Probably one of the worst parts about looking for work is facing that inevitable interview. You only have one chance to make a great impression and convince them you’re right for the job. Here are some simple reminders that can make all the difference in helping you present yourself in the best possible way:

Get there early, if possible. It is extremely important that you be on time. Your punctuality (or lack thereof) is an indication of how you will be on the job. Plan to get there at least 5 – 10 minutes early. Not only will this ensure that you will be on time, but it gives you a few minutes to mentally prepare and not feel rushed. When you are in a better frame of mind, you will be more confident and able to present yourself much better.

Be prepared. You want to show your prospective employer that you are an organized, competent person and at this point, the only way to do that is through your interview. Have your resume and all references handy as well as any other materials you may need. Be sure to have a pen or two. Turn off your cell phone. Show him/her that you’ve given your all to prepare for them and that you would do the same as an employee.

Be friendly, but professional. A sincere smile is the easiest way to make a good impression. No one wants to work with someone who wears a perpetual frown or has a lousy attitude. This is particularly important if the job entails you working with the public. You will be representing the company and they want someone who will do this in a positive way. On the flip side, do not be overly familiar or personal with your interviewers. Avoid any inappropriate comments, jokes or opinions and stick to showing them a great personality and capable worker.

Dress appropriately. If possible, try to find out the dress code of the place to which you are applying. If unknown, then business/business casual is generally acceptable, but it never hurts to turn it up a notch when you want to make a good impression. Even if you are overdressed, it will show that you care about your appearance and make an effort to look good on the job. Be sure, though, to wear something that is comfortable and fits well. It is very distracting to the employer if you are squirming and fidgeting with your clothes all throughout the interview.

Say ‘thank you’. This is the final impression you will leave with your interviewers and you want to leave on a positive note. Thank them for their time and give a firm handshake if they offer. Sending a thank you note to follow up also makes a positive impact and may set you apart from the crowd if they are considering several people. Just be sure to send it immediately the next day or the same day if possible. People like to be appreciated and it speaks to your character as well.

These tips are pretty basic and simple, yet can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your interview. You have only one chance to put your best foot forward, so make the most of it and hopefully you’ll find yourself punching a clock in no time!

If you’re looking for a fun and unique idea for your daughter’s next birthday party, why not try having a Photo Shoot party? Most girls enjoy posing for the camera, especially when they get to dress up or be made up pretty.

Start with invitations announcing your glamorous day. If you like, you can go with a theme suitable for your daughter’s age or interests, such as Princess or Fairies for younger girls or Hollywood or Top Model for older girls. Let them know that they will be dressing up and taking lots of pictures! You can also have just a general photo shoot with different kinds of props of your own choosing.

Begin to gather items for the girls to dress up in or use as props. Thrift stores are excellent for this, you can find old prom dresses, hats, jewelry, long gloves, sunglasses, etc. If it happens to be near Halloween, all the better. Wait until after Halloween when things are marked down and you can find princess tiaras, wands, boas, funky jewelry, makeup and all kinds of great stuff for really cheap.

Set up an area where you will take the pictures. Inside is best, where the lighting and weather can be controlled. You can use just a blank wall if you like, but props make the photos much more interesting. Even a simple chair or bench can be a lot of fun for silly or dramatic girls in front of a camera. Other items you can use could be colorful pillows, hanging strands of beads, stuffed animals, etc.

You can set up other “stations” also where the girls can get ready. One area for costumes, one for makeup, one for props, and so on. They can go one by one through each station as they get ready. The birthday girl gets to go first, of course! Be sure to have something else for the others to do while waiting their turn. Some may be entertained to just watch their friends, but a backup is always a good idea, especially for younger ones. Try a fun craft or simple game.

Enlist other moms to help. If you have friends that will be coming and don’t mind pitching in, use them to help coordinate outfits, apply makeup or just keep things in order. This can be a huge help in a situation that could get out of hand. Plus it will keep things moving faster.

Play some fun music to set the mood. Girls will feel even more like a ‘model’ if the atmosphere is there. Select age appropriate tunes to keep the energy up and the inspiration high.

A digital camera is highly recommended. This way, you can take lots of shots of each girl without worrying about wasting film. Another plus and really fun thing to do is to post the pictures online with www.snapfish.com or another photo website so they can go see all the pictures themselves and order some if they want. Place an inexpensive frame with a note in the goody bags letting the moms know where to go to see the pictures. Don’t forget to take a group shot as well!

