Things I love...Easter Edition!

I will be hosting Easter brunch/dinner for my entire family this Sunday. I love to entertain but rarely get the opportunity. I have a very small house so much of the party will be held outside in the backyard. I went on pinterest to get some decorating ideas.

Things I love:
Pastel Flower Arrangements

Golden and Metallic Eggs

http://segretosecrets.squarespace.com/segreto/2013/3/24/an-elegant-easter.html

http://beautyandbedlam.com/diy-creating-beautiful-easter-baskets/

http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/612477/

marthastewart.com

I actually found a box of easter egg dye to paint and dye homemade eggs like this. 

A beautifully set table (Indoors or Outside):

http://blog.terrysfabrics.co.uk/2013/03/27/elegantly-entertaining-at-easter/

Found this website artdefete.com that has the most beautiful Easter decorations in purple and blue. 

I'm busy dreaming up things to do and write and create!

Is this the wrong time to start an online business? I hope not. With the recent revelation that the Heartbleed Bug compromised privacy and passwords on countless websites, I can't help wondering if people will take a break from shopping online.  If folks do take a break, it will probably be short lived. Internet stores are here to stay. Whether it is the sale of physical goods that will be mailed; payment for services such as classes or consultations; or the selling of downloadable material such as books and manuals; the internet is likely generating billions of dollars of revenue for businesses. 

I've been researching how to set up an online store or website. I'm really excited to learn some new skills and keep my mind active as I progress through my 50th year. Sigh! I feel old and unappreciated. Teenage kids aren't listening to me. Hubby ain't interested in what I've go to say either.  The folks at work...well you know how that goes. They only listen if its gossip or it involves some work that they don't want to do or help with. Okay, lemme stop!

Sometimes I feel a little blue. But I'm okay. 

• I went out to a nice dinner with some 30 co-workers last night at Pican Restaurant in Oakland. It turned out to be a very nice networking event in a private room in the back of the restaurant. The best part it was free because it was sponsored by one of our clients. Woo hoo! Although Tracey and I each purchased a $9 rum punch during the Happy Hour. The portions were very generous and we all had a doggy box to take home. 
• Learned some new skills like how to create a free QR code and how to set up a text marketing campaign.
• I picked one perfect yellow rose in my garden and set it on my table so that I can see it when I work. Love roses.
• I exercised today. The yoga class was starting after the mix it class I took but hubby and daughter wanted to get home to watch their televisions shows. I will have to drive or better yet take a day off tomorrow to go to the morning yoga. Hmm...
• I checked out 7 business/ success books from the library this week. 
• I got back the scores from one of the writing contest I entered. One of the judges gave me a darn near perfect score. The other two were the equivalent of A- grades. I got marked down because I needed to add commas just about everywhere. I guess it would have helped if I sent the pages to my critique group before I sent it off to the contest. So basically I didn't win but the judges comments were encouraging. 

Gotta keep it moving. 

I discovered a new artist who was showcased at Pican Restaurant. The room was decorated with some beautiful embellished paintings by artist Kamala Peart. I love her paintings of ladies wearing beaded hats. There were no prices but I should have asked. Anyway, when I get my business off the ground then I'll be back to buy artwork. Check out the website for images of her work.

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Since I've been reading a bunch of networking and marketing books, I've decided to develop an e-course and possibly a handbook about networking. I'm thinking of a cutesy name for the book but haven't got all the detail together. 

Cute homemade book I found on pinterest.com

I'm planning on interviewing some of my author friends from RWA Black Diamonds Chapter and I know one editor who worked for Liquid Silver and now consults with Harlequins Carina Press. The editor has said yes. Yippee. 

I hope to interview my marketing and entrepreneurial idol and tranquil queen of multimedia promotion Kimberly Wilson. If you get a chance, check out her webpages. She offers e-course, writes book, sells clothing, perfume, makes podcasts, teaches yoga and blogs regularly. I'm probably forgetting something. Oh,yeah, she just introduced a new perfume last year. 

Anyway, back to my web store, I think I've found an option. Details and the big reveal to come soon.

I plan to offer and e-courses, workbook/ebooks to accompany them and maybe a couple of youtube videos. Of course there will also be the Ship and Shore Lifestyle section which includes all kinds of tips about cruising as well as the Mrs P.A. Moore elegant ship and shore swimsuit cover ups. 

As I mentioned in an older post on my 2014 goals,  one of my aspirations for the year was to start and plus size swim cover up business or at least get a business plan together. I've jumped right to getting the website together.  I'm looking for design . 

I haven't forgotten about my romance writing which is my other passion. I would like to work on promoting myself a little more and as I mentioned above I got some great feedback from one of the contests I entered last month. Still waiting to hear from the other contest. 

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 I'm excited that my college aged daughter is coming home from college for a few days during her spring break. She is graduating in May 2014. Yeah! She hasn't been as agressive as I would like about looking for jobs but a 49 year old woman can tell a 22 year old woman NOTHING. Same goes for 16 year old young woman. Neither of my daughters want ANY advice about anything I have to say. SIGH! The don't want to hear anything about men, money, make-up. NOTHING.

Okay I need to stop again.  Deep breathe! They're good girls.

~*~*~

So, I've got a lot of things in the pipeline and trying to focus on getting a small business started, finishing at least one full manuscript or two novellas and taking my entire family on a cruise after Christmas this year. 

Happy Easter!