Ready, Set, Go for it!

*Green-Bagging It - thanks to Graze Organic sandwich & snack bags made from 100% organic cotton & water-based inks provide an eco-friendly alt to packing the midday meal. The company skips plastic linings commonly found in other reusable options & includes hand hand-silked-screened graphics that promote word recognition in tykes- but look equally grown-up for adults. Plus, they're machine washable. $24-$38. grazeorganic.com

*Whimsy Chic - Sara Jane makes vintage-inspired, wispy tops for women in her LA studio. In her eyes, getting dressed each morning is like encasing yourself in your own enchanted fantasy. Sounds like spring to me. Starting at $65 foretla.etsy.com

*Barter your Beets - Just like the want ads except for home-grown produce, veggietrader.com will help you get rid of any extra zucchinis come summer. National online marketplace for gardeners to meet up locally & barter, buy trade or sell excess fruits & veggies, it's free to use.

*Check Meowt - Dogs are man's best friend and cats keep it real, so it makes sense that we should try our hardest to make sure they're happy, healthy, & appreciated. Sonia Zjawinski & Sarah Han do their part with each post at Pawesome.net Check out the site each day for cute puppy videos, tales of animal rescues, pet products, witty T-shirts, home safeguarding tips & a slew of good causes benefiting pets!

*Duchampion - A Tel Aviv, Studio Groovy specializes in readymades(& high-end handmade products) that reflect Israeli culture. Contact studio for pricing. groovy.co.il

*Go with the Grain - Have a problem identifying types of wood? There's an app for that $4.99 I.D.Wood will put a hardness scale, gravity info, grading charts & photos of more than 160 types of wood right at your fingertips. idwood.showyourwood.com

*24-Hour Home - Cottage in a Day made its official debut Jan 2009. Based in Traverse Michigan, the founder Drew Craven wanted to provide structures for less in mortgage, maintenance & waste. He describes his cottages as little gems: very pretty, very tough, very functional & very green. & Yes, they can be built be put up in a day. 1414S starts at $49,500 & the most popular, 1428S, is $115,000. cottageinaday.com

It is sooo nice out today, Tues 3/30/2010 & getting up in 70's rest of week! YEE HAA leave some comments/emails if you appreciate the info-thanks much!

http://bit.ly/9W4cLZ

http://bit.ly/9W4cLZ

GreenDrinks Mason: Segways on the Loose!

GreenDrinks Mason: Segways on the Loose!: "Erin Marie trying a Segway for the 1st time & at the Park (ing) Day 2009 Cincinnati, OH


Posted by Eric at 11:16 AM" Hope this clip comes thru...this was so fun teaching ppl to ride these! http://bit.ly/GDMFans

Managing Twitter using HootSuite & other stuff..

What should you Share? So much info, so little time, try these 8 questions as you start your job search:

1. What's your value proposition?
2. Who cares about our information?
3. Who should care about my info?
**Multiblogger - 3 r 4 bloggers brought together, same subject, different viewpoint
4. Content - identify information? who needs it? wants it? can use it?
5. Who is writing?
6. Schedule your information?
7. Marketing our information?
8. Partnerships - who do you want to partner with/should you partner period?

Also, different ways to utilize Twitter & Lists - where to find groups of people.

*Listorious.com -- you can go here to find numerous lists, or companies hiring etc.
...Twilerts - like google alerts but for Twitter.

"Twitter" is one of the Best ways to network!

...Who should you listen to? other people in your city, friends and colleagues.
LocalTweeps.com -- twitter with ppl in your city/state/industry.
...you can search by zipcode & find other twitters in your area.

Recruiters use Twellow - the yellow pages of Twitter

...TwitterJobCast.com - job feeds, what companies are hiring right now!
...TweetMyJobs.com - search on site to find specific jobs then go in certain area.
...TweetAJob.com - these are jobs posted daily
...TwitterJobCast.com - job search using Twitter & it's many advantages.

