What You Should Know about the Effects of Stress

Do you need an excuse to take a day of pampering? How about your health? While going to a spa or even just to a salon such as those at http://g2ospasalon.com/ can be viewed as an extravagance, they can actually have health benefits for certain people. This is because a spa is often centered on placing the body in a state of relaxation, whether it is through massage, steam therapy, acupuncture, or more. In some cases, these practices can help relieve your body of stress.

What Is Stress?

Stress is a natural response of the body to changes in the environment. It is all around us, and is generally a very useful response. When working positively, stress can be motivational, keeping people alert and awake. It may be used to keep up the drive to finally finish that project on time, or to avoid dangerous situations. One person may handle stress differently from the next, and it can be experienced emotionally, physically, or mentally. But too much stress for too long can be detrimental to your health.

Negative Stress

Stress can affect your body in a number of different ways. Physically, stress tends to contribute to headaches, upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain, weight gain or loss, and insomnia. It can also worsen symptoms of pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and diabetes. Symptoms of stress can also lead to more severe conditions, such as heart disease or stroke. Mentally, besides a lack of sleep, stress can cause trouble with concentration and memory. Emotionally, stress can contribute to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Relaxation Benefits

So what can a visit to a spa do for stress? The various techniques used to help relax the body can often relieve many of the symptoms of stress, such as pain-causing tension. Massage, for example, can be used to ease tension from muscles, stimulating oxygen and blood flow, and reducing anxiety. Besides making you feel better, many spas may provide services to help you look better too. Body scrubs can be both relaxing and effective at removing dead skin cells to help promote new, healthy skin growth. You can visit a website such as http://g2ospasalon.com/ to learn more about the available services from a spa.

Holiday Event Planning...With Food

Planning a holiday party? Having an office carry-in? Just went to an event and EVERYONE brought meatballs?

Try this online Potluck tool for your next event. If the band parents are bringing in dishes for Senior Night to feed 150 students or you have a small gathering of 20 the Perfect Potluck will help you cut down on duplicates AND get the items you need.

There does need to be an administrator but you signup per event NOT to create an account.

Once you setup your event anyone with the admin password can edit the types of items needed. Then guests can visit the link and 'take' an item and post what they are bringing, they don't need to login.



You can print a schedule and email participants to remind them of the event or what they signed up to bring. It's super easy, and very accessible.

Have fun planning your next social event with Perfect Potluck.

Three Online Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

Small businesses are often at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to marketing their products. Larger companies have a large budget to spend in reaching their customers. Yet, small businesses can be very successful with their marketing strategies, and it is especially critical for small businesses to make the most out of Internet marketing.  Following are three common suggestions offered by Internet marketing companies:

• Develop a useful website.
• Take advantage of social media.
• Offer helpful information to your customers.

Develop a Useful Website
In today’s world, it is critical for every small business to have a website. Smart phones make it easy to access the Internet 24/7. If your business does not have an online presence, you will be losing business. Moreover, you need to have a website that is useful to the customers. At minimum, it should contain at least three pages with information relating to services, frequently asked questions, and contact information. The website should be simple enough for the user to navigate easily yet involved enough to make the content useful. If you don’t have the skills to write a website yourself, you can use a website template or hire a company to do it for you.

Take Advantage of Social Media

The reason why you see and hear ads urging you to “follow us on Facebook,” is because people use social media all the time. They will often find your company through sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+. Again, when you set up an account with these sites, make sure the content is useful as well as promotional.

Offer Helpful Information
An excellent way to reach out to your customers is to offer them helpful information that is linked to your business such as a blog or YouTube video.  To cite another example, a plumbing company might sponsor a YouTube channel that shows the watchers how to make small repairs. When people find useful information from your company, they are more likely to use your services.

Where to Spend the Money: Apps or Website Development?

You want your customers to be able to look for you online, and you also want them to have a good experience locating you, finding information, and buying products. But when it comes to spending your money on website development or on a mobile app, what’s best? Is there a difference between what is best now and what will be better in the future?

Current Strategy

According to Jakob Nielsen, a principal of the Nielson Norman Group (NN/g), the best solution for the present time is to go with good mobile app development if you can afford it. Nielsen reasons that apps can be adapted to “target the specific limitations and abilities of each individual device much better than a website can while running inside a browser.” Because of a mobile device’s weaker abilities compared to a desktop computer, you need an app to address these weaknesses effectively. Apps also allow you to more easily collect payments from customers compared to the public Internet.

Future Strategy

Things change, however, as computers become more powerful. If, as Nielsen predicts, computers increase in power by 100 times, this doesn’t mean that mobile devices will use this new power the same way a desktop computer will. Mobile device makers will split this newfound power between “speed and other mobile priorities, especially battery lifetime.” In other words, you’ll get fantastically light, thin devices whose batteries seem to last forever; but with downloading time having been cut significantly, as well, a good mobile website will be more desirable than the expense of a mobile app. App development will have to deal with the higher number of platforms available, and this will drive the cost of app development much higher even than it is now. Forking platforms will continue to increase the number of mobile app strategies for which you will need to account. If you have a limited budget, it will be best to steer it toward creating an excellent mobile website experience.

What’s Best for Now?

