SheKnows the Top 10 Best Online Shopping Sites for Women - Getting an Early Start on Cyber Monday

|

Summer Home Maintenance Dos and Don'ts Offer Preventative Measures to Avoid Basement Seepage Problems

|

Take Advantage of Final Days of Summer to Encourage Learning, Prepare for New School Year

|

American Students Took Peace Into Their Own Hands This Summer

|

BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Pack a Healthy Lunch So Your Kids Don't Pack On the Pounds

|

New Online Governmental Accounting Certificate Program Created to Address Increasing Demand for Financial Workers

|

Win an All-Expense Paid Trip to the CUSTO BARCELONA Spring 2008 Show at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week

|

AmericanGreetings.com Launches Web-to-Mobile Greeting Card Service in U.S.

|

Innovative Disney's Dreamers Academy Launched to Inspire High School Students from Across America

|

ProQuest Adds Nelson Mandela's No Easy Walk to Freedom to African Writers Series Digital Collection

|

Procter & Gamble Unveils 'My Black Is Beautiful' - Inspires National Conversation On Beauty Among African American Women

|

Incredible Tahiti Travel Deals

|

Simplify Your Life: THE MAIDS(R) Offers Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Back-To-School Season

|

American Idol Alum Mandisa's Debut True Beauty Hits Today Amid Rave Reviews and Appearances

|

U.S. Homeowners Applaud Coalition of Female Consumer Advocates as Their Relentless Efforts to Help Continue with the Kickoff of Their Nationwide Real Estate & Mortgage Awareness Educational Tour

|

New Report Details How Credit Card Companies Have Shifted the Cost of Credit to Those Least Able to Afford It

|

Air Jamaica Nonstop Service to Barbados Offers Even More Incentives and Opportunities to See and Book the 'Best of Barbados' in 2007

|

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Now Accepting 2008 Breast Cancer Grant Applications in D.C. Area

|

|

|

|

Elizabeth Withers - Be With You
Watch Music Videos at Blastro.com

Hope you enjoy,
Kenya

|

Praise the Lord that I have paid off my student loans but I do have a daughter about to approach that road. Here is some good news for you.

Students and Families: July 1 Stafford Loan Program Changes may Mean Cash in Your Pocket

Kenya

|

If you are lucky enough to be traveling this summer here are some tips to make your journey a little easier.

American Airlines Employees Share Their Expert Travel Tips

Kenya

|

Hello,

It's summer and a great time to take on new challenges. I found this article interesting. If you have ever envisioned yourself home on the range, this article may be for you.

Experience California's Great West at Cowgirl University

Have a good one,
Kenya

|

It snowed so much last night that they closed all the schools except Baltimore City. My daughter wasn’t too happy about that. Although, it snowed most of the day, by the time I got off from work I was able to get home with no problems. It was a good day.

Could you use $5,000 to help with your business? In the U.S., the Hello Tomorrow Fund will provide one $5,000 award per week to a deserving individual who will be selected from the pool of applicants by an expert panel of judges. Women and men are eligible to apply, and the winning programs must present unique and achievable initiatives to empower women or girls and ultimately improve society in one of three areas:

- Business Development: A for-profit business that directly empowers women through its mission, product or service, or through the means of doing business.
- Community Service: A non-profit project or program that helps women of any age realize their full potential or overcome obstacles.
- Awareness & Outreach: Educate others about an issue that affects women to inspire and empower other women and have a positive impact on the issue.

Applications and guidelines will be available at all times as of March 8 at https://shop.avon.com/HelloTomorrowFund/index.aspx. Application submission and selection of winners will be organized in a quarterly cycle. One winner will be publicly announced every Tuesday through the Hello Tomorrow website beginning April 17, and profiles of the winners will be featured on the website to further share their inspiring ideas.

The site also has resources for women’s issues. Speaking of sites geared to women, why don’t you check out, http://www.ForHerInformation.com The site is a good resource for women that want to take their life to the next level.

