Ella-ments

SCOMPA 1ST ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:29:00 GMT

The 1st annual SCOMPA Rummage Sale has been planned. SCOMPA is the Southwest Community of Motion Picture Artists and is a non-profit organization currently working on film projects for the local DFW community – such as American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.

Address: 3321 Collins Blvd. Garland, TX (Jupiter and Collins)

Date and Time: Saturday November, 22 at 8 am and will end around 4 pm or sooner.

Don't miss out on great bargains!

It’s Not Your Grandmother’s Publishing World

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:11:00 GMT

It’s Not Your Grandmother’s Publishing World
By Alanna Parke Kvale

   Okay, so you’ve written what you’d like to think of as the next “best seller.” You’ve written, re-written, edited and polished that potential gem until it shines and it’s ready at last! So, what do you do now?
In the not so distant past, you’d have mailed that little gem to publisher after publisher, hoping some kind spirit would pick it up, read it and declare it the next Pulitzer Prize winner. You dreamed of being offered a huge advance, perhaps sent on a whirlwind book signing tour, then sitting back and counting your royalties. You fantasized about being the next Danielle Steel, Stephen King, or John Grisham.
In reality, what would have happened was your precious gem of a manuscript would have landed in a “slush pile.” Then maybe, just maybe some junior editor would read it, and like it well enough to recommend it to her boss. If you were smart, you queried first to get someone at a publishing house to say, “Hmm, that sounds interesting, send me the first three chapters.”
   Okay, now you have someone’s attention. If they read your sample chapters and want more, you just might be going places. If not, you start from scratch and do it all over again. This is the world of “traditional publishing.” The smartest step however, would be to get an agent to do all that for you, freeing up your time to get started on the next “Great American Novel.”
   Nowadays, we have more options. One is “self-publishing.” There are many companies out there, online who offer services designed to get your book printed and listed in a great many places, both online and off, and in as little as six months.
   In all fairness, self-publishing isn’t really new. Well-known authors from the past self-published their own books. Writers like Mark Twain, aka Samuel Clemens, Carl Sandburg, and more recently, Deepak Chopra.
   However, and this is a big however, these services can be costly, ranging from $199 to $1000 or more, depending on the number of services you require, such as your own cover design or professional editorial work. And, that doesn’t count the cost of buying copies of the book. The companies do offer discounts to you, the author, for the books, but you still have to foot the bill. All the marketing falls to the author as well. While you should expect to do some marketing even going the traditional route, when self-publishing, you are the PR department, not just the author.
   When dealing with the fee-based self-publishing services, placing your book in the brick and mortar stores will be very difficult, if not impossible. The company you choose makes use of “print on demand” technology, that is they only print the books when someone orders them. The trouble is, these services will not accept returns if copies of your book don’t sell; for this reason, the bookstores are unwilling to take the risk, and so usually will not place orders for self-published books.
   If you do consider using one of these services, you must go through their contract very carefully. Check the wording and read the fine print. Saying that your book will be made available to bookstores does not mean it will actually be in the bookstores. That just means that if a bookseller inquires, they will happily sell him copies of your book. Make sure you retain the rights to your book. And because a few not so honest groups can spoil it for the rest, check out any publisher and find out what their track record looks like. The best place to do this is on a site called Preditors & Editors. A carefully updated record is kept for just about every fee-based publishing company in business. You know the old saying, ‘Look before you leap.’ It’s especially true here. Do your research, talk to other authors, find writers’ forums and ask questions.
   The other option is to set up a publishing company of your own. While it would still be a bit costly to go this route, the advantage is simple—you are in charge. You make all the decisions and you get to keep all the profits. So the up side is that you are in control and the down side is that while you’re taking care of business for your book, you’re not writing the next one. Plus, if you’re new to the publishing game, you’re also at a disadvantage as a brand new publisher. You’ll need freelance editors, cover designers and printers. You must arrange for the ISBN number and the copyright documentation. Then, of course, comes the marketing.
Whether you choose to set up your own publishing company, self-publish through a fee-based service, or go the traditional route, one task remains in the author’s domain- that of promotion and marketing of your book. Your agent and/or the publisher can arrange certain promotions, but you still have to show up and help sell books. You will still need a good bag of tricks at your disposal to make sure your book stays in front of the reading and buying public.
   Despite the fact that I’ve been writing for many years, I’m still in the position of trying to get my first book published and thought this would be a good way for all of us to learn the ins and outs, the bright moments and the pitfalls in the publishing game. To that end, I’ll be updating this article periodically, as I go through the process of getting my own book on the bookshelves. I’ve decided to try to find a good agent and go the traditional route. I have some leads and I’m in the process of writing a book proposal. It may take a while, but I hope you’ll all stay with me, watch for the updates, then start looking for Widowhood Is Not Funny at your local bookstores online and off. Stay tuned for more info, and thank you for your support.

