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“Cook in Your Nook” Summer Suppers/Cooking Class

July 31, 2012 By

Are you too busy to cook in your nook?

Zacki Murphy, of Zacki’s Culinary Creations, will come to your home and cook a meal or you can cook along side her as she shares a cooking lesson, all for the same price.

Below are Zacki’s “Cook In Your Nook” Supper Selections:

Kebob Grill
Lamb/Pork or Beef Shish-Kebobs over multi grain rice with lemon/yogurt dressing, fresh veggie and garden green salad w/blue cheese dressing, toasted baguettes and Lime Chess Pie

Zacki’s Shrimp Scampi and Grits
Shrimp and Grits with sautéed asparagus or green tomatoes, spinach salad with bites of bacon/hard boiled eggs, homemade ranch dressing and seasonal fresh fruit crisp

“Ancient Mediterranean Feast; Foods from the Time of Jesus”
Delicious garlicky humus with toasted pita, citrus/rosemary grilled chicken with veggies over bulgur wheat, salad of “bitter herbs” and garden lettuces with grapes/almonds/sunflower kernels and pomegranate dressing, sliced melons, grapes, seasonal fruits and savory sweets of that time

“French Connection”
Jacque Pepin’s Instant Gravlax, Coq au Vin, assorted fresh salad with French vinaigrette, garlicky baguette, delicious apple tartin

“South of the Border”
Chicken Enchiladas w/ black beans, salsa verde, sour cream,

Mexican cheeses, mixed green salad with orange slices/hearts

of palm served with lime/cumin dressing and conclusion: coconut flan

Cocktails and Nippers can be a part of your experience too. Below are some suggestions for a fun and enjoyable evening:

Endless Summer
A peach champagne cocktail, also known at the Bellini, served with three nippers: fresh figs stuffed with bleu cheese, asparagus with prosciutto and hollandaise and zucchini fries with buttermilk ranch dressing

Foreign Flair
A Swedish Bloody Mary paired with an assortment of Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches and a sugar snap peas with beet horseradish dipping sauce

South of the Border
Your choice of the NC Tequila Moonrise, Rosa Mexicano’s Pomegranate Margarita, or the Grapefruit Margarita served with your choice of two nippers: avocado-corn relish, chicken and cheese quesadillas, jicama and cilantro dip, black bean phyllo cups, or shrimp ceviche

For further information, contact Zacki at Zackisculinary@aol.com

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Are You an ‘Innocent Spouse?’

July 31, 2012 By

I was. And, at a time when I had no idea there WAS such a law!

If you are married and not living together and one or the other does things of which you are unaware financially, leaving you pretty well destitute, you NEED THIS information!

A decade ago, separated and not yet divorced, my own hubby of 30 years blew through ALL our retirement and savings and let our family home deteriorate so that the sum total of my takeaway after 30 years (financially) was $ 4,000.

When he filed bankruptcy, the IRS came AFTER ME for his shenanigans! It’s the law!

I did ONE thing that I KNEW to do – SEEK EXPERT ADVICE.

Off to my Edward Jones rep (where I squirreled away a big $ 500) with the dilemma. The IRS said I owed them $ 80,000 and I could pay it off at $ 5k/month! Well, heck, with that kind of a bill, I was ready to hit the streets with a knapsack. I made half of that each month!

But the expert advisor said “Leslie, what you need is a tax attorney. Someone who knows tax law and is a CPA.”

I moved with alacrity! This was not FAIR! It was not my FAULT! But indeed it was because rather than paying attention to what HE was doing, I hid — head int he sand!

12 Months and $ 5k later, $ 50k was removed from my debt. The tax attorney was happy, but I wasn’t. I had no interest in paying half of $ 30k remaining! It wasn’t my doing, after all.

An appeal at $ 1500 six months later led to COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE $ 80K from my debt!

But wait, it gets BETTER. That LEFT $ 20k owed to the State. Did I forget to mention that?

When the State of NC saw with the Feds did, they removed THAT $ 20k from my debt as well!

From $ 100k to ZERO debt in 18 fast months to the tune of $ 1500.

All because I took my own teachings and advice and sought expert advice! I learned that this law is powerful for those who hid like I did!

Here’s an article all about the law, in case this hits home for you … or for someone you know or love.

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What Will Happen To My Pets If I Die Or Am Unable To Care For Them?

July 31, 2012 By

No one wants to think about death or disability. Of course, if you die, you are beyond the worry
and care of everyday living. But we must consider those who we are leaving behind. Pets are the part of
our family that we sometimes fail to make plans for. As I have gotten older, I am becoming more
concerned with the well-being of my pets if something happens to me. Maybe I am more concerned
than some, because I have many pets. I recently graduated from Paralegal school and am working in a
law firm that is primarily focused on wills, estates, and guardianships.

