Small business, big opportunities: Tips for women focused on managing their small businesses

It's no secret small businesses are essential to the economy. The latest U.S. Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners reported women owned 7.8 million businesses and accounted for 28.7 percent of all businesses nationwide. These small business firms generated $1.2 trillion in receipts. Given the challenges facing small businesses, now more than ever women are navigating work-life demands, business management and talent retention issues.

In fact, women are more concerned about virtually every economic factor than men, including the effectiveness of government leaders (76 percent vs. 73 percent), commodities prices (76 percent vs. 70 percent) and healthcare costs (75 percent vs. 66 percent), says the recent Bank of America Small Business Owner Report, a semi-annual study exploring the concerns, aspirations and perspectives of small business owners nationwide.

The report also revealed that running a small business causes owners - both men and women - three times as much stress as raising children and twice as much stress as maintaining a healthy relationship with a spouse or partner. However, women do not give themselves the free time that men do - 62 percent compared to 53 percent.

"Small business owners are constantly making sacrifices and prioritizing the success of their business over other personal priorities in their lives, but there are some simple ways to maintain a better work-life balance," says Steve Strauss, small business expert and USA TODAY columnist.

Strauss offers the following tips to managing the daily juggling act of owning a small business:

* Build a diverse support system: While a vast majority of small business owners need some level of financial guidance, often in the form of occasional or ongoing expert advice, the report finds more women than men engage an accountant/bookkeeper (79 percent vs. 70 percent), a financial advisor (73 percent vs. 65 percent) or banker (52 percent vs. 47 percent) to help them run their businesses. Resources such as these can expand your network, provide essential professional support and keep you current on relevant trends.

* Use tech tools and resources available to you: According to the Bank of America Small Business Owner Report women are actually more likely than men to view technology as a useful cash management tool. For example, female small business owners are more likely to view online banking (78 percent vs. 67 percent of their male counterparts) or direct payments (46 percent vs. 35 percent of males) as helpful in managing their small business. Electronic invoicing, online payroll services and mobile banking are other resources that can help. If you're not already using these types of tools, be sure to speak with your financial institution about how to better manage your finances and improve efficiency.

* Boost your competitive edge in the war for talent: The financial benefits you offer current and potential employees can be a deal maker ... or deal breaker. The good news is that small businesses now have access to 401(k) and IRA products designed specifically for their needs and budgets. For example, Merrill Edge Small Business 401(k) is designed for small businesses' unique needs and offers a simplified, easy-to-manage retirement plan with lower costs than many traditional 401(k) plans, enabling owners to provide an important benefit to their employees. Offering these benefits is more important for women particularly when coupled with the cultural and work-life balance perks that often make small businesses attractive to employees, and they can boost your competitive edge.

With the right expertise and tools, small business owners can be equipped to improve their work-life balance.

Use gravity to grow with kids

Gardening creates fun and learning experiences through planting and cultivating seeds for small children who are inquisitive about everything. Feed their curiosity by growing with gravity.



Gardening does not have to be just a row of carrots in the garden any more. Many of the plants we love to grow in gardens actually do very well in hanging baskets. Tomatoes are just one of these plants and their sweet, juicy fruit is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of eating their own freshly grown produce.

Who does not love fresh salsa or a simple spaghetti sauce made from home grown tomatoes? Start easy with the Miracle-Gro Kids Gravity Gro Station, a hanging tomato planter complete with seeds, soil and growing instructions. This outdoor planter is designed to grow the tomatoes upside down, which keeps the vines and fruits within reach of smaller children. It is also a learning opportunity, showing how plants respond both to light (by growing up toward the sun) and gravity. This project also works for families who do not have a backyard in which to plant vegetables, because the pot can hang from a deck overhang.

Even in a small yard or balcony space, kids can still get a garden growing. Consider using containers and trellises for a vegetable garden. Plants that normally take a lot of space like squash, cucumbers, zucchini and melons actually do very well when grown up a trellis or fence. You have been educating your kids about eating healthy, getting enough sleep and being active in playtime, help them to see that other living things need similar treatment. Give plants a head start by planting them in a high-quality potting mix and keep them growing strong by watering regularly and feeding every two weeks with Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food. Start a growth chart and document the upward growth of your plants, just like you do your kids. Have children measure the plants and see which varieties grow tallest. Kids will also enjoy weighing their harvest. Weigh each fruit or vegetable picked and add up the total at the end of the growing season. How many pounds of fresh produce did you grow?