Alanna Parke Kvale
APK Writing Services
972-769-9232
apkwritingservices@yahoo.com

Scarlett Rides Again by Alanna Parke Kvale

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:42:00 GMT

The warning light winked at me from the dashboard like a small, evil eye. My car, Scarlett, so called because she’s small, red and always demands her own way, had developed a problem. Somehow, she must have sensed that there were only three payments left on her. Never, ever congratulate yourself about something like that. It never fails to anger the evil car gods.

In my mind, I’d already begun finding ways to use that extra $290.06 that I’d have each month. Bad move! I made the mistake of saying it aloud. You’d think I would have noticed Scarlett’s high beams blinking out a message to the heavens—“Quick, I’ll be paid for, she’ll take me for granted. That money will be spent on something besides me!”

I frowned at the red light on the control panel again, that little figure of a car battery with the plus and minus signs. I grabbed the owner’s manual and looked it up. Oh no! It was an electrical problem!

Now, I know precious little about cars. I mean I can drive and I know how to put in gas and oil. I’ve even been known to wash my car every year or so, whether she needs it or not. However, this was way over my head. And up until 2004, I would have taken it straight home to my husband, handed him the keys and the manual, and pleaded for him to fix it. Of course, that would have been a waste of time, since he only knew marginally more than I do about cars, and he hated working on them anyway. But, he would have handled getting it repaired.

Trouble was, he wasn’t around anymore to help me with things like this. He had gone to that great Super Bowl Sunday in the sky, and I was alone with the responsibility of car repairs. So, after I came home and parked Scarlett, I sat in the car hyperventilating and yelling “Why me? Why now?” And believe me, that’s not an easy feat, while hyperventilating.

Then I remembered taking Scarlett to an auto shop not far from home, for her annual inspection, just a couple of months back. So, the next morning, armed with my credit card and holding my breath all the way for fear the car would simply stop, I headed to the auto shop. It’s true I had gotten her started, but I had no assurances that she would continue to run until I got to my destination.

I let out a great sigh of relief when I pulled into the auto shop parking lot. A very nice, friendly man greeted me at the front door and asked how he could help me. I wanted to dash over, thrust my car keys into his hands and whimper, “Car broken, please fix!” I forced myself to be calm, and explain evenly and slowly what Scarlett’s problem was.

Twenty minutes later, I had the good, the bad, and the ugly news. It was—oh no! (The music builds here)—the ALTERNATOR! Translation: “She’s not getting enough juice Lady.”
“Ah-h-h, I see.” I didn’t, but I continued to nod knowingly.

That was the bad news. The good news? “I can have her fixed in an hour, hour and a half.” Hallelujah! I wouldn’t be car-less the whole rest of the week, or even for the rest of the day. I’d be home in time for lunch. I didn’t know whether to thank the angry car gods or curse them. Then the mechanic gave me the ugly news—the cost! That’s when the cursing started. Oh, not out loud, certainly, just in my head, along with the weeping. I nodded and smiled politely at the man, as I okayed the repairs. After all, what choice did I have? Pay for the repairs or walk? It was June, in Texas, where it’s ninety-six degrees in the shade. Not a hard choice.

The nice man made the repairs and I thanked him, though he had to pry the credit card from my fingers. Then he handed me back my keys and I was on my way.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I put the key in the ignition and turned it on. Scarlett roared to life, and then purred like a kitten, as I readjusted my seat and fastened my seat belt. I needn’t cry now, the trauma was over. My little Cavalier was healthy and happy once more. I had spent the equivalent of a car payment and two fill-ups on her. She felt loved and appreciated again. All was right in her little auto world. She purred all the way home.

I felt relief and confidence again; at least until I looked at my credit card balance and began mentally calculating how many repairs I could manage on what was left.

But I learned several valuable lessons that day…
(1) Never brag openly when you have fewer than six months of payments left on your car.
(2) Never take for granted that your car will be loyal and true and not let you down.
(3) Try never to anger the car gods.
Bow down before your car and invoke reverently the names of the car gods—Chevy, Ford, Toyota-the lesser gods. Then gods of the upper echelon—Cadillac, BMW and Lexus.

Watch your tongue, they see all, they hear all!

Alanna Parke Kvale is a freelance copywriter and owner of APK Writing Services in Plano, TX. Find her at: apkwritingservices@yahoo.com

Grover's Mill Under Attack Again! 70th Aniversary of War of the Worlds Broadcast!

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Contact: Gaston Huckabay or Natalia Corres

Email: egastonhuckabay@gmail.com or Natalia@serroc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grover’s Mill Under Attack Again!

70th Anniversary of War of the Worlds Broadcast

It was October 30, 1938 and actor/director Orson Welles decided to use H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel, War of the Worlds for the Halloween segment of his radio series, “Mercury Theatre on the Air.” An estimated 1.7 million listeners tuned in that night to hear what sounded like a real life invasion of a small town in New Jersey.

