Ezday

Using Facebook To Generate Leads

Social networking sites were originally formed with the intention of building friendships and networks of like minded social contacts. However, there is no avoiding the fact that these same websites also offer businesses the opportunity to improve their exposure and increase their search engine rankings. Many of the big search engines treat links from these social networking sites as being powerful links and they form a very strong link profile for any business related website. One of the key aspects of any social media optimization strategy is to genuinely get involved and not just needlessly and ineffectively spam the sites.

Be Ethical

Spam is a problem in virtually every aspect of the Internet. As well as being a major problem for regular email users, forum spam, blog spam, and MySpace spam have become increasingly common and infuriatingly frustrating. Users of social sites have become near experts in ignoring the irrelevant comments because they use social sites in order to find relevant information and talk to like minded people. The key to success with Facebook, like any social networking site, is to provide what the users want – relevant information.

Building A List Of Targeted leads

Finding targeted leads is the most profitable method of building a powerful network. Facebook offers access to a large number of topic related groups that you can access and join. Find the topisc that are most relevant to your business where you can become an active community member. Generally speaking, the more targeted the group and the more active you are, the better you will fare in your promotional efforts.

Your Profile Page

Set up your profile so that it helps to promote your business in a positive manner. Having a profile opens up various useful features in Facebook but above all else it will be the one page that other users visit if they want to find out more about you or your service. By all means include a link or a small number of links to your sites but don’t get carried away.

Keep Your Network Updated Regularly

Once you have a network of feeds you can contact them all by updating your Facebook notes. These updates will appear in your friend’s RSS feeds. Do be careful when using this feature, though, because while it is a genuinely useful way to gain a direct line to potential leads, the posting of too many sales based or irrelevant posts can quickly deplete your network.

Sell Products On The Facebook Marketplace

The Facebook marketplace is particularly beneficial for those businesses that sell tangible products. If you are primarily an Ebay business, or you run an ecommerce store, you can promote your items for free in the marketplace giving you greater exposure and potentially improving your sales figures and profit levels.

Create A Facebook Application To Promote Your Brand

By creating a Facebook application you promote your business in several ways. First, other users will be more inclined to add you as a friend if your application is useful. They may also send details of your application to their own network – this style of viral marketing can generate a lot of interest for very little money. Users will also build a greater degree of trust in your service because you have offered them something genuinely useful. They will remember your name, the name of your service, and they will instinctively know how to find you online – you can pay thousands of dollars for a branding campaign this effective but Facebook offers the same advantage for free.

Why Use Facebook To Promote Your Business?

Facebook has grown in popularity very quickly. Many of the users are young adults and professionally minded people, rather than the predominantly teenage crowd that frequent MySpace. More businesses get actively involved in the Facebook community too. Facebook also offers tools and features that are more in tune with the business than some of the other big social networking sites.



By: Omaro Ailoch

About the Author:

Chat Line: Its Relevance to Establishing Friendships

Razor asked:

Useful Life Skills for the 21st Century

There are a multitude of useful life skills that one could think of, but the ones I want you to think about here are the ones just about anyone can master to some degree – the mental attitudes and skills that humans can learn that ease their passage through life – the oil that allows the engine to run smoothly.

In this context they are thus not skills in the sense of being able to lay bricks or do a heart transplant – rather these useful life skills are in fact life principles because they can be applied with equal effectiveness to a wide variety of areas in our lives – such as relationships, business, friendships, money, marriage and so on.

Although these useful life skills are probably better recognised in today’s world, they have been around since the dawn of mankind, and have been used by man either deliberately or unwittingly ever since. Personal energy, goals, perception, awareness, perseverance and so on are life skills that man has learned, developed and used throughout history to win wars, make great fortunes, make life changing scientific discoveries etc.

By becoming aware of some of these useful life skills, and utilising them in your day-to-day life, one starts seeing the world in a different light. Problems become opportunities; the impossible becomes possible; in short life can become exciting and invigorating again.

Of course it is one thing to be aware of the existence of these useful life skills and quite another to apply them on a consistent and on-going basis to maximise the results you want. Life tends to get in the way and because we are dealing with mental perceptions and attitudes, there is nothing physical to hang your hat on and work at and so it is quite easy to let the opportunity quietly slip away out of your conscious mind.

And that would be a big pity because while it takes effort (another useful life skill) to maintain the concentration necessary to make these useful life skills part and parcel of your everyday life, the rewards more than justify the effort in the long run.

So, what are some of these useful life skills that we can utilise to improve our lives. Let us pick one – perception – and have a brief look at how this simple life principle can have a profound effect on your life.

Perception is how we look at and interpret events. Our interpretation influences our reaction which in turn creates an outcome. If we are aware of this chain of events, then we can consciously influence our perception and therefore choose a response that will result in a favourable outcome for us.

The trick here is to understand that our knee jerk perception and response to an event might not create the best outcome for us. Luckily we can train our minds to hold fire and consider how best to perceive the event and then to offer a response. This response will almost always have better consequences than our “original “response.

The funny thing about most useful life skills is that they are very simple in concept but hugely powerful when applied consistently.

The tragedy for many people in this age of complicated technology is that they don’t believe anything will work unless it is devilishly complicated. I hope you know better.

Tips and Tricks to Mix and Match: How to Date

Tips and tricks to mix and match: how to date

Being a newbie to dating as a woman is a frightening task. There is a dreaded fear of meeting an axe murderer or some creepy freak just waiting to stalk you. It has become hard for men to meet women and visa versa. The older you get, the harder it gets to meet that special someone. People have lost the definition of love and romance. Time is fast paced and the rat race prevents any time for leisure let alone an opportunity to go love hunting.

SugaDate (www.sugadate.co.za ) provides a unique opportunity to meet your match. We have success stories that prove our success rate is apart from the other online match making sites. We go beyond the norm to provide you with safe tips on how to date and find that special someone. We wish you good luck on your love venture and hope you have loads of fun while seeking him or her.

Dating 10 safety tips and helpful hints: online dating



Make sure that you date someone in a public place always be safe

When seeking someone avoid someone who uses obscenity in his or her profile if it is love that you are after then anything that has sexual connotations added to his or her profile to be ignored, don’t even reply to their invitations.

Be honest with your potential date, don’t lie and don’t let him or her lie to you. For example, if the potential partner is a confessed alcoholic and you do not drink, that match will not work, stick to similarities and do not negotiate with your restrictions.

Do not lie about your age, you are only fooling yourself

Make absolutely certain you are not accidentally falling for a married man.

Do not give you cell number or address unless you completely feel you can trust your date

Friendship first, in most cases, not all, it is good to form a friendship first. A bit of chatting and getting to know someone before you meet can help

Always have your wingmen or wing lady or someone you can rely on to phone you and check on how the date is going; you can always use the call as an excuse to get out of the date if it turns out to be a huge disappointment.