We have many elderly clients and it has become abundantly clear to me that few people really understand how to plan for the possibility that they may die unexpectedly or be physically or financially unable to care for their pets. The unfortunate thing is that pets are the ones who suffer when people fail to make the appropriate arrangements for their care.

If you are fortunate enough to have family members who are willing to take in pets ,remember
to put something in writing, preferably in a will or trust. Make sure that the family member or friend is
agreeable and able to take on the responsibility, not just trying to pacify you. If you are financially able,
set up financial arrangements for your pet’s care. Contact your vet and inform them of your wishes. It is
a good idea to give them copies of paperwork that involves the pet’s history and medical care. Most
attorneys who handle Wills and Estates can help you with details and documents. There is a specialty of
law called Animal Law. Someone who specializes should be able to help you, or can refer you. The North
Carolina Bar Association has a Lawyer Referral Service to help you get the attorney that best suits your
needs. Talk to your pet-loving friends and ask them what their plans are. You can really get some great
feedback that way.

If you have the means, consider leaving money or property to a local rescue group or shelter.
You can even set up a grant if you have the time and inclination. Many people give money to veterinary
hospitals to care for pets in cases where clients run out of funds for their care. The vet in charge can
choose who to give funds to based on criteria set by you and can account to your estate for the
expenditure of funds. If your pet is a favorite at the vet hospital, put out feelers to the doctors and vet staff.

You would be amazed at the networking in the veterinary community. I know of many cases in
which veterinary staff ended up adopting client’s pets. I also know several doctors whose clients have
left their pets to the doctor in their will.

What happens if you become disabled and have no family or friends to assist you with pet care?
You may consider contacting a rescue group. Of course, the shelter is a option, but usually a poor one
and your pet’s future will be uncertain. You may be able to find a temporary foster home until a more
permanent “forever” home is available. Unfortunately, the options for pet care are almost always
dependent on finances. It is still important to plan for the unthinkable. Do whatever you are able to.
Even a shaky plan is better than no plan at all. I cannot advise anyone on how they need to plan, but I
hope that I have put the seed in your mind and given you something to think seriously about.

Whatever you decide to do, communicate it to your family and other loved ones, veterinary staff and doctors.

Reach out to others.

NETWORK, NETWORK,NETWORK! Don’t let the term “network” intimidate you. All networking means is
that you talk to someone who knows someone who knows someone…on and on.

The internet is a vast source of knowledge and will allow you to educate yourself about the options
available to you and it will allow you to reach people that you might not communicate with otherwise.
Don’t forget to check out the chat rooms and forums. LinkedIn and Facebook are excellent social
networking sites and I believe you will find some solution to your needs whatever they may be. Let me
leave you with this final comment: There is a person or family for every pet. If you can let people know
that you need assistance, someone will help you. I have discovered that people admire those who plan
ahead, especially when they are trying to make sure their pets are cared for. If you can share your story, it will tug at someone’s heartstrings and you will be amazed at the results.

Thanks so much to Marie M., one of our Four Paws pet sitters for writing on this very important topic.

If you need pet sitting, contact us info@4PawsPetSitting.com or Call 919-388-PAWS (7297)

Four Paws Pet Sitting Services is a fully insured and bonded in home pet sitting company.

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Lett’s Reinvent

July 31, 2012 By




Going crazy…getting sane

(This is the first in a series of blogs focused on ideas related to reinvention.)

Am I going crazy or getting sane?”

This is the question I first asked myself many times in the late-1990s when I doubted the career choices I had made in the pursuit of worldly success. In recent months, this same inquiry has come back to force me to undergo another major reinvention.

In a former ego-driven vocation I provided writing, editing, marketing, publicity, and media relations services for companies and individuals to help them achieve their goals for greater name recognition. Using my initials for AlexSandra L. Lett, I had founded ALL Communications in Raleigh and coordinated all types of activities for promoting people and businesses in the marketplace. To make money and gain prestige I became all things to all people and eventually sacrificed my soul’s purpose in the process.

An uneasy feeling in my gut indicated that something was wrong with how I was living. Personally and professionally I was very unfulfilled…I longed for something more.

My desire for dramatic changes in my life increased, and I wrote about my experiences in a journal, and eventually a book title evolved: Going Crazy…Getting Sane. To respond to my soul’s promptings about writing the book I had to give up my old way of earning an income. As I released clients I didn’t know if I was going totally out of orbit or if I was finally getting in control of my life.