Nielsen admits that the problem, though he has been right with previous predictions, is in the timing. At what point will online site development be a better pay-off than mobile apps? It took years longer than he expected for other strategy shifts, even though the support structure was already there. For now, an app is the best experience for your mobile customers, and if you have the money, you should put it into developing an app. Watch carefully for computing power to greatly increase in the future, where mobile device creators will begin making battery life and other conveniences more of a priority even as downloading speeds increase. You can then shift your strategy again to be at crest of the new wave, pouring your budget into website development at the right time.

The Benefits of Using Home Inventory Software

Have you ever had to scramble to find information about something in your house or concerning your house? Creating an inventory of your house and its contents would make it possible for you to find the information you need quickly. Putting all of the information into a home inventory software program will take some time, but once you have all of the information entered, it will be simple to update in the future. There is no better way to have everything about your house and its contents in one place, giving you peace of mind knowing everything is accounted for, documented, and photographed.

Information to Input

Taking pictures to upload into the system is what will help the insurance company replace all of those things in the case of theft or damage. You can have the pictures all together or separated into their individual locations. In each room, you can itemize each piece of furniture or accessory with purchase receipts, size, content, and value. For rooms that have electronics, the owner’s manuals can be downloaded into the program along with the above-mentioned items. Model numbers and replacement part numbers can be added as well. Including warranties and their expiration dates with the items they apply to will help you access the information easily without having to go through files and files of paper.

Documents and Assets

Your insurance policies can be loaded onto this program for easy access. When you need a report for the insurance company, they can be printed quickly, and with all of the information in one document. Documents and receipts can easily be scanned and uploaded into the program so that you have everything in one place. When something in your home needs to be replaced, you simply go into the program and delete it and enter the information of the item you are replacing it with. This home inventory software program will help you keep a current list of your assets and their value. When you need to produce documentation of your assets, you won’t have to think about it and try to remember the information about each item; you can simply print it out and take the information with you or email it to whomever you need to.

Reasons to Buy Handcrafted Fine Jewelry

Besides simply wanting to accessorize, there are many other good reasons to buy handcrafted fine jewelry. Consider that your piece will always be unique. You’ll also have a relationship with the designer or creator. Finally, you’ll support small business, and you’ll look great while you’re at it.

Unique Accessories

It’s true that you can probably find inexpensive jewelry online or at department stores. But it is also true that there will be hundreds of others with the exact same piece that you bought, whether earrings or necklaces. There is something to be said about having something that nobody else has. In fact, it can be treasured and passed on from generation to generation. When somebody compliments your lovely necklace, brooch, or clutch, you can say that it is one of a kind. They may be disappointed that they can’t purchase the item anywhere, but they will envy that unique accessory that you have come to own. If having something valuable and unique is important to you, this is just one benefit of owning handmade jewelry.

Personalized Interactions

Another benefit to purchasing handmade jewelry is that you will more than likely meet the designer. Whether they are selling from a tent at a local fair or online, your interactions are often very personal, making exchanges with the actual designer. They may be able to modify a certain piece of jewelry for you. You don’t have to worry about having your name on an email list or your information getting sold, because these are just normal people trying to share their talents with you. Many of them also have generous return policies as well, since their main goal is customer satisfaction. You could even get deals and discounts for hosting parties or spreading the word.

Support Small Business

The final reason to consider handmade jewelry is that you are supporting small businesses. For big department stores, your purchase may not make a huge difference. But for somebody who is supporting a family or trying to make extra money for bills, your purchase could make a huge difference. Stimulating the economy is a worthy action. All of these are just a few reasons to consider buying handcrafted fine jewelry.

Easy Modifications: Picture Collage Maker Online

It used to be that you would actually have to have talent to take a decent photograph. Getting collages made was an expensive or time-consuming ordeal. Editing photos for flaws took expertise. There are lots of tools available to you now, though, that make all of these things easier. Read on for more information on how to edit your pictures, including using a picture collage maker online.

Use Filters

There are so many applications and websites now that can add a certain effect to your picture. This makes a huge difference. It adds certain tones to a photo that alter the colors in a certain way. Do an Internet search for the most popular photo applications, or just download one to your smart phone to see what filters are available. Popular filters include black and white or sepia tones. Black and white obviously adds more contrast and can make a mood more dramatic. Sepia can smooth out lines and make skin appear flawless. Other filters add effects that make your picture look like an old, discolored Polaroid. Play around with different filters to see how it affects your photographs.



Add Text and Edit

Another thing you can do easily is modify your photo with text. It is common to add an inspirational quote on top of a beautiful background picture that you took. Free applications make this easier and allow you to choose different fonts and colors. Another thing you can do on your computer is use the basic photo editor or viewer that comes with your computer’s operating system. This often enables you to remove red eye and crop pictures easily.

Collage It

Once you have cropped and edited your picture using free applications, you can make the presentation more exciting by using a picture collage maker online or on your phone. You can choose to have various amounts of photos in the collage, commonly anywhere from one to nine (or more). These are fun because you can use different photos from one occasion to make one collage instead of posting separate pictures to your social networking websites. All of these are just a few ideas to change the presentation and quality of your pictures.

