Start with the end in mind
Write down or cut out pictures of what you ultimately see for your business. The more specific you can be, the more likely you will be able to communicate your vision to others so they can help you get there.

Set specific, time-sensitive goals
First, write them down and post them where you can see them. Hone your unique definition of success by determining the actual numbers, dates, dollar amounts or other specific markers you want to achieve. This way, you’ll be able to mark incremental successes and celebrate when you’ve reached your ultimate goal. Vague goals produce vague results.

Expect and listen to resistance
Whenever you try to exchange and grow, you will undoubtedly experience resistance, fear and criticism from other people and from yourself. Anticipate this, listen to the concerns and have a strategy to incorporate the valid ones into your plans.

Get more opinions than your own
Having confidence is a huge asset, but you still need to test your ideas and plans with other people. There is great value in seeking advice from people with more experience, less experience, different backgrounds, and various dispositions. Trust your instincts and do some market research.

See your life as part of a bigger picture
You are rarely the only one in the world who wants the life you want or has the dreams you have. Access the wider world of people with your interests and goals and use this network for support, encouragement and an occasional kick in the pants.

Count Me In is behind the movement, Make Mine a Million $ Business. The ultimate goal is to get 1000 women business owners to the million dollar mark. Female entrepreneurs have a chance to take part in Philadelphia September 25-26, where they can win prizes including PR, professional coaching, access to financing, and more. Visit MakeMineAMillion.org for more information.

 
Don’t include salary requirements
If you are asked to include salary requirements when applying for a postion, put ‘open’ in that spot. This is one of the ways a company screens applicants early on and giving them actual figures can be used against you. “I’ve seen people agonize over what to reveal, because they are afraid of pricing themselves out of a good job,” says Humbert. If your qualifications are on target, they’ll call you. If the interviewer asks what you made at your last job, ask about the salary range for the one you are applying. You would be surprised how managers or human resource representatives will tell you.
 
Don’t reveal your salary history
When asked for your salary history on job applications, you may want to write ‘willing to discuss at appropriate time during interview process’ instead of an actual figure. Revealing these numbers pigeonholes you and reduces your negotiation power.

 
Don’t negotiate salary
Don’t negotiate your salary during the interview but when you reveal your salary requirements. When asked for that number, tell them you need a clear picture of the job requirements and potential for advancement over the next five years. After you have that information, and you’re asked again for that number, respond by asking how areas of your job will directly impact the company’s bottom line. This discussion will allow you to demonstrate what you bring to the table. At the end of that discussion, simply tell them that you are very interested in the position, and that you’d seriously consider any offer they’d like to make.

 
Continue networking
Even if you have a job offer, you should keep networking and looking for jobs. This can give you valuable market-worth data about the position you have been offered and it can also be a safety net should something go wrong between the time you receive an offer and the time you accept it.
 
Accepting and negotiating the offer
Once you are offered the position and salary, you can help open a discussion about increasing the offer by asking, “Is there any flexibility in this offer?” You may not get much more in base pay, but rather, an extra week of paid vacation, a signing bonus or other perks.
 
“Keep in mind that salary negotiation is more art than science, so these tips may not always apply,” adds Humbert. “Many hourly workers don’t have as much flexibility on pay, and some companies have policies that would require you to adjust the script a little to fit those situations. The key thing to remember is that you don’t have to give them a salary range that would jeopardize your earning potential, and that you don’t have to accept their first offer most of the time. Remember that they are interviewing you because they need to fill that position. It’s important to the company to have someone in that job, and while they are considering you, they aren’t doing you a favor. They need what you have to offer, so you should get the best offer out of them that is possible.”

To get an idea of the impact these lower wages have on women, lets say that this gap were eliminated, then:
*Alaskan women could buy 1.7 years’ worth of food
*Connecticut’s working women could afford 15 more months of rent
*Women in Michigan could make 10 more months of mortgage and utility payments
*Californian women could buy 2,100 more gallons of gas

On average, women working full-time are only paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to full-time working men. This gap has been closing at a rate of less than half a cent per year since the 1963 Equal Pay Act went into effect. At this rate, the wage gap may not be fully eliminated until 2058, when today’s high school students will be preparing for retirement.

