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Hi, My name is Mara, I have been a seamstress for over 20yrs. I love to sew. I have my March promotion going on now! For the entire month I'm giving 20% off On all suits/dresses to be styled or altered I am located at 1458 El Camino Real Menlo Park 650-393-0322. PLEASE call for best time and day. I do emergency service on select bases. Thank-you, Mara ( owner)

Many of us juggle so much today between long hours at work, taking our children to school, soccer practice, ballet, and that is just the beginning. Trying to fit in an auto repair appointment after dropping off the kids and getting to work can be just a little bit hectic. At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we understand.

Our complimentary Busy Professional Pick-up & Delivery Service was designed with your busy schedule in mind. Get your kids to school safely and make it to that meeting on time. We will pick-up your car, complete the auto service and deliver your car back to your home or office. This is our way of showing your our commitment to making your life just a little bit easier. We also just introduced our complimentary New & Expecting Moms Pick-up & Delivery Service. At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we want you to enjoy your new baby experience and rest assured knowing that your car is safe and maintained without lifting a finger. We will pick-up your car, complete the auto service and deliver it back to your home. With soft communication via email, we won't interrupt those precious moments (or naptime) with a phone call. We are very excited to offer these two new complimentary services. At this time, we can accommodate two cars per day for these services. Schedule your appointment today online or give us a call and experience auto repair at your convenience. A+ Japanese Auto Repair W www.650595CARS.com T 650.595.2277 E APlusCarCare@yahoo.com We proudly serve the cities of San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood Shores, Foster City, San Mateo, Redwood City and more. Our ASE Certified Master Technicians specialize on Honda auto repair, Acura auto repair, Toyota auto repair, Lexus auto repair, Nissan auto repair, Infiniti auto repair, Subaru auto repair, Mazda auto repair, Mitsubishi auto repair, Scion auto repair, Hybrid auto repair and more.

When you consider what it takes to make or break yourself in today’s world how far will you take yourself to get to that point? Through the constant barrage of information and insight that we receive and share with one another one can only wonder what makes sense and how we separate ourselves to make oneself the best that we can be!

The truth of the matter is one doesn’t have to go very far to get where they want to go.  If we were all to take a short moment to focus and reflect on our core values most of us would quickly realize that what we want is already right in front of us.

This doesn’t mean to take life’s opportunity for granted.  This doesn’t mean that life is easy.  This doesn’t mean that what we have in front of us is a mirage or an illusion, but what it does mean is that being resourceful, patient, insightful, open minded and humble about the choices we make can lead all of us to a more comfortable place. 

This means asking your friends and colleagues for insight and advice into helping you achieve the goals in which you plan to succeed.  There is no better way to achieve any set goal than by sticking to it (within reason), planning action steps into achieving that goal and asking for a little help along the way.

I am blessed to have a solid group of family, friends and colleagues that trust and believe in my knowledge and insight into creating a more connected livelihood in our community. The shared passion, interest, trust and geography make room for a spectacular combination that not only empowers me, but also for those who surround me.

I recently saw a post on Facebook from a friend who has one of the most angelic voices (and is a professional singer and voice coach) wondering if it is "too late" in her late forties to take her career to the next level.

I also have a friend who is a very talented jewelry designer and I should know as I am frequently buying and wearing her creations.  She took the past year overcoming hurdles to buy a domain name and get herself ready to take her business to the Internet.  The hurdles were -- I don't have enough time, there are so many other people making jewelry out there etc.

I have several businesses - I am a professional domestic infant adoption coach, author finishing a book about my 6 year journey to motherhood, I am a nature photographer and most importantly I am the mom to my precious five year old daughter Ariel Faith.  We were blessed at the end of our journey with Ariel by an open adoption.

This looks on the surface just to be a busy life.  But I too had to overcome many internal gremlins to get to where I am today. 

To become a Mom, I had to let go of my fantasies of how I would get there.  I had to accept I would not be the one to carry my child despite my courage to get through 6 In Vitro cycles.

To become a professional Adoption Coach, I had to get past that I did not have a Ph.D. in adoption (not that there is one anyway!).  I do what I do because I am someone in life that believes you learn from your challenges and know I want to help others.  I spent a lot of time before opening my coaching business talking to and working with several notable adoption professionals for two years to learn all I could.

Lastly to be able to write a book I had to get past the inner voices that said "who are YOU to think you have something to say".  Well I do have a very unique story and I know my book will touch others and give them hope and inspiration.

So if you think you are too old, don't have enough education or experience to soar - I am one walking example that maybe it is time to write down those thoughts and question them.

By the way, last July I turned 50 and my Ariel turned 5 so I obviously got over the notion I was too old to parent as the years went by!

Think, are we really doing all we can to sustain our local community?  I mean really? Sure, we are buying seasonal locally grown produce at the farmers markets, and “yah!” That’s a start. Some are even purchasing the local handmade soaps, artisan breads, cheeses and roasted nuts. All offered at the local Farmers Market.