On October 30, 2008, the City of Carrollton, Texas will sponsor a reenactment of the famous radio show for the 70th Anniversary. Come to the Carrollton Library “Story Time” room at the Josey/Hebron branch, at 7 pm and listen as the town of Grover’s Mill again faces alien attack. Admission is free.

There will also be a special matinee performance for those who miss the anniversary night performance at the same location on Saturday November 1st at 2 pm.

The Sagittarii Theatre Company-is produced by E. Gaston Huckabay and directed by Natalia Corres. The actors include Brian Dakota, Boyd Mooney, J.R. Peacock, Elfriede Russell, and Dr. Daniel Viamonte. Technical Direction and Special Effects by E. Gaston Huckabay and Brian Higginbotham.

# # #

If you’d like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Gaston Huckabay or Natalia Corres, please email them at:

egastonhuckabay@gmail.com or Natalia@serroc.com

For additional information about the library:

Carrollton Public Library at Hebron & Josey
4220 N. Josey Lane
Carrollton, Texas 75010

http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/leisure/library/home.asp

Milk powder poisons 432 babies

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:44:00 GMT

7 Ways to Boost Your Small Business into the Big Time by Alanna Parke Kvale

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:48:00 GMT

7 Ways to Boost Your Small Business into the Big Time
By Alanna Parke Kvale - Alanna is a regular contributer to www.whole-earth-pets.com and to www.ella-ments.com

(1) Business Cards

Probably the #1 marketing tool is the humble, little business card. It’s the smallest piece of real estate in your marketing bag and usually the least expensive. It can be plain black and white or full color—expensive and embossed or designed on Publisher and printed right in your home office. It all depends on your particular business and budget.
Keep plenty of cards with you at all times—in your pocket or purse. Invest in a nice business card holder and keep it filled. Give these little beauties out to everyone you meet. And always give them two at a time. One for the person to keep and one for them to pass on to someone else, for you.
Pop a couple into the bills before you mail them. Sending a thank you letter to a good customer or client? Pop in a couple of your cards to make sure your name stays in front of their face.
Include a couple of cards along with your tip in a restaurant. And don’t forget to pop a card into that fishbowl at the front door for the weekly lunch giveaway. You might just win a free lunch while spreading the word about yourself and your business.
When you stop in the restroom to wash up, leave some cards on the counter. Give some cards to the teller at the bank, in the drive-through or at the desk. And don’t forget the person behind the counter at your local dry cleaners, the grocer store, drug store, etc. You get the idea. Think how many people you encounter in a single week. And they are all potential customers or clients.
If you have friends and relatives with their own businesses, swap a stack of cards with them and help promote each other. There are even communities online who are doing just that. I recently exchanged cards with several women on iVillage.com.
You can even include a message on the back of your card—discounts, specials, etc. An engraver of my acquaintance used to put a 10% discount notice on the back of his business card, and then hand them to Good Samaritans he encountered in his travels around town.
The point to remember is that the opportunities to network are all around you, so never miss one.

(2) Flyers

Another of the most useful marketing tools is the simple flyer. Here too, what you end up with will depend on your type of business and your budget. And of course, your own personal style. Plain or fancy—it’s your choice.
They can be:
     *Handed out.
     *Sent out in envelopes.
     *Tacked up on bulletin boards.
     *Hung on doorknobs.
If you decide to distribute them through the mail, or go door to door, hanging them on doorknobs, you might want to consider using the piggyback method, along with other merchants who are advertising. This is a great way for everyone to save a little cash.
Keep the flyer simple; if it seems too busy and difficult to read, you’ve lost the customer’s interest. Keep in mind, that after a long day of being bombarded with information, your potential customer will give that humble little flyer about three seconds to grab their attention.
So, make that Headline a real Attention Grabber. Say clearly what you need to say and make sure your contact information is clear, accurate and up-to-date.
And don’t forget a Call to Action. If you want them to call for information, tell them to call. If you want them to place an order, tell them what they need, where to call and how they can pay.

(3) Brochures

The brochure is your all-purpose marketing tool and it can do many things to promote
your business. It can:
     *Inform your potential customer about your product or service.
     *Answer specific questions concerning your product or service.
     *Establish credibility in the mind of your potential customer or client about you and what you have to offer them.
     *Act as a selling tool, getting your potential customer or client to pick up that phone or go to your website and place an order.
Here once again, the type of brochure, its look and style will reflect your own needs and type of business. And its uses are numerous.
     *For inquiries about your business—mail the brochure.
     *Attending trade shows or conventions—a brochure us a must for point of sale displays.
     *For meeting with potential clients—a brochure can be a great leave-behind, sure to keep your company in their minds.
     *If you’re using a direct mail campaign for your business, a brochure makes an excellent addition to your package.

