Do The Web Write

Do The Web Write is a wonderfully written business book from the Self Counsel Press Business Series. It covers tips, advice, and instructions on:

*Writing for and marketing your webite
*Writing persuasively for the web
*Marketing your website effectively
*Getting found by your target market

What makes this business stand out from others? It is funny! The author, Dan Furman, is an genius at capturing your attention while explaining a normally not-so-entertaining subject.

Mr. Furman does an amazing job of simplifing the rather complicated steps, skills, and processes you have to follow in order to write persuasive web copy. He expertly guides you on how to write for blogs, websites, landing pages, sales pages, and set your webite up for maximum conversion with page order, and information presentation.

And the best part? He keeps it entertaining, so you don't even want to put the book down! What better way to learn some important current web skills then by having a few laughs while you do it?

To learn about Do The Web Write, check out the Self Counsel Press site at www.self-counsel.com, and to win your own copy of Do The Web Write, leave a comment below or tweet me @michez.

Creative Services Business

Ever since I started working from home, I am repeatedly asked how I found my job. How did I do it? My brother-in-law. He worked for my boss as a computer coder, and when they needed extra writing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) I was hired. (It helped I had a B.A in English)

But if it hadn't been for my brother-in-law, I don't know that I would have even known where to start searching for a job I could work at home in my free time. What I would have needed was Start And Run A Creative Services Business, by Susan Kirkland.

In Start And Run A Creative Services Business, published by Self Counsel Press, is THE resource for figuring how how to turn your creative skills into a job. Learn how to become a freelance business owner, how to build your client lists and lock in loyal repeat business, and how to market your creative skills worldwide.

You will also learn:
*How to make money designing logos, corporate promotional materials, websites and advertisements
*What to do when clients don't pay
*How to start freelancing in an economic slump
*Create an electronic portfolio
*Target your market niche online
*How to distinguih yourself form the competition
*Tips, Techniques, Equipment, and more to start living them dream of self employment!

Would you LOVE to work as your own boss, or find a way to free lance and work at home? Then leave a comment here or tweet me, I'm @michez to win your own copy of Start And Run A Creative Services Business!

Rock of Ages Soundtrack

I love musicals. Any and all, whenever I hear about the "Broadway South" shows coming through our hometown, I start the sweet begging to see one.

My amazing hubby has been so wonderful in taking me to one show almost every year, and making sure we get great seats. We dress up, go eat, (maybe even do a double date night with some friends!) and then go enjoy the show. Yes, my hubby is a keeper, because, you see, he lothes musicals.

He did admit he liked the props for Miss Siagon, but I think that might have been because I kept trying to point out things he must have liked.

When I got to review the Rock of Ages Original Broadway Cast Recording, I knew my husband would roll his eyes and laugh while knowing that he would soon be taking me to see yet another "girl show" (as he calls them). So, while he made fun of me, I popped the CD into the car player, and sat back to watch his expression.

Boy, oh boy, did he respond! First, he quit making fun of me, and actually started to listen to the soundtrack. Then, realizing that Poision and White Snake hits where part of the soundtrack, he shushed me and started looking at the CD cover.

"So what do you think? " I asked.

"I LIKE it", sweet hubby replied.

That is the best review I can ever give a Broadway soundtrack. Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE Broadway, and I am still sad I missed the 2006 tour of Lion King due to the birth of our son.

My husband though? He is your typical man's man. He loves doing manly stuff, getting dirty, building things, and going to musicals with me because it makes me happy.

But the Rock of Ages soundtrack might be turning him into a Broadway fan. Yes, Rock of Ages, a play set in 1987 in the legendary Sunset Strip rock club tells the story of a small town girl meeting a big city dream and falling in love to songs we all heard growing up: Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poson, Asia, and Whitsnake.

But you know what my husband (and I) really LOVED about the Rock of Ages soundtrack? The 22 songs aren't cheesy remakes of classic metal rock, but instead are wonderful, heartfelt presentations of the classics with story telling through the music and actors that allows you to enjoy the love story of the Broadway show just by simply playing the CD.

Yes, Rock of Ages Original Broadway Cast Recording is the soundtrack that will make straight men love Broadway.

Making of Soundtrack video: http://tr.im/rsVE

Link to buy album: http://tr.im/rvjv

Jump Start

I work on the computer, but somehow I never quite thought my toddler would be able to get around on it-boy was I wrong!

When I was offered the chance to try out and review JumpStart.com, I was a little hesitant, because I really thought my son would be too young to get much from an educational online game-but again, boy was I wrong!

Jump Start is FANTASTIC for teaching kids, the award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world is personalized, imaginative and really entertaining, all the while teaching math, reading, and critical thinking skills so kids get a real "jump start" in life.

Since I used to teach preschool, I understand how much of an advantage getting that little "jump start" on understanding basic math, letters, and critical thinking can be your our children once they start school. Not only will having these basic school skills learned give your child confidence in their new surroundings-which may be a bit of shock if they didn't go to day care or preschool-they will also give your child a strong basis for learning the next level!

What is also great about Jump Start? You have to register and your kid's profiles stay private, so you don't have to worry about their personal information ending up on the internet somewhere. Your kids can play in virtual worlds, work on their math skills and learn valuable life lessons-like the Golden Rule-while also having a world of fun! The best part? You can print out progress reports of how your child is doing at the game and what skills they might need extra help with. How wonderful is that? So while your child thinks they are just having fun on the computer, you can enjoy the fact they are learning, and you can learn what skills you need to spend extra working with them to improve! Fantastic!

JumpStart.com is created by an award winning early childhood learning company, and provided me with a free trial of JumpStart.com to try out with Little Dude, who is not yet 3. This review was not paid and the online interactive world of JumpStart.com is geared for ages 3-10. You can find out more about joining Jump Start here.

Primrose Schools

Before I started staying at home with my munchkins, I worked as a day care provider for other people's munchkins and loved every second of it. In fact, if Bill's job had not transferred him to Tennessee shortly before Little Dude was due to be born, I would have gone back to work at the day care and just taken Little Dude with me. I loved my job that much and knew he would have a blast with the other teachers I worked with.

I loved working at the preschool/day care I worked at, and becoming an "adopted" part of each of my children's families was a huge honor. In fact, I still keep in touch with the majority of parents whose children I cared for over the years I worked.

So, I was super excited when Primrose Schools contacted me and asked me to take some time to review their preschool and new blog on early childhood expert tips and fun by Dr. Mary Zurn at www.DrZandMe.com. Can I tell you I am in love with Primrose Schools? I really enjoyed the preschool system I worked with, and would go back to working there in a heartbeat; however, Primrose Schools has so much to offer, like Spanish, Music, Physical Fitness and special programs for children with special learning needs.

My favorite part of Primrose Schools is their Balanced Approach to Learning. Most preschools/day cares go too far one way or the other. Some are purely child lead learning, and others are purely teacher lead learning-but Primrose has figured out the best way. They have a balance of child lead and teacher lead learning to help your child get the most time dedicated to what they are interested in while still getting the instruction and direction to try learning new things.

Their new blog, www.DrZandMe.com is a great resource, too. You can find summer time boredom solutions, rainy day activities, and you can ask Dr. Z all your early childhood questions. I know I will be calling on Dr. Z for help in busting the apartment boredom blues!

You can check out Dr. Z's blog now to get instructions on 10 summer time activities your children are sure to enjoy and you are sure to enjoy creating with them. Have fun!