Contents:
1. What's Hot at DCW

• DCW Of The Month

• DCW Forums

• New Contests

2. Mother's Day Specials

• Let's Talk Business

• Home-Decor

• Beauty & Fitness

• Recipe Of The Day

Congratulations to Terri Seymour for being chosen as the 'Dot Com Woman of the month' for May 2003. Terri Seymour is undoubtedly one of the key persons in the Ezine business. Her beloved project 'MY OWN EZINE' has stormed into the lives of many a women. Wading her way through all obstacles, Terri is here with us this month to give you an insight into the transformation of an everyday housewife to a Super-successful 'Dot Com Woman'! Read her interview at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/dcw.shtml

LET'S TALK BUSINESS

Women of the Net
By Cathy Bryant

Two years ago, when I had been working online about a year, an online colleague approached me about writing an article for a special edition of his newsletter which was to feature successful women online. Naturally, I agreed. As I was researching for the article, I read a statistic that revealed that women over 50 were one of the fastest growing groups of internet users. That didn't surprise me, as at the time I was approaching that "golden age" and had contact with others online who were also in that age group.

All these women were using the vehicle of the internet to earn an income online - and the numbers were growing every day. So I wrote the article, and it was published not only in my colleague's newsletter but many others as well.

Now, two years later, I realize that the things I discussed in that article are as relevant today as they were two years ago when the article was first published - and we all know that for anything to stay current online for two years it must be significant!

For that reason, I feel that they bear repeating again. After all, there are an untold number of women - in this age group as well as younger - who have entered the world of internet business since that first article was published two years ago.

So what did I reveal in that article? Consider this...

Women of ALL ages have made a conscious decision to tackle the complexities of technology in order to achieve their own goals and aspirations, whatever they may be.

What is it about the internet that is so appealing to women? It's quite obvious, actually. The internet is a massively large vehicle for what? Communication. And what do women generally do better than men? You got it...communicate!

Look around, and you see women everywhere online. And what else do you see? Sites created by women - providing every type of information, service, or opportunity you can imagine.

Who are these women? People you know -

• Young mothers working from home in order to be there with their children

• Former corporate executives using skills learned on the job to create their own successful businesses online

• Empty nesters who find themselves embracing the technology of their children's generation

• Young women just out of school who have chosen the career path of entrepreneur and are using the internet to achieve those dreams

Each is different - but you can be sure that all these women have certain characteristics in common. They have the determination to tackle the often confusing technology of the internet, and they have the passion it takes to accomplish their goals.

And succeed they do - in large numbers!

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Cathy Bryant's newsletter, the HomeBizJunction Herald, has NO outside advertising - free or paid. Just solid, reliable information to help those who want to start and succeed in their own home business. Subscribe at www.homebizjunction.com  to read her reviews of business opportunities and products.
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Home & Decor

Garden Delights

When the weather is warm we try and spend a lot more of our leisure time outdoors. A good idea is to decorate your garden area with all the comforts of home - just outside of home. A few touches will give your outdoor space a feeling of welcome and a beauty all its own.

Color is certainly one aspect of the great outdoors that lends itself to limitless ideas and possibilities. You can pick one of the most intense colors or bring into play the lighter less prominent hues. A white fence or gate will give eye appeal to bright, vibrant blooms and it doesn??™t even have to lead to anything in particular. Just a piece of white picket fencing in a plush wildflower garden will have that added punch of visual appeal and a certain nostalgic feeling as well. If you have a screened in porch or area, use beautiful hand-made quilts or throw pillows with bright, lively colors that match or even contrast your flower colors.

Texture is also fun to play with. Smooth surfaces should be highlighted with baskets. A glass-top patio table lends itself to a basket of fruit, or flowers. Rough fieldstone steps or walking areas show off their special features with smooth, bright shiny accents. A porch swing, whether part of the porch itself or just by itself in a fragrant array of flowers, is a joy to sit on and to take in the aromas and eye-delights of this season. Colorful pads and side-tables add to the appeal, as well as hold those pitchers of ice-cold home-made lemonade.

A wooden gazebo adds so much to a garden without being too showy or prominent. Potted plants that be used as accessories, as well as ornaments or metal colors such as bronze or gold. It is a special hideaway while you wile away the hours being captivated by the blossoming beauty just surrounding this special place.

