Government Grants for Women - Part I

Government grants for women are a source of business funding every female entrepreneur needs to think about. There are a lot of grant possibilities out there for women. If you are a woman and a minority, it gets even better! Getting a grant is not necessarily difficult, just a lot of work. It helps a lot if you know some about the grant process. If you are a halfway decent writer that helps, too.

To start you need to educate yourself about the grants that are available, and how you identify them and write a proposal. One great resource is The Foundation Center.

The Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy. Since 1956, they have served as a conduit between non-profits and grant makers. Of interest to the new grant seeker is The Foundation's online courses, many of which are free. They offer courses in foundations and fundraising, proposal writing, and non-profit management. Some of these courses cost money, but compared to what you learn, they are very cheap.

The information you find at The Foundation Center should help you understand what tools and abilities you will need to be a successful grant applicant. Another resource, Grants.gov, is a great place begin looking for a grant that might fit your needs.

Grants.gov was established in 2002 and bills itself as a storehouse of over 1,000 grant programs. Through Grants.gov you have access to over $40 billion in grants each year.

Grants.gov has an excellent search capability. Even before you get serious about finding a grant to fund your project, Grants.gov is a great place to spend some time just reading about potential grants. Check out their New Opportunities This Week link near the bottom of the home page. There you will see a representative sample of grants that are newly available.

Often grant seekers look at a site like Grants.gov and are overwhelmed by all the possibilities, none of which seem to actually fit what you are looking for. Finding a grant can be a needle in a haystack type experience, but then on the positive side of this is the fact that grants, unlike, loans, never need to be repaid.

Computer Office Furniture Comes of Age

Most early computer office furniture was designed to meet certain basic requirements: Make it functional, with keyboard drawers, a cubbyhole for the CPU, and punch-outs for cords. Add a hutch to hold extra printer paper, disks, and manuals, and make it all as inexpensive as possible. Little thought was given to appearance except in the very high-end pieces. But that has all changed. Today, it is possible to find utile, attractive items at reasonable prices and in a style to suit any décor.

Modular arrangements continue to be one of the most popular choices in computer office furniture. You can choose from the basic cubicle arrangements that attach to fabric panels for sound reduction and privacy to more exotic pieces, such as kidney-shaped work tables. Most pieces allow you to select both metal and wood finishes, so you can mix and match to suit your personal preferences and the overall color scheme of the office. With a wide range of colors and components available, as well as ease of installation and re-arrangement, it is not surprising that modular offices remain a perennial best-selling line.

But some people demand more in their computer office furniture. Perhaps the goal is to co-ordinate a functional workstation with an antique executive desk. This can certainly be done, whether you are trying to match a cherry, walnut, or mahogany finish. Designed to add an old-world touch but with new-age technology in mind, these pieces can incorporate glass front hutches and ornate hardware into a utile workstation. Components allow you to set up a basic corner area or arrange it in an L or U shape to match your needs. Bookcases, hutches, and file cabinets can be added as desired.

More contemporary office furniture is also available. Some feature crisp, sharp lines that are clean without being stark, and offer functionality without sacrificing beauty. Available in a wide range of finishes, these designs tend to eschew heavy drawer pulls and showy insets and focus instead on creating a relaxed, attractive work environment. A wide selection of component pieces allow you to customize the layout, and, like modular furniture, everything is easy to re-arrange or expand, making it convenient to add bookcases or file cabinets if your needs change.

Also in this category are more futuristic designs, such as glass-topped computer office furniture. With metal supports and legs, the clear surfaces add light to the room and announce that the occupant is high-tech and stylish. Many designs offer glass shelving in the hutches along with glass doors that allow you to see precisely what is inside without having to hunt for what you are seeking. Available designs include non-traditional shapes, such as curved work tables, and there is no shortage to how the numerous components can be arranged.

