The Dirty Dozen

submitted by LeAnna Sheehan

     Anyone who knows Tom or I know that we are enormous supporters of purchasing and consuming organic foods.  Organic foods are grown naturally and without pesticides or other harmful substances.  In my mind the only downside to buying organic relates to cost.  I came to terms with the cost ten years ago when I made the commitment to organic foods.  Today I appreciate the quality of my food so much that I consider it a waste of money to buy and therefore would never purchase most conventional foods – making the exception only when I truly know the grower / producer behind the food.

     All of that being said, I do realize all of the commitments that are made on our budgets, and do completely understand the challenge associated with “going organic”.  My advice is very simple; baby steps.  Simple changes can make huge differences and help mitigate sticker shock when attempting to buy organic foods.  I began my nutritional transformation with dairy and eggs (which is sort of funny considering I am now a practicing vegan!).  I allowed my budget to adjust, and moved on to produce, grains, and meats.

     A list that I like to share is referred to as “The Dirty Dozen” as published by Veg is Sexy (www.vegissexy.com), and lists the twelve fruits and vegetables that should always be purchased organically as these are most heavily sprayed.  

The Dirty Dozen

Peaches

Apples

Bell Peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Pears

Grapes

Spinach

Lettuce

Potatoes

     A parting thought that I would like to leave you with is that while I think most of us make a move to organic foods to protect our health, the interesting thing is that what many discover along the way is that organic food actually tastes better.  Take a peak at some of the chefs on Food TV.  You will see many of them using organic brands – probably not for the many health benefits that these foods provide, but because good cooks understand the importance of beginning with quality good tasting ingredients!

Bon Appetite!

LeAnna Brown Sheehan

Sheehan Personal Training / Guru Nutrition

71 Elm Street, Suite 10

Foxboro, MA  02035

508-543-1313

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www.sheehantraining.com

www.gurunutrition.com

Determination and Persistence

Submitted by Tamara Myles

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is off to a great start for you. Most likely, you probably spent some time at the end of last year and beginning of this year setting some goals or resolutions for 2012. But if you are like 92% of Americans, life will get busy, you will lose focus, and your resolutions will not be kept.

My clients often ask me how to ensure that they keep moving forward with their goals so that they end the year with a sense of accomplishment. Part of the secret lies in setting SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely) and reviewing them often to ensure that they are broken down into actionable tasks.

But a big part of it lies in determination and persistence. It is easy to get caught up in our busy day-to-day lives and procrastinate on our goals. After all, we are still in February and have 10 more months to get it done, right? But what if you faced life with the determination and persistence of a 2-year old?

Most of you know that I have a beautiful 2-year old daughter. She is very sweet and loving and is probably the most determined person in our household. When she wants something, she will ask and ask and ask for it tirelessly, until you either give it to her or come up with an alternate solution that pleases her. It doesn’t matter what else you are doing or how much you try to ignore her, she keeps asking: “Can I have apple juice, please,” “Mommy, I want apple juice,” “I am thirsty, can I have apple juuuuuice?”

She doesn’t cry or throw tantrums. She doesn’t even raise her voice much. But she follows you around and keeps asking. She does it until you have to address it. And she does it so often that it got me thinking, “what if everyone had this kind of persistence?”  “What if we all felt so strongly about achieving our goals that we didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer?”

I believe that if we had the determination and persistence of a 2-year old, we would end 2012 as part of the 8% of Americans who accomplish their goals. Here’s to a fulfilling year!

Sincerely,
 

Tamara

Tamara Myles Consulting

www.tmylesconsulting.com

Lists, lists and more lists...

submitted by JoAnn Krall

Whether you prefer sticky notes, pads of paper, notebooks or electronic devices I encourage you to make lists for everything. The more you can free your mind the better. I keep a small notebook beside my bed so I can write things down before I go to bed. That way I don't have to worry about remembering them.

