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 Me, My Kid and Life I am an American. Sophie, my daughter, has both a French and American citizenship. We lived in Antibes during our first year in France and have now moved north to Strasbourg for Sophie's schooling. Sophie has her own section on this website where you can view her films and poetry or buy her custom made-to-order dreadlocks. She makes some of the absolute best dreads you can find anywhere in the world. I have been working at home and online for a few years now. I write articles about the process of working from home and having your own online business in the business section. It is my hope to inspire others to follow their dreams and live the life they truly want to live. Anything is possible for those willing to walk through their fear and to achieve their goals. 
May 01, 2008 It is fairly difficult for a teenager to get a job before the age of 18-years-old in France. Sophie has been talking a lot, recently, about wanting a job. She's a teenager. She wants more financial freedom and would like to have more control over what she buys and how much money is in her pocket. Yesterday, I suggested she go over to the local Teen Center (teen centers in France are socialized - that means that they are run by the government basically allowing teen centers contain the same information and opportunities) to find out what it had to offer and to look into her options for summer and vacation jobs. What Sophie learned is that it is very hard to get a job in France under the age of 18-years-old. The only job that was suggested to her was a babysitting job. In France, you must take a three-day course followed by certification to be a babysitter. The course costs 200 euros per day. That is a total of 600 euros for the course - or $928.50 US. Sophie didn't even ask if I would be willing to pay for it probably for a few reasons: 1. She's probably not too sure she'd be into babysitting enough to make the money back. 2. She's probably pretty sure I could think of more productive things to spend my money on. 3. Her time is better spent building her website. I said, "Huh. I bet you're glad you have your dreadlock business. She nodded. It's not that a teenager can't have a job in France. It's just that the teen might need to look into some alternative methods of creating an income. Sophie has been working on creating an income through two different sources - her blog and making and selling custom dreadlocks. It's not a lot of money but it also doesn't take up a lot of time and she can do it when she wants and in the luxury of her own bedroom rather than having to punch a clock for someone else and have certain hours be only for workings for another person. This way, Sophie is learning how to become self-employed, financially free and responsible for her own income. The goal of the website is so that it will be profitable enough by the time she's in college to give her a supplemental income so she won't need a part-time job and can spend her time focusing on her studies and other college activites. On the other hand, Sophie's dreadlock business creates an immediate income allowing Sophie to have a certain amount of financial freedom while, at the same time, learning about money. I enjoy watching her go through this process. She is constantly surprised by how fast the money goes which has turned her into a more astute consumer. April 30, 2008 
Recently a visitor asked if there were kids clothing stores in Strasbourg. The answer is 'Yes!' There are a lot of clothing stores for kids here in Strasbourg. In fact, since Strasbourg is a city with an abundance of culture and sophistication the children's clothing stores are quite upscale and elegant which makes Strasbourg's kids stores rather ideal for those in need of the perfect baby gift. 
La Grande Rue (The Big Street) is easy to find. I'll give you directions from the face of the Strasbourg Cathedral since the cathedral is all but impossible to miss. Start in front of the cathedral and walk straight down the narrow walking street directly in front of you passing Christian's Chocolates on the left and the Cultural Boutique on the right. 
Enjoy the shops! There are lots of kids stores on this streets. You'll find baby stores, shops for little kids, adorable shoe stores and an array of adorable children's toys. 
If you have enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a donation. I love giving to you. I also love receiving. All the best! April 28, 2008 There is so much to write about, but then sometimes nothing comes to mind. I've found a cure for this dilemma. Keep a notepad nearby! Bring it on trips to the store, shopping, the cafe, anywhere you might think up an idea and need to write it down. I must have over 200 article ideas written down. There is no way I could ever catch up with all the ideas I have for writing articles. Good! That's not the goal. The goal is to not run out of options. It's nice to have extra ideas lying around because sometimes I just can't think of anything I want to write about. It's rare because I like what I write about, but if I've been working hard I might not have a lot of mental energy left over to come up with new blog topics. That's when I refer to my notepad and pick one that seems appropriate for my mood, energy level and what I think I'd like to write about, at that time. We can't remember every idea that pops into our heads. Don't bother trying. Just write it down. If you don't have a notepad then write your idea on a scrap piece of paper, or a receipt, then transfer it to your notepad when you get home. If you haven't got a notepad laying around, take a plain piece of paper and start writing your ideas on that. Keep that piece of paper next to your computer so that when you sit down and think 'what should I write about?' you'll have your handy dandy list to refer to! One of the nice things about a list of blog ideas is that of the ideas some will be short and easy to write while others will be more detailed. So, no matter your mood you'll have a blog idea to fit it. If your list starts getting long and you know you'll never be able to write all those articles especially with all the other ideas you have swirling around in your head... consider yourself lucky! Other Related Articles: April 25, 2008 The Open Air Market, Mercat de la Boqueria, just of Las Ramblas in Barcelona is fantastic. It's absolutely huge and has every kind of food you can possibly think of. I went there three times on my four day trip to Barcelona. 
