Firefighter Chili Cookoff

Cooking and firefighters -- could it get any better for Rach? Four of America's top chili cookers, representing four cities, compete to see whose recipe will take home the prize in the first ever Firefighter Chili Challenge!

Working Moms and Saying No

If you are like most moms who run their own business, you have trouble saying “NO!” Working moms and saying no can be almost an oxymoron. There are often people demanding or asking things of you all of the time. Whether it is the office that needs something, the PTA, your children, your husband or your friends, you are in demand! And like many other moms, you might have trouble saying no to those demands.

The most important thing to remember is that your time is extremely valuable, and when you run your own business as well as being a mom, you don’t have a lot of extra time. If you’re like me, it’s difficult to say no because we always want to be available for everything and everything for everyone. For example, perhaps your child’s school has asked you to volunteer during a field trip and you feel bad that you haven’t been on a field trip with your child lately. You are more likely to have trouble saying no, despite your demanding workload.

Are you in control of your time, or is time in control of you? Proper planning and allotting a certain amount of time for your business, children, love life, exercise, rest, etc. is the only way to stay sane and stay on track. By staying firm with yourself and your own schedule, your children will understand why you can’t take them on every single field trip available. Not only will you fulfill your own goals by maintaining and sticking to a strict schedule in line with your goals, but you will also teach your children valuable lessons about time management, preventing those sleepless nights of procrastinated reports and papers in high school and college!
It’s not always that easy when it comes to saying no। You have to set clear boundaries for yourself and stick by them. There is only so much that can be expected of you, and you need to be clear about how much you can handle before burning out. As working moms, we think we can handle it all, but life is a balancing act, and it is essential to your family and your business that you define your priorities clearly and learn to say no when something does not fulfill your end goals.

Author: Cheri Alguire

Hollywood Humor: Wild Casting

Can you imagine Doris Day as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate?
That's who producer Joseph E. Levine wantd before Miss Day
turned it down thinking the part in bad taste, and it went
to Anne Bancroft. How about James Cagney as Robin Hood? A
contract dispute caused Warner Bros. to drop him and hire
Errol Flynn instead? Do you know that Margaret Mitchell
wanted Groucho Marx to play Rhett Butler in Gone With The
Wind? But perhaps the wildest casting choice in the History
of Hollywood involved The Terminator.
James Cameron had directed a movie called The Attack of the
Pirahana. "I'm sick of these B-Movies. I got to direct a
better movie than this. I'll write my own script and won't
sell it till I get to direct it. What kind of script should
I write? I 'm going to have a low budget, I want to film on
the streets of LA-- I'll do a story about a Cyborg from the
future who attacks people in Los Angeles in the Present."
And that of course was The Terminator. After the script was
finished Cameron received a phone call from Orion pictures,"
James, we love your script. It's a go! We'll let you direct
it. We will let you cast whoever you want within reason--
But we think we found the perfect guy to play the
Terminator-- OJ SIMPSON! Oh and Arnold Schwartznegger can
play the good guy Reese."

So James Cameron thought about it," OJ Simpson huh. Hmmm.
No I can't see OJ Simpson as a killer." Needless to say
Arnold got the part.

Author: stephenschochet

Hollywood Humor: Wild Casting by Stephen Schochet

Quick and Healthy Cooking

26th July 2007

Author: Troon

Most people nowadays have busy work schedules and full personal lives. This does not leave much time for planning out one’s meals, much less having the time to plan out healthy ones. This is when quick and healthy cooking becomes a wonderful addition to one’s life!

Quick and healthy cooking solves so many daily dilemmas and they are, as the name suggests, easy! The next question is, where do you find these quick and healthy cooking solutions?

Quick and healthy cooking techniques, tips, menus, and solutions can be found within internet searches, at bookstore, libraries, and health stores, etc. In other words, you can find quick and healthy cooking ideas in many different places and the more you search for them, the more you will find!

There are many people in the health field who are working diligently to provide as many tips for such a popular need. They know that quick and healthy cooking is one of the most popular desires and as such they want to do their best to cater to it. They will suggest simple life changes for those people who want to make changes but do not want to completely alter their eating habits like eliminating butter, mayonnaise, and fattening salad dressings from one’s diet. These simple changes make huge differences in one’s appearance and health. This is truly important for people who want to make quick and healthy cooking changes.

For those who want to try more aggressive means for quick and healthy cooking changes in their lives, a person can definitely become a vegetarian, look into the fruitarian lifestyle, and even research the benefits of fasting, all food religions that people follow and believe give great health benefits. I mean what is quicker or easier than skipping a meal or two? Depending on what you believe this can be a great way to go!

It is always truly up to you in the end what new ideas you want to include in your life. It is always important to do your research and see what fits best with your comfort level and value system. It is just important to be aware that there are many avenues you can take when adding quick and healthy cooking changes to your life. Just because you have lived your life one way or that you were taught something else does not necessarily mean it is the only way or the right way to live it. There are many theories. People are constantly studying and re-studying well known theories. Take your time, and you will find the best quick and healthy cooking lifestyle for yourself!