The Miracle-Gro Root Viewer is the perfect project for little kids, and can also be planted at any time of year. This kit comes with Miracle-Gro Gro Mix, onion, carrot and radish seeds and instructions to help the vegetables successfully grow. This kit is designed to provide the curious gardener with an up-close view of their plant's growth, above and below the soil. Roots grow down in full view, as the leaves and stems grow up. This is a great way to teach children about what is happening below the surface with all plants. Ask questions and work together to find the answers. What do roots do? If the roots for a carrot are this big, then how big are the roots for a tree?

Eating vegetables and fruits is a natural part of a healthy diet. Take a look at each meal you and your kids eat together. Talk about which items on your plate could be grown in your garden, and which cannot. Search for new recipes that incorporate the fruits and veggies you are growing. When harvesting produce this summer, ask children which recipes they would like to make for a tasty meal. Try making pizzas topped with basil, tomato slices and fresh mozzarella. Or, a simple salsa with tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and onion. Be sure to taste it all and share the extras with friends or family. You may be surprised at how much produce you can grow in a small area.

To find additional ideas, tips or recipes, visit Scotts MiracleGro.

Say 'I do' to the season's trendiest bridal accessories

Finally found the perfect dress? Now it's time to go from blushing bride to a fashion stand-out your family and friends will be talking about for years.



Whether you prefer the classic elegance of old-Hollywood glamor or the daring innovation of the avant-garde, fashion instructors from several Art Institutes school locations share the top trends in bridal accessories that can help you achieve a one-of-a-kind look on your wedding day.



Accessories can be a fun and easy way for brides to add some creativity to their style, while also showing off their personality. One way to look unique on your wedding day is through headpieces, according to Erica Sewell, Fashion Instructor at The Art Institute of New York City.



Headpieces:

Brides are trading in traditional veils in lieu of headbands, fascinators, blushers, feathers and for the daring brides, hats. Jewels and headbands, like the ones seen recently on different celebrities, are another great alternative to traditional veils. Sewell is also seeing more Eastern-looking head jewelry.



Tiaras are another bridal classic that are getting a makeover. They are being replaced by birdcage veils, which are short, face-framing veils that were popular in the 40s, and fascinators, like those seen during the royal wedding.



Jewelry:

When looking at jewelry, many brides are keeping it simple or focusing on statement pieces that can be worn again and again after the wedding is over. "Your dress you wear one time. Your accessories are for a lifetime," says Michelle Zabel, Fashion Instructor at The Art Institute of Washington - Dulles, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta. "People are spending more on their accessories, because they can wear them again."



Another trend in jewelry is vintage pieces. "Brides are incorporating vintage pieces from their family," says Michael Watson, Fashion Instructor at The Art Institute of Charlotte. These pieces are not only unique, but they also have sentimental value. And, whether vintage or new, brooches and lariats are making a return to the scene, but are being used in unexpected ways. Lariats are long chains that can be wrapped around the neck several times with the ends either hanging loosely or tied into a "y" shape. "If a bride has a dress with some back detail, some are using a lariat in reverse so the long part is hanging down the back," says Sewell. Instead of finding brooches only on the dress, brides are now using them to accessorize their bouquets.



Feathers:

If the thought of a feathered headpiece worthy of Carrie Bradshaw's couture-clad bride seems a little extreme for your tastes, don't worry. Feathers are definitely having a fashion moment, and the ways to incorporate them are endless. According to Watson, "feathers have transitioned into an inexpensive way to make your look unique." Sewell agrees, noting that people are putting feathers on fascinators, clips, combs and veils. "Feathers are a big story as far as headgear," she says.



Headpieces aren't the only place one can find feathers. Just like brooches, they are also turning up on wedding bouquets. "Flowers have been clean, simple, minimal and accessorized with pearls, feathers and rhinestones," says Watson.



