I want to introduce you to someone.

She’s an eBay powerseller, a stay at home mom and a makeup junkie. She started Bela’s Boutique about two years ago to sell high end cosmetics and skincare–for a steal. The success of her store has made it possible to stay home with her 4 year old daughter… yes, you guess it… Bela.

She’s also one of our 2 winners of the impossible-to-pick-just-one "10 Day eBay Squidoo Challenge" that just finished.

What we loved about her winning lens The Scott Barnes Cosmetics Showcase is that it is friendly, focused, sincere, spotlights her bestselling items, and doesn’t stop there. Bela’sBoutique went above and beyond for her readers by sharing the 10 Fab Reasons to buy from her (because 3000 happy customers can’t be wrong), recommending related links and books for the real makeup junkies out there, and polling people on their satisfaction with her store.

As if that’s not enough, she decided to give back a little too, and made a list of all her favorite eBay sellers to thank. "I am not only a Power Seller but I am a Power BUYER too! I love Ebay, there I said it. I rarely shop anywhere else. Why when it is all right here and I dont have to pay high gas prices, push thru the crowds at the mall or even go store to store to compare prices!"

Oh yeah, and she’s got 9 other Squidoo lenses focused on other brands she sells. Don’t miss her Clarins Cosmetics Showcase and the cutely amusing Crazy Ramblings of an Obsessed Makeup Junkie lens.

The point? If you’re an eBay seller, do what Bela’sBoutique is doing. Make Squidoo pages (hey, it’s free) to showcase your stuff and interests and ramblings… and point people back to your eBay store. Do that x10, stay authentic, smile a little, and I’m going to bet you’ll see your traffic and sales surge in no time.

P.S. A big fat postscript for you all here: There wasn’t just one winner of the 10 Day eBay Challenge… there were two! Tomorrow I’ll feature our other winner, someone who doesn’t sell on eBay at all… but knows more about making a killer eBay lens than anyone.

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: squidoo, social+networking, make+money+online

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Superheroes make you think of capes and blue tights? Think again.

Superheroes are inspirational. They change your mind, your actions and maybe even the world.

Squidoo wants to award the best superheroes around. Make 5 lenses on your personal, everyday superheroes and be in the running to win $500 for your favorite charity.

Clicky this to read more and get started: http://www.squidoo.com/superheroes/hq

Need some inspiration to start? Here are just a few terrific entries we’ve gotten so far:

Dr. Randy Pausch
Howard Schiffer
Alice Waters
Julia Nagy — My Grandmother!
Dr. Pereyda
Sonny Sikes — My Grandpa!
Jacqueline Novogratz

A little competition. A lot of thanks.

Have some fun. Make a difference.

No tights required.

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: randy+pausch, howard+schiffer, alice+waters, julia+nagy, pereyda, sonny+sikes, jacqueline+novogratz

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"PYROGRAPHY literally means "Writing with Fire" and is the process of using a metal tipped stylus or pen that has been heated up and used to burn impressions into wood."

If a pyro is what it takes to create these amazing designs, lensmaster "Fledgling" has it down pat. The shop she runs with her husband in Eastport, Maine produces ornately designed wood furniture and accessories.

Besides the gorgeous pieces she’s featuring, what I really love about this lens is how she tells a story about her art. She first gives you an overview, then goes into detail on her artistic process, and of course shares plenty of rich photos and examples along the way.

Perhaps the most important module on the lens? The simplest. It’s called: "What our work means to us."

What does your work mean to you? Do your customers know? Have you told them lately?

http://www.squidoo.com/giftspetportraits

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: squidoo, pyrography, fledgling

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Today’s LotD marks a convergence of 3 remarkable things.

First, SusanVillasLewis just constantly impresses me. She makes masterpiece lenses, but she doesn’t stop there. She can frequently be found helping newbie lensmasters get the hang of Squidoo, and is forever gracious and upbeat in the SquidU forums. As such, people are always nominating her lenses for Lens of the Day!

Next, the lens itself. It’s all about Soles United, the nonprofit that makes it easy to recycle your old crocs. Their goal is to donate more than two million pairs of recycled Crocs shoes worldwide to those in need in 2008. As Susan says: "My baby blue Crocs has been through it all in the two years since I bought them. Traipsing through the sand on a Mexican beach, clomping around my local mall, squelching through the mud in Sudan. As a result, they’re starting to look a bit battered and tired. So I’m excited to learn about the new program the Crocs company has launched to recycle my beloved shoes into shoes that will be given to someone (for free!) in an impoverished country."

