I Was Just Thinking...

Thinking is dangerous when it means that it will affect others' lives. Case in point, this summer I created a timeline of all sorts of activities to keep my four active and at times very temperamental boys occupied. Of course, some of those activities would slightly inconvenience the man of the house like sometimes he will have to be at home with two of the boys and he will have to make his and their meals. To his silent response with a slight negative disposition, all I could say was, "We will all need to step up to the plate!"

You see, when you are a creative mind, like I am, day after day of television watching is a "No can do!" especially when you have children who are growing mentally, physically and spiritually everyday! As I write, I think of the actress, Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City 2, explaining to her husband (Big) in the movie about how she didn't want them to become an old boring couple who was always at home watching television. Well, that's the way I feel especially with children! Our family isn't always on the go, but we aren't always in the same room with television blaring irritating one another either!

There is a time for all things. So I try to keep all things balance -- a little of this and a little of that. No activity is meant to be forever. No movie is meant to be watched a zillion times. No food is meant to be cooked every week. No park visit is everyday! I personally believe when you start making something routine, a tradition, or an everyday occurrence (unless of course it is a paid job,) you fall out of love with it!

Maybe that's why relationships don't last, there is no balance between togetherness and freedom to allow for people to just be. Oh well, maybe that's why children don't get along with parents, because it's always the same ole' same ole' "How was your day?"


Nicholl McGuire

Help For Your Mom Blog - A Beginners Guide

I thought this article would be helpful to my readers who have a parenting blog or just beginning one. I have one (http://whenmotherscry.blogspot.com) I have used most of these tips in the past and they do work, but do remember it's a slow process!

So you are either starting your Mom Blog or you have been blogging for a couple months now. At this point you are wanting to know how to become a much larger blogger than you are so that you can make a living or even some extra change in your pocket to support your habit. There are quite a few resources out there but you want to take baby steps first, eventually you will become better at what you are doing and reaching newer and better heights with your blog.

First things first is you want to buy your own domain name. While this may only confuse you and you don't want to spend the money on what you may only consider as a hobby now, it is truly worth it. It allows you to brand your blog and even turn it into a site rather than a customized journal running off another persons juice. Just remember when this is all confusing what is yours should be yours.

Next thing is to consider going over to your own web hosting service. This goes right along with buying your own domain and giving you full control over what is yours. If you do end up making the splash into a self hosting blog, consider using WordPress as your blogging platform. I use it myself and it gives me full control over my site and what I want on my site not limited to it's content. WordPress even offers plugins to optimize search engine optimization, ad revenue and more.

The next think you want to look into, social networking and social bookmarking sites. Both of these will prove to be invaluable when promoting your blog, branding your blog, creating back links and more. Some of the most popular and user friendly of these are: Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon and Delicious. These you can also incorporate into blogs posts giving your readers an easy way to share your content.

Up next is to comment on other blogs you find by search through blog search sites. This is a great way to build up your networking and make friends along the way. There are sites too that are Mom Blog Communities that you can join to build friendships, network and increase awareness of your own site. There are also directories focused on niches such as Mom Blogs that you can submit your rss feed and website to.

Now that you have begun the simple steps of increasing traffic and awareness to your site, you can begin researching how to increase the revenue from your site and become the blogger you want to be.

Brittany Hudson-Greer can be found blogging at her own mom blog - The Greer 5 http://thegreerfive.com. Where she discusses everything from kid friendly products to controversial topics.

Networking Events

I don't mind the invites to various events, but if you are seriously trying to recruit people wouldn't you provide the transportation at least to the first event?

I get invites from mothers, business people, relatives, and strangers on the street to go to all sorts events from flea markets to church gatherings. Its all well and good, but you would think after the person quickly interviews you and finds out you have four children, no babysitter, and one vehicle (that unfortunately can't hold everyone) that they would at least say, "I will take you, no problem!" You see, I am usually not sold on invites from strangers immediately anyway, because I am simply cautious of most people. I have found that there is always an agenda behind an agenda with some of these network recruiters (including some churchgoers) which usually involves giving someone money, service or both.

I think what frustrates me the most about these "recruiters" is that they are more concerned about "the numbers," "the money" and whatever else they are trying to push than the person. How many of these recruiters have asked me, "How are you doing?" or "Let's go out to lunch!" You can't blame people for the following like: finding every excuse in the world not to attend your event, ignoring your phone calls or turning their head when they see you. Your first impression made the difference to them. As far as they are concerned, they may have seen a nice person at first who genuinely liked he or she only to find out that you were more concerned about this person attending your event than getting to know them. (Didn't Jesus share who he was first rather than worry over people following him?) The person may have sincerely thought about going to your event only to find out you fail to return calls or return them way too late, don't give them enough time to get ready for your spontaneous invites, realize you don't have adequate transportation to get yourself to the event much less help them get there, you make promises you don't keep and the worse yet, you are running your mouth about the person without knowing anything about them! Stereotypes hold very little truth once you get to know someone!

Since I have received numerous let-downs from well-meaning recruiters -- I mean people, I think I have made the conscientious decision to create my own event complete with me, myself and I, as for meeting in person, well that's why we have Twitter now don't we?

New Book for Father's Day by Nicholl McGuire

You may have stopped at the greeting card aisle of a drug store seeking a card for your dad for his birthday, father's day or some other holiday and ended up settling on one that really didn't express how you really feel about him or opting out of buying him a card. It just doesn't seem right that every year a holiday comes up celebrating your father and/or the father of your children (some of you reading this have those too,) you just don't want to do anything. "Why bother?" You say. "It's not like he cares or would change his evil ways!" That's exactly why I wrote this book, because I want adult children as well as teens to express how they sincerely feel about their fathers while he is still young enough to do something about it and while you are still able to express your hurts.

I have personally witnessed the sons and daughters of fathers who waited too late to find their peace concerning their childhood issues and vice versa. It's so sad! Then later in life, they are passing on their regrets to their own unsuspecting family. Some grief-stricken sons and daughters end up acting like the very men they resent! In some twisted way their minds think that they are close to their fathers by acting like them in negative ways! We can all choose to stop the negative cycle of abuse by acknowledging our own pain, making right wrongs we have bestowed on our children (no matter how bad -- please do forgive yourself!) and most of all sitting down with the man who hurt you and asking him questions. Whatever way you choose to find the peace you seek so that you can move on, know that someone out here understands! Please do get my book by clicking the widget below and I pray it will help bridge the gap in your relationship with your father (or the father of your children with is own) this Father's Day and many more to come!

Nicholl

What I Need Fr...

By Nicholl McGuire

Book Preview

Know When to Write, Know When Not to

The Internet makes it extremely easy to write just about anything our little hearts desire, so with that you may write good, bad, or evil.

I was thinking about my purpose, my role in this life. I realize the length of my days aren't very long. The average human being lives well into their late 70s that's if he or she eats right, exercise, have good genes, live in a great community, etc. but compare that to the hundreds of years people lived in the Holy Bible, and that's not very long. Anyway with knowing the reality of my short existence on planet earth, I understand the significance of what action and inaction with a gift (also known as a calling, destiny or purpose) can and can't do. It can backfire and hurt if one should let it. Resulting in an individual abandoning his or her gift forever. It can elevate if a person cultivates his or her gifting. It can motivate one into other things if the individual tweaks his or her calling.

I have been a writer since I was nine years old, penning my first poems and jotting down notes in my diaries over the years (which I am not all that proud of, but I digress.) With knowing what my role is as a writer, just like a minister of a church preaching, I must be careful to write the words just as they were meant to be whether they are meant to encourage, persuade, convict, love, etc. I haven't always wrote my best and at times I was confused myself by something I wrote, but I thank God for his mercy and the opportunity for him to come into my own life to make a difference, so that I could help others as well.

Although Twitter, Blogger, MySpace, Facebook, Black Planet and many other social networking and blog tools are quite nice, they can also be very deadly. I don't suggest anyone write anything anywhere on the Internet including comment sections when they are in a bad mood, hormonal, confused, forgot to take their medication, had a few too many drinks, or even on a spiritual high after coming from church. The reason is we are held accountable especially as believers for everything we say (or don't say - that's another subject.)

There are times that a woman shouldn't speak just like a man shouldn't including on the Internet. Not everything that is in our hearts and minds should be told. We are so quick to type off a message not realizing the person on the other side of the world is indeed a being with feelings.

Sometimes there are some profound things that we read and write and the power we later experience is beyond words. There are those that may not receive our words well and may become easily angered. Does that mean we are to quit writing? No. The way I see it sometimes you win some and sometimes you lose some. I just pray for those who go on and on about what they don't like about what I wrote and why I am not worthy of saying this or that. I don't work for people, I work for my God who is also a God to many others as well. True believers are all on one accord. We know what the other means even if it isn't articulated in the best way. I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are out there fighting the good fight with their words!

We must be mindful of the God we serve and know when the time is right to write, just like when we sit before men and women in-person. We must avoid the following temptations: write about subjects that we know nothing about (no matter how many hits we can get,) lie, steal others' material, or say something without knowing all the facts. We can usually determine when something is not good to write about when we are in a ball of confusion ourselves about the matter.

May God bless all of you who tweet, blog, comment, survey, and/or review!

Nicholl McGuire

Personal Attraction, does it exist?

I thought this article was worth noting on my site since I couldn't say it better myself, tell me if you agree.

Do you find yourself banging your head against the situations that keep going on and on? Are you caught up in a revolving door going around and around? When you take a good look at where you are in life, do you think you should be doing something else?

Not to long ago, I stopped and reviewed my goals. But there are some days when I feel very frustrated. I feel like I am spinning my wheels in the mud. You might be thinking that I am a dreamer... or at least crazy. Well? I'm crazy enough to pursue my dreams. I definitely have BIG dreams.

I feel blessed! Because I have challenge each and everyday to be conquered, I face everyday with excitement and passion.

I'm doing what I truly love. I love interact with people. Life is wonderful just because of the fact I'm alive, compared to the horrors we see out there. I am successfully pressing on to greater things. But I have had my share of frustration along the way.

Well, unlike many who are too busy trying to make a living instead of projecting a life, I took the time to examine what I might be doing wrong.

Let me tell you something: To busy doesn't mean you are successful, just because you're busy doesn't mean prosperity. In fact, if you are to busy, probably you don't have time to make real money at all!!!

So I discovered myself doing my things in the opposite way what I really desired. And that may be your problem, too. Let me explain.

Let say you are the owner of a big field, and you sow an olive seed, but you're thinking to reap grapes. But it seems as though that is exactly what we are trying to do when it comes to aligning the seeds in our minds versus the harvest we want as a result.

You have to see it done on the unseen field first, than you'll have on your hands right on time. Seeds of doubt and fear planted in our minds can reap their own sort of crop. If you wake up doubting whether you will make it or not, it doesn't matter how much you have done for the day, you will not make much progress. You must believe!

We can't afford to let people dump their frustrations and other negative opinions in our heads. Don't you dare let them do that to yourself, get over it!

Fear is like a weed. Once there, will grow and fight against the good in you. Don't let it suffocate you. You must saturate your mind with good until you have your goal turned reality. God never lets us down. We let ourselves down. Does that make sense to you?

Growing in online home business
isn't something that just happens to the lucky or to the people who are very talented. It happens to the person that sees the opportunity and goes for it.

Project yourself five years from now. Where would you want to be in life? If you like the reading and have a deep desire to change or improve your entire life for good. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to invite you to join us on this journey of success. We have a Step-by-Step blue print done just for you.

Surround yourself with positive and successful people.

I wish you the best SUCCESS!

Silvio Marques

So I'm Hearing A Song in My Head...

With this month being National Poetry Month, it seems that the creative spirit seems to be on a bit of a high for me. I wrote two songs this month and now I am just sitting on them. That's right letting them marinate like a steak.

One song I hear a rocker in my head singing it and the other an R&B singer. I thought about submitting them to songwriting contests, but I am undecided. Has this ever happened to you? What did you do?

Newbie Affiliate Marketers: Listen Up!

For years I have been making pennies, dimes, nickels, and dollars through various ventures on the Internet. There are many things that have changed over the years especially with affiliate marketing. It seems the more someone says, "How it easy it is to make money..." The harder it becomes online. Posting your affiliate links everywhere just isn't like it use to be!

Restrictions on Craigslist

You can't use the short bit.ly, the tiny or the short urls without a warning coming up.

Anything and everything being called, "Spam!"

If you post your url on Twitter, it just might be alerted as "Spam" to the site that hosts your url especially if you have it on an automatic scheduler. It's best just to cloak your link and limit how many times it shows up throughout the day.

Classified ads

There was a time that you could list your products and affiliate links galore, but now there are limits, restrictions, rules and regulations! Some sites charge additional fees to include your url with your ad or some have simply done away with business opportunity sections.

Yahoo Answers

Put your affiliate link on this site like some of those outdated videos suggest and your account will be suspended.

Feel free to comment on changes you noticed as well.