In 1996, when I became a mom for the second time, my dream of working from home truly began to manifest. As I would cradle and snuggle with my new little bundle, I envisioned those amazing moments of bonding, lasting forever. I knew that going back to work was no longer an option for me. I enjoyed the lazy afternoons of holding my son close and studying his facial features. I loved his newborn baby scent and the routines we had already established. For me, being a mom was a dream come true!

Growing up I had always been a dreamer and I just knew one day I would have my own business and work from home. Giving birth to my second child nurtured my dream into existence along with my vision. I had found my purpose and knew I was now able to make my dream a reality. I was ready to start living my vision.

In order for me to make it happen, the next step was for me to share my vision with the right people. I knew the right support would be imperative to my success and I was serious about being successful. It can be frustrating at times when we have these immeasurable dreams that we are so passionate about and can’t wait to share with those we love just to have that dream shot down by those loved ones who don’t share our same vision and lack our understanding. Do you have a positive support system and a team of personal cheer leaders in your corner?

If you are ready to live your vision and work from home, now is the time! It must first start with your dream and the vision you have for your life. Most importantly, you must believe in yourself and not allow negative thinking, people or circumstance to stop you from fulfilling your dreams! You can and deserve to live a life of overflowing abundance. You have the ability to achieve success and be empowered! Be inspired and make your dreams come true.

Thoughts to ponder:

What is your passion?

Do you have a dream and a vision?

Have you written your goals down on paper?

What steps are you taking to make your dreams a reality?

Have you established your support system for encouragement?

When I created my first blog a little over a year ago, I spent a lot of time to make it look appealing. I included a few posts on a variety of subjects, video, photos, links and a few other trendy widgets and ads. I was so proud of my accomplishments and just knew my creative genius would pay off. I could hardly wait for the equally excited stampede of visitors that would soon follow.

But that herd of traffic never came. Sure, I got an occasional visit here and there. But what happen to the masses that I had predicted? After a short time, I sat back and reanalyzed my lonely blog situation. I finally came to realize what had gone wrong. I had gotten hooked on the idea that having a blog meant making money. I had become infatuated with the idea of having a blog instead of having the passion to share my blog. I knew it was time to lay my blog to rest and invest some time into learning how to create a blog people would really want to read.

Here are some of the things I have discovered along my blogging journey:

Decide who your audience will be. What is it that you are passionate about and want to share with others? Is is cooking? Then your audience will be individuals who love to cook (or eat)! Yes, we all want to make money with our blogs but that can not be your motive. If you learn how to blog with a purpose and have a desire to share your knowledge with your readers, the money will soon follow. Once you have dertermined your audience, you can then begin to implement some targeted marketing.

Create content with substance. Your readers will want to follow your blog for a few reasons, the main one being your content. They want to read valuable information that will help them learn something new or entertain them. Your cooking blog should be richly filled with topics such as; cooking tips, reciepes, food reviews and even pictures of your favorite freshely cooked dish! The quality of your content will not only help your blog stand out, but it will also allow your readers to relate to you and trust your expertise.

Define your niche. This is where it can get a little tricky, especially if you are new to blogging and online marketing. If you are a mom who blogs about cooking, you may want to define your niche market to moms who love to cook. In order for your blog to attract your specific audience, you need to learn how to find your niche. A great way to start is to find a few social networking sites online that cater to your market. Social networking sites are great tools to help you and your blog gain exposure as well as help increase targeted traffic to your site.

These are a few ways that will help you create and increase traffic to your blog. The important thing to remember is to be consistent in your efforts. It takes time to build a following but can be easier when you understand the benefits of applying targeted marketing strategies. When you enjoy what you do, your work seems effortless and you will reap the rewards. Happy blogging!

As seasons begin to change, so does our skin. It may be necessary to modify your skin care regimen to help keep your skin balanced and radiant. If you are suffering from common skin care problems like mild acne, dryness or dull looking skin, read on to discover simple solutions for flawless skin.

5 essential steps necessary to having healthy beautiful skin:

1. Cleanse. Simple enough, right? Do you wash your face twice a day every day to help remove makeup and impurities? Most of us wash our face in the morning but sometimes skip the PM care. During the day you come into contact with many environmental elements that can affect the quality of your skin. At night while you sleep, your face comes into contact with the dead skin cells that have shed onto your pillow case which can cause breakouts. Washing twice a day is a must for clear skin.

2. Exfoliate. Tired of having dull lifeless looking skin? Exfoliating will provide a deeper cleaning and remove the dead surface cells that cause dull skin. You can add it to your skin care regimen one to two times per week. Tip – Don’t over do it. To much exfoliating can actually cause damage or irritation to your skin.

3. Freshen. As you age, the skin starts to loose its firmness. A freshener will help refine enlarged pores and tone your skin giving you a more youthful appearance.

4. Moisturize. Moisturizing your skin is very important. When your skin is not properly moisturized it causes a breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers which help keep the skin firm. Proper moisturizer use will also help keep your skin soft and smooth. Tip – Even if you have oily skin, you still need to moisturize. Use a moisturizer formulated for your oily skin.

5. Foundation. Contrary to popular belief, foundation does not clog your pores. Foundation is your skins protection from the everyday environment. There are a variety of different types of foundation for you to choose from. From liquid foundations to sheer pressed and mineral powders, you can have little to no visible coverage yet still be protecting.

Another important tip for healthy skin is something that many don’t realize. To prevent skin irritations and breakouts you should always use the same product line from start to finish. Each line of products is scientifically formulated to work together. When you use Brand A cleanser and follow with Brand B moisturizer, you risk the possibility of interacting ingredients that should not be used together. Applying the wrong combination of ingredients to your skin can cause serious damage.

Follow these simple steps and you will begin to see a clearer complexion!

Recommended Products:
TimeWise Miracle Set – Maintain younger-looking skin
Microdermabrasion – Fight fine lines and refine pores