these special times for ourselves, and it makes the holiday season that much more enjoyable for us every year.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Dr Linder Sports Bra

I've never been a big fan of sports bras.  Although I work out regularly, I avoid jogging outdoors since wearing a regular bra is uncomfortable and sports bras are ridiculous.  They never fit right, have almost no support, or make you look like you're a camel with a hump on your chest.  I'm sure the ladies reading this post know what I'm talking about!

The Dr. LinderBra is a sports bra developed by the renowned Beverly Hills reconstructive surgeon Dr. Stuart A. Linder.  Finally, someone who knows how to make a good sports bra!  Dr. Linder listened to his patients and took everything into consideration as he designed the sports bra.  All women can wear this sports bra, whether an athlete, expecting mother, and all women in between.

Since it closes in the front, rather than in the back or being just a pull-over type of bra, it gives you extra security as you work out.  The bras have side adjustments so you're always guaranteed a perfect fit, no matter your cup size.  There are no underwires to poke you, and the material has 4-way stretch.  The bra will move with you rather than fighting against you!

The bras come in pink or black and are actually cheaper than what I pay for my bras at Frederick's! 

While you're on the site, check out the Dr. Linder Band as well.  You can shrink your waist by up to two inches and flatten your tummy.  Just like the sports bra, the material moves with you rather than making you feel like you're a sausage stuffed into a tight casing.

Check out the Dr. Linder Sports Bra today!

OnlineConnect.co.uk Photocopiers and Printers

Sometimes I feel like I'm living about fifteen years in the past.  I don't own a copy machine, printer, or fax.  As a freelance writer this means I often have to go to the local UPS store to fax, Office Depot to print or copy, or library to print out papers.  It's not cheap either, not with all the papers I have to send out and copy.

OnlineConnect.co.uk offers a long line of Colour Photocopiers, as well as multi-function machines.  This is what I need!

Another reason I'd like to have a color photocopier is so I can copy all of the photos I have and send them off to relatives.  That would save me money as well since I wouldn't have to go to the local photo shop or drug store to have them print the pictures for me.

 This coming year it's my goal to get a multi-function machine that can fax, copy, and print.  OnlineConnect.co.uk can help you choose the perfect machine from their line of Colour Photocopiers or Mono Photocopiers.

SKYNETZZ Web Design and Services

If you have a business you need a website.  If you have a website you need to be sure your content is optimized for search engines.  It can be a lot to handle when all you want to do is focus on your business.  Who wants to set up a website and then think about what words and phrases Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines are going to pick up on?  This is probably why so many people never pursue their own online business or their life as an entrepreneur crashes and burns seemingly overnight. 

That's where Skynetzz.com comes in.  They are a "professional online service provider. We specialize in providing our clients with a variety of services. Including Web Design, Graphic Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Software Development, Data Entry and so much more."

Skynettzz.com can help you establish a solid online presence or build a fully established internet business.  The website is sleek and easy to navigate--don't you hate sites that are so jam-packed and busy that you can't find what you're looking for?

Their portfolio is pretty impressive with websites ranging from health to speed boats.  They can even create a personalized logo or graphic designs for your business. 

Your business deserves every chance possible of making it.  Don't skimp on web design or grope around in the dark with your SEO, contact Skynetzz.com today for a free quote.

All sterling silver 3D jewelry by Poe-Rap-Tic

I love hearing about people who are trying to start up their own business.  I've been a freelance writer for about 15 years now and have worked solely from home for the past 7 years.  There's a sense of pride and freedom that comes with running your own business.  But it takes a lot of hard work, and if you have an actual product it takes money. 

The other day, Melissa Dotson, creator of Poe-Rap-Tic three-dimensional jewelry reached out to me asking if I could blog about her jewelry and company.  Well, here I am!  :)

On the Kickstarter website she has a video explaining her project and showing a few of her jewelry samples.  They're truly unique and very well made.  They are over the top and meant to be that way.  She offers pendants, pins, neclaces, bracelets, bangles, and cuff bangles. She's seeking pre-order pledges to get her business off the ground.  If she can raise 15k then Kickstarter will back her. 