Always follow your gut. When in doubt, go without. If you are feeling slightly unsure about going on a date with a certain person, it is usually best to follow that feeling.

Do not allow them to buy you a drink unless you can see it being poured



If you have followed these tips, dress up, relax and go have fun on your date. Feel free to comment or if you have any questions we can do our best to answer you. Happy dating!

www.sugadate.co.za



By: SugaDaddy

About the Author:

Bridesmaid Dresses Your Friends Will Love

Cynthia Andrews asked:


Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a great honor but it can sometimes be frustrating when it comes to picking out a dress. When it comes to choosing a dress, you need to consider the material, beading, and color she may choose. So, as a new bride-to-be, consider the feeling that you have had yourself, if you were ever a bridesmaid, and think about them when choosing their dresses.

We all know that your wedding day is your day to shine, but you also want your best friends to look beautiful. Choosing bridesmaid dresses that your friends love can do wonders for your wedding, and your friendships. When shopping for bridesmaid dresses just keep the following tips in mind and you are bound to be their favorite bride.



Consider Your Bridesmaids’ Sizes and Skin Tones

It is a great idea to find a style and color that flatters a wide range of sizes and skin tones. Remember, your bridesmaids may not all be the same shape, build, or have the same complexion. Everyone is different and what looks good on you may not look good on all of your friends. Just imagine if you have a bridesmaid that is voluptuous, another who is thin. They may not all look good in something that is very clingy and low-cut.

Your best bet is to avoid jumping on the trend bandwagon and thinking about how your beloved bridesmaids may look and feel in the dress. You do not want to choose a dress that may make any of them feel self-conscious or out of place. A simple, elegant dress it the way to go. Communication is important during this process because you can ask your bridesmaids about the types of dress they look best in and plan from there. By seeing examples of dresses that they already own, you should have a better idea of which dress to choose for the wedding. This is another excellent way to ensure that your bridesmaids are comfortable during the celebration.



Consider Price

The bridesmaids typically pay for their own dresses and this is why is best to look for something elegant but not overly expensive. A good way to begin choosing a dress is to ask each of your bridesmaids what they may feel comfortable spending on the dress and work from there. Try to keep the dresses at a price that everyone can afford. You can also pick a day to spend with your friends to discuss this important aspect of the wedding. During this meeting, you can browse the internet, bridal magazines or bridal catalogs to find a dress that matches everyone’s budget. This is a great option to consider because you know that everyone participated in making the final decision.

Finding bridesmaid dresses that your friends may use again is an excellent way of maximizing their expenditures. It is even better if the dress is gorgeous and flattering. If so, the girls generally do not mind spending the money on something they can use again. If the dress is something they may end up throwing away, you have only wasted your friends’ money.



Consider the Bridesmaids’ Opinions

Do not be afraid to ask your friends what they think of different bridesmaid dress options. You may go shopping with them for other clothes and shoes, so why not involve them in the bridesmaid dress shopping. An interesting option is to let your bridesmaids choose a dress that flatters their figure but keeps within your overall color and fabric scheme. You may lose uniformity, but your bridal party should be comfortable and happy.

Always think about how your friends will look and feel and you can avoid choosing a dress they do not like by taking them shopping with you. Exchange emails with links to different dress styles you have found online. Consider their thoughts, opinions, and feelings because you know they would do the same for you.

Happy Bridesmaids Make Happy Wedding Memories

In order to have the most success with your bridesmaids, always remember to discuss your expectations with your bridesmaids and to listen to theirs. It is also ideal to shop together for the dresses or stay in contact through email to share ideas and styles and do so with plenty of time before the wedding.

You may thank yourself later on when you have found a bridesmaid dress that your friends are going to love. Choosing a dress that makes everyone feel good makes your friends happy and comfortable. They may feel just as special as you since they are able to help you out with dress style that they all agreed to wear. Remember, your bridesmaids are not only your best girlfriends, but also your support system throughout the wedding planning and the big day itself!

Dating Tips

Confessions of Every Man’s “Dream Woman

According to Michael P. Johnson, professor of sociology at Penn State, there are three things that keep a person in a marriage: people want to stay, they feel they ought to stay, and/or they have to stay. This combination of personal, moral, and structural commitment serves to keep people in marriages.

Notice that commitment keeps people in marriage–not happiness. Dr. Ted Huston of the University of Texas Austin studied couples from courtship to marriage. His ten-year-plus study exploded many popular misconceptions about love. For example, he found that many recently wed couples did not experience newlywed bliss; in fact, couples whose marriages began with “Hollywood romance” intensity soon burned out. A couple expecting wedded bliss every day of their lives was actually more likely to divorce than a couple with a less exciting relationship, because they were more likely to consider divorce when those intense feelings subsided. Does that mean that less exciting, even lackluster relationships last? They do indeed, perhaps because they have less far to fall.

Research shows that unhappy periods in a marriage are not indicative of future unhappiness. In fact, one study showed that 86% of unhappily married couples who stayed with their marriage were happier five years later–three fifths of whom were “quite” or “very happy.”

According to the 2004 “State of Our Unions” report by the National Marriage Project, the percentage of married people 18 or older who said that their marriage was very happy has declined over the last quarter century, from about 69% in the mid 1970s to 64% for men and 60% for women today. That’s less than two-thirds of the married population who considers themselves very happy in their relationship. Clearly, you don’t have to be blissfully in love or very happy for your relationship to last. What do you need?

It’s not love and luck. It’s commitment and companionship. Commitment means that you have powerful personal, moral, and structural reasons to stay in the relationship. Companionship means that you and your partner form a unified team against whatever challenges life hands you. Team members may fight, disagree, and encounter stalemates, but they know that their happiness and satisfaction in life depends on the success of the team–not on their individual success.

When Marriage Fails … Who and How

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not men who seek divorce. It’s women, by an overwhelming majority. The reasons for this are varied. Part of it is the nature of divorce laws; another part is the fact that men tend to have more problems with marriage-destroying behaviors like alcoholism, affairs, and substance abuse, that cause their wives to seek separation.

Divorce is hard on everyone. The damage divorce causes to children is usually worse than the damage caused by living in a two-parent home with marital difficulties. This is contrary to the popular belief that children are better off if their parents divorce rather than live together. Studies show that only in a minority of high-conflict situations is this true.

After a divorce, a woman’s standard of living can be expected to drop while a man’s standard of living may actually improve. Yet men suffer in other ways. Divorced and separated men are two and a half times more likely to commit ******* than married men. This is partially due to the fact that men, unlike women, are less likely to have a strong support network to share their feelings. Whether due to this need for companionship or not, divorced men are more likely to remarry than divorced women, and they’re more likely to remarry sooner.

