Our Water Ionizers convert Municipal water to Alkaline, Purified or even Acidic Water

Proper Hydration… How Important to you is it?

Our Bodies are nearly three quarters water in make up so it only stands to reason that we should ensure we hydrate ourselves with High Quality Water Daily. Discover the Benefits of High Alkaline Ionized Water for yourself and see why the Water Ionizers we proudly represent may just be your Family’s pick as well.

Click Here >>>The Water Webstore  “Acid 2 Alkaline”and Watch the Video to Learn more about how Technology has become your Family’s New Best Friend.

NEWS FLASH!!

All of our Water Ionizers we offer now come with a “Lifetime Warranty” on Parts!!

Take Advantage of this very Consumer Friendly Offer! On for a Limited Time and could be removed at anytime back to the original Five Year Parts Warranty.

For More Information Contact us at:

TipTopFitness@gmail.com

604-626-3396

How do ya fit a workout into an already busy day? This is a very common question. 

 I always try to tell people that making time for yourself…to de-stress…and get those endorphins going is curial to your survival.  Think about exercise like eating, sleeping, breathing even…we need these things to function at full capacity…exercise my friends is no different!  Exercise helps keep us young, healthy, strong, and most importantly sane!

 I started my workout today at 3:45pm, late for me…but my workouts are coming later and later these days…BETTER LATE  THAN NEVER!

I’ll do it, but just a lil later(Read “Morgan and Me” Serendipity Books) One of my favorite children’s stories with a moral I can relate to…Don’t get into this habit with me!  Danger!  I am pushing threw these last few weeks, and I know deep down it is worth it.  After each workout I feel the rewards,  really I do!  I won’t lie and say that it is easy to get the motivation to really move daily.  I can say without a doubt that I am a better Ursula on the days that included a great workout! 

Working a workout into a crazy schedule just requires dedication…do it no matter what!  Make a pact with a buddy, join a support group, keep a workout journal, start a before or after work group; there are so many ways to stick with your workouts…especially how it makes ya feel!

Place your Order at TipTopFitness@gmail.com

2009 Far Infrared Sauna & Demo Clearance Sale starts today Jan 20th 2010 and will continue until all units are Sold, but act fast, they are disappearing fast!

Here’s why they’re Going Fast!

** All Remaining 2009 Far Infrared Saunas have either a $300 or a $500 Rebate in place depending on the size of Sauna you choose.

We have 1, 2, 3 & 4 Person Saunas Available and 3 & 4 Person Corner Units

** Also we have 2 Demo Far Infrared Saunas For Sale that have  an $850 Rebate in place. The 2 Demo Units are as follows: 3 Person Corner Unit & a 4 Person Unit

Top 10 Key reasons why you’ll Prefer our units & Refer others to Us:
1) Furniture quality, made of Canadian Hemlock (Lifetime Warranty- ask for details – Elite Series)
2) Japanese Carbon Flow Heater technology (Lifetime Warranty – ask for details- Elite Series) that offers a complete full body sauna experience without “Cold Spots” or “Hot Spots”
3) In-Sauna Speakers along with a drop down CD & Am/Fm Stereo system with remote control that easily is tilted up into the cabinetry to avoid heat damage.
4) We offer 1, 2, 3, 3 person Corner unit, 4, 4 person corner units and are referred to clients by nearly 600 Canadian Health Practioners!
5) We offer Canadian & American Retail Discounted Prices on all models (ask for more info on Pricing for your Area )
6)Third Party VOC Tested for Offgassing Chemicals during operation inside and outside the unit, we are pleased to have received 0% Offgassing across the board (Copy of Results available upon request)
7) Elite models series offer In-Sauna Colour Light Therapy to enhance the Sauna experience (ask about Light Therapy info brief) Reading Lights inside also – Take your favorite magazine in with you!
Easy to install (Usually less than an hour with 2 people )and portable making these units very easy to own and set-up. The respective 1, 2, 3 person corner unit requires a 15 Amp outlet whereby the 3, 4, 4 person corner unit requires a 20 Amp outlet.
9) Newest Elite Models come with the exciting addition of Radiant Floor Heat & Full Glass Doors respectively.
10) We can Ship your new Personal In-Home Sauna to anywhere in North America at this time ( Ask for shipping costs to your area ) We also offer Far Infrared Saunas to Business Owners for Commercial use.

