The Monogram Theme Wedding

May 1st, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Blake Kritzberg Monograms are a huge trend in weddings, to the point where they feature strongly in some, and in others, provide the actual theme. And whats not to like about monograms? Theyre elegant, understated, versatile, and a dramatic visual reminder of your new life together. Ideas for including monograms Youll find them popping up in more and more places throughout the reception, and sometimes even prior to it. Here are some ways that brides include monograms: - embossed, stamped or printed bridal stationary - custom postage stamps (see www.funstamps.com) - stationary seals or stickers - painted aisle runners - printed bridal bouquet ribbons - bridal underwear or garter - bridal handkerchief - accent to bridal train, veil or gown - ring bearers pillow - stamped or printed out-of-town bags - bridesmaids totes - guestbook - engraved guestbook pen - tablecloths - chair covers - place cards and menus - cocktail napkins - coasters - centerpieces - engraved cake server set - cake embellishment - wood, wire, metal, chocolate or acrylic monogram cake topper - monogram wreaths of silk or real flowers - fabric wall or door banners - champagne flutes - bottled water labels - tears of joy packs - monogrammed wedding favors: cookies, ornaments, shot glasses, votive candles, chocolates, petit fours, notepads, favor boxes - dance floor gobo projections How do I get a monogram? You make it! Many brides find they can roll their own using a readily-available software program such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. If youre a graphic designer or have access to high-end tools, youd probably prefer Adobe Illustrator, but Word or PowerPoint are also fine. If youve played around but dont like the results, call on an arty friend. To design your monogram in Microsoft Word: Choose Insert -> Textbox. Type and format the letter the way you like it. Do this three times. Now click on all textboxes and choose Format->Textbox. Choose Color: No Fill (so you can overlap letters) and Line: No Line. Select all letters, right click, and choose Group to lock in the arrangement. You can now copy your image into Microsoft Paint and save in several formats, such as JPEG. To design your monogram in PowerPoint: Youll want to use Word Art to create your letters. Click on the blue tilted A on the bottom toolbar for each letter. Format them to your liking. When youre done designing, select all the letters, right-click, and choose Grouping->Group. Now you can click on your image and right-click for Save as Image. PowerPoint lets you save directly in formats like JPEG, PNG and TIFF. Some more design tips:The brides initial goes first in a monogram. When the bride takes the grooms last name, the order is: brides first initial, shared last initial (usually larger), grooms first initial. If the bride keeps her own last name, one option is four-initial monogram (brides first, brides last, grooms last, grooms first). Or just join the couples first names with an ampersand (Jenny & Mike). Some etiquette tips:Its somewhat frowned upon to use your couples monogram before youre actually married. So, your receptions clearly a green light, but you might want to skip using it on your invites. The ceremony itself is sort of a Ms. Manners gray area. Some brides uphold the spirit (if not the letter) of the law by including the monogram in a not-so-public ceremonial spot, such as a garter, or inside the dress. Of course, these being modern times, some brides just include the monogram wherever and whenever they want. Great places to get the fancy fonts brides crave, for free: www.dafont.com/en/ www.chank.com/freefonts.php www.abstractfonts.com/fonts/ instant.coffeecup.com/content/fonts/ www.1001freefonts.com DIY monogrammed aisle runner Its not hard to create your own monogrammed aisle runner, and it makes a big splash. If you have a sewing machine, you can buy and hem the fabric for next to nothing. Now you just need some fabric paint in black or your wedding colors, a pencil, an exacto knife and some cardstock. You also need to decide where you want to place the monogram. Some aisle runners feature a monogram at the bottom, where the procession begins; the top, where the couple stands; and in the middle. Print out your monogram and blow it up to your desired size on a copying machine. (If your aisle fabric is on the sheer side, you can now trace your monogram directly onto the fabric with pencil. Fill in with fabric paint, and youre done.) Otherwise, tape the enlarged monogram onto the cardstock and cut out the shape with an exacto knife. Trace inside your new template lightly with pencil. Fill in with fabric paint. Follow the same procedure to make your own monogrammed table runners or even chair covers. The dance floor monogram A dramatic and memorable way to include your monogram is to project it onto the dance floor during the reception. As fun as this is, though, its not cheap and sometimes not easy. To project a monogram, you need to buy a custom metal plate, called a gobo. Custom gobo manufacturers are easily found online. The gobo itself usually costs over $100, but once made, you then need specific lights equipped with a pattern holder to use the gobo. Its possible that your venue, or your DJ, will be able to provide these lights or help you locate a place from which to rent them. A final tip Now that you have some ideas for incorporating monograms in your wedding, remember the essence of elegance is restraint. Its easy to overdo monograms, so mix them up contrasting touches, such as soft and romantic floral arrangements, to warm up the monograms cool and classic feel. Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for continually-updated celebrity wedding news, remarkable beach wedding favors, exclusive hairstyling articles and gorgeous and unique wedding favors. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Kritzberg http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Monogram-Theme-Wedding&id=12711 house rentals with bad credit montgomery county tx how to raise credit score fast report debt to the credit beauro canadian debt consolidation loads

Do You Talk Too Much?