“Unless lawmakers and employers make eliminating the wage gap a priority once and for all, generations of women and their families are going to continue to suffer due to unfair pay and discrimination,” says Debra L. Ness, President of National Partnership for Women & Families. “That’s why the re-introduction of the Paycheck Fairness Act in Congress today is so important. This legislation is critically important to efforts to end wage discrimination and ensuring that working women are paid fairly.”

The Paycheck Fairness Act was originally passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the last Congress but fell two votes short of moving forward in the Senate last year. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will re-introduce the act today in honor of Equal Pay Day. If successful, the act will help close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and establish stronger workplace protection for women.

One of the options is to start your own business and work from home and Blaine tells us how to do it right based on her own experiences.

Find a need to fill
To get started, you’re going to want to make sure that your venture fills a need out in the existing market. Is it something that is different from what is out there already? Is it better, faster, bigger, more innovative? Consider these questions as you weigh the pros and cons of going out on your own. Everyone has their own expertise, interests, or an eye for where something is missing. Tap into that to create your own success.

Test market your idea
Before you drop everything, including that steady paycheck included to start your new venture, do this work on the side before you resign. Get your first customer or at least some healthy interest before you take the full-time plunge.

Pay attention to your gut instincts
Some of the most successful businesses got their big break because they were on the cutting edge of a new trend. Take Blaine, for example. When she first started her online venture, social media, like Twitter, wasn’t nearly as popular as it is now. And yet, that’s become one of her biggest outlets for making connections in the online community to drive traffic to her sites. At the time, it may have seemed to some that the time she devoted to Twitter was a waste of time, but she knew she was investing in something important. And today, that has paid off.

Utilize your workplace skills towards your new venture
Whether it’s people skills you’ve picked up in dealing with clients, marketing know-how, or even just your admirable work ethic, tap into that skill set and transfer it to your new venture.

Assemble a top-notch team
When you first get started, you’ll have to serve as your own team for a while, but down the line expect to do some hiring (and have a plan in place for it). During your early days as a one-man show, make sure you are always on the lookout for talent so that when you are ready to expand, you can hire the right team.

Stay connected and engage your audience at all times
Social media is making it easier and more convenient than ever for mompreneurs to stay connected. Twitter and Facebook can keep you connected no matter where you are. You can blog and comment during naptime, or introduce a new product while you wait in the pick-up line at school. Blaine cautions that while staying connected is great, it often isn’t enough to take you to that next level. Go the extra step and engage in conversation with those you are connected with. That’s where the true rewards lie.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help
We all have our strengths when it comes to business. But that also means we all have our weaknesses as well. When it comes to the areas that are outside of your expertise, don’t hesitate to ask someone to help you.

Stay true to your brand
Don’t be quick to jump at the first opportunity that comes knocking. Stay true to who you are and what you know feels right. Remember, the Internet is forever. Whatever you say and do online will never go away. Be wary of attaching your brand and your name to something that may not be right for you in the long run.

Go for the gusto
A big break can change everything. Just because you are going out on your own it doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve to be backed from the big players. Getting one big sponsorship can open the doors for plenty of other big opportunities, and it helps to legitimize your brand and give you some credibility. Remember, companies are not going to come looking for your talent, you have to be the one to put it out there.

Now here are Blaine’s tips for staying balanced:

Get your business affairs in order
Depending on the type of business you are starting, there will be steps you need to take to get yourself started. Meet with your financial advisor and talk through a plan for getting started (and having a cushion), write out your goals and plans for the next twelve months, set up email accounts, phone lines, or get your website up and running. If you start off on the right foot (instead of already behind), then you’ll be less likely to feel overwhelmed. And if you get most of the busy work and red tape behind you initially, you’ll have more time to concentrate on the important things, like getting your business off the ground and running!

Draw the line between your work life and home life
One of the biggest challenges for moms who choose to go out on their own is finding ways to keep their business and personal lives from constantly overlapping. If your office is at your kitchen table, then it can be easy to get distracted by dirty dishes. And likewise, if your business line is tied into your personal cell phone, it can be hard to focus on devoting your full attention to your kids during outings to the park. Even if it’s a small corner somewhere in your house, set up a workspace where you can devote yourself to working during your set hours. Set up an email account and phone line that are specific to the business (and not co-mingled with personal) and be sure to devote a space to important work documents, like bills and contracts, so that you can find them easily.