Shoes:

What girl doesn't love her shoes, and for today's bride pretty much anything goes. For something unexpected, brides can add a pop of color with their shoes or even go a little trendier with lace booties. Sewell says she is also seeing shoes in general becoming less traditional and more casual. This includes taking a fashion cue from the guys. "Some brides are wearing sneakers, such as Chuck Taylors, because the grooms are wearing sneakers," says Sewell.



Courtesy of BPT

How to make working at home work

When deciding to set up an office at home, one challenge many workers face is determining what computer to use - or purchase. Apple and Windows-based PCs are the two staples, and everyone has a preference on which system they prefer. Sometimes it's the user interface of one over the other that's preferred, and in other cases, how chosen programs perform on each platform determines what type of computer workers purchase. And often, workers just want to seamlessly blend in with the office environment, and purchase the same system for home.



With Parallels Desktop for Mac, the difficulty of choosing between the two platforms is obsolete. This software enables users to run all operating systems like Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Mac OS X, Google Chrome OS and more on a Mac without rebooting. This allows an at-home employee to easily switch between the system provided on work computers and the home computer, even if they're running different operating systems.



This allows at-home workers several benefits:



* If you have a Mac and a PC, then Parallels Desktop software can simply move your entire PC onto you Mac so you have everything on one computer. If you don't have a PC, its wizard lets you simply add Windows and other operating systems to your Mac so you can do everything on one computer.



* Save money because there is no need to repurchase software you already own. All of the PC applications you invested in can simply be moved to your Mac and run in Windows via Parallels Desktop.



* Run both Windows and Mac systems at the same time, allowing you to work in a Mac program while using a Windows platform.



* Copy and paste between documents running in both operating systems easily - which is not possible if you must reboot your Mac to change between OS X and Windows applications.



Another challenge working-from home employees face is taking the business on the road. Those who are self-employed often don't have the luxury of bringing business into the home office, and have to make the office mobile. This requires updating technology so email, documents and files can all be accessed from either a smartphone or tablet.



Another option is to access your computer remotely, allowing you to do everything you'd be doing at home while away. Parallels Mobile for iPad and iPhone lets you remotely access and run all of your Mac and Windows files and applications when you're on the go.



One final challenge is being able to handle the business errands without having to leave the office - or home. Banking, setting up conference calls or ordering supplies can all be done electronically using websites and downloadable apps. This technology allows a home-worker to make business deposits, connect with clients and have supplies delivered to the door - without having to leave.



Seamless connection is key to working at home, because any interruption in getting technology to work is lost time, and potentially lost business. Apps, using the same computer programs you've always used through Parallels Desktop for Mac and mobile devices will help any at home worker to keep all connections with the office and clients going strong. Mac users can download a free trial of the software at www.parallels.com/desktop.

Five ways to invest in gold

If that includes you, you're not alone. A recent survey shows that nearly half of U.S. investors don't believe they're knowledgeable enough about the precious metal to make a decision about adding gold to their portfolios. The World Gold Council highlights these five options to get you started:

1. Gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Since 2004, U.S. investors have been able to buy Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) backed by physical gold through their brokerage accounts on a regulated stock exchange, just like a share of a company's stock. Ownership of gold ETF shares provides investors with a vehicle that reflects the performance of the price of gold bullion, less expenses of the ETF. With these gold ETFs, individuals do not need to physically store gold, so no need for a safe or safety deposit box. Different types of gold ETFs are available on the market but not all are 100 percent backed by physical gold, so read the prospectus carefully and ask your financial adviser to help you select the one that best suits your needs.

2. Gold mining stocks

With this option, you are investing in a gold-mining company, rather than gold bullion. Depending on the company, you may be able to generate income from dividends. While the value of gold stocks has historically been closely tied to the price of gold itself, other factors can determine the value of the individual companies. More than 300 gold-mining companies are listed and publicly traded in the U.S.

3. Gold Accumulation Plans (GAPs)

Similar to a conventional accumulation plan, GAPs allow investors to set aside a fixed amount of money every month in order to purchase gold on various days. This cost averaging cushions investors from short-term variations in the price of gold. When the account closes, investors could have one or more of the following alternatives: receiving bullion bars or jewelry or simply selling the gold for cash.

