Welcome back! Coffee's always on around here. Pull up your favorite chair and a grab a cup. Enjoy your visit today! And don't forget to stop back by again soon.

Lots of things to write about today – if I can remember all of them! LOL So let’s get crackin’ before I forget . . .

First, I’ve started a new “store” on shopify selling Reusable Bags. Because I think the Earth and our environment is a gift to us, on loan from the Creator. And it’s our job, our duty to protect it and cherish it. I use reusable bags when I shop and I love them. Since it’s something I do and whole-heartedly believe in, I thought, “Why not?” I’m still adding products to the store but it IS open if you’d like to take a peek! You can even buy something if you’d like – the shopping cart and payment gateway are all set up as well. Just head over to In The Bag.

Second, the “Around the Web” is going to be starting again soon, likely next week. I have several things and places to share with you that are scattered all over the web. Some are other blogs, some are specific posts on those blogs and some are just stuff I think is cool.

Third, a quick story from yesterday -

My mom and I went grocery shopping yesterday morning and on the way out of the store parking lot after we finished shopping, was a young man and his dog. He was holding a sign that said the dog needed food. After discussing it for about 10 seconds, we looped around, went back into the store and got some dog food, a box of dog biscuits, a couple bottles of water and some sandwiches. They were so thrilled and appreciative, it was a sight to watch! Jack (the dog) was a cutie and very well mannered. I think his boy even got a little misty-eyed.

Fourth, I think I’ll bring back the Reading List. Haven’t done one of those in a while, either. Got lots of good books on the shelf that waiting to be read and it’s time to get ‘er done! Any books you’ve read lately that you’d like to share?

Fifth, this blog now has, according to my feed stats, about 575 subscribers via the RSS feed and several hundred more who are subscribed via email. Why are you all so QUIET??? Speak up! Post comments! Talk to one another! I want to hear from you. This blog isn’t just about me – it’s about you, as well. Please, tell me what you think.

Sixth, my oldest child is turning 16 tomorrow. I can hardly believe how times flies! I keep thinking there is NO WAY I am old enough to have 16 year old! LOL But sure enough, she is. And I’m delighted she’s my daughter. Sure, she can be difficult – like any kid – but she’s the reason I’m a mom and I’m glad she’s part of me and my life.

Seventh, have you picked out a ThemeWord for 2010? Mine is CREATE. What have you created lately? Please share! I want to know what you think. It would be fun to really CREATE a community around this, this year. That’s part of my goal.

So, if you’re out there and you’ve never commented here or you haven’t commented in a while – what are you waiting for? Introduce yourself!

Be blessed,

Out of all of life’s little pleasures, the one I had hoped most to impart to my own children was a love of reading. But it seems with the digital age, reverence for the library and a good book have gone by the wayside. That makes me sad a little.

When I was growing up, if I wasn’t outside riding bikes and what-not, I was inside curled up with a book. And a cat. Especially during this time of year when the weather turns wet and cold here in Western Washington. Nowadays, the kids have their noses stuffed in a computer screen or video game or a cell phone all the time. I suppose you could – maybe – loosely define some part of that as “reading.”

When they were little, I read to them every day and we went to the public library at least once a week. And of course, they saw (and still see) me reading often. You know, the whole “be the example” kind of thing.

I’ll admit – I do, do a fair amount of reading on the computer these days but I also still read regular, hold ‘em in your hand, bound, paper books as well. (Although, if the reading gods are listening, I’d really, *really* like a Kindle for Christmas.) (Hey, at least it’s still a book!)

Still, it makes me a little sad and I wonder if any of my children will ever be bitten by the reading bug . . .

Be blessed,

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions. ~Author Unknown

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

As I haven’t gotten many new books recently, my Reading List this week is rather short. Nonetheless, it’s got some great books on it.

• Bragg Back Fitness Program by Patricia Bragg
• What a Great Idea! 2.0 by Chic Thompson
• Notes From the Backseat by Jody Gehrman
• With or Without You by Carole Matthews

Yes, that’s actually some fiction works! You may have noticed that my Reading Lists are usually non-fiction material and though I really do prefer non-fiction books, once in a while it’s good let loose and read something fun and mindless.

And Notes From the Backseat is hilarious, btw. If you like chic lit, get a copy. One of the best fiction books I’ve in a while.

That’s it for now. See you again soon!

On the bookshelf this week . . .

• The Call by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
• What a Great Idea by Charles Thompson
• The Rough Guide to Blogging by Jonathan Yang
• Making Hard Cash in a Soft Real Estate Market by Wendy Patton
• Zero Limits by Joe Vitale
• Idiot’s Guide to Guerrilla Marketing by Susan Drake

And for a little somethin’ different –
On the stereo this week . . . Some classic favorites and some new favorites:

• Everloving by Moby
• Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
• Give to Live by Sammy Hagar
• California Dreamin’ by Queen LatifahWalk on By by Michael McDonald
• Time Stand Still by Rush
• No Ordinary Love by Sade
• Bloom by Mindi Abair



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This weeks Reading List has some great stuff on it . . .

• Bottom Line’s Prescription for Natural Cures by Bottom Line Books
• CSS Webdesign for Dummies by Richard Mansfield
• Buzz Marketing with Blogs for Dummies by Susannah Gardner
• The One Day Marketing Plan by Roman G. Hiebing
• Good to Great by James C. Collins
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers by Martin Evening

Coming up later, I’ve got a post on a great article I read today about customer service. You know the old adage “the customer is always right?” Well, new thought shows how untrue and how damaging to customer service this line of thinking really is. So check back later today for that article. Better yet, why not subscribe to the RSS so you get updates as soon as they’re posted?

Also, check out some of the recent posts on my other sites -

Beyond Real Estate – Real Estate Local: Tanked

The Weight Loss Papers – Healthy Shopping

And lastly, if you’ve read any of the above books, I’d love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to post in the comments. I’ve heard positive things so far about Good to Great and The One Day Marketing Plan.

Oh – one question – although I post the Reading List weekly usually, I’ve not really done any reviews of the books I’ve read. Would you like to see that here? If so, again let me know in the comments. Of course, you’re always welcome to send me an email too. Either way, don’t be shy!

Til later,

Good stuff on the bookshelf this week:

• The Power of Personal Growth by Manny Goldman
• Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin
• The Millionaire Maker by Loral Langemeier
• Seven Years to Seven Figures by Michael Masterson
• Life’s Missing Instruction Manual by Joe Vitale
• On Writing Well by William Zinsser

And there’s actually a couple more but I’m leaving them for next week. I’m also continuing my study of “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. I really enjoyed the webcast he and Oprah held this past Monday. Can’t wait for the next one on March 10th.

Have a great weekend! It’s my husband’s birthday Saturday, so I don’t know how much I’ll be around but expect lots of news next week.