Last but not least, you know that I love tips. Courtesy of Tempur-Pedic International Inc. (NYSE: TPX), here is how can you tell if it is time to buy a new mattress to get a better night's sleep:
- If you wake up stiff from the lack of proper mattress support
- If you find yourself rolling towards the center of the mattress in the middle of night
- If you can feel the metal springs of your mattress poking at you
- If you find yourself tossing and turning to get comfortable
- If you have slept on your mattress for more than 5 years

You've decided you need a new mattress ... now what? Tempur-Pedic offers these simple tips on how to evaluate your mattress and choose a new sleep system with a woman's needs in mind.

1. Demand The Best Back Support Possible - Make sure the mattress conforms and supports your entire body. This will help prevent pain that is caused by the improper alignment of head, neck and spine during the night.

2. Consider Allergen-Resistant Mattresses - Look for a mattress that is allergen resistant. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, the average mattress will double its weight in 10 years as a result of being filled with dead dust mites and their detritus. An allergen resistant mattress, with an anti-microbial and hypoallergenic cover, will extend the life of your mattress and protect you from unwanted germs.

3. Promote Air Circulation - Look for a mattress that promotes air circulation. Women report specific sleep problems during different biological stages of their lives. A mattress with an airflow system promotes circulation, providing maximum comfort during reported symptoms of menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause.

4. Involve Your Bed Partner - If you sleep with a partner, take them shopping with you. Both of you should lie on the mattress as you normally would at bed time (and don't be shy - try it for at least 15 minutes!). Look for a mattress that doesn't transfer motion so if one person is tossing and turning or exits the bed during the night, the other person's sleep is not disrupted by the movement.

5. Include a Pillow - You should always use a pillow when trying out a new mattress in the store (most people don't). This will more closely match the actual experience you will have at home and will allow you to make a better mattress choice.

This is National Sleep Awareness Week (March 5 – 11). You can go to this site for more information: http://www.sleepfoundation.org.

Have a good one,
Kenya

|

This is one of my favorite songs out right now. I hope you enjoy the video.

|

March is starting out with the craziest weather. It is so cold outside. I can’t wait for spring. Last weekend was my niece’s birthday. She had the best party. It was a pony party. She had it a stable, with a clown, magician and rabbit. There was a lot of good food and everyone had fun. I’m glad that I drove to New York. Since the last time I blogged, I attended my first IWWG (www.iwwg.com). I wrote a short story before the meeting. I didn’t bring it to read because I didn’t know the guidelines. We did a writing exercise, which I did share. One of the members brought a collection of book covers. Each person selected a cover. We had 10 minutes to write whatever came to mind based on the title and pictures on the cover.

Title on Cover: In Search of Paradise
I Wrote:

I don’t know how he convinced me to do this. Corey always makes the crappiest places sound like the best. The whole ride up he talked about all the fun we were going to have. He said the Lisa told him that Connie told her that I would love it.
I don’t know why he would listen to any second hand advice from Connie. Everyone knows I hate Connie. Well, I don’t hate Connie. I hate Connie’s taste. When we were in college she orchestrated a road trip. To this day, Lisa and Pam aren’t speaking behind the foolishness she had going on.
Anyway, I should have known. I can’t believe that I took off work for this. The hotel is nice enough. But, we have nothing to do. How many times can you walk through the gardens? How many ways can Elga explain that her great grandmother found this patch of land? She was a brave woman that fought off any man that tried to claim her stake. I wish that we could go to the mall. I’d even go for a movie. The TV in our room doesn’t have basic cable. We can’t get HBO. I missed the Soprano’s. I guess Lisa is going to have to catch me up when I get back. The tour is ok. There is nothing really to see.
It isn’t a romantic garden. It isn’t the type that you would like to stroll through, or leisurely sit a spell. There are flowers here that I never heard of. They are in colors that seem weird for flowers: grey, orange, almost sunset is what Elga called it. Elga said that her great grandmother named each flower personally.