If you have the opportunity, you can print out one picture for each girl before they leave as a souvenir or send one in a thank you note. Go with whatever works for you and whatever your birthday girl prefers. In any case, she and her friends will feel like beautiful stars for the day and your party will be remembered for a long time to come!

Even if you love the spotlight, audition time for actors can be extremely tense. You have to sell yourself to these strangers and convince them that you are who they want. And you only have one chance to do it. Whether it’s the big screen, small screen or in-between, here are some guidelines that can make things go much smoother and help you put your best foot forward:

Be on time! This cannot be emphasized enough. Consider it like a job interview; showing up late only makes a bad impression and the directors wonder if you will be late if you are cast. And depending on what type of project it is, time is money and someone who may be consistently late is not worth taking a chance on.

Be friendly, but professional. Smile! Be pleasant. Just like any job, these people will have to work closely with you every day and do not want someone with a lousy attitude. That being said, remember to stay professional and not be overly familiar or inappropriate; this will only end up working against you by making people uncomfortable.

Be prepared. Do a checklist at home before you leave. Make sure you have all you need for the audition: headshot, resume, lines memorized, etc. If you have received any previous information or direction pertaining to the audition, follow it. Turn off your cell phone. It also doesn’t hurt to keep a small emergency kit with you containing things like safety pins, pens, paper, stain removal pen, mints, dental floss, tissues, etc.

Dress appropriately for the part. This does not mean that you have to be in full costume, but let the casting agent know that you can look the part. Very important - rehearse your audition in your costume. This is especially important if you are wearing high heels, bulky clothes or anything you don’t wear regularly. Make sure you can move freely. If you are uncomfortable or fidgety, it will show and affect your performance.

Be flexible. You are an actor and need to be able to take direction. It’s good to have your own ideas, but also try suggestions that are given to you by the director. If you come across as stubborn or difficult, it won’t matter how good you are…people will not want to work with you. There are too many other actors out there that are just as good and willing to work with the director to bring about his/her vision for the project. This does not mean, however, that you have to compromise your personal values. If someone insists that you to do something that crosses the line for you, it’s best to just politely explain you can’t do that and leave. No part is worth making less of yourself than what you are.

Say thank you. Mom was right…always say thank you! Good old-fashioned politeness will make great strides for your career, whatever it may be. It leaves a positive impression with the casting agent and shows that you appreciate their time. It could even make the difference between choosing you over another actor. Even if you’re not right for this part, your good attitude may be remembered when the next casting call comes around. And being remembered (in a good way) is what it’s all about!

Acting on stage is generally an area that has no middle ground…either you love it and crave the spotlight, or hate it and couldn’t be paid enough to set foot up there. If you’re new to the stage, be it acting or pubic speaking, here are some guidelines to ensure that your performance will be at its best:

You must PROJECT your voice. This doesn’t mean just yelling, but speak at a much louder volume than you normally do. Imagine that you are speaking to someone at the very back of the room who needs to hear every word you say. If you are fortunate enough to have a lapel or headset microphone, you will not need to project as much, but you will still need to rehearse your speaking so that it is clear.

Speak slower than normal. When you are at a distance from the audience, your words can get muffled and distorted. It may sound funny, but if you speak slower and more purposefully, what you say will be much clearer to the audience. Obviously, if you are acting, you must stay in character, but don’t rush through your lines. The last thing you want is to spend weeks or months rehearsing and have the audience not understand you.

Face the audience when you speak. It may sound obvious, but we have a very strong tendency to turn our head and face the person we are speaking to. That’s normal, but on stage, it can cut your volume almost in half. It can seem very unnatural to face forward while talking to someone next to you, so rehearse this diligently. It may help to visualize the two of you driving in a car together; you can be talking, but not necessarily looking at each other. Don’t worry, it doesn’t look as strange to the audience as it feels to you.

Don’t look in the eyes. If you are giving a speech or monologue and must look at the audience, look at the tops of people’s heads, not directly into their eyes. This can be extremely helpful if you are nervous about public speaking as looking directly into someone’s eyes can be very distracting and unnerving. This way, there is no eye contact but from a distance, it looks as though you are looking directly at each person.

Keep movement to a minimum. If you are a persistent toe or finger tapper or you tend to ‘sway’ when you stand or otherwise fidget, make a conscious effort to stand still. Even the littlest movement can be a distraction on stage and you don’t want anyone to miss what you’re saying because they couldn’t keep their eyes off your jiggling leg.