Who Has the Real Power in a Relationship

Regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, whether you pay the bills or stay at home, or whether you need your spouse more than your spouse needs you, there is only one person in control of any relationship. That person has the power to turn a relationship around or run it into the ground. And that person usually never realizes how much power he/she wields until it is too late.

That person is you.

You have the choice to either react to the situation you’re in (by complaining about your marriage, allowing yourself to be swamped by negative emotions, or feeling out of control), or to take responsibility and choose your actions. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can hurt you without your consent.”

Even if you cannot change your partner’s behavior, you can choose how you respond to that behavior. You can internalize the blame, the hurt, and the criticism, or you can take responsibility for your own feelings and choose to act the way you want to feel.

Think again about that last concept. You should act the way you want to feel. If you want to feel more loving towards your spouse, act more loving. If you want to feel happier in your marriage, smile more and express gratitude for the good things in your marriage. It’s one of the strangest aspects of human psychology that the more you act the way you want to feel (thankful, peaceful, loving, affectionate, etc.) the more you will begin to feel that way.

Few people realize this. When a marriage begins to crumble, their first instinct is to act out their emotions. They feel hurt, so they lash out. They feel criticized, so they become defensive. They feel vulnerable, so they close up. These are reactions, not actions. Your feelings should NOT make you act in ways that you don’t want to.

You have the power to transform your marriage, even if your partner doesn’t want to. That’s because your behavior has an enormous influence on your partner, to the point that married people actually grow alike over time. We can’t help but pick up our partner’s moods, preferences, and ways of saying certain things. If you transform yourself–your attitude, the way you communicate, how often you show love and affection–your partner will be incapable of resisting. A happy, fulfilling relationship begins with you. And in the next part of this mini-course, I’ll show you how to start achieving it.

For an excellent resource and further information, visit Amy Waterman’s – Save My Marriage Today

Dating & Relationship Advice For Today’s Singles

Online

I’ve been giving free online dating advice because I have two objectives – to make sure you are successful with your online dating, and to make sure you stay safe. For starters, the best online services are nerve.

People

Most people get involved with their exes again, and live happily for a few months. While it used to be that successful matches made online, the ones where marriage resulted, were the things of headlines and tabloids, that’s not the case these days where more and more people are meeting online, forming fast friendships and then turning those connections romances that work.

Date

One of the most recurring mental blocks men face before they date is their eagerness to plunge into a deep, stable and unbreakable relationship. After all, this is your first date and the two of you are getting to know each other.

Person

Dating has often been called a “game” because each person is trying to figure out what the other person wants out of the relationship. There are sites for nearly every type of person and lifestyle out there and you will find at least one that suits you perfectly.

Yourself

- Calm yourself by telling yourself you’re excited, not nervous. In short, I’m talking about opening yourself up to a life that embraces Mr. What’s the point of spending money to join, spending time to write a profile, spending time answering a questionairre, only to eliminate yourself from 95% of those searching for you.

Relationship

In essence, courtship is a word that has been applied to describe the biblical basis for the relationship leading up to marriage. So needless to say, I did not listen to my husband, but thought because I had such an open relationship with my daughter and we had been talking about *** since she was 13 years old that she would never have ***…I was very, very wrong.

Love

Women love to laugh. And they are not as keen on actual jokes as men often are – they prefer spontaneous wit and they love to be gently teased. Women love charm, so long as it is natural, cool and unpretentious.

Meet

Your friends start trying to fix you up and you begin to consider going out to meet new people… of the opposite ***. Online dating and personals sites are great ways to meet a variety of people all over the world, but with such convenience it’s easy to lose control.

Single

Women often grumble about the inventory of single men saying, “There are no good men available. I spoke with eight single men in their 40’s who are members of a local dating service. What percentage of single people find bars and dance clubs a useful way to meet other single people.

Internet

If you ever plan on actually meeting people in person from Internet dating services, then be honest. Online Dating is drawing more and more people to the Internet in search of love, but the abundance of dating sites can be confusing for many.

Friends

Women tend to be more person-centred than men are – they love to have lots of friends – and you should have some women as friends for that reason: they will introduce you to their women friends. It involves the initial contact, the getting to know you, the first meeting, the second and subsequent dates, the first kiss, the first moment of true intimacy, sharing hopes and dreams, introducing friends and family, daily contact, blah, blah, blah.

Services

To-date websites offering dating services whether for the same cultural individuals or not, can be found scattered on the web. The concept of dating services is nothing new; it has a history of its own. Their services remain limited to the circulation of the paper.

Singles

You will find regular Speed Dating events in most major cities up and down these countries, and most singles usually go back for more. With so many singles still afraid to try online dating chances are they could end up staying single.

Dates

Gay males and females can find a plenty of options for dates on these sites. Not only will individuals be able to save some money this way; but they would also be able to impress their dates by including some of their favorite foods in the picnic basket.

Profile

This means you pay to view profiles and to have your profile matched with potential dates. I placed my profile on several sites and surveyed the marketplace. Never include your last name, home address, phone number, place of employment, email address or any other identifying information in your profile or initial messages.

Success

With each ticking second your anticipation grew as you weighed the odds of success versus the usually greater odds of rejection and the added embarrassment of looking like a jerk. Let me tell you how you can get big success on your first date itself.

Questions

Sometimes when I read some questions posted by people on dating on forums, I find curious phenomena. Ask simple questions that will help uncover a person’s passions. Thinking about the answers to these questions and concerns, I came up with a well-received presentation, which I’ll highlight here:

Conversation

The sum of the conversation is that “Christian Dating” is a territory that needs more attention simply because of the secularist ideas of dating that seem to market self- serving motives.

Successful

” Many of these sites boast of thousands of successful matches made in heaven and just as many marriages. If you are considering online dating, there are a few tips that can help make the experience a more enjoyable and successful one.

Speed

New research shows that singletons are flocking to speed dating events across the globe in their quest to find Mr or Ms right. Thinking about trying this new speed dating craze. The course and speed of the game is decided by her.

Message

But what most people don’t realise is that only around 10% of dating site members actually meet a long-term partner on their chosen site and a whopping 70% don’t even receive one message from another member. It’s quick to join them, it’s easy to message someone and because you know they are ‘looking’, you are speaking to someone that you already know is available.

Dating & Relationship Advice To Start You Off

Online

You will always here scaremonger stories of how it isn’t safe, and too many online dating services have fake profiles. Singles all over the world are looking for other avenues to find love, and with our online dating tips, you will be one step closer to meeting your future partner and possible soul mate.