Back then I embarked on a powerful pilgrimage, the road less taken, the path of most resistance, without a compass, without a map, without even a marketing plan. Many business associates and even some close friends thought I was confused and perhaps even crazy as I courageously sought sanity and serenity. I knew I had to answer to the calling that stirred deep inside me and had to trust the Holy Spirit to direct my amazing journey to creative self-expression and authentic living.

Focusing on writing that book for two years was the most fulfilling endeavor of my life and I got in touch with my mission as a writer. Even though I did not publish the manuscript, the process of writing three drafts provided healing that would have cost me thousands of dollars and years of therapy.

From 2000 until recently I have focused on work had fed my spirit, have published several books, and have spoken to numerous audiences on diverse topics. However, lately in my misguided efforts to belong to social groups and business organizations, I have realized that again I am making the mistake of losing my authentic self.

So this summer 2012 I have withdrawn from the world again. I have been reading old versions of Going Crazy…Getting Sane and reviewing many articles I have written about personal and professional development. And, yes, I am committing to REINVENTION again.

Recently I wrote a series of columns for a publication discussing strategies for reinvention, and each one started with r. In this blog I will write about the r’s that I have embraced in reinventing myself, including
* risk-taking,

* realizing our calling,

* resiliency,

* right livelihood,

* reassessing priorities,

* rewriting my life scripts,

* releasing the old,

* re-creating ourselves,

* realizing inner riches,

* reflecting on religion,

* rethinking choices,

* reframing situations,

* re-aligning with life purpose,

* re-adapting skills,

* revitalizing body, mind, and spirit.

As I reflect and reassess about my book and my life I seek TOTAL TRANSFORMATION that involves creative excitement and inner fulfillment.

Will you join me?

©2012, AlexSandra Lett

AlexSandra Lett is currently writing Going Crazy…Getting Sane, a book about reinventing ourselves personally and professionally.

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Lett’s Reinvent

July 31, 2012 By

Beyond the three basic r’s

 

(This is the second in a series of blogs focused on ideas related to reinvention.)

 

When our ancestors were studying at home or going to school, reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic were sufficient. With these three r’s they could function efficiently in a simple society. Back then families and neighbors worked together closely to build a barn on the farm or erect a store in town, to grow and distribute food and crops, to raise and sell animals, and share their wares with others and eventually in the marketplace. The formation of businesses that offered the exchange of goods and services led to the creation of capitalism.

Through the decades the economy has shifted tremendously, and news articles and personal stories in the United States and other countries indicate a financial breakdown throughout most of the world. When coping with constant changes in today’s world we must focus on adapting a new set of r’s to move from just surviving to thriving.

Here are my top three r’s for starting my re-creation process:

Reassessment

Examine everyone and everything in your life and consider whether these people and activities support your growth as an individual and/or your development in your career. If a person is critical of you or talks negative all the time you need to create a different relationship with that person or release him or her from your life.

If any activity like hating your work, watching too much TV, eating too much, or playing too much golf are keeping you from attaining your goals in other areas, you must be willing to let go of the old to make room for the new.

Re-Alignment

Look positively at who you are and what you have to offer the world. Focus on the things you have done right and recall the activities that have given you a sense of pride and purpose. Then figure out how you can draw upon your natural abilities, your acquired skills, and your current interests to be of service, either with a volunteer project that helps the community or through a job that benefits society and earns income.

This soul-searching may even lead to development of a new business. Re-align yourself with your divine mission and expect miracles!

Renewal

Take time to rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit through nourishing foods, exercise, fresh air, hobbies, inspirational literature, educational classes, additional training, etc. By fueling the physical, motivating the mental, arousing the spiritual, and stimulating the intellectual, you enhance clarity and boost energy, therefore improving attitude, increasing productivity, and promoting harmony in work and home environments.

Release old patterns and discover new ideas! Recharge, research, retrain….do whatever necessary to encourage lasting fulfillment and promote peak performance in every area of your life.

These r’s are among dozens of strategies that I am implementing to claim the Big R…Reinvention. In this blog I will be writing about the ideas and experiences that I have embraced in re-creating myself several times during my career as a writer and speaker.

Now I ask you, how are you reinventing yourself?

What are the strategies that you are implementing to promote inner satisfaction and lasting success?

©2012, AlexSandra Lett

AlexSandra Lett is currently writing Going Crazy…Getting Sane, a book about reinventing ourselves personally and professionally.

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Lett’s Reinvent

July 31, 2012 By

Resiliency overcomes challenges

(This is the third in a series of blogs focused on ideas related to reinvention.)