Contact us Today for a Total Price Quote on the Sauna of your choice delivered to your home.

E-mail: TipTopFitness@gmail.com

Phone: 604~626~3396

Coast Health Saunas Group

A few weeks ago, I went to Yoga Works in SoHo with a friend and LOVED it. The studio is new, gorgeous and super clean–an absolutely calming and beautiful space. Immaculate showers, a sauna and complementary tea–it feels like a spa. I took a vinyasa class and didn’t feel intimidated as the group was very mixed. Bring your own mat (mine is Hugger-Mugger’s Tapas Travel Yoga Mat from the Park Slope Food Coop and cost about $10, very light & portable, also available here, doesn’t come with the strap–I had that from another mat) or rent one for $2 (they do a thorough cleaning). Towels provided.

Through January 31, 2010, Yoga Works is offering 2 weeks of unlimited yoga classes for $30. They have studios in New York & California. You know I’m gonna be all over this promo. I can’t vouch for the other locations but the Soho one is amazing…can’t wait to go back next week!

Unrelated: I just found my camera charger so better pictures are coming…these first three were taken with my iPhone.

SATW is so excited about the overwhelming positive response we’re receiving about our Daily Spa Tweets – that we’ve decided to give away accessories to help you take a quick escape from the hectic work week:  3 Soothing Eye Pillows from The Happy Company.

I keep mine in the fridge (if you’re at an office they may frown on pillows in the office fridge so use your own judgment!) & pop it over my eyelids while listening to the music to shut out the world for a few minutes.

These just aren’t any eye pillows – they are the creme de la creme.  I’ve tested them all & trust me most are too thin, too small to cover the face & have little or no fragrance, but these :

Give your eyes a rest from computer & work strain with a Soothing Eye Pillow

-Packed with flax seeds for a soothing weight and larger coverage area.
-Targets sinus pressure and acupressure points around the eyes and face.
-Features a flax seed insert with removable scent sachet filled with ginger and lavender for vitality and relaxation.
-Eye Pillow chills quickly in the freezer for instant headache or puffy eye relief.
-Chenille is super soft and velvety.

So what do I have to do to win one of these beauties you wonder? RETWEET OUR 2PM EST DAILY SPA TWEET ON TWITTER ON MONDAY, February 1. We will contact winners via Twitter with our email so you can send us your address. Be sure you follow @artofthespa so you see the original tweet. Three people will win one pillow.

Good luck and feel free to share this with your friends. Spa wishes, Candy

PS:  I am not affiliated in any way with The Happy Company, but their products are some of the highest quality home spa & relaxation items I’ve found. They are also reasonably priced – definitely a plus in this economy.

Lots of people feel blue during and after the holidays.  Here are eleven ideas to overcome them.

1. DeStress.  Relax.  Take a nice walk on the beach or in nature.  Look at the sky.
2. Hug your dog or cat. Go out and birdwatch.  Take your dog to the dog park to play with other dogs.
3. Go over your finances, even though it can be stressful; however you look at how you spent your money during the holidays, get on track and set some financial goals for 2010.
4. Reward yourself for doing something fun.  Also, investigate a new hobby that you have not done before and that is noncompetitive.
5. Reflect on the good things that transpired over the holidays.  For me, I attended a very nice Xmas party with the people I work with.  We all had a nice dinner and great fellowship.
6. Be with the blues, but do not cave into them. Take care of yourself.
7. Schedule some time to be with friends.  Meet for coffee, lunch, or dinner.
8. Put a smile on somebody’s face, open a door at a store for a total stranger, and/or reach out and call a friend you have not spoken with for awhile.
9. Go and see a funny movie and have a good laugh.
10. If you can, treat yourself to a nice bath, manicure, pedicure, a massage to detox.
11. And last, be of service.  Volunteer for your local animal, homeless, or women’s shelter, or for charitable organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Rachel Carson Homestead, American Heart Association, etc.

It is my hope that if you at least practice one of these suggestions, your world will definitely change.  On that note, I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Dancing is an important part of our lives. It helps people unwind and gives us a chance to express ourselves. Dancing allows us to be free and enjoy life. It  can open up a whole different world for you that that you can share with people and it allows you to increase your network tremendously. Increasing your network is imperative in a recession because it allows for you to have that connection that could lead you to that future job or career path you were striving for.