People

Many people fall in love in the beginning because they found the shape of nose to be very cute or the laughter very attractive. This is usually what people see first. In my work as a Marriage and Family Therapist most of my practice has been working with couples, because after experiencing divorce growing up as a child, and again after a ten year first marriage, I decided that my mission is to help people have successful marriages and families, and I thought the best way to do that would be as a marriage counselor.

Date

I am very attracted to a man at work and would like to go out on a date with him. ‘Right,’ my date replied. One bad date does not define who you are.

On the first date be a little cautious about the questions you answer.

Person

It is in man’s nature to find his or her partner in life; unless of course the person has made a commitment to the “Single for Life Club”. The purpose of flirtation is to interest another person in you, so showing them what’s great about you is the way to go.

Yourself

Believing you need to make yourself more appealing to attract a partner. – Calm yourself by telling yourself you’re excited, not nervous. In short, I’m talking about opening yourself up to a life that embraces Mr.

What’s the point of spending money to join, spending time to write a profile, spending time answering a questionairre, only to eliminate yourself from 95% of those searching for you.

Relationship

In essence, courtship is a word that has been applied to describe the biblical basis for the relationship leading up to marriage. So needless to say, I did not listen to my husband, but thought because I had such an open relationship with my daughter and we had been talking about *** since she was 13 years old that she would never have ***…I was very, very wrong.

Meet

The advice that I will be offering you is simple and common sense tips that many singles should already know, or after reading this article, should understand what it takes to meet someone special online. Instead, meet in a public place during daylight hours.

Love

So why not pretend to be one of those experts, and tell them things they love to hear. Women love to hear this, from as many people as possible. Come to think of it, all of us as humans love to live in our own comfort zones.

Single

First Corinthians 7 instructs that single brothers and sisters be permitted to marry. I have one friend who was so jaded with regard to relationships and dating, that she had been single for about 3 years. What do single mothers do about dating when they have children at home?

Internet

Hooking up via the Internet is a common trend these days. An internet dating site with millions of members may sound great, but if only three members live anywhere within 1,000 miles of you, it might not be a good fit.

Services

Well, in the next few minutes you will read a comparison between online and offline US dating services and the writers’ opinion on the best dating services. Yet, there are certain services I would prefer paying for. In the huge pool of internet dating services, there are very decent dating sites with tens of thousands of members rather than millions of profiles, giving much better services than bigger dating sites, who are only concerned with their marketing campaign and their sales.

Friends

These are the friends I know for many years, and to me they seem like the type of people that any men or women would desire and be happy to meet, and date; the typical situation is going on numerous, endless blind and non-blind dates, and getting disappointed and many times crushed.

Singles

Before you attend the next singles event or share emails with someone on Match. Busy legitimate singles with limited time can readily meet other singles with similar interests for friendship, dating, or commitment purposes while online. Date up to twenty enthusiastic singles in one evening of whirlwind dating.

Dates

The perky hostess sympathized, saying that she knew of one successful man who had a rule for the women he dates: Half his age plus seven years. To be able to pick and choose and go through dates like they were calendar pages to be tossed away with each passing day.

Profile

If you have decided to find yourself an ideal partner through online dating sites then making a great profile is one of the first steps to achieve that. How to make your online Profile seductive and what to look for in other people profile to know if they are your type or not.

Success

They don’t think about getting success on the first date. Let me tell you how you can get big success on your first date itself. Yet don’t sabotage your success of possibly getting a yes by having an inner tendency to expect rejection.

Conversation

Confidence, self-perception, and the ability to hold a conversation and make a woman feel comfortable are all-important elements to succeeding with and attracting women. This didn’t require deep and complicated conversation but rather open honest words spoken in love and sincerity revealing the person.

Questions

Ask them questions about what they think about just before talking to a woman. You might like to ask questions like:. That means learning to listen – and to show you are listening by asking appropriate questions and using the right body language.

Speed

New research shows that singletons are flocking to speed dating events across the globe in their quest to find Mr or Ms right. Thinking about trying this new speed dating craze. The course and speed of the game is decided by her.

Successful

” Many of these sites boast of thousands of successful matches made in heaven and just as many marriages. Exuding the alpha male confidence is the first step in successful interactions with women, it’s very simple and isn’t a silly dating game.

Tips On Body Language for Successful Flirting

Male and female courtship signals have been studied, and the basic conclusions are that these signals are completely unconscious. The more you consciously understand the signals, the better and more successful you will be when courting the object of your desire, whether it is the man or woman of your dreams.

To master the art of successful flirting, you have to feel good about yourself first. Be confident. Be yourself, or else you will look deceitful or desperate. Flirting can be utilized in just about anything, not just in attracting the opposite sex, but also in attaining just about anything you want in your life. This can be described as good flirting. Good flirting should be done with a precise understanding of what you really want, coupled with positive sensations.

Here are their tips on how you can put good flirting to your advantage:

1. Don’t worry about whether you are making a good impression or not. Instead, analyze how you can make the other person feel good. By doing this, you will get the feedback you are expecting. Soon you will make the connection.

2. Flirting can help you make friends or impress a client if you make yourself approachable. Put a smile on your face, as it gives you an aura of being friendly.

3. Remember that you cannot attract people just by sitting or standing like a statue. There will be instances when you will encounter a person who gets a little bit too close for comfort feel, or someone who makes you feel you are already invading privacy. No matter what you do, you would get a so-called “vacuum” reaction. Tough one, huh? You can avoid this by using gentle moves and by calibrating the person’s reactions to you. Be aware of these signals: mouths get larger, the lips swell, eyes widen, pupils dilate, skin flushes and changes color, muscles around the mouth move, among others.

4. Be persistent. Flirting works best when you are patient. By being such, you will have room for improvement if at first you aren’t getting the results you want. If you fail the first time, do it again the second time, third time, just keep trying. Try different approaches until you realize what will really work best for you. If you were rejected, don’t give up. This goes with the sayings, “To err is human” and “Nobody’s perfect.”

5. This is probably for me the most interesting and somehow funniest tip I got: “Practice in the mirror, only then can you make it perfect!” This is especially true in meeting friends and prospects, because flirting may involve unwanted actions and attention which can put you in the bad light. You may be spontaneous in your actions, but you can’t guard yourself if you are already overdoing it, and I supposed you don’t want to be in that situation. Try practicing with your close friends and ask for feedback.

6. Make the first move! Opportunities knock only once, so if you want something or even someone, go for it, now! Let go of your inhibitions. But remember to apply positive or good flirting. Who knows if the person you meet at that moment is your gateway towards the fulfillment of your dreams.

Let Your Body Language Do The Flirting

Do you know why some people seem to have an easier time attracting the opposite ***? Here’s what you can to do in order to catch the eye of your Honey Bunch.