(4) Post Cards

Post cards can easily become a marketer’s dream tool. They’re inexpensive to produce and mail, simple to design and colorful.
Whether you design and print them out yourself, let the USPS help you with prepaid post cards that you simply print on, or go online to one of the many PostCard Houses. A post card is an easy, quick way to put you and your company name in front of your target market.
A creative post card mailed two or four times a year will bring in a good response. Pick a nice color that reflects your style and business type. Your potential customer or client will start to recognize those colorful little squares as yours, when they come across their desks or in the mailbox.

(5) Sales Letters
It’s said that the pen is mightier than the sword. Nothing proves that old axiom like the powerful, all purpose sales letter.
Your credibility is immediately established since people believe that if it’s in writing, it must be true.
A belief is determined at a sub-conscious level and writing bypasses the conscious level and goes directly to the cerebral cortex. This is the part of the brain that analyzes situations and facts, where reasoning is developed.
So, if you want your customer or client to believe in you, trust you, put it in writing, but make it accurate and true.
The moment the customer reads your sales letter, they become involved—you’ve already got them thinking about your product or service. You’ve made a connection.
With a good sales letter, you can influence a customer’s desires. With a great sales letter, you can even motivate them to pick up the phone, send in a reply card, or click onto your website. You have them emotionally involved.
And it’s a well-known fact that people by on emotion, then justify it later with logic.
Always remember that your sales letters should be designed to generate sales. Make your customer an offer he can’t refuse. Sell-don’t tell.
It’s also said that time is money. So let your sales letter work for you. Send it early and send it often.

(6) Web Site

What can a web site do for you? What can’t it do! Nowadays, it’s a must have, something you must add to your marketing repertoire. With one click, you go from local shopkeeper to global guru in your field.
You go from the shop around the corner, to the shop around the world. Imagine what that will do for your sales!
And a lot goes into a good web site, but it’s worth every bit of effort, and you’ll reap the rewards many times over.
Keep in mind when putting your web site together, that while all the bells and whistles might seem desirable, it’s not what will sell your goods or services. You need words—promises, testimonials, proof that your Widget is better than all the other widgets in the world. Proof that by using your Widget, the customer’s life will be so much easier, so muck better. Proof that he or she simply can’t go another day without having one of your Widgets.

(7) Professional Copywriter

This is the most important booster for your business, for without this one, all the rest will never happen. A professional copywriter can put together the sales letter, postcard, brochures and flyers that will make your customers or clients sit up and take notice. And most importantly, hand you their money, time and time again.
A professional copywriter knows how to make that customer or client eager to pick up that phone, click onto your website, send in that reply card. Eager to spend their money on your Widgets. You need a word specialist whose sales copy is both persuasive and compelling.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But the right words can help you sell a thousand pictures, or widgets, or anything else you might want to sell. Persuasion is the key.

Alanna Parke Kvale
Freelance Copywriter
apkwritingservices@yahoo.com
972-769-9232

Brain Dysfunction May Explain How Fibromyalgia Works

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Google has a great new tool

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:15:00 GMT

You'll want to add the number to your cell phone and write it down near your regular land phone!
1-800-466-4411.
This will make life even easier! Enjoy!

They Walk Among Us: A Cautionary Tale by Alanna Parke Kvale

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:52:00 GMT

Reprinted with permission of www.whole-earth-pets.com and Alanna Parke Kvale

It’s a simple need - a furry companion to share our lives, someone to greet us when we come home each night, someone who accepts us unconditionally. And we’ll sometimes go to great lengths to secure that lovable companion.

Unfortunately, there are people out there ready and willing to take away our money and our trust. They are the pet adoption scammers.

It sounds innocuous at first. Just an ordinary person trying to find a home for their beloved family dog or cat. They tell the unwary victim how they are being transferred and simply cannot keep their much-loved animal, and how they are looking for a kind, compassionate animal lover to give their pet a good home. They’re even willing to give up the pet for free, if only you will pay the necessary shipping charges, from their location to yours. Depending on that location, this could amount to several hundred dollars. The scammer will then contact you and say that customs authorities are holding the animal at the airport at his location. They will even prey upon your kind heart by telling you that the animal is being mistreated. Then they’ll ask for additional fees, to release the animal. Keep in mind, there is no pet waiting to be adopted, it’s all part of the scam to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Another method these scammers use to get your money is to pretend they are working for a nationally known animal rescue organization. Natalia Corres, Founder of Whole Earth Pets recently exposed a would-be scammer, who claimed to be part of the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). Posing as part of a non-profit organization looking for a way to help people adopt pets, the woman began placing ads and soliciting “adoption fees” or “re-homing fees” for, as it turned out, non-existent animals.