Fun objects such as butterflies, angels, little play benches, or bird baths give a light touch to any area that is too serious or intense. Also using your imagination can give visitors the impression that you labored just as hard on the amenities as on the garden itself. If you should ever encounter one of those old clawfoot bathtubs (retail shops, demolition area, or even the city recycling center) you can have a very one-of-a-kind fountain. Outfit your cast-off tub with a shower head, put it in a corner of your garden, especially near a wooden fence with ferns or ivy and you have one terrific waterfall that adds fresh water, the sound of a waterfall, and the appeal of ???antique??? to your garden.

Store bought objects are fine in a pinch, but hunt down those discards or garage dust-collectors and you have ???original??? accents. An old rocking chair can be painted with weather resistant paint and cushions. Clay pots decorated by your children or grandchildren add a light touch. Old buckets, stepladders, watering cans or animal figurines are just so many colors on your artist??™s palette of ideas just waiting to be used.

There is so much fun to have in decorating your outdoors home-area. You only need imagination, some bright paint or material, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. There is never a mistake to be had - if you don??™t like something - change it. If you stick to inexpensive items, they can be interchanged at whim and your garden will always have a fresh perspective. Show off your plants, as well as your artistic talent!
ENJOY!
?©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May
Websites:
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com 
http://www.arleenssite.com

More on Home & Decor for members. Membership is Free! Join today!

Beauty & Fitness

PICTURE PERFECT
Look better in your photos (and slimmer!) with these useful tips.

All the right moves:
Renée Zellweger gained 20 pounds to play the lead role in the film Bridget Jones??™s Diary. Here??™s how she posed to camouflage them.

1. Position your body at a 45-degree angle from the camera and put one foot forward. Then turn your head and shoulders slightly to face the camera.
2. Stand up straight and throw your shoulders back and down.
3. Hold arms down at your sides to hide hips, or bend them at a 90-degree angle to detract from a thick waist.
4. Conceal a double chin by tilting your head slightly downward.
5. Wear bright colors or black. Avoid white, which will wash you out, and stay away from bold patterns, which will only make you look heavier.
6. Don??™t over accessorize.
7. Wear heels to lengthen your silhouette.
8. Make sure the length of your dress is flattering.
9. And for heaven??™s sake, smile!

More on Beauty & Fitness for members (Membership is free! Join Today!)

Recipes

Dining With Debra

Busy with errands and spring cleaning? Put this hearty casserole on and then walk away for the day. You can be your own personal chef! The recipe is from eDiets.com
Enchilada Casserole con Crockpot (serves 6)
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
2 small onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tsp. cumin
12 corn tortillas
1 (28 oz.) can green enchilada sauce
12 ounces low fat cheddar cheese
In a skillet, saute 1/2 the onion in about a tablespoon of oil. Cook for 2 minutes and add garlic. Cook another 2 minutes and add chicken and cumin. Mix well, set aside.
In a blender, add the rest of the onion and the can of enchilada sauce. Blend like mad.
In a crockpot insert, pour about 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of the pan and begin building your casserole. Start with sauce (already said that) tortillas, chicken mixture, little cheese and repeat this pattern till finished. Pour the rest of the sauce evenly over the top and cook on low for 7 hours (but check it often--newer crockpots sometimes cook faster). Reserve a little cheese to sprinkle on the top just before serving.
Per serving: 490 Calories; 8g fat (15.9% calories from fat); 72g protein; 29g carbohydrate; 4g dietary fiber; 149mg cholesterol; 583mg sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 9 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fat.

Find out more about personal chefs and products and services to "spring" you from the kitchen fast. Contact Chef Deb at DayliChef@aol.com  for more details.

CONTESTS

Win personalized Sweatshirts and Tote Bags. Enter the 'Gloria's Design Corner' contest. Answer a few questions to enter the contest. Win F-R-E-E candles just for answering a few questions! See the 'Apple Lane Contest' for details. WIN FREE CANDLES WORTH $7.50 EVERY MONTH!!! (1 votive, 1 tealight and 1 dz Candle Melts) Send in your Beauty & Home related tips and win personalized E-Books 'Beauty Boosters' and 'Home-Decor'. Visit the contests page for more details. http://www.dotcomwomen.com/contests.shtml