Fort Lauderdale Bus Loop Route

For Only $18 , You Can Ride The Trolley Bus on the designated Fort Lauderdale Bus Loop Route,

Receive A Free Drink At Each Participating Venue , and

Get On And Get Off The Trolleys At Any Location Along The Loop Route As You Wish

100% of all proceeds benefit the Bus Loop Charities !

Do Not Drink and Drive ! If you live anywhere within walking distance of the designated Bus Loop Route or any Sun Trolley route operating that night, you can find your way to the Bus Loop Check-In without ever driving ! If not, we encourage taking taxis or using a designated driver to get to and from the check-in location.

2010 Bus Loop Schedule*

Friday, April 30

Friday , June 18

Friday, August 27

Friday , December 3

Visit: http://www.busloop.org/ for more information

Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs

Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs

Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, April 09), and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.

Looking for a job? Consider creating your own. There are a number of social resources to help you connect with other entrepreneurs and get your business ideas off the ground.

Here are the top 10 social networks for entrepreneurs. Each helps entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with the guidance, tools and resources they need to setup their company and gain exposure.

1. Entrepreneur Connect
Entrepreneur Media, the company that produces Entrepreneur Magazine, started a social network over a year ago specifically for entrepreneurs and small business owners called Entrepreneur Connect. Like all social networks, you have the opportunity to create your own profile, explore the community, share ideas with other entrepreneurs and network. Unlike most social networks, this one frowns upon too much self-promotion and applauds idea sharing.

You can use this network to connect to service providers, suppliers, advisers and colleagues. Just like LinkedIn and Facebook(), there are professional groups that you can join or create. Another cool feature is that you’re able to start your own blog and possibly have it appear on the main page. This is similar to what Fast Company has done with their website.

2. PartnerUp
PartnerUp is a social network for entrepreneurs who are searching for people and resources for business opportunities. Anyone can join, but business partners, co-founders, executives and board members will get the most out of this one. In this network, you can ask or offer advice, find commercial real estate and find service providers like accountants and marketers for your business.

The big differentiator with this social network is the commercial real estate “MoveUpSM” program that serves entrepreneurs who have experienced a hard time trying to find office space for their business. They also have a Resource Directory that allows small and mid-sized businesses to advertise their services.

3. StartupNation
Most social networks neglect the content aspect that makes StartupNation so useful. With articles, forums, blogs, on-demand seminars, and podcasts, entrepreneurs will be better prepared for their ventures and have the resources required to make better business decisions.

There are a wide range of topics being discussed on StartupNation right now, including business planning, marketing and web-based business. The site also offers a series of competitions, such as a dorm-based 20 contest and an elevator pitch competition. If you’re an entrepreneur or hope to become one, this site is definitely one you can’t miss out on.

4. LinkedIn
It’s difficult to leave LinkedIn() off of any social networking list because it’s so useful for anyone who’s either searching for a job, is trying to network with like-minded individuals, or building a company. LinkedIn offers many resources for entrepreneurs, such as groups, including the very popular “On Startups” group that has over 54,000 members.

Entrepreneurs on LinkedIn should brand themselves properly so they can attract the right kind of business opportunities, and perform searches to find service providers or partners. As an entrepreneur, you should also be looking to participate in LinkedIn Answers, events and applications to spruce up your profile and become a valuable member to your community.

5. Biznik
This isn’t another LinkedIn clone. Instead, Biznik brands itself as a social network that “doesn’t suck.” The Biznik community is composed of freelancers, CEOs, and the self-employed. Like the other networks, this is a place for you to share ideas, instead of posting your resume. It is mandatory for all members to use their real names and provide real data, and Biznik editors actually review all profiles to ensure compliance with that policy. There are three levels of membership, including basic, active ($10 a month for an enhanced profile) and supporting ($24 a month for increased visibility).

6. PerfectBusiness
If you want to meet thousands of serious entrepreneurs, experts and investors from a variety of industries, then Perfect Business might be the perfect social network for you. The type of people you’ll find are potential business partners, potential clients and advisers. Additionally, the site has leading business partners like Entrepreneur and Virgin Money.

business plan builder and even an investor center, you’ll have most of the resources you need to create or regenerate your business. There is a free basic membership and a gold membership that costs $29.99 per month.

