Just Listed On eBay - MURAD AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser!

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My eBay World

Just Listed - 3 Bedroom Rental With Pool In Gardena!

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

How To Prosper In Bad Times

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

Your Trips Deserve a Travel Blog!

Read all about it at Aralake Travel - The Official Blog!

Halloween Sale at Centinela Feed!

Read all about it at Aralake Dog Training - The Official Blog!

Aralake Real Estate Services

Aralake Real Estate Services is up and running! Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

Focus Marketing - Internet Business Building Seminar - UK Event

Once again, Focus Marketing has graciously decided to stream their London, UK seminar event live for free! I watched their last event live a few months ago when they streamed it from Washington, D.C., and it was excellent. No matter what your business, the tips from the speakers at this event on how to use the internet to enhance your business are priceless, so be prepared to take lots of notes! The only drawback for this seminar is the time difference of it being in the UK (unless you are in Europe!), but I believe the stream will be available for replay for 30 days. It started today, and runs through Sunday, October 19. In order to attend virtually, go to Got Access to register.

Ending Soon On eBay - GAP Women's Black Long & Lean Jeans!

View My eBay Listings!




My eBay World

Just Listed On eBay - English Country Cottage Church Figurine!

Check out this cute little figurine at My eBay World!

Ultimate Buying & Selling Machine Bootcamp

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

I Have Just Listed My First eBay Item For Sale, WooHoo!

Well, I have finally taken the plunge to list my first item for sale on eBay - a pair of SKETCHERS Women's Athletic Shoes! I've been buying on eBay for a few years now, but was always intimidated about selling. It was a little time-consuming at first to learn the process, but now that I've done my first listing, I think I've caught the bug, and now every empty box I see I think of as the perfect potential shipping box and swipe it up, haha! I wish I had taken the time to learn how to do it before I moved, as it would have really saved a lot of grief to be able to clear out the house for some extra cash without the hassle of a garage sale. Better late than never, I always say...you can check out my eBay listings any time under the "Promotions" and "Shopping" headings in the right-hand column of this site. Happy Bidding!

SEC To Temporarily Ban Short-Selling: Report

"WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission intends to temporarily ban short-selling, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Meet Chris - Frisky Sleuth Who Sniffs Out Trouble

"Meet Chris. He has a nose for trouble."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Solar Roofing Materials: Integrating Solar Cells Into Building Materials

"In an effort to promote the adoption of solar technology, United Solar Ovonic of Auburn Hills, MI, has teamed with a major roofing company to create a metal roof system that generates electricity from sunlight."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

CoolPeopleCare - Saving the World, Five Minutes At a Time

Have you ever felt like you wanted to do more to help others, or you wanted to get involved with causes or volunteer work that were important to you, but you felt frustrated because you didn't have the time? CoolPeopleCare can help! They give tips on how you can help save the world, five minutes at a time, whether it's in your own backyard, or in the world beyond. Check them out!

Yucatan Grill Restaurant Review

The Yucatan Grill is a great little eatery in Seal Beach. For more information, and to read my review at TripAdvisor, click here: Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say about the Yucatan Grill at TripAdvisor.

Affordable Housing Exists, If You Know Where to Look

"Stacy Williams owns a three-bedroom house with a full basement and central air-conditioning in a quiet neighborhood on the upper west side of Youngstown, Ohio.

Williams, now 33, was earning $8.05 an hour as a manager at McDonald's when she moved into the house with her husband, a laborer at a construction equipment manufacturer, and son back in 2004.  The couple's combined annual salary was $33,000.  But the purchase didn't require much of a financial stretch: The house cost $48,000.  'If you have the credit score to do it, there's nothing that can stop you from buying a home in Youngstown,' said Williams, whose plans for the house include a second bathroom."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Candidates Weigh In On Stabilizing Fannie, Freddie

"The historic takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could come as soon as Sunday, moved to the forefront of the presidential campaign Saturday as candidates and congressional leaders seized on the enormous implications for taxpayers and the economy."

Read more about this story at AralakeChronicles.

The Underwater Channel

All my fellow SCUBA divers and snorkelers out there (or anyone who has an appreciation for the deep blue sea!), you simply must check out The Underwater Channel!  It is a brand new site dedicated to preserving life under the oceans, and offers some awesome underwater footage and stories submitted by expert divers from prime dive spots around the world, such as the Far East, South Africa, the Red Sea, the U.S, and the U.K.