How about when we go into a local Retail Shop? Are we simply satisfied that we are purchasing from a local business owner? Here is where the “local” ends. I challenge you, and yes I have done this, go into these “local” business’s and request “locally made” items. Ever see a “deer in the headlights” look? That is it. Our responsibility to sustain local commerce does not end by just walking thru that door.

I know I am stepping on toes here, but anyone else see the hypocrisy?  I see the “Shop Local” signs on the doors, yet most of the inventory is mass produced from all over the world, then shipped long distances which is detrimental to the environment & local commerce. This has been bothering me for some time now, does it bother you?

Then I took a trip to New Zealand and saw how it is suppose to be. Every Retail Store there has a “local section”, which they proudly display and steer customers to. Sure they have the mass made trinkets, clothing & gift items that have to be shipped long distances to fill the store up while meeting some needs, but they are proud of what is produced locally above all else. Why do we not do this? We should.

In this community you can find a wide range of goods. There are Food Items, Pottery, Jewelry, Clothing Items, Skincare, Art, Photography and Gift Items from local artisans. If you take the time to investigate, you will find that you can find just about everything you need in life, locally.

Yes, I do it. I eat locally produced foods. I will not buy any gift item that is not made locally. From the gift to the card that goes along with it. All can be found if you look enough and utilize the local resources for searching.

Even in my business, I buy as many supplies as I can locally. If I do not grow my own herbs, I purchase locally grown. I even utilize local potters for my candle containers.

Try this, next time you need an item, made sure it is actually locally produced, not simply bought at a local retailer. Also seek local services from local professionals.

Do your part to help the environment, save shipping and fuel, buy Local! And shop owners, check your inventory. Find local manufacturers, find locally made stock. Your sales will only benefit from this practice. And I bet you will discover a flexibility in custom made products that suit your theme, from local artisans.

In my Marketing Consulting work I regularly suggest to my clients that they use some methods of social networking to build up their internet presence. Of course, after Penisula Shops, Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter often comes up as one of the platforms a person could use to socially network. After pondering what platforms to use if Twitter is a choice, I'll get the question, "OK, I can tweet, but how do I get people to follow me."

Here are six ways I can suggest right now that aren't too difficult:

1.       Add your Twitter profile link to your email signature. People you email who use Twitter will pick up on that and start following you.

2.       Find people (you don’t know) to follow by doing Twitter searches under certain topics, e.g., banking. Zero in on some people and look at their tweet stream. Follow the interesting people. When you follow people they often follow you back.

3.       Find people (you do know) to follow by asking friends, co-workers, associates, partners, etc. if they tweet. If so, follow them. As in item 2, they’ll probably follow you back.

4.       Add your Twitter profile link to your LinkedIn profile, blog, and other social networking profiles. This is now a given if you're doing social networking. On some sites you can even get a live stream of your tweets to show up on that page. I have this on my blog, which I think is very cool.  

5.       Start tweeting every day. You’ll find that people will just start following you naturally. I get anywhere from 2 - 6 new followers each day this way. Some of them are using automated programs to simply grab people to follow and those people you may or may not want to follow back (subject for another blog). Others are searching on certain terms, e.g., business coaching and will follow anyone interesting who comes up - like you.

6.       If you want to really get serious, you could start commenting vigorously on other peoples’ blogs and instead of linking your name (as the commenter) to your website, link it to your Twitter profile. If Twitter was your #1 means of communicating with others on the net you would do this. Or, if you don’t have a website, blog or Facebook fan page.

Note that I am not recommending you use an automated software program to start following gobs of people each day in the hopes of getting gobs of followers back. I disagree with this approach to Twitter and don't advocate it for any of my marketing consulting clients.

In case you're wondering how to connect with me on Twitter, you can find me at @Michael_N

2010 has arrived with a flurry of anticipation for Location Based Services and prospects for millions if not billions of dollars to be spent on mobile advertising. So how does a local merchant jump in on the ride and take advantage of this next wave of media before it begins to be really expensive. Simple... Google Maps.

As google begins to slowly take over the world, I want local merchants to take full advantage of the free services readily available to them. Googe Maps will be become the most prodominant search friendly mobile data application and GPS tool around. If you have a smart phone look at google mobile apps TODAY. Find out how easily your business comes up in the search of a smart phone, if you dont exsist within that search, you may just miss the wave.

If you are a small business reading this and you havent already do so, you need to look up your business and its address on http://maps.google.com and make sure you exist. Not only that you exist, but that you have rightfully claimed what is yours as a profressional. Peninsula Shop started to customize map data in relation to the Peninsula, but we have now started the development of social media listening tools that will begin to respond to user input based on the location and relevance to Peninsula Shops Business Members.

Look what Peninsula Shops is doing with google maps at this very moment. Hand Entered Map Data for Peninsula Business Members vs Dynamically created Map Data of Peninsula Shops Business Members.

What's even more exciting as the growth rate of Location Based Services increases the more able we are to know who is where and what they are searching for, inturn leads us a small merchants to better understand an dcommunicate to our communities needs and desires in practical real-time. YES REAL-TIME.

If this all doesn't make sense to you, let me put it this way. The next generation of data will be available to anyone who requests it from wherever they are and not only will it come quickly, it will be based on your whereabouts.