The pledges all come with perks and 3% of every pledge goes to the WomensCancerAlliance.org (Saideh Browne Founder/Director)

If you pledge $15 you will receive a thank you knote, your name mentioned in her brochure and on her website, and a 15% discount off any Poe-Rap-Tic item.

A pledge of $25 will get you the same perks as the $15 pledge, plus a free ticket for the Poe-Rap-Tic launch event which includes a celebrity speaker.  She will also mention your name in her coming memoir.

Pledges of $50 will receive all of the perks that come with the $15 and $25 pledge, plus a sterling silver star char, a Kindle ebook, and her memoir Virtuous Women.

There are other pledge levels with many more perks, up to $325 or more.  Melissa wants to thank you for your backing and belief in her, so she makes sure you don't walk away from your pledge empty handed. 

This lady has so much spunk and spark, I know Poe-Rap-Tic will really take off is she's given the chance.  And who doesn't want pieces of jewelry that are unique and so well made?  People will surely walk right up to you and ask where you got it. 

Stop by Melissa's page, watch her video and give a generous donation.  Remember, kindness and good deeds always come back to you three-fold!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Love Music? Stream Music On Demand At StreamMyTunes.com

Anyone who knows me the least little bit knows that I love music.  In fact, "love" is a pretty mild word.  Let's put it this way, I still have some 8-track tapes.  haha!  Okay, so I'm showing my age, but I'm also showing you how much I enjoy listening to music.  All types of music.  I've got tons of CDs and my MP3 player is always filled with music.  So much so I always have to upgrade so I have more memory on it.

I listen to music a lot when I'm working.  It helps to pass the time and makes work feel less like work.  Most of the time I'll listen to streaming music like on Yahoo and Pandora.  The problem with those two is that I don't like the commercials and it's hard to find music I like.  I'll hear one good song for every 3-5 bad or okay ones.

Yesterday I found out about StreamMyTunes.com and have been looking around the site.  I'm impressed.  Really!  You can register and download the free widget which gives you access to:
  • 18 million songs
  • create & share playlists
  • send song links to friends via social media or email
  • access 500 radio stations
  • & more
It's closest "rival" is iTunes, but I honestly don't like iTunes.  It's a pain every time I try to use it.  In fact, I refuse to use or buy iAnythings (iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc.)  Okay, that's a personal decision and lots of people love them.

Getting back to this site though, what I find exciting is that you don't have to pay a 'per song' fee like many sites do.  Instead, you get a free trial so you can take them for a test drive then if you want to keep the service it's only $9.95 per month.  That's pretty darn cheap when you take into consideration all you get.

Ever since sites like LimeWire have been shut down it's hard for music lovers to get the tunes they want to hear.  And who wants to pay a buck a song?  (Or listen to crummy music from places like Music Oasis and be forced into downloading a bunch of crap onto your computer?! Check out my Music Oasis review.) 

Alright, so I'm eager to start using StreamMyTunes and finally being able to listen to music while I work or just browse the internet or play games.  Take a look and sign up for their free trial.  You've got nothing to lose!

Buy Tickets To Your Favorite Event At OnSetTickets.com

Looking for tickets to the Super Bowl or even complete Super Bowl packages?  If so, you'll want to stop by OnSetTickets.com.  My friend is a football nut and he's been looking into going to the Super Bowl.  I told him about this website and that he could get tickets to the Super Bowl, parking passes, and a hotel room all on one site. 

If football isn't your thing, they also have tickets to basketball games.  I'm a Laker's fan since I was born and grew up in Southern California.  On New Year's Eve they'll be playing at the Staples Center against the 76ers.  What a way to spend the evening--if the Laker's win! 

