Free stuff for women link

http://www.coolfreebielinks.com/Freebies_For-Women/

A Quote for today

"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequilla." -- Mitch Ratcliffe

A Quote for today

"Make a decision to be succesful right now.

    Most people never decide to be wealthy and that is

    why they retire poor."

    -  Brian Tracy

______

Inspire

"If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country." -- E. M. Forster

Let Go, Let God

Daily words from myspace friend Vanessa's Choice

God always has a blessing for me, and I am ready to receive one now.






A rush of serenity flows through me when I release a problem to God for a divine solution. I have ceased thinking that I have total responsibility for the outcome of a challenge, and I have opened my mind and my life to God and a divine solution.






Along with the act of letting go and letting God, I have made a commitment to be a spiritually alert and active participant in helping bring about positive results. I am working in partnership with God.






God is my Creator, Healer, Guide, Friend, and more. I trust God as a source of all the wisdom, life and love that I need to overcome whatever is challenging me and to achieve my heart's desire. God is always with me, ready to Bless me. I am ready to receive.






"But as for me, I will look to the Lord,
I will wait for the God of my Salvation;
my God will hear me.




"
Micah 7:7

Daily Word

Inspire me!

"There is one way to find out if a man is honest -- ask him. If he says yes, you know he is crooked." -- Groucho Marx

Quote for today

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Woman To Woman: Daily Motivation

Lakedra with motivated moms  Date: Jul 16, 2008 9:40 AM  Subject: Daily Motivation  Body: Though the odds may not be in your favor, you can do it. Though the challenges are great, you can make it happen. People will likely tell you it's impossible. Even so, you can find a way to make it possible and to make it real. When it means enough to you, then you can do it. When you are willing and committed and persistent, you will get yourself there. Look within yourself and find those values that you most earnestly desire to express with your life. The things that are most genuinely important to you are the things that will power your achievements. When you can put the power of your passion behind it, you will create it. Make the effort to find and to know that passion, and there is no limit to what you can accomplish. Be utterly true to who you are. And fulfill your greatest possibilities. -- Ralph Marston

Tips for Women: What to wear for the job interview!

 I am a Personal Shopper for  a major non profit women's organization.

 Today I applied all of my skills to help a woman who called  Women In Touch and asked for clothing for a job interview. 

Today I made a difference in her life.

I dressed her from head to toe.

 I gave her information for Women's Health Services and some personal products. 

I told her she can do it .

What a rewarding experience it always is for me.

I remember when I was trying to make a difference for myself and my children after being on Public Assistance and getting  no where. 

There was a group of neighborhood women who wanted me to get the job, but I did not have the proper clothing, they went shopping for me and even went into their own closet and offered me a selection of shoes, clothing, handbags. 

I was so sharp and so confident when I went for that job interview. 

I got the job! 

And so can you! 

If you can't make it to Women In Touch or other organizations that help Women, follow this list below to make sure you are dressed appropriate:

Women's Interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Go light on the make-up & perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase or neutral hand bag

@Woman In Touch   

Working with Difficult People

Today I decided to read and post things on the subject of working with difficult people.

Not because I personally do/don't work with difficult people( you figure). 

My personal findings are that some Difficult people don't think they are hard to work with. 

I did some research on this subject to find out if I was a difficult person to work with. 

My answer to myself before the research was that I am not a difficult person to to work with, my Husband may not be that quick to agree but my most of my co-workers love working with me. ( I think)!

Have you ever met a person you can't stand?  Difficult people may not do what you want them to do or do what you don't want them to do, and you may not know what to do with them.  You can't change a difficult person, you can learn to communicate with them in ways that empower you to react with five distinct responses. "Conflict has an emotional cost that remains after the battle is over.  Win or lose, the scares may be with you for the rest of your life. People spend their lives focusing on the promotion they 'lost,' the business they 'lost,' the divorce they 'lost,' the project they 'lost.' This tunnel vision keeps them gripped, locked in their own anger…. The small battles between partners, parents and children, employees and bosses take a significant toll.  Productivity and satisfaction, in business and personal relationships, come from are ability to collaborate with others. When you are resolved, you can fully focus on the tasks at hand. Your efforts are undiluted. Unresolved conflict, on the other hand, is an impediment to productivity and to satisfying, functional relationships. In today's world of 'knowledge work,' focus and creativity are essential. It's impossible to be fully productive when you are angry. That's why getting resolved about the situation that's sapping your strength and attention is very important." -Stewart Levine

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About Ginger

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds is for the woman that wants to take charge of her personal finances. We value budgeting, investing, frugality and remain mindful of our spending habits. Move over and make way for women who are in control of their financial destinies and not afraid to say it. We're armed with a positive net worth and not afraid to flaunt it while breaking financial ceilings one stiletto at a time!