Here are my ongoing lists, how I record them and where I keep them:

• Master To Do - This is where I pull my Daily To Do list from. I have it in a word document for easy updating and I keep a print out in a folder with any corresponding paper work. This list is never ending but always revolving.
• Daily To Do - I use a sheet of scrap paper and pen. Once I complete an item I remove it from this and my Master To Do list. I will transfer any undone items to the next day and add more from the Master To Do.
• Cleaning and Home Maintenance - This is in a spreadsheet with chores broken up by day of the week. Quarterly and semi annual items are noted as well. I have this hanging on the wall in my office.
• Home Repair - Here I keep all the improvements we eventually want to make in a word document. This hangs on my husband's office wall. I guess you could call it his Honey Do list.
• Vacation Packing List - I keep this in a word document so I can print a new copy for each trip. It has everything for every kind of trip. I start by crossing anything off that doesn't apply to the current trip and then check each item as I pack.
• Books to Read, Movies to Watch & Songs to Buy - I keep this in the notes app on my iPhone. This way it is with me when I am shopping.
• Shows to Watch - I consider my DVR a list. :)
• Misc Ideas & Projects - Pinterest.com My favorite new site!
• Bills to Pay/Budget - Excel spreadsheet and Online Banking (I am working on a separate blog post for this)
• Account Information - This I have in a word document. I keep a printed copy in our safe deposit box. It has all our bank info, insurance info, credit card accounts, investments and the name and address of our attorney.
• Shopping - Items are logged as needed on white board on fridge. Before going to the store I note the items on my Cozi.com iPhone app.
• Goals: Lifetime, 10 year, 5 year, 1 year, monthly and weekly - I use a program from Raymond Aaron with pre-printed forms but a word document or journal would work well too.
• Birthdays and Special occasions - I have them set up to reoccur in my electronic calendar at Cozi.com.
• Things I Am Grateful For - Daily gratitude journal. This daily exercise is uplifting and a great stress reducer.

The great thing about lists is even if you don't refer to them daily somehow the items get done. I think the act of writing it down sets the plan in motion. Probably has something to do with the Law of Attraction and setting intentions. If you have a list that you don't see here I would love to hear about it. I can never have enough lists!

 JoAnn Krall

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www.sensibleorganizer.com

Social Media vs. Social Influence

submitted by Janine Cavanaugh - Professional Organizer

Do you know what air space is? 

    To maximize air space in your cupboards adjust shelves, if you can, add raisers and platforms, use stack-able containers, and mount stemware units to the underside of a shelf.  Also to allow easier access to the back of the cupboard use step raisers, lazy Susan's, long baskets and pull out drawer units. 

      To maximize air space in your closets adjust hanging bars, use hooks, add additional shelves or hanging bars, and use tiered hangers. 

       If you'd like more details on these suggestions email Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ."

Certified Professional Organizer®
Organizing spaces, places, and stuff
(508) 699-6652
www.helpfulorganizer.com

NAPO and NAPO-NE Member
NAPO-NE Membership Director
WBN Assistant Director
Creative Memories Consultant
United Regional Chamber of Commerce Member
Find me on Facebook

submitted by Faye Weiner Jackson -

Does Your Child Need Help?

We all think that our children are perfect. They are smarter than all of the other children that you know. They are cuter than all of the other children that you know. They are most definitely more polite than all of the other children that you know. The reality is that none of our children are perfect (surprise!) and some have some special, individualized needs. The question is what you should do if you think that your child might have a disability that is affecting his or her learning?

High Five: The very first thing to do is praise yourself. You have recognized that your child may not be a typically developing child.  He or she may be on the autism spectrum, have articulation issues, or need physical therapy for strength and endurance. Too many parents have selective attention as to the needs of their child.  Denial of the special needs of your child does not help your child; seeking assistance does.

Talk, Talk, Talk:  Speak with your child’s teacher, school psychologist, any existing specialists, and pediatrician. Professionals who work with your children can be invaluable resources with a unique perspective of your child’s physical, social, and educational development.

Correspond and Save: Notify your local school district of your specific concerns in writing. Send a copy of the letter to the school and the district’s main office. Correspondence should be dated, and then mailed by certified, return receipt mail. The school district is obligated to respond to your concerns in writing. Keep records of all notes and records.

Perform Evaluation: Where appropriate, the school should set up an evaluation of your child. You have the right to disagree with the assessment and seek alternative, private assessment.

Create an “IEP:” If the district determines that there is a special education need for your child, they will develop an Independent Education Plan (“IEP”).  The IEP will determine what services your child will receive, the frequency, and the location thereof. You have the right to agree, disagree in part, or disagree in whole with the proposal.  If you disagree, you can attempt to resolve the matter at the IEP meeting or seek mediation thereof.  Remember, you are motivated by the love for your child, but the school districts are often motivated by budget.

Educate yourself:  The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (2004) states that, “the school districts are required to educate students with disabilities in regular classrooms with their nondisabled peers, in the school they would attend if not disabled, to the maximum extent appropriate.”