Keep going! If you forget your lines, don’t stop and stare blankly at your fellow actors or the audience. Make something up and keep going. Always stay in character! It may take you a minute to get back on track, but if you stay calm and don’t panic, chances are that no one will even know you missed something. This is where the art of improvisation can be very helpful in getting you through those tight spots. Make it a point to rehearse this way as though it is “live” and keep going no matter what.

These few guidelines will get you off to a good start for your performance. Don’t worry if it feels very awkward and unnatural at first. The more you practice, the better you will get and the more natural these techniques will become. Then it will be your moment to shine in the spotlight!

You see them every year…Christmas trees decorated not with ornaments, but pieces of paper, each one bearing the name of a child in need. Usually you find them in high-traffic places like Wal-Mart or the mall. It’s easy to just walk by, it’s such a busy season, but have you ever stopped to take a look, a good look? Have you considered how much joy it could bring to someone by just buying for one extra person this year?

Christmas is a big, if not the biggest, time of year for children. For children in need, it becomes even more poignant. And not just for the children, but the parents as well. I know as a parent, one of my greatest joys is to be able to give to my child and the thought of a Christmas going by without being able to do that is terrible to even think about. Some children are in foster homes or don’t really have homes at all, so an act of kindness of just a simple gift can mean the world.

There are many of us who could pick up a few items for one of these kids without it even denting our budget in the least. For some it may be a little more difficult, but there are still ways to contribute without it being such a strain, such as:

Shop with a friend. Perhaps you and a friend or family member could purchase items together and split the cost. This makes it much more affordable for each of you and gives both persons a chance to take part.

Make it a class project. This would be a great project for a classroom or Sunday School Class. Each student could donate a couple dollars, depending on the size of the class, and the teacher can do the shopping. It’s also a wonderful way to emphasize the true meaning of the season.

Make it a family project. This is an excellent way for kids to get involved in the spirit of giving. They can help pick out toys or clothes, and it’s especially fun if the child is close in age to them.

Go in together with co-workers. Depending on the size of your office, you could shop for one or possibly more children each year. Everyone could donate a certain amount of money or groups of two or three can get together for each child.

Use other contacts. If you belong to a women group, community organization or other type of club, contact other members to generate interest. This is a great service project and a good way to bring members together. You could even plan a packing or wrapping party if you are able to buy for more than one child.

There are many ways to be able to participate in this sort of project without making it a financial burden. Who do you know? What groups do you belong to? What resources do you have? Many of us have much more than we realize. It may just be a matter of getting a little creative and thinking outside the box. Isn’t it worth it to bless a child that has so little?

So, before you say “I can’t”, stop and think for just a moment. Maybe you can.

This Christmas, you can bring joy and hope to a child in desperate need by participating in a simple, yet life-changing, program called Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is an outreach ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Its name is based on the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37.

OCC works like this: pack a standard size shoebox with small gifts and personal items for a needy child. Include $7.00 for shipping, drop it off at any of their drop off locations and OCC will deliver the gift to a child in need along with the Gospel message of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed and shipped around the world, bringing joy to children who may not otherwise receive a Christmas gift at all.

Here are some guidelines for packing your box:

Use a standard size shoebox or small plastic container. You may wrap the box (lid separately), but this is not required.

Decide whether your box will be for a boy or girl in one of three age categories: 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years old. You can print labels for the top of the box from their website.

Fill the box with a variety of gifts and personal items that the child would enjoy. Gift suggestions are: balls, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos, toys that light up or make noise, pens, pencils, paper, coloring books, toothbrush, toothpaste, hard candy, mints, gum, socks, t-shirts, etc.

Please do not include war-related items such as guns, knives or military figures, liquids, chocolate or glass items.

Include $7.00 for each box for shipping costs, place a rubber band around each box and drop off at any participating drop off location. You may also mail the box to

Samaritan’s Purse

Operation Christmas Child

801 Bamboo Road

Boone, NC 28607

National Collection Week is November 17-24, 2008, so be sure to have your box dropped off by that date to be included in this year’s shipments.

You can go to the Samaritan’s Purse website at www.samaritanspurse.org to find more information about this and their many other worthy programs, print shoebox labels, find drop off locations, read testimonies and more. This is such a simple, inexpensive way to eternally touch the life of a child in desperate need. Won’t you consider taking a few moments to pack a box and make a lasting, positive change in the world?