Benefits to Interactive Learning Software

Technology is currently being brought into the classroom to enhance learning. Interactive learning software in particular is increasing in prevalence and popularity through several schools in the US. Students sit at computer modules and learn new and familiar concepts through playing interactive games and doing quizzes. The computer will adapt the teachings to the student’s level and print out results for teachers to evaluate the progress of students. Such software offers numerous benefits that many classrooms can take advantage of.

Individual Learning
Interactive learning programs allow each student to work at their own pace. As mentioned previously, the computer will teach and test students at their own individual levels. So a student who is struggling with a particular concept will be able to find extra instruction through the program, and a student who is advanced won’t be bored with old concepts already mastered. They won’t be bored with questions other students may have about a concept. Instead, that student can advance and increase his or her learning. This allows the teacher to understand the understanding of each individual student and adapt lesson plans to conform to the students’ needs. With this approach to learning, everyone wins.

Disguised Learning
Many students can enjoy interactive learning programs because they are learning materials designed as video games. Many programs use cartoon characters and fun animations to drive a point across to students who learn visually. The program may bring in music and songs to teach a concept, which is really beneficial to auditory learners. A student may be so immersed in a program since it resembles the video games he or she plays at home. When a student does well, they are often praised with a gold star or a cartoon character congratulating them.

Beating Limitations
Traditional classroom has its perks, yet it also has its limitations. Some concepts simply cannot be taught to their fullest extent in this setup. For instance, students learning about astronomy may not see the full scope of the night sky through a textbook. A computer on the other hand can allow a student to roam through the sky and examine each constellation and learn about it. Last, interactive learning software also gives instruction in subjects a teacher may not be familiar with.

Stylish Skirts and Sweaters for Women of All Sizes

Dressing stylishly is not just about looking at what the latest fashions are and buying all new items to fit what is in season. In fact, dressing stylishly is more about knowing what kinds of classic styles and fits will best flatter your figure. Some classic styles of skirts and sweaters for women never go out of style if you know how to get the perfect fit. Accessories can always update a well-fitting skirt or top, but they can’t hide an ill-fitting clothing item. Know what styles will work best for your shape and size.

Skirts

Skirts are great because they have more versatility than pants do. There are so many different kinds of skirts, and they can often be more flattering than pants. If you are short, look for skirts that are mid-length. Avoid calf length skirts and very short skirts. A-line skirts are often flattering, but if the angle of the A is too wide, it can make you look squat. If you have a thick waist, avoid skirts that have a lot of detail or embellishments at the waist. Hem embellishments draw the eye away from the waist. Bubble skirts that bulge at the hem are also flattering. Tulip shaped skirts are great for women with curves. This type of skirt accentuates as well as flatters curves.

Sweaters

In the fall and winter, sweaters become an absolute essential. You don’t want to spend all fall and winter totally obscured by a thick, shapeless sweater however. Luckily, there are many sweaters for women that are not lumpy, shapeless things. For a light, slim look, choose a turtleneck in a thinner material like cotton or a cotton-spandex blend. This top can be warm, but still show off all your curves. If you are pear-shaped, a cowl-neck sweater does wonders to balance your upper body. The excess folded material that makes a cowl-neck adds bulk up top to balance your wide hips. It can also be very slimming to your neck. Cardigans are another great way to add layers and warmth to an outfit. Go casual with a loose-fitting boyfriend cardigan or dress it up with a fitted cardigan with embroidery or other embellishments.

World Of Magic And Dolphin Beach Vacation

Wednesday – up at 7 am and left Ohio stopped for lunch at Speedway in Lexington, KY. (got gas)
Drove through KY and TN. Stopped at Georgia Welcome Center, got gas in Cartersville and took side trip to see The Walking Dead filming in Senoia, GA and missed Daryl by 45 mins. ☹ But grabbed pics of a season four set.

Dinner at 10 pm was at Waffle House in Griffin, GA when the Dwarf House Chick fil A didn't work out, and then 2 more hours drive to Perry for our first night stay at the Hampton Inn.

Up at 8:30 am (slept in) on Thursday, grabbed a free hot breakfast and back on the road by 10 am. We stopped at the Florida/Georgia Line at the Florida Welcome Center



for fresh OJ and lunch with the gnats. Grabbed lots of brochures and pics in the Shutterfly cutouts. Another gas stop and arrival in Orlando around 4:30 pm. Kids were at the pool within 30 minutes. We ordered pizza from Singing Sams and toured the resort where they had a playground, large chess, played some Ping-Pong (kinda), and watched moron torment this poor alligator who mocked him by coming out from under the bridge AFTER he left. Haha!

Resort was showing “Warm Bodies” in the 50-seat movie theatre



and Kayleigh, Megan & Tayler caught a movie while the adults grabbed drinks by the pool while Karie and Sam practiced jumping in the pool.




Let’s not forget I’m taking summer classes so Friday morning I got up and did “homework” on the computer on the outside patio then took the kiddos to the pool around noon – 1:30 pm. Back to the room for lunch and getting cleaned up. We took a trip to Walmart for some drinks and ice and “small kids” went back to the pool.

Chris and Sam participated in a “free throw” competition, and Karie took a few shots too.