Get your spouse on board
While working from home and having a flexible schedule does allow more time for house chores than a traditional nine-to-five job, it may be hard for your spouse to understand that he won’t always come home to a perfectly clean house and dinner on the table. Just because you aren’t leaving the house to head to an office every day doesn’t mean that you won’t be doing work, and that can be a tough adjustment. Sit down and talk through the ways you can share responsibilities as you get your business started, and make sure he understands what your workday looks like.

Set a schedule… and stick to it
This goes for both your duties at home and your business. If you don’t set a schedule, you’ll find yourself harried and stressed and constantly trying to do too many things at one time. You can’t do good work if you’re trying to send emails and fix lunch at the same time… and you aren’t engaging your kids if you attempt to put a puzzle together while listening in on a conference call. Having a set time to work, just like working inside an office, will help you to get more accomplished without feeling so overwhelmed.

Don’t count on a 9-to-5 schedule
In a more traditional office setting, you show up to work in the morning and when you leave in the evening, you leave.

Remember, you have to be just as professional as everyone else
It’s important to remember that your business is just that: a business. And just because you are sending emails while wearing your pajamas, it doesn’t mean the code of business conduct you follow should be any different than if you were in an office wearing a nice suit. Be sure to follow the same rules and etiquette that you would if you were working inside an organization. Reply promptly and professionally to any emails or phone calls, proofread any documents, and address any customer complaints or concerns in a prompt, professional manner.

You can see more of Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT, on the online parenting shows TheGoToMom.TV and MommyToMommy.TV, which she also serves as Executive Producer.

It’s Not About the Product
Start-ups are not about the technology or product. The product is the heart of the company, but the product no more makes a company than a heart makes a human being. There are many components to a company that all have to work together harmoniously in order to achieve a success outcome.

Don’t Be Afraid to Discover
The early stage start-up process is a discovery process, not a step-by-step execution process. Many first-time entrepreneurs believe you come up with a great product idea, then they come up with a detailed business plan, and finally they hire the people to execute the steps in the plan. Discovery is simply a starting point from which the product and business with evolve, iterate, and be refined as the concept meets the customers, the market, and the investors.

Retool and Revise
The first product idea is never the final product that makes the company famous. In reality, the worst work you will ever do is the first work you do. Press forward past the first iteration, and make use of the lessons you learn along the way.

Build Your Team
You need a team, but not just any team. You need the right team for that stage of a company’s life. You wouldn’t hire a college professor to teach kindergarten. For that, you need to find early elementary teachers. Ditto for start-ups. Find the right people for the right job, as well as the right attitude and stage of their careers to make them a match for working with a start-up.

Think Like an Investor
Investors know and accept that investing in a start-up is a very high-risk proposition. If investors wanted a moderate return, they’d invest in publicly traded bellwether companies like IBM and Coca-Cola. What entrepreneurs don’t get is that, to an investor, the company itself is THEIR product. Entrepreneurs need to understand the investor’s perspective. Entrepreneurs engage in the deliberate creation of their end-user product, but what they also need to do is engage in the deliberate creation of the company. Investors buy into companies, not end-user products. For an investor, the best case scenario is a tested, proven business with a market that is poised to expand and grow rapidly.

“We’re not buying new homes, new cars and durable goods the way we used to, and we’re not reading newspapers in the age of the Internet,” Wilson said. “Those are four job sectors affected right there, between construction workers, auto workers, realtors and newspaper employees. Because of the labor conditions and other market pressures that have changed for good, the number of jobs in those fields will never return to their former levels. As a result, people need to think about re-educating themselves and preparing for jobs that will be around for a while.”

OUT

Construction
Unemployment in the construction area was up to 17 percent this past August, up from 16.5 percent a year ago. The housing market is still floundering, and inventories are still vast because of the millions of foreclosures.

Realtors
Since 2006, the realty sector has lost 200,000 jobs, because houses aren’t selling the way they used to. Most realtors don’t work on a salary, but rather, on a commission. So, if they don’t sell, they don’t eat. Many have already pulled up their shingles and begun seeking work elsewhere. If the housing market doesn’t recover, neither will the realty sector.

Automobile Industry
So far, Detroit has lost close to 300,000 jobs, and for every car company worker laid off, three more are laid off in related industries, such as car dealerships. The domino effect isn’t going away, as many consumers shift to buying used cars to save money.