It’s also a fun way to get your heart rate up and get a workout too. If you are constantly dancing you are burning around 200 calories an hour(in a club, lounge, or any venue that has dancing). This is a great way to exercise and is a fun activity to do with a spouse or a loved one .

On a personal note, I go out at least twice a week and always have a fun time. I have the skills necessary to enjoy dancing at a club/lounge which allows me to dance with different people and to let loose. Some consider dancing a sport, I consider it an art. An art that once again can open paths for you in a way that you never would imagine.

I found a new way to become calm and to relax more. Ready for it? It’s called…coloring. Yes you read me right. Coloring. I have two coloring books at school here. One is Disney Princesses given to me for my 18th birthday from a friend and the other is a fairy coloring book which I bought at the beach the last time I was there. I have been coloring in the fairy one for the past hour to hour and a half and have gotten through roughly 3-4 pages of it. I also colored the first page of it last night. COLORING NEVER EVER GETS OLD NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS. Coloring is not just for little kids. Oh no it is for everyone including college students freaking out about everything that needs to get done before and up to Winter Break. Coloring and music now are my go tos when I just need to be in my own little world free from the stress of outside forces. So me and my box of 96 Crayola crayons have been having a hay day in my lounge. I’m loving it.

Want to view one of the most beautiful beaches in the world?  Why not fly over to Seychelles?  This island is just east of Africa, north of Madagascar.  Copy and paste the link below into a new webpage and you will be able to watch a video of the beautiful beaches of Seychelles.  Enjoy!

http://serenitychannel.blip.tv/file/1751244/

If you know of other gorgeous beach to visit around the world, please feel free to post a comment

During the holidays it is easy to get caught up in the hype of, what I call, the “Perfect Christmas/Chanukah.”

Here are some suggestions to get through the holidays!

Practice random acts of kindness. Some examples are:  holding a door open for a complete stranger at your local mall, store, or coffee shop;leaving flowers on your neighbor’s door step without telling them, picking up garbage that you see on a sidewalk or in a parking lot. Another way is to say Happy Holidays to a total stranger and watch him or her smile!

Volunteer: Volunteer at your local food pantry for the less fortunate, help out at your local animal shelter, as there are so many homeless animals, become a nature tour guide at your local park, become a greeter at your church or synagogue.

Take care of yourself:  Destress by getting a massage, going to a yoga class, exercising, and meditation.  Take time for you!

Be selective: Surround yourself with healthy, nurturing, and supportive people.  Avoid the negative ones.  Who needs them.

Gift giving: Set a budget and make a list of those you choose to give gifts to.  A gift could be as simple as your mere presence or by reaching out and touching that special someone you have not spoken to in a while.

Start your own tradition: Change is always a good thing.  But you all know what the human condition is like!  Do something that you have never done before.  Have a party at your house and invite whom you want or go away on a nice vacation.  Remember, this holiday is for you!

Write out a gratitude list: Be grateful for what you have.  Write it out on a list and watch what unfolds.

‘Tis the season to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.   I look forward to all of your comments on your progress.

On a side note, this is Maxwell’s, my Scottie dog’s first Christmas, and we are going to make a pit stop to see Santa!  We are also going to visit people who could use a little cheering up.

I wish you all a very Happy and Joyous Holiday.

This is for Jonathan as he is super busy in work today and needs a dose of cuteness to destress him a bit ;p

But thats OK! Rainy days can be productive days a chance to catch up on those small tasks that need doing or a chance after work to care for yourself. Take time for yourself today not going and doing but just being comfortable with yourself. Ask how you are doing, feeling whats been on your mind lately. As the holidays approach chaos will set in stress will follow. Perhaps now is a good time to set up a game plan! Take a me day it does not mean you neglect your tasks that have to be done it just means you consider yourself a little extra!

Welcome to ONE LOVE ONE HEART YOGA

Yoga Classes in Beeton Ontario.  A unique small class setting offering Hatha Yoga Classes, for Adults, Teens, Kids, Families, Pre/Post-Natal Baby Yoga.  Specific Needs ( managing an illness or limitations) 

Classes for everyone, all levels, come practice and experience  Yoga  from the inside out with a happy heart and a smile.  Let us practice this Yoga Journey together, one Asana at a time.

See you on the mat!