Then to Downtown Disney for dinner and shopping.

Saturday was a full day of soggy Disney fun.

Yes! It rained the whole day, but we managed to ride several rides, visit with Ariel, eat in the Beast’s castle, ride Splash Mountain (best ride ever!) and watch fireworks, Cinderella’s Magical Moment, and the Electric Parade before getting on the monorail back to the tram to Hero parking Simba 13.









Up early on Sunday to get some souvenirs and get a Denny’s Brunch. Some more gas before Tampa and check in at our hotel near the beach. A drive across the causeway to Clearwater Beach and some fun in the sun collecting shells, tasting salt water (on accident) and finding some sea creatures after we step on their shells. Showering off before another late Father’s Day dinner at Cody’s Roadhouse (Texas’ cousin).

Monday morning started late and at Walmart for beach stuff. 1 bag of ice, 2 beach chairs, 3 towels later we are headed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for a look at Winter the dolphin and a ferry ride to Winter’s Dolphin Adventure where we saw wild dolphins and experienced a hurricane experience. We hopped on the trolley and rode over to the Sand Key beach, a clearer water experience with many more shells than at Clearwater. We spent about 3 hours at the beach before



getting some seafood at Frenchy’s South Beach and visiting another gift shop.

Tuesday we drove all day including a visit to “Woodbury”

and a quick glance at the 1996 Olympic torch and a stay in Cartersville. Wednesday in Cartersville included another free breakfast a dip in the pool for the kiddos and another day of driving home. Including a stop at McDonald’s and poor service, I mean like since when does it take 30 minutes to get a quarter-pounder? or fries. Oh yeah when the girl keeps handing them out the drive thru and not giving you your money back. a traffic backup due to a broken down BMW slowed us down in KY but 3 hours later, it was nothing that Purple Monkey Pizza couldn't satisfy.

How to Find Cheap Video Games

Most gamers like having a bountiful collection of video games in their store. After beating a game a few times or more, they prefer to move on to a new challenge. When money is a barrier, gamers usually borrow or rent video games. However, it’s a huge disadvantage when you only get to have the game for a limited amount of time. This means rushing through the levels and probably only playing the video game once at most. It’s much more preferable to own these games. A great solution to this dilemma is investing in cheap PSP games so you can own these games without breaking the bank.

Stores
You may feel inclined to steer away from major video stores so you don’t go on a spending spree. However, this may not be so big of a temptation if you see the deals you can get at certain stores. A typical video game store will have re-sell racks so you can buy used games at discounted rates. This sort of store may also have an exchange program, allowing you to give up your old unwanted games for new ones. Another option is to visit a rental store that does movies and video games. Older games are no longer available for rent after a while and are on sale at cut prices. Last, don’t forget to hit the secondhand stores. You never know what steals you’ll find on the shelves. These games are in pretty okay condition since the thrift store will check their quality before selling them.

Garage Sales and Flea Markets
Attend garage sales and flea markets to try your luck at getting new games. Go early in the morning on weekends and drive around neighborhoods to find what you’re seeking. Many kids are getting rid of their games and are willing to pass them off to someone else. This is a great option because garage sales are typically very cheap, and you can barter to lower prices. You can also visit flea markets, which are similar to garage sales. Again, go early and be prepared to negotiate on prices to purchase cheap PSP games.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

Taking Social Media Classes Online to Further Your Career

Many people view social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, as a source of wasting time. However, for those in the Internet marketing industry, it is part of the job. It is important for an Internet marketer to understand how to market using social media. For the sake of successful online marketing, it is critical to know how to utilize these tools to further the marketing efforts of a client. For that reason, an opportunity to take social media classes online should not be passed up.

Learning Social Media through Online Courses

It is not hard for anyone to be self-taught on how to use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc., for his or her own personal use. However, for a business trying to market themselves online, it is an entirely different game. Social media has become a tool to push out online content to users. It has also become a way to enhance customer service. Social media, for a business, is also a way to gauge what their customers like and do not like. However, there are definitely some best practices on how to get this done, and that is what should be learned through online courses on social media.

Using Facebook for Specials and Customer Love
Getting customers to engage through Facebook allows a business to gauge what their customers are thinking. It allows customers to give a shout out to their friends about a particular business. Facebook is also a way to get into the forefront of customers’ minds. Facebook is a popular social media place for many people. When a business is able to be part of a Facebook timeline, they can influence a customer to make a purchase.




Twitter for Instant Customer Service

Twitter has become a place for some people, particularly of the younger generation, to reach out and express their disappointment in a product or business. For this reason, a business has a critical opportunity to make a change in the way a customer perceives their business. If a person receives an immediate, apologetic response via Twitter, with offers to make things right, it can potentially forever change the perception of the customer who has had a bad experience. The best way to do this without being taken advantage of is taught through social media classes online.

How to Choose Reception Venues

A wedding ceremony is the formal part of the day’s event. It’s when the bride and groom speak their vows and solemnly promise to look after one another until death parts them. After these meaningful exchanges have been shared, the newlywed couple and the party can kick loose at the reception. While it may be easy to pick out a church or another location for the ceremony, it may be difficult to determine which are the most ideal Atlanta reception venues for the party. For suggestions on making your selection, follow these tips.