Pharmaceuticals
The drug business has a different push and pull — patents. Many of the big drug company’s patents are going to expire, meaning generic companies will be able to sell popular prescriptions for lower prices soon. Look for jobs in that sector to dry up until the next Viagra or Claritin comes along.

Banks
Two pressures are driving away bank jobs. Thousands of banks closed during the recession at the same time automated banking and Internet banking have become popular with consumers. That means fewer banks, and fewer need for bank tellers. The Internet isn’t going away, so those jobs won’t be coming back.

IN

The Green Industry
“From 1997 to 2008, green jobs grew by a factor of 67 percent, and with the Obama Administration promising to create as many as 5 million jobs over the next decade, it’s time for job hunters to match their education to the job trend that is tracking upward,” Wilson added. “If you want to ensure that you’ll have a career that is practically economy-proof, go green. Green construction, consulting and administration are all job sectors that are becoming stronger, even with low consumer confidence and high unemployment.”

Why you shouldn’t wait ’til January:

‘Tis the season for your competition to take a breather
Most people do not fill out applications during the holidays because they think that no one gets hired during this time. With less competition, it will be easier to find a job.

“It’s amazing how many people retire from the job-hunt battle this time of year and leave the field wide open,” Wendleton says. “For one thing, hiring managers will have fewer résumés to distract them; plus, they’ll be impressed by your drive and persistence, because most of your peers are taking it easy.”

Managers are planning their post-Auld Lang Syne moves now
January is often one of the biggest hiring months of the year. However, no organization will say that it plans to hire in January—right now, all you’ll hear is that there are no openings at present (which is technically true). And guess what? Those upcoming positions won’t go to folks who kicked back by the fire with a cup of eggnog—they’ll be offered to the people who expressed interest and met with hiring managers in December.

“Right now, organizations are doing their budgeting for 2011,” Wendleton explains. “For example, one company The Five O’Clock Club spoke with said they will not do any more hiring this year because they want to keep the numbers looking good, but they will fill those positions ASAP in the New Year, and they might even consider making offers now. Who is going to get those jobs? The folks who throw their hats into the ring during the holidays!”

The business world isn’t pressing pause just because the halls are decked
Think about it: The stock market is trading. Stores are still open. Deals are still being negotiated. And—shocker!—hiring managers are still reading resumes that land on their desks. If anything, the seasonal good cheer will put them in a better mood when they do.

“No hiring manager in his or her right mind would ever say, ‘Okay, it’s December, so I can’t look at any résumés or communicate with any prospective applicants until January,’” Wendleton points out. “Certainly, this time of year comes with a special set of distractions, but underneath the trimmings, it’s business as usual. If there’s hiring to be done, it will be done.”

Your momentum won’t sustain itself through the merriment
Unless your job hunt started last week, you’ve built up some amount of momentum. You’ve made contacts. You’ve gotten your foot in some doors. You’ve started to prove how wonderful you are. Don’t let all of that effort go to waste by slacking off now! If you do, it’ll take you weeks to make up the lost ground.

“I can categorically say that the slackening of momentum is one of the greatest job-hunt saboteurs we see in The Five O’Clock Club,” Wendleton shares. “When people fail to have lots of things in the works, they concentrate on the one great job that they really want—and they’re devastated when they come in second or the company puts a freeze on hiring. Then, it takes them two or three weeks to dig out of the depression… and who knows how many great opportunities have slipped by in the meantime?”

What you can do to improve your job search:

According to The Five O’Clock Club, there are three stages to a job search:
1. Be in touch with six to ten people in your target market on an ongoing basis
2. Get those people to actively express interest in having someone like you on board
3. Inspire them to discuss real jobs with you.

The following strategies will help you get to Stage Two (which means you’re approaching the right people and positioning yourself correctly)—and once you’re there, Five O’Clockers promise, Stage Three will take care of itself.

Reconnect with the year’s contacts
The holidays are a time to send cards and good wishes to friends and family… so why not extend that tradition to all of the job-search contacts you’ve made throughout the year? Send a card or email thanking each person for his or her help, and include an update on your situation. You never know when the right memory might be sparked!

