I would like to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Holiday and/or Merry Christmas and I hope you all enjoy this special time of year with your family and your friends. ‘Tis the season that we all remember what is important in our lives and to always live our lives filled with love, joy and happiness.

I hope you all have a great holiday and thank you for reading the Work at Home Business Options Blog. See ya in the year 2012!

Human beings look at the world and see a complex network of interconnected individuals, each with their own autonomy and free will. This perception is a far cry from what credit card companies see. Instead, they view individuals as big bundles of data from which they can profit.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported both MasterCard and VISA are working on plans targeting online ads to consumers based on previous credit card purchases. The idea is you pick up a bag of dog food from the store and charge it to your credit card. When you get home and go online, you start seeing ads for corresponding products and services, like dog toys and dog grooming.

Despite the massive amount of personal data we transmit every day, there are still ways to protect yourself from targeted online ads. Try a few of these tips to avoid the watchful eye of Big Brother.

1. Don’t Over-share
Countless websites and stores ask us to provide phone numbers, email addresses and ZIP codes to help them build a marketing profile. Don’t bother sharing your details unless they’re essential to your purchase. If the guilt of creating fake information keeps you tossing and turning at night, GuerrillaMail.com provides temporary email addresses that last for just 60 minutes.

2. Cut Down on Cookies
“Cookie” is an important keyword here. These small files are stored on your computer every time you visit a website. They’re the reason you don’t have to log in to Facebook 10 times a day and why you see ads for a pair of shoes viewed yesterday when you’re checking your email today. Luckily, the Network Advertising Initiative can help you opt-out of advertising cookies. With just a few simple steps, you’re able to block major marketers from access to your browsing habits.

3. Privatize Your Purchases
Don’t forget about the main culprits in this personal information panic. All told, VISA and MasterCard process nearly 70 billion transactions each year. All the while, they’re collecting and analyzing this massive amount of data. Avoid having your information inspected by opting-out of their analytics programs. MasterCard makes it especially easy; all you have to do is follow this link and opt out of programs in which you don’t want to participate. VISA makes it more complicated, but look here for details.

4. Beef Up Your Browser
In response to growing discontent over privacy issues, popular Web browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox are making it easier to protect personal information. Their latest versions include a private browsing option you can enable to keep your online habits confidential. The browser then won’t store such information as cookies, passwords and files you download.

5. Leave No Paper Trail
Paperless statements are good for the environment and also good for your security. Not only does online banking eliminate the amount of personal information you dump in the trash, it also lets you track each purchase instantly. It’s a smart security strategy to check your online bank accounts often. This way, you can ensure suspicious items don’t slip through the cracks.

6. Get Off the Grid
Credit has practically become our official currency. If you’re tired of stressing about credit card security, go old-fashioned. While cash doesn’t work online, it doesn’t require you share any personal details, either. Gift cards are another good way to avoid using credit. Buying gift cards at less than face value from sites like GiftCardGranny provides instant savings, plus you can use them both in-store and online. Even better, gift cards aren’t attached to any of your personal info.

7. Avoid Auto-Fill
Keeping your credit card number, billing address and shipping address on file at Amazon is handy, but it also makes you more vulnerable. Something simple like forgetting to log out at the library can place your personal details in the wrong hands. Though it’s tedious and takes extra time, enter your information anew with each order.

8. Ensure You’re Secure
It’s surprisingly easy to confirm an online merchant has secure checkout. Always look for “https” in the Web address, instead of just “http.” That extra “s” shows your connection is encrypted and unauthorized users will have to go to greater measures to get your information. You can learn more about site-specific security by clicking the appropriate box near the address bar in your browser.

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Andrea Woroch is a nationally recognized consumer and money-saving expert, having been featured among such top news outlets as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles.

100 Days Left In The Year
Get Mentally Tough and Make Those Resolutions A Reality
By Steve Siebold

Remember those New Year’s resolutions you made on January 1? Today marks 100 days left in the year. If you forgot about your resolutions back in February, you can still finish the year off strong.

Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, getting organized or climbing out of debt, everyone CAN reach their goals. People need to focus on their thoughts, beliefs, philosophies and attitudes – otherwise they are setting themselves up to fail before they even begin.