Planning
You should first establish what your needs are and base your criteria on that. Think over the guest list and come up with a total count. How small or large your party is will influence your decision on how the venue will accommodate your guests. Another thing to keep in mind is how close the reception venue will be to the ceremony’s location. Your guests will have to travel a certain distance to reach the reception, so make sure this gap is not too substantial. A consideration you can’t go without making is your budget. Remember to spend within your means and plan carefully. Last, ponder the theme and style of your wedding. The reception venue should correspond with the vision you have, no matter how understated or elaborate it may be.

Ideas for Venues
There are loads of places that would be perfect Atlanta reception venues. One tip is to throw the reception in a barn. This is an option that gives you a wide-open space for guests to dance and have a good time. A barn has a rustic, country appeal yet comes with modern lighting, sound systems, airflow, and other amenities. A backyard may also function as a reception venue. You don’t have to pay a cent to rent this space, and a backyard feels very personal and intimate. Using a dock by a lake or ocean is not only romantic but relaxing.

If you’re looking for something fancier, consider making a country club your reception venue. There are several amenities available, including onsite restaurants that can be used if you want to skip out on catering.

Services a Salon Can Provide

You are a busy woman. Between your busy job and your family, you hardly have any time for yourself. Managing a successful company is a lot of work, and you are getting phone calls from employees all of the time. Work keeps you busy, but you still find time to spend with your two beautiful girls. They are very important to you, so every night and weekend off you spend with them. You love your lifestyle, but every once in a while, it gets incredibly tiring. You can’t remember the last time you took a day for yourself. A few days ago, your husband gave you a gift card to Jeffery Michaels’ Salon so that you could have a much needed day alone. Here are some services that a salon can provide.

Haircuts

One of the most common services a salon provides is a haircut. A haircut is very important for the health of your hair. Over time, your hair can get brittle, causing the ends to split. Split ends keep your hair from growing strong and healthy. Getting a trim every few months can help you get rid of split ends and keep your hair healthy. A haircut also allows you to express your unique style. Most hair salons have books full of styles, so you can choose one that suits you.

Hair Color

If you are tired of your same old hair color, you may want to consider getting your hair colored at a salon. There are many different hair coloring techniques for you to choose from. You can get a full head color, or you can choose to get a few natural highlights. If you are feeling creative, you can choose to do a special technique, such as ombre, or a very vibrant color.

Special Hair and Makeup

Sometimes you just want your hair to look nice for an event. However, doing your hair can be a lot of work, and you don’t have time in your busy schedule to fit it in. A salon like Jeffery Michaels’ Salon can do special-event hair and makeup for you. These professionals are trained to do your hair in a quick and professional manner. You can look your best for your event without having to put hours into it!

The Benefits of Solar Power

Solar power systems in Utah are becoming more popular as people recognize the benefits and choose to invest in them. Solar power, and other renewable resources, is great for many reasons. Though it may seem expensive at first, looking at the benefits of these systems help a person see why they should join the others in the solar power movement.

Why Solar Power?

One of the biggest benefits to solar power is that there is not as much of a dependence on fossil fuels. While fossil

fuels have been used for many years, they are a limited resource, and depleting the earth of these fossil fuels can have a terrible impact over the years. This helps the environment by leaving resources where they belong and not putting bad fumes into the air by burning fossil fuels. Meanwhile, solar energy is unlimited. Pretty much every day in most places, the sun is guaranteed to rise each morning and set each night. Using this resource is not taking away from anything else and will not cause damage to others. Even if everyone in the world were to use solar power, no one would have to fight over it because there would always be enough for everyone. It is also very convenient. The energy source comes right from the backyard of the place using it. This means there is no transportation cost or other costs. The energy is sustainable and actually saves money over time because it is so convenient. The power also saves up during the day so that you can still access energy through the night or cloudy days. In fact, it has been shown to be helpful because energy usage goes up in the summer, when the sun is out the most.

Switching to Solar

Switching to solar energy is actually quite simple. The biggest charge is getting the solar panels, but once they are there they do not require much maintenance. They will offer clean energy for many years and save the user money as time goes on. There are many solar power systems in Utah to choose from, so speak to different companies about your options and find what you want.

How to Best Care for Your Furniture

Because furniture in Gulfport is so expensive, it is important to find furniture that you really like and take good care of it so that it will last for many years. The way you treat your furniture will have a huge impact on how long you will be able to use it. By doing some things – and not doing others – you will have furniture to last you a very long time.

Tips for Taking Care of Cloth Furniture

One of the biggest things that ruins cloth furniture or furniture with a cover on it is food. Do not allow food on your cloth furniture, because some spills cannot just be wiped up with a rag. They can leave permanent stains and leave your nice furniture smelling of food. Keep pets off of the furniture as well, because they tend to be dirty and will leave marks on the furniture. Some also shed and leave unwanted hair. For similar reasons, teach children to keep their feet off or to at least have clean socks on if they want to put their feet up. Make sure to vacuum often. Things may slip down into the cracks or dirt will seep into the cloth. Taking out all the cushions and covering every surface with the suction of a vacuum cleaner will keep out all those things.

