Contents:
1. What's Hot at DCW

• DCW Of The Month

• Card & Gift Exchange

• Contest Sponsors Needed

2. Business & Entertainment

• Holiday Special

• From the Forums

• Let's Talk Business

• Home Care

• Food

• Crafts

• Home Decor

• Contests

Congratulations to TRACY LYN MOLAND for being chosen as our DCW of the month for October 2003.
Using her entrepreneurial and teaching skills to make a vast difference to the lives of women, the Best Selling Author of 'Mom Management', believes in Managing Mom Before Everybody Else, which in turn, improves the ability to perform all other roles that a woman plays in her life. http://www.dotcomwomen.com/dcw.shtml

CHRISTMAS CARD & GIFT EXCHANGE
Spread the Christmas Spirit Around the World! Exchange Cards and Gifts with other women worldwide. Both (Card and Gift) have separate forms. For discussing the card and gift exchange, there is a special forum at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/forum

http://www.dotcomwomen.com/christmas/card_gift_exchange.html

CONTEST SPONSORS NEEDED
Dot Com Women's biggest ever event - The DCW Christmas Party - is scheduled for this Christmas. A number of contests are lined up to be a part of this event.

http://www.dotcomwomen.com/christmas_contest_sponsor.shtml

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

We need your suggestions for our Christmas Special Feature! All your tips will be published in our Christmas Special feature - 'Money Saving Ideas for Christmas' along with your name and email/website address (optional).

FROM THE FORUMS

Catch on these topics at the Forums:

• Card and Gift Exchange - List of Participants - by Lata
  (Forum: Christmas Party)
  The list of participants so far is up! Please check if your name is there if you have signed up for either the Card or the Gift exchange.
   

• Looking for Hot and Spicy Recipes- Vannie
  (Forum: Food & Recipes)
  Vannie is on a lookout for Hot and Spicy Recipes. Send in your recipe and get your name included in her newsletter.
   

• Exercise & Meditate - by LadiesBlend
  (Forum: Fitness)
  DCW's Natural Beauty Tips columnist Pennie Mills teaches us to take in the beauty of Fall and stay fit this season.
   

• Post and Win! - by J. Nelson Arts
  (Forum - Contests from Members)
  New contest from our member!
   

• Giday From Adelaide Australia! - by Amy
  (Forum: Introduce Yourself)
  Welcome and Meet our new member from Australia!

Join the Discussion! Register FR^EE at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/forums

LET'S TALK BUSINESS

TAKE CHARGE LADIES!

by Irene Segal
Financial Consultant
Investors Group, Regional Office

Good news: More and more women are achieving financial success.
US statistics: 90% of all women with either never marry, become widowed or get divorced.
Reality check: At some point in almost every woman's life, she will make financial decisions on her own. Start taking control of your life so that your life does not control you.


Do It Now:
A) Get in Control of Your Finances by finding a professional financial advisor/planner whom you trust, and feel comfortable with. Work with this individual to accomplish a road map for financial security.

B) Seven Steps to a Solid Financial Roadmap/Plan:
Define your objectives including short and long term goals.

Take a good look at your assets and liabilities to determine your present net worth. Let your advisor know what is important to you and what is not, work with your advisor to determine your risk tolerance and time horizons.

Analyze how you spend your money and the cash flow that you need.

Make sure that you have a valid will which reflects your current wishes and your personal situation.

Review your life insurance, disability insurance and other insurances such as medical, critical illness, long term illness.

If you do not have a retirement plan in place you should. It is a critical component of your financial plan.

Develop and investment strategy that reflects your needs, objective, risk tolerance and time horizon. Putting your income into low yielding GICs or money market funds is a resting place for dollars you expect to need in the short term but it is not an investment strategy.

Proper allocation of your assets is the way to help you maximize your Potential returns while reducing risks.

?©2001 by Irene Segal. All rights reserved.
Would you like to receive Irene Segal's Financial Newsletter? Please send an email to irene.segal@Investorsgroup.com  with "Subscribe to Newsletter" in Subject line.

HOME CARE

General Carpet and Rug Care

Regular carpet cleaning is important for appearance and wear. Unless removed, sharp particles of grit can become embedded and slice carpet fibers. Use a carpet sweeper to pick up daily dirt, crumbs, hair, etc. Thoroughly vacuum carpets and rugs weekly. Slowly vacuum each area several times to loosen and remove dirt.