1. Smile sincerely and frequently. In his article “The Six Don Juan Commandments of Body Language,” Allen Thompson wrote that smiling is “The simplest, most obvious, and most powerful of the body language commandments.” He also mentions that “Smiling conveys, both instantly and clearly, many wonderful things about yourself. Smiling demonstrates confidence, friendliness, a positive attitude, a good mood, and it gives the impression that you’re someone who is, most likely, fun to be with. It’s also very difficult to ignore.”

2. Have a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at petty matters. People love to be with those who can turn any situation into a funny setting.

3. Maintain eye contact. Your eyes are probably the most expressive parts of your body. When you look at your dear one constantly, you are expressing your sincere intentions. Eye contact also establishes a bond between two persons. They would naturally feel more comfortable in each other’s company.

4. Nod your head. By nodding, you signify your approval and you encourage the other party to continue talking. You give reassurance that your loved one is doing ok.

5. Be open, physically. Do not cross your arms across the chest or hold obstructive objects (such as a food) between the two of you. Put your hands on your sides (and if possible put your palms up) to convey openness.

Fathers should be honored

Now adays fathers are not honored. The good fathers take a bad rap from the bad fathers. The truth is there is alot of hard working, caring and loving fathers out there. We should celebrate father’s day like we celebrate mother’s day.

Make father’s days a special day. Take him out to a baseball game, to a movie. Get him a unique gift. Something that shows he is special. Not just a father’s day card with just a signature.

Let’s not forget about our fathers. They also have to be reminded that they are doing a great job. Fathers are not perfect they also make mistakes. So if he needs to be forgiven, forgive him. What a great father’s day present that would be.

3 Questions To Ask Yourself If You’re Ready To Live Your Dream

One thing potential entrepreneurs continuously ask me is what should I be doing to get started? Should I be researching business ideas? Should I be writing a business plan? Where can I go to get inspiration on a business?

Where I would start is by asking yourself three questions. Now, If I were to ask you these three questions in person, I would ONLY share them with you if you promised to take action. Because if there was any ONE thing that I see lacking with most people who think they want to become wealthy and those who know that they are going to be and that is ACTION.

Here are the three questions you MUST ask yourself in order to make independence your own reality.

1. Are you serious about REALLY living your dream?

2. Are you on the right track to get where you want to be?

3. What can you do today get yourself closer to your dream?

That’s it? You mean that’s all you’re going to give me Benny? C’mon – there has got to be some super-secret recipe that you can tell me that will start me on my way, some ONE thing that will lead me on my path to millions?

One thing that I’ve also learned is that my path is completely different than anybody else’s. I tried to do things exactly as others before had done, and it just doesn’t work. Now, there are some similar things that have been done before and will surely work. But what you want and what somebody else wants are two completely different things. That is why you won’t hear me telling you how to do things.

I learned some time ago that this thing called your “Why” is what gets you going NOT the “How”. There are a ton of books by these so-called gurus that will tell you how to trade stocks, or show you how they made millions by doing an infomercial. I love learning how they did it, but it might not necessarily be for me.

Alright, I hear you out there. Please show me something! Do you really want to make a million dollars or more? Do you want to know a business that will, if you are serious, take time to educate yourself and make smart business moves, you can become successful? Okay, it’s Real Estate. It is time-tested and proven and I have several friends who are worth millions because of real estate.

Tell me , what’s your HONEST reaction? Was it something like “No kidding, I’m doing that already.” , “Oh, I could never fix toilets at 2:00 AM”, “Should I flip houses, buy and rent?” or was is “Real Estate – nah too hard.” The truth is real estate has created thousands of millonaires especially over the last 30 years, and personally, I’ve dipped my toe in it, but it doesn’t excite me. So for many people who are interested in real estate as their passion – this works! For me, I’ll probably buy some more real estate, because I know how to, but it won’t be my primary focus. How about you?

Now go back to the three questions above, it is so easy to glance over the questions, but here’s how you do it. Read question number one. “Are you serious about REALLY living your dream?” What is your life like today? Comfortable? Easy? Predictable? For many, the corporate culture creates an environment of “Just below acceptable”. You do a job that isn’t too hard. You make enough to enjoy life. You have a house, a car or two, take a vacation or two a year and that works. After all, everybody else is in the same boat right? So if you ask the question, are you serious? Many people will just say – NO. Because their lives are fine right now. Because of that fact, you can’t move forward – you’re not ready to go on. So while question number one may seem simplistic, it is the hardest question for MOST people to HONESTLY answer yes to.

Three simple questions. Three honest answers. That’s all it takes to get you started.

Learning How to Let Go

As a self styled phenomenologist I like to break things down to their smallest part. In my day job I also have a natural desire and policy to do less and earn more.

I semi retired seven years ago at the age of 52. I owned a very successful business and was working seven days a week and a short day was 10 hours. I had enough, and lost interest in the business. I closed it down and took a year and a half off.

During this time I set out on my journey of spiritual awareness, and I starting reading books and writing articles. I took on a day job to supplement my savings and income.

My career as a salesman allowed me lots of freedoms to do my writing and manage my web site that was growing bigger and more popular every day. The current writing and web site management take up a lot of my time. For the last five and a half years I have considered my writing and web site as my work and my day job as my paying hobby.

In our sales meetings and in one-on-one meetings with the owner, he has said that any salesman who is not on the job to make money first shouldn’t be in a sales job. He and I have had head to head combat with this philosophy. Although he may be correct in his opinion, he is plainly expressing a limited philosophy in my view. He simply does not understand my philosophy about my job and why I am there.

My present philosophy is really very simple, and is just the different path I like it. My response to his constant question about why I am there is multifold.

I need the divergence so I don’t die in front of my computer, and getting off my **** is a good thing. I need inspiration and an alternate environment-I am on the road four hours a day and in four to six homes five days a week. I am by nature very reclusive and shy, and I go out of my way to avoid people. However in my work, I am just the opposite. People don’t believe me when I tell them how introverted I am. The job provides me the chance to interact with people on their level and in the comfort of their homes. It is the connection I need with others.

Because I specialize in the study of manifesting, my job has given me great opportunity to consider how it works virtually. Over the years I have modified my selling approach many times to try and achieve and maintain my position on the job. I have been a trainer and a supervisor. I have been at the bottom and the top, and I have never been one to remain content with the status quo or to remain in the same position.

The job is a buffet of opportunities for me to write about my experiences and the different individuals I work with. I have run the gammed of emotions on the job. I have been given other opportunities to help and I seldom turn them down when asked.

It is the perfect job for me-not for the money-but for all the other opportunities it brings to me. I have discovered a gold mine, and have gained great insight into how to manifest what I desire.

Finally after nearly six years on the job, I have adapted a philosophy and have made a great discovery about my favourite subject.

