Another one to check out is Wowzza. This is a paid site. For $32xx per month, you get access to a subscriber base of business owners to network with. Also attached is a network marketing type of pay plan with fast start money and a matrix.

if you decide to checkout either one, be sure to look me up. I’d like to network with you.

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008 Maureen Kellis. All rights reserved.

It was wonderful! Now I know why people used to flock to the mineral baths at Saratoga. The only thing that got me out of the tub was the cooling of the water.

Treat yourself to a mineral bath- it’s an awesome thing!

Next Friday:  I show you the seaside candlescape I made for my bathroom.

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

P.S. I am totally loving this home candle business!  Can’t you tell?!?!

© 2008 Maureen Kellis. All rights reserved.

I’ve recently taken on several projects and a major website and system overhaul.  I’ve been staying up till all hours- fueled by an adrenaline rush- trying to get it all done.  This has started to take it’s toll.  So I took a few days off  to rework my schedule and enjoy my family more.  This break has enabled me to come back refreshed and able to get more done.

As moms who work inside the home it is so easy to get distracted by all the myriad  of  things to do.  Your kids need your attention.  The  giant pile of laundry or dishes is calling your name.  Customers and team partners need assistance.

Some moms don’t seem to have a problem fitting their business into and around what they are already doing- these are the great multi- taskers. I admire them.   Multi-tasking, however is not my preferred method of time management.  I am the type who needs to focus.  So, taking this into consideration, and  with some wise counsel, I made a schedule and incorporated some breaks into my work at home week.

I’ve set aside one day (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) to be completely free of business.  One other day is a workday, but I’ll be doing something different from the ordinary.  Something I enjoy that also renews my spirit and doesn’t tie me to the computer or phone too much.  So Sunday’s I’ll write my blogs, articles, make plans for the upcoming week, and make candles.

There are several other changes I am making and I’ll be posting these time management tips for home business owners here on Team Building Thursdays over the next several weeks.  Here’s why.  The biggest struggle I’ve heard from my team over the years has been in the area of time management.

Assignment for this week:

Find ways to fit breaks in your schedule, including a full day off.

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008  Maureen Kellis.  All rights reserved.

There is a free lunch!

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008 Maureen Kellis. All rights reserved.

Simple Chocolate-Almond Fondue

Ingredients:

1 8-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extracts
4 chocolate candy bars
1 cup marshmallow cream

Dippers:
Pound or angel food cake chunks
Fresh fruit, cubed or sliced
Brownie pieces

Directions:

Heat all ingredients in a fondue pot or double broiler over low heat. Stir constantly until melted and well blended. Once mixture is smooth, dip pieces of cake, fruit or brownie into the mixture. Give guests fondue forks to serve themselves.

Enjoy!

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008 Maureen Kellis. All rights reserved.

Internet Marketing Sweetie is a course that teaches people, just like you and me, to get ahead in the cutthroat world of online business – all by being nice to people. Early on I used it extensively when starting to build my home candle business on the internet.

It isn’t just some flimsy ebook. This course includes audio, transcripts, workbooks and step-by-step instructions to:

- Allow you to help as many people at a time as possible…and increase your profits at the same time.

- Generate plenty of great content that your website visitors want and search engines will send free traffic to.

- Building a responsive list that really likes to buy from you.

- How freebie seekers can actually HELP your business.

- How to build your network to connect with people you’ve been dying to meet.…and of course, there’s more.

I bought this course years ago and applied it to my candle business. I highly recommend it. Get all the details and sign up for completely free Internet Marketing Sweetie Course access.

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis :-)

© 2008 Maureen Kellis. All rights reserved.

For the Love of “Joe” 

5 minutes

You’ll need:

• Coffee beans
• white/off-white vanilla scented pillars and votives
• pedestal style shallow bowl or lipped cake plate
• other small, shallow white or brown dishes/bowls

Simply arrange the coffee beans in the bottom of the dishes place the pillars and votives throughout the beans.

***When you are done, be sure to store the coffee beans in a container and keep with your candle supplies so you can reuse at a later time.***

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008 Maureen Kellis.  All rights reserved.

