Occasionally I get nostalgic for my favorite theater performances. As a formally-trained theater actress the cast of each show becomes a new insta-family and together y'all bring a unique soul to each production. Such was the case for this run of Smokey Joe's Cafe where I played the role of "BJ" and sang a rendition of "Hound Dog" which was originally written and sung by Big Mama Thornton. 
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Have a listen!...

This production of Smokey Joe's was directed and choreographed by the illustrious Christopher George Patterson, and my costar in the scene is the prolific Jarvis A. Green. The venue was Plays-in-the-Park, a NJ theatre of which I am a proud alum.

Do you wonder what Big Mama Thornton's version sounded like? It's thrilling! Check it out now...

What's so great about home-based businesses?! Behind most corporate juggernauts is a home based business that was led by a soon-to-be trailblazer. These individuals had the gumption to turn their wildest ideas into income, starting in their garages, kitchens and bedrooms.

Today we're highlighting 2 millionaires and a BILLIONAIRE whose successful companies began most humbly, at home. The list of successful businesses that started in someone’s private home include many of the heavyweights like Dell, eBay, Nike, YouTube, Facebook, Yankee Candle, and Harley Davidson. If you ever need an argument for the validity and profitability of a home-based business reference this post!

Anne Marie "Ree" Drummond is an American blogger, author, food writer, photographer and television personality who lives on a working ranch outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Known as "The Pioneer Woman", she runs her multimillion-dollar cooking and lifestyle business from home. What started as a mommy blog has turned into books, shows, media, and her own product lines. In February 2010, she was listed as No. 22 on Forbes' Top 25 Web Celebrities. 

Daymond John has come a long way since turning a $40 budget into FUBU, a $6 billion fashion game-changer. Throughout his career, Daymond has continued to be an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. He is not only a pioneer in the fashion industry but a Shark on the 4-time Emmy Award winning Shark Tank, a New York Times best-selling author, branding guru, and highly sought-after motivational speaker.

In late 1993, Jeff Bezos decided to establish an online bookstore. He left his job and founded Amazon in his garage on July 5, 1994, after writing its business plan on a cross-country drive from New York City to Seattle. It has taken him more than 20 years to get to this heart-stopping moment, but the 54-year-old beat Microsoft magnate Bill Gates, by hundreds of millions, claiming the top spot: his net worth is $127 billion!

It was the industrial revolution that pulled massive numbers of workers from their homes into offices, mines, and factories. Some women took up work outside the home. Other women continued running home based businesses doing things like sewing, selling baked goods, or providing laundry services.
In the 18th century, some of the home based businesses in existence were silk weaves, textiles, and butchers. In the 19th century, there were home makers, dressmakers, shoe makers, and launderers running their home-based businesses. In the 20th century, bakers, graphic designers, landscapers, and cleaning/laundry businesses were some of the business owners to run their enterprises from home. ​

The difference between a hobby and a business is in its purpose. While hobbies serve recreational purposes, businesses are intended to make a profit. The IRS allows you to deduct business expenses from your income. If you keep records of income and expenses, intend to make money, and consistently make moves to ensure that your activities are profitable, what you have on your hands is probably a business. On the other hand if you don’t mind losing money now and in the future, then it is most definitely a hobby. ​