Invoiceberry - great way to send out electronic invoices.

Invoiceberry is an easy-to-use online invoicing software for small businesses, freelancers and sole traders. Businesses can create, send and manage their invoices online. They can also keep track of their expenses and payments and send invoice reminders. 

Over the years since I went online, (my first attempt at a website was on aol's free web space, many years ago) the software which has been developed has covered most areas of business.  Online invoicing software just wasn't available then and now, thanks to Invoiceberry, you can manage your invoices, send out reminders automatically and keep track of your costs as well as creating and sending out quotations.  This is designed to be straightforward with no frills, so that the online management of your business is streamlined.  It's a great idea for service businesses who are looking to embrace online technology, freeing up their time to provide the service rather than doing the admin.

Kids Clothes - Wholesale Supply

It's typical - just the other day someone asked me about supplying some kids clothes and I didn't have a wholesale supply contact for the type of clothes they wanted.  Now I've just stumbled on the very site which would have solved their problem - KidsKornerOnline.co.uk   This company offers a range of childrens' clothes from cardigans to party dresses and from boys' suits to pyjamas. 

While the images don't really do the stock justice, this is an online shop which should go from strength to strength.

Oak Dining Tables - a contemporary look

I grew up in a farmhouse which was furnished by my mother from great finds at local auctions.  We used to joke that she would come back with yet another dining room table, a great wardrobe or chest of drawers.  In those days, solid wood furniture was cheap to buy and, because her father had been a joiner, she loved and appreciated the quality of the furniture on offer.

It's really lovely to see nice pieces of oak being made into dining tables, chairs and sideboards - Top Furniture Ltd offer one of the largest selection of oak dining tables in the UK.  Small dining tables to seat 2 or 4 people up to very large dining tables seating 8, 10, 12 or 14 people. Well-made pieces like these might be appearing on the Antiques Road Show 200 years from now - I'd love to be around to see them!  The prices seem very reasonable as well - Mum would be proud.

Jolomo Calendar 2012

Just a quick note to say that I added a new listing on our eBay store - the Jolomo 2012 Wall Calendar - the prints of John Lowrie Morrison's painting for each month are so good that they would frame beautifully.  Ideal as a corporate gift, we would be happy to discuss your order.

Jolomo Calendar

Scenes depicted -

• Old Tree at Loch Buie Mull,
• Butt of Lewis Lighthouse,
• Early morning light Salen pier Mull,
• Moonlight Crail,
• Evening reflections Dunardy,
• Summer evening light Isle of Gigha,
• Prince Charlie's Bay Isle of Eriskay,
• Iona Sunset,
• Kilbrannan Sound Arran from Kintyre,
• The Spark the Duke and the Vic [Puffers],
• Footprints in the sand Etrick Bay,
• Early morning rain Craighouse Isle of Jura.

15" X 12" Published by Island Blue  Tobermory Isle of Mull Scotland

Someone interrupted me!

Robert Kiyosaki

It's such a frustration when you get a phone call in the middle of watching a television programme (especially when hubby answers it when you would have ignored it!).  I was watching a programme on BBC about money called "Who wants to be a millionaire".  It's currently available on the BBC iPlayer for those who can access it.  (That's how I caught up with the full programme.)

Among the folks featured was American Robert Kiyosaki who has made a lot of money (after starting with nothing) by following some basic principles which he says are taught by the wealthy to their families.  He explained on the programme that owning something which produces income is an asset and something which costs money or earns nothing is a liability (he and his wife mentioned that their home is actually a liability because it doesn't generate an income.)  Kiyosaki loves "toys" - he has a stable of some very expensive cars and obviously likes other gadgets and gizmos.  However, before he buys a new toy he makes sure that there is an asset somewhere producing enough income to cover his expensive choices.  Wise move!

The other thing which obviously makes him a lot of money is his coaching and mentoring programme - and his board game, Cashflow, which aims to teach people how to manage assets and liabilities.

Disrupted sleep

Well, I don't know about you, but I have a really hard time on the weekend when daylight savings takes effect;  in the UK, we changed our clocks this weekend and I don't know whether or not I'm coming or going.  It's turned me into a zombie - probably not too difficult, but I'm definitely not as sharp as usual.

I came across a website about sleep and the effects of disrupted sleep patterns - and, although I normally sleep well, this weekend gave me a bit of a taste of what other people go through most nights when their waking hours overtake the number of hours asleep.  I promise you, it's scary.  I'm going to keep an eye on this blog so that I know where to find the information if my normally good sleep patterns are upset again.

Children's Entertainers in the UK

It's only a few weeks since I became a Great Auntie (again!) and we enjoyed meeting our great-niece recently.  Isn't it amazing how such a small bundle of fun can have a huge impact on your life!

Anyway, more to the point, because her folks are in the entertainment industry, we started chatting about kiddies' parties; how much people would spend on them, what types of things the children wanted to do and, ok, some of the disasters as well.  Then they got a bit more technical.

For instance, one of the things they said was that, in the UK, if you're booking an entertainer for a party, then you could and should ask if they have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check done and also if they carry public liability insurance.  There are loads of other questions you should ask a children's entertainer before hiring him/her to perform at your children's party.  I came across the Children's Entertainer Directory and found a very useful set of articles there which should help you avoid trouble when booking a performer - and where you can also find performers for hire.

Don't for get to ask the questions, though - your children and their friends are so precious - and it's worth taking extra trouble to make sure you get it right!

Check out the articles on http://www.childrenentertainers.net/articles/