Other than self breast exams or (self-assisted breast exams ) the next best thing you can do is support breast cancer research. A great way to do that while getting something cool for yourself is by visiting CustomizedGirl.Com. There you can easily make a t-shirt that says whatever you want and 10% of your sale will be donated to breast cancer research. Plus you will receive $5 off your order! Just enter the code CURE09 when you check out. They have 4 great shirt options that are only $10 each right now so there’s no better time to grab a shirt and help save our tatas!

So if you are like I used to be and have too many products cluttering your bathroom it’s time to throw away everything you don’t use and make some space for products you will love and use religiously. Save yourself time and money by finding the products that work best for you and don’t keep a stockpile of products you used once and hated. And if you have a website, do your female friends and readers a favor by posting your must-have beauty products!

Here are my favorite products, most that you’ve probably heard of, and one secret powerful product you may not have heard about.

Best Beauty Deals

• Facial toner: Witch hazel is a favorite among professionals and has been handed down as a beauty trick for generations.  Witch hazel is a natural astringent which will clean your skin while soothing it and reducing pore size.  A bottle of fancy toner such as Komenuka Bijin / NS-K Special Serum Toner can cost nearly $80! A bottle of witch hazel costs a couple of dollars and has multiple uses such as treating cuts, burns and bug bites.
• Body Lotion: Jergens Original Scent lotion is my go-to allover lotion.  I’ve
  tried firming lotions, smoothing lotions, shimmery lotions, fancy scented lotions and every other type of lotion you can imagine and I always come back to Jergens for the great price of around $5.  There are many bargain lotions such as Suave and store brands but I find they don’t have quite the same moisturizing power as Jergens.  Plus the great cherry almond original scent is a classic.
• Facial Cleanser: Olay Complete Lathering is my current favorite cleanser. I like a cleanser that foams well and removes my eye makeup without leaving my skin feeling tight.  Olay does the job well but can leave some residue around your eyes if you do a really smokey eye or wear waterproof mascara.  I think this is pretty standard for any foaming cleanser and at the bargain price of $2.75 for Olay Complete Lathering Cleanser you can afford to wash twice if needed.

Best Time Savers

• Deodorant: Dove Visibly Smooth Clinical Protection Deodorant is my favorite new product. Dove promises that in “several weeks” you will see a reduction in hair in your armpits with regular use.  I wasn’t expecting to see any visible difference until I’d used at least one stick of the product. But, after only 2 weeks my hair was thinner and growing slower. After a month of use I can go 3 to 4 days without shaving my armpits before I have the stubble that I used to have after only 2 days. Normally Dove deodorant does work very well for me so finding the Visibly Smooth solid available in clinical strength was ideal. At only 2-pack Dove Visibly Smooth is already a great deal for a clinical strength deodorant but when you get the added benefit of shaving less often, this is a no-brainer!
• Shaving Gel: Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel is another product that promises to reduce hair growth over time with regular use. It has a soy compound that supposedly binds with your skin to stay on after your shower (without residue) and reduce the rate of hair growth while making the hair thinner. I’ve just started using this product but if it works as well as Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant, I’ll be a fan for life. You can pair the Positively Smooth Shave Gel with Positively Smooth Moisturizing Lotion for even greater hair reduction power as well. At less than $5 each for the shave gel and lotion, these products are all ready a bargain. But when you consider the time you will save by not shaving as often, the money you will save by not replacing your razor as often and the benefit of having smooth legs more often you almost have to add these products to your routine!

The Basics

• Facial Moisturizer: Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion with SPF is a good buy at $12.90 for 2.5 ounces. It moisturizes well while offering that ever-so-important SPF coverage and has the added benefit of anti-aging properties.  Regenerist is one of the best bang for your buck product lines out there right now. But, if you don’t want anti-aging or if you’re looking for an even bigger bargain, Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion also has SPF 15 and is under $10 for 4 ounces.
• Shampoo & Conditioner: Pureology is the brand my stylist recommends and I have been in love with it since the first time I used it.  It’s a vegan line but still offers the same great cleaning and conditioning power of traditional products.  I use the “Hydrate” Shampoo and Conditioner because I color my hair and because I *love* the minty tingle from the conditioner.
• Foundation: Any mineral foundation. Really.  I made the switch to powder mineral foundation about 7 years ago and I can never imagine using liquid foundation again. Mineral foundation covers what you want to cover without stopping your natural radiance from showing through. You can also blend bronzer and blush over mineral powder foundation more easily than you can over liquid foundation.  If you have someone that you can get Mirabella products from I recommend you try them. But since they can only be purchased by beauty professionals and are more expensive you may not have access to them or want to spend the additional money.  Bare Escentuals and MAC both make great mineral foundations or you can try any brand that is in your price range.  You won’t be sorry!
• Nightime Lip Care: Kiehl’s Day Care Lip Balm #1 sits on my nightstand at all times and I won’t go to sleep without putting it on.  I use Chapstick religiously all day but at night I like to have something a little more powerful at night so my lips still fee moisturized in the morning. But, this lip balm is great for all day usage as well and gives your lips a great shine. It also has SPF 4 in it to prevent those wrinkles around your mouth that age you beyond your years.