“Reconnecting with the year’s contacts in a friendly, well-wishing way will remind them of who you are, what you do, and what you’re trying to accomplish,” Wendleton explains. “One of your main goals should be to stay on the radar of as many people in your network as possible. It takes hard work and discipline, yes, but as was the case recently for one Five O’Clock Club member, a friendly email can prompt a contact to forward your résumé to someone else, which might lead to an interview… and a job.”

Expand, define, and redefine your targets
You may have a short—or long—list of companies on which you’re focusing, but that list isn’t definitive by a long shot. The last thing you want is a skimpy or sloppy group of targets that lacks breadth and depth. Plus, you never know when you might discover a new company you never knew about that’s an ideal fit.

“You can expand your list of targets by revisiting what your skills and strengths are (maybe there’s something you’ve overlooked!), brainstorming with friends, and doing more internet research,” suggests Wendleton. “Many people are amazed to discover, after months of job hunting, an organization that isn’t rich or famous but is nevertheless a great place to work.”

Focus on avenues you’ve neglected
Everyone has a preferred method of getting meetings, whether it’s through ads, search firms, networking, or direct contacts. During the next few weeks, focus on the avenues you normally skimp on. You’ll probably identify new hiring trends, new contacts, and new positions. And (as we’ve established) now’s the ideal time to get your name out there.

“Many people neglect networking and direct contacts, because they’re the most labor-intensive,” Wendleton shares. “If you fall into that category, challenge yourself to launch a targeted mail campaign this holiday season. Imagine what the impact might be if you send out ten intelligent cover letters per week, and then make follow-up phone calls a few days later. At the very least, you’ll be a familiar name to a bevy of hiring managers.”

Don’t withdraw from your support network
Five O’Clock Club members attend a weekly meeting in order to receive support, advice, and help in their job searches. If you belong to such a group, don’t use the holidays as an excuse to skip meetings. One of your primary goals should always be to make sure your search is moving forward.

“Accountability and outside input are crucial in helping you stay on track, and they also ensure that your job search doesn’t lose originality and momentum,” Wendleton says. “If you don’t have a support network and are worried that you’ll slack off despite your best intentions, ask a friend or family member to serve as a sounding board and check in on your progress.”

Accept those holiday party invitations!
You might be tempted to become a holiday hermit because you don’t want to field questions about “what you’re doing right now” or “how your job search is going.” To some extent, that’s understandable, especially if your situation hasn’t changed in a long time—but avoidance is the wrong attitude to have. This is a party time of year, so get out there and network! Tell people you’re looking for your next situation, and be sure to tell them the kind of job you’re looking for.

“Take advantage of as many opportunities to meet new people as possible, and be ready to share your 30-second pitch on what you’re looking for,” advises Wendleton. “And if it’s appropriate, ask for a more formal meeting at a new contact’s office in the near future. Also, remember that those who are in a direct position to hire aren’t your only allies. If you favorably impress a project manager, for example, she might mention you to her boss…and bingo—you’ve got an interview.”

FUSN: Congratulations, your most recent success was opening up the Fresh & Easy grocery stores in your district.
JP: That’s the second grocery store we’ve open in the last six months.
FUSN: And you did this to get residents to eat healthier and to prevent obesity.
JP: Right, but there also weren’t any grocery stores. I hate using this term but it really is a food desert for options and I wanted to provide people with more options.
FUSN: First Lady Michelle Obama announced plans last month to fight childhood obesity and was widely criticized, do you think that was fair?
JP: No. I was widely criticized when I introduced a land use initiative to control the spread of fast food restaurants because we didn’t have a lot of available land left to develop in the district and I wanted to be able to develop the land for better use. So what I did is, that if somebody wants to come in and build a fast food place, they can come in and do it as part of a larger project, so the door is not totally closed. What I wanted to do is for the land that is available is to try to get grocery stores and restaurants in and it’s actually working.
FUSN: This sounds like a very effective plan, so then what criticism did you receive?
JP: I got a lot of criticism—they called it “Nannystate” meaning that I was trying to control people’s behavior. I’m not trying to control people’s behavior, I’m just trying to bring people options, that’s all. We do outreach, we have six new fitness zones in the district for people to come and work out for free, which is incredible.

FUSN: Are you following this up by providing healthier options at schools?
JP: Yes. We work very closely with the schools. We’re doing “5 A Day” which is five fruits and five vegetables a day. And we’ve been doing this for a while. People who criticize me don’t take the time to do their research and they don’t know what’s already being done.