I ran out of time.

Last but not least, I revised my resume. I am always in the market for a bigger and better opportunity. Here is a copy of it, in case you know of, or happen to come upon, an opportunity:

Seasoned professional with 7 years of experience in Executive Support
Strong background in administration, project and budget management
Proven success in coordinating meetings and managing projects

Executive Assistant: Verizon, Baltimore, MD 4/2003–Present
§Personnel Administration: Support the Regional Operational Support Executive Director, two Directors and their Executive Teams of 35 employees. Manage personnel files and initiate and track requests, such as lateral moves, employee separations, spending accounts, vacation and sick leave.
§Budget Management: Process vouchers and corporate card and supplier bills.
§Project Management: Promote Sell One More Lead, a program that encourages employees to refer customers, via producing a monthly report on its success, distributing marketing materials and coordinating representation at Technical Symposiums. Create publicity displays and collect and track donations for the Pajama Program, a program that provides pajamas for homeless children during the holidays, in Verizon locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region.
§Event Planning: Orchestrate all logistics associated with management meetings for employees from four states. Establish vendor contracts, determine appropriate layout and create presentation materials via Excel and PowerPoint. Planned the Regional Operations Support Leadership Conference for 45 attendees. Won a Recognition Award for Coordination of ROS Leadership Conference.
§Technology: Work with technical team to resolve software and hardware customer issues with the Promise System, a database designed to process vendor bills, in the Potomac Region. Document problems and perform audits of the system to ensure accuracy. Serve as sole point-of-contact to gain access to databases. Troubleshoot and solve any accessibility issues for hundreds of users. Coordinate installation, maintenance and movement of computer equipment and phone lines.

Administrative Assistant: Verizon, Washington, DC 11/1999–4/2003
§Personnel Administration: Trained 10 employees on company programs, bill paying systems and ordering product and services systems. Managed the distribution and processing of recognition awards for department. Orchestrated all logistics associated with the office move of 35 employees. Developed weekly scheduling system for two work locations. Determined vacation, professional development training and volunteer availability.
§Budget Management: Corrected vouchers that were inappropriately coded during a six-month period in 2002. As a result, over $60,000 was reallocated to the proper department. Coached colleagues on how to correctly code future vouchers. Processed vouchers and corporate card bills for management.
§Marketing: Selected content and lay out and edited and managed production of company publication. Negotiated with corporate graphics to print the publication at no charge, saving Verizon approximately $700 per month in its expense budget.
§Technology: Provided all data for DC/Western MD’s GPS, Global Positioning System database and served as point-of-contact for GPS data and swapping of vehicles from one district to another. Reorganized acquisition and divestment of company vehicle system to distribute information via spreadsheets.

AWARDS & SERVICE
Recognition Award for “Going Above and Beyond” 2006
Recognition Award for Coordination of ROS Leadership Conference 2005
Verizon Team Player Award 2004
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from Galway Elementary School 2002

EDUCATION & SKILLS
B.A. English/Mass Communications, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 5/1994
MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Adobe PageMaker I & II and Adobe Photoshop I
Expertise in creating newsletters and technical writing


Catch you next time,
Kenya

|

It has been a pretty uneventful day; I laid on the couch and took medicine. I have developed a cough but seemed to have let go of my other symptoms. Never the less I am grateful for the opportunity to rest and for a couch to lie on. Tomorrow, we are back on the daily grind. I will be getting to bed at a decent time to wake up early enough not to rush myself in the morning. Thank you Lord that it is a short work week.

Scripture of the Day
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
-Psalm 9:8-10


Prayer of the Day
Almighty and holy God, I want to glorify you and bring you praise in the choices that I make, the people that I influence, the words that I speak, and the actions that I take in this coming year. I know that I am not guaranteed a single new day, but I want each one that I live to be a day I have lived for your glory and honor and praise. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.
-Prayer by Phil Ware -

|