Ahhh…yard sales! You either love ‘em or hate ‘em. For those of you on the loving side, or if you just want to get rid of some stuff and make a little cash, here’s some guidelines to follow to help you make the most of your day:

Make your presence known! Too many people use a cut up cardboard box with lettering about 2 inches high to advertise their sale. The problem with this is you can’t read the sign until you’ve almost passed it, if at all. While I admire the thriftiness, this is one item worth investing a couple bucks in. Make a sign that people can see from a distance and make the letters big enough to read. Try fluorescent posterboard (pink, orange or yellow) with large letters (at least 4-6 inches) written in permanent black marker. Or, if your handwriting isn’t the best, use stencils or cut out letters. They won’t come if they don’t know where you are!

If you have young children, try to find a place for them to go or have someone come stay with them inside. It is extremely difficult to keep your eye on even one child while also trying to talk to strangers milling around in your driveway asking you questions. This is especially important if you are trying to sell some of the kids’ things that they may suddenly decide they can’t live without.

Settle on your lowest price for larger items before you start. You will no doubt get hagglers that try to talk you down in price even from $1.00. If you know ahead of time what is the lowest amount you will take for things like furniture, appliances, etc. it will make it much easier for you later when things may be hectic and you’re apt to give too quick of an answer.

Keep your money with you at all times. Use a waist pack or long strapped purse or bag you can put across your shoulder instead of something that you could walk away from. Especially do not use a cash box or other small container that someone could easily walk away with when you are distracted. It’s worth the inconvenience to keep yourself secure.

Make sure all items have prices. If you have several of the same kind of item, such as books, hats, or even clothing, it may be easier to set the same price for all of them. Just be sure to post a sign letting people know so you won’t be inundated with “How much are these?” all day long.

Join with friends or neighbors. If there are others nearby or friends who don’t mind lugging all their stuff to your house, consider having a group sale. This is very appealing to yard sale goers and can help you by having someone to ‘tag-team’ with. You’ll just need some kind of system to keep track of who sells what. In order to keep confusion to a minimum, try color coding price tags or separating items into different areas and have each family collect the money for their own things.

A yard sale is a great opportunity to clear out your house and make a little money. It does involve some work, but the payoff can be good and if you’re a little bit prepared, it will be much easier on you and your shoppers as well.

In these days of financial uncertainty, people are looking for most any way to save money that they can find. Clipping coupons has been around for a long time, but has gained popularity in recent years with more ways than ever to save. While it does require a bit of a time investment, the savings can really add up. Here are some ways to make the most of using those coupons:

An oldie but a goodie – the Sunday newspaper. This is probably one of the best shopping investments you can make. For a dollar or less, you get loads of coupons, store flyers which sometimes contain coupons also and a ton of information. It’s a good idea to purchase more than one if there are several coupons you will use. It more than pays for itself. Some stores even sell two together at a discount, making it even more worthwhile.

Go online. There is a huge selection of online coupon sites where you can print coupons, get coupon codes and find discounts of all kinds. Some include www.coupons.com , www.hotcoupons.com , www.bestonlinecoupons.com , and www.ultimatecoupons.com , just to name a few. Some have an email list you can sign up for so you don’t have to wade through their website every week; their latest offers are sent right to your inbox.

Use retailers who offer frequent shopper or punch cards. This can include fast food restaurants, outlet stores, gas stations or coffee shops. Often you can earn points toward free merchandise or a discount every time you shop. Also check if retailers offer rebate programs. Some have to be mailed individually, but others offer bulk rebates on dozens of different items bought within a certain time period. Check for displays in the store or in the aisles.

Check for stores that offer to double coupons. Most will only double the value up to $1.00, but this can still really add up to a lot of extra savings. This works especially well if you use them with items that are on sale or buy one get one free.

If you know others who are clip-happy for coupons, consider starting a coupon swap with friends, neighbors or co-workers. You can set it up however you like, but a good way to start is get everyone together for coffee or dessert and pool your coupons. You can trade evenly (one for one) or just bring ones that you don’t need and let everyone take what they can use. It’s also a good time to exchange shopping tips and just get together.

Although it isn’t really a coupon, some stores offer a discount on certain days for seniors, women or other groups of people. You may need to get a discount card or show proof of ID if the discount is age related. This can be very helpful, though, if it is convenient for you to shop on these days.

With just a little time, effort and maybe some research, you can put coupons to better use for you. This translates into more savings for you and your family to use for more things you want, not just what you need.

Whether you’re going to a Halloween party or playing Grandma Bea in the church play, if you’re character is old, wrinkles are essential to your look. There are ways to create very authentic looking wrinkles with makeup that can really bring your part to life and have you looking way older than your years.