The owner and I have made a straightforward agreement about the percentage that he will pay me. I have no issues with that. He has guaranteed me four qualified leads a day and sometimes as many as six. We also agreed I could have more if I wanted them. Between the leads that are generated by the telemarketers, I also receive referrals and office leads (customers who have phoned in).

My job definition is quite very simple-just sell. My new approach as to how I maintain my job and give the boss what he wants is even simpler. I do as little as possible.

I believe if I do my job effectively, I will have all that I desire from it and the bonus reward will be a paycheck that will reflect my initiative. My focus now, as it was in the outset, is not about the money. The money will come when the job is done. I learned over the years to stop counting the money or worrying about how much I have sold and how close I am to getting bonuses and duly achieving my targets. I try not to think about cancellations, break-downs and human error. My new thoughts are-just do the job-the money will come.

I have been able to demonstrate this philosophy and it is working. I am doing less and the money is getting better. I am not trying to control the current situation any longer-in fact I try to forget about the situation and give it little thought. I still have to catch myself periodically from counting or watching over my numbers. Things are happening in my job of which I have no jurisdiction over that is making my job easier.

We are now in the off season for our products and services. The telemarketers are having difficulty supplying the salespeople with leads and we are sitting on the side of the road for hours-waiting. I am now making more money and doing less. I am making money by just sitting on the side of the road waiting for leads.

Because there are now fewer leads, the office manager is phoning previous customers and booking my calls from an old database. The closing rate on these leads is about 85% as apposed to a closing rate of about 50% on the cold calls. He is working harder and I am sitting on the side of the road for most of my shift and earning more money. I have no conscious control over these events. However, at a subconscious level I am participating in the manifesting of them.

I was asked this week not to come into the sales meetings in the morning. I have always been apposed to them as I don’t see them as informative or motivating. When I first started we had a meeting every day. I made so much noise over the years; I got them down to twice a week. Now I don’t have to go in at all. Yesterday I was given the choice to come in or not-it has now become my choice-I think once a week is perfect.

I love this job, it is now working for me, and I am not working for it. I started off working 6 hours a day, six days a week. I am now working four hours a day and five days a week. All the opportunities are there for me-they just keep coming.

There is only one thing I have to do, and that is sell. The job, the money and all the others things I cherish about the job will take care of themselves. They will not, only when I try to control them. As far as the money goes, I have a clear desire about what I require to receive at the close of the pay period. Between the beginning of the pay period and the end of it, I will do little to try and control how I get it.

My philosophy is working-the boss gets what he wants in the end, and so do I. It’s the perfect marriage. This article, hundreds more, and my books are all an outcome of this philosophy. It has been the greatest gift from my job. It is worth much more than the money I am earning.

My success is manifested by a desire and my own unique perspective. This philosophy may not work for others. There are some who would completely disagree with what I have written, and yet I am living proof that it has worked.

We are all great manifesters, few of us realize it, and once we try to understand the process our thoughts often get in the way of how it should work. We trip over our own feet. Keep it simple-do your job and take advantage of the opportunities which you are drawing to yourself.

If I was really wise, I would stop writing about these things. Just the very act of writing about it, changes it. Being true to my nature I must look deeper and by doing so, I am going to stick my foot in my mouth. However, this is going to create another opportunity for another article.

By doing less in my job and earning more, I have created the opportunity to do more with my writing and that is what I enjoy the most. I have also become more aware of opportunities and choices.

It is important to understand that by doing less, I don’t mean being irresponsible. I simply mean if you take full responsibility for your job and know the results of your work, it will bring you what you desire-you will work less and earn more.

If you try to maintain control of the steps to your goal-you will eventually lose site of it. If you let go, the probable opportunities will come to you, and then it is simply about making good choices.



By: Rilwan B Motolani

About the Author:

10 Parenting Tips For Elementary-Age Children

Colleen Langenfeld asked:


Do you have a child between the ages of 5 and 9? That special season is a time of enormous growth and development and can be a whirlwind to observe. I am privileged to be parenting my fourth elementary-age child. Here are some of my favorite 10 parenting tips for early school-age kids.

1. It’s a big world.

The first few years of school are exciting and stressful. Learning how to listen to adults besides mom and dad and being on their own for several hours each day is a tremendous leap forward in a child’s life. As a parent, keep in mind this transition your child is moving through and be patient and understanding.

2. Give them your confidence.

A child this age often will doubt his abilities. Sometimes he will verbalize this lack of self-confidence; sometimes it stays his little secret. You can help him by sharing your own confidence in his abilities with him. Be matter-of-fact about his talents and express your utter confidence in him, even if you have your own set of concerns.

3. Be interested.

What is your child learning about school? How did recess go? What is her favorite part of school? What is bugging her? Staying interested in your child’s daily life goes a long ways towards establishing a healthy on-going relationship.

4. Friendships count.

An elementary-age child is learning a lot about friendships. What works and frustratingly, what doesn’t. They are also learning that families operate differently; what is a vital rule in your own family may not matter at all in another family. Learning that people do things differently is an important lesson at this stage.

5. Talk values.

This is the age to solidify what values are important to your family with your child. Ideas such as:

- We are kind. Why is this important?

- We are fair, even when others are not.

- We tell the truth, even when it gets us into trouble.

These important concepts MUST be cemented in your child now if you want him to live by them when he gets to the teen years.

6. Don’t overload.

In this day of multiple after school activities, it’s easy to pile on too much for the average primary-schooler. Her main ‘job’ is school, so give adequate time, space and support to homework. Once that is finished, free playtime is important at this age as most kids spend several hours a day sitting at a desk and being quiet.

7. Family time is a priority.

Daily dinnertime together, a weekly game night, chores done as a team, a quiet time reading or enjoying music together, playing sports as a family; any of these ideas and many, many more are great ways to foster a sense of family in your home. Make sure you make together-time a priority.

8. Celebrate the team.

Kids this age need to know they are a part of something bigger than themselves and the family structure can fill that need beautifully. Worshipping, playing and working together are smart ways to build your family’s strength for the years ahead as well as enjoy each other today.

9. Have a family ‘thing’.

Drawing on parenting tip #8, decide on a fun hobby the whole family can enjoy and jump right in. You can bike, go camping, build model trains, raise bunnies, volunteer in your community, or investigate the stars together. Trust me, nothing will build family memories easier or better than a shared family hobby.

10. Teach personal responsibility.

This parenting tip is vital for your child’s long-term well-being. And it’s simple enough to instill. Chores, homework and learning new skills like musical instruments or sports activities are excellent ways to teach your school-aged child more and more about being responsible for himself and his possessions.