April 28th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Don Diebel This week I want to discuss a personality trait that can turn single women off when on a date. What is it? It’s talking too much (diarrhea of the mouth). I know you may be saying to yourself, “What’s wrong with that, I love to talk.” What I’m getting at is guys who talk on and on during the whole date and hog all of the conversation, not letting his date gets a word in. Because of your total domination of the conversation, she will eventually feel ignored and unimportant. She will think you have no concern about her feelings. Also, she may feel that all you care about is yourself (self-centered). Also, she may get so frustrated because you won’t let her talk, she will just give up on trying to talk to you and remain silent. Then when the date is over she will feel relieved. She will say to herself, “Thank God that date is over with and I never want to go out with that creep again.” So think about this. Put yourself in her shoes. How would you feel if you went out with a girl who incessantly talked throughout the whole date and never gave you a chance to say anything? Wouldn’t you feel ignored? In closing, give your date equal time to talk! Don’t hog all the conversation. Share your thoughts on an equal basis. Talk awhile and then let her talk and express herself. A 50/50 basis would be great if possible. And let me leave you with this final important tip: Be a good listener! Single women love a guy who listens with genuine interest. One of women’s biggest complaints about men is that they are poor listeners. This article written by Don Diebel (Americas #1 Singles Expert). If you would like more free dating tips on how to successfully meet, date, attract, and become intimate with women, please visit his website at: http://www.getgirls.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Diebel http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Talk-Too-Much?&id=109108 free bad credit personal loans yearly free credit report federal credit score credit fraud reporting

Give It Away Now - The More You Share, the More You Sell!

April 26th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Phil Gerbyshak Give away your knowledge, and you’ll make money. How does this work? Isn’t this counter-intuitive? Let’s think about this. If you get early adopters (Seth Godin would call them “sneezers”) on board and they like what you have to say, they’ll talk about your ideas. They’ll share it with their friends, they’ll put it on their blog, and they’ll invite others to try it out. Low risk because it’s free, except high risk because really you’re putting your reputation on the line. The more they talk about it, the more it will hit the mainstream, and eventually you’ll hit a “tipping point” where it’s the next great thing that everyone has got to have. At that point, you can charge these people money, because not only will they buy what you’re selling, they’ll tell their friends who will tell their friends, who will all buy your stuff. Another thing that you’ll find is that people that you give things away too are far more likely to be grateful for what you’ve given them, and are often flattered that you were willing to share what you know/what you sell with them for nothing, and will recommend you to their friends, again decreasing the amount of time it takes for you to reach that magical tipping point. It sounds easy enough. Now, do you have the guts to make it great and give it away now, or do you think you can’t afford to? What you really should be asking is: “Can you afford not to give it away?” Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil’s personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders’ fantastic book Love is the Killer App: “Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow.” Feel free to read more of Phil’s musings on his blog at http://makeitgreat.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Gerbyshak http://EzineArticles.com/?Give-It-Away-Now—The-More-You-Share,-the-More-You-Sell!&id=41433 ccrs credit repair will debt consolidation get rid of payday loans student loans with bad credit aaa credit repair

Is It Time to Change Your Ultra Violet Lamps?

April 24th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Vernon Stent Fly killers lamps emit ultra-violet (uv) light. Insect-o-cutor fly killer lamps emit a mix of uv light and green light. This mix has been proven to be superior at attracting flying insects. Insect-o-cutor fly killer machines are the best in the business. They are used worldwide and have an extremely successful history going back to the 60’s. One thing, though, is common to all electric fly killers (efks). The lamps’ ultra-violet light degrades over time. After about 12 months of continuous usethe uv output is negligible. This means that the lamps are no longer effectiveat attracting flying insects. They will attract them to some extent but only asmuch as any other common lamp may do. As most rooms may have several bright lights andsunlight coming through windows, the chance of the fly killer attracting theflies is not good. Some owners of fly killer machines are simply not aware of this issue. It isimportant that old uv bulbs are swapped for new ones in order to maintaineffective flying insect control and comply with health regulations. If efkowners who run food establishments do not do this, there is a danger that anEnvironmental Health Officer will pick up on this with potentially seriousconsequences. Worst still, one of your customers may get ill through one of themany diseases carried by flies and wasps - just because the uv bulbs were notchanged. Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are getting ever more sophisticatedabout this kind of thing. Since 1995 UK law has said that Adequate procedures must be in place to ensure pests are controlled(The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) regulations 1995). Fly killers that donot attract flies are not adequate in most situations and this would probably meanyou were breaking the law. EHOs are fully aware of this problem and may evenhave a uv light meter with them when they carry out their inspection. Insect-o-Cutor fly killers are the best in the business. They are fullyguaranteed for 5 years but will often last many years beyond that. They usegreen light technology which is unique to Insect-o-Cutor. An example is the T11GLamp used in the popular F1 Fly Killer machine (the “G” stands for”green”, of course! - they are also referred to as “BGX”lamps which also means “green” ….of course) As good as they are, Insect-o-cutor efks are only as good as the lamps thatare fitted in them. By using Insect-o-Cutor’s unique green light uv lamps and bychanging them before the uv output degrades you will have a fly-free,disease-free, hygienic kitchen. All Insect-o-Cutor Electric Fly Killersare fitted with green uv bulbs, such as T11G. The UVLight meter can be purchased at Arkay Hygiene Vernon. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vernon_Stent http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-It-Time-to-Change-Your-Ultra-Violet-Lamps?&id=70919 bad credit secured loans cheap debt consolidation loan international trucks for bad credit credit score watch