Many of you know of HootSuite.com - this is in 'my opinion' the best aggregator; this will keep (Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook) one's own personal social dashboard.

Have a greattttttttt weekend!! :) SMILE! at someone

some good tunes

Ottis Redding - Great song!

http://blip.fm/profile/gogreenbeans/blip/39254305/Otis+Redding%E2%80%93I%27ve+Got+Dreams+To+Remember.wmv

I'm excited one more day until Green Drinks Mason event! Hope you all can stop out

"Crack the Codes"

if you do a little searching you can save a lot of money on orders + FREE shipping & more

"Cracking the Codes" favorite pitstops before i hit Check Out at any cyber merchants:

**PromotionalCodes.com - thousands of codes for popular retailers, many of them originally uploaded by customers who rec'd them by e-mail or snail mail.

**FreeShipping.org - Hefty shipping charges can scotch an otherwise excellent deal. Look for merchants who ship gratis or rustle or rustle up a code for the order already in your cart.

**RetailMeNot.com - More than 400,000 coupon coupon codes for more than 100,000. Bonus: a tool to add to your Web browser that alerts you if you're shopping at a site for which there's a code.

**RedPlum.com - Not just online discount codes but also a database of printable coupons for local merchants. Just click on Shop Online and sign up by entering your name, email address and zip code, then hunt for exclusive offers.

**Ebates.com - Beyond supplying discount codes, this site offers cash back at over 1,300 stores when you start your shopping trip there. For instance, if you'll splurge at Victoria's Secret, you'll get a check from Ebates for 2% of the total order. Checks go out every three months, as long as you earn at least $5.01.

look over the site newport-news.com for some good savings as well

....good hunting my friends ! :)

How to Save on Apparel

Putting clothes on your back shouldn't cpst $1,800 a year. Here's how to fill up your closet without spending a fortune.

*Save up to 15% Your AAA membership gets you more than road-side assistance. It scores you discounts at retailers like Target.com, New York & Company, and more. Visit aaa.com for details.

*Shop the middleman - Brand names tend to go on sale more often (and at deeper discounts) at retailers with a lot of variety, like department stores, compared with a label's own store or website.

*Get secret deals - Several department stores (like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Nieman Marcus) now offer unadvertised, on-line only rush sales to their e-mail subscribers. Sign up and you'll receive friends-and-family promotions, too (usually 25% off). ANNUAL SAVINGS: $450

*Cash Out - Some shops, especially independent ones, will offer you at least 10% off when you pay cash. Ask a manager or the owner before paying. ANNUAL SAVINGS: $180

I hope these 6 categories of How to Save $$$ This Year have been helpful. So glad it's weekend LOL time for fun and relaxation!

How to Save on Transportation

Getting from here to there costs $8,604 annually. Follow these suggestions for schlepping to work-and around town-without running your wallet dry.

*Be a zen driver. Aggressive driving guzzles up to 33% more gas on the highway & 5% more around town, according to the U.S.Dept of Energy. Pretend there's an egg under the gas pedal, suggests Christie Hyde, a spokesperson for AAA. "You don't want to hit the pedal so hard that it will break the egg." ANNUAL SAVINGS: $397

*Take the quickest route. The shortest way isn't always the most fuel-efficient. Sometimes it can take more gas to drive 3 miles riddled with stop signs & clogged with traffic than it does to drive 4 or 5 miles on empty roads. Use a GPS to find the most efficient way.

*Ignore the tire manufacturer. Don't follow the number printed on the tire's sidewall when adding air. Instead, fill the tires to the pressure that is printed on the sticker on the driver's-side door jamb or in the glove box & get 3% better fuel efficiency. "Different vehicles weigh different amounts," says Hyde, "and the number on the tire isn't based on your car". ANNUAL SAVINGS: $81

*Get a checkup. Performing regular tune-ups on your vehicle can boost its gas mileage by about 4%, according to the U.S.Dept of Energy.(Schedules vary with each model, so check your car's manual.) ANNUAL SAVINGS: $64

*Evaluate your insurance. If your car has a low resale value, you may want to opt out of collision coverage. Go to kbb.com to determine your ride's current value. Then take your comprehensive & collision premium & multiply that figure by 10. If your car is worth less than that, drop the coverage, says Bob Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America consumer advocacy group.