Now you have 10 parenting tips for elementary-age children. Each one of these tips has been time-tested in my home and thousands of other homes over the years. These parenting tips work…but only if you PUT them to work with your family. Enjoy your family more by taking the guesswork out of parenting. Establish these simple guidelines and reduce your parenting stress load today.

Avoiding Disaster – How to Choose an SEO Firm

Ben Kemp asked:


There has been a flurry of entrants into the Search Engine Optimisation market in the past year or so. Judging by the horrendous rates some are charging, money rather than service seems to be the main motivation. Judging by the horror stories from clients who have arrived on my doorstep after being ripped off by sharp operators, in some instances there is evidence of a serious deficiency in both ethics and skills in some cases.

I have a new client who spent almost $30,000 last year, with no work having been done on the actual site, no evidence of link increases, and according to traffic statistics, site visitors have gone DOWN by 60% – so read the following sections carefully.

So, how do you choose an SEO firm to entrust your business to? I believe that there are some simple checks to put in place before committing yourself to any SEO proposal, no matter how attractive it might seem.

How To Shorten Your SEO Short List The following sections list a few ways you can find some potentially good SEO firms, and also eliminate some dodgy ones and thus reduce your chances of being disappointed.

How Well Does Their Own Site Rank? Do a search for search engine optimisation, seo rates and/or seo firm on the country-specific version of each of the big 3 major search engines – e.g. Google.co.nz, Yahoo.co.nz or XtraMSN.co.nz. Alternatively, go to the main Google.com etc site, and search for nz seo, seo rates, or new zealand search engine optimisation (or your own country-specific version of those). The market SEO has become very competitive out there, but you should expect the SEO business you are contemplating doing business with to be on Page One on each search engine! If not, drop them from the list of possibles, because how much help could they possibly be to you? A list of 3-5 potential firms should quickly emerge from this process.

Request For Proposal From your initial research, you should have a list of contenders you are considering entrusting your business to. Contact each, and request a site review. This will invariably result in a detailed analysis of your site, and a proposal which sets out what remedial action is required and an indicative costing to achieve this. Having now received a series of these, apply the following criteria against each one.

Guaranteed Inclusion in Google/Yahoo/MSN If an SEO firm offers a guarantee of inclusion into any major search engine, or assures you that they have a special relationship with a search engine, immediately drop them from the list of possibles. Frankly, search engines simply do not enter into such relationships. That would be as likely as a close friendship between a poacher and a gamekeeper!

What Are They Proposing? There are two key ingredients to web site optimisation, and if both are not assessed and addressed, drop the SEO firm’s proposal from the list of possibilities!

The first is on-site optimisation of individual pages to improve organic or natural search engine rankings. This involves keyword research with associated analysis of the business products and services. This is the most important aspect because it delivers ongoing traffic which is essentially free after the initial work is carried out.

The second key element is link analysis and recommended remedial action. Basically, the more links to your site from trusted sites carrying high page rank, the better. Insufficient links means your site is not worth indexing. Proposals to increase your 1-way back-links from web directories and other trusted sites are good. However, should there be any suggestions for participation in link propagation schemes, or place main emphasis on reciprocal link strategies etc, drop the SEO firm from your list because they are not up to date with current best practice.

Google Adwords & Yahoo Search Marketing Some SEO firms boast that they are certified Adwords practitioners etc. That’s all well and good, but what they mean is that with YOUR money, they are real confident of getting you top placing in the keyword bidding warfare! There can be some short term benefits in that, but guarantees along those lines are not overly helpful to your business. If a proposal places primary emphasis on Pay-Per-Click, slip it down to the bottom of the pile!

References Can your SEO firm provide you with some reference sites they’ve worked on successfully, case studies, and/or some clients you can contact for comment? Bear in mind that there are likely to be some commercial sensitivities that apply constraints.

Is There Value in 1 Year Contracts? Frankly, no! The hallmark of a professional, ethical operator will be a fixed price contract to carry out the initial remedial action on the site. As a reassurance, they will usually let you know that ongoing support is available if required, because the rules of the SEO game do keep changing. The best SEO practitioners do not attempt to lock you into 1 year contract because they know the initial work will often take 8-12 weeks to deliver full benefits, and the project cost will usually include a built-in monitoring component over that initial period. It is, in my view, a little unethical to double-dip on the project costs!

Not only that, but what if you are not happy with the results of the SEO firm or their level of service? A 1 year contract might just guarantee you receive a full 12 months of unsatisfactory services! My advice – do not lock yourself into a long-term contract until you have grown comfortable with the SEO team you are dealing with

Fixed Price Contracts Insist on one! A professional SEO firm will set out exactly what is wrong with your site, and explain the precise remedial action in a coherent and logical fashion. The actual work will be specified and a total cost provided. It is customary to require payment in advance. This is usually 100% for smaller jobs, which I would define as less than $1500. For larger projects, expect to pay a 50% deposit with balance on completion and/or when Top 30 rankings on agreed keyword terms show a demonstrable improvement.

How Much Should It Cost? Well, each proposal should come down to a judgement by each SEO firm on how many hours of work are going to be involved in the project. However, some seem more inclined to make an assessment of your ability to pay in big chunks! There can be obvious, huge discrepancies – its common to see variations of 1000% e.g. you will see that some firms initial cost proposal can be 10 times that of competing operator! From your point of view, you want to know how many pages are gong to be amended, what will be done by way of increasing incoming links, are articles being published, and if so, how many? Reduce it to a known quantity, compare apples with apples! When you are systematic about it, the choices become more obvious, and a decision becomes easier!

You Need to Know What Will Be Done An SEO professional will involve you at each step of the process, providing you with a preview of all site changes before implementation. You will be able to measure progress of the work on a page by page basis, and see the results in your site traffic statistics as well as SE ranking reports. As in all aspects of life, failing to plan is planning to fail! If there is no plan, no road map, don’t expect a happy ending or any rights of redress.

Black Hat vs. White Hat SEO There are other danger signs to be aware of. If your SEO proposal suggests cloaking, redirections, doorway pages, hallway pages, invisible text, multiple domain names for duplicated content etc, immediately drop the company from the list of possibles!

There are many Black Hat SEO operators who prefer to attempt to subvert the Search Engine guidelines, essentially looking for rapid, short-term ranking gains by ANY means, instead of taking a responsible, professional approach. If your site is caught up in any scheme like this, banishment from search engine indexes is assured! Essentially, good White Hat SEO involves thoughtful restructuring of site content, within the SE guidelines and parameters, and taking no risks of any kind.

