Anyone who does not have a fax machine knows how expensive and frustrating it can be to run to the local office supply story to make the once in a blue moon fax.

Now there is an easy, fast and FREE solution!

FaxZero.com, lets you send faxes for free via your web browser. Your are allowed up to two faxes free per day! Each fax can be either a single page cover sheet with typed notes, or a PDF/Word attachment up to three pages long.

How can FaxZero.com manage to provide free faxing? (that question was for Mr. Russell) The answer is advertising. FaxZero.com places an ad on the cover sheet of every free fax they send out. They do not watermark your attachments - ads are only on cover sheets.

If you need more than two faxes in a single day, or if you really must send faxes without ads on the cover sheets, FaxZero.com offers a "premium" fax service sans advertising. For $1.99 per fax, you'll get an ad-free cover sheet, upwards of 15 pages per fax, unlimited faxes per day (at $1.99 each, of course) and priority (near instant) delivery.


Another Site:
Thanks to a comment that I received from James. I also have another site for you to check out. This one does not advertise on your fax. I have yet to test it out, so please let me know how your results are. This site is GotFreeFax.com

If you are looking for a permanent high traffic system this site will not be the one for you. Please contact me for more information if you are interested in a high traffic option. Send an email to erika@connections-marketing.com

Happy Faxing!

I AM IN LOVE with this product! www.theoriginalscrapbox.com The Original ScrapBox is for anyone who needs organization. When you visit the website there is an introduction video. Please watch. I was about to skip through and the gentleman's unique accent caught my attention. After a few seconds I realized that there was way more to The Original ScrapBox than meets the eye! There are all sorts of nifty features like the folding totes and child-safe locks as well as much more. You can buy a Mini ScrapBox along with a ScrapBox Desk and other options. I sadly do not have one of these yet as I do not have the funds :( Hopefully I will be able to save up for one in the near future. I can't wait to get my hands on one. The ScrapBox can be used for so many things. Plus they are simply gorgeous. Having a home based business I am always on the lookout for storage ideas. Please pass on the word about this awesome product!

Quick fun test! Visit guessthelogo.com Click on the green start button. Try the Car and TV logo tests too! Good Luck!

Post your scores in my comments to see how you compare to others.

The Music Genome Project

On January 6, 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever.

Pandora has assembled literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like.

You pick an artist, it starts playing music, you tell it if you like it or not. The music streams continuously without interruption. You can skip the songs you don't like (six times per "station" per hour). Pandora is good for those times when you look at all your music and the thought of choosing something is just too boring. Pandora also lets you mix all your stations up together. The best part is it's all free (Cindy..... there is no obligation!).

I started using Pandora several years ago and they are constantly adding new features to keep things shaking! Check out all the new offerings. AND DON'T FORGET Gift Me With Music!!! Click on this link to send me a playlist!

Ever wish you could print free money from your computer? Well http://www.bzzagent.com//p/3742685491/chaiwallah coupons is the next best thing (and probably as close as you'll ever get without ending up stamping license plates down in County).

At bzzagent.com/coupons you'll discover tons of coupons from top brands including Kraft and Nabisco for everything from vitamins to pizzas to detergents to drink mixes. Select the coupons you want, print them out, then head to the store to save. That's it — http://www.bzzagent.com//p/3742685491/chaiwallah coupons is totally free. Has saving money ever been this easy? We think not.

By the way, we don't recommend trying the whole "print your own money" thing. We're not really allowed to give you the details before the trial, but we can tell you it's way harder than it seems to make those Benjamins look real.

http://www.bzzagent.com//p/3742685491/chaiwallah

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I hope some of you find this weeks blog a helpful resource! I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Feel free to comment on the blog or email/text your thoughts. (I have been bombarded with emails about bzz agent! I am glad that was a popular post. I also hope everyone is already signed up for "Free Movie Mondays" as that post was also very popular.

http://www.ozworth.com/a/chaiwallah is an amazing site for anyone who is interested in improving all aspects of their lives. From changing careers to marketing your own business you'll have access exclusive coaching programs delivered by world-class coaches. Every topic is covered - from "building an email list of over 57,000 hungry clients" to the "top 7 ways to save an hour a day". There is even a health and wellness section. Please add this site to your bookmarks and continue to visit. At first I was a bit skeptical of the audio clips but they are really entertaining and only 7 minutes. If utilized properly this site can be very inspiring and useful.