The third cool thing about today’s selection is the community support around it. The Giant Squid Organizers have also spotlighted Susan and her work for charity. Be sure to stop by the Giant Squid Showcase from time to time to read up on what some of the other Giants are up to.

So, if you’re looking for an example of a masterpiece lens and a standout lensmaster, and if you’re ready to bin your old crocs for charity, don’t miss this: http://www.squidoo.com/solesunited

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: squidoo, susan+villas+lewis, soles+united, old+crocs

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"Most college kids don’t have the budget for a first-hand, brand new car. Well, at least I don’t! But if I lived in India, I would probably be able to afford one, seeing as you can snag one from Tata Motors for only $2,500.00.

Innovation meets persistence. That’s what Ratan Tata embodies. But has he changed India forever? Will he change the world with his remarkable new invention? I hope so… because I’ll be the first in line to get one!"

http://www.squidoo.com/RatanTata

This Lens of the Day brought to you by Kangai Mwiti, Squidoo Summer Intern.

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: squidoo, ratan+tata

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To celebrate the upcoming eBay Live expo and to showcase our best eBay sellers on Squidoo, Katiyana (eBay seller and lensmaster extraordinaire in her own right) is running a contest for you.

She’s supplying all the inspiration and cheerleading. We’re just ponying up the platform and the prizes.

The contest in a nutshell: Make 1 lens a day, for the next 10 days, about your eBay stores or items or even just your favorite stuff to buy on eBay. Winner gets an iPod, lens of the Day, and featured in Seth’s talk at eBay Live.

Contest starts today.

Here’s all the scoop for getting started: http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo-ebay-challenge

P.S. Not sure what an "eBay lens" looks like? Here are some examples from buyers and sellers alike.

http://www.squidoo.com/all-sewn-up-fabric-and-craft
http://www.squidoo.com/pez
http://www.squidoo.com/handmade-build-a-bear-workshop-clothes-showcase
http://www.squidoo.com/awelldressedbullet-showcase
http://www.squidoo.com/coach_mens_shoes

Source: Squidoo.com by email.com

Tags: squidoo, ebay

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The best thing to see in a community is this: people helping other people.

Whether it’s the PTA at school or your chess club or your soccer team or the nonprofit you volunteer for on the weekends, chances are you run into people who give freely of their time and support, so that you all can enjoy the group just that much more.

Web communities are no different. On Squidoo we have Citizens and Angels and Giant Squid Organizers, we have lensmasters writing ebooks and how-to lenses to help newbies along, and we have people organizing charity efforts within the group. The best part is that there don’t need to be official roles or hierarchies; when you’re excited about a community and its potential, most people just jump in and start sharing.

Lensmaster Janusz is a shining example of the best things about our Squidoo community. He’s the self-styled go-to guy for design work within the community. He has spent countless hours making hundreds of headers and logos and designs for other lensmasters to use on their lenses. All for fre00e.

So Janusz gets today’s Lens of the Day, not just because of the lens he built, but for the generosity of the service he runs for others.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/Squidoo_Design by email

Tags: squidoo

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Today’s Lens of the Day is so well written, so comprehensive, and so useful, I might as well save you my witty introductory banter and let it speak for itself.

http://www.squidoo.com/liveinmexico

"Tired of the rat race? Ready to live in a country where it’s cheaper, safer for your kids, and a great adventure? You can have it all in Mexico, from beaches to inland Haciendas. How do I know? I lived in Mexico for 36 years and raised two children there. I sold real estate as one of my businesses. At that time there were no real estate regulations. I qualified because I was honest and could speak Spanish. So I hung up my shingle in Alamos, Sonora, and started to sell."

In this lens you can find:

# What’s The Cost of Living in Mexico?
# Where’s Your Favorite Place to Live (or Dream of Living)?
# Differences in Mexican and American Real Estate Law
# The Property Forfeiture Clause
# All About Mexican Trusts
# Mexican Wills and Probate
# Mexican Employees
# Paid Mexican Holidays
# Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
# Making a Living in Mexico
# Living Under Mexican Laws
# Mexican and American Cultural Differences
# Raising Kids in Mexico
# Links to People Living Their Dreams in Mexico

And way more.

Gracias for all the good information, Gia. Gracias.

Source: Squidoo.com by email

Tags: squidoo, mexican+real+estate

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