Submitted by Sharon Bray-McPherson of FullerLife.Com - The Online Home of
SBM Fuller Brush Distributing. Subscribe to our newsletter
for chances to win Free Fuller Brush products.
http://www.fullerlife.com
 

FOOD

October is Cookie Month!
Let's celebrate with these yummy Cookie Recipes:

Boston Fruit Cookies

Makes 5 dozen

1-1/2 c brown sugar
1 c shortening
3 eggs
3-1/2 c flour
pinch of salt
1 tsp soda dissolved in
1/2 c raisin juice
1 c coconut
1-15 oz box raisins (boiled, cooled, and drained)

1. Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and beat well.
2. Add flour, salt, and soda dissolved in raisin juice. Mix well.
3. Stir in coconut and raisins.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Caramel Cookies

2 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening
2 eggs
3 c flour
1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla

1. Cream sugar, butter, and shortening. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy.
2. Sift and add dry ingredients. Add water and vanilla.
3. Divide dough in half and form two rolls. Chill overnight. Slice cookies 1/2-inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Chocolate No Bake Cookies

Quantity: 4 doz.

6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
?? cup butter
2 cups white sugar
?? cup milk
?? tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut

Combine cocoa, butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a
boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla, salt, rolled oats and coconut.
Stir until well mixed then drop in spoonfuls on wax paper. Allow to stand
until cool.

Fresh Glazed Apple Cookies

Makes 4-1/2 dozen

1-1/3 c brown sugar
1/2 c shortening
1 egg
2 c flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c milk
1 c apples (finely chopped, unpared)
1 c raisins
1 c nuts

1. Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and beat well.
2. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Stir in apples, raisins, and nuts.
3. Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Glaze
1-1/2 c 10x sugar
2-1/2 tbsp apple juice or milk
1/2 tsp sale
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp butter

1. Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, juice or milk, salt, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
2. Spread on top of Apple Cookies.

M&M Cookies

2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12-oz) (1-3/4 cups) M&M Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Baking Bits

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in flour mixture. Stir in M&M's bits.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls about 2-in apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350F for 9 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute in pan.

From: Mustangg's Island Diner

Walnut Supreme Cookies

Makes about 6 dozen

1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
3 eggs
3-1/2 c flour
1 tsp soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 c buttermilk
1 c chopped walnuts

1. Cream sugars, shortening, and eggs.
2. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with buttermilk. Fold in chopped nuts.
3. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Egg Carton Witch

Keep your kids busy with this cute craft for Halloween!

Age Level: Ages 5 - 8

Materials

Egg carton
Green paint
Black felt
Orange wool for hair
Two buttons for eyes (or googley eyes)
Craft glue
Hole reinforcers

Procedure:
1) Label your egg carton section with your name or initials.
2) Take one section of the egg carton and paint it green. Let dry.
3) Glue black felt into a cone shape for a hat.
4) Put glue on the top of the egg carton and glue on some yarn for hair.
5) Glue on eyes, cut one hole reinforcer in half, and glue on for mouth.
6) Put some glue on the back of the head and glue on the hat.

Special Notes: This craft would be good spread over two meetings with the painting being done one meeting and the rest done the next.

HOME DECOR

A Change in Season Reflects a Change in Mood
Now is a Great Time to Redecorate Your Home

(ARA) ??“ Change is in the air. Fall is here and winter isn??™t far away. It??™s one of the busiest times of year for interior decorators.

???The reason we??™re so busy is people really get energized in the fall,??? says Thomas Pheasant, an award winning interior designer from Washington, D.C. ???The change in temperature serves as a signal to start focusing more on the indoors to get ready for winter.???

Pheasant says one of the best, and easiest places to start, is in the room where you spend a majority of your time: the bedroom. ???You don??™t have to start moving furniture all over the place to change the look of the room,??? says Pheasant. ???Changing your bedding and curtains is often all it takes to make a dramatic difference.???

Pheasant says the same colors you see on the trees outside --- orange, gold, red, brown and olive green -- have great appeal indoors. ???They really set the mood of the season, especially when combined with paisley and velvet textures.???

The bedroom isn??™t the only place where bold color and texture changes will have a quick and noticeable impact. You can also set the mood of the season by putting some dried leaves or branches on the coffee table, and colorful pillows and a slip cover on your sofa. A seasonal bowl of apples on the dining room table, along with slip covers on the chairs, will also make a big impact.

So where do you start if you want to bring the fall ???look??? into your own home? ???Start with materials. The kinds of fabric or color you choose can really change the attitude of the room,??? says Pheasant. ???Velvet and damask are formal patterns that are more appropriate for fall and winter. Linen, paisley and leather are more modern and better suited for spring and summer.???

Pheasant recommends you take his ideas to an interior designer for help implementing them. ???Mistakes are expensive. Professional designers have resources available that most people do not. Hiring someone can make your life so much easier,??? says Pheasant.

If you ultimately decide to take Pheasant??™s advice, pieces from his collection of furniture and accessories are sold at over 200 independent dealers throughout the country. Log onto www.bakerfurniture.com for access to a retail store directory.

Courtesy of ARA Content

'The Dot Com Woman' Ezine is published by Lata Budhrani, Editor & Contributing Author.

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