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Yes, Free Movies!
If you have not been introduced, please let me do so. Everyone, this is Redbox who boasts easy $1 DVD rentals, and no late fees with rentals and returns at over 15,000 locations. Redbox, this is everyone "the hungry consumer".

Consumers rent a DVD from the machine using their credit or debit cards, which enables Redbox to charge an additional day's rental if the DVD is not returned within a 24-hour period.

Some people say the kiosks' cheap fees could hurt DVD sales, undermining economics that have long propped up the film business. I firmly say, "it's a pleasure to meet you Redbox". (Boo Hoo!)


Quick Facts:
• Redbox operates four times as many locations as Blockbuster Inc

• Each machine holds as many as 700 DVDs and 200 movie titles

• A typical kiosk can earn about $50,000 annually in revenue per machine

• Video industry analysts estimate that the kiosk rental market, which totaled $519 million last year, will reach $1.4 billion in five years -- or about one-fourth of Blockbuster's 2008 revenue

Obviously I could go on and on... however, now for the free stuff! Go to Redbox.com and sign up for "Free Texts" at the bottom of the page. Now you will also be included in FREE MOVIE MONDAYS!!

FYI: the very minute I am able to download 1080i directly from wifi to my 58" plasma for a $1, I will not be worrying about FREE MOVIE MONDAYS anymore. I also highlighted the free paragraph for those of you who want to get to the goods without the work.

Keep me posted on your thoughts!

I have been in the Bzz Biz now for about two years. White paper after white paper and my own experience with BzzAgent.... I am convinced WOM is the way to go. The ultimate form of marketing is when you don't have to market at all. Getting people to talk about your product is the number one form of advertising. There is no such thing as bad press. If you don't like it... someone else might. It is all about brand recognition and getting the word out.

Since joining Bzz Agent I have tried all kinds of freebies. Okay... I could have done without the Afrin Nasel Spray...EWWWWW! But the endless supplies from Glade, Crest, Chili's, Bacardi and many other companies has me hooked. Not only do I get to try the latest/greatest products and report back, I am able to follow the campaign to the end and see how it is played out. It is amazing to see the data that is collected over the course of a campaign.

I promise you will love this site. Even if you are not interested in the marketing aspects, you can at least enjoy some free products for you and your friends.

Why Join BzzAgent?

• Discover cool new products, brands and websites
• Get product samples, plus special offers and discounts
• Help friends find cool products by sharing your opinion
• Join 500,000 other people to influence companies and brands
• Connect with your favorite brands as you help spread the word

Curious about what's new out there? Like to share your honest opinions? What are you waiting for?

Joining BzzAgent is free and takes just a few minutes! (Don't forget to use me as a referral!)

La Rumba! Cha cha cha.....ha ha ha! OMG, so as we were sitting at La Rumba (Mom and Jill were dancing up a storm) This song came on in between Ghetto Hip Hop and the Salsa. None of us have ever heard it before but were able to somehow sign along!!! One falsetto after another....it happened. Well, now the lyrics have been found... as well as a many plays on what has now become an Internet phenomenon. One of my favorites is posted below. It is a perfect translation!

Ma-ia-hii Ma-ia-huu Ma-ia-hoo Ma-ia-haha	Miya-hee Miya-hoo Miya-ho Miya-haha [These are just sounds.]
- Verse 2 -
Alo, Salut, sunt eu, un haiduc, Si te rog, iubirea mea, primeste fericirea. Alo, alo, sunt eu Picasso, Ti-am dat beep, si sunt voinic, Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.	Hello, greetings, it's me, an outlaw, I ask you, my love, to accept happiness. Hello, hello, it's me, Picasso, I sent you a beep [cellphone signal], and I'm brave [or strong], But you should know that I'm not asking for anything from you.
- Chorus 3 (2 times) -
Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma, nu ma iei, Nu ma, nu ma iei, nu ma, nu ma, nu ma iei. Chipul tau si dragostea din tei, Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.	You want to leave but you don't want don't want to take me, don't want don't want to take me, don't want don't want don't want to take me. Your face and the love from the linden trees, And I remember your eyes.
- Verse 4 -
Te sun, sa-ti spun, ce simt acum, Alo, iubirea mea, sunt eu, fericirea. Alo, alo, sunt iarasi eu, Picasso, Ti-am dat beep, si sunt voinic, Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.	I call you [over the phone], to tell you what I feel right now, Hello, my love, it's me, your happiness. Hello, hello, it's me again, Picasso, I sent you a beep [cellphone signal] and I'm brave [or strong], But you should know that I'm not asking for anything from you.