Secret Product Tip

• Certain Dri. Have you ever gone out dancing and half way through the night you throw your arms up in the air only to realize you’ve got sweat circles under your arms despite the antiperspirant you applied right before you left your house? Or do you have to avoid buying certain fabrics and shirts in the summer because you know you can never wear them without worrying that you are “pitting out”?  You will never have to worry about that again if you follow my secret product tip and use Certain Dri. For less than $6 you can pick up a little bottle of magic.  This is the best antiperspirant you’ll ever use.  You apply it at night and will be sweat free for up to 3 days after application. I recommend you use it on a day that you didn’t shave your armpits or it can cause itching and irritation.  And if you have really sensitive skin you may have irritation.  You don’t need to be concerned about any health risks by preventing any sweat from being released from your armpits as less than 1% of your overall sweat glands are found there.  So, if you can remember to put Certain Dri on at night once or twice a week, you will have the driest pits in da’ club and be able to wear any shirt made of any fabric you want.  You’ll thank me later!

Unfortunately, I never had a good black bag that I loved.  I feel like many black purses, regardless of the designer or price tag, look cheap.  Maybe it’s because of my many days at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, being surrounded by black biker leather or maybe it’s just because I never found a bag that “spoke” to me.  That changed the first time I walked into a Coach store.  The first black bag I saw was nearly surrounded by a glow it was so perfect.  I gladly forked over the $400 for that bag knowing that I could carry it with almost any outfit.  That was the extent of what I considered “higher end” purse purchases for me except a brown Via Spiga and a yellow B. Makowsky that I got on the cheap at DSW.

Fast forward a couple of years and I was still happily carrying my Coach bag 5 days out of the week.  The I met Vlad at SEO Spring Break 2009.  Vlad owns purseblog.com, which offers designer handbag reviews and news, with his wonderful wife Meaghan who is The Purse Blog’s “resident bag enthusiast” and editor. After some sweet talking and schmoozing…okay after some boozing…Vlad decided to properly introduce me to the world of designer bags.  I exchanged numerous emails with Meaghan and looked at hundreds of bags without finding one I liked.  After what felt like an eternity, I finally found two that I liked, a black Prada bag and a tan Chloe.

I ended up choosing the Chloe bag because it was such a rich, gorgeous color and unlike anything I had in my collection.  After deciding on a bag, waiting for it to arrive was agony! Every time I heard the UPS truck outside my house I would run to the door hoping to hear a box land on my doorstep.  When the bag finally arrived it was well worth the wait.  The bag is the exact color it looks in the picture and is even larger than I expected.  The leather is luxurious and the craftsmanship is superb.  The bag is a little big for taking into a crowded bar but it is perfect for day-to-day activities since you can fit everything and anything in it.  However, despite being large it doesn’t overpower you or look like you are carrying an overnight bag for a purse.

I couldn’t be happier with my introduction to designer purses and vow to never, ever buy a cheap purse again.  Thank you to my friends at The Purse Blog.  I am now converted to your religion.

2. Not working for weeks on end: Rich people are retired or have people who run their companies for them.  Poor people either can’t find work or choose to live off government benefits.

3. Driving really old cars: Rich people buy old cars and fix them up so they are “classics”.  Poor people can’t afford to drive any car made in the last 3 decades.

4. Naming their kids after the father: Rich people have many children all named Kinglsey (the 3rd, 4th, 5th). Poor people have many children all named Ray Bob, Jr.

5. Showering outdoors: Rich people have beach houses with outdoor showers to rinse off the sand after they’ve been on the beach.  Homeless people use broken fire hydrants, fountains or outdoor faucets to wash up.

6. Large families: Rich people breed to carry on their legacy. Poor people breed to get more welfare.

7. Eating very small food portions: Rich people pay loads of money for gourmet meals that consist of small portions that leave you hungry.  Poor people have to ration their food supply and therefore eat small meals.