Does OnSetTickets offer only sports tickets?  Not at all!  They also have concert tickets, Las Vegas tickets (my favorite place on earth!), NASCAR, Disney On Ice, and a whole lot more.  There's something for everyone, no matter your age or taste. 

There's a handy search bar so you can look for events in your immediate area.  Right now I'm living in Tucson and I see a lot of shows at Club Congress, The Rock and the Rialto.  I can just do a quick search and see if anything I'd like to see is coming up. 

With the economy being tough, people are spending money on nearby entertainment rather than vacations.  You can still create some wonderful memories and have a lot of fun, at the fraction of the price!

Author Interview - Krystle Nicole Russin Who Wrote The Non-Diet Real Cookbook

Today I have a special guest author on my blog: Krystle Nicole Russin , author of The Non-Diet Real Cookbook: Easy Recipes to Stay Skinny Eating Anything You Want and Learn How to Cook!

Hi Nicole and welcome to Read A Review!
Thanks. I’m happy to chat with you!

Could you tell my visitors a little bit about your book? There are a lot of diet cookbooks out there, so what makes yours different?
My book isn't actually a diet book, which is the cool part. It's a regular recipe book written with an introduction explaining how to eat properly and be rebellious the right way when you want to cheat on your healthy habits. I don't make an effort to cook disgusting, exceedingly low calorie paper waste imitating food like most diet books. I teach you how our emphasis ought to be the importance of natural ingredients, learning how to order at restaurants and knowing how to cook normal food for yourself. Many people are middle aged and cannot cook for themselves, living off takeout and frozen junk food. Cooking your own food is relaxing, happy, exciting and fun. It heals whatever troubles you.

Food truly brings people together. Sometimes, I’ll look back and think, “What do I really have in common with that person?” Why did or do we ever talk nonstop about anything? I realize half the time I talk with people not about life stuff, movies, sports and that, we’re talking about food. Someone went to an amazing restaurant out of town. We’ll talk about it. Someone grills fish with his family. I just ate here. We just had BBQ somewhere years ago and remember how good Stubb’s BBQ is, recollecting on good times. It’s that kind of food that makes people feel really great.

I dream of cooking for my own family one day, always have. I knew I wanted to leave something for people in terms of valuable knowledge. People sometimes make fun of me to the point of ridiculousness or make up dumb rumors about me. I feel like saying, “What do you want me to do?! Give up my life forever and sell drugs for a living?! Gosh!” When it’s not people saying mean, untrue things about me, people want to say I look bad, I don’t do this or that in work. There’s always something supposedly wrong with me. Truth be told, I don’t know when I am going to die. I feel like I have an idea but it’s uncertain. I always have in the back of my head this feeling like, what if I died sometime soon in a tragic moment? What if something bad happened to me and I leave nothing, absolutely nothing of a legacy left for people and all people ever say about me is something untrue, or that I’m this airhead who doesn’t do anything of intellectual value?

A cookbook is not a huge legacy, I know that, but it is something I feel like I ought to leave for people. Women and men should not go through bad self esteem issues and feel unworthy of eating. Food is precious. It’s breathtakingly gorgeous sometimes, so much so I’ll often photograph it on my Blackberry when I order a decadent dessert. I am so obsessed with food. I’m in love with it and I want everyone to share my love for it. Food has to be one of the few things I love so much in life. I actually cried when I wrote my cookbook at times because I was so stressed about stuff and it made me feel better that I knew I wrote an excellent soup recipe rather than being a waste to society. I think all the time if only someone were to read my cookbook and enjoy my food as an alternative to eating disorders, cutting, crying or whatever their personal issue is, it makes me feel really good. I’m not a cutter, but that’s an example. I, like everyone else, have my own issues going on and mean stuff that’s been said and done to me and I can’t do anything about it but cook my heart away. It definitely helps.