Babelgum - The New Global Internet Television Network

Check out Babelgum, the new global internet television network! This is a very cool, free alternative to high-priced cable TV, and the best part is that you can take the entertainment to go on your laptop! Between this and streaming internet programs, who needs a TV anymore? Babelgum offers a very wide selection of excellent channels, and you can customize your viewing preferences with playlists, smart channels, and other special tools.  Other features such as communities and film events add an interactive element to viewing.  The quality is outstanding on a Mac, although I can't speak yet for PCs. Try it out for yourself!

Nebraska's 'Safe-Haven' Law Allows Abandonment of Teens

"Nebraska's new "safe-haven" law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19."


Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

If you have trouble finding it, click on the tags: us-news, children, safe, havens

Newsviners To Cover National Conventions

"I am very happy to announce that after several months of planning and collaboration between Newsvine users and staff, msnbc.com, NBC News and convention organizers - Newsvine will be sending several of our best contributors to both the Democratic National Convention and the Repub..."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

You Pay As You Go With Virtual Office

"Business centers provide services and space for home businesses and road warriors."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles

If you have trouble finding it, click on the tags: business, virtual-office, executive-suites, bill-grodnik, laura-kozelouzek, office-business-centers, synergy-workplaces

Racowschi Is New Torrance Fire Chief

"As is customary in Torrance, city officials plucked the community's new fire chief from the ranks, appointing Battalion Chief William Racowschi, who started his Torrance firefighting career in 1980."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Local So Cal Weather Websites

As a sailing instructor, one of the most important things I check before getting out on the water is the local weather report, but this information can be useful to any water sports fan. If this describes you, check out Watch the Water and the UCLA Marine Aquatic Center for some pretty cool local So Cal weather reports before your next beach, surf, or boat outing! Watch the Water has a live web cam that scans the beach you are interested in!

Focus Marketing - Internet Business Building Seminar

I really wanted to make it back East for this Internet Business Building Seminar, but wasn't able to.  Then last night I received notice that the demand was high enough that they decided to stream it live, and as a member of Rip2It, I am able to attend it virtually through a Webcast (only drawback is that they start at 9 a.m., which translates to 6 a.m. West Coast time, yikes, but it ends in the early afternoon as a result).

Speaker Schedule:

Friday:

Sean Roach & Pat Lovell

Debra Thompson Roedl

Dr. Mike & Brian Koz

Chris Johnson

Saturday:

Les Eveneshen

Gary Ambrose

Armand Morin

Stephen Pierce

Pat James

Sunday:

Tracy Repshuk

Adam Ginsberg

Mike Koenigs

Larry Goins

If any of the speakers interest you, get in touch and arrange to watch all or part of it with me as I'm camped out either in my office or in front of my laptop.  I have seen a few of the speakers already, and they are all excellent, and the new ones I saw today had some phenomenal information and cutting-edge products applicable to all types of businesses.  All products/programs at the event will be available through the Webcast at substantial discounts than buying directly.

magicJack

I have just discovered magicJack, the quickest and simplest VoIP (voice over IP) phone system I have ever seen!  This amazing little device plugs right into my computer's USB port, and then I just plugged my regular phone line into the magicJack, and presto, I had instant phone service!  I picked my own phone number (I can change it once if I need to), and I even get an email notification when I get a message, along with regular voice mail features.  Best of all, my phone bill is less than $20 a year (yes, a year, not a month!!!), and my first year was included with the price of the magicJack.  And no hardware (unless you count a device slightly larger than a memory stick as hardware) or monthly bills, just an annual renewal of my account, and if I renew for multiple years, it comes out to be about $15 a year!  It was incredibly simple to set up, and it is also portable, so if I am traveling and have a hotel room with a phone line, I can just unplug the phone from the wall jack and into my magicJack, and I now have my number on the go with my laptop.  Plan coverage is for the U.S. and Canada, but overseas rates are also extremely low.  No more cell phone overages and dropped calls and poor sound quality!  In fact, I will probably reduce my cell plan as a result of this cool invention! (Kudos to my friend and business partner Marguerite for introducing me to this product).

Goldstar Events

If you love attending events, and also love saving money, then check out Goldstar Events! Their site offers half-price tickets to events near you, like theatre, comedy, sports, live music and spas. It's free to sign up too....once you do, just specify your zip code(s) and types of activities you enjoy, and you'll get email notices about events that match your search, with substantial discounts on tickets!