Tips for Taking Care of Other Furniture
Beware of cold drinks or plates. The condensation that comes off of them can become permanent stains. Purchase some coasters and encourage people to use them at all times. This will keep those ugly rings off of nice furniture, especially wood.

Never place anything hot directly on the furniture as well. It may leave a burn or misshape the material that the furniture is made of. Hot plates will help with this. Wipe down the furniture with appropriate cleaner on a regular basis. For example, wood furniture in Gulfport should be wiped down with some sort of wood cleaner that will seal it and help it shine. When it must be moved around, pick it up and carry it rather than dragging it across the floor.

Canvas Printing Companies: Their Website Tells it All

You may have a very special event coming up where you may want a print that will last a lifetime. You have all these wonderful pictures that have created beautiful memories, but you just cannot decide what to do with them. It can be expensive and take a long time to have a canvas wrap printed, but there are companies who can provide you with a fast turnaround. The only way to find out this information is to search their website and research the companies you are interested in. You can then determine what is best for you depending on your budget, time, and the quality of the printing.

Options

When deciding what will best capture your moments, you need to consider the many options you have. Not only can you receive canvas wraps, but you can customize them to make them your own. You can choose colors, contrasts, enhancements, and more. You want to find a company who can provide you with these amenities. Only having a couple of options will make your prints look generic and similar to others who have purchased from the same company. A great tool to find out the pricing and time it takes on these specific options is to search the web. A company's website should provide you with a great description as to what something is going to cost you and how you will benefit from that service.

Easily Guided

Another thing you will want to consider is having a company who makes the process of creating and receiving a canvas wrap simple. Some business's have a web page that is hard to find information on and can be difficult to scroll through.

On the other hand, having a printing company that has step by step information to guide to the direction you want to go with your prints will benefit you in the long run. So in the end, you will be receiving a beautiful product that you created personally. You want to research a company on their website and find all these advantages. And with an easy guide system, you can customize your masterpiece to however you desire quickly.

Click Here to Learn More about Your Options with Concrete

Everyone likes to have a home that looks nice and polished to show off to those who come and visit you or who pass it as they drive by. While that may not be your main goal, it is still nice to have. One great and simple way to really make your house stand out and look amazing is the concrete work that you have done around and in front of your house. There are so many different things that can be done with concrete now to make it look unique and personalized to you, your house, and your property. It is a simple thing that makes a huge difference. Just click here on the link to find out more about what options are available and what kind of projects will fit into your budget and that match your tastes and style.

Knowing Options

There are many options to choose from, and any of them would be great, as long as it is what you want, it is friendly to your budget, and it works structurally for your particular property. You can get stained or stamped concrete to change its color and design. You can choose from a concrete overlay or a simple repair to your existing concrete, or you can even rip out the old concrete and start anew. All of these are great options; it just depends on what you want and what works best for you.



Choosing the Right Option

There are so many options to choose from, and so it is a wonderful thing when you like and trust the concrete company that is helping you accomplish your project. When this happens, you can trust that you are getting a solid, valid opinion on what option would look great and would work well for you. Another thing to think about with choosing an option is what the best option is structurally for your house and property.

Sometimes a simple concrete overlay will work great, and for others you’ll need to totally start from scratch by ripping out the old concrete and relaying the concrete. But with just the design aspect, it is nice to have workers that you trust, but also it is great when they have computer software where they can show you the different options and designs with technology before ever even touching your property. There are so many options to choose from. Just click here and get started on your concrete makeover today.

To Run a Marathon You Have to Commit

There are many marathon analogies I’ve been using here lately. In past blogs I’ve talked about topics that connect to running a marathon (running) and our part in the Savings Race. To run a marathon you need to RUSH, DRIVE, REST, TRAIN, BLOG, and now COMMIT.

When we made the decision to run this race everything was coming so fast. So many changes and reporting and hassle. Not to be a downer but really reporting and changing are tiresome. There are many good things to come from racing and the biggest part is to COMMIT. For example last Friday I really really wanted my favorite Mexican restaurant food for dinner. What I wouldn’t do for some chicken nachos. What I wouldn’t do? Get my favorite Mexican meal. We’ve come so far in this race and going out could be a real setback for this week’s budget. So…we ate hot dogs, tortilla chips with homemade guacamole, and spinach salad. It was a really good dinner, really cheap dinner and I already had all of it in the house so we ate and stayed home and watched a movie. There are a few things that are important if you are going to COMMIT.

C hoose a different way
O pen your mind
M anage your spending
M aintain your budget
I gnore impulses
T reassure progress

Last week to vote Team Kayleigh https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97T3VLN.

Visit personal blog for more tips and pics. http://fullestplate.blogspot.com/

To Run a Marathon you need to BLOG

There are only 6 weeks left in the Savings Race. Being a business major I frequently look at the opportunity costs of any activity. It’s ironic that the race is about decreasing debt and increasing savings, they both take cash flow, yet the experience also includes this educational element where not only our family is learning but we are sharing our experiences with the public. In sharing the experiences during daytime hours I have to take time off work. Well time off work means a day off work as a substitute teacher, and a day off work means no pay because you don’t exactly get benefits as a “temp”. That is where the blogging comes in. I find it beneficial when I start to see all the things I’m NOT accomplishing to in turn reflect on all we have accomplished. It’s hard to remember everything you’ve learned and it’s difficult to remember where you came from, even if it’s only been 6-7 months. With a blog you have a record reminding you what you’re doing right, what you need to do differently, why you made that change, and MOST important the journey traveled.