I am so excited to present my newest endeavor. Although in its infancy.... We will now offer beautifully designed Candy Buffets for weddings, graduations, and showers. There are several attractive packages to choose from. Large or small we have many options to meet your needs! Please contact me at erika@connections-marketing.com to set up a free consultation. (Don't forget to check out the wedding/events section at connections-marketing.com for all of your other event needs. Or let me be your personal shopper and I will find or create something to meet your needs.)

I have been working from home quite a bit lately. My 10 year old Mini Long Hair Dachshund seems to be in contest for my lap against my computer! It is hysterical..... although I do feel a little bit bad for her. I came back to her digging in a blanket left on my couch. I think she was making a nest. Regardless, it is funny watch her be so finicky! I am so glad that my BlackBerry makes for a decent camera or I wouldn't have been able to catch this silly moment.

Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Eliza Dushku, Freddy Rodriguez) based on a true story


Bottle Shock is a 2008 film that tells the story of the events that led up to the Judgment of Paris in 1976, when California wine beat French wine in a blind taste test. It is directed by Randall Miller, who also wrote the screenplay along with Jody Savin and Ross Schwartz. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Sommelier and wine shop owner Steven Spurrier, a British expatriate living in Paris, concocts a plan to hold a blind taste-test intended to introduce Parisians to the quality wines coming from elsewhere in the world (and save his business in the process). He travels to the not-yet-famous Napa Valey in search of contestants for his Judgement of Paris taste test, where a chance meeting introduces him to floundering vintner Jim Barrett of Chateau Montelena. This twist of fate and the resultant oenological epiphany forever change their lives, the fortunes of the Napa Valley wineries, and the global wine industry as a whole.

- Sundance Film festival - 2008 Online Film Guide

I love this movie! Please watch the extras... they feature interviews with the actual real life characters.

This photo so appropriately fits the title as it was one of my first photos of the new year. I took it at the bus stop on Banksville and Potomac while in Pittsburgh for New Years.

As most of you know I went to school at AIP and I enjoy traveling to the Burgh on a monthly basis to experience some of the finer things the city has to offer.

2009 is no exception as it marks Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary!!! Of course I have my continuing list of things that I must always fit in..... (Southside, The Strip, Shadyside, D's Six Pax, St. Patty's Day in the Square, Arts Festival, Kennywood, Sand Castle, Oakland, Warhol Museum, Church Brew Works, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Fat Heads, just to name a few) This year there are a few extra things I would like to check out.

To start with:

Venture Outdoors Festival
Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival
Grand Prix
The new Rivers Casino (Opening in August)
The Scare House

Last year I really got into the kayaking and I am hoping to take a more elaborate trip down the river this year. I am shooting for the the Atlantic Ocean itself! (okay, being in a tiny kayak around all those barges is terrifying..... but totally worth it) I will at least make it past the Cork Factory this time and maybe go to Sandbar. Although I must say I really put in a few good hours rowing upstream the last time! However my arms were Jell-O by the end of it.

I will keep everyone posted on new events as I find them. I know there are a ton that I am missing. These are just a few of my "new for Pittsburgh" must check outs.

Dover, Ohio is starting to get a large Guatemalan population. In fact in the last several years my Mother has had the opportunity to teach several young Guatemalan children to speak and read English. So I have had the unique experience of spending some time with this fascinating culture.