After contacting the real Animal Rescue Foundation, Ms Corres discovered this has been going on for some time. Bobbie Thompson, of ARF says, “We’ve reported them to the Internet Crime Complaint Section of the FBI, but so far have not received anything about stopping them.”

The Center for Disease Control has also issued a warning concerning these online scammers who target people interested in adopting animals from outside the United States. The CDC urges caution when dealing with overseas adoptions.

“Pet scams have been going on for years, but they seem to have become more prevalent with the struggling economy. Scammers are taking advantage of animal lovers and SPCA International feels it is very important that people know how to spot a scam. The number one indicator of a pet scam is the insistence for you to give money upfront for vet bills, a reward, or shipping. It is truly tragic that scammers are willing to take advantage of animal lovers’ compassion,” states Stephanie Scroggs, SPCA International Director of Communications.

While there are many reliable organizations out there to help you adopt that furry companion, be cautious and know who you are dealing with, before sending your hard-earned money. Want to know where you can find that lovable pet? Ask your veterinarian or pet groomer. Check with your local SPCA chapter or go to your city’s animal shelter.

The perfect furry friend is out there waiting for you. Be careful, play it smart, and you’ll find the perfect pet to be a part of your family. Then come back to Whole Earth Petsand tell us about “your” rescue story.

More about AviD in NYC and their August 19 event

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:35:00 GMT

THE AVID GROUP NYC TO LAUNCH WITH BIG FUNDRAISER IN AUGUST

New York, NY - After more than 7 years of experience in the event industry, Stephanie Kinney and Janine Just decided to start their own event marketing company: The Avid Group. Their philosophy is like their name implies, marked by keen interest and enthusiasm.

Two young, entrepreneurial minded women decided they have perfected their craft enough to start their own business venture. The event industry has been their passion and now motivation to make their personal mark. To launch their new company as well as raise start-up capital, The Avid Group is holding a Fundraising Cocktail Party on August 19 at Butterfield 8 in midtown.

What better way to showcase what these girls do best—put together a lavish event. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of for $50.

Don’t forget to bring your checkbooks and credit cards. They’ll be hosting a silent auction in which you’ll be able to snag a great dinner for 2 at some of NYC’s finer restaurants or some highly coveted theater tickets. A $50 ticket gives access to cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and a gift bag from our sponsors.

Signature cocktails will be mixed by famed mixologist, Duane Fernandez, who was recently written up in GQ magazine about his industry expertise.

All guests will receive a gift bag full of new products from many of our sponsors including Equinox Fitness, Glee Gum, Guayaki Tea, Organic Sicilian Blood Orange Juice, SoNu Water, Lavera, YogaAccessories.com, Guru Energy Drink, and great skincare products from Joycesense.com

# # #

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Stephanie or Janine please contact Janine at 917-569-3262 or email Janine at janine@theavidgroupnyc.com.

If you are planning to be in NYC in the middle of August - Check into this gala event!

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:22:00 GMT

My Powermall - it's free and it makes money - huh?

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:48:00 GMT

Every so often there is an mlm model that says it is new.

This one really is.

You sign up, you buy online - just like you would anyway - to qualify your mall. And the folks who sign up under you - contribute a % of their sales to your income.

Sounds simple?

It is. You have to buy something every month to keep your powermall active, but anyone under you is doing the same and it will eventually pay dividends.

Why do it? Why not? It is free to sign up, what have you got to lose?

Visit http://www.mypowermall.com/mall/143625 and see for yourself.

Five Reasons Why Nice Girls Don't Get Rich by Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D.

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:53:00 GMT

Five Reasons Why Nice Girls Don't Get Rich
Copyright (c) 2008 Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D.
Corporate Coaching
http://www.corporatecoachingintl.com

Ever wondered why you don’t have enough money to buy a house? Go
on that dream vacation? Retire? Well, it could just be that
you’re thinking and acting like a “nice girl.” Dr. Lois Frankel,
author of the international bestseller, Nice Girls Don’t Get
Rich:75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money, looks at the
ways in which women, acting like the nice little girls they were
taught to be in childhood, fail to accumulate the wealth needed
to live their lives more fully, free from concerns about money.
Frankel focuses on the sometimes silly, often self-defeating
behaviors that preclude women from getting their fair share of
the world’s wealth. Which personality type most closely reflects
your relationship with money?

The Hoarder

“The good news is that hoarders actually save money,” says
Frankel, “But they don’t invest it or take the time to build
budgets that would help them to enjoy their money. They’re so
afraid of becoming bag ladies, they stash away money without
thinking about how investing could yield substantially more
wealth.” Similarly, they won’t buy things that would allow them
to enjoy life a little more because they see it as frivolous or
themselves as undeserving. Whatever the reasons, The Hoarder
isn’t living a rich life, even if her bank account says that she
can.

The Ostrich

The Ostrich would rather not know how much money she has - or
doesn’t have. “As long as there are checks in her checkbook she
doesn’t even THINK about money,” Frankel explains. She doesn’t
keep tabs on bank statements or investments, nor does she take
the time to learn about how she could live a richer life by
managing her assets better. She often lives paycheck-to-paycheck,
content with knowing she has enough to make it through another
month.

The Spender

Money burns a hole in the pocket of The Spender. Sometimes it’s
money she has and sometimes it’s money she gets from various
sources of credit - often putting her into deep debt. “The
Spender may be exhibiting compulsive behavior.” Frankel points
out, “Psychological help could be needed to assist her with
diminishing the compulsive spending.” Although on the surface it
appears that The Spender is leading a rich life, when you scratch
below she may not have a liquid nickel to her name and be in for
a huge change in lifestyle if she loses her job or when she gets
ready to retire.

The Abdicator

“At least The Abdicator has the wisdom to get someone to help her
manage her money,” says Frankel. “The bad news is that she turns
over full responsibility to that person and rarely checks on how
her money is doing.” The Abdicator may hire a professional
financial advisor or just turn her money over to a spouse or
significant other. Once she does, however, she washes her hands
of it and expects someone else to look out for her best
interests. Once she does look into how her money is doing, it’s
often too late - she finds she’s been taken advantage of by
either unscrupulous or well-meaning but ineffective advisors.

The Do-Gooder

Money means little to The Do-Gooder other than having enough of
it to loan or give away to people in need. She may have learned
in childhood that “money can’t make you happy” or think that
giving away money makes people like her. In either case, she sees
little value in accumulating it. The Do-Gooder often ignores
Frankel’s maxim, “You can simultaneously do good and do well.”
(591)

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To take free money and career inventories visit http://www.drloisfrankel.com

Odd Shoe Finder Evolves And Joins The "Green" Movement by Kent Basson

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:38:00 GMT

I launched OddShoeFinder.com in 2007 after becoming aware of the millions of people around the world who must buy two pairs of shoes at a time or one shoe because of severely mismatched feet, an amputation or an injury. I envisioned users selling pairs of mismatched and unused shoes stuck in their closets to those with similar problems, but complementary shoe sizes. After six months, fewer than 150 single shoes and pairs of shoes were posted, leaving me discouraged about the future of the site.

I received an unexpected e-mail through the Web site a few weeks ago offering to sell me thousands of new, name brand mismatched shoes at one dollar each. I felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to populate the site, make matches with users more likely and keep thousands of shoes out of landfills.

Around the same time that those shoes were being delivered I received another e-mail from someone else offering to sell me thousands of new, name brand mismatched shoes to me for ten cents each (if they shipped them) and free if I could pick them up. I realized that this was a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity that just happened to come within weeks of the first of the offer.

Before I had a chance to make shipping arrangements for the second batch of shoes, I received yet another e-mail through the site from a shoe manufacturer asking if I was interested in taking 3,000 shoes off their hands. It was becoming clear to me that new, mismatched shoes are an extremely common problem in stores that sell shoes - especially self-service stores and thousands of these shoes are being thrown away each year.

How do stores end up with so many mismatched shoes? Sometimes, people open more than one pair of shoes to try them on and unintentionally put one of the shoes of each pair in the wrong box. Some of those people come back to the store when they realize their mistake but others do not. Perhaps more common is people with mismatched feet intentionally switching out shoes to get one in each of their sizes, leaving a pair of mismatched shoes the store cannot sell.

With most chain stores, the mismatched shoes are sent to a central location. In some cases the chain itself sorts through the shoes and makes as many matches as possible to return to their stores and take whatever they can get for the shoes that cannot be matched. In other cases, the chain just sells the entire batch of shoes to salvage companies, who sort through the shoes to find matches to sell at discount stores.

Mismatched shoes are worth very little to shoe stores, but are potentially worth a lot to those who normally have to buy two pairs of shoes at a time. Until now there has not been an efficient way to match the shoes with those who need them.

OddShoeFinder.com is the first searchable Web site that matches otherwise unwanted shoes that would normally end up in a landfill with those who can use them. It offers business opportunities to some and low-priced shoes to millions. While it was launched for people with mismatched feet, there is no reason for users not to post their matched pairs of shoes. It costs nothing to post shoes on the site, and there are no commissions.

OddShoeFinder.com started as a very simple site. People registered with the site and posted their shoes and others clicked on "buy this shoe," triggering an e-mail to the seller including the shipping address and contact information of the buyer. Buyers and sellers decide pricing and shipping and payment methods. Users are encouraged to give feedback on the site and enhancements have been developed based on their input.

Some users complained of the inability of to communicate with each other prior to a sale, so a messaging system was added. If they decide to complete the sale then we recommend they use the "buy this shoe" button because it removes the shoe from the listings and helps the seller and Webmaster keep track of sales.