Here are a few tips for making the most of the last 100 days of 2011 and making good on those New Year’s resolutions:

· Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. Many times the only thing that separates winners from losers is the thought process. Winners have a “whatever it takes” attitude. They’ve made the decision to pay any price and bear any burden in the name of victory.
· Expect to feel pain or suffer. Most people feel the pain or run into an obstacle and seek escape. Have a plan to push forward when this happens. If you’re not ready to suffer during adversity, you’re not going to be successful.
· Developing a world-class self-talk may be the most powerful mental toughness tool.
· Take risks. Don’t always have a “play it safe” or “stay below the radar” mentality. Without risk, there can be no progress.
· Avoid delusion and operate from objective reality.
· Feed your visions and starve your fears.
· Don’t focus on how to do it, but rather, why should I do it? Why do I want this goal to become a reality? The intensity of emotion with which this question is answered will determine whether the dream comes alive or dies.
· Embrace nonlinear thinking. Don’t give into the negative thoughts that the goal is impossible. Ask yourself how can it be done?
· Get really clear about what you want to change. Define what it is and then get totally committed to doing it.
· Compartmentalize your emotions and focus completely on the goal.
· Stop caring about what other people think about your dreams. Psychologists call it “approval addiction”, and once you overcome it to any significant degree, you are free of the psychological chains that bind most people from ever experiencing world-class success.

100 days is plenty of time to accomplish any goal you have. It’s time to get mentally tough and make a plan for long term success. While amateurs often live in the past, champions look toward the future. Focus on the present while creating your ultimate vision for, and landscape of the future. Future orientation allows you to dream of grand visions and unlimited possibilities. It will also keep you motivated and moving forward because it keeps the proverbial carrot out in front. It all begins with taking full responsibility for your life and your future.

Steve Siebold is one of the world’s most noted experts in the field of mental toughness training and is author of the international best-selling book 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class. His Fortune 500 clients include Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, and Toyota. He began studying mental toughness training as a world-class junior tennis player in the 1970’s. He’s ranked in the top one-percent of income earners in the world in the professional speaking business. Visit http://www.speakerstevesiebold.com

If you are looking to save some money you can start by using homemade cleaning products to clean your home with. Not only are these inexpensive to make but most are eco-friendly too! I use a lot of baking soda and white vinegar around my home to kill germs and to keep my home clean. Here are a few other ideas to help you get your house cleaned up and do so on the cheap.

Vinegar – Vinegar can be used to remove mold, grease, and mildew. Vinegar will kill bacteria and germs. Just dilute down your white vinegar with tap water so that it doesn’t irritate your skin while using it.

Baking Soda – Baking soda can be used as a scouring agent and deodorizer. You can even brush your teeth with it. I like to make a baking soda paste by just adding a tad of tap water to it and then use it for scrubbing. It will also do a great job at deodorizing your garbage disposal. If your carpets have a stinky smell sprinkle plain baking soda onto your carpets and let it sit for an hour and then vacuum it up.

Bleach – I purchased an empty spray bottle and I put in 1/4 cup of bleach and then filled it with tap water. It now can be use to clean counter tops, toilets, tubs and sinks.

Salt – Your basic table salt makes for a good abrasive scouring powder so sprinkle some onto your stainless steel kitchen sink and use a sponge to scrub it down. A salt scrub also works well for removing baked on food from your cookware and bakeware too!

Lemon Juice – Lemon juice mixed with water makes a great all-purpose cleaner. I keep a spray bottle filled with lemon juice/water and spray down my kitchen countertops with it every day. It also is great for cleaning the microwave, stove-top and refrigerator.

As you can see…you don’t have to pay a fortune at the store for chemical household cleaners when you can spend pennies and make your own at home! Do you have any frugal cleaning tips to share with me today? If so, please leave me a comment.

Back to school is just around the corner. For many toddlers, it’ll be the first day of preschool and the very first day they’re away from mom and dad. My oldest daughter is starting preschool in the fall and just the thought of her going off to school for the first time gets me teary eyed.

How will I handle dropping her off at her first day of preschool? Better yet, how will she deal with her first day? If I know my daughter, I won’t be the only teary eyed person at the classroom door. Not only will there be some weeping, but possibly a tantrum or two while I peel her off my leg and try to make a get away.

To help make a smooth transition into the school year, I sat down with veteran moms and asked them how to survive the first day of school.

1. Tour the school with your child before the first day.
A tour will help your preschooler become familiar with her surroundings before getting dropped off by mom or dad. While visiting, meet the teacher, visit your child’s cubby, and get introduced to other children in the class. Make sure to act excited about everything you see. Your enthusiasm will help your child become more enthusiastic about school.

2. Go shopping with your child.
Yes, brave the toddler tantrums, grab your coupons, and take her to the store. Getting your child involved in picking out their own school supplies, backpack and clothes will help her mentally prepare for school. Give her the freedom to choose those gaudy, pink, sparkly shoes she loves. Tell her that she can wear them to school and show them off there. You can also have your child help you cut out or search for coupons for her school supplies. She’ll enjoy finding coupons for her items and will learn a simple lesson in savings. For a full list of places you and your child can search for coupons click here.

3. Let Her DIY
On the first day of school, allow her to pick out her outfit, help pack her lunch, and prep her school bag. Remember to be over enthusiastic about all her choices and be super duper EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT’S HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!