First rule of thumb to remember is that light creates the illusion of an area coming out, while dark causes it to recede. Both are necessary for authentic looking wrinkles. Look at your face carefully under a bright overhead light (such as in the bathroom) and notice the lighter and darker/shadow areas on your face. This is what you want to emphasize and exaggerate.

Start with a foundation shade close to your own skin color or slightly darker. Make sure that you apply it evenly in order to provide a smooth surface to work on. Using either a sharp eyeliner pencil or a fine-tipped brush and cream makeup in dark brown, trace the natural lines on your face around your eyes, mouth and forehead. Depending on how old your character is and how young you are, you may need to add a few extras or scrunch up your face to see them. Be sure to taper the ends for a more natural look.

Next, using either a sharp eyeliner pencil or a flat-tipped brush and cream makeup in white, trace white lines right up against the dark lines on your face. This is to create highlights which will greater emphasize the depth of the wrinkles. Blend the white outward and upward toward the highlighted areas on your face. The brightest part of the white should be right next to the brown and then fade out.

As you apply your makeup, keep in mind the distance to your audience. If it’s a Halloween party, your makeup can be more subtle, but if you are on stage, it will need to be much darker and exaggerated.

Using a larger powder brush, sweep darker powder (brown or gray) under your cheekbones, eyes and down the front of your neck on either side of your esophagus. This creates a sunk in look. Alternately, apply white cream makeup down the center of your neck and on the highlighted areas of your face: above eyebrows, cheekbones and chin. Be sure to blend the white very well; a makeup sponge works best.

Don’t forget eyebrows or other facial hair. Use white or gray cream makeup and blend throughout hair to make it gray. Add regular makeup like eye shadow, blush and lipstick according to your character. Finish with a light dusting of translucent powder to set the makeup and help it stay put.

All you need now is a wig and your costume and you’re all set to be the oldest one at the party! Just don’t forget to keep your hands off your face, even if it itches, so you don’t smudge your work of art!

It’s that time of year again…time to bring out our ghoulish best! If you’re in the market for some gruesome effects this year, read on. It only takes a few simple items to create realistic looking cuts, bruises and other injuries.

The best makeup to use for bruises is cream makeup, available at party or theater supply stores. You can also use the makeup kits found everywhere at Halloween time. It’s best to use a variety of colors for the most realistic looking effects: purple, blue, red, gray and green are all good. It’s also best to use makeup sponges to apply the colors; oil or dirt on your fingers can alter what you’re trying to achieve.

Begin with the darkest colors (dark blue or gray) in the middle of the bruise area and dab on with a sponge. Dab alternating colors (purple, dark red or green) randomly around the center area. Be sure it isn’t too uniform in size or shape or it will look unrealistic. It’s best to use a different sponge for each color to avoid mixing them and changing the hues. Once your bruise is finished, you can set the makeup with a light dusting of translucent powder if you wish, to help hold the makeup in place.

For the best looking cuts, start with makeup putty, also available at party and theater supply stores. Build up the area where the cut will be to about ¼ inch or so and blend in the edges very well. If the color of the putty is more than a shade or two lighter or darker than your own skin, use foundation makeup to match it to your color skin. Use a plastic knife to make a cut in the putty to whatever length you like. You can also make a round indention for a bullet hole.

Beginning inside the cut, use very dark red or gray to fill in the color and give it a look of more depth. Dab red around the cut area out to where your actual skin is to completely cover the putty. You can also add bruise colors (purple, blue, etc.) around the area as well.

To make good fake blood, mix together corn syrup and red food coloring. Gradually add the food coloring to the corn syrup to achieve the desired color. This works great because it is thick and sticky and usually will stay where you put it. And it doesn’t taste bad either. Just be very careful with the food coloring because by itself it tends to stain (skin, counter tops, etc.). Drip the “blood” over the cut to make it look especially horrible.

Another ghastly looking trick that can be done with putty is to create the look of objects embedded in the skin. Instead of cutting the putty, simply push items into it such as short nails or screws and continue with the bruises and blood. Just use extra caution to avoid anyone bumping into your face while you are dressed up.

The hardest part about wearing this kind of makeup is remembering to not touch your face, especially if your nose itches. But it will be well worth it with all the reactions you’ll get. If you’re not into wearing a mask and have a little time to invest, using one or more of these grisly little tricks will have you looking dreadful in no time!