Do yourself and the digital consumers of the world a favor and get on http://maps.google.com and search for your business name and if that doesnt come up, then serch for you business address and rightfully claim it yours. This way you can make sure the right people are finding you at the right time and the right place.

 
  Please wait...

Often we find our minds darting off in many directions and we often forget to bring our attention to what is here in the present moment.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

Where is my attention right now? Is it in thinking about the past? Is my attention focused on planning for the future, fantasizing, and dreaming of what might be in store for me? Where is my attention if it is not here in the present moment?

This can be a form of aversion, or shutting down, to avoid dealing with something you may not have developed the skill set to be with fully in the present moment.

Imagine you have settled in to begin reading a book you have been excited to make the time for, and in walks in your child, eager to play a game with you. Perhaps your partner has had a challenging work day and wants someone to vent his or her frustrations with. You begin noticing thoughts like, "Oh great, I was settled in and they are ruining it. Now I have to sacrifice my time to be here for them!" Sound familiar? Where is your attention in this situation? Has it gone off to a place where there may be blame and resentment? Yes, it is very possible to visit those emotions and feelings.

So, what is the big deal? In order to gain insight, pose the following questions to yourself:

. When I find my attention distracted from the present moment, what opportunities might I be missing?

. What situations seem to be typical of when I lose my attention and tune out?

. What am I making more important than having my attention in the present moment, and why?

. What is the possible cost or impact of not paying closer attention to the present moment?

. May I be missing a chance to open my heart to cultivating a richer relationship with someone I care for? What is possible for me and my relationships if I practice "wise attention?"

. In what ways can this be an opportunity to develop a deeper level of understanding and compassion in my life?

I invite you to reflect upon ways in which you can begin practicing and cultivating "wise and skillful attention." Experience the beneficial difference it can make for yourself and those you share a life with."

All the best,

Alicia McLucas, CPCC
Certified Professional Life Coach
Mindfulness Meditation Facilitator
http://www.aliciamclucas.com

Please click here to download full PDF.

Being part of the world today is awesome to say the very least. Within an instant we are able to connect with people from around the world. Fifteen years ago we may have never even considered how instantaneous communication could be with little cost or any friction. Long distance phone, television, snail mail and flying over seas were our ties to the world.

Yes the digital divide still exists, but as 1st world countries set precedence on how information can be shared at lightening fast speeds, the time that is being "created" from today's rapid pace of communication can also be used to make time for valued relationships.

Does joining a group on Facebook or following a profile on Twitter mean that you have established value in a relationship? NO! Just like with any relationship the parties involved need to continuously represent, define and clarify individual value; helping to make the relationship work. How one defines their value is up to said party just as is how the value is interpreted by reciprocating party.

What does it all mean? The bottom line is this! Numbers don't mean anything if there is no connection to them. Would you rather have 5000 friends who you never speak with or 250 friends that you speak to regularly and have something useful to share with them? Ask Author/blogger Janet Fouts. Her book Social Media Success is a wonderful field guide to anyone entering into the world of social media or who simply wants to regain an understanding on why social media exists.

Finally, each and everyone of us brings something to the table, both positive and negative. In order for our values (positive or negative) to be heard, understood and utilized one needs to be persistent and hopefully passionate about what it is we are bringing to the table. Otherwise, you may as well try and sell yourself or values on the many television shopping networks.

I am an adoptive mom and an adoption coach.  I am also a mid life mom - which adds a whole other dimension to motherhood.  It took us 6 years to become parents from the time we married.  This past summer, I turned 50 and my daughter Ariel turned 5.  What I can say with assurance is that what I may lack in energy (though so far that is pretty abundant) is I have a lot more patience than I did earlier in my life.

After my husband and I survived six unsuccessful IVF cycles with two pregnancy losses thrown in - we took stock emotionally and realized we wanted to be parents and no longer science experiments; which is what it had ended up feeling like. 

Adopting in the U.S. is a whole new journey, a new path to parenthood that you may be pondering after your own unsuccessful fertility treatments or as a way to add to your family. There are many steps to the process and I started doing adoption coaching after the adoption of our own beautiful daughter Ariel Faith in 2004.

I realized even with very good adoption professionals guiding us, what I felt I was missing for us when we were adopting was someone who had the "been there, done this" experience AND had the time to to meet with me or talk over the phone to show me the ropes - especially in the early stages of the process.

I promised myself when we were blessed with a child, I would learn everything I could and help others.  I interned with an adoption professional I thought highly of for two years and started my own coaching business two years ago. 

I needed someone to help navigate my husband and I away from the pit falls we landed in. Someone to direct us in the right directions and to be there during the challenging parts - like waiting for a birth mother to select you to parent the child that they are carrying. 

I can be that someone to you if you choose adoption as a way to become parents. You will find my fees for coaching to be more than 50 percent less than other coaches - this is not to diminish my experience or value I bring to you. Instead to stay true to my intention; which is to be of help/service to others because we have been so blessed by this wonderful daughter of ours.

Kelli Suchy
Domestic Infant Adoption Coach
www.anotherpathtomotherhood.blogspot.com
adoptivemom@sbcglobal.net