Found Not Lost

Every time you turn on the news lately, the state of the economy, particularly the real estate market, is being discussed if not bemoaned. A few years ago, people had lenders practically chasing them to give them home loans. Now a days, the picture is bleak. Those same borrowers who were extended mortgage loans that were on the verge of their ability to pay off, are now scrambling to refinance and those that can’t often end up losing their homes.

Refinance.com is a mortgage refinance broker that will help you find a loan that will fit your current situation. They have a quick and easy consultation process where they will find out what your needs are, analyze your finances and credit history then match you with the best loan option to fit your needs. They have branches nationwide, so check their website to see if they have services in your state. They probably do.

The website offers you a free instant home refinance quote, they have a refinance calculator online so you can estimate how much loan you can qualify for and can afford, and a variety of other tools to help you with your research. The best way to determine your refinancing options though is to request a consultation. You will get more detailed and accurate information and maybe some added information you didn’t consider previously.

I stumbled across this interesting post (it’s part 2, so make sure you also check out part 1) about Cool Business Card Designs. I have to admit, I am a biz card collector. I collect cards that I refer to, of course. But only until I can enter that information into my contacts list or address book then I get rid of it. There are a few though that are so unusual that I hold on to them just to look at. I know, what can I say, I’m a hoarder at heart.

I especially like to save biz cards from artists. My husband is an artist so we are around other artists all the time and some of them, my husband included, use samples of their art as images on their business cards. I do like the cool designs on creative bits though. From a small business point of view though, those have got to cost a lot to print!

Saying Thank You is such a small thing to do but it’s a dying practice, I think, which should be reconsidered because the return that you get from a simple Thank You can be huge for your reputation as a person or as a business.Business Thank You Cards are commonly used in my office because our business relies on our personal relationships with clients. We want them to know that we appreciate their business and want them to return to us.

CardsDirect.com allows small businesses like ours to look professional on a lesser budget. Rather than getting a generic card from the drugstore, always put your best foot forward by communicating professionally and if you can be a little artistic about it, it can’t hurt either. Take the red card above, for instance. I chose it because red is our color but also because I can add our logo making it even more customized and your personal message can be printed on the inside.

Even with the customized printing though, it is always a good idea to manually sign your cards rather than sending a pre printed one as is. It gives it a more personal touch and it gives your recipient a good feeling knowing that someone (a real person) took the time to thank them. In this digital and automated age, the little personal touches becomes even more important and valuable to any business.

Someone in my house felt that I have been reading too much teen fiction so they suggested I try reading less macabre than vampires and witches. Thus, this book. Here’s some basic information about from Amazon:

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: The Chicken House (September 24, 2007)
Language: English

This book is about a 12 year old girl who lives in an old castle with her family of magicians. Her family has owned the magical singing books which have been the source of her family’s magical prowess for generations. However, she, Igraine, took more after her grandfather Peleas and aspires to become a knight rather than a magician. Being the youngest, her family indulges her fantasy of being a knight until one day, after an accident in the magic lab turns her parents into swine, her services as a knight becomes a necessity. Especially with an invasion of the castle by a wicked magician who wants to take posession of the singing books becomes inevitable. Igraine draws on her wit and courage to save her parents, the singing books and her home.

This is a very easy read but at the same time quite engaging. The illustrations are very whimsical and draws your interest in the story even more. My 10 year old daughter enjoyed it immensely and so did I. If you have a young teen who likes adventure, and a good laugh, this may be a good book for them.

Here’s another book site I found while stumbling across the internet. Book Mooch is a place where you can exchange used books with other book lovers. Here are the basics for trading books at Mooch:
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