4. Gold bars

Gold bars range in size from just a few grams to the 400 ounce London Good Delivery bars most people have only seen in the movies. There are many different refineries that produce gold bars and most companies that sell gold will offer a variety of sizes to suit various budgets.

5. Gold coins

Issued by governments around the world, gold bullion coins are a popular choice for investors. Their value is primarily based on their fine gold content. Bullion coins differ from numismatic or collectable coins, which are valued on rarity, design and finish rather than their gold content. Many mints will offer "proof" versions of the bullion coins at a premium to the gold content for collectors and those looking for an heirloom gift for milestone celebrations such as a birthday or wedding. American Eagle coins are a common form of bullion coin in the U.S. and other popular bullion coins that are widely available include the Gold American Buffalo, Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Kruggerrand and Chinese Panda and Austrian Philharmonic.

Where to buy: Both bullion coins and gold bars may be purchased online or by phone from companies that specialize in precious metals.

"There are a number of ways to invest in gold and each can play its own role in your portfolio. Owning an ETF, bars or coins and mining shares may be viewed as complementary investments," says Juan Carlos Artigas, Global Head of Investment Research at the World Gold Council.

The World Gold Council (www.gold.org) provides useful information on why, how and where to invest in gold.

The information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

How to create the perfect kids room

Nurseries and playrooms on television and in magazines might have you thinking your child could use a more playful environment. Some of the more elaborate designs undoubtedly cost more time and money than you may want to spend, but don't let that discourage you. Creating a space your kids can call their own doesn't need to break the bank or require too much of your time. With a little creative thinking, you can transform any space into the perfect kid-friendly retreat.

Color the walls

Children are drawn to bright colors that stimulate their creativity. And, though you don't want them taking matters into their own hands when it comes to wall art, there are other great ways to create a beautifully colorful environment. With Dutch Boy's Crayola palette, a more fun and playful kids room is just a few paint strokes away. Featuring vibrant shades that match your kids' crayons, this palette offers an easy way to bring life into your child's hideaway. Whimsical colors like Inch Worm, Cream Soda, Little Princess and Tropical Rain Forest will instantly transform your child's room into a fun-filled, lively space. You don't need to stick with one shade, either. Paint an accent wall or even do custom designs or stripes. With a few hours and a little creativity, you can quickly and easily turn the kids room in your home into a magical, youthful escape.

Fun-size furniture

Adult-sized furniture can leave your child feeling like Goldilocks, so bring in some pint-sized pieces to make them believe the room is specially meant just for them. Even if your budget is tight, there are plenty of options for fun-size furniture available. Kids' chairs and tables are great additions to help them comfortably color, read books, do crafts and exercise their creativity. And there is no need to spend a fortune. Garage sales commonly offer kids furniture, which can easily be restored. Even if a find appears worn, a fresh coat of white paint and some bright chair cushions will instantly make it good-as-new - for a fraction of the price. Let kids help choose the furniture, fabrics and color to give them the feeling the space is their own and turn the restoration into a fun project.

Dreamland bedding

Making sure your little one has a cozy, restful space to sleep is important, and balancing comfort with creativity is easier and less costly than you might think. There are endless bedroom options to suit every style and age, and letting children choose bedding or a quilt cover they love can make their bedtime routine go more smoothly. Matching pillows can help create a cohesive look, and fun cushions or bright body pillows can help kids sit comfortably on the floor with a book or game. Whether they choose polka dots, bright patterns, cartoon images or solid white, a new design that's all their own will make bed and naptime something they may actually look forward to. Don't worry about matching the bedding to other decoration in the room - dreams are fun and unpredictable, so let your child's preference lead the way.

Storage

Crayons, and teddy bears, and games, oh my! Storing all of your child's precious belongings can be challenging, especially if the room is small. To avoid the "warzone" look, invest in a few storage options that will improve the look of your child's room while teaching him to clean up after himself. Closed cabinets and clear tubs are great for storing stuffed animals, craft items and action figures, while open bookshelves work well for books, games and puzzles. Open cubby systems are also a good way to teach young children organization skills while keeping their favorite toys easily accessible. Color-coded bins can help keep kids rooms bright and youthful while keeping their things off of the floor.

With a little time and minimal cost, you can help transform your child's room into the perfect place to learn, dream and play for years to come.

Courtesy of BPT