*Bike It - Commuters on two wheels who ride to work at least 3 days a week can get a tax break of $20 a month from participating employers to help cover equiptment costs & storage. ANNUAL SAVINGS: $240

all GOOD stuff, Apparel savings is tomorrow-check it out!

How to Save on Home Expenses

Housing costs an average of $17,109 annually. Here are ways you can avoid pouring your money down the drain.

*Make FREE phone calls. Download a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application onto your computer and dial up family & friends worldwide at no charge. Sign up at skype.com, lingo.com or voip.com.

*Audit your bills. A recent study by the Citizens Utility Board found that the average cell-phone user could save $331 a year by shopping for a plan that matches there usage. Find a suitable one at billshrink.com or lowermybills.com, two free cell-phone-plan comparison sites. & don't file away cable & phone bills before taking a hard look at them. If there are services you rarely use or could live without, like premium movie channels & call forwarding, you could save as much as $500 a year ANNUAL SAVINGS: $831

CUT YOUR MORTGAGE OR RENT

*Appeal your tax bill - recent market declines mean you may be paying too much in property taxes. Get a copy of your home's assessment from your local assessor's office and compare it with assessments on similar houses in your area. About 75% of appeals result in a reduction of taxes, says Richard Roll, president of the American Homeowner's Association.

*Look into refinancing - Interest rates on home loans hit historical lows in the spring of 2009 & have remained low ever since. Use the refinance calculator at bankrate.com, which will figure out how much you'll shave off monthly payments with a lower interest rate, along with how many months it will take you to recoup the cost of refinancing your mortgage.

*Renegotiate your rent - Ever wonder if you're shelling out too much? Log on to rentometer.com to find out whether your payments are reasonable for your area. Then present your findings to your landlord, or use the data when looking for a new place.

*Reduce your payments - If home values have dropped drastically in your area, or if you're struggling to pay your mortgage, you may be eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance or Modification. This federal program helps qualified home owners by allowing them to refinance at lower rates or modify their loans to help them save on their mortgage. Visit the site makinghomeaffordable.gov for eligibility information.

CUT YOUR HOME OWNER'S INSURANCE

*Install safety devices - Many insurers offer discounts of about 5% to home owners who add smoke alarms & dead bolts to their homes. Call your provider to find out which items will qualify you for a discount. ANNUAL SAVINGS: $40

*Boost your deductible - Increasing it $200 to $1000 may save you as much as 25% on insurance costs annually. The average person files a claim just once every 8 to 10 years, so you're better off stashing the amount of your deductible in an interest-bearing savings account. ANNUAL SAVINGS: $201

How to Save on Entertainment

Families spend $2,835 on recreation each year. Two thumbs-up for these savings tips that won't cut into the fun!

*Save up to 20% buy refurbished Apple iPods & computers from apple.com. Click on "Store" to find pre-owned gadgets that have the same warranty coverage as new models.

*Surf for Cheap Tickets looking for affordable seats to a concert, a sporting event, or a Broadway show? Zebratickets.com aggregates prices from major ticket retailers so you can find the best deal. Also, you can have the site alert you if, say, seats to Alicia Keys concert dip below $50.

*Save on the Slopes ski buffs will love liftopia.com, a site that offers an average of 33% off lift tickets at more than 120 ski resorts, including Killington and Whistler.

*Swap movies and more Sites like titletrader.com and swaptree.com make it easy to exchange DVD's, CD's, and books for others. Or sign up with goodreads.com. You'll receive reading updates from friends, so you'll know when to ask to borrow the page-turners they just finished.

