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LET'S TALK
BUSINESS
Networking and Word of Mouth
Marketing Ideas
Join a Chamber of Commerce or other organization.
Join or organize a breakfast club
with other professionals (not in your field) to discuss business and
network referrals.
Mail a brochure to members of
organizations to which you belong.
Serve on a city board or commission.
Host a holiday party.
Hold an open house.
Send letters to attendees after you
attend a conference.
Join a community list-serve (email
list) on the Internet.
COOKING
TIPS
Chilies
Cutting chilies the easy way
Start by cutting off the entire stem, and then slice the chile in
half lengthwise. With the tip of a paring knife, you can remove
the seeds and ribs by slicing or nudging them with the knife
point. With seeds and ribs out of the way, the chiles are easily
cut into strips or a fine dice.
Stemming and seeding a chile. After removing the stem, slice the
chile lengthwise to expose the seeds and ribs. Remove the seeds
and ribs to moderate the heat, or leave them in for extra punch.
Removing the skins
Many dishes, especially Mexican and Southwestern recipes, call for
the chiles to be peeled. You can do this by first charring or
blanching the whole chiles. To char, rub them with a little oil
and then set them directly over a gas burner. Turn the chiles
frequently with tongs or a fork to prevent burning through to the
flesh. When the skins have charred and blistered slightly, pop the
chiles into a plastic bag and let them steam in their own juices
for about 20 minutes. The skins should now rub off easily.
Blanching chiles won't give you the smoky flavor that charring
does, but the technique is great if you don't have a gas stove.
Simply drop the chiles into boiling water for 30 seconds or so,
and then plunge them into ice water. Once the chiles have cooled,
they can be skinned just as if they were charred.
HOME DECORATION
Seven Tips on Budget Decorating
by Maria Palma
Decorating on a budget is the ultimate adventure in decorating. It
requires a little bit of planning, creativity, and patience. If
you are like me, sometimes you wish you could be a genie and
wiggle your nose and **poof** it's done. However, that takes
away from all the fun! Follow these tips and you'll have a home
that looks like a page out of your favorite magazine!
Tip #1: Visit Furniture Showrooms
Make notes of styles of furniture you like. Also, take note of
colors and fabrics that create a "warm" feeling inside of you. By
visiting showrooms you can get an idea of the new trends and
styles.
Tip #2: Browse Through Decorating Magazines
Magazines are a source of inspirational ideas. Create a scrapbook
of magazine clippings and refer to your book when shopping for
your home.
Tip #3: Shop Second-Hand Stores
One person's trash is another person's treasure can never be so
true. One place to look is the classifieds in your local
newspaper. I have found great deals on furniture in thrift stores
and auctions. Don't worry if an item is not in the best of shape.
A coat of paint will work wonders for some furniture. Slipcovers
can update an old couch or chair.
Tip #4: Color! Color! Color!
To create a dramatic, inexpensive change to your home, paint the
walls a new color or buy new curtains. Keep in mind the moods that
colors can create.
Tip #5: Create Your Own Art
For me, one of the best parts of decorating is creating my own
original works of art to hang on the walls. It could be as simple
as collecting leaves when they have turned colors and creating a
picture collage. A nice frame makes any work of art look classy.
Take a drawing, photography or painting class at your local
community college. Gain inspiration by browsing through art books
at your local library or bookstore. If you're into black and white
photos, but do not want to pay the high price for this type of
art, buy a book or calendar of your favorite photographer and
frame the pictures.
Tip #6: Shop Discount Stores
Thank God for discount stores! This place will save you a ton of
money on accessories. You will find little treasures such as
candle holders, candles, potpourri, and knick knacks for very
little money.
Who will ever know?
Tip #7: Be Patient!
Take your time and shop during sales. Remember, Rome was not built
in a day!
For more decorating ideas visit Home D?©cor @ Studio 747:
http://www.geocities.com/studio747/HomeDecor.html
Happy Decorating! Maria Palma Studio 747 - The Ultimate Art
Experience
http://www.geocities.com/studio747
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