How did you get the idea to write The Non-Diet Real Cookbook?
Several things. I was, firstly, disgusted how whenever I go out, I see women eating the most horrific food, not eating their dinners at restaurants or plain old throwing up while I use the restroom. I’m talking women nearly six feet tall picking on a 375-calorie salad. Women don't eat anymore and stay the same size! Come on! I went to a family acquaintance’s apartment once. The woman had laxatives in her bathroom regularly every time I visited. It's sick.

Men, on the other hand, eat normally just alternating how they eat, when, what foods they consume and so on. Men don't freak out nor do experts tell men to cut out every food from their lives as they recommend women. I was telling someone earlier today, look, if you order Popeye's fried chicken, which is frozen, fast food and fried in disgusting, ancient Roman ruins' grease, sure you'll get fat. Buy a fresh chicken, make your own chicken fingers, cut up homemade potato wedges and do biscuits at your own house instead. It's all based on real food with fewer fat calories and more vitamins and nutrients.

Farmers for years have cooked real food. Same goes for people with private chefs or eating out at high end establishments. You don't see them looking obese for the most part. They eat cheese and fatty foods in moderation, all home cooked. Earlier, you can eat a quick breakfast and at lunch, a salad or cup of soup. Don't stress yourself eating too little of portions with huge calories. Natural food is always lighter. I want food to stop being about social divisions. Too many cookbooks assume they're made for the rich, poor, white, black, Middle America, sophisticated. People can be broke and want French food or rich and eat soul food. I write recipes for everyone. In fact, the Midwestern recipes I grew up eating are based on Irish and African-American food.

Have you ever struggled with your weight?
No, not other than a few bloating issues from (well necessary) allergy medications a few times, but when I was 21, I really wanted to change my body. I mean, before thinking about modeling, I wanted to do it for myself. People always made comments about me being so small "but your butt is huge." I used to get asked if I had butt implants by another person, and a guy, who for some reason I have yet to understand why I valued his opinion, used to say he always looked at how huge my butt was. It really bothered me. I know he meant it as a great compliment, but I never wanted to have an old Hollywood hourglass shape. Not that it's bad. Beyoncé looks amazingly, unexplainably hot, but again, that's Beyoncé and I'm not her. My butt just looked big ugly, not voluptuous!

I pretty much just don't want it for myself. I wanted to look awesome in expensive, tight pants, look good in cheap teen clothes like Rue21, Macy’s juniors department skirts and that sort and wear cute dresses right off the rack, no alterations! I wanted to have a Barbie doll look, not a J.Lo body. I asked some jocks how I could get rid of it and, in doing some crazy looking exercises at the gym about two months, including this weird looking sideways jogging over objects one guy usually trains with, shaved it off. I now am basically really petite for the most part, with a bit of top heavyness in a petite way. So I have the Barbieish shape I wanted, fit in clothes like I wanted and all by not having liposuction - simply doing weird stuff at the gym did it forever. It's great! I used to think as a teen I would one day need to have liposuction on that area. I’m relieved to say the least.

Did you come up with all of the recipes in the book? There are over 300 of them, correct?
Exactly 300. I didn't arrive there on purpose, which is hysterical. I thought I'd have 302 or something. Almost all of them are mine. I credited the people who submitted their own recipes. I included my high school cooking teacher's wonderful, home style recipes also. I am so proud of being from the Midwest. I wanted to share that with people who don't know about our food.

Do you use any of these recipes and if so, which are some of your favorites? I'd probably choose all the desserts! haha
Yes and no. I eat vegetarian food now so clearly, I'm not going to eat a steak. I really love my black bean mushroom burgers. They actually taste like meat burgers, complete with protein. I really did sample all the meat recipes and attempt to write the best meat recipes from foods I loved before I ate vegetarian. On Monday, I cooked a soup from my own book. It felt really good because unlike times I reference Joy of Cooking, I had to find my own recipe! Since I worked on my cookbook, I never read another cookbook but my own. I tried so hard like you have no idea to make my recipes easy to follow and faster than usual. When I ate fish, I loved the fried catfish recipe. I never felt bloated or anything bad either since it's natural. That was my teacher’s recipe, actually, and one so, amazingly, entirely, quintessentially Midwestern.

