TEDxCMU - Chris Guillebeau - Fear and Permission

Join the Microbusiness Revolution!

For years I imagined owning my own business or creating things that people would want to buy from me. Only until now, as a wife and mother, have I realized that dream through my invitations business, The PaperCrafter's Nook, my Mary Kay business and blogging. Needless to say, I believe in the "multiple streams of income" philosophy. And, might I add, you should, too, considering job "insecurity" these days. Even if you want to start something on the side while working a full-time job, it's easier now than it's ever been before to do so with all of the free to cheap tools available to you on the internet!

Do you have that same burning desire to strike out on your own?

I don't have the money...you say?

What if I told you that there is a blueprint you could follow to start your own microbusiness for little money?

Well, there is!

It's called The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Futureby Chris Guillebeau. I came across Chris Guillebeau's "The Art of Non-Conformity Blog: Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work and Travel" a while ago while doing my own research on microbusinesses.

In The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
 you find the real-life stories of people who have forged their own microbusiness paths based on their personal passions. I wish I had read this book before I began my entrepreneurial journey as it would have saved me some headaches. For example, for a microbusiness you don't need to have an elaborate business plan. You are a one-person operation. You don't need to don a business suit and get a business loan to get in debt up to your eyeballs to start your business. Bootstrapping is easier than ever thanks to advances on the internet. This book talks about some of those practical steps you can take to get you to that next level!

What The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
 is NOT:

It is NOT a pie-in-the-sky, get-rich-quick scheme.

What The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
 IS:

It's practical, usable, actionable advice from someone who has "been there", "done that". And, now he's here to show YOU the way, too!

If you decide to purchase this book, let me know your thoughts on it by posting your reply on this blog post!

Good luck!

~ Rachael

Pumpkin Pie

Easy Pumpkin Pie!

 

 

 

 

 

My Passive/Aggressive Disclaimer: For those of you who are WAY beyond this in baking/cooking skills you can ignore this post (or read on and snicker at my novice-level skillz...your choice!).

SCORE!!!

Yes...I made this pumpkin pie! Marvel at my recipe following abilities...

Ok...I can't take all of the credit, though. My five-year-old son, Evan, came up with the idea (which is why we're making pumpkin pie during berry pie season...but I digress). We had all of the ingredients on hand; so, I had no excuse but to try.

Here's the recipe for "Libby's Easy Pumpkin Pie" for one 9" pie (Makes 8 servings):

For the Crust:

• Flour for the surface where you will be rolling out the dough

• Jiffy Pie Crust Mix (half package) - make according to instructions

 For the Filling:

• 1 can (30 oz.) LIBBY'S Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix

• 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Nestle CARNATION Evaporated Milk

• 2 Large Eggs, beaten

• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell (see "For the Crust" above or "cheat" by buying a pre-made shell at the store)

MIX pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk and eggs in large bowl.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees; bake 50 - 60 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean (or until it no longer looks "gooey" in the middle...I had to put mine on for 15 minutes longer than they said). Cool on wire rack (or the top of your stove like NORMAL people do) for 2 hours (or more like 1 hour since your kids will be BEGGING you to cut into it by that time). Serve immediately (duh!) or refrigerate (Buwahahaha...yeah...like it will even MAKE IT to the fridge...pfff).

ADD whipped topping.

ENJOY!

4 Great Ways To Turn Your Clutter To Cash « CBS Pittsburgh

4 Great Ways To Turn Your Clutter To Cash « CBS Pittsburgh

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Barnes & Noble. And, I love my NOOK Color™ even more!

Well, Barnes & Noble is coming out with a new NOOK.

It's called the NOOK Simple Touch™ by Barnes & Noble with Glowlight™.

World’s #1 Reader now with breakthrough GlowLight™:

• First & Only Reader designed for perfect bedtime reading
• Breakthrough technology creates a soft glow optimized for low light reading
  
• Warm light illuminates entire screen evenly
• End bedtime reading debate-when you want to read & your partner wants to sleep
• GlowLight turns on instantly and adjusts easily with a touch
• Revolutionary built-in anti-glare screen protector delivers just-like-paper experience – great in bright sun
• Exclusive Best-Text™ & adjustable fonts make words crisp & clear
• Fastest, most advanced E Ink® display for seamless page turns
• Lightest NOOK ever – perfect for long reading sessions and carrying everywhere
• Unbeatable value: "2 Readers in 1" - Best of E Ink & Lit Display - Amazing in bed and at the beach

You can be one of the first trend-setters to pre-order your very own NOOK Simple Touch™ by Barnes & Noble with Glowlight™ here on my blog for the outrageously low price of $139 and FREE SHIPPING by clicking the following link:

New! NOOK Simple Touch™ by Barnes & Noble with Glowlight™. Read With The Lights On Or Off only at $139 – ships free!

Let me know what you think about this offer and if you want to see more like it!

Happy Reading!

~ Rachael

Use it or Lose it: That is the question!

My family is currently going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University workshop through a local church. And, if you know anything about Dave Ramsey, you know that he promotes a debt-free lifestyle. The 2nd Baby Step is the "Debt Snowball". So, in an effort to get that snowball rolling faster, I am evaluating some of our expenses. One of those expenses is the gym membership which I barely use but think that I will someday. It's a tough one for me to decide...Should I get rid of the membership since I barely use it? But, when I do "try" to get exercise I usually do so through the gym. My best weight-loss efforts have been through using the gym instead of "home" or "walking outdoors" methods. You see I am a fair weather person who lives in Pittsburgh...one of the LEAST "fair weather" places to live. LOL! What are your thoughts on this? Should I cut my losses on the gym membership? Or keep it (and actually use it) so that I can save my health? What's your take?