4. Saying Goodbye
Now for the hard part — leaving your precious, screaming, teary eyed child at school. Give her a hug, kiss and a big smile at the classroom door. Wave goodbye and walk away. Don’t show any hesitation because, if she sees your uncertainty, it’ll make her uncertain about staying there.

5. Take It Easy Afterwards
The first day of school is over, but there’s one more tip for surviving the first day. Don’t plan on doing anything after school. Your child will likely be exhausted, so take it easy. Plan a nap and put together an easy dinner. The rest of the day, talk about what she experienced during her first day. Be upbeat about everything she tells you; remember she’ll have many more school days when you’ll both want to share the excitement.

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Maisie Knowles is the founder of BestBabyStuff.com, a website reviewing only the best baby products. She earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado in 2003 and currently spends most of her time at home with her two young girls.

Are you heading out soon on a road trip or family vacation and taking the kids along? If so, you will want to plan ahead and pack up several things that will keep the kids busy and keep them comfortable while you are traveling. How much you take along with you will depend on the number of children traveling with you and how long you will be traveling by car as children will need a nice variety of things to do so that they don’t get too bored.

Here are a few suggestions on things you could purchase and pack to help keep the kids busy and comfortable while traveling this summer.

* Hangman Game (Paper and Pencils)
* Tic, Tac, Toe Game (Paper and Pencils)
* I Spy Something (Color) Game (Paper and Pencils)
* License Plate Collector Game(Paper and Pencils)
* Crossword Puzzles & Activity Books
* Coloring Books and Crayons
* Sticker Books
* Classic Travel-Sized Board Games (Checkers, Chess, Sorry)
* Electronic Hand-Held Games
* Dice Games (Yahtzee)
* Classic Card Games (Uno, Go Fish, etc.)
* DVD’s and a DVD Player

In addition to packing games and activities to keep the kids busy while on a road trip you want to pack some cold beverages, various snacks, a few paper bag lunches, extra set of clothing for each person, a first aid kit, travel pillows and a few throw blankets.

Being prepared ahead of time while taking a road trip with the kids will save you a lot of stress and aggravation while out on the road.

Shelly Hill is the owner of the popular travel blog called Pennsylvania and Beyond located at http://pennsylvaniaandbeyond.blogspot.com where you can find valuable travel related articles, travel tips and lists of things to see and do across the United States.

As mothers we lead very busy and stressful lives and through out our day…we often forget to take time out for ourselves. We are always busy making meals, cleaning the home, running household errands, playing “mom” taxi, taking care of the children and then you throw in working in our outside the home and by the end of the day there is no time left for yourself. Does this sound a lot like you? If so, it is time to make a change!

For many years I was one of those “moms” who did everything for my family and I mean everything! By the time bedtime rolled around every night, I would fall into bed from complete physical exhaustion. What I realized towards the end of all of that madness is that I was overly tired, very stressed out and had little patience for the things I normally had a lot of patience for. I knew emotionally I had to make a change.

What I decided to do was to spend 15 minutes on myself each and every day. It didn’t matter if that 15 minutes was bright and early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon or late in the evening after everyone went to bed., but I was determined to squeeze 15 minutes out of every day just for myself. Once I decided to do this I sat down and made a list of things that I could do for myself in that short period of time. Here are some of the ideas I came up with.

Manicure and Pedicure.
Read A Good Book or The Bible
Take A Hot Bubble Bath
Do A Relaxing Workout (like yoga or pilates)
Take A Swim (if you have a pool)
Craft (crochet, scrapbook, cross stitch, whatever it is you like to do)
Enjoy A Nice Cup of Coffee or Tea
Take A Walk Outdoors
Write A Letter To A Friend (for postal mailing)
Pamper Yourself With A Homemade Facial
Nice Quiet Phone Call To A Friend or Family Member
Massage (yes, you can give yourself a massage)
Meditate (light a candle and spend some time just reflecting)

As you can see, there are many things you can do for just yourself every day in just 15 minutes of time. If you take time out for yourself, you will find that you will be less edgy and be in a better mood and not only that, when you are under too much stress it can cause physical health problems. You do everything for your family and that is great…but you also need to take care of yourself!

This article was written by Shelly Hill, copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

How to keep your little ones busy while working at home by Jennifer May

Many Moms have been trying to solve the issue to finding a great way to still work but keep their children busy so they do not feel overwhelmed or not able to get work done. This has become the case for many Moms who choose to work at home. What most do not realize is that it is more than possible to keep a sane, organized schedule while having your children around. In many cases your children might have to adjust to the new circumstances but as with anything, over time they will adapt. It will allow you to get the much needed work you are doing for them and their future, to get done without feeling overwhelmed.