100$ dollars for your picture on the homepage.

03rd February 2007

Author: El stone

With the general population leaning more and more in the direction of “living on line”, it is important for those who are looking to find you! In the days of old, the downtown business owners had nothing to worry about; they were the only gig in town! Now, the environment has changed, and you must be able to keep up!

New ideas emerge every day, and there’s no better place to look for those than on the internet. Web developers have long looked for ways to consolidate similar topics or categories in one place to draw surfers to their sites. One of the best ways to increase the amount of traffic to your website is to use “multilevel” approaches. This includes adding your link to other popular, related pages. When a hit is made to these other websites, there is your link, taking them directly to you! This is a very popular approach to directing web traffic and, it’s cost effective, too!

Dollartablehomepage.com is the epitome of this simple, cost effective way to showcase your website. Similar to other sites geared toward the same goal, dollartablehomepage.com goes further. With these “one stop shop” websites being so popular, web surfers are able to “multitask” online, which is part of the attraction!

With small start up costs, just $100.00, you can place your link on an interactive table with others. This is a fun, interesting way to engage in competitive marketing as you watch the links change positions on the table. Similar to an auction, the “highest bidder” or the one who pays the most will have their link toward the beginning of the table, which usually means it will get the most hits. This is because, as people look at one link and then another, (which will direct them to your web page) they eventually stop looking and the links at the bottom of the page (the lowest bidder, if you will) don’t really get seen as often.

By purchasing a position on the table at dollartablehomepage.com, you can thrust yourself forward in the web arena! With incremental moves of $100 each, posting your picture to a better position on the table has never been easier or more fun! Many have already benefited from dollartablehomepage…its list of members includes those offering rental homes to inexpensive cellular minutes. You can find almost anything on these pages; this is why it’s profitable for you to be there, too. Dollartablehomepage is viewed by the surfers looking for you! Making yourself easier to find, an investment in dollartablehomepage is the best way to “Stick out”!

There are some stipulations, such as no adult content, offensive or obscene links, but if accepted, your link could direct countless numbers of surfers to your site., opening the possibility of increased revenue and networking opportunities.

Dollartablehomepage is very user friendly, aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and an attractive option to market your business. The “competition” of the advertisers on the site provides additional interest and will keep surfers coming back again and again to see the changing configurations of the table. Engage your customers and promote yourself as a professional business without the high costs associated with other companies. Dollartablehomepage is versatile as well! With a global vision, this website can be read in English, Russian and German. So don’t limit yourself to the continental United States, take your vision global…get your website connected, connect with your customers on dollartablehomepage.com today.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

02nd October 2006

Do you know someone who's been on an exciting vacation? How many of your friends have new children or grandchildren?
Any of your friends recently been married or have children or grandchildren who've gotten married? One thing they will all have in common is they are carrying loads of pictures for you to admire.

Now their are many ways to show off these precious pictures! Companies have designed cases that can be easily carried and shown in seconds. These cases are available in leather in all colors and combinations. Some of the cases are grained to look like lizard or alligator. There are colors and hues to tempt everyone into carrying photos. The photo holders are all designed to hold 4x6 photos. Many of them look like an ordinary envelope with a closure that slips into the leather pocket and can carry up to 30 or 40 photos. They are also available with a magnetic closure and jewelry like designs to enhance their beauty.

Some of these cases look like an old-fashioned change purse with a snap closure. They carry 16 photos in a very slim area closing very similar to a change purse. The photos can be pulled out in an accordion fashion to view them all. Other photo holders have windows, which fan out to show every picture off. The cases are also very slim and can be easily slipped into a purse or briefcase so they are always handy and available. These cases are often monogrammed for complete personalization. The nice part about all of these photo carriers is the fact that you can change the photos at will. Just slip out the old pictures, and slip in your new ones. It's easy to always have up-to-date photos for everyone to admire.

Of course, there are those that have to carry every photo with them. Nothing less than a complete album will do. And manufacturers are making these albums in every color, fabric and leather imaginable. While they come in all sizes, the most popular size accommodates the 4x6 photo. These albums are often designed to fold out the photos, holding 8 photos on a single page. This way, an 8x6 album can easily be carried or left out on a cocktail or lamp table, or a desk for all to admire. Since the photos slip into picture windows, they can be changed or updated often. You'll often see great-grandparents carrying this type of album so their friends can admire the entire array of photos.

Along with the digital age, came digital albums. They look like ordinary photo albums, except their pages are designed to be printed from your computerized photos. It's an easier way to view digital photos, and can be looked at and admired when you are not near a computer or laptop. No special tools or experience is necessary. The album pages go through your inkjet printer and are re-inserted back into the photo album. They call it "print and share."