Read Full Article: Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs

List of Top 10 Social Networks
1. Entrepreneur Connect
2. PartnerUp
3. Startup Nation
4. LinkedIn
5. Biznik
6. Perfect Business
7. Go Big Network
8. Co Foundr
9. The Funded
10. Young Entrepreneur

De-stress Your Life Instantly

Between work, raising children, managing household chores and taking time for yourself, your everyday life can easily leave you overwhelmed and exhausted. Leo Babauta, author of The Power of Less, offers seven steps to quickly de-stress your life.

Breathe Deeply
Concentrate on your breathing for five breaths, Leo says. "If you're feeling stressed, close your eyes and focus on each breath as it comes in and then goes out," he says. "Focus on the breathing and let any other thoughts drift away."

Take a Walk
Getting up and moving around gets your blood flowing and calms you, Leo says. Try walking around your office building or going outside for 10 minutes to get some fresh air.
Focus on One Thing
Instead of trying to do everything at once and multitasking, learn to do one task at a time, Leo says. "It's less stressful and more effective," he says.
 
Choose 3 Tasks
Instead of trying to tackle a laundry list of tasks and projects, pick the three very important tasks that you want to accomplish today, Leo says. "Focus on doing those before anything else," he says.
 
Simplify Your Schedule
If your schedule is packed with appointments, meetings and tasks, it's stressful, Leo says. "Try to schedule less, which means getting out of less important commitments," he says. "Leave space to breathe."
 
Live in the Moment
Worrying about what might happen or replaying things that have already happened are stressful ways of thinking, Leo says. "Instead, focus on what is happening now," he says. Practice in five- to 10-minute intervals at first, and you'll begin to improve, Leo says.

Read Original Article: De-stress Your Life Instantly

Fort Lauderdale,FL From $75 a night - Deals

Fort Lauderdale, from $75 a night - Deals- msnbc.com
The Real Deal: The 84-room Ocean Point Beach Resort in Pompano Beach is offering a fourth-night-free special for Learn to Dive month, being celebrated in June by Greater Fort Lauderale.


Guests pay for three nights at the $75 per room per night rate and stay the fourth night free of charge. Plus, many of the area's dive outfits are offering discounts for dive certifications and packages throughout the month.

For a complete list of diving specials, check the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site.

Read Article: Fort lauderdale,FL From $75 a Night

Career Coaches: Are They Really Worth the Investment?

Career Coaches: Are They Worth the Investment?
In the current state of our economy, more than 15 million people are unemployed. That's 15 million people who are all looking for a little help, whether it's in the job search, writing a résumé, interview advice, networking or even finding a new career path.


Many times, people who need job-search help enlist a professional. Career coaches and counselors are usually certified professionals who focus on career exploration or choice, changing career paths or helping you beef up your résumé and perfect your interview skills.

In the 2009 International Coaching Federation Global Coaching Client Study, 15 percent of coaching clients said career opportunities are the most important reason to enlist a coach, compared with business management (14 percent) and self-esteem or self-confidence (13 percent). The study, which included input from more than 2,000 coaching clients in 64 countries, also cited more than 80 percent of respondents indicating a positive change in areas such as interpersonal skills, work performance and team effectiveness.

Costly counseling

While career coaches can definitely be a useful resource, good advice doesn't come cheap. In a 2007 study by the coaching federation, which focused on coaches rather than clients, the average fee for a career coaching session was $161 per hour. Depending on your financial situation and employment status, considering you're likely to want more than one session, that's a hefty investment.

See Article: Career Coaches: Are They Really Worth the Investment?

West Palm Beach, Florida SunFest

West Palm Beach


SunFest is opening this year with a new backdrop.

Along with the 50 bands, floating nightclubs and the works of 165 artists, another main attraction will be West Palm Beach's new $30 million downtown waterfront.

The waterfront made its debut in February, after more than two years of construction, creating a vast open space with water features, an unobstructed view of the Intracoastal Waterway, docks, a beach area and a pavilion.

SunFest organizers have always played up the coastal location, calling it the festival "where music meets the waterfront." Now, the renovated digs provide a lot more to brag about.

"It has changed the ambience and the setting," said Melissa Sullivan, SunFest spokeswoman. "It's a very different space now."

The five-day festival kicks off Wednesday with Weezer and up-and-coming bands We Are Scientists, Crash Kings, Constellations, These United States, Locksley and Gringo Star.

About 275,000 people attended the festival last year.

The city and its designers made sure SunFest and other major events, such as the Palm Beach International Boat Show, were accommodated in the redeveloped waterfront, said Joan Goldberg, the city's project manager.

Big events would be held in the commons area -- the former site of the city library -- with a large lawn and water gardens while a promenade and docks provided every day, recreational space for residents.

"[SunFest] needed that big, open space," Goldberg said. "Without it, they wouldn't be able to have that festival."

SunFest organizers weren't disappointed. The festival now has a completely new look.

"When people see it, they're going to be blown away," said Paul Jamieson, SunFest executive director. "They won't be disappointed."

The redeveloped waterfront created some logistical challenges for the festival, Sullivan said. Organizers had to work around landscaping and water features to make sure they weren't damaged.
They also moved the Bank of America stage, the northernmost stage. But that move ended up being for the better because it is surrounded now with lush, tropical landscaping and has an incredible view of the Intracoastal, Jamieson said.

Last year, the festival took advantage of the city's new docks to provide access to three barges that act as floating nightclubs.

"People have always said that SunFest's location was one of the jewels of the festival," Jamieson said. "Now, they've done this facelift…It's fantastic."

SunFest's ticket sales are up 25 percent so far this year. And city officials think the new waterfront can take some credit for that.

"I think it's a combination of very good entertainment and people wanting to come to the waterfront," said Mayor Lois Frankel.

Source: West Palm Beach, Florida SunFest

2-4-1 & Wine Tasting Events Tuesday

2-4-1 and Wine Tasting Events Tuesday

* Sublime Restaurant and Bar, 1431 N. Federal Highway., Ft. Lauderdale, offers two-for-one beverages and a deal on appetizers during Vegan Drinks Night.
The events are 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month. The next is March 2. Appetizers during the event are offered as buy one, get second half off deals. 954-615-1431

* Free Wine Tastings at Hollywood Vine, 2035 Harrison St., Hollywood, Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 954-922-2910

Google offers Tons of Resources for "Busy Professionals"

Taking Advantage of Google’s Small Business Toolkit

Google announced that they had redesigned the Small Business Network to not only help small business owners stay informed about new legislation, but to also include a small business toolkit. The Toolkit was designed to help SMB owners learn about the free Google products available to help them connect with colleagues and run their businesses more efficiently.


The goal of the Toolkit (other than just heavily promoting Google’s complete line of services) is to help entrepreneurs and small business owners learn about Google products and to enable them to exchange ideas and best practices with other entrepreneurs. Essentially, it makes it brain dead simple for SMB owners to solve some of their biggest business concerns.

For example:

Need help finding customers? There’s Google Local Business Center

Tired of your computer crashing? Check out Google Apps

Want to map delivery routes? Create your own Google Map

Make good on your advertising dollars? Try Google AdWords

Can’t afford an IT specialist? There’s Google Analytics

Worried about federal or state policies? Join Google’s Small Business Network

Is there anything Google can’t do?

Maybe not. At first glance, the Toolkit comes off as a double dose of Google Kool-Aid, but the truth is, if you’re a small business owner the products and services offered by Google are likely exactly what you’re looking for. You don’t have to search any further and, even if you did, you still probably wouldn’t find a better solution. Google’s products are free, easy to use, and they pack a pretty powerful bunch. Good on Google for giving small business owners everything they need in one place.

Google will also be traveling around the country offering free workshops called Small Business 101s to help entrepreneurs become more familiar with the tools offered by Google. The next workshop takes place today (Tuesday, Sept. 22) in Pittsburgh, PA. If you’re interested in attending, you can still sign up.

I was really interested to see Google giving small business owners an easy way to stay up to date on public policy issues via an email sign up on the Small Business Toolkit page. With instances like the one concerning Carl and BJ Streko where the government kicked their SMB to the curb and put them out of business, it’s becoming increasingly important that small businesses know what’s going on around them and that they are proactive about protecting themselves and the companies they’ve started. Dell did something similar with their Small and Medium Business Solutions Center when they offered information to SMBs on how the new Stimulus legislation affected them. The more information put into the hands of small business owners, the better.


[It’s probably worth plugging that Business.gov also offers a Web gadget to help SMB owners stay up to date on legal issues and governmental services. It’s worth checking out.]

Read Original Article: Taking Advantage of Google’s Small Business Toolkit

Do you think that Skype Is Changing Job Interviews?