Whatever style you desire for your computer office furniture, you can find what you like online. The choices are plentiful, and the number of component pieces available are astounding. It is no longer necessary to choose between functionality and an attractive décor-the new office furniture for your computer lets you have both.

Should You Buy Traveler's Insurance? Two Important Things That You Need to Know to Spot a Good Deal

A new scam is rocking Florida and those who are looking at perhaps making it a vacation destination. In recent years, this scam has evolved, growing more and more convincing and robbing people of their hard earned money. We'll take a look, first at what traveler's insurance is, and what the scam itself entails in this frightening look at how it has been impacting people.

What Is Traveler's Insurance?

Traveler's insurance is insurance that is bought to protect people in the event should something unforeseen happen. Things like illnesses, inclement weather, any manner of situation that may prevent a traveler from actually being able to go. For instance, if you were to get sick before you leave, your traveler's insurance would cover the nonrefundable portions of either your delay or even just canceling the trip altogether. This also covers things like the money you would have paid out for mail, for things such as baggage loss or delays, and also covers medical emergencies while on vacation quite often.

Basic travel insurance usually will not cover a last minute change of mind, but paying out a little more can make sure that your policy includes cancellations for any reason. So, if something does come up, or you simply just do not want to go, for whatever reason, you're covered.

What is the Scam?

Generally speaking, if it is not referred to as specifically traveler's insurance, you may want to check it out a little more deeply. Often, companies that were selling the services were not aware that the scam was afoot- they were offered generous signing bonuses and lead to believe that the commissions would be great. However, once the scam begins to unravel, many found that they were left high and dry- no policy, no vacation. Most of the victims have been the elderly- and given the amount of time that it takes often to investigate these sorts of things and to track down the culprits, it's often something that just isn't feasible.

As of yet, there is no definite number of the times this scam has been used because many just don't find themselves in the position to find out. Things go well, everything happens as it should. But for those who found they lost a great deal of money, assuming they were covered by the bogus coverage- the ending is not so happy. Once they filed their claim, they found out all too late that the policy was fraudulent and the company was gone.

Being aware that this sort of fraud exists out there is the very first step in being able to avoid getting hit yourself. Make sure that you know and trust your insurance agent and that you are reading all of the fine print before you buy. Traveler's insurance- the real thing is certainly worth what it costs, however, the scams that are out there can definitely cause a kink in your travel plans.

24 Hour Credit Repair - It's Fun To Dream

I've got a good one for you; stop me if you've heard this one before. A guy walks into a bar and says to the bartender, "I fixed my bad credit in 24 hours."

Ha, ha, ha, I love that one!

If you missed the punch line, let me explain while everyone else is catching his or her breath.

Repairing your credit is a long and drawn out process and there are no shortcuts. You must be patient and persistent. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something.

Once you make up your mind to take a serious effort at repairing your credit, here are some steps you can follow to help you stay focused.

Get your debt under control- You cannot start to rebuild your credit until you are able to pay your regular monthly bills on time. Order your credit report from all three credit bureaus- Getting all three reports will give you the clearest picture of what's affecting your credit score. Dispute all inaccuracies on your credit report- If there are mistakes on your credit report, file a dispute with the credit bureau and the creditor that provided the information to the credit bureau. You don't want other peoples mistakes dragging down your credit score. Obtain new credit- While paying down old debts, look to obtain new credit to start adding positive files to your credit report. If you get a credit card only spend small amounts and pay off the balance in full each month. If you get a loan, make your monthly payments on time. Save some money- As soon as you can possibly afford to do so, save some money for yourself. Start out with whatever you can afford and work your way up to ten percent. Saving equals responsibility on your part in the eyes of creditors.

Remember, there are no quick fixes when it comes to credit repair. You have to put in an honest effort and be patient. If you can do that you'll really start to see your dreams come true.