In today’s spinning society even the most secure are feeling dizzy with confusing chaos surrounding us. All of us are forced to deal with economic challenges, cultural changes, natural disasters, and/or unforeseen circumstances that seem beyond our control. We are constantly seeking new ways to manage the buildup of pressures associated with stressful living during these so-called tough times.

More than ever before we are realizing that we must develop unique approaches to survive, and expectantly thrive, and therefore learn coping mechanisms and develop better strategies to feel successful at home, at work, and in the community. It is obvious that we must always maintain a positive attitude and take constructive actions towards achieving our objectives, but attitude and action are not enough.

We must be resilient – we cannot let adversity take over their lives but rather focus on finding solutions and rising above difficulties.

I define resilience as the ability
* to accept ambiguity…to live in the mystery,

* to have faith in a better tomorrow,

* to draw upon an inner strength, and

* to recover quickly from setbacks.

While some people have an innate ability to bounce back, others must cultivate resilience because this attribute is necessary for living with increasing levels of constant change.

Resilient people
* believe in themselves,

* see the best in others,

* welcome new options, and

* trust in the ebb and flow of the universe.

These individuals not only survive the storm but they accept the pouring rain as an element necessary to wash away the toxins and create a balance in the organism, whether it be human or nature.

Resilient people may be abused, threatened, even harmed, but they stop blaming others for their problems and take responsibility for healing the past, accepting the present, and expecting a brighter future. Being resilient involves handling life’s stresses by avoiding feelings of helplessness and instead being proactive and confident in moving forward.

Resiliency is a consciousness-changing idea because it causes us to think differently and therefore affects our behaviors, modifies our actions, and influences everything in our environment. When we transforms everything else changes, and others are compelled to shift too.

When confronted with challenges we eventually realize that difficult situations force us to grow in wisdom so we can ultimately move to a higher level of living. Through resiliency we can enjoy taking risks, opening up to innovative possibilities, and experiencing unique opportunities.

Are you a resilient person?

Please share examples of how resiliency has benefitted you personally and professionally.

©2012, AlexSandra Lett

AlexSandra Lett is currently writing Going Crazy…Getting Sane, a book about reinventing ourselves personally and professionally.

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Breaking News- Gene Diiscovered that Causes Majority of AHC Cases

July 31, 2012 By

Let’s spread the news!!!

On behalf of the Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood Foundation, I am pleased to officially announce the publication today of groundbreaking research in Nature Genetics online edition. See the abstract here. The research is a collaboration that grew from our Pepsi Refresh victory, and has resulted in the identification of a gene responsible for the majority of AHC cases. See detailed information for families here.

THIS IS HUGE!!!

This discovery may put us on the path to effectively treating or even CURING AHC in the next 10 -15 years. And it all stemmed from YOUR efforts!!!! From the bottom of my heart I express complete gratitude for the generosity of the numerous people who voted for our idea, who have donated time & money to get us to this point, and for the research teams around the world who came together to make this happen.

Our families now have more hope than ever that we can make a difference for AHC sufferers & give them relief from this debilitating disorder. Our supporters now know that their resources have had a tremendous positive impact. Doctors are now empowered with a more effective way to definitively diagnose AHC, so we anticipate an increase in the number of known cases in the months to come.

It is my hope that this historic news, and our against-all-odds story of achieving this milestone, will inspire people to spur us on to the next steps we need to achieve. There are a variety of things we need and want to accomplish for our families and for the journey to the cure. See “C-ing the Future” for those things we have in mind.

Ways You Can Support Us Sign Up for our Updates

We will have a media release in the next few days, and have an agency that is working on our behalf to bring the story of how this all unfolded to the attention of national media. You can help that process by taking the release (when we post it) and making sure your local media sees it (adding your own story to it, if you are a parent or supporter of an AHC sufferer). Please also let me know if you are willing to be interviewed, so we can be ready when :) interview requests come in.
Meanwhile, let’s celebrate!!!

My Best,

Jeff Wuchich
President, AHC Foundation

jeff@ahckids.org
http://www.ahckids.org

phone: 919.569.5200

cell: 919.412.1870

President’s Office: 545 Irina Dr Rolesville, NC 27571

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Spousal owned businesses

July 30, 2012 By

You and your spouse may own a business together and have structured it as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC limits the owner’s liability much like a corporation but provides the benefit of pass-through taxation. An LLC is authorized by each individual state but is not recognized by the IRS as an entity for federal income tax purposes. At tax time, you will have to decide whether to file taxes for the LLC as a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship. The type of business will determine the tax forms you will need to file with the IRS.