Catherine Clark

Peace. Love. Respect.

Hey NCAMers!

Because we’re in the middle of midterms, instead of holding a workshop this week, we’re doing an exercise get-together.  The John Wooden Center has a promotional offer this Monday where all Group Exercise classes are FREE. You just have to show up. I know a large handful of you are busy with midterms this week but we encourage everyone to come out and participate in the class.  A few of our officers will be at this event and will be wearing the black and white NCAM t-shirt for identification.  Please wear comfortable clothing.

2fer Yogalatees

Blending the principles of yoga and pilates, this is a
fantastic strengthening and lengthening class. It’s a
movement meditation that connects the mind, body
and spirit!

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009
John Wooden Center: Pyramid Room

6:35 – 7:30 PM

If you can’t join us, there are plenty of other classes that day too if you want to go at your own time but we will be doing the yogalatees together. The schedule classifies it as a moderately difficult class. You can find the full schedule of classes here.

Good luck with midterms! Stay healthy and don’t forget to find some time to de-stress!

Most of us today aim to better ourselves in many ways. We work harder, we have more quality time with our families, and we try and do more for the community. In the end some of us even find the time to have some “me time”. Improving ourselves is a good type of therapy as well.

Embrace the day
Try not to groan when you have to get up in the morning. Wake up, open those curtains and embrace the morning. Eat breakfast outside …

read more on

http://www.sevafrica.com/HealthWellness/Self-HelpTips.shtml

Today, as promised, it’s back to the decluttering. 

Ok, so now back to where we were.  I hope since I’ve been gone you didn’t give up on the notebooks. Especially the daily journaling.  My guess is, even though I haven’t been here to prompt you, you probably kept up with it.  Because it just feels good to get it all out every day.  And I HIGHLY recommend keeping up with the daily, or as close to daily as you can get, journaling.

Just a note here.  I know it’s been a while and for those of you who didn’t keep up with the journaling or maybe forgot where we were at (sorry, my fault!)    you can go back and read my previous post “T.M.I” , just click there or scroll down a few posts, to read the explanation of the notebooks.  I’ll wait a minute while you read….

Ok….ready?

But first,  before you go to your list of “projects” I want you to take a blank piece of paper and make another list.  Make a list of 3 long-term goals…that would be what you want to accomplish or where you want to be in 1 year, 3 years and 5 years.  For example, a couple of 1-year goals could be that you want to have your home organized and simplified and you want to have an internet business started.  A  couple of 3-year goals could be that you want your internet business to be earning $5,000 a month and you want to move to a new city, house or add that room on to your existing home.  5- years goals might be that you want to have your mortgage paid off or at least all your credit cards and car, and your internet business earning you $10,000 a month.  There are no right or wrong answers to this.  There are no right or wrong goals.  Everyone’s goals are different.  But you need goals.  You need to start right now working towards those goals instead of just floundering through life on a day-to-day basis.

That’s where I found myself and I didn’t even realize it.  Just getting up every day and going to work, coming home, going to bed, getting up the next day and doing it all over again.  I would pay the bills when I had to, dust a little here, vaccuum a little there, get on the computer and do “more” research on starting an internet business, come up with some sort of idea and start writing something…then the next day I would come up with another idea and start researching that…there was no direction.  I had no specific goals.  Just a lot of random ideas that I spent time on one day and then left alone for maybe a week or more while I worked on something else.

You may be doing the same thing.  And I want you to stop now!  Take that piece of paper and write down preferably two 1-year goals, one or two 3-year goals and one or two 5-year goals.   Now take a look at that list you made on the last page of your journal.  Oh, and if you want, go ahead and tear it out.  Are there any of those items on your list that would help you accomplish, or make a step towards any of your goals?

Let’s start with the 1-year goals.  If one of your 1-year goals is to declutter and get your home more organized… congratulations.   Because I’ll tell you a little secret I found out.  Having your home decluttered and organized and simplified will make all the rest of your goals that much easier to reach.  It will not only free your space but it will free your mind.  I have some secrets to share with you about decluttering, how to do it, why do it, and some definite benefits of doing it but I’m going to make that available in a free download soon.  (It’s really way to much to post here!).  And right now I wanted to concentrate on the goal setting and accomplishing. 