Sharing photos and memories with your friends, business associates and relatives are very rewarding. You are able to remember and enjoy the happy occasions over and over.

Picture Frames

If you have a picture that you love, then it's amazing how much better it can look given the right frame. Pictures can say so much more than words, given the right presentation. A photo or picture frame, as well as being decorative, is meant to protect and highlight its contents. It's possible to take a magnificent work of art and reduce it to nothing by giving it a frame in the wrong materials, but it's also possible to turn the tables and turn an average picture into a masterpiece.

Finding the right frame can be difficult, so it's important that you allow plenty of time to the search. Most standard size photo frames are relatively inexpensive, and they're stocked by a large range of shops. This means it's easy to look at a whole range of possible frames in a fairly short amount of time. As you look around, you'll find there are frames that instantly appeal to you, and that's a good sign. That particular frame probably connects with your personality in some way, and so will give your framed photo an extremely personal feel.

You can buy photo frames made in a whole range of materials, with some of the most popular frames being made from pewter, stainless steel, ceramics, composites and crystal. Look for the best design and material that fits your budget. Examine the decor of your home, and choose a frame that matches. Contemporary homes blend best with dark frames, using strong materials like silver, copper or gold, or plain dark colors like black. If your home has more of a Mediterranean feel, then pale blue or white will go best. Ornate gilded frames match beautifully with antiques, and for a child's room look for plastic frames made with bright colors and fun shapes.

Pictures aren't always made to a standard size, which can make them difficult to frame. It's possible that a professional framer might be necessary to get something custom made. If you've never been to a framer's before, you may find the huge variety of shapes, colors and materials a little daunting. So it's a good idea to have a clear picture of what you want to achieve. What's the style of the room where the picture will be located? Do you want the frame to stand out or the picture? Take care not to overwhelm a special picture with a bright, wide frame.

If you've spent some time thinking about what sort of effect you want to achieve for your picture, then choosing the right frame shouldn’t be too difficult. Take a look at all the options, and choose something that appeals to you. After all, you'll undoubtedly be looking at the picture and its frame for many years to come.

Your Picture of Success

Author: Carol McClelland

Copyright 2006 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.

I'm sure you've heard that the best way to achieve something is to have a clear understanding of your goal. The more detailed your picture or statement, the more likely you are to reach your desired milestone.

Most people want to succeed in a career that is more fulfilling and meaningful than what they have now. In addition they want to be happy and live a good life. Of course each person has their own take on how they envision this goal.

What is it that you want in your life? How do you picture your success? Can you describe your personal definition of success?

As you think about your vision of success do you find any worries and concerns bubbling to the surface? It's possible you have conflicting definitions of success simultaneously running around in your mind. Your internal conflict creates confusion and turmoil as you try to make progress toward a goal that's at cross purposes with itself.

As a way to explore what's happening within you, ask yourself the following four questions. As you answer the following questions, I encourage you to write down your answers so you can refer back to what you've written.

Four Questions about Success

1) From your perspective, what is society's picture of success?

2) What was your parent's definition of success for themselves? (You may have a different answer for your mother and father so write down both.)

3) What was your parent's definition of success for you? (Again, the messages - stated or inferred - may be different for each parent.)

4) What's your definition of success for yourself?

Making Sense of Your Answers

After you've written down your answers to these questions, read your responses again. What do you notice?

Keeping your responses in mind, look at the questions below to understand what you are learning about yourself.

1) Is your definition of success the same as or different from:

-- Your parent's picture for your success?

-- Your parent's sense of success for themselves?

-- Society's definition of success?

If it's the same, how does that sit with you? If it's different, how do you feel about that?

2) Think about your life--how much do these other definitions of success impact how you think about your life and the actions you take in life?

-- Are you troubled or worried about not living up to someone else's definition of success?

-- Do you worry about what others think of your choices and decisions?

-- Do you feel supported by the other definitions of success?

-- Do you see elements of success within yourself that are in conflict?

3) Do you believe you deserve to reach and live your picture of success?

-- If not, what's standing in your way?

-- Is so, what's your next step?

If you've been living under someone else's definition, how can you revise your own definition of success so that it more truly reflects who you are and what you stand for?

What to Do Next

There are numerous ways these messages weave their way into your thoughts and actions. Growing up in your parent's household meant that their messages surrounded you day in and day out for most of your youth. At first it's hard to see the impact these definitions have on you today, but once you start to see them, you begin to notice how they (or your rebellion to them) are entwined in your thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

As you become more aware, consciously uproot the outdated ideas and nurture the ideas you want to live by. Over time as you peel away the old conflicting messages you'll have more energy to create the life you dream of.

Depending on your situation, you may not be able to turn this around in one sitting, but sometimes a very small insight can be the thread that begins to unravel a puzzle that's troubled you for a long time. Keep following the thread of insight to discover your new future.