Easter traditions: A Case Study

Eggs by Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

 Our family is gearing up for Easter.

It is a time for reflection on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a time for worship, fellowship and family gatherings. And, it's also a time for traditions.

This makes me recall the traditions (or sometimes a lack thereof regarding picking a church and sticking with it) my parents had with me and my siblings. Their traditions were an interesting mix of church services at churches we didn't normally attend (yes...we were THOSE people...you know...the family that only attended Christmas and Easter services), family visits and secular Easter "fun". You see...my Mom is (was?) Catholic. My Dad is (was?) Presbyterian. So, my siblings and I would get a smattering of Catholic masses mixed in with Presbyterian services for good measure. Mix in some Easter "fun". Bake until done!

The night before Easter, my Mom would have all of us kids dye hard-boiled eggs. I liked using the little clear crayon that would let you make your own designs on the eggs that would show through after they were dyed. Once the eggs were dyed, we put them in the refrigerator. Somehow, miraculously, some of them appeared in our Easter baskets the next morning. That smart Easter bunny!

On Easter morning, my brothers and sisters and I searched the house for our Easter baskets and plastic eggs filled with all sorts of goodies. Some of the eggs had jelly beans of all assorted colors. Others had some money in them...usually coins...finding some with quarters in them was like hitting the jackpot! I loved to see how creative my parents the Easter bunny would get on hiding places. Each year seemed to up the ante. I would check the usual suspects first...the cabinet under the sink...behind the couches...in the bathtub behind the shower curtain. No hiding place was too bizarre or off-limits, except perhaps in my parents bedroom and bathroom! Each child had their own specific basket that my parents the Easter bunny used each year. And, we knew that. So, if one of my siblings, say...for example...my brother Brian...found my basket before I did, in theory, he was supposed to not say anything so that I could try to find it. Those times were hilarious because he would be practically bursting at the seams wanting to spill the beans (not the jelly ones...hahaha...) in anticipation of telling me! My parents would admonish him..."No, let your sister figure it out!"

Once all of the baskets were found we were allowed to have some candy before church.

Can anyone say "Peeps"?!? Love, love...L.O.V.E. them!!!

(Note to self: this could be a BAD tradition to continue with my boys...see why below...) I don't recommend this strategy for various reasons chief of which is getting your kids "sugared up" before church does NOT lead to a relaxing worship experience for any involved! Also, doing all of these secular Easter traditions BEFORE recognizing the true reason for Easter puts the cart before the horse (sorry Mom & Dad...just sayin').

AFTER all of this excitement (and sugar), we would all get "ready" for church. This usually meant us kids would straggle around trying to eat as much candy as humanly possible BEFORE my parents just about "had it up to HERE" with us (visualizing my Dad with his hand WAY over his head...lol). Whose idea was it, again, to search for candy-filled baskets & eggs BEFORE going to church? That Easter bunny strikes, again!

My Mom was always the last one out of the house to go to church. As a mother myself now, I can COMPLETELY understand why that happens! For the husbands out there, let me explain this phenomenon. Mom is busy getting everyone ELSE ready FIRST. Then, and only then, can Mom focus on finishing getting herself ready! Inevitably, my Dad was always out in the car (honking the horn for my Mom to get her butt out there...ahh...setting the mood for attending a worship service...lol). By the time we got to church, everyone was in a foul mood. Most of us didn't want to be there as all we were thinking about were the Easter baskets waiting at home for us.

Once we got home from church, my Dad would put on the movie "Jesus of Nazareth". (I actually DO love that movie!) Mom made ham, mashed potatoes (a yam just for me), green beans and corn. The house would smell like warmth and family. My paternal grandparents and aunt would stop by. Hey! The Easter bunny brought us baskets to their place, too. Go figure!

We would visit my Mom's parents during the Easter season and get handmade baskets from my grandma. She made recycled baskets from butter containers. She made recycling cool before it became cool in my eyes! I was always impressed with her baskets because she made her own chocolate! She must have had some molds she used because the chocolates were in different shapes...eggs, bunnies, etc. Those are what I remember the most from her baskets.

Now that I have children of my own. I'm trying to develop new traditions with them. Am I keeping all of the traditions my parents passed down? Yes, but in a modified version. The focus is more on Jesus and fellowship, then the "fun" eggs and stuff come after. My husband comes from a deep tradition of church-attending Presbyterians. So, from the beginning, (and I mean while we were even DATING), we decided we wanted to attend a church regularly together. And, once we had children we would want them to also attend regularly and enjoy the fellowship that comes with being part of a church.

We do dye eggs the night before Easter like my Mom did with me and my siblings. My husband and I are going to give them candy but not in copious amounts. We may include things like coloring books, crayons and little toys. Plus, we know that that clever bunny will be showing up at TWO sets of grandparents houses!

This year we're celebrating Easter dinner at my parents' house. Ahh...brings back memories. I'm ready for my "Jesus of Nazareth" marathon. Bring it on!

What are your Easter traditions? Feel free to post yours in the comments on my blog!