FUSN: A lot of times before you can be successful, you have to fail. Can you talk about some of your past failures and what you have learned from them?
JP: I haven’t had a lot of failures because there was only one direction to go and that was up.

FUSN: Being of African American descent and being a woman must have presented some challenges, did you find people of your race and gender against you and how did you handle them?
JP: I ran the first time in 2001 and no one took me seriously and I got elected. One of the things I realized is that by people not taking me seriously got them out of the way so I could run things the way I wanted to them to run, so people weren’t there dragging me down.

FUSN: Since you work with a lot of men in your field, do they ever show you disrespect based solely on your gender?
JP: (joking) I like to say sometimes I feel like I work on a pirate ship. I think I’ve earned the respect of a lot of the people and a lot of the men because they see how hard I am willing to fight and how I can sustain my focus, my attention, and my effort and that I can push as hard as anybody to achieve my own success.

FUSN: Do you feel like you’re one of the guys or do you ever try to act like one of the men to fit in?
JP: No! I always feel like I’m a woman and I’m happy about that. I’m very proud of that.
FUSN: So, we won’t see you in pantsuits?
JP: I wear a lot of skirts and dresses. I like pantsuits, but I wear a lot of dresses.

FUSN: I was reading your bio, and although segregation existed when you were growing up, you had very supportive parents, which is probably one of the reasons you are such a success today. In your division, a lot of these young girls don’t have that support system and come from very low economic status, what advice can you give them so they can have a chance in the world?
JP: Get as much education as you possibly can. Read as much as possible—read the newspaper and watch the news so that you can be educated about what’s going on around you. Try to join clubs, get involved in afterschool activities. The biggest thing is to take care of yourself and your own physical well being because I think that affects the way you see the world in every way.

FUSN: Any other words of wisdom?
JP: To girls, I say “Show no fear.” That’s how you make it in the world. And remember that you have to reach back and take care of somebody else.

You’re sure to hear a lot more from Councilwoman Jan Perry! Last year, she filled in as acting Mayor of Los Angeles for a few days in Antonio Villaraigosa’s absence and is now toying with the idea of running for Mayor in the next election.

OXO Good Grips Magnetic Clips
These can be used to organize papers by client or project in the office. You can also use it at home to organize children’s school and activity schedules and flyers. Use a different color for each child, project or client.

OXO Good Grips Staple Remover
No more fussing around with the traditional claw remover. This gadget removes a staple in one fluid motion. Smallin says, “It slides through the staple like a hot knife through butter!”

OXO Good Grips Single Hole Punch
Got take-out menus? Use this single hole punch and hang them from a metal ring. Or use magnetic push pins to affix them to the wall or to a cork board on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door.

OXO Good Grips Tape Dispenser
The side loading door allows for easy reloading and there’s no chance of losing the center tape holder.

Go paperless
Email formal invitations through free services like Evite.

Decorate naturally
Skip the usual paper streamers and balloons and use small plants and Christmas decorations made from corn or maize. Supplied unpainted, your staff will have fun decorating them with vegetable oil paints, which can be safely stored without degrading in their box and be enjoyed years to come. You can also create ambiance with soy or beeswax candles and avoid toxic fumes while helping to cut down on electricity. Visit NaturalCollection.com for great ideas.

Go organic
Choose organic and locally grown food for your catering needs or hire a sustainable minded chef or catering company whose vehicles also run on vegetable oil or bio-diesel.

Sip green drinks
Create fun, exotic cocktails made with organic vodkas, tequilas and wines, and mix it up with organic fruits and juices. Visit SmartsCo.com for unusual cocktail recipes.

Give eco-friendly gifts
Visit ProjectConcern.org, EcoExpress.com, or EcoFriendlyGifts.com for eco-friendly products and gifts.

Green gift-wrapping
Be creative and recycle old clothes, ribbons and dried flowers. Go to SweetOrganicsAndNaturals.com for more ideas.

Green Christmas tree
Order a beautiful Christmas tree from ChristmasTreeOregon.com. When the holidays are over, plant it permanently in your backyard.

Lose the plastic disposables
Use cups, dinnerware and silverware made from corn starch or sugar cane. Once the party is over, these items can be thrown directly onto a compost heap to biodegrade. Visit LetsGoGreen.biz for more information.