To Run a Marathon you need to BLOG

B egin looking for new ways of doing things
L og your experiences often
O perate within your budget
G et an accountability partner

Start your preparing for your marathon at any time, it’s never too late.

Vote Team Kayleigh

Last week to support our efforts for the March of Dimes


http://fullestplate.blogspot.com/

To run a marathon you have to TRAIN.

I don’t know why I thought I’d be able to come into a race and win-it without taking the time to train. I’ve mentioned before that in some ways this race was a challenge because we were so prepared (at least I thought).

I use coupons, never EVER pay full price, and comparison shop.
Shop clearance and often don’t shop at all even when our home and wardrobe seem to depend on it.
Cut the phone bill, use pay-as-you-go cell phones, don’t have pay TV.
We pack lunches.

Living without charge card dependency, no restaurants, no Easter dresses, let me tell you…that is something you have to train for.

My husband recently confessed that he used to go to the gas station EVERY morning to get breakfast and coffee. Now, we buy at the grocery and save a ton…consequently our grocery budget had to grow to accommodate the expense but in the long run it saved a ton in other areas. That was one way of training. Once he realized that he could live without that stop… habits changed. When asked about our position on the race and saving we agree that we need to make changes we can live with so that after the race, the habits will remain ways to live daily.

How can you train?
Treasure small accomplishments
Reassess your spending monthly
Allow for breaks
Imagine your end goals
Never give up

Please consider contributing to support the March of Dimes

Remember to Vote for Team Kayleigh

SuperHero of the 21st Century: Dialogic?

Who is the SuperHero of the 21st Century? Powers: more bandwidth, faster speed, Name: Dialogic, Nemesis: mass contraptions.

Being a math and technology teacher I’m always looking for new ways to connect what I’m teaching to real-life. In today’s world ALMOST everyone has a cell phone, and most home phones have caller ID services. Have you ever wondered how all that information passes through your line? Twenty years ago caller ID was amazing, now with smart phones and mass data communication Dialogic tools redefine what is possible in networking and network optimization products. So I set out to learn more, to be more “connected” with the students. It's funny the way to stay connected in the 21st Century is still through the telephone even if the communication looks different. The difference comes through information sharing, video conferencing, and full multimedia productions being delivered to remote offices. Dialogic tools help streamline these processes for providers.

When laying new wire gets expensive, companies look for products to amplify the capacity of data transfer within a network and connected networks. These tools are usually required by phone and Internet providers to get the most from their servers. Sometimes I feel like I need these products for my home. With each of my kids having a handheld game/music device that connects to the Internet via WiFi, with the tablet, eReader, laptop, desktop, and Smart TV streaming videos, there are upwards of 10 devices connected to the home network/Internet at a time. We are one wired, yet unplugged family. Well, this creates a scenario where nothing seems to be moving/playing/loading at all. It’s like a hamster running on a wheel. Working so hard and going nowhere! {You see that rotating circle on the screen hypnotizing you, don't you?}

Well, if it’s this bad in my home, how about at school where they are trying to implement several types of access to technology? Trying to take a network, and get the most out of it for less. I can feel a financial management lesson developing as I research new technology solutions. Now I can solve all the world’s problems, I just need… more… bandwidth…

As companies are developing more devices, more powerful devices, and another level of Candy Crush Saga being designed there are tools also developed for the providers to keep your devices going.

Now, that companies are on top of creating technology, my task…create a lesson for students. Look for the lesson coming soon. In the meantime, take time to investigate why your system shuts down when “everyone” is connected.

Disclaimer:
This post is sponsored, however all the points and views are my own.

To Run A Marathon You Have To REST.

Generally I’ve written some clever anagrams for running this marathon called Savings Race.

Today I’d like to say rest. Take time to enjoy the small things and quit worrying about the outcome. Sometimes we need to just take a break.

Vote Team Kayleigh

A Day in the Life (Part 4)

Thursday – if you followed my posts about a day in the life, and you are like me, you realize that there really are things going on in that every-day life of yours.

How many of you are familiar with the pic below?

Man do I feel like that sometimes.

If you ever feel like you’re not doing enough…I encourage you to write down a day in the life. I probably have a lot more interesting days in my life than I discuss but when you look at what a day in your life holds, good and bad, you realize your day – in your life is important.

A Day in the Life (Part 3)

Wednesday – The Savings Race crew showed up about 9 AM and filmed 2 hours. They asked us about our savings and plans, and rocky road. If you’ve been following me you know that 2 weeks ago I lost my job to someone with more seniority. ☹ Kayleigh modeled the Prom dress she got for free



and played it up for the cameras while she talked about Financial Management (state of Ohio standards) and preparing for college. THEN we took our cans to recycle ($12), requested a few local businesses to donate to our March of Dimes campaign (see I told you every day is the same), went to the dentist, went to the alterations company, went to the hotel to visit a friend that was in town from California (we are in Ohio). Then after 45 minutes visiting we went to the Health Department to get a TB test (see other blog) went to get the little one from her friends’ house (24 hours of tweens hanging out should be enough) and came home to make omelets for dinner. I am quite certain I did something after 6 PM, something other than play Candy Crush Saga but I quit logging those moments so I guess they don’t count. Yet…another day in the life.