Get ready for a closeup: your next job interview might be on webcam. Looking to save time and money, companies are turning to video-chat software as a cheap, low-hassle way to vet job candidates. That means a growing number of people looking for work are meeting their prospective new bosses not at the office but in the comfort of their own home.

What's the draw? Largely money. Last year, as executives at online retailer Zappos.com looked to cut expenses, they noticed how much the firm spent on travel. In HR alone, it easily cost $1,000 a pop to fly out job candidates and put them up for the night. The firm had used Skype internally, so about six months ago, recruiters started trying it for interviews.

Their opinion: a video link does a pretty good job of replacing an in-person meeting — and in a way that a phone call can't. "If you see facial expressions and body language, you have a different sense of what a person is saying," says recruiting manager Christa Foley. Now, instead of flying out 20 finalists for a job, the company first screens with Skype and then brings in only the best two or three candidates.

Job seekers are hopping on board too. Last spring, after Stephen Bhadran got laid off, he quickly realized there were more openings for computer programmers in Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles than in South Florida, where he lived. So he cast a wide net — and got a bite from the University of California, Los Angeles. The university wanted to interview him but wouldn't pay the airfare. "I was laid off and running out of funds," says Bhadran. "I couldn't fly on my own dime." He suggested interviewing by Skype. He got his request — and the job.
(See the best social-networking applications.)


Things don't always run smoothly. Bobby Fitzgerald, a restaurateur who has been interviewing job candidates by Skype since March, has had his share of amusements. For instance: the candidate who leaned forward while he spoke, giving Fitzgerald an intimate view of his nose. Another, a college senior, didn't bother cleaning up his dorm room before the interview; the mess was painfully visible in the background.

And then there was the dog that wouldn't stop barking. Fitzgerald cut the interview short and said he'd have to reschedule. Did the disruption influence his decision? "Well," he says, "a big part of management is handling problems as they arise."

Source: How Skype Is Changing Job Interviews

The Most Common Tax Mistakes

Protect Yourself From an Audit
You have your no. 2 pencil, a calculator and this year's W-2. Now what?
That's the thought that crosses many self-preparers' minds as they get ready to tackle their taxes. Veteran CPA Steve Duben says it's a tale as old as time. "The truth of the matter is that the law is complex and not easy to understand," Duben said. "The IRS claims that the average tax return self-prepared will take an individual 21 ½ hours to complete. This includes information gathering and understanding and preparing the return."

If you're willing and able to put in the time and effort to prep your own taxes this year, Duben gave MainStreet a list of the most common tax mistakes he's encountered and how to avoid them.

Forgetting to Report All Income
Did you do some freelance work while you were looking for the dream job you finally landed in September? You still need to report that income in your 2009 return.
"Some taxpayers feel that if they did not get a 1099 form then they do not have to report income received," Duben said. "The IRS has a long arm and seems to know what was and was not reported. To avoid this take your time and review all sources of income."

Source: The Most Common Tax Mistakes

Balancing Act: One Woman's Story About Having It All

For years Towanna Freeman put her daughter, Jenesis, first. After being sideswiped by a divorce more than a decade ago, the 39-year-old management consultant and author (Purposeful Action: 7 Steps to Fulfillment) cut back on her hours--reducing her income by 50 percent, so she could focus on motherhood.

There were a few lean years, but disaster never struck, in fact things got better. Freeman revamped her career to suit her needs and even found time to pursue her passion, life-coaching. Despite all of her success, there was one things missing: a man. That all changed three years ago when she met Byron Freeman, a Colonel in the US Army. Freeman talks to ESSENCE.com about her transition from life as a single lady to being "the Mrs."


ESSENCE.COM: You weren't always a single mother. Tell us how your life changed when you split from your ex-husband?

TOWANNA FREEMAN: My daughter Jenesis was 3-years-old when I divorced my first husband. I had to make a lot of changes going from two incomes to one, but I was motivated because I knew I had a mouth to feed. I didn't want my daughter to come in second. I was a project manager for the CIA but I downsized--everything. My shopping had to change, vacationing, even getting a new car, were now all luxuries that I couldn't afford. My priority was making sure my daughter was in school and I could pay for aftercare.

ESSENCE.COM: After raising your daughter alone for 10 years you recently got married. How did you know he was the one for you?

FREEMAN: My husband had to woo two women, my daughter and myself. Once our relationship got serious--and I knew I could trust him--I let him spend alone time with Jenesis so they could bond. For example, we'd all go to the arcade, but I'd let them go off and play games while I watched from afar. I'd check in with her to see how he treated her when I wasn't around. I believe it's important for parents to listen to their kids-- because they see things we don't--and not just focus on what our mates say. Lastly, I made sure to talk to him about his views on parenting because I knew integrating families would require a lot of a man who didn't have children.

ESSENCE.COM: Many women who've been single for a long time find it challenging to open their hearts and minds to co-existing, though they want a mate. Did you find it difficult?

FREEMAN: As a woman I'm naturally a nurturer, but after being single for so long I was used to bringing home the bacon and frying it. My challenge was allowing someone to take care of me. I had to learn to relax; I had to drop my defenses. It was like a changing of the guard. I had to acknowledge that my husband is capable. He's a man whose decisions I can trust, so I had to learn how to stop asking for details. I don't always need to be in control.


ESSENCE.COM: Money is a big issue for couples, especially since many Black women are also the primary breadwinners or may be entering into a relationship after already amassing significant savings. Are you and your spouse co-mingling funds?

FREEMAN: Yes, my husband has a successful career but I make more money then he does. Communication is important. All of our income is combined because we are working towards a common goal. I don't taut the fact that I make more than him and he's not competitive. We both respect our contributions to the household.


It's important to get rid of that individualistic mentality the day you take your vows. Respect your mate. Most importantly, let the person who is naturally better at handling money manage your household's finances. My last tip is don't keep money secrets.If you have funds that you plan to keep aside, be upfront about it.

Source: Essence.com

Upcoming Networking Events with Biz to Biz Networking (South Florida Areas)

Upcoming Networking Events


Biz To Biz Networking has your covered...from Palm Beach to Miami

CLICK HERE TO VIEW


Boca Raton - Wednesday, April 28th 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Saba Sushi Restaurant - 499 South Federal Hwy.

In The Royal Palm Plaza - Boca Raton

Source: http://www.biztobiznetworking.com/



Pembroke Pines - Thursday, April 29th 5:30pm - 7:30pm

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

Located at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens

201 SW. 145th Terrace Pembroke Pines



Boca Raton - Tuesday, May 4th 5:00pm- 7:00pm

Ruth's Chris Steak House - 225 NE.Mizner Blvd. Boca Raton



Deerfield Beach - Wednesday, May 5th 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Oceans 234 - 234 North Ocean Blvd Deerfield Beach



North Miami Beach - Thursday, May 6th 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Racks Italian Kitchen - 3933 NE 163rd St. In The Intracoastal Mall

Between NE.35th Ave. & Ocean Blvd. North Miami Beach



Fort Lauderdale - Tuesday, May 11th- 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse- 2400 East Las Olas Blvd Ft Lauderdale



Hollywood - Thursday, May 13th - 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Aizia Restaurant and Nightclub - 3660 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood

LOCATED AT THE LANDING ACROSS FROM THE WESTIN DIPLOMAT

Earth Day Deals & Steals

EARTH DAY DEALS /  FREEBIES

Earth Day is turning 40 this year. To celebrate, many businesses are offering consumers free stuff, chances to win valuable prizes, and some good deals.
Here's a sampling of Earth Day freebies:

Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.
Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.

Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon (PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.

Evos is giving away free organic milkshakes served in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The healthy fast-food chain has locations in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles -- empty or full, from any brand -- to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.
Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.

Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart fortwo vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.

Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.

Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.
 
Source: Earth DayDeals

What can you do for Earth Day?

EARTH DAY

Earth Day is a name used for two different observances, both held worldwide annually. While some people celebrate Earth Day around the time of the vernal equinox, others observe the occasion on April 22 each year. Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth's environment. It is currently observed in more than 140 countries around the world.

What do people do


The April 22 Earth Day is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction. Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.



Public Life

Earth Day is not a public holiday and public life, with regard to transport schedules and opening hours for schools and businesses, is not affected.



Background

The April 22 Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.



Some people prefer to observe Earth Day around the time of the March equinox. In 1978, American anthropologist Margaret Mead added her support for the equinox Earth Day, founded by John McConnell. She stated that the selection of the March Equinox for Earth Day made planetary observance of a shared event possible.



Symbols

Symbols used by people to describe Earth Day include: an image or drawing of planet earth; a tree, a flower or leaves depicting growth; or the recycling symbol. Colors used for Earth Day include natural colors such as green, brown or blue.



The “Earth Flag”, which was designed by John McConnell, has been described as a “flag for all people”. It features a two-sided dye printed image of the Earth from space on a dark blue field, made from recyclable, weather-resistant polyester. Margaret Mead believed that a flag that showed the earth as seen from space was appropriate.

Resource: EARTH DAY

Start Going Green For Free!

•Each year millions of high quality plants go unsold and are destroyed.
•Thousands of workers with disabilities need jobs.
• We locate unsold plants, have them packaged by those workers, and...
The Plants are Yours Free!

You pay only for processing packing and shipping


You get free plants, help stop a huge waste, and workers with disabilities get jobs. Everyone wins! Cheryl

More About This Project: http://www.freetreesandplants.com/

Great Eco-Crafts for kids and adults to beat boredom

By this date, summer may seem like the longest season of the year. Here are some new eco-craft books available at bookstores, online or (hopefully) at your public library that will fill some time and your home with beautiful crafts made from items destined for the dumpster...

Eco Craft by Susan Wasinger (Lark Books)
Make gorgeous vases, wall art and more from dumpster destined supplies.

Green Crafts for Children by Emma Hardy (CICO, ages 2+)
Kids can turn kitchen ingredients and recycling supplies into jewelry, animals and other crafts.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano (Simon Spotlight)
This MacGyver-esque craftsman will have you creating your own switch plates, headboards and more. 150 different projects to choose from!

Read original article: Great eco-crafts for kids and adults to beat boredom
by Green Business Examiner

Administrative Professionasl Day/Week (A Special Thanks to our Busy Professionals)

What do people do?

Administrative Professionals Day and Administrative Professionals Week are widely observed in many workplaces in the United States and other countries around the world. Many employers and supervisors arrange events to show their appreciation of the work carried out by administrative professionals, to highlight their importance to the organization and to enhance their work-related skills.



Public life

Administrative Professionals Day is an observance but it is not a public holiday in the United States.



Background

During World War II, there was an increased need for skilled administrative personnel, particularly in the United States. The National Secretaries Association was formed to recognize the contributions of secretaries and other administrative personnel to the economy, to support their personal development and to help attract people to administrative careers in the field. The association's name was changed to Professional Secretaries International in 1981 and, finally, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) in 1998.



These changes in name reflected the changing nature of the tasks, qualifications and responsibilities of the members of the organization. IAAP now has an international orientation and continues to provide education and training and set standards of excellence recognized by the business community on a global perspective. The organization's vision is "to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence".



The first National Secretaries Week was organized in 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day. As the organization gained international recognition, the events became known as Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®. In 2000, IAAP announced that names of the week and the day were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Many work environments across the world observe this event.

Resource: Administrative Professionals Day

Benefits of having a Concierge Service or Personal Assistant work for you? (even during a recession)

How Can A Concierge Or Personal Assistant Save You Money?

Concierge services or a personal assistant (A Sense Concierge) has the ability to create more time within each day for busy professionals and business. Among busy professionals, one of the most precious resource is TIME.

Having the best time management skills is not equivalent to having enough time in the day for completing day-to-day tasks.

Busy professionals are usually flustered with meetings, conference calls, management duties, reports, and several other tasks that take up the majority of their time. Concierge services and personal assistants are skilled and often specialize in relieving them of these duties.

Some responsibilities of a personal assistant include (but not limited to):
Setting Appointments & Making Reservations
Special Reminders: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Religious Holidays, Appointments, etc.
Household Management: House Sitting, Home Organization, Waiting Services
Event Planning: Corporate Meetings, Social Gatherings
Personal Shopping: Purchasing Gifts & Wrapping

Grocery Shopping: For those who find it difficult to leave home or don’t have time
Administrative: Filing, Organizing, Mass Mailing

Pick up and Delivery: Documents, Bank Runs, Dry cleaning, Last minute items and

Special Requests

How much time can a busy professional really save by having a concierge work for them?

The average cost of hiring a personal assistant is $35-65/hour. Consider if this is worth it by analyzing the opportunity cost of a high-paid business executive being burdened with these tedious tasks.

For example, a busy professional that earns $200/hour can be translated to his/her time is being worth $200/hr. The time it takes for the executive to complete these tedious tasks will calculate to being paid $200/hr to him/her self.

Hiring a concierge service to take on these responsibilities would only cost between $35 and $65 per hour. Consider it to be worth it, not only will the executive gain time he is saving money. In addition, a busy professional can now spend more time with family, friends, alone, or how ever they choose.

A concierge service or personal assistant is well worth the investment. Contact A Sense Concierge with any additional questions you may have.

For more information visit http://asenseconcierge.com/
Keep in touch with following our blog: http://blog.asenseconcierge.com/

Been There, Haven't Done That - in Florida!

Been There, Haven't Done That!

You've seen the theme parks, the big cities and the major attractions in Florida. Here are 124 of your new favorite offbeat roadside attractions.


NORTHWEST Apalachicola
1) Apalachicola Maritime Museum and Boss Oyster103 Water St. and 123 Water St., (850) 653-2500 and (850) 653-9364, http://www.ammfl.org/ and www.apalachicolariverinn.com/boss.html

Recently reopened, the Apalachicola Maritime Museum encompasses the heritage of the Apalachicola waterfront and the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint river system. Historic sailboat trips daily. Nearby, ranked one of the top 10 oyster bars in the United States by "Coastal Living" Magazine in 2004, Boss Oyster serves up freshly caught seafood including the blue crabs and bay scallops the area is famous for.

2) The Gibson Inn and Avenue Sea
51 Ave. C
(850) 653-2191,
http://www.gibsoninn.com/
A beautiful, fully restored Victorian inn with all the charm of its era. Built in 1907, this historic inn features the award- winning Avenue Sea restaurant. Learn more about the inn and restaurant, as well as the surrounding areas, in VISIT FLORIDA's Authentic Florida Expert video about the Forgotten Coast of Florida.

Carrabelle
3) World’s Smallest Police StationUS Highway 98
www.carrabelle.org/worldssmallestpolicestation.asp
Plagued by decades of prank phone calls—the dial was finally removed from the phone—the World’s Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle has been housed in a phone booth since the 1960s. This off-beat landmark has been featured on “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” and “The Today Show,” but is no longer in use today.

4) Dwarf cypress forest at Tate’s Hell State ForestOff coastal Hwy 98 about 5 miles west of Carrabelle (5.5 miles into Tate’s Hell State Forest on forest roads)
(850) 697-3734, http://www.fl-%20dof.com/state_forests/tates_hell.html

A 19th century legend has it that local farmer Cebe Tate went in search of a panther that was killing his livestock. After wandering the forest for seven days and nights, Tate stumbled into a clearing near Carrabelle and proclaimed, “My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell!” Today, the cypress trees at Tate’s Hell may be under 18 feet tall, but they are fully grown—and over 150 years old—at their diminutive stature.Fort Walton Beach

5) Indian Temple Mound Museum at The Heritage Park & Cultural Center139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE(850) 833-9595, http://www.destin-%20fwb.com/
The Indian Temple Mound Museum in Fort Walton Beach reflects 12,000 years of spiritual, technological and artistic achievements of Florida's native peoples. The Indian mound itself measures 17 feet tall and 223 feet across its base. Excavations have unearthed artifacts about the area's native inhabitants.
Marianna

Read More :Been There, Haven't Done That!
By VISIT FLORIDA staff July 2008

Food and Wine Paring Guide

Find the best wine to drink with your meal



It's always good to know what type of wine will pair well with your meal. Whether you are having guest over and entertaing for the evening or would rather have a quiet evening at home with a loved one, finding the best choice of wine for your meal is a essential.



Here are a few pointers as to how to choose the best wine for your meal. Simply answer three questions; What are you serving/eating? Do you prefer red or white wine? And last but not least what flavor wine do you prefer?



"There are no wrong matches," says Leslie Sbrocco, author of "The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide" (William Morrow 2006). "But there can be magical matches. There are no rules, but there are guidelines." Start experimenting with different food and wine combinations.

Focus, Focus, Focus - This is a Good Time to Start Your Own Business

Truisms for Starting a Business


Here are a few truisms can help guide you in starting your small business. (In a second column, we'll take a look at truisms that can help guide you in running your small business.) They represent lessons learned by entrepreneurs like yourself. The road to success will be much smoother by being aware of the messages they represent.


It takes a leader to successfully start, run and grow a business. The difference between managers and leaders is sometimes subtle, but when the going gets tough, it's easy to tell the difference. While consulting for a large manufacturing company, I met with the founder and owner. It was easy to see he was an excellent manager and organizer. He had effectively set up his company, found satisfactory help, and was quickly manufacturing small runs of high quality product.

When he called me, the company was in trouble. . .poor sales, decreasing order backlog, etc. The problem was determined to be that the market had been slowly moving toward a similar, more effective product type. In overlooking (or not being aware of) this fact, the owner, although a good manager, was not leading the company in a successful direction.

A business is likely to operate at a loss for the first year of operation. Make sure you have adequate resources! Plan for the unexpected. Remember that most businesses fail due to lack of capital! If possible, keep your regular job during startup.


In order for a business to be successful, it must provide a service or product that people want to buy. Pretty obvious you say? Well, it is forgotten by many. Times change and your business must change with them.

Dave, a good friend and fellow amateur radio operator, started a radio equipment and accessory retail store. Certainly not a new idea, since there are hundreds of such stores throughout the country and, in fact, there were three within 50 miles of Dave's location. However, in less than a year, he was outselling the other two stores and had acquired a good share of their former customers. Why? Dave knew he needed to provide something unique that would make his store more useful than his competitors. Knowing that communications was "going digital" and there was high interest in combining computers and radio equipment, Dave provided custom software to marry the customer's computer with the radio equipment he sold. He's still going strong.

A really good idea will not last long before someone else runs with it. If you are confident of an idea, move off dead center and get on with it! Plan carefully but get going. If you wait, someone will beat you to the market!

Business success will be directly proportional to how much you love what you are doing. Don't get involved with any business activity for the money only! This is usually a recipe for failure.

Miami Goin' Green Earthday Festival 4/24/2010

Miami is Goin' Green! - April 24 @ Bayfront Park


The event of the year is upon us. Make sure you don't miss any of the incredible events, entertainment, displays, and incredible offers at this year's Miami Goin' Green. Entrance to the event is FREE and runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Business Answers: To Cut or Not to Cut (tell me what you think)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Restaurants Give "TAX DAY" BREAKS April 15th

From fast food to fancy steakhouse, restaurants are giving us Tax Day breaks on Thursday, April 15.

McDonald’s will give you a second Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with Cheese when you buy the first one at full price. It’s the eighth year for the promotion. Also be sure to ask for a free coupon book, which includes offers for buy-one-get-one-free Big Macs, Egg McMuffins and other deals.


BLT Steak at The Betsy in South Beach (1440 Ocean Dr., 305-673-0044) is taking 50 percent off all cocktails, beer and wine by the glass and bottle.


Cinnabon is giving away free bite-sized samples of its new cupcakes 6-8 p.m. or until supplies last. There are four flavors: Cinnacake Classic, Chocolate Passion, Vanilla Bliss and 24-Carrot Cake. I tried the full-sized cupcakes a few weeks ago and they’re just as sweet as the original Cinnabons. They range in price from $2.49 to $2.99.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is taking 15 percent off everyone's check. The only exclusions are Happy Hour specials and alcohol.


Quarterdeck kicks off 16 days of "We Pay The Tax Specials" by paying the tax on one daily $6.99 special each day through the end of the month. Thursday's special is a half rack of ribs. Check the Web site for the tax free daily special, which comes with one side.

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach will celebrate CPAs on Friday, April 16 with a contest for a free steak and seafood dinner. CPAs must call either location before Wednesday and give their name, phone number and e-mail address. On Thursday, one winner will be randomly selected at each location for a three-course $99.99 dinner to be served on Friday. Winners must have proof of their CPA status. Here are the addresses and phone numbers: 5050 Town Center Circle, 561-392-7724, Boca Raton and 777 South Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach, 561-835-9664.

RIVERWALK GET DOWNTOWN EVENT

RIVERWALK GET DOWNTOWN

Friday, April 9th; 5-8pm

YOLO at the Plaza at Las Olas, 333 E. Las Olas Blvd.



CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

PREPAY DEADLINE - FRIDAY, APRIL 9th AT NOON



Fort Lauderdale’s largest outdoor cocktail hour returns! $20 prepay includes two cocktails, live music and tastes from 14 local restaurants including Chima, Big City Tavern, YOLO, Mancini's, Kilwin’s, BOVA Prime, Downtowner Saloon, Briny Riverfront Pub, Riverside Hotel, America’s Backyard, Cold Stone Creamery, Sublime, Jet Runway Café and Nana’s Original Stromboli.