In order to treat your LLC as a sole proprietor, the entire LLC must be owned by only one spouse. The other spouse may be an employee of the LLC but cannot be an owner. An exception to this rule is if your LLC meet the requirements of a qualified joint venture or you reside in a community property state.

If your LLC is owned by both spouses, you can treat the LLC as a partnership. You will file the LLC federal income tax return using IRS Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income. Each spouse’s share of income generated by the partnership would be included on a Schedule K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. This information would then be included on your form 1040 Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss.

When making the business structure decision and how to be treated for federal tax purposes it is always best to include your CPA in the decision making process.

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Do it AFRAID!

July 30, 2012 By

Everything sounds perfect … except for one thing, she said. “I’m AFRAID!”

“Yes,” I said, “I know. Did you know that really successful people look at ‘being afraid’ as a BIG GREEN LIGHT to grow? We muster courage when we are afraid and when DO IT ANYWAY, we grow in awareness of our REAL and infinite potential!”

She did it … AFRAID! That was my daughter when given an opportunity for which she had prayed and asked for two years.

————————

A 16 year middle school science teacher, twice nationally certified, and recent teacher of the year, my daughter started seeing herself stuck in one job until retirement and she was not happy about that visual. [Many would be thrilled to have that kind of tenure, right?] She is well liked, well known, and well respected in her position, yet under normal teaching curriculum, she was unable to teach only advanced children or her favorite subjects, in depth.

She was offered a position to ‘create’ a science curriculum for advance students in 6, 7, and 8th grades for an entire county. But it would be at a different school.

She was comfortable at her old school. She knew the curriculum, the teachers, the students and the administration. And they all knew her.

This would be a new school, a new curriculum to develop, new administration, teachers, and logistics. Nothing to count on except that if this new curriculum were done well, SHE would be the ONE to teach it all over the county. How perfect!

After our talk as you saw above, she made the Decision and took the job. While she mentions to me that as students matriculate out of middle school, they always come back to see her and she would miss seeing them, hey, she says out loud, she could put a picture of herself on her old classroom door with her new location so those kids would find her.

Remember this … when you ‘feel’ uncomfortable, there are only 2 ways to go …

1)      Your comfort zone where you grow very little (if at all)

2)      Out of your comfort zone where you muster courage, stretch, and grow

Next time something you really want shows up and it scares you … will you do something different?

Here’s an interesting article on the subject of changing jobs in the same industry: The Strategic Case for Changing Jobs: Four Good Reasons to Change Jobs Within the Same Industry Three Times During Your First Ten Years of Employment

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5 Strategic Advantages Convey Media Group received from Inside919

July 30, 2012 By

When I decided to begin my business 10 years ago, one of the most influential books was Daniel Pink’s “Free Agent Nation.” This book offers a number of resources for the micro business owner to use to get started and explains how to use them. One of the most critical is a networking structure.

From the beginning Inside 919 has provided my company, Convey Media Group, with a unique way to network. Through my participation, I have met people in person and been able to strengthen these relationships both on-line through digital communication and off-line at various events. These people can tell others about our offerings including branding, marketing through video and social media, and communications and customer service training. Our company helps our clients by recommending these businesses. In turn, we provide more knowledge and value to our clients.

Let me list a few of the advantages my company and I have received:

1. Model On-line/off-line Relationships
In-person meetings followed by on-line communications have enabled me to extend my marketing reach by forming critical relationships with established and new micro-business owners. I have formed relationships with coaches, social media gurus, web development professionals and a number of other business people who have helped grow and promote my business and whom I can recommend for their services. This has increased my profits.

2. Leverage from Events
Some of the events my staff and I attend are more formal like the monthly Big Lunch and Final Friday. These offer an opportunity to meet new business owners and catch up with old friends. I find less formal, more locally-oriented events are often even more valuable. The Tuesday morning Coffee Break and one-on-one lunch meetings and getting together for a drink have provided an opportunity to experience another business owner’s brand first-hand to know what he or she does in detail.

3. Create Critical Alliances
Convey Media Group has created alliances with three or four individuals and has translated directly to business inside and outside the network. These business relationships have paid many times over for the time and money invested in the Inside network.

4. Extend our brand
The business brand for my company and my personal brand are blended in the network and fashion a powerful mixture so that people on the network know what I do but also know something about the kind of person I am. This combination makes it easier for them to buy from me because we have built trust based on a whole-person and business relationship. These connections are longer lasting.

5. Educate about the Social Media landscape
I cannot over emphasize the importance of what I have learned through the network. Whether through articles posted by experts, in live training or in casual conversations with other members, I can keep up with the latest information about business techniques and social media strategies and tactics.

What advantages has your company received?

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