Could you share a recipe with my visitors? I'm sure they'd love a sample. ;-)
I guess being the holidays and me in the spirit of giving, here’s an eggnog recipe. I love it. If you don’t like 2 percent milk, you have my permission to go with whole milk. Remember, it’s OK to eat fattening egg nog if it’s in moderation.
EGG NOG
Divide 3 eggs into 3 yolks and 3 egg whites. In bowl, beat egg whites and 1 tsp vanilla. On stove, boil egg yolks, ½ cup sugar, 3½ cups 2 percent milk, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp nutmeg (optional), ½ tsp vanilla and ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional) about 2-4 min. Remove into bowl. Pour egg whites into main mixture. Beat or blend as best as possible.

You’re going to have to buy my book for the rest! It includes chicken, turkey, a fancy turkey sauce, cookies, quick cheesecake, steak Diane, lomo saltado, plenty of soups, country and high end fish recipes. Egg drop soup, egg foo young, potatoes both country and fancy styles, a bit of Tex-Mex, soul food mac and cheese, French cuisine and a whole variety to choose from! It’s also a bit cheaper than competitors. Mine is $12.99 and though not very elaborate, the content is better. Think of it this way. Most cookbooks are like the men’s magazines sold at rural truck stops. People like them at first for the pretty pictures, but get bored after ten minutes. My book is like Newsweek or The New York Times. Sure, it’s skinnier than the other cookbooks, empty on the sexy food photo shoots, but it has real recipe content and lifestyle advice that lasts a lifetime.

I read that you’re also a singer and model besides an author. That certainly sounds exciting! Would you like to share with us a little about those career paths? How long have you been in each one and what are some of your most memorable projects? What are some of your goals?
I really love modeling hair because hairdressers are perfectionists. Makeup people often just say, “Who cares? It’ll be airbrushed.” Hair people are obsessive. They want this crazy look. They’ll ask me for ideas. They ask how my hair goes and its texture. They want to know how I feel about going outrageous with my hair in a photo. “Are you willing to try this?” Yes, I always am. I am always up for experimentation in any part of my life! I love when I have had tall, ridiculous hair up to the ceiling or Medieval hair. A family member saw me in a hair magazine a few months ago and remembered how I had this psychotic hair! I loved it! I loved that she remembered, because usually people don’t remember much but the fact they saw photographs!

I have modeled professionally since getting an NYC agency to rep me in early 2009. I mainly model hair and makeup and this area called "beauty." You do stuff from halfway up. I never wanted to do commercial print, which typically gets offered to girls under 5'9". It doesn't appeal to me. Really, if I wanted to be like the Progressive car commercial girl, I would have done so in another lifetime. Modeling is different than trying to make it in say, banking, because it's your image. In journalism, I would never in a million years object to an editor’s suggestions. Editors are the most brilliant people in existence for a reason. They know how to improve your work and ask you lots of questions with the right intentions. Modeling or anything entertainment is the polar opposite. People just want to use you.

In modeling, you should always exercise your right to an opinion once you're established with an agency after a few months to object, "I'm not doing that crap!" and specify what you want to do. I'm not letting anyone chop off my hair into a pixie for hardly any money. Nor am I going to let myself be exploited unless I allow it. Also, I know when I am being ripped off, used and that stuff. I’m not stupid! Nudity is not cool with me unless something is edgy, thought provoking, shocking or wild.

Furthermore, I will not be the cheesy, smiling, all-American type of girl either because I'm not that in real life. Yes, really, I am really super sweet and nice in my day to day existence. I am probably the kind of girl who will be down for you at every moment, the nice girl with the Midwestern values and all that stuff. For example, if I were married, I would protect my husband and stand behind him at all times no matter what he did, unless he’s hurting me physically. I want whoever I marry to be my best friend I can share anything with and we’ll be there for each other. When someone is friendly with me, I will help them out and say, get them a birthday gift they genuinely love. So don’t get what I’m about to say…well…don’t misinterpret my meaning here.