Ok, so you’ve got your goals written down.  Now, as I said, go back to that list of projects or your “to do” list and transfer the items from your “to do” list under an appropriate goal heading.

Now, I understand that everyone has a daily “to do” list.  Items such as “”do the laundry”, “take Billy to soccer practice” are just a part of normal daily life.  I’m talking here about the big “to do” list.  Things such as “decluttering” your home, or “repainting the house”, or “starting a blog of your own”.  The idea is to spend some time each day on at least one item that will take you one step closer to accomplishing your 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year goals.  And if that seems like a lot for now concentrate on your 1-year goals. 

Get another notebook, a yearly planner book, the 5-subject notebook…something.  Write in big black letters on the front or on the first page the heading “One-Year Goals”, list the goals, then every day spend at least 30 minutes to an hour (or even 15 minutes if that’s all you’ve got) on something that will take you closer to accomplishing that goal.  If you carry a planner list the item you’re going to do right in there with “Take Billy to soccer practice”.  Make an appointment with yourself to spend 30 minutes writing a post for your blog, or researching the viabilities of a niche market you are contemplating for an internet business.  Whatever it is, just do it, then check it off!  The surprising thing you are going to find is that even if you are just working toward your 1-year goals you are ultimately working toward your 3 and 5-year goals!

Well, that’s all for today.  Or at least for this post!  But, I wanted to give you a heads up that I am working on, and almost finished, with a simple system that will help you declutter, get organized, daily work towards your goals, save money and hopefully earn some extra money, and in general just make your life a little less stress filled!

Remember in my last post I warned you about websites that  claim to give you access to a database, and even training, to help you land a job working from home?  Well, right after I wrote that post I was doing some more looking and I visited a website.  On that website was a link in what was called a “sponsored Ad”.  The blurb under the link sounded great so, I clicked on the link.  My computer opened a new tab with a really strange looking URL…http://vur.me/index53/wahj/.  Ok, what the heck is that?  Anyway, I read the webpage and it did sound good, even a little different from the others.  Maybe this one was legit.  And this one was only a one-time $45 fee!  Well, at the very bottom of the webpage was a different URL so I opened a new tab in my browser and started doing some research.  Hmmm…now I’m finding more questions than answers.  So, I went to one of my trusted sources…the one I told you about in my last post…http://www.friendsinbusiness.com and posted a question on the message boards.

Sure enough I got two responses that helped me save $45!

What I *don’t* see are reports that “I got work through Work-at-Home-Jobs.tv”. Now, it’s true that people gripe when things go wrong but tend to be silent if it’s okay, but… not ONE person reports they’ve gotten jobs through them since they started in 2007?

One wonders why not.”

AND

 “Lynn,

It’s a list of the same old “get paid to” programs such as…

** Get paid to take surveys, which they are renaming as Market researcher.

** Get paid to Mistery shop, which they rename as Field production auditing.

** Get paid to make Clickbank sales, which the rename as Global data entry processor.

In other words, they are beating a dead horse but calling it a different name.”

So, as I warned before…BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS before handing out your money to these sites!!!!!!

The time involved to check out the legitimate sources of telecommuting jobs that I gave you last time, apply for them, and actually get one might be a little more than you really wanted to spend but, I believe in the long run will be well worth your time and will definitely save you money!  I know, if you’ve lost your job, like so many have you probably need money NOW!  the time may seem long.  But I want to help you actually make money and not lose money.

I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have spent a good portion of my time using the internet for the last 3 to 4 years trying to find that “magic bullet”…that one thing that will make enough money for me that I will at least be able to pay my bills every month without having to count pennies and to have to once again tell my kids…”No, I’m sorry, I don’t have enough money…we can’t afford to go to the movies, or buy you that CD, or your jeans will just have to last another month.”  And besides time, I have spent some money,  (Or should I say “lost” some money) trying to find that magic bullet.  There are ways to make money on the internet but there is not a “plug it in and forget it” or a “get rich overnight” way.  At least not that I have found yet…lol.  It will take some time and effort on your part whether you want to just get a “job” with a company that you can do at home or start your own business.  But, if you have already lost your job and need money, what better way to spend your time?  And if you are fearful that your job may be next, what better way to spend your time?