There is a huge fish market within the open air market that is well-known by locals and tourists alike and well worth a gander. The open air market caters to every food lovers desire no matter what your taste. 
There are meats of all kinds - from those with heads still attached (which seems to be a favorite for Europeans) to those dried and hanging high... 
Any kind of cheese you might wish to try is there for you to experience... 
The open air market offered a lovely array of olives and other fancy little specialty items... 
My personal favorite was were the fruit stands. We eat a lot of natural foods in my family and I'm always game for a fresh fruit drink. I'm not sure I've ever had so many to choose from and I'm happy to report that the prices were just right - ranging from 1-1.50 euros... 
And who could forget about those fabulously good for you vegetables. Can anyone say, 'yummy'! 
The open air market in Barcelona has eggs, but not only regular chicken eggs. The kiosks offer an array of eggs from quail eggs to ostrich eggs... 
And, of course, everyone needs a little dessert! 
April 22, 2008 Adsense is an online advertising tool offered by Google to webmasters and bloggers as a way to monetize your website or blog. To monetize your website or blog means to make it possible to make money from your blog, or to create your blog or website in such a way that it has the ability to generate an income for the blogger or webmaster. Google's Adsense program offers the easiest way to monetize your website available on the web today. The Adsense program is not the only advertising option available to webmasters or bloggers but many people seem to think it is the best. Signing up for Google's Adsense program is super easy. Google will walk you through the steps so that you can begin advertising with them as quickly as possible. As part of the Adsense program you agree to certain criteria when GoogleAds are places on your website. It is important to note that as a webmaster or blogger it is never okay to suggest that visitors click on the GoogleAds on your page or bring added attention to them, such as point arrows at your GoogleAds. In case it needs to be said, it is also important that you do not click on your own GoogleAds. To monetize your website is a way to generate income through your content or things you sell on-line but not by trying to beat the system. If Google catches you trying to cheat the Adsense program then Google will remove your ability to use GoogleAds on your website. I have seen a lot of websites that clearly take monetization very seriously, yet do not offer GoogleAds on their websites. Chances are these websites have done something against the AdSense Terms and Conditions and the GoogleAds were removed from the website as a result of the violation. Know the rules and adhere to them. Looking for a short cut will most likely just create a longer distance for you to travel in the long run. If you haven't already signed up for Adsense, what are you waiting for? You can make money though Adsense but only if you are signed up for it. I've heard many bloggers say to wait to monetize your website. I do not necessarily agree. Why would you wait when you could begin to make money now? The first full month my site was online it made more than enough, through my Adsense Account, to pay the cost of hosting. Why would you turn your back to free money? You are doing the work anyway so allow your website to become profitable as early as possible by monetizing your website from the beginning. That being said, if you plan on creating your website slowly then maybe waiting to monetize your website would be better because Google seems to have an undisclosed minimum they want websites to adhere to or the website runs the risk of being shut down. I can only imagine that many websites out there aren't too profitable - mine included, so the minimum probably isn't unreasonable high. It is probably best to consider whether or not to monetize your website from the beginning based on how quickly and expansively you plan on building the website. For me, watching the site create an income from the beginning was exhilarating and motivating. To monetize the website from the beginning worked well in my situation. Each webmaster will need to judge their own circumstances for themselves. I've read on some webmaster's websites that Google won't necessarily let new websites open an Adsense Account. My personal experience was that my Adsense Account was activated quite quickly. I don't remember if it took hours or days but the time was very short from when I apply for an Adsense Account to when it was approved and I was using Adsense on my website. If you are looking for a quick buck then chances are you will not be happy with Adsense or looking to generate funds through monetizing your website. Creating a source of income from a monetized website takes time. I don't expect my website to make any real money for a couple years and that is if I work at it diligently on a regular basis. Adsense is not a miracle money source and from what I can tell the most profitable websites on the internet have been around for several years (usually 5+ years) and have been very active for pretty much the entire duration of their existence. Those websites also offer consistently interesting and original content. Content is the blog or article you write for your website. Content consists of the words you put on your website or on a webpage. Original content means you have written the article or blog yourself rather than having copied it from another page or source. Even if you have the author's permission Google doesn't really need the same information available in more than one location so it will hurt your page rank by having unoriginal content on your website. Write your own articles and you will know that you have original content which will increase your odds of rising in the search engines and as a result increase your chances of making money through Adsense or whatever advertising program you choose to you! If you don't know what to write about just think about what inspires you and write about that. There is more of a chance that you will not run out of things to write about if you are writing about something that you find interesting. It is more fun to do something that you enjoy, so you might as well set up your website in a way that interests. Have faith. Your website will make money for you even if love the process of making it. We are taught that work is not fun, but that doesn't have to be the case. Work should be fun. We should work at things we enjoy. Making money should be a pleasure, not a chore. So create a website that interests you and allow it to create a passive income for you at the same time through Adsense or some other advertising opportunity. April 21, 2008 This is a super easy all-natural and healthy Fish Soup recipe that Sophie enjoys making! It's delicious and good for you! Ingredients -3.5 oz Tomato Puree (500g) -2 oz heavy cream (20 cl 30% cream) -6 cups of water -3 tea bags of Ducros Fish Bouillon spices - we use the teabags instead of the cubes because there is nothing processed or unnatural in the teabag bouillon. (3 or 4 bouillon cubes) -3 small onions -3 garlic cloves -2 to 2.5 pounds of any flaky fish (1kg) Spices to taste -Salt -Pepper -Thyme Directions Pour liquid into large deep pan. Add onions, garlic and spices. Add spices to taste. Once brought to a boil, lower to a simmer and add fish. Cook for approx 15 minutes until fish is completely cooked. Serve. Eat! Fish Soup is a great dinner recipe. Enjoy! Note: Recipe makes enough spread for 4-6 servings. April 21, 2008 Strasbourg is located in northeastern France near the German border. It lies within Alsace and is the principal city of the region. France consists of a total of 26 regions which make up the country. Strasbourg is the 9th largest metropolitan area in France. Strasbourg has a heavy German influence due to its proximity to Germany as well as the fact that the region has changed hands between France and Germany on several occasions beween the 17th and 20th century. Since Strasbourg is in the northeastern region of France it experiences a full array of the seasons unlike one finds in the South of France, in towns such as Nice and Antibes. A Strasbourg winter is not terribly cold but does demand a suitable winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat. You could say a winter in Strasbourg might be comparable to a New York City winter. Although it gets rather nippy, it is bearable. Although it snows, the snow is not inclined to stick. Strasbourg is said to be a rather conservative region. Some people say it is one of the two most racist regions in France. This influence is said to come from Strasbourg's proximity to the German border and an effect left over from the Nazi regime. Strasbourg is considered to be an 'International City' and is often referred to as the 'European capital'. This is largely due to the several European institutions which reside in Strasbourg, such as the Council of Europe with it's European Court of Human Rights as well as The European Parialment. One of Strasbourg's finest attributes is the Strasbourg Cathedral which is the fourth tallest church in the world. It began construction in the 12th century and was completed in 1439. Although there are many distinguishing features to the Cathedral de Strasbourg (as it is called in French) such as it being a fine examples of Gothic architecture what stands out the most is that only one of the two towers was every completed. The Strasbourg Cathedral is striking and on a foggy night in the middle of winter it tends to be quite the ominous captivator. In warmer weather the square around the cathedral fills with outdoor cafes and the lively hustle and bustle of the tourist season in full swing. The cathedral sits in the center of the old part of Strasbourg, the historic center which is called the Grande Ile ('Grand Island') and has the distinction of being the first city to be honored as a World Heritage Site. Although the entire historic center of Strasbourg is stunning many tourists, and locals alike, find their way to La Petite France. A lovely little area lined with quaint restaurants, owner run shops and half-timber buildings. Strasbourg is a walking city. There is plenty of parking at the rim of the historic center. The streets are too long and too narrow for regular traffic. It is also very difficult to find parking in the older part of the city. There is a tourist office directly across from the cathedral which offers headsets at a reasonable price and which guide the visitor to many of the more interesting sites Strasbourg has to offer. The workers are friendly, helpful, well-informed, patient and speak fluent English. Respecting Your Time and Valuing Your Efforts April 20, 2008 I received an interesting comment today from someone who doesn't like advertising on blogs. She feels the ads are meaningless and avoids blogs that offer ads. She writes that 'If a site has great content I will break my no-advertising rule, stay to read but I never click on it. If I want ads I will watch tv,To me its insulting on a blog.' It makes one wonder is she is insulted when cashiers are paid for their work, or if she feels teachers should work for free. Perhaps one might ask, 'Where do we draw the line?'. I suppose it is a personal choice so the line should be drawn for each blogger or webmaster at the place where that webmaster feels most comfortable. Making Decisions That Work For You If you have a blog and do not want to advertise on it, then that is your choice. No one has the right to tell you how to run your blog or website. If you want to offer your time and information purely for the love of sharing it then that is your choice. If you have the opportunity and ability to profit from your time and effort and choose not to, that is up to you. No one will force you to create an income from your efforts. I work to earn a living. I like to work at something I enjoy. Just because I enjoy something or want to do it doesn't mean that I shouldn't have the opportunity to profit from my efforts. Making money at something you enjoy is a good thing. If everyone profited from the things they enjoyed doing we would probably have a much happier and safer world. Blogging allows people to write about what they love, enjoy or on topics which they are well-informed. This is a wonderful aspect of modern technology. So much more information is available at our fingertips then every before simply because someone took the time to put it on the internet. That person has every right to earn a profit from their gift to others. Life is a give and take. The author of the information gave it. The person who receives the information potentially gives back through helping the webmaster or blogger generate an income. It is a simple exchange. A lovely capitalistic, yet holistic, approach to modern technology that levels the playing field against sexism, racism and ageism while helping millions to secure a source of income and/or financial freedom that was not previously available to them. Nay-Sayers are Dream Stealers The person who has the 'no-advertisting rule' had no problem linking from my site back to her own blog - which amounts to her using my blog as a source of advertising for her own blog. Now why would she have a problem with a person advertising on their own website but not have a problem with her advertising on someone else's website for free? That seems like she is setting up a scenerio where she takes from you but is not willing to give back. I decided not to post her comment but rather to use it to address the topic in an article. I suppose that means I have metaphorically taken the ad she wanted to place on my website and in actuality turned it into an informational tool I can share with others while placing it on my website as content which then serves as a way for me to monetize my website and share with you, my visitors. Things to Think About and to Remember...
I'd like to address a couple other things that relate to this topic, namely consumerism and need. The Trap of Consumerism A lot of people in today's world tend to be rather wasteful. They waste their time, their money, their lives. They don't appreciate what they have or what life has to offer. This is reflected in how they live their lives, spend their time, as well as spend their money. A lot of times people are so busy trying to keep up with the Jones that they completely lose track of the fact that what the Jones' have is completely irrelevant to what you have... or want. People in modern society tend to place too much important on ownership and not enough importance on holistic matters regarding their lives. Placing Value on What is Important The more money you have - and don't spend on frivolous things - the more options you will have in achieving your goals. The more opportunity you will have to fully live the life you want to live. If you have credit debt up the ying-yang and every penny you make goes to pay off those debts then you aren't going to have much money left over for actually living your life. If you have a low paying job and are a single mom it is also unlikely you are going to have a lot of funds left over to do many things you and your family enjoy... well, at least the things that cost money. Pick your scenerio. You get the picture. Making Money While Enjoying What You Do If you have the opportunity to do something you want to do that can also potentially bring in a source of income for you, why would you turn your back on it? My website does not bring in enough money to support me, but I love doing it and I love that it is an additional source of income for me. If I hadn't monetized my website I would be out the hosting fee each and every month. The reality is that the website is barely six months old and pays for itself many times over. Hundreds of people visit my site daily. I am able to share with them as they share with me. Like so many good things in life, it give and take. Keeping Things in Perspective Consumerism is often about telling the consumer that you are 'less than' without this new gadget or whatever. Consumerism is not based on need but rather it is most often fueled by greed and fear. Fear of not being enough if you don't have what the Jones' have. Greed that you want more and more and more... and the ever increasing consistency of rhetoric coming from big business telling you that you will never be enough if you don't keep buying what they have to offer. The Internet is Not Discriminatory Websites and blogs are simple, individualistic and not necessarily run by big business. The internet is the little guy's opportunity to create an income in a completely balanced society with a level playing field that is a lovely place where anyone and everyone can earn money. The internet is not a racist, sexist, ageist, religious, gender driven entity. Yes, it can be, it is does not have to be. Content is a personal choice. You can find our niche on-line and you can profit from it. It is not necessary to tell someone your gender, color, age, marital status, religion or any other personal identifying information. It is a personal choice. When personal information is not shared there is no way for a visitor to your blog or webpage to discriminate against you and the playing field is absolutely even. Financial Freedom Leads to Happier and Freer People There is nothing wrong with monetizing your website and generating an income. Money equals financial freedom. Financial freedom equals financial and emotional security. When a person is financial and emotionally secure they tend to be happier. We need more, not fewer, happy people in the world. One monetized website at a time we are helping the world's people become just a little more financially and emotionally secure which has the ability to increase the level of happiness throughout the world as people share their experiences and knowledge with each other. So, I say, monetize our website proudly and share your knowledge. You never know it may help to bring us all to a better place! Related Articles: How to Get Ideas for Writing Blogs and Creating Website Articles Website Content vs Social Networking Incorporating a Blog on My Website Monetizing Your Website Through Inspiration and Desire Finding Your Special Talent Single Moms and Online Business Opportunity Leads Making Money From Home While Raising A Family GoogleAds, Keywords and Website Content The Cost of Starting an Online Business Traditional Website vs Blog Format How to Make Money Online Without a Computer Is it possible to earn money from a website or blog? How to Increase Traffic via Carnival Blogs My Teenager's First Job I love giving to you. I also love receiving. All the best! | 
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