Yes, in modeling, I don’t want to be a fake and rather, I want to model the kind of clothing I actually wear in real life. Also, both extremes of my personality: the super sweet girl who wants to be princess-like and the one who wants to be a bitchy tough chick. I want to be the kind of model wearing kick ass runway boots and hardcore makeup or switch easily to couture gowns and romance and sweetness. I dream of modeling Chanel tweed suits and their sexy fedoras, high fashion in big campaigns. If alternate realities exist, I want to do every piece of work Adriana Lima and Gisele Bundchen ever got with their big campaigns. I want work tall women get, not this nonsense and constantly work towards that. Kate Moss is older and still at it. I have a good two to three years to keep trying and only accepting work I deem fit. I’d love to do a full campaign for Juicy Couture. I love their clothes. Chanel because I’m obsessed with it. You get the point.

Musically? As a kid, I took music. Thank my parents for that. I loved singing by myself but always felt so shy that I never sang in front of others much. I was afraid they’d say I have a bad voice. I sang whispery and nervous. Growing up, I used to admire work by Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Max Martin and all the power producers. Right now, Dr. Luke does a lot of this style of work. I used to wish all the time as a teen, “When I’m not doing journalism or other goals, I wish I can produce music when I grow up.” Since junior high, I’ve loved playing with synthesizers and producing on my computer for fun.

In college, one time I went out to a rock show downtown and met a band’s lead singer. He told me, “Release your own stuff on your own.” I was too scared to do it though. Years later, I moved to New York and met someone else who said the same thing with an emphasis on how managers try to use you and don’t go for a band – bands are a means of splitting up money and yes, it’s possible to be in a famous band and not have earned much from your songs. Go solo. Take insane risks and succeed eventually. Release an album despite being a journalist because nobody else lives your life. So I did and am proud I did. My first album was insanely full of risks. I tried to make it 1960’s and 70’s style but using modern production and people now tell me they really like it. It reminds them of Lou Reed and Andy Warhol’s Factory style band music. I also worked with Dmitry Tursunov’s beats mixing them up a bit for a slightly disco electronica EP. We got really dramatic, down to how the microphones would sound scratchy and how I’d pronounce things differently. I am so happy especially with my “Break the Ice” cover where I get to scream belt like some out of control disco woman.

Long term goals? Huh…modeling, I want to do as I said the super big campaigns where you become the one name girl. Well, in my case, I go by KNR, so I’d want people to say “I love KNR in her last ad!” That they love my work and I love it, and that I love how they love my work because I put in so much effort, right? Musically, I want to release as much as I can throughout my lifetime and sing beautifully and rough. I want to one day, sing in a movie and also sing opera in a movie as well, like full, gorgeous vibrato because I know I can if I practice enough. Of course, I no matter what, want to do journalism all my life intensely.

Super long term from now, I want to make movies. I also dreamed of this as a kid. I remember how I’m so mixed up about my feelings sometimes and unsure, “Why do I feel this way? This doesn’t make sense! I cannot like this person because I’m not like this!” One day, I was goofing around in the library at junior high on my break. I researched the Carmen opera script and read about my favorite old classical song, “Habanera.” I liked it a lot for its catchiness, but I never understood why. I read the translation of the whole opera obsessively. It’s all about this girl who says you can’t make love what you want. Love, infatuation, those things make you feel ways you can’t explain. You like someone because you just do. You can do things you always said you never would because you just do for no reason and no matter what, it’s OK because that’s how love and life go. I knew then, right there, the day I make movies, I’m doing them all leading up to so I can produce my own version of Carmen on the big screen in my 30s or 40s the way I see it.