Similarly, the Free and Appropriate Public Education Act (“FAPE”) (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) entitles your child to in the least restrictive environment.  Appropriateness may include inclusion in typical classes, with or without aids, or education in a separate classroom or at home, when necessary. Students are also entitled to receive free education in a private school, commuter or residential, where necessary.

Other great resources include the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education http://www.doe.mass.edu and Wrightslaw www.Wrightslaw.com.

Find an Advocate:  Parents are often the best advocates for their children, but special education can be a difficult area to navigate.  Special Education Advocates can help you to understand the laws, process, and serve as a trained voice for your child.

Most importantly, stayed organized and SPEAK UP for your child.

Faye Weiner-Jackson

Compassionate and Intelligent Legal Representation
www.fayeweiner-jacksonlaw.com
PO Box 2685
Attleboro Falls, MA 02703
Telephone (617) 966-2813

submittted by Betty Kushner - Panache Creations

Garnet- Panache Stone of the Month

Hello all.  

The "stone of the month" is the garnet -

a beautiful red stone.  

The native americans considered it to be a sacred stone.

 It is known as the "stone of commitment" - a commitment to self, to purpose and to others.

Betty Kushner 

Panache Creations

Betty – a self- taught jewelry designer, went into this business on impulse 15 years ago. Convinced that she could create and sell custom jewelry, Betty has succeeded with her artistry and creative designs, combining unusual colors and shapes to make each piece unique and appropriate for the individual.

Betty uses only the choicest of gems that she obtains through a network of suppliers.

Over the years Betty has acquired an expert’s eye for unusual stones.

Contact Betty:

Phone:508-528-2407F

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

submitted by Janine Cavanaugh

Have you ever heard of zig-zag organizing? 

        It's something we've all done at one time or another.  Zig-zag organizing is when you hop from one organizing project to another, without completing either project.  Let me provide an example:  you start organizing the surface of your desk, and you find some books on the desk that belong in the bookcase.  You stop organizing the desk to bring the books to the bookcase, only to realize you can't fit them in.  So, you start pulling things out of the bookcase to make room.  You realize that you have several children's books in the bookcase that you can put in your child's room.  You stop organizing the bookcase to bring the children's books to your child's room.  Now you have three organizing projects started, but no completed projects, that is zig-zag organizing.

    To help you stay on task when organizing, create a pile of items that belong elsewhere.  Put these items into a basket or bin with a label that reads 'belongs elsewhere'.  Then allow time towards the end of the project to address these items, and put them where they belong.  This will help prevent zig-zag organizing.

    For more organizing tips contact Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®

Certified Professional Organizer®
Organizing spaces, places, and stuff
(508) 699-6652

www.helpfulorganizer.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Accessories Shopping

submitted by Dotty Wyman

       Lately, I have done some accessories shopping for clients as well as myself (blogged dining room project). It can be a challenge to find just the right items to complete a room's design and add some of your own personality. Rules I try to follow are; if you have many accessories in a room they should look like you have collected them over time, and a more modern or contemporary room may only have a few accessories and each single item should add significant impact.

       Shopping this trip has taken me to Wellesley, Newton and Natick. One client was looking for kitchen and family room accessories. We had luck finding a large cutting board and cheese dome to sit on her large island at Pottery Barn. We also found, at Pottery Barn, some great glass candle holders with moss for her family room coffee table. The pillar candles are wrapped in birch bark which add an organic element to the room. This is a large space with a vaulted ceiling and required a substantial grouping of items. Some other places we visited were Crate and Barrel and Bloomingdales. No purchases at either, but they have some great items. I was surprised that the prices at both are fairly reasonable.
 

Decorative cutting board on kitchen island

Grouping of birch bark wrapped candles and moss in
large hurricane holder

          Artwork is another way to add layers and presonnality to a room. Oil paintings and orignal art can be expensive, but add a tremendous amount of uniqueness and interest to a room. Paintings help to fill in the open spaces of large walls. They add height and color and keep your eyes moving around the room. Below is a painting we selected from the Renjeau Gallery www.renjeau.com in Natick.

Oil painting above fireplace mantel

           Once you have your most important accessories in place, you can find additional items at discount stores. It takes a little extra time to poke around and uncover the choice items, but you can save some money. Accessorizing can be hard work, but it is worth the effort. A room will not look complete until those last few items are in place.

Good luck accessorizing the next room in your home.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at

Dotty Wyman Designs
508.219.4739
 

Are You Connecting?

Submitted by Susan Finn 

      As many WBN members know, I love to connect people.  I enjoy connecting people to people, people to services, people to themselves, even.   As founder and director of the Women’s Business Network of SE MA, it has been incredibly rewarding to have created a vehicle which facilitates women connecting in so many ways. 

The purpose of WBN is to offer networking opportunities, and inspire, educate, and motivate (connect) women to be the best they can be in their business and personal lives.

This article will be the first in a series to be published with the intent of helping WBN members learn about the many ways we can use WBN, social media, local search engines, blogs, inbound links and other methods to increase our online visibility, as well as strengthen and increase the reach of our networking efforts.

Today’s topic:  Local Search Engines – Can Your Neighbors Find You?

         I am amazed at how many free online listing sites there are available to help us get our businesses found in local searches.  In the work I have been doing for my clients, I have found that some of the most useful free listing sites (so far) are Google Places, Yahoo!,  Merchant Circle, Yelp, and our local Patch.

       A good example is our own membership coordinator, Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA.  Shortly after Marietta established her business she obtained a listing on Patch.  Even before she had a functioning website, a generic Google search for CPA, Mansfield, MA brought Marietta’s Patch listing up on the first page of Google (prime real estate !!)   Her Google Places listing also gives her higher ranking on this generic search.        

   Another example of how these free, or low cost listings can help us get found in our own neighborhood is WBN member, Leanna Sheehan.  A generic Google search for personal trainer, Foxboro, brings Sheehan Personal Training up on the first page 7 times !  (Google Places, SheehanTraining.com, Yelp, Facebook, Merchant Circle, Yellow Pages, and Yahoo! Local)  Sheehan Training shows up 6 times on page 2 of the Google Search via other listing sites that Leanna has chosen to use.

        In September, I made available a sample list of free, or low cost, online listing sites that a small business can use to increase their exposure.   The great thing about many of these sites (other than their free-ness), is that many of them allow you to post photos, videos and links to your own sites. (Importance of Inbound Links are a topic to be covered in another week’s article)  Many of them let you choose from 5-10 keywords to assist you in finding your target audience.  (for more on Keywords, check out Google’s Keyword Tool)

January WBN Merchant Circle Challenge

Connect to and Support other WBN Members via Merchant Circle:

1.    Create your Merchant Circle account if you have not already done so.

 I will use Jenalzoco Home Improvement as an example here. 

Be sure to put in your keywords, products, photos, and any blog articles you may have already.  

You can also create an offer for potential connections.

2.    Find other WBN members who are already on Merchant Circle and invite them to connect.  ( Hint: Connect with a few well-connected WBN members, and then use their MC connections to build your own)

3.    Consider writing a testimonial for other WBN members with whom you are familiar.  See the listing for WBN member, Artiste Gallery for a sample of a quick and easy way to support a WBN member. 

       Getting your business listed on local search sites may take quite a bit of time, especially if you intend to get the most out of them by posting photos, videos, blog entries, etc.  I have developed my own system for getting small businesses listed on these sites in a very efficient way.   I will be happy to speak to you about how to implement my system, or about how you can hire my services to create a local search engine optimization and social media program for your own business. 

I would appreciate if you would pass my information on to other small business owners that you may know who would like to get started in this area and just need some help getting jumpstarted..... Thank you so much.

Please contact me for more information:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Merchant Circle Links:

Jenalzoco LLC-

Buttonwood Originals

Do you feel the ravages of aging coming on?

8 week clinicals of the New Galvanic Body Spa show:

85% improvements in arms and abdomens

 

96% improvement in thighs

 

Clinical findings published and presented at:

Sept 2011 Journal of Investigative Dermatology

European Society for Dermatological Research

 

Make 2012 your year to  firm up and look younger!

Contact me for a complimentary demonstration. Seeing is believing! 

Patty Nameishi 508-667-0634

 

^{Patty Nameishi}
For more information please visit
www.agingmyth.nsproducts.com

2011 Tax Planning for Businesses

Submitted by Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA, MST

Q. What is Tax Planning?
A. An analysis with the goal of helping you keep more of your hard earned money. It’s a tool to be used to help you make sound business decisions and minimize your taxes.

Q. Is it something only big companies do?
A. No. Everyone can benefit. You work hard for your money: going to trade shows, networking events, increasing your visibility, blogging, etc. You need this information to help you decide on your action steps. If you do nothing with it, its what the federal and state governments will tax you on and then there will be less money available for the business.

Q. Is it expensive?
A. It does not have to be. It can be as basic or detailed as you need. You can start by doing the analysis yourself. Then talk to your CPA about your results so you can decide on appropriate action steps together.

Q. Do I wait until the end of the year?
A. If you wait, it may be too late. The goal is to determine what you can do in 2011.
Example for a cash basis business: For Discussion Purposes Only

1. Determine your Net Income (Profit) or Net Loss - The total income for the year of your business (example- cash received) LESS total expenses (example- cash paid out and you may also have some non- cash expenses such as depreciation).

2 A. Are you left with a Profit ?– are there any items you’ve been meaning to buy for your business, any expenses coming due soon that you can pay before the end of the year, any groups your business was looking to join, did you want to sign up for training or conferences. Talk to your CPA to find out what additional deductions would be allowable.

2B. Are you showing a Loss? Have you had Losses in previous years and could your business be in danger of being treated as a hobby by the IRS? Talk to your CPA to find out if this is a concern for your business, what it would mean and if there is any additional income you can recognize this year.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURES: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, I inform you that any tax advice contained in this communication (including attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.

Marietta Z. Courtney, CPA, MST
Serving Business and Individual Clients for Over 18 Years
(617) 416-2096
www.courtneycpa.com
 

Time on Your Side

Submitted by Tamara Myles

One great way to increase productivity is to better manage your time. To begin, get an accurate gauge of the real time it takes to accomplish a variety of routine responsibilities.

Use a kitchen timer to measure time spent on your work activities. You'll likely discover that most unpleasant tasks don't take as long as you think they will. And most pleasant things tend to drag out a bit longer than you'd expect. Then, use this information to help schedule future tasks. If checking and returning phone messages takes an hour each day (who knew?), then block off that amount of time for phone calls. Clearing off your desk by filing papers may seem like an unending job, but in reality, it may take only ten minutes. Now it seems more manageable!

Then, become more productive by avoiding interruptions. Did you know that the average office worker is interrupted 73 times every day? Be prepared for these obstacles by setting aside time each day for "open office hours," and let your colleagues know they can drop by during this time for assistance.

Use your lower-energy hours as your open office hours so you don't waste peak productivity periods. That way, you can devote time when your energy is highest to plow through your absolutely-must-do tasks.

Close your door or consider putting up a "do not disturb" sign outside your doorway to let office mates know when you need privacy. Of course, emergencies will pop up occasionally, but by following these guidelines, your productivity will soar.

Tamara Myles
Tamara Myles Consulting
www.tmylesconsulting.com
508-837-4112

Note, The Women's Business Network of Southeastern Ma would like to congratulate Tamara on passing the exam to become a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). This certification is a voluntary, industry-led effort that benefits the members of the organizing profession, as well as the public. It recognizes those professionals who have met specific minimum standards, and prove through examination and client interaction that they possess the body of knowledge and experience required for certification. This program recognizes and raises industry standards, practices, and ethics. Certification of professional organizers maximizes the value received from the products and services provided by a CPO®.

Redecorating Dining Room - Paint and more

Submitted by Dotty Wyman

The dining room project is once again moving along. When the rain came, so did the painter for some interior work. He called me on Tuesday last week and was there on Thursday to start the job. Since I had already selected the colors for the room and ordered the wallpaper, he could come even on such short notice. The work to replace the baseboard moulding, wallpaper and paint was completed in two days. They accomplished everything I requested. There were only 2 small changes to the original estimate, which the painter confirmed with me prior to starting.

The picture above shows the rich brown paint on the upper portion of the walls which is balanced with the bold striped wallpaper below the chair rail.  The 2 3/4" baseboard moulding has been replaced with 7 3/4" moulding (the same height as the heat registers) and all the trim has been painted with a fresh coat of white paint.  I decided to paint the ceiling a golden yellow color (pictured below).  I thought the color on the ceiling would give the room a more contemporary feeling and it was an opportunity for me to introduce the yellow color from my design inspiration photos into the room.

Below are a few more detailed pictures of the walls and ceiling.

WBN Ladies Movie Night at Patriot Place.... A blockbuster hit

The Women’s Business Network of Southeastern Massachusetts (WBN) hosted a Ladies Night Out at the Movies at Patriot Place Showcase Cinemas De Lux in Foxboro, featuring the movie "The Help" on August 16th from 6 pm to 10:30 pm.

A select group of WBN members showcased their products to all the ladies and networked in a soothing and welcome atmosphere: Meus Kaveny , stella & dot, CAbi, Sue Haley.

Lots of networking and mingling took place amidst hors d’oeuvres, a wine tasting, and tarot card readings.

Thanks to Janine Cavanaugh, Helpful Organizer for arranging this event.

Click Here to view more photos from this event.