As I said, I have spent a lot of time the last 3 to 4 years accumulating knowledge about how to make money using the internet.  Knowledge that I am finally putting to use.  Knowledge that I would like to pass on to you.  I have gotten information that was free and some that I paid for.  And over the course of my researching time I have found a handful of “internet gurus” that I trust because the information I have gotten from them has been solid and, even the info they have given for free has taught me many aspects of  just what it takes to make it out here on the World Wide Web.

In future posts I am going to give you for free, and yes, I mean for FREE…(although not all at once because it would overwhelm…lol), things I have learned about getting started on the internet.  But I do want to share with you a couple of places where you can get some free information and even more extensive information that you can pay for if you want to.  I have gotten most of my information from these two sources and I highly recommend them. 

This first one is probably the most comprehensive internet marketing course available today.  Originally written by Cory Rudl, who  sadly passed away in a car accident since it’s publication, this course has been updated by his partner and successor Derek Gehl.  The course walks you step-by-step through everything you need to know to set up and run a business on the internet, through coming up with a workable idea through the most advanced operating techniques, including proven suggestions for possible services you MAY need such as e-book production software, autoresponders, webhosting, etc.  This course is one I paid for and have never regretted it for a minute.  I still refer to it from time to time when I need to check out the best way to approach something or need a how-to do something technical.  Check it out here…“Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet” or from the link to the right.  Dang, I just clicked on the link myself and they are now giving away bonuses with the course that I wish they’d had when I bought the course!  The E-book Pro software is alone worth the price of the course.

I purchased this course a couple of years ago and have never regretted my small investment.  I have referred back to it time and time again.  And I truly believe that, especially if you are new to trying to make money on the internet you won’t regret the small investment either.

Tomorrow…back to some decluttering stuff!

When life deals one of its many lessons, I survive by painting something. Transforming walls, furniture, or canvas puts me back in control of my life. During moments of extreme duress, the paint gets wild, colorful, whimsical and excessive. I love losing myself in extreme detail; most of it inaccessible to the untrained eye. But I know it’s there.

Paint is inexpensive, mood transforming, atmospherically altering, and a great way to change an attitude. So I paint for me, I paint for you, I paint to feel, I paint to heal, I paint to destress.

I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything.  I know there are a lot of you who feel that I sort of left you hanging.  And for that I’m sorry.  I really didn’t mean to.  I guess my only explanation is that during the last several months I’ve experienced a series of unfortunate events that caused me to be absent from here.  There are still several personal things “up in the air” but I’m going to attempt to deal with them as best I can and still post here.  Mainly because I’ve got a lot of information to share with you about destressing your life.

Decluttering your home is definitely a way to help cut out some of the stress.  And I am going to post more on that later and get back to the notebooks, journaling, and projects topic we were on before.  But today I wanted to talk about a cause of stress that I believe is affecting a very large number of us and pass on some information that may help you alleviate that cause of stress.  The cause of stress I am talking about is MONEY…or more accurately the lack of money.

Right now there are a lot of people out there looking for a quick way to make some extra money.  Probably more now than in a long time.  (And yes, I’m one of them…thus the personal issues I’m having to deal with).  A lot of folks, maybe even you, have already lost their jobs or fear they soon will due to our failing (oops…I mean failed) economy.  They are getting desperate to find a way to make some money to keep from losing their homes and even just to buy groceries and keep the electricity turned on.  As we all know, the job market stinks right now and because regular JOBs are almost impossible to find folks are more and more turning to the internet as a possible way to make money.  And unfortunately for every person out there searching for a way to make money there are probably at least 100 out there waiting to scam each of us out of a few more of our dollars.  I want to help you avoid being scammed.

The promises always sound something like this……..

          “Just sign up now…click the button below…and you will get immediate access to my proven money making program……….

          You too can sit at home and make $10K a month….or more!………………

          You’ll get a free website, etc., etc..  It will only take you a few minutes and a few clicks of your mouse……………..

          Then you can sit back and watch the money pur into your bank account!……………………”

Whoa!  Sound too good to be true?  Well maybe that’s because it is.  Think about it for a minute.  If 10,000 people sign up for this “amazing” program that means there are 10,000 people with the same cookie cutter free website.  And when someone else goes online searching for whatever the product is what are the chances that your website will be the one that comes up on the 1st page of the search results?

Then there are those of you who say, “I don’t want to start my own internet business, I just want to work from home for a company”.  So you start searching and find that there are websites that tell you to sign up for access to a list of companies who are hiring people to work from home.  It may be just processing rebates, typing information into simple forms, writing for blogs…or some variation of the above.