8. Thrift stores: Rich people shop at thrift stores for “vintage” clothing.  Poor people shop at thrift stores for anything they can afford.

9. Getting things for free: Rich people get things for free because companies want them to recommend the products to their rich friends.  Poor people get things for free from charity.

10. Depression: Rich people are depressed because they are bored and it’s trendy. Poor people are depressed because, well, they’re poor.

If you have more things rich people and poor people have in common, please leave them in the comments below.  Thanks!

We then headed off to San Antonio, TX which is one of my favorite cities in the country.  We stayed near the Riverwalk and took a boat tour down the Riverwalk and had lunch before hitting the road for the long drive through west Texas.  The next two days were pretty much just a blur as we just drove as much as possible to get home by Friday the 10th making our trip a full 2 week journey.

We’ve been home now for just over a month and are back to our normal lives.  I already miss the road trip snacks like Slim Jims, Skittles, chips and Blue Smoke Homemade Salsa so I am looking forward to our next road trip.  Although I don’t know how we will top this one!

1. Quote with confidence: Many people have trouble quoting projects because they feel the client will balk at the price.  If you know what you need to make on a project for it to be worth your time to take it on (and you should…if you don’t, you need to find out NOW), you can feel confident in your pricing.  If you are confident in what you are charging and what the client will get in return for your fees, the potential client will be more likely to accept the cost.

2. Give realistic expectations & deadlines (for you and the client): I said this in my Scary SEO presentation as well and I will keep saying it until people start doing it on a regular basis.  I know it’s hard to tell clients it will take a month or more to complete their project and then they may not see results for months after that.  But, if you give them proper expectations, they will be much happier as the project progresses.  Also, you need to make sure you give yourself enough time to do the project properly.  Short cuts will only hurt you in the end.

3. Educate your clients on what you are doing for them: A client that feels involved in the process will trust you more and give you more freedom than one that you haven’t educated. Don’t get into deep details that they don’t need to know, but explain basic concepts to them and have them be involved at the level they feel comfortable with.  Remember they know their product better than you ever will so they need to be involved to make the campaign successful and an educated client will be able to be more helpful than a clueless one.

4. Over-communicate: This is another point I make as often as I can.  The worst thing that can happen is to have a client have to contact you to find out what’s going on with their project because you haven’t been in contact recently.  Update them as often as possible. If you over-communicate they will feel that progress is being made and will leave you alone to work on the project rather than calling to question what you’re doing.

5. Prioritize tasks so it appears things are consistently being completed: In any project, there are items that will take longer to complete and some that you can complete quickly.  When you start a project, map out what you can complete quickly and sprinkle those tasks in while you are working on the longer term portions of the project.  This way the client will see things being done and there won’t be a lot of “dead time” in their eyes while you are working on the bigger picture that they can’t see.

6. Use a project management system: Trying to do everything via email can get messy and doesn’t allow for good note keeping or scheduling.  Use a tool like Basecamp which you and your clients can log into and track the project progress.  Keep detailed client notes here too.  Clients will feel more confident in your abilities if you are well organized and can refer back to previous conversations easily.  If they feel like you are fully engaged in their account they will feel that you value them and will be more likely to continue working with you and even increase their budget.

7. Assume nothing: When you speak with a client never assume that they are happy or that they are upset. Don’t assume they know anything and don’t assume you know what they want.  Always have them explain how they are feeling and what they want before you start talking.  If you assume how they are feeling or what they know, your conversation will be ineffective.  Always start conversations by asking them how they are feeling about the project and what they want to get out of your discussion that day.  After you determine what they want to discuss you can let them know what you would like to talk about as well.  That will help keep the conversation on track and make the most of your time together.

8. Document all verbal communication: If you have a call or in-person meeting with your client, take detailed notes on everything that was discussed.  Document the conversation by transferring your notes to your project management tool so there is no confusion as to what was agreed on at a later date.  It is a good idea to have the customer review the notes and agree that they accurately reflect the conversation as they remember it as well.

9. Don’t schedule meetings with clients when you are short on time: Avoid scheduling meetings back-to-back or you will be thinking about the next meeting instead of really focusing on that client you are speaking with.  Also,  make sure you have time to do the meeting recap mentioned in item 8 right afterward while it is fresh in your mind.

10. Don’t pretend results are good when they aren’t: It’s good to be positive but don’t push it.  Be realistic and discuss the results as they stand and what you are doing to improve them.  Don’t freak out either.  If the client sees that you are worried about the results, they will be too.

11. Don’t lie. Ever: You will get caught eventually.  You aren’t the only person in the world that does what you do. At some point your client will probably speak to another consultant.  If you have lied to them, your competitor will be happy to throw you under the bus.  And, if you lie to your customer you have to remember what you told them forever.  You don’t have to remember the truth, you already know it.

12. Have someone else you can bring in to back you up: Having someone that you can bring in as an “expert” to back up what you are telling your client can be very beneficial. Don’t take it personally if your client listens to this person when they say exactly what you’ve been saying all along.  It’s human nature.  It can also be beneficial to have someone of the opposite sex as you to bring in to the conversation as that can drastically change the dynamic of the relationship.

13. Don’t use accusatory statements: Frequently people use statements such as “you didn’t do XYZ” or “you were late getting us XYZ.” When “you” statements are used, they put the other party in a defensive state.  Instead, you should use more passive statements that make the same point such as “We didn’t receive XYZ by the due date” or “According to Basecamp, we haven’t been sent the materials we need to complete this portion of the project on time.”  The conversation will be much smoother if you don’t use accusatory statements and in most cases the client will apologize for missing the deadline instead of being defensive.

14. Be prepared to walk away: Sometimes you have to fire clients.  If you don’t see any way to make the client happy or if they are taking up considerably more time than they are worth (creating a large opportunity cost), you may need to walk away.  If it has gotten to the point where you are considering breaking up with a client, it’s probably in your best interest and theirs to just make a clean break.

CK and I both played in the poker tournament with the other Spring Break attendees.  There was a bounty on Neil Patel’s head so whoever knocked him out would win about $120, if I remember correctly.  I, of course, had had a few drinks and decided to shove the money down my shirt for safe keeping.  I had all but lost when Aaron Chronister decided he was bored with playing and left his chips to me, making me the chip leader.  Even with more than double the chips than most people had, I still managed not to win.  When we were down to the final four players we just decided to chop the pot and go back to socializing by the pool.

We got to spend time with Los Angeles Chiropractor Michael Dorausch, keynote speaker Chris Winfield of search and social media marketing company 10e20, and Paul Macnamara as well as many other talented, influential, entertaining and awesome people.

The rest of the conference was excellent as expected with amazing speakers, including NDA sessions giving the actual attendees a leg up over those who were watching tweets and blog posts about the conference, great food and an open bar every night.  I was on the IM Business panel with two of my favorite people in the industry – Chris Hart of Bruce Clay, Inc. and Tony Adam from the Yahoo! Audience Marketing Group.  The details of my presentation are available in my IM Spring Break Client Management Presentation post.  It’s a good read in my opinion but Tony out did us all by bringing beers in for our audience members!

IM Spring Break ended with a bang and the next day we hit to road to Miami.  We spent a night in Miami where we met up with some of CK’s friends from college, had some great Cuban food and put our feet in the water to officially say we went from coast to coast.  We got up the next morning and hit the road for our week long trip back to San Diego which I’ll recap in the next post.

In Mesa, we were able to see the Cubs vs. White Sox in a pre-season game at Hohokam Park.  The Cubs spanked the Sox in front of a sold out crowd!! After the game we met up with Brian LaFrance and Chase Granberry of AuthorityLabs.com for dinner at Bison Witches off Mill Avenue. We grabbed a few drinks after dinner and turned in early since we were planning on driving as far as possible the next day.

We spent the next two days driving from Arizona to Austin, TX with a stop to sleep in the middle of nowhere.  In Austin we met up with some friends, including Kate Morris, for dinner with Drinks at The Continental Club after where CK, Elvis and I had a nice Eiffel Tower moment.  We decided to spend another day in Austin to see more of the area. Kate told us about Lady Bird Lake which has a great jogging path so we were able to get in a run to burn off some of our road trip snacks!

That night for dinner we negated any benefit from our run by going to one of my favorite places in Texas, The County Line, where we had all you can eat BBQ.  And we did eat all we could before they rolled us out of there.

After Austin we were on a mission to drive as much as possible each day to get to IM Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  We drove through five states that day to get to Tallahassee, FL where we spent the night before driving the rest of the way to Ft. Lauderdale.  We got settled in to our hotel at IM Spring Break and started the Spring Break festivities.

We’d like to thank a few of our sponsors for sponsoring the first part of our road trip: Los Angeles SEO Company RankLab Interactive, Internet Marketing Firm Primary Affect, MatterMidia and the Twitter white & yellow pages TweetFind. More to follow in my IM Spring Break Recap and IM Road Trip Recap Part Deux!