This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

Consider that even though you may be gainfully employed, the numbers of unemployed are staggering. Why did, and do, some people keep their jobs while others have lost their income? Does continuing education account for the difference? And, more importantly, ask yourself, “Could this happen to me? Could I lose my job?”

If you’re questioning which above category you fall into – whether you keep your job or find yourself without a job – either way, one obvious solution is to pursue furthering your education. While numerous industries have taken a hit, there remain fields such as teaching, that will always need more educators.

However, setting yourself apart from the crowd is also an even better idea. This means selecting the best of the best when it comes to getting your Master’s degree.

Of course the challenge of time is a variable most people cannot afford to overlook. However, with the internet, nothing makes it easier to earn a Master of Arts in Education degree then doing so online. Which brings us to the USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC program, where you gain the advantage of highly-interactive learning along with field-based experience.

The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC program information is easy to access (just click that link). You’ll find that their accelerated system allows you to complete your Master’s degree in just 12 months. Yes, one year from now and you’ve earned yourself a leading edge degree, and you open up another level, one where teaching positions pay more, sometimes much more.

Earning the AACTE Award for “innovative use of technology in education”, the MAT@USC program is, obviously, highly regarded. And, to make it easier for you personally to attend, they have developed assistance by way of a tuition reimbursement program.

Attaining your Master’s from a university ranked #22 in the country (and #9 in private universities based on a U.S. News and World Report), gaining access to the top USC faculty who are recognized for their contributions in education, and becoming one of the USC Trojan Family Elite are just a few of the many benefits MAT@USC provides its students.

Time and distance no longer matter, not since you can attend your classes online, and work at your own pace from the comfort of your home.

In addition, as a MAT@USC student, you have the identical full status and access to benefits just as those who attend via a campus setting receive. Yes, this includes commencement ceremonies and a lifetime free Alumni Association membership.

Enhance your job security, or switch professions, quickly and easily. Investigate what USC Rossier has to offer.

If you, like me, wear corrective lens, then you know that it is a must that you also have a pair of prescription sunglasses, too.

More and more, information about eye damage due to the non-use, under-use, or improper use of sunglasses appears in the news. And, sunglasses are not just a summer thing; the winter glare of snow and ice make it a necessity to protect your eyes at all times when outside. This advices goes for children as well as adults (I’ve seen too many parents wearing their “shades” only to see their kids left defenseless).

Just one of many Zenni Optical choices

Zenni Optical makes it easy for you to get tinted glasses. In fact, their ordering process, and their prices, make it entirely affordable to have more than one pair. While retail eye shops charge an arm and a leg for UV this, and tinting that, Zenni does not have the overhead, and therefore, does not have to “mark up” your prescription sunglasses to make a profit. They also have a wide selection of frame styles (the photo is but one choice). I like the look of these, but I’ll be honest… I do go for more “side protection” and the best part is… they have those, too

You do need, of course, a prescription that includes “your pupillary distance” prior to ordering. This is not unusual by any means. But after your examination, you can stop right there, head home, and select any number of frame styles starting as low as $8 at Zenni’s.

I looked over their ordering process and found it, too, is super easy. You choose the frame(s), enter your prescription information (do make sure you enter this information correctly), add your purchase to the shopping cart (continue shopping if you want more than one pair), and when you’re ready, just check out.

As I said above, sunglasses are no longer a fashion accessory, they are a must. A recent visit to my own eye doctor confirms that statement. One of the things she asked me (told me really) was I must always wear sunglasses ANY time I was outside.

Protect your eyes, protect your children’s eyes, and protect your wallet. Check out Zenni Optical and see what’s available that “strikes your eye”.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

It goes without saying that competition for jobs is getting tougher by the day. Those who choose to can easily earn degrees from home. With a wealth of innovative uses of technology in education, Rossier and the MAT@USC program gives you the flexibility and, best of all convenience, of furthering your education all through studying online.

USC has a 100 year history providing education for teachers. They are an “internationally renowned research institution”. When scouting training online, it is always best to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the school you choose is legitimate. USC’s School of Education sits in the 22nd position nationwide (United States), and is 9th as a private university (statistics courtesy of US News and World Report).

Our son currently takes his classes completely online. For our family, and the state in which we live (Nevada), tightening belts has become the norm. Many families across the country face similar situations. Therefore, combining “highly interactive online learning with field-based experiences in your local area” is one smart move.

If money is a worry, don’t. MAT@USC graduates receive a tuition reimbursement that has been called “groundbreaking”. It is designed specifically for graduates of MAT@USC.

Few opportunities come along where the right balance of convenience, excellence in education, and financial reimbursements blend as well as they do taking courses online through the USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC program.

Enrolling in their program, each person has the identical, complete benefits, and status as if you were on campus. These benefits include commencement ceremonies, along with your very own – and free – lifetime Alumni Association membership.

Explore your options! Discover how to advance in this highly competitive world we now live in. Your chance to “become part of the elite USC Trojan Family” is just a click away.

It’s easy to find out more. Just click program information to find out how easy a qualified degree can be to obtain from a prestigious institution.

This morning, after reading the news of the day, and of course stumbling several of the news items of import, I also started stumbling (using StumbleUpon of course) one of my favorite categories, Web Design.

Immediately, I came across two that I would like to draw your attention to:

o CSS Basics
o Nice and Free CSS Templates

The first is a lesson-by-lesson, 18 “chapters” leading you by the hand so you can create your own website stylesheet. You can also choose to download all the chapters, or even print them all out (put in a binder, sometimes it’s easier to reference points via print).

The second web site actually gives you 11 pre-made stylesheets. From a single box on a page to a full four-column layout, all your css stylesheet components are right there! Of course this would be the easy route to take, however, I urge you to also visit and study the principles behind doing anything online.

Sure there are WordPress, Blogger, Moveable Type, and other blog frame works from which you can work. There are also numerous html editors one can use to create web sites themselves. I, personally, believe that everyone needs to know the underlying reason and/or methods used that make the magic of a blog or website happen.

Ten years (plus) ago, I knew absolutely nothing about web page creation. In fact, my first “web site” consisted of nothing but banners centered down a page. At the time, I was thrilled to have accomplished even that much. But, as we all should know, that’s just not going to cut it out online. Visitors need a sense of uniformity and the means to navigate a website or blog. Knowing how to do this yourself, independent of the program you use, really understanding the coding involved in linking up, inserting images, creating the framework page, and navigation are but a few of the “I really need to learn this” strategies I would recommend you learn.

Then, you are no longer confined to a web site given to you (or one you pay for or use for free). You have learned a new, and highly valuable skill. In fact, for job seekers or those looking to add to their present skills, learning and implementing coding can be a good job skill enhancement.

Coding by hand is an art. Coding an entire website of say over 100 pages without understanding how it all comes together is insane. After visiting the above, you might also like to check out an article I wrote quite a while back titled, How to Learn HTML Without Even Trying.

Go for it! You can do this – it’s fun and you will never be at the whim and mercy of others. I’ve seen people pay exorbitant prices for web pages (websites) not worth a fraction of what they spent. When you learn a new skill, duh, you grow. Today is your day to do just that