Happy Labor Day!

Spending my extended holiday weekend working on a new direction recommended by my business consultant.

It's gonna be good!

Give Me A Break

This is one of the many reasons why people don't take people of faith seriously...

(SMH)

On a more positive note - I have my first session with my new business adviser tomorrow.

Salute

Well done, Sir.

Nick Ashford.

Investing

Just wrote a check (and even mailed it) payable to a business consultant. He's been part of the founding teams of some pretty major websites.

I'm excited.

I'm nervous - it's not every day that I can write a check in that amount and walk away.

(((It's an investment, Judy. You're investing in yourself and your business.)))

Breathe, baby, breathe.

I Did It!

Took me long enough (6 months!). But I finally put myself in front of the camera and filmed this video tutorial.

Watch it on Youtube. Enjoy!

This Biz Savvy Woman Here...

I love interviewing successful business women for my podcast, WOMEN CREATE: Lessons in Business for Women. Hearing their stories of taking an idea, nuturing it, and watching it bloom always puts me in a good mood, especially when I'm frustrated with my progress with VRN.

Recently, I had the opportnity to interview Barbara Corcoran. The Barbara Corcoran. Real estate mogul, business expert, and the only female investor on ABC TV's hit show, Shark Tank.

I've been a fan of Barbara's for a while. Her books are awesome. Use What You've Got, and Other Business Lessons I Learned from My Mom should be at the top of every ladypreneur's reading list.

It took almost a year from my first request for the interview to take place. The morning of was one of the most empowering 30-minutes of my year. Our topic of discussion was "selling yourself" (my words, not Barbara's). Barbara's no nonsense responses opened my mind to making more of an effort to "put myself out there." Something, I have been reluctant to do for several reasons, mainly vanity - read: weight gain.

I asked Barbara to give advice to Internet entrepreneurs like myself. She said, "You'll never be successful by sticking behind the computer. You have to get out there and let people see your personality. Make a connection."


Dead-on.

Someone asked me recently, why I feature non-Christians on VRN. I explained that regardless of person's spiritual beliefs, one thing we have in common is FAITH. Because it takes a whole lot of faith to step out and create a business or just to do anything we feel called to do. Plus, when it comes to learning, I keep my mind, eyes and ears open. Heart, too. I'm all about "show, don't tell." Doers, not talkers. {Am I on a tangent?}

Okay. Don't want to start rambling.

Here's the link to my interview with Barbara. After you listen, leave a comment and let me know how her advice has made a difference in your plans.

P.S. Did I mention that Barbara started her real estate business with a $1,000 loan from her then boyfriend and years later sold it for $66 million? Did I? Did I?

Bada Bing! Bada...

BOOM!



This is how we roll in the South Bay.♥

Today's Fortune Cookie

Happy Father's Day

This Poppa didn't preach. He showed by example. (uh, love, patience, compassion, work ethic).

Love him much.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

♥♥♥infinity.

P.S. He's also an awesome artist. Check out his work - www.artbyrufus.com

Go Ahead and Laugh!

This moment of humor was brought to you by the fabulous Anne Taintor.

I'm Getting This!

Just when I was getting ready to shell out big bucks ($$$$) for a certain big name company's craft table, I found this on www.target.com:

So excited! This table is perfect for multi-crafting (sewing, scrapbooking, etc.). And, the customer reviews were overwhelmingly positive.

The price is right (it's on sale). Free shipping (for orders over $50).

Gotta have it.

Gonna get it.

For Those Who Served...

U.S. Women Soldiers

Thank you.

Memorial Day 2011

Blame it on Blogger

You know they had tech difficulties this week.

Okay, so maybe that's not the only reason I haven't blogged lately.

I've been busy. Honest.

Rick Rack: Thread Therapy for Sewers Online Sewing Class opened. I'm setting up the next class featuring Megan Hunt (aka Princess Lasertron). Plus, I have a new CROPPED! online scrapbooking class opening soon featuring Melisa Sanchez and Donna Salazar. Interviewed Devon Franklin (author of Produced By Faith) for upcoming Words of Faith podcast. Also interviewed Megan Hunt for WOMEN CREATE: Lessons in Business. Preparing for VRN's first update in 3 months (Sunday, May 22). Writing sponsor proposals for new site content. Shipping books around the world to Rick Rack's students. Getting trapped in an elevator with the UPS guy for 10 minutes and having a complete panic meltdown, especially after 4 boxes of books were stuck in the same elevator overnight. Car issues.

And...working my j-o-b.

This girl works hard for her money.

I'm updating VRN this Sunday (May 22). Please be sure to stop by.

*$%#!(!

Another computer virus!

Happened the other day. I was trying to contact someone. Clicked on their "Email Me" button. The link went to a MySpace page. I tried to "go back" and that's when my curser jumped around the screen. Then, the screen turned sideways.

I shut down. Restarted. Screen still sideways. Bug still there. I'm pissed. A lot of work to do.

Ran a full boot scan with Avast.

Did not work.

Tried system restore.

Did not work.

Cursed the computer.

Did not work.

Thanked God I had external back-up hard drive.

Turned off system restore. Deleted all Temporary Internet Files (hidden folder in Document & Settings). Re-ran the Avast system boot scan. Re-applied system restore.

Nothing unusual yet. Being very cautious.

Goal for the weekend: visit Apple store and seriously investigate the myth that Macs don't get viruses.

Question For You

How Much Did it Take to Buy You Away from Your Dream?

George Clooney as Ryan Bingham in Up In The Air

VirtueRadioNetwork.com

The Waiting Game

Sometimes it seems like it takes forever
to get to the good stuff.

So many false starts.

Then one day, a door opens. A new idea emerges. A new relationship develops.

It feels like you can hope and dream again.

A new season. A new day.

VirtueRadioNetwork.com

Sew, Sew Wonderful

Been working on this class for a couple of weeks. Jennifer Paganelli (Sis Boom Fabrics) is awesome.

Register now at
www.virtueradionetwork.com/rickrack.htm

Our sponsors ROCK!

Here's what you get:

1 autographed copy of Jennifer Paganelli's new book - Girl's World


1 downloadable Mary's Fancy Sash Dress how to sew video demonstration



1 downloadable instruction sheet with step-by-step color photographs

Supply List

Access to the student-only Fabric.com Jennifer Paganelli/Girl's World Online Class Store where class supplies (and more) will be available for purchase at 25% off Fabric.com's already low prices; and

1 hour live chat with Jennifer Paganelli (Dolin O'Shea will join in to answer any sewing questions concerning this project )

Jennifer will be joined by Girl's World's talented pattern maker and sewing expert, Dolin O'Shea.


Please support this class and make something pretty for your (or someone else's) little girl. ♥

Merci. Gracias. Thank you.

What A Dame

Hollywood doesn't make them like this anymore.

Working, Working, Working

TCB (taking care of business).

Tell 'em about it Vanessa.

You Never Know

...what's going to come at you.

Japan - March 11, 2011

Amazing what can happen in an instant.

Tsunami

Live your life as if you are not promised tomorrow.

Dream BIG. Love BIG. Give BIG.

Cherry Blossoms
(Language of Flowers - "Spirituality;Beauty)

God bless Japan.

Photos from Yahoo.com
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