Who Are You Dealing With? Does their site have some personal profile information? Are you dealing with a seasoned IT industry professional, a kid fresh out of high school, someone moonlighting from their primary job, or maybe somebody who has English as a second (or third) language? SEO is very much about words, semantics, languages skills and this, plus broad SEO project experience over several years, should be a key indicator to consider! Partnerships Your web site is an integral part of your business. The people you work with should have an intuitive understanding of your business, products and services, and should by now have demonstrated that they have given your particular circumstances some personal attention. Some, on the other hand, may have merely used automated site assessment tools. From the initial proposal, and exchange of emails with questions and answers to clarify any issues that have arisen, do you feel a sense of rapport with anyone? The best people to work with are those you are comfortable with.

I hope that this has proven a useful and thought-provoking summary of how to weed out the space cadets, cowboys and make-a-quick-buck operators. I really hope you do find yourself a competent, professional SEO practitioner, because they are out there toiling away, doing a great job for great people like you!

Good luck!

simple life?

Free Dress for a Queen – My 2008 Plus American Pageant Diary

Day 5-15-08

My gorgeous **** pageant gown arrived today-special delivery! Though it was a very short wait, I had to fight the urge to stalk the mail carrier. How could I not be excited about the perfect evening gown?! Let me backtrack a little. I am a curvy pageant queen. After quite a few years out of the royal spotlight, I am once again competing. Of course, I want to make my big comeback in new clothes! Money is tight but where there is a will there is a way. I have no shame admitting that I was doing a search for cheap dresses when I came across NextEve.com. Expecting to find a choice of 2 or 3 dowdy selections for plus sized women (like the other sites I visited) I was not ready for what I found! It was formal gown heaven. Any gown that my little heart desired would fit my ample beautiful curves! NO limits set by size availability. The styles of dresses were diverse; elegant ball gowns, **** sheaths, cute and flirty cocktail dresses. Though I was looking for a pageant gown, I had to browse every inch of the site!!! All of a sudden, there it was staring back at me- my 14K golden dream dress. I am sooooo ready for the pageant’s evening gown competition.

Day 5-28-08

A month from today I get to strut my stuff in my beautiful evening gown. It’s amazing how an awesome gown can transform a woman. Not only by looks. You feel like you are queen of the world! It changes your walk to almost a floating glide. Your posture becomes straight and tall. How wonderful it is to feel as beautiful as you look!

Though I am a curvy girl, I chose a sheath style dress. A sheath dress is completely form fitting. Most of the gowns you see on celebrities at awards shows are of sheath design-yes, second skins. My dress isn’t skin tight but it is worthy of gracing the red carpet. It kind of has a **** French lingerie look to it. Gorgeous warm gold satin has a lace overlay at the waist with boning that resembles a corset. The bust line is caressed in pleated black tulle netting. The skirt has an overlay of black tulle netting also for a soft romantic touch. I am so in awe of this evening gown! It’s like getting an engagement ring-you can’t stop looking at it…then you look at it once more to make sure it’s still there! Now I have to figure out a killer hairstyle to compliment it.

Day 6-20-08

I am in the final countdown with a week to go!!! It is so stressful but totally exciting at the same time. There is so much that goes into preparing for a pageant. The right hair, make up, getting your nails (hand and toes) done, shoes, appropriate outfits and the perfect evening gown. Don’t have to worry about the gown at all. I’ve decised on a classy French roll for my hair. Since my face is round, I will have the typical “pageant pouf” bangs combed over to the side with **** tendrils of curls at the tips. I am also placing a bundle of curls and whisps on top of the roll for a more contemporary and **** look. That will be the perfect accent to the **** French flair of the gown! I’ve been walking around the house in my clear heels so I won’t be wobbly on stage. Getting into the “float on air” mode isn’t easy after being out of the competition ring for about 7 years! Concentrating on last minute details won’t leave much time to write. We’ll catch up when I’m back at home. I’ll make up for it when you hear about all of the awesome gowns I know I’ll see at Nationals. Well, Myrtle Beach, here I come!!!

Day 7-3-08

Let me tell you, there’s no place like home! Though Myrtle Beach was gorgeous beyond words, it’s good to be back! Pageant time was jam-packed full of rehearsals, photographs and high heels….it hurts to be beautiful!!! Speaking of beautiful, I was blown away by the variety of dresses my pageant sisters chose for the evening gown competition! The younger girls rocked the ball gowns this year! One “Pre-Teen Miss” was so beautiful, she made Cinderella look like one of the ugly stepsisters! Her ballgown was the sweetest shade of bubblegum pink I have ever seen. The corseted top was spaghetti strapped and kissed with aurora borealis rhinestones. The lace up back was fully functional with a shimmering satin ribbon running through it. The fanciful skirt had layer upon layer of billowy tulle netting gleaming with rhinestones sprinkled randomly. Her delicate little frame was not lost in this abundant dress. She glided across the stage with the grace and elegance of a veteran pageant queen. She owned the stage and completely wowed the judges. Her dress was an accessory for the natural inner beauty that was shining out from within her! A “Jr. Miss” contestant wore a white strapless ballgown that had rhinestones sprinkled at the bust line. The skirt was full with a glorious train sweeping behind her. The most awesome feature of her gown was that the skirt was completely covered with white roses made of tulle netting all the way to the tip of the train. The centers were soft pink netting with rhinestone accents. With her curly blonde hair softly swept up on top of her head, she looked like a young angel in an enchanted garden. She was definitely a sight to behold!

Day 8-10-08

We older contestants were equally as glam. We don’t age-we mellow like a fine wine! One of the “Mrs. Woman” contestants displayed her beautiful figure in a sheath prima donna gown made of champagne satin with a **** black lace overlay. Her gown was covered in crystals that glimmered with each movement. The lacey edged split in the middle of the skirting exposed a flash of her legs as she took her beauty walk. A small regal train swept out behind her. What a sultry vision of elegance! Less was more for one “Woman” contestant. Her gown was a satin strapless with an empire waistline in rich navy blue. There was an exquisite rhinestone brooch just below the bust that gave the flowing satin of her gown that sparkling touch of class! She made quite a statement without saying a word. In the “Classic Ms.” division, I sported my 14k golden gown and got lots of “Oooooo’s” and “look at yours” from my pageant sisters. No one had a gown like mine-not even the same color and I couldn’t have been more pleased. I thrive on standing apart in a crowd! A diva in my division competed in 2 pageants that weekend. She was breathtaking in both competitions. For one pageant she wore a black halter with a tiered ruffled skirt and magenta sash-stunning!!! A sassy haltered satin mermaid style in fuchsia was her gown of choice for the pageant we competed in together. It’s hard to put into words the glamour that she possessed! Alas, she won the crown and I am her first runner up. Someone blinded by the sparkle of the crown would say that I lost. I say that I’ve won something priceless. A lifelong friendship has developed between the new queen and me. Long after our reign is over and the crowns are on the shelf-our friendship will continue.



By: Rahul Rungta

About the Author: