Be inspired!  The following video features businesses who, with “The Oprah Effect,” reached heights they would have never imagined.  “The Oprah Effect” is equivalent to savvy direct marketing and advertising wrapped up into one person–Oprah.  The video talks about how business-as-usual changed drastically overnight once their products were featured on The Oprah Show.

For business owners who are struggling in this difficult economy, there is power behind marketing. Thinking of unique ways to cross over into new demographics or even polishing up the way you’re presenting your product or service are just a few of many ways you can increase your revenue.   Creating partnerships is a great idea as well.  So even if you don’t have access to that Oprah Effect, there are things you can do today to improve your business, and I hope this video will motivates you to move in that direction.

But honestly though, wouldn’t you just love to get that call from Oprah?  I know I would

Warren Buffett speaking to Radley, a character on the animated series "The Millionaire's Club"

“Failure is not falling down, it’s staying down”

“The more you learn, the more you earn”

These are some words of wisdom that Warren Buffett shares with kids in an episode of a cartoon web series entitled The Secret Millionaire (Watch this interview where Warren Buffett talks about The Secret Millionaire).  The animated series, created by Andy Heyward and Amy Moynihan Heyward of A Squared Entertainment, is designed to teach kids about business and finance.   Most of all, it teaches kids how important it is to live by principles such as integrity and building good character–important values that transcend into the business world.  With universal themes such as ‘never giving up’ and ‘investing in yourself,’ adults can learn a thing or two as well.

I watched the below episode entitled “All Fall Up” and I can honestly say that even I could learn a thing or two from it.  Watch it with your kids because afterall habits are easily learned in their youth.  Why not start them off with good business know-how?  They’ll thank you later for it.

Learn more or watch more videos at http://www.smckids.com.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CULTURAL FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010
12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE!

Admission is Free!

Rose Hills Memorial Park
3888 Workman Mill Road
Entrance Gate 1 – Follow signs to SkyRose Chapel
Whittier, CA  90601
For more information:

Grace Kaine, 310-424-8113

MAP IT

For more information about the benefits of Advance Planning or to RSVP for this event, please call Grace Kaine at 310-424-8113 or fill out the following form:

Posing with Shondrella Avery

Saturday, August 28, 2010 marked Sickle Cell Disease of California’s first ever Sickle Cell Walk-A-Thon which took place in Darby Park in Inglewood, CA.  The walk, organized by Tara Ragin and hosted by none other than Girls Behaving Badly actress and SCDC board member Shondrella Avery, involved walking three laps around the track all in the name of spreading the word about sickle cell anemia.   The day included games for kids, a video game lounge, and live music provided by the Matthew Jamele Trio.  SCDC put the event together as a way of fundraising for the much needed cause.

The official 1st Annual Sickle Cell Walk-A-Thon photos on Facebook

To learn more about the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation or to register to be a volunteer, please visit http://scdfc.org.

With friend Janelle for the Free Jazz experience @ LACMA

This was the first year I had attended the summer Jazz concerts at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and it truly was a treat.  This free event takes place at the Los Angeles Times Central Court at LACMA, where we are entertained with two hours of non stop jazz music every Friday (and Saturday) and is open to the public.

There were four different areas of seating for the event:  the foremost section of seats were the quietest section and were perfect for those music connoisseurs who needed absolute concentration in order to fully enjoy their jazz experience; the second set of seats were for those who wished to consume alcohol… it was also the perfect section to get your chat on with your friends (or work on your laptop such as myself–yes, I brought my work with me); the area behind the chairs offered round tables which made for a romantic setting for couples, and finally a large grassy area at the very back great for families to layout their picnic baskets and for kids to run a muck.

Check out some of the talent that have graced the LACMA stage:

Kamasi Washington And The Next Step

Kenny Dennis Trio

Jazz pianist Les McCann

To learn more about LACMA or to obtain their latest Jazz Concert schedule, visit http://www.lacma.org

If you’ve never attended the Revlon Run/Walk and maybe are interested in doing it next year, I encourage you to attend because you will not only be running or walking for a great cause, but also because you will leave their truly touched by people’s stories of loved ones affected by cancer.

The event itself is complete with vendors who give away free goodies, a medal ceremony for those who raced the event, and  a concert in the end–this year Chaka Khan blessed us with her still very amazing voice!

So all in all, I’m thankful to have attended and supported the cause yet another year.  I may not have cancer myself, as well as anyone in my immediate family, but I do this every year with the hope that I am helping other women who were affected or are currently affected by cancer.

Facts

For women, the three leading causes of cancer death were lung, breast and colorectal cancer for all racial/ethnic groups except Hispanic women, for whom breast cancer ranked first.  Cancer.gov contains a national report related to the U.S. cancer rates.

So, as far as breast cancer goes, African American women are more likely to die from this cancer, many times because it’s detected much later when it’s harder to treat or cure.  Our breast cancer death rates are more than double that of Caucasians.  All types of agency listings, programs, and resources are listed in the report from the Office Of Minority Health.

Please share with as many people as possible and consider submitting a tax deductible donation at our United For A Cause group page today… and Happy Mother’s Day~

Donate at http://tinyurl.com/REVLONTEAM757

Flip through the following photos to get just a taste of how the event went.  To learn more about “My Black Is Beautiful” check out www.MyBlackIsBeautiful.com, on Twitter or their “MBIB” Facebook Page.

WE Connect in Los Angeles

Any opportunity to spread the word on something that may help someone else I will surely jump on.  Despite how long it’s been since I posted on my blog, this opportunity got me logging in!  Please share the below information to anyone it can be of help to… or actually everyone you know, since we don’t know who really needs the help

Click Here To Download The Flyer

Dates & Times:

Friday, March 26th – Sunday, March 28th 2010
Friday: 3:00 – 8:00pm
Saturday: 10:00 – 7:00pm
Sunday: 11:00 – 3:00pm

Location:

The Forum – Downtown Los Angeles
3900 West Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood CA 90305

7 Reasons to attend the WE Connect Weekend

1.    Free Tax Preparation
2.    Foreclosure Assistance
3.    Employment/ Resume Assistance
4.    Free Bag of Produce
5.    Free Flu Shots
6.    Programs and Services all in one place
7.    FUN

FREE TAX PREPARATION!

For free tax preparation, call to make an appointment at 888-434-8248 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              888-434-8248      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and tell the operator that you would like to make an appointment for the WE Connect event in LA.
If you plan on getting your taxes done or signing up for programs and services, you need to bring:
•All W-2’s, 1098T’s and 1099’s for 2009
•ITIN or Social Security Card for each family member
•Your Last Telephone Bill
•Recent Electric Bill
•Proof of Identity (photo ID)
•Recent Paycheck Stub or Recent Tax Return (1040)

On Site:

•Free Tax Preparation
•WEb Connector
•Job Search & Resume Assistance
•Foreclosure & LOSS Mitigation Counseling
•Pre-Purchase Home Ownership Counseling
•Rental Counseling
•Produce Distribution
•Flu Shots
•Food Stamps
•Medi-Cal
•& Much More!
The WE Connect campaign is a public/private partnership designed to help the nation’s working families become more financially secure by connecting them to important programs and resources. Many of these programs, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Women, Infant and Children’s Program (WIC), are available to individuals and families, but are not fully taken advantage of. This nationwide campaign connects those eligible with the information and tools they need to access these valuable resources, empowering them to live their dreams.

For more information, call 916-447-4099 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              916-447-4099      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email Robert@weconnect.net or Tamara@weconnect.net

I have always heard about this car show but had never had it in mind to actually go until a friend of mine suggested we go.  The event is from December 4 through December 13 and takes place at the L.A. Convention Center.  What we saw were several different rooms that each showcased a different caliber of cars.   My favorites:  Porsche, Ashton Fuller, BMW, Lexus, and Audi (yes, Audi!).  All I really have left to say is it was all about the concept cars!  I had never seen so many interesting cars, the kind you’d like to see in a Bond movie.  Also, all the floors were so well lit… it made the cars look like the gems they truly are

(aww… *tear* *sniff*)

Given I don’t know too much about cars and all, I just thought I’d take a lot of pictures and share them with the world, lol.  I won’t even bother naming each photo, it was just too many!  Enjoy