Thursday how to save on home expenses: HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY!

How to Save on Health Care

Medical bills are skyrocketing, costing the average household $2,976 last year. Here's how to reduce the pain.

*Use a retail clinic: if you have a serious but not life-threatening malady, such as a rash or a sore throat, consider heading to a medical clinic at a nearby pharmacy (like Walgreens or CVS) rather than your doctor, an urgent-care center or the emerg room. Staffed by nurse-practitioners or physicians assistants, they can treat minor conditions for less. Think $110 compared to $166 for a visit. Annual savings: $168
*Try planned parenthood: visit one of these clinics if you need a routine Pap test, a new birth-control script, or even a flu shot. Call your local office to find out what services it offers and its fees (which vary state-to-state but are often less than a private doctor's) Most locations accept insurance.
*Head to a dental school for routine care: most schools have ckinics staffed by second or third-yr students that offer cleanings for up to 50% off the going rate. Call Oral Health America (312-836-9900) to find location nearest you. Savings $102
*Join a network: no dental insurance? If you have a big family or teeth that needs lots of attention, or if you're over 50(which is when gum problems tend to occur) consider a discount dental plan. For $100 to $200 a year you'll get discounts of 10% to 60% on services and treatments. Visit dentalplans.com to find one.
*Hit the Web for eyewear: look at the sites like visiondirect.com and lens.com, for contact lenses; and zennioptical.com, where you can buy a pair of frames for as little as $8.

Four Vendors, Four Prices
*to find the best deal on a prescription drug, first determine which local store has the best price by visiting shopping.destinationrx.com Then compare your findings with online pharmacies. Results from 4 vendors
Celexa (20mg) At a local pharmacy $99; Costco.com $104; Drugstore.com $114 and finally Familymeds.com $136

Good luck and good shopping!

How to Save $5,000 This year..

$50,486 That's the eye-popping, sleepless-night-inducing amount the average American household spends annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, & most of that outlay goes to the six categories; food, health care, entertainment, home, transportation, apparel. But there are clever, everyday ways tp s[end a lot less( ((($5,000 less or even more) Read on and sleep easy

Food > the average household spends $3,744 a yr on groceries. For a large family this number could easily triple. Follow these tips to put your food budget on a diet.

*Sign up with CouponMom.com
*Swap them - become member of eCoupon's Grocery Coupon Trading Club
(ecoupons.com) collect a stack of coupons you don't need, then mail them to the website. In return, select up to 25 that you want.
*Take advantage of the competition - many retailers will match other retailers discounts, but most dont advertise this, ask a manage if there store does.

6 ways to cut grocery bills
1. Track your food budget - At the start of each month, attach small envelope to refrig door, each time you buy food, drop receipte in envelope, end of month see where you can make cuts.
2. Make a list & stick to it - You've heard this before, ppl who avoid impulsive shopping save big, spending up to 23% less on grocery bills.Annual savings $861
3. Join a food co-op - become a member of a locally owned grocery store in exchange for a share of the bounty. Find co-op near you at coopdirectory.com
4. Cut your meat - any recipe calling for a pound of ground meat can be substituted with 13-14 ounces..those few dollars add up quickly.
5. Buy more fruits & vegetables - when families add more produce to their diets there waistlines get smaller & there food budgets shrink by 25% Annual savings $936
6. Befriend the managers - the folks n charge of the produce,meat,dairy and seafood depts can tell you what time of day food is marked down so you can score best deals.

Need Some Bread? - hit up a local outlet for baked goods from Entenmann's, Arnold, & Boboli at up to 50% off. Search the outlet locator gwbakeries,com for locations.

How to save on Health Care coming Monday/Tuesday

SMILE & ask the drive thru person if you can pay for the person behind you :)

Blah blah blah blah...

Know If You're a Big Bore

1. Repeated perfunctory responses: a person who keeps saying, "Oh really? Wow. Oh really? Interesting," isn't particularly engaged.
2. No interruptions: although it sounds rude, interruption is actually a good sign. It means a person is bursting to respond.
3. Simple questions: "when did you move?" "where did you go?" people who are interested ask more complicated questions that show curiosity, not mere politeness.
4. Body positions: people with a good connection generally turn to face each other. A person who is partially turned away isn't fully embracing the conversation.
5. No requests for clarification: a person who is sincerely interested will ask you to elaborate or explain. "What does that term mean?" "When exactly did that happen?" "Then what did he say?"
6. Abrupt changes in topic: If you're talking to someone about, say, the life of Winston Churchill & all of a sudden the other person says, "So how are your kids?" it's a sign that he or she isn't interested or perhaps isn't listening at all.
7. Squirming: An audience that's still and upright is interested, while an audience that's slouching and squirmy would rather be doing something else.

Everyone have a Great wknd! enjoy your family & others :)

Steps for LinkedIn Success

1. Create a free account
2. Upload a close up picture (headshot)
3. Create a "value giving" headline
4. Create a personal LinkedIn url
5. Complete your profile 100%
6. Invite existing contacts
7. Connect with others
8. Use the job section
9. Interact with groups
10. Use recommendations
11. Answer questions, Ask questions
12. Use your profile for proactive networking

To receive more details about setting up your LinkedIn account, go to
SocialMediaIgnited.com
Choose the LinkedIn book tab
Sign up for the free Quick Start Guide

Jen Griffin
YourBusinessIgnited.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinjen
http://www.jensfacebookfans.com

OK everyone check this out if you have any questions, email her and she can help you out. Thanks for checking it out & mention Green Drinks Mason Eric you saw on my blog.

A cool tune & tidbits

Dailymotion - The Album Leaf - There Is A Wind - a Music video
www.dailymotion.com
"There Is A Wind" off The Album Leaf's 2/2/10 Sub Pop Release, A Chorus of Storytellers - available here: http://www.subpop.com/releases/the_album_leaf/full_lengths/a_chorus


Social Media - I just learned it is it's OWN universe basically
You can do a job search, typically lasts 12 weeks and did you know that:
*27% of New employees come thru Social Media of some type
*our connections begin with out online network exchanging information w/friends etc
How to keep track of jobs
*iGoogle - gathering information, clik on links
Industry specific job boards - usually Better jobs

http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-site-niches-2009

*Simplyhired.com - job search made easy
*MedHealthjobs.com

Kijiji.com & Craigslist.com = very similar

Those of you that Twitter will find All this info very helpful!
*Twellow - twitter yellow pages
*Localtweeps - find other twitters by zipcode
*Twubble - help you find more ppl to follow for better networking skills
*Twittermind
*Twitbacks
*TweetMyJobs.com
*Twitres - tweet your resume in 140 characters or less
*Tweetajob.com
*Twitterjobfinder.com
*Twitterjobcast.com most of those have no RSS Feeds ok?
*Nearbytweets.com

*Hootsuite.com - Professional twitter account, check these out, leave a comment if you found this info helpful & Good Luck out there!

14 fail-safe places to use Red!

*on side tables-place fabric covered boxes or little bowls
*in pantry-use red cookie tins as storage containers
*on bookshelves-mix in red picture frames & objects
*for windows-add a tieback, a valance or a band of trim
*on cabinetry-trace old handles & knobs for red hardware
*in the bathroom-add a red mat
*on the sofa-try a scarlet throw or accent pillows
*above the couch-hang a predominantly red print or artwork
*on the mantel-display red candles or group red vases
*on your bedside table-add a red lamp base or shade
*in the family room-toss a slipcover over a side chair or couch
*on the coffee table-set a bowl of apples or low vase of flowers
*on a wall-cover just one wall with bold red patterned wallpaper
*in the kitchen-show off a pitcher filled with red utensils

Friday - Simple commonsense wisdom that will have you saying, "I can do that!" re $$