Popcorn Machine, You Complete Me (My Home Theater)

It is said that back in the day, Leonardo Da Vinci was able to simultaneously draw with one hand while writing with the other. And if you know anything about Leonardo Da Vinci you can be pretty certain that neither the drawing was no scribble and the writing was no dribble... If that's what 'home entertainment' was back then, all I can say is I'm sure glad I'm alive today!

Today's home entertainment systems are getting both more intense and complex as well as simpler and more affordable. This probably due to a number of reasons. First, more and more people are staying home to make the most of their entertainment dollar. When you can rent a movie for a couple of bucks and enjoy it with the whole family, it's a lot easier on the pocket book than taking everyone to the movie theater, buying tickets, popcorn, soda, candy... you name it. A family of 4 could easily fork out $75 in one sitting of what, 90 minutes? Compare that to a night at home for may one-tenth the cost? You better believe home theaters are getting more popular!

But while the actual home theater systems are getting better and better, both in quality and affordability bringing them into more and more homes, there is still one HUGE piece of the true movie going experience that is lacking when watching movies at home. And that is POPCORN.

Sure, there is the quicky-pop stuff where you put what looks like an envelope in the microwave oven for a few minutes. But there is something that just isn't quite the same as the popcorn that comes from a genuine popcorn machine. Anyone over the age of about 35 can probably remember the thrill of getting your hands on a popcorn popper as a kid and just making bowl after bowl of the fluffy stuff.

Alone In the Kitchen: Stirring Up Mindfulness

Put on your apron! It's time to stir up a batch of mindfulness.

Julia Child, the trilling television chef who taught millions of Americans how to prepare French food without being hoity-toity, died in her sleep at the age of 92 recently. In dozens of articles, she has been glowingly eulogized for her spirit, her humor, and her ability to share her passion for cooking and fine dining.

I've never tried any of Julia Child's recipes, and I watched her show only on those days when I was skipping high school. I was fascinated by her confidence in the kitchen, and I absolutely loved the way she dealt matter-of-factly with her mistakes. The line she used to excuse a dropped chicken or imprecisely flipped potato pancake? "You're alone in the kitchen, anyway." Just patch it up and serve with a smile.

We would do well to stir in a little of Julia's wisdom when it comes to stewing in our own juices. For those of us likely to simmer in frustration or stick to the fear pan, her gentle and humorous approach to making mistakes is a refreshing reminder to be forgiving in order to be fabulous.

A mischievous teen and notorious good-time girl in college, Julia didn't set out to impress anyone but herself. Along the way, she inspired millions. Her wildly popular cookbook, "The Way To Cook", made gourmet food attainable to anyone willing to give it a go.

Child herself served up some delicious morsels of advice for the way to live:

1) Start at any age. If you think that only monks who start chanting at age 8 are likely to develop any respectable level of mindfulness, remember Julia Child. She grew up completely oblivious to her potential in the kitchen, relying on the family cook for meals and snacks. She didn't take a cooking class until she was 34 years old, and it wasn't until the age of 51 that she started cooking before the masses on television. She continued to write cookbooks throughout her eighties.

2) Move past your mistakes. This is especially helpful in meditation. If you find yourself kneading a few thoughts, whipping up some emotions, or punching down your view of yourself as a "good" meditator, simply dump that flattened soufflé in the trash and move on.

You're alone in your head, anyway.

3) Do it for yourself. Julia Child always ended her television shows by sitting at a beautiful table set for one and raising her glass of wine to the camera with a melodic, ascending "Bon Appetit!" She made it seem perfectly reasonable to spend time lovingly preparing a delicious meal--for yourself. She delighted in the idea of cooking--and dining--for the sheer joy of the experience.

By remembering that we are never too old to start, that we must expect to make mistakes as we keep moving forward, and that we need not impress anyone but ourselves, we can stir up mindfulness wherever we are.

I still think that staying home to watch Julia Child should have been an excused absence from school. She taught me the value of demystifying difficult concepts in order to embrace learning without fear.

Bon appetit!