Again, where there is demand, there is supply.  And no shortage of supply of those offering to provide you with a list of companies hiring “home workers”.  All you have to do is sign up for “free”.

One of the things I have learned to do over the years is scroll down to the bottom of the website and click on that small link that says “Terms and Conditions.”  AHA – the truth is then revealed!  Yes, it may be “free” to sign up AND you may even get a 7 to 14-day free trial but after that your debit or credit card will be charged a monthly fee.  I have seen these monthly fees range from $14.97 all the way up to $97 a MONTH for access to their database of companies – WOW!

Now I will be honest.  I don’t know what their database consists of because I’ve never signed up for any of them.  But I do know from everything I have read on a couple of scam revealing sites that I check new opportunities out on religiously – they are pretty much all scams.  Or at the very least they charge you for information you can find for free.

Oh, and before I go any farther, one scam revealing site I check all the time is scams101 (www.friendsinbusiness.com).  It is a forum type site.  Go to the Message boards and do a search for the opportunity you are checking on.  If you can’t find anything post a question and I guarantee you will get a response from at least one person and probably several.

Ok, so how do you find real work-at-home opportunities?  (We’ll talk about starting an internet business next time).

First of all, STOP USING POPULAR KEYWORDS SUCH AS “WORK AT HOME” OR “HOME EMPLOYMENT” IN GOOGLE OR ANY OTHER SEARCH ENGINES.  Instead of using the obvious keywords that are used by most scammers try these….

“telecommuting”

“outsourcers”

“independent agents”

“virtual call centers”

“virtual telecommuters”

“telecommuting agents”

“outsourced work at home agent”

Be creative!  When you look at some of the companies you find when you search the above terms see what terms they use on their sites and use those terms to search for even more companies that hire home workers or telecommuters.  I can’t guarantee that all the companies you find in this way will be legitimate but, you will definitely eliminate a whole bunch of the scammers.

So here is a list of LEGITIMATE COMPANIES that will hire homeworkers to do cutomer service (the most common) type of work from home job.  Customer Service means being part of a call center and answering phone calls, e-mails or chat requests from companies clients.   Go to each website and follow each company’s application procedures.  Follow the application guidelines, let them know ALL your qualifications and be patient…there are a lot of people applying for these types of jobs.  Just a note here.  I have gone to several of the sites myself and read their system requirements and I have found that they require high-speed internet access but satellite internet isn’t ok.  Guess it’s because of the instability of the internet due to weather situations…which unfortunately I have to deal with all the time!

Arise:   http://www.arise.com

Alpine Access:   http://www.alpineaccess.com

Working Solutions:   http://www.workingsol.com

West Corporation:   http://www.west.com

VIP Desk:  http:www.vipdesk.com

Customer Loyalty Concepts:   http://www.customloyal.com

Live Ops:   http://www.liveops.com

West at Home Agents:   http://www.westathome.com

VoiceLog:   http://www.voicelog.com/careers.html

For a list of big companies that hire homeworkers there is a great website that lists them.  Just keep in mind to follow each company’s employment application guidelines and don’t e-mail or call the company.  That will NOT work.  The website is…

http://2work-at-home.com/telecommute.shtml

Just one more thing for you today to consider if you’re looking to work from home.   If you have expertise in a particular field two good places to start looking for jobs would be http://www.craigslist.com and http://elance.com.  The number of jobs posted on both of them is staggering.  There are people out there looking for other people to do a lot of things for them.  They are looking to outsource article writing, writing for blogs, website design, accounting, etc.  And on those two websites you can also post an ad telling what sort of work you are looking for, what you are good at. 

Now it’s true you have to bid on the jobs advertised on Craigslist and Elance AND you may have to start out earning less money than you think you should until  word-of-mouth and your record speaks for itself but…produce high quality work and you WILL start making more.

I hope some of the information I have provided here will help you.  And as I find more I will pass it on.  I don’t want anyone to get scammed and lose any of the money you can so ill afford to lose.  I’ve lost some myself.  But in so doing have learned the hard way what to look out for.  

Good luck and please let me know if you have any success.  And let me and the other readers know if there are any other sites out there that are a good source of legitimate work-at-home jobs.