Brooklands Classic Cars

My neighbor and fellow entrepreneur, Henk Baars, came to this country from Holland with his wife Ellen a few years back to take a stab at the American dream. He was already running a successful import/export business for classic cars in his native land, and now does the same right here in Long Beach. If you're in the market for such vehicles, or know someone who is, check out his website Brooklands Classic Cars for more info!

True Majority

Have you ever felt like as a mere individual you are powerless to effect any kind of real change with regard to political issues that impact your life? Maybe alone, this is true, but as part of a majority, sometimes real change does take place. If you'd like more information on how to get involved with issues close to your heart, check out True Majority. I've been a member for a few years now, and their periodic emails help me to not only stay up-to-date with the different issues that are going on in our fine country, they also provide an easy way to contact my representatives regarding causes/issues I may find worthwhile or in need of change. If you'd like to do the same, sign up for their free membership. (Thanks to Charlie for recommending this site!)

Blog Experiences

I have been sharing my experiences through blogging for a few years now, and have tried various blog platforms. I just recently started using Google's free Blogger in conjunction with the work I am doing with Rip2It, and I must say, I like it much better than the other blogs I've used because of its one-click functionality and simplicity. My other blogs are on TypePad (which has a fee) and Vox (which is free, but doesn't have as many cool features as Blogger). So if you are still contemplating starting a blog and want to keep things simple and free, I'd recommend Blogger!

Rip2It

Do you have a hobby that you are very passionate about? Have you ever thought about sharing your knowledge of it on a grander scale? Or perhaps you have an area of professional or personal expertise and are frequently asked questions about it, and you are getting tired of answering the same questions over and over. Do you realize that the internet makes it possible for you to actually start earning a residual income stream by just sharing your knowledge? Does this idea appeal to you, but you thought it was just too complex or difficult to figure out how it is done? Well, it is quite possible to gain a very prominent web presence and begin profiting from your knowledge very quickly with an amazing service known as Rip2It! You supply the topic, they do the rest, and build sites for you on a monthly basis. You can also delve deeper into their system and begin building sites of your own as you gain more confidence. However, their main aim is to create virtual "real estate" for all members by eliminating the intimidating technical obstacles. If you can devote some time to a basic 3-Step tutorial, you will have your sites up in no time. No matter what business you are in, this program can benefit you, and the potential is limitless.

Want To Turn Your Passion Into Profit? Then Get To Know Joel Bauer!

Passion 2 Profit...now that is a concept I would imagine would appeal to anyone with a pulse!  It certainly did to me and the participants of the intensive two-day marketing seminar by that name that was held in Woodland Hills, California by the great "infotainer" Joel Bauer this past weekend.  Joel is an absolute master at helping entrepreneurs (or anyone who wants a side business, for that matter) turn their passions into profit and get any business they can imagine up and running in days, hours, or even minutes, complete with unique logo, brand, web presence, and a full range of the most innovative and unique marketing materials and tools I have ever seen.  I found his amazing presentation, as well as his insights, candor, warmth, and caring, to be simply mind-blowing.  More than half of the Fortune 100 companies, as well as numerous celebrities and successful entrepreneurs whom Joel has worked with, also agree.  If you are serious about marketing your existing or unborn business or talents, no matter what they may be, pay a visit to his website for more information on his amazing "Persuasion Power" program.

Long Beach Transit Pass

With gas prices over the $4.00 mark, I gladly shelled out $50 today to buy my second Long Beach Transit Pass for the month of June, which now costs less than a tank of gas. I bought my first one last month after having recently moved back to the Long Beach area (public transportation was one of my reasons for making the move back), and I just love traveling around town on the Passport and other LB buses. And with convenient locations to buy them, such as grocery stores like Ralph's, it's easier than ever to get a hold of the colorful little pass (this month it's purple!). Besides the obvious environmental benefits and monetary savings, I love the light exercise and fresh air from the short walks to the multitude of stops, relaxation time gazing out the window onto the harbor from the ride down Ocean Blvd., extra reading/studying time, and the good old stand by of people watching, which is one of my favorites. Go get yours today...you have until the 10th of each month to purchase one, and maybe I'll see you on the little red bus!

My First Entry

I am looking forward to sharing my personal and professional experiences on this blog.