Merry Christmas!

My Top 10 Favorites

1. Christmas Song – Dave Matthews Band
2. When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick Jr.
3. Little Drummer Boy – Chicago
4. The First Noel – Andy Williams
5. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
6. Silent Night – Frank Sinatra
7. It Christmas, Baby Please Come Home – U2
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Christina Aguilera
9. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
10. All I Want for Christmas – Alvin and the Chipmunks (lol)

My Favorite Things

With my birthday and Christmas so close, I am fortunate and grateful to both receive and be able to give fabulous gifts. So I thought I'd share a few...

Books - these are just some of my favorites right now!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - An all time favorite and consider it a classic.

Outliers, The Story of Success : Great inspiration

Wally Lamb - A Great Author!

DVD: Movies are great gift and fun to share with the family.

Chronicles of Narnia -Prince Caspian

Kung Fu Panda - I can't help it my kids and I love Jack Black!

Music: I truly enjoy music and don't go a day without it.

This first one I have to explain (aka justify) if you know me well...you know I don't do country! HOWEVER...I've liked this man since he was the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish (Kim S. knows what I'm talking about). That's right Darius Rucker has gone country and I LOVE it...LOL!

"Don't think I don't think about it"

Dave Matthews Band...My #1 Favorite...all the time! We go see them on tour every year (since 2002) and sometimes twice per year. Thank you Gary for going with me.

Leona Lewis

"Spirit"

Thank you Sean for turning me into a fan!

Oh My! What can I say?

John Legend "Evolver"

Others: Just some additional items I've received/given that I enjoy-

Wii Music - Fun for all Ages

Ugg boots- OMG...I am so happy when my feet are warm!

Bvlgari-Eau Parfume-Au the Rouge - YUMMY (Thanks Hilda)

Jonathan Hair products - My husband loves them too!

Kendall-Jackson Vinters Reserve 2006 - Chardonnay

And those are a few of my favorite things right now!

Merry Christmas!

Jennifer

"I won't let all this commercialism ruin my Christmas" - Charlie Brown

Thanksgiving

Who doesn't love Thanksgiving? I know I do! I truly enjoy all the tradition it brings. We are reminded of so many things that we have to be thankful for as well. Here are some traditions my family has:

Food - Turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie...YUM!!!

Family - This has always been a time for family. When we can come together regardless of long it may have been since the last time or how far we may live apart.

Football- It seems to be on the entire day even if no one is watching it. Personally, I've never really paid too much attention. I know this year my son will be watching at least one game with joy and zeal.

Traveling- This has always been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. As a kid, we went to my Grandparents cabin in Lake Gregory (near Arrowhead). This year we are making the trek to Bend, OR for a visit with my Dad, his wife, my Aunt and cousins! Btw...it's a twelve hour drive and I PRAY there won't be any snow yet (it's a long story about my husband Gary I'll share another time).

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - Okay as a kid I didn't have any desire to watch...now I love it (don't know why) my daughter enjoys it too.

I'm also reminded of the day after Thanksgiving "traditions:"

-Putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.
-Doing nothing but rest and relaxation.
-"Black Friday" shopping: I've never done it but I have a good friend who does it every year and gets ALL of her shopping done in ONE day!!!! Whew!
-Movies: We look forward to the new releases- this year we want to see Bolt and Four Christmases (I love Vince Vaughn...LOL).

Most importantly, I am so grateful this year for the many blessings even through hardship I've received. I also anticipate the coming with with hope and open arms.

Jennifer

Go Big or Go Home - Entrepreneur.com

Go Big or Go Home - Entrepreneur.com

Posted using ShareThis

This article by Robert Kiyosaki via Entrepreneur.com is so timely. I found it interesting and valuable and wanted to share it with you. I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Jennifer

P.S. On a more personal note, Halloween has passed, the election is over....now onto Thanksgiving. Although this is the BUSIEST time of year for me and my family...it truly is my favorite. I think I love to be busy and even a little chaotic. As one of my close friends says "Jennifer...do you ever sleep?" I do....however, I also keep a note pad next to my bed to jot down ideas that come to me in the night!!!

Great Article...Start a Small Business!

October 20, 2008, 8:39 am
Looking for a Job? Try a Small Business
Posted by Shelly Banjo
Small business may be the answer to finding a job in a weakened economy.

As talk of layoffs and buyouts run rampant and unemployment claims reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to rise, many job seekers are worried about finding a job. And due to the troubled economy, many retirees and at-home moms and dads are looking to head back to the work force — adding to the competition.

But according to the September 2008 SurePayroll Index, which tracks payroll data and measures the health of the U.S. small-business economy, small-business hiring actually rose in September and ended the month up .3%.

Despite the economy’s problems, small businesses grew 2.7% year to date nationwide with hot spots such as Utah, Washington, New Jersey, North Carolina and Oregon showing strong growth in small-business hiring.

The bad news is that while hiring is up, salaries for small-business employees are declining. According to SurePayroll, salaries declined by 0.51% last month, the largest one-month drop in the national average small-business salary since the study began in 2004. The average annualized small-business salary for a U.S. employee now stands at $32,182.

Readers, is now a good time for small-business owners to be hiring? Is the best talent more available now?

Launching C&M Business Solutions

I've been busy, getting ready to launch C&M Business Solutions. We will focus on creating customized marketing and PR strategies using the "CMBS Compass" for small business and entrepreneurs.

I'm very excited about this endeavor as well as getting to help so many entrepreneurs like myself grow their business.

CMBS will also be launching a FREE (that's right complimentary, no cost, no obligation) monthly eNewsletter. "No Nonsense" Marketing & PR will offer helpful, money making tips and strategies to grow your business! Please visit http://www.cmbizsolutions.com/and sign up today for FREE to receive the very first issue.

We are also offering a complimentary 1/2 hour consultation with every subscription so sign up now and start thinking of questions you want answered about your marketing plan and how to increase revenue.

Perception. Perspective. Promise.

Jen

Fall is here...

I love it! I love the change in the weather from summer to fall. Fall is my favorite season...I love the leaves changing color, the cooling off from our 100+ degree summers, the upcoming holidays.
Having grown up in So. Cal where the weather seems a constant 80 degrees, it took some getting used to when I moved to Central Cal 11 years ago. Of course, I moved in August when we have several 100+ days in a row. Now, I love it here and am happy to call it home.
My husband, Gary, on the other hand LOVES the summer! He likes it hot and would prefer to live somewhere where it was a constant 80 degrees...lol.

Happy Fall!

It's Official!

It's official...I have a teenager in the house! My oldest, Ryan turns thirteen today. It's hard to believe...they really do grow up so quickly. I remember his first few years like they were last week. Now, here he is, in junior high...wait! I still remember what it was like in junior high. Why does that it seem that we stand still as our children grow...it's like they continue to get closer and closer to us yet we are still years apart?

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Love,

Mom