Will Heaven Be On Earth Forever After Christ Returns?

April 22nd, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By William Bell, Jr. Understanding Jesus Return in the First Century Christs return is not in the future but in the past. Jesus return was connected to the event known as the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Luke describes this event as the time when all things written would be fulfilled, (Luke 21:20-22). In connection with that event was the coming of the Christ in the clouds, (v. 27), the coming of the day of redemption (an eschatological event, v. 28, –compare Ephesians 4:30) and the coming of the kingdom of God, (v. 31). All of the preceding were said to take place within Jesus own generation, i.e. during the time of the people who were contemporary with him. He emphatically stated that that generation would by no means pass away till all those endtime events enumerated above took place, (Luke 21:32). See also Matthew 24:34. If we believe Christ always spoke the truth, we must accept his words. Will We Remain On Earth Forever? Secondly, the earth will abide forever. There are many passages which demonstrate this but the one which is most appropriate for our study here is Ecclesiastes 1:4. One generation passes and another comes but the earth abides forever. Generations will come and go, but the earth remains. While it is true that the earth remains forever, it is not true that we as individuals will remain on earth forever as our permanent or heavenly home. Jesus was raised up and ascended back to the throne of God and is seated at his right hand, (Acts 2:30, 34). Paul, staring death in the face had a desire to depart and be with Christ which was far better, Philippians 1:23 than to remain on earth. He also stated that to live was Christ, but to die was gain. (v.21) Thus, for the Christian there is a gain in death. Granted Paul wrote this before the end of the age had come, but we will show that Jesus purpose was for death to continue to be the means of transition from this world to the heavenly for those who are saved. Physical Death Not Eliminated Gods plan and purpose for physical death have not been eliminated. Physical death is an appointment for all men. It does not separate us from God. (Romans 8:38). We may die physically and yet live with God. He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:26). When Jesus taught the Jews, if a man keep my saying he shall never see death, he spoke of spiritual death, i.e. of eternal life through a relationship with God., not of ones biological demise or the aversion to it. Sitting in Heavenly Places Although life on earth in the kingdom of God is not heaven, it is heavenly. We, per Ephesians 1:3 are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. Further, Paul says God raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies, i.e. places, in Christ. (Ephesians 2:4). Christ is therefore a person and a place as we are in Him. It is not uncommon to speak of being in a person. A mother carries her baby inside her womb. We figuratively speak of being into a person when we admire or dig them. Thus psychologically and emotionally we are into them. Spiritually, we are in Christ. As Jesus was from above, i.e. from heaven and not from beneath, to be in him means to be in a heavenly place. Likewise, Christ is said to be in us. And To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) After Jerusalem fell, denoted under the figure of Mystery Babylon in Revelation, (14:8), the angel pronounced blessings upon those who die in the Lord from henceforth, (Revelation 14:13). That marks the time from the destruction of Mystery Babylon, (first century Jerusalem) as noted above. That is when Hades was destroyed, spiritual death was defeated and man enabled through biological death to depart this life, can be with Christ. Prior to this time, he could only wait in Hades. This is why Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were longing to enter the heavenly country/kingdom (Matthew 8:11, 12; Hebrews 11:13-16.) To summarize, though life for mankind will continue on earth, life for an individual man does not. Ones time here is relatively short (James 4:13). However, during this time on earth if one responds to the message of Christ, he can be born again in the Spirit. In that realm, he receives eternal life, a life which transcends his biological death allowing him to live with or gain Christ in death. To this end Christ died, that whether we wake (live) or sleep (die), we should live together with him, (1 Thessalonians 5:10). Copyright (c) 2006 by William Bell. All Rights Reserved William Bell is a public speaker, and author of books, tracts and audios on Covenant Eschatology. Visit http://allthingsfulfilled.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Bell,_Jr. http://EzineArticles.com/?Will-Heaven-Be-On-Earth-Forever-After-Christ-Returns?&id=189354 savannah car dealers and bad credit apt for rent in phoenix bad credit ok gov website for credit score getting a car loan with bad credit

Diet Fads Come And Go

April 20th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Tracie Johanson Cursed by dieters everywhere, and loved by children around the world, sugar is one those substances we ‘love to hