Not exactly relevant to the topic, but I find the term mixing too broad to grasp what I am actually doing. I like how the Groove 3 Explained video lists them.
Recording
Editing
Arranging
Mixing
It keeps me focused on what I am supposed to be doing and get it done, and not just flitting from one activity to another. 
 
My workflow is I get a rhythm guitar track and put a drum loop to it. Then I record new guitar track with drums(John plays better to drum than to click). I then add bass, We record vocals, a quick lead, another rhythm guitar track(usually different guitar), and finally  dial in the lead guitar.
 
This week I have been messing around with  guitar and vocal tracks. The one idea that really sounded good was to convert to stereo, hard pan each one, and then clone mono track and leave that one in the middle. It was the same with the rhythm guitars. It really adds width, but without the extra cloned track in the middle, the focus seemed to wander. Now I may not leave it that way, but in experimenting with re-enforcing the vocal and spreading out the guitar, it seemed to work. I hope the resident experts will let me know if I will run into problems down the road with this technique.
 
Like I said, I'ma noob too, so I'm just throwing out ideas.

Everyone, 
 
Thanks for all the great information. Here is a post of the most current project I am working on and this will give you an idea of what level I'm at. It's not letting me post a link to soundcloud. I think I have to post more. 

Link seems to be missing...?

Craig "Sir George Martin" Anderton is correct as usual, although I would like to add my two cents on the vocals.  A vocal does not have to be technically great to work.  Bob Dylan and Tiny Tim are two of many examples.  I would say though that they got by because they sounded like they *meant* to sing that way.  If people had thought they were trying to sing "well" but were failing, they would never have sold a record. Go to a karaoke bar and listen to an off-key singer trying to pull off a Whitney Houston song.  On the other hand, Willie Nelson's weird nasal voice is loved by millions (although not by me).
 
As a songwriter, I am always going to say that the song is more important than anything else, but what Craig says about the vocal is pretty much what most industry pros say. (In my defense, I don't think Bob Dylan would have made it putting his voice to Besame Mucho.)

The user is too new with too low a post count to add links to posts. When the user account ages to the point of gaining the ability to create links, they should post links to songs in a new thread here http://forum.cakewalk.com/Songs-f89.aspx
 
I would also recommend posting further questions regarding techniques in this area http://forum.cakewalk.com/Techniques-f90.aspx. It may be worthwhile to browse this area, there are many threads already discussing these questions there.

Yeah, I have to post more to be able to share links. I will have to continue this when I get the post count up. Thanks again guys. I love that I have this resource.

jonesresidence, Can you PM me a link to your music?

Ideas for post count increase.
Comment on everything, ask a ton of questions(the answers come fast here), crack a few jokes once in a while to keep it light.
Try not to argue with the experts.. I can get a "tad" stubborn at times with them, but I'm learning.
 
I have also tried to be helpful to newer folks than me. Sometimes I am closer to the language, being one myself.

A lot of what your final result will be is what you want it to be as the artist / producer. Forget about the loudness wars it's more about achieving a well balanced quality recording that sounds like a professional recording.  Unless you are doing electronic or trance music that is destine for the dance club and played at extreme volumes then go for what sounds good to you and your potential audience.  There is nothing like a well balanced well mixed track.  I record a wide variety of musical styles from blues to rock to jazz and classic rock and what I go for is a live feel to my recordings.  I want the songs to sound as if my listeners are in a great listening room or small venue and the band is playing right in front of them.  I want them to hear and feel a natural balance and depth but without the over production.  I use limiting and compression wisely and various effects effectively and never drench the tracks with too much of any one thing.  Let the tracks breathe and be part of the big picture.
 
Blackie