A Day In The Life (Part 2)

Tuesday – on Tuesday I woke up and applied for jobs (looking for full-time/part-time, permanent teaching position…or tutoring). I applied for ads for my blogs (gotta earn some cash for the Savings Race) Vote Team Kayleigh! Helped my daughter write letters soliciting donations to the March of Dimes and Dance Walk held by the Springfield Arts Council. Researched how to obtain my reading endorsement (fastest and cheapest). Crap! It’s 3:00 PM (most of the day has passed) I just spent 6 hours on the computer :-/ What an awful parent I am, it’s Spring Break. So…I hopped in the shower and took my baby (the child that is now 11 years old) to a friend’s house, and headed out on the excursion of finding “straps” for my daughter’s Prom dress (this one is a junior in HS and the one doing that Savings Race) and we found after 1 ½ hours some pretty cool straps. Then we shopped for my sister’s summer wedding: flowers, dresses, a scrapbook. Finally I drug myself home to prepare for another day. Oh yeah, and somewhere I fit in 3 loads of laundry. A typical day, right?



DanceWalk

A Day in the Life (Part 1)

I see a lot of blogs and articles about ‘a day in the life,’ a day in the life of a dog, a day in the life of a trashman, a day in the life of a child, a day in the life of an orphan. I don’t wish to commit an entire blog to a day in the life of me but there is something endearing to peaking into a day of someone’s life. The Beatles song “A Day in the Life” is really thought provoking. It doesn’t really seem like the days described are really all that exciting at all but what I do notice is that the thoughts surrounding those days are the really interesting parts.

Two years ago my husband and I went to Las Vegas to renew our wedding vows. There was question as to if that’s what we should do with our time/our money…take a vacay without the kiddos for I think 5 days. One of the most memorable events from that vacation was the Beatles Love Cirque Du Soleil experience we encountered as part of our package. One of the most enthralling segments was “A Day in the Life.” Check out Cirque Du Soleil if you’re not familiar, it’s amazing.

A day in the life for us seems typical…but a day in the life in Vegas was a story, a story we share without burdens.

We ended up in Vegas because that’s where Elvis lives and since I was born the day Elvis died apparently that’s supposed to mean something to me. In Vegas we ride the bus, in Vegas we hail a cab (living in the middle of a cornfield doesn’t afford you these opportunities daily). We visited every casino and spent our free $10 for being a new member or because it was our anniversary and moved on. Experiencing a day. A day where people throw cards at you to try to get you to go where they are promoting…yeah that works. A day where we visited a resort for free dinner and a show. A day where the Pawn Stars bought my kinking gold necklace for probably less than it was worth. A day where we renewed our vows, reflected on why we got married, and enjoyed each others’ company. There are so many days in a life that when you really reflect on your day it’s amazing.

If You Ain't First You’re Last

If you ain't first, you're last. You know when you’re in a race it’s easy to look in front of you and feel like you are never going to catch up.
There were many times going back to middle school and high school track where I felt I was never going to win.
The summer before my senior year of high school a friend asked me to join the cross-country team…a different kind of race. I said, “I’ve NEVER ran that far”. He said, “it’s fun. Try it“. So…what did I have to lose? I cannot say I was good at this kind of racing. I spent the entire season just training to get to the skill level others on the team were already achieving before I arrived. {Start running a race with a plan.}I spent a season running and never being first. Watching everyone pass me by. The thing was, I just ran. (Yeah, take that two movie quotes in one post)

As I now run the Savings Race with my family, ask for friends to pitch in with votes {Vote Team Kayleigh here.}, come in 2nd, 3rd, 4th in challenges and monthly standings we found ourselves saying, “this is as bad as last. We are not getting anywhere". Discouraged that we are running on a treadmill and things keep coming up and we cannot put money where we want or we missed out on a bonus we were expecting or we needed printer ink. {do we do without it or do we continue printing those additional college scholarships?}
Then remembering the experiences of high school I remember to keep running. Keep training. Keep doing what we know is healthy and we will come on top. I never won a race that season, what I did do is improve myself. I went from running 3 mi. in 30 min to 3 mi. in 23 min. I shaved 7 min. off my time in 6 weeks, earning MIP. And at that moment in time…for me being most improved was far more valuable than coming in first. It meant I came a LONG way.
Applying this to the race I take now with my family, (1) we have support system (2) The Yake Family was adding $300 to charge cards every month meaning at the end of the year the charge card balance was $3600 more every year than the year before. We WERE using cards to pay other bills/debts. One huge thing I notice is we are NOT adding to the debt any more. We have a budget to allow us to pay everything without charge cards. So…every month we don’t add $300 to our debt it’s like paying it down even if it doesn’t reflect in our goals…but we have done so much more than just “pay down” this amount.
This realization means there is more than first and last…there is everything in between.