Exactly one year ago Veronica gave birth to a little baby girl named Katelyn. Katelyn is beautiful. She spends most of her days with Veronica's younger sisters, (Sonya and Brigida). In their culture the younger children take care of the babies while the adults work or take care of the home. I am so glad that this was not the case for my family! I can't image what it would be like if I had to carry my sister around all day!!! It is hard enough with a mini dachshund fighting for my lap.

Anyway..... Katelyn really enjoyed her party. We started off with a prayer and blessing for the one year old and the new parents. I really didn't understand much as I do not speak their native dialect or Spanish. (Half the inhabitants of Guatemala are native Indians, most of them Mayas. They are however, completely under the rule of the Spanish speaking, the Ladinos. There are 21 Maya languages in Guatemala. So many Guatemalans will learn Spanish when they come to the United States because it is close to their native tongue and an easier transition than to English.)

After the prayer it was time for the party to begin. Women in the kitchen served plates stacked high of shrimp, tortillas, chicken, steak and radish salads. I couldn't believe the amount of food they had. The Ceviche was my favorite. Ceviche is shrimp or fish marinated in a citrus-based mixture, with lemons and limes being the most commonly used. In addition to adding flavor, the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, which pickles or "cooks" the fish without heat. Needless to say it is awesome.

I sat down with Sonya at a table full of young Guatemalan men who didn't speak English. At first it was a bit awkward. Sonya speaks English, so she was able to provide some conversation. However, Sonya is 9 years old. I realized I was completely relying on her to help me fit in. With my plate piled high of salads, beans, and one huge chunk of marinated steak, I eagerly began the tasting. It was when I went to eat my steak that I noticed I was only armed with a spoon! I felt my face turning red. The younger children were starting to laugh at me. I soon realized that no one was using a fork, or knife. Sonya burst into laughter and shrieked...."use your hands silly!" WOW I felt awkward. So, I picked up my piece of steak and bit in. I do not think I would be able to get used to eating with my hands. It was a strange experience.

After dinner, the men started playing instruments in the living room. As far as I could tell there were two large wooden xylophones, drums, and electric guitar. The music was really good. At first I thought they were playing a CD. It was a bit odd that no one but my family danced. But they seem to enjoy our enthusiasm.

Overall the party was a ton of fun and I am so glad that it turned out to be everything that Veronica wanted it to be. She was quite the hostess.

Also, the video below was shot by Sonya. I have another version that I took that was much more steady.... I just couldn't resist using this one. She was so excited to take her first Video. I think she did a fantastic job. (Jill- I left your face off of here because of the Carrollton thing... )

I have been working on three different billboards for Breitenbach winery. This one is almost ready to go up in front of the winery. I am really enjoying the research for this project. For any of you that haven't visited Breitenbach lately...... it is time to go. They have made some amazing updates.

Currently they are adding a vineyard to their facility. It is quite the project and Tarulli Media Group has done an excellent job capturing every moment of this "ground breaking" piece of Breitenbach history. You can view the videos at http://tarullimediagroup.blogspot.com/ ! Add Tarulli to your following so you can keep up to date with this exciting project.

Also, make sure during your next visit to Breitenbach that you go with an empty stomach. They have a delicious lunch menu. I recommend their salads and anything wood fired! It makes for a perfect day to eat outside at a cafe table sipping wine and enjoying the fresh country air. The ambiance is spectacular.

Something else that has really piqued my interest in Breitenbach has been some of the dryer wines they have been making. One of my favorites is the 4 Barrel Tawny Port. This wine is presented in an attractive black ceramic bottle and has won silver medals at Florida State Fair and Great Lakes Wine Competitions. Another favorite is their Merlot.

Of course I cannot finish without giving praise to the new wine cubes! (I will post photos of those later.) Two bottles of wine vacuum sealed into one nifty little cube!!! It's awesome.

I will see everyone at the Dandelion Fest in May!

Amazon Best of the Month, Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky."

Okay, so I am totally addicted to linked in. It has been a great professional social networking site for me! I can't believe the site knows who I know! WOW, I mean some of the contacts that it brings my way are people I haven't been in contact with for the years. (i think these social networking sites are mind linking with my brain) Speaking of mind linking.........I will be writing an Aqua Teen Hunger Force blurb in the near future. Check it!