Realizing that many people may visit the site repeatedly to search for shoes in their size, only to find nothing new, we installed a feature that allows users to receive an e-mail each week to when someone posts shoes in their size(s).

A few users asked for a means of rating sellers and buyers such as those found on eBay and Amazon.com. While we have not reached that point yet, OddShoeFinder.com now has a forum where people can post information about their experiences - or anything else (in good taste, of course) they want to talk about.
Many users of the site suffer or have suffered from similar health issues and we hope the forum provides a place for them to find each other for advice and comfort.

Our plan is to help the site reach critical mass by purchasing and posting mismatched new shoes so that everyone will have the opportunity to purchase an inexpensive pair or shoes, a mismatched pair or a single shoe in the perfect size.

(c) 2008, Odd Shoe Finder. Reprints welcomed so long as the article and by-line are not changed and all links are made live.

Kent Basson is the founder of OddShoeFinder.com an online website that helps people find mismatched or single shoes. The site was created after Kent's sister suffered a foot injury that resulted in her having to buy two different sized shoes. After searching the web, he discovered the problem is far more common resulting in millions of unused, mismatched pairs of shoes that can now be given away, sold or purchased at http://www.oddshoefinder.com

Women Owning the Workplace: Tips to Guide Female Entrepreneurs

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:41:00 GMT

Copyright (c) 2008 Melissa Mashtonio
Manta
http://www.manta.com

Women are taking the business world by storm, and it doesn’t look
like they’re backing down. According the Womenentrepreneur.com,
women-owned firms are the fastest growing in the country. Women
are looking beyond the traditional roles and moving ahead to a
new role: entrepreneur. This does not necessarily mean women are
swapping roles with their spouses (although some are), but they
simply may be adding owning a business to their list of daily
duties.

If you’re one of the many women considering going entrepreneur,
it’s important to do your research first. Starting up a business
is no easy task and many people get into trouble by diving in
without any thought. Consider some of these tips to help you
prepare yourself for the task ahead.

First, figure out what type of business you want to start. One of
the biggest mistakes you can make is to start a business dealing
with something of no interest to you. Before you pick, think
about your talents and passions. These are two key factors in
choosing what type of business to run.

Once you’ve decided on your type of business, you can start
focusing on that line of work.

Next, find a place to host your business. Many women start their
businesses out of their homes--but it’s important to be careful.

If you want to start your business at home, be sure to find a
place in your house that is “strictly business.” This area should
be removed from the rest of your home and preferably have a door
to close out the noise of a busy home. Also, you should try to
get a phone line specific to your business instead of using your
home phone number or cell phone. This will create a more
professional feeling for customers.

Two of the biggest hurdles women face when starting a business
are poor financing and lack of experience. Remedy the first by
waiting until you are financially stable before you quit your
current job to start a business. Take into consideration all the
costs associated with starting a business: rent, supplies,
employee salaries, etc.

When it comes to experience, just starting your business
increases your knowledge However, avoid some of the problems
encountered by inexperienced business owners by using mentors and
other contacts to gain advice. Try finding women in your area who
started their own businesses and ask for tips.

Before opening your doors, think about the time needed to start
and run a business. If you are a mother who wants to be able to
take care of her kids, realize this may not always be possible
with the time demands of a business. Going back to school also
may hinder your ability to start and run a business effectively.
Look at the factors in your life that take up most of your time
and weigh out your options.

Besides thinking of time restraints, also realize the risk of
starting your own business. Many women look at starting a
business as an opportunity to be their own boss and keep more of
the profit, but there are snags in this dream.

Many businesses take 3 or 4 years to start up, and during this
time may barely break even. Be sure to have a back-up plan in
case your business doesn’t catch on as quickly as you imagined.
Also, being your own boss may seem glamorous, but this
responsibility leaves only you to worry about financial
situations and deal with employee issues.

Once you’ve considered the above factors, you’re ready to start
your business. The first months or year may be a challenge, but
the rewards of completely owning a company are priceless. Just be
sure to keep it all in perspective; most women entrepreneurs
don’t own Fortune 500 companies. Don’t be afraid to allow your
business to stay small rather than stretching your limits to
grow. Finally, get support by joining networks such as
entrepreneur.com or we-inc.org (Women Entrepreneur, Inc.) to get
helpful tips and network with other female entrepreneurs.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Melissa Mashtonio writes for Manta, the go-to site for
researching company profiles. The site (http://www.manta.com)
offers free research on more than 45 million companies in the
U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK.

Where do YOU go to find out about anything "Pet-related"?

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:26:00 GMT

There are many places on the web for advice and sooner or later someone had to come along and try to make a "central" place to look for pets, and pet related services and products. A place where you can read advice, find a good pet sitter, or see when the nearest adoption fair will be... that place is going to be www.Whole-Earth-Pets.com.

The Whole Earth Pets team are pet owners who have experienced the frustration of moving to a new place and wondering who the best Vet is, or traveling with pets and trying to find a motel that is pet-friendly, or even dealing with aging pets' issues and needing help. They figured out that it would save a lot of time if they had a single place to go to see these kinds of things.

"When I first adopted my cat, Morgan" says Dixie Richards, co-founder of Whole Earth Pets, "There were questions I had and my Vet didn't always have the answer. For example, I had never before had a cat that was declawed - I wasn't sure if there would be behavior issues or sensitivities. I wasn't sure if she was eating enough, or playing enough or how long it would take her to adjust to being with me, since she had been fostered with a lot of other cats, and now she would be an 'only' cat. There wasn't much on the web either, at least not all in one place."

"My dogs have been with me through a marriage and moving from Texas to New Jersey to Michigan to Texas again, and now that they are getting older - I worry about their health and have been cooking for them every night because they have developed sensitive tummies with canned foods." says Natalia Corres, the other co-founder. "Finding recipes and determining what the dogs can and cannot eat has been an interesting scavenger hunt through books, Vets, and the web. Why isn't there one place to go for this on the web? So Dixie and I were comparing notes and we came up with Whole Earth Pets."

They set up the site with Products and Services Reviews, Member Web pages, Member Blogs, News and Articles. And they have a policy of soliciting nominations for Non-Profit Pet related Organizations and allowing the membership to vote - the top three get 10% of the membership fees as a donation in December of each year. Also, Whole Earth Pets will give free full memberships to non-profit animal companion focused organizations (for more info on that email them at Membership@Whole-Earth-Pets.com ).

Their motto is: We think the world of our animals!

The www.Whole-Earth-Pets.com website is up now and ready for new members. The cost? Less than three Venti drinks at a Coffee Bistro, per month... isn't your furry or feathered baby worth that?

Whole Earth Pets is also accepting article submissions - write to them at Admin@Whole-Earth-Pets.com for more information.

This article sponsored in part by:

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When was the last time $25 changed a life, a family, a village?

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:00:00 GMT

I wanted to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva

Kiva is a non-profit that allows you to make a small 0% loan to low income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). Individuals like you can help provide affordable working capital for the poor -- money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc. -- and empower them to earn their way out of poverty.

The way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.

Thanks for reading! And feel free to spread the word!!

www.kiva.org

Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:31:00 GMT

This has been sent to us four times in one hour so we are posting it here, and yes we have already checked it to be sure it is not an Urban Legend or Hoax:

From a nurse:

     "I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies.

     So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You' they muttered.

     A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient! procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

     It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. Please take the time and do it really quick!

     Please send this to everyone in your address book.

     If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others. You know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require Insurance Companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy.

     It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached. Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the Web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number. Click the link:

http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS!

Choosing a Career - Research Research Research!

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:11:00 GMT

A friend forwarded an article to us about the top ten jobs in ten different industries. It makes sense to do this sort of research whether you are jumping into the work life for the first time, or swimming around the career pool looking for the next great wave to surf on.

One thing is for certain, finding a job, let alone a "career" has changed significantly from the days of our parents no matter what generation you identify with - X, Y, Z. Technology has been the single most agent of change and also the area of the biggest gap in understanding for the last 50 or so years. It will get wider as the economy shifts down and we see a greater gap between people with access to technology and those without.

That being said, the key to finding your best job or career is to Research Research Research...find out as much as you can, and then some. It will change but being armed with as much information as possible will give you a head start.

And when you have researched like crazy, the next step is to network like crazy. There are lots of ways to network, social events, social networking sites, professional networking sites. Get out there and get the word out about what you are looking for...

Good Luck and we hope to hear from you - share your job or career hunting experiences! Send them to editor@ella-ments.com . Maybe you'll start a whole new vocation as a writer <smile>!

Bargain Shopping - Book Sale Benefits School's Educational Foundation - Carrollton TX.

editor@ella-ments.com (Editor of Ella-Ments) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:25:00 GMT

At Ella-ments.com we're always looking for good shopping opportunities, and nothing beats low low prices paired with doing something good for the community!

This event is being put on by Carrollton/Farmers Branch ISD Council of PTA's and Educational Foundation.

The sale will be held at Trinity Valley Shopping Center at Josey Lane north of the George Bush Turnpike, Carrollton, TX.

Hours are:

10 am to 7 pm Feb 27th through Feb 29th.
9 am to 6 pm on March 1
1 pm to 6 pm on March 2

Prices are $1 for paperbacks/ $2 hardbacks on Feb 27-28 50 cents paperbacks/ $1 hardbacks Feb 29-March 1

Box of Books Sale March 2

Please feel free to send your announcements for great shopping and responsible community activism to Editor@ella-ments.com.