Last Thursday, two items came across my inbox and I wanted to share them. One is about fellow a fellow team member and one is about another work at home mom from a mastermind group I belong to.

• After the devastating loss of their home as a result of a tornado, one of our candle business family found out the husband now has cancer. The details are remaining private, but a collection was taken to help them.

• Our fellow mastermind’s computer bit the dust and didn’t have the funds to replace the computer (and therefore work), so our group got together to help get her a new computer. You can read about that here.

Now these are two vastly different areas of need, but what really impressed me was how fortunate I am to be involved with an amazing group of people in this home business industry.

Let your light shine!

Maureen Kellis

© 2008 Maureen Kellis.  All rights reserved.

Read the full story here

Save the paraffin for rocket fuel and use soy wax for candles.  Brilliant!

Let your light shine!

Maureen :-)

Nevertheless, even these ancient cultures viewed this plant as providing ‘food for the gods’. Perhaps it was the lift they got from the Theobromine – similar to caffeine. Or maybe they had a little too much and felt the effects of the Anandamide, a compound similar to that found in marijuana. Or, it might have been the Phenethylamine, a natural amphetamine-like molecule. But, the most likely explanation is that chocolate just tastes great.

And now it really smells great, too. I’ve never been a fan of chocolate candles. Every brand I’ve smelled is off and usually overpowering or a little bitter. (Coffee scented candles have that same quality as well.) Last week I had the pleasure to visit the new CandleWealth factory here in upstate New York and smelled the new Panetteria candle line. One of the flavors was Aztec Chocolate. All I can say is wow oh wow!!! It’s a sophisticated confection that’s smooth, creamy, and subtle. Olfactory bliss.

I was inspired to get out my favorite chocolate mousse recipe and put an “Aztec” twist on it.

Aztec Chocolate Mousse

4 1/2 oz of finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 cup of cold, heavy cream
3 large eggs (separated)
2 tablespoons of espresso
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 tablespoon of sugar

Pinch of good cinnamon

Whip up the cream with a whisk or electric whip then refrigerate for later application.

To heat the chocolate a double boiler works well. Fill the lower section with water and heat to about 120F (49C) before adding the ingredients. Add the chocolate, cinnamon butter and espresso then melt the mixture thoroughly together, stirring gently. Remove the top section from the heat and pour into a warm, ceramic bowl.

The bowl can be warmed by adding a small amount of water and microwaving for a few seconds. Be careful not to let all the water boil away, though. Microwaves with no water to heat can easily be damaged.

Set aside the chocolate mixture for a few minutes to cool slightly.

Whip the egg whites, creating a good foam. Add in the sugar a little bit at a time as you whip, then beat the mixture until you get a firm goo. After a few minutes, you’ll be ready to add the egg yolks. Stir in 1/3 of the cold whipped cream and mix well with the eggs, then add the remaining cream and fold until thoroughly blended.

Test the temperature of the chocolate mixture and when it falls to 100F (38C) you’re ready to combine the two major components into a single bowl.

Add the egg mixture to the chocolate mixture, stirring gently but thorougly until it’s entirely blended. Then cover and refrigerate. Chilling will take several hours, but you can prepare the mousse as far as a day in advance before serving.

For a very rich variation, instead of bittersweet chocolate use about 1/2 lb of dark Belgian chocolate and a little more sugar. To serve: put in margarita glass (rimmed with sugar) or other decorative Mexican glass (like a goblet or wine glass- Pier One usually carries them) add a small amount of fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Tip: How to rim a glass with sugar…put simple syrup on saucer or shallow plate, put sugar on separate plate. Dip glass in syrup and then in sugar.
Simple Syrup: 1 part sugar to 1 part water dissolved in pan on stove top. Keeps for weeks. It’s a good idea to make a large batch. In addition to using simple syrup to decorate your glassware, simple syrup can be used to flavor iced tea, lemonade, and cocktails.

Enjoy!!!

Maureen :-)

© 2008 Maureen Kellis . All rights reserved.