Here are a few ideas to keep your little ones busy while working at home during the day or evening:

1. Nap Time… (Yes, it is not busy for them but it is busy for you) Most of us with children under 5 years old who are not in kindergarten or preschool have a nap time schedule daily for them and some do not. This is a great way to get work done (especially phone calls) without feeling interrupted. Some children do grow out of it by 3 or 4 years old, but if we keep them on routine daily with their nap time, they will still do it until they reach preschool or kindergarten which allows you that ‘phone call time’ or important work time that needs to get done. I would utilize this time to do your most important things that can not be disrupted.

2. Play office by Mommy… This has been a savior for not only myself but many other WAHM’s (Work at Home Moms) who need something to occupy their little ones so they can get a little work done. Place a play phone, play desk, paper, crayons, etc. right next to your desk or laptop area and let your children ‘Pretend to be Mommy’. Children look up to us as Parents, so not only does this give them something to do but also teaches them a good work ethic at a very young age.

3. Movies/Books… There are many educational movies, shows and books out now a days. Children can learn so much from Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, etc. Now, I would not take this as your only tool to getting some work done. But, do not feel guilty to let your child watch their favorite movie or show while you get a little work done. Placing a TV in near your work area can help, they feel near you while you can still get your tasks done for the day. Books are also great for the children who can sit still and entertain themselves. Get books with lots of colors, pictures and maybe some added interaction to them.

4. Coloring/Painting/Crafts… Being artistic is something almost any little one likes to do. I suggest the Color Wonders by Crayola. Which allow you not to worry about the floor, walls or furniture. With the little office space you set up for them by you, you can set them up on a project or coloring while you get some work done.

5. Online Children Interactive Sites… There are many sites out there like Nick Jr. that allow children to utilize the mouse to interact and learn. If you have an extra laptop or desktop that you are not using to do your work, get them set up and going with one of these sites through many of their educational, interactive programs, coloring or fun games

Jennifer May is a proud work-at-home Mom with Ameriplan® and also is the Founder/Owner of The WAHM Guide. She has experienced years of searching for work-at-home and is now successful from this experience. She has made it her goal and purpose to help as many as she can find and grow work-at-home opportunities successfully. She also shares true work-at-home jobs, home based businesses, research, tips, advice, personal experience and more on her work-at-home Mom website http://www.TheWAHMGuide.com. She has a passion for helping others and changing lives! You can find out more about what Jennifer does from home at http://www.HomeCareerAndFreedom.com.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

I am a very busy wahm and one of my favorite things to make for dinner are soups and stews because I can slow cook them while I complete business work or do house work.

Today my good friend and business partner Chris is sharing with all of us one of her favorite recipes.

This is a wonderful light yet filling soup that I use as a filler before dinner or with a salad. It has extremely little fat and burns calories fast!

Tomato & Veggie Soup Recipe

2 cans 15 oz Veggie (or chicken) stock or 1-32 oz box
2 cans 15 oz Tomato Sauce or Chopped Tomatoes
1 Box frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1/2 bunch Bok Choi or Napa Cabbage, sliced thin
2 tsp good olive oil
salt to taste
Italian Seasoning or a pinch of thyme, basil, and marjoram, or whatever is in the cabinet
garlic powder or fresh garlic

In a large sauce pan combine all of the ingredients and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Chris is a work at home mom that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing information and tips with others. You can find her at her business site http://directsalestalk.com/ . She has also partnered with a friend on a product review site for small business owners at http://twoclassychics.blogspot.com/

I work at home and even though I work from home…my days are packed full with work and family related stuff so when it comes to dinner…I love making and serving a variety of hearty soups and stews to my family.

Today…my good friend and business partner Chris is sharing one of her favorite recipes with all of us. I don’t know about all of you…but I am looking forward to making her recipe very soon!

Classic Chicken Soup Recipe

2-3 Large pieces of Chicken, raw on the bone
Water
Chicken Soup Base, 2 bouillon cubes or your favorite chicken stock
½ -1 Carrot sliced
1-2 stalks celery with tops, diced
Salt & pepper to taste
Garlic powder to taste
Maggi Seasoning to taste, at least 10 shots or more, depending on amount of liquid
Egg noodles or elbows, your choice

In a large soup pot, fill with water to the desired level. Bring to a boil. Add enough soup base/stock to get a good chicken flavor. Add Chicken, carrot and celery and all spices. Allow to cook 30-45 min until chicken is cooked through. Pull chicken out and let cool, shredding it after cooling. Return chicken to pot. Simmer.

In a separate pot, cook noodles to just al dente. Drain and rinse in cold water. Add to soup and simmer for an additional 5-10 min. Adjust seasonings as needed.

Serve with crusty French bread, sandwiches or crackers.

Chris is a work at home mom that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing information and tips with others. You can find her at her business site http://directsalestalk.com/ . She has also partnered with a friend on a product review site for small business owners at http://twoclassychics.blogspot.com/