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Stretching Your Food Budget During Hard Times

April 29th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

 photo credit: yomi955

This is a guest post by Melissa at Master Your Card where she blogs about how to use credit cards wisely. Check out her great credit card blog and subscribe here!

Tough times are all around us. It seems that the price of everything is always going up and, unfortunately, our incomes have a tough time keeping up with the soaring cost of living. How do we control our budget at a time when we can barely control the price of basic necessities such as food, utilities and gas?

One area that we do have a little more control over is the food budget. Yes, the price of produce has gone up significantly, as well as the price of other goods. But, there are still many ways we can save on the way we buy food.

Create a plan

Design a menu plan for the week. If you know what you’ll be eating, you will be less tempted to get expensive take-out because you don’t have a plan for dinner. Here you can plan your men and ingredients for the week or for the month as illustrated below:

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan your meal menu:

What? No Lucky Charms?!

If you’re used to eating cold cereal for breakfast every day, you may not like what I have to say: Cold cereal can be a serious drain on the food budget! Most cold cereals also contain lots of sugar, additives, and artificial flavorings. The cost of cold cereal can cost almost four-dollars a box, and it’s not very filling.
There are other options for a less expensive, and healthier breakfast

• Oatmeal: I’m not talking about the little packets of flavored oatmeal; I mean the good old-fashioned oatmeal. It’s significantly cheaper, more filling, and better for you. Oatmeal’s boring you say? Try flavoring it with some honey and sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top. Or, you can add some brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.

• Toast: Have a piece of whole-wheat toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas on top for a nutritious inexpensive breakfast. Here’s a tip: Make your own bread! Trent @ The Simple Dollar has an awesome post on how to make your own bread

• Smoothies: For a cheap, quick, healthy breakfast, make fruit smoothies. I buy fruit, such as bananas, peaches, and strawberries when it’s on sale. You can usually get a good deal if you buy the fruit when it’s a little over-ripe, which is great for smoothies. Chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces. Place the fruit into freezer bags and keep in the freezer until your ready to use it. There are a variety of ways to make smoothies. I like to take some apple juice, frozen bananas, and strawberries, and blend it into a delicious treat.

Minimize Meat Consumption

Instead of sitting down to a big plate of expensive lamb, file mignon or seafood for dinner, fill your plate with something tasty, but less expensive.

• Potatoes: Potatoes are filling - and cheap! Try having a baked potato bar for dinner.

• Rice: Rice is inexpensive and versatile. Cook up some rice and top it with a variety of stir-fried vegetables. You might also want to stock up given the recent rice shortage and rationing going on at Sam’s club. This is sure to cause others to buy excess bulk f or their own storage.

• Pasta: With the many varieties of pasta, there are endless possibilities for tasty, inexpensive meals.

• Meat: Okay, you can have some meat – just think of it as the sideshow, instead of the main attraction. Use meat to flavor soups, casseroles, and pastas. For example, instead of having meat loaf, make hamburger soup for a less expensive option.

Once you’ve got a menu planned, here are some helpful shopping tips:

How to grocery shop without busting your budget
Grocery stores are designed in a way to get the shopper to spend more money – that’s how they stay in business. Keep that concept in mind when you do your grocery shopping. Here are some tips to help you keep more money in your wallet as you shop.

• Make a list: Don’t wander around the store aimlessly looking for something for dinner. Have a plan when you go. You’ll shop quicker, smarter, and save money by sticking to a list.

• Don’t shop when you’re hungry: Go shopping right after you eat. You’ll be less likely to spend money on expensive munchies if you’re full.

• Watch out for convenience foods: Buying too many “meals in a box” can sap your food budget. Try making more meals from scratch. When you make a meal, make double the amount you normally would, and freeze the extra for a quick and easy meal later.

• Beware of the store’s layout: Have you ever noticed how you have to walk to the back of the store to get to staple items, such as milk and bread? This is a trick the stores use to get you to buy more stuff! Don’t fall for it. Only buy what you need.

• Don’t buy at eye level: Stores like to place more expensive items at eye level. Look on the top or bottom shelves to find better bargains.

You have the food; now what?

How many times do you go through the trouble to get good deals on your groceries, only to find many items thinly disguised in a greenish-sort of fuzz in the back of the fridge a month later?

• Know how to store your food, especially produce. It’s worth it to take the time to find out the best way to store your food.

• Don’t let your leftovers become science projects. For a while, my husband and I had the great honor of participating in the monthly fridge clean out. To keep it interesting, we’d pull out containers of unidentifiable fuzz and play the “What is it?” game. Soon, we realized that we were wasting money with each container of moldy goo we dumped into the garbage. Now we make a greater effort to eat our leftovers before they look like science projects.

Be flexible

Of course there will be times when you’ll want to sit down to a juicy sirloin or start the morning with a big bowl of Cocoa Puffs. Just don’t make it every day. Every little bit helps when you’re trying to whittle down the food budget.

Inspirational

Moving Beyond the Moment
Rev. James C.
Matthews

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
" (Philippians 3:13-14)

Sometimes the things that hinder us from moving forward in our journey aren’t always bad things. It is possible to become hostage to our past by trying to relive something that has come and gone. This can take the form of trying to relive past achievements, relationships, or defining moments in our lives. We’ve all met people like this. In their wallet or purse they carry pictures or newspaper clippings of a past relationship or climactic moment in their lives. They speak of the past in the present tense, as if these events happened yesterday. It is healthy to celebrate our past moments in life, but it is unhealthy to become stuck in a moment and miss the rest of life. Life is a motion picture not a snapshot. It is always moving and stands still for no one.


Those who have a snapshot perspective of life can be easily identified by their conversation. They always talk about the past and how things used to be, or they dwell on what someone did to them years ago. It’s almost as if they stopped living once that moment transpired. Although they can easily recall in detail a particular moment in time that occurred years ago, they cannot clearly articulate their plans for the future.


Often, people who develop a snapshot perspective of life lose their identity in the event or situation. They define who they are by that moment in time instead of who they are as a person. I can remember meeting a man who was in his late 40s. When introducing me to this person, my friend first let me know that this man once played for a well-known professional sports team. It was only after this introduction that his name was communicated to me. In the eyes of his associates, this man was defined by a moment that had come and gone. When I asked the gentlemen what he was doing now, he appeared ashamed of his station in life. He had a respectable job, but in his eyes and those he associated with, it was not comparable to his former moment of glory.


In another instance, my wife and I met a young woman at a ministry event who was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and had settled down in Dallas. When she introduced herself, she told me her name but had preceded this by commenting, “I’m from Katrina.” When my wife and I were driving home from the engagement, she commented that every time this woman introduced herself to someone, she commented that she was “from Katrina.” I’ve seen the same thing happen to people who have physical handicaps, been abused, divorced, incarcerated, or homeless. They’ve allowed their circumstances or an event to define and prescribe what their expectations in life can or should be.


You are more than a moment! You are a motion picture that is not defined by a snapshot or one frame of the picture. If you refuse to allow your past to define your future, you will discover that life has much more to offer you than a memory.


The above devotional is excerpted from Pastor J.C. Matthew’s new book "Your Situation Is Not Your Destination.” Click here for more info or to purchase a copy.


Pastor James C. (J.C.) Matthews is the founder and Senior Pastor of the multi-cultural non-denominational Dunamis Life Ministries of Dallas, Texas. Pastor Matthews is known for his love of God's Word, unusual wisdom, passionate preaching style and gift of practically applying scripture to everyday. He is the author of the Saved but Stuck: 30 Days to Personal Revival". "I'll Come... When I Get Myself Together" and "My Situation Is Not My Destination - Only Preparation". J.C. Matthews lives in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Texas area with his wife Gena and four children.


© Pastor J.C.
Matthews all rights reserved

About Alice

During Alice's many years of working, volunteering and living in Red Hook, she has seen that there has not been a significant focus on the mothers and women of the community. In a neighborhood such as Red Hook that has battled violence and disorder; many women are raising families on their own with very little assistance. Some of these women possess poor literacy skills, have a limited understanding of English and have not obtained their GED or High School Dimploma. Additionally, these women do not possess the skill set necessary to find employment that has growth potential. Furthermore, many of these individuals lack the confidence to ask for help. Women In Touch provides the support and a safe environment to encourage these women that they can change their lives in a positive way--not only for themselves, but their children and community as well. Alice has had a visible impact on the Red Hook community. Alice worked in Public School 27 managing the implementation of an after-school art program and also started up and served as the President of Coffey Park. In addition, Alice served as an AmeriCorps Public Safety Corps member through the Justice Center in 1995, serving as a team leader. Alice was the vice-president of the Red Hook East Tenant Association and assisted in creating community murals and gardens to beautify the public spaces of Red Hook. Alice used her experience and knowledge of the Red Hook community to create the mission and goals for Women In Touch. In order to have this program truly be responsive to women's needs, Alice solicited the ideas and opinions of Red Hook women to gain insight into what they needs and wanted. Those women will also serve as volunteers in the Women In Touch Program.