My version is totally different because it’s based on my life and other people’s stories. I want my own Carmen story to relate to every single person who watches it, whether they’re straight, gay, bisexual or somewhere questionable, old, young, American, foreign, whatever and love her and hate her and relate to this character so much because she is like a real person, just like they are, who’s acted impulsively or based on her feelings rather than thinking what is best for her long term. She basically risks it all in her life in the original opera and winds up murdered out of one man’s obsession with her – because he can’t love her nobody else should – but she lived the way she wanted to live admirably. I guess my favorite lesson from the opera was she’s a bit different than me. I grew up fine in Illinois in an OK lifestyle and went to college, and you know the rest of my life, but Carmen was this tragically poor girl in old Spain. Yet, she didn’t care. She approached guys she wanted to date with this attitude, “I don’t care that I’m a poor, uneducated gypsy girl. I can get any man I ever want in life because I can.”

I like to say I have that same attitude. I can date or choose not to date any single person I want in life, regardless of them being a regular nobody or famous or loaded rich or whatever, because I can. At the end of the day, some ugly hag is probably more famous than I am, but I’m younger and smarter than her. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I know what I’m doing. There’s not one reason right now why someone would turn me down unless someone doesn’t like me and vice versa, which then I’d say “like I care” and move on with my life. I hate people saying they can’t date some idiot loser because he’s on ESPN and they’re just unknown girls. Screw that idea. You can date anyone you want and actually, in my experience, nobody’s ever turned me down. They’re intrigued that I don’t act submissive like most girls and realize, yes I look pretty hot in a skirt. I know, using that as an example, surely I don’t have much of a curvy waistline, but I have excellent muscle tone in my legs and work it. I can put on weight or lose weight and still look good in a skirt. Inside, I know how to hold a conversation. I’m not some idiot most guys expect to be. So yeah, I have that going for me. My face isn’t all that hot, actually rather boyish if I have a bun and no makeup, but my eyes stand out really well with makeup. You get the point. Every man or woman should play up their strengths, and I mean that to succeed, beyond love and dating. Look good and try to be your best inside to succeed professionally.

Right. Ignore the hideous senior citizens who claim I’m after them! They’re a bunch of liars, haha!

What new projects do you have in the works?
Well, I’m constantly trying to write about policy issues, media discussion and such in journalism, tennis, sports, you name it. I blog. I regularly keep active in writing. I am also trying to work on a new sound for my next album. It may wind up an EP. Who knows. But I want it to be like early 90’s dance Madonna. I love Madonna. I think people rip her down and say she’s untalented, but who cares? She can hold a note well and she surely knows that intelligence outlasts anything. I really admire Aaron Brown’s old news work, so I’d love to imitate his style for journalism. He did news that was actually news. Now, it’s all YouTube stupidity replayed as news. I really want to get started next summer or fall working on a makeup line with all my effort and if I totally fail, well big deal. I’ll have tried. I really want to create products and be a good role model for girls and young people in general. Not in this cheesy way like so many are. I don’t want to say, “Look at me! I’m so prissy! I’m this nice Christian woman!” Because seriously, the most Christian people are the ones who don’t flaunt it for money. I don’t need to be in the newspaper for doing good deeds. I just want to be the girl who’s saying, “I never compromised myself. I tried really hard to do what I wanted and maybe, yeah, I failed here and there along the way, but I wound up doing really well in the end. I don’t give in to stupid body image ideals because I know I will never be curvaceous enough, tall enough, sexy enough and so on. I don’t need to try to be sexy because someone out there will find me sexy just being who I naturally am. And you know, I’m not the most beautiful girl who ever lived, but I’m the smartest girl, and I sure know how to present myself well physically and intelligently.” That’s hopefully good enough for people. Whoever doesn’t like it can go dissect a donkey. I’m really good at cooking, music, journalism and writing beyond journalism. I try hard and do a good job at everything due to effort. I really love everything I do.


Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you on my blog, Nicole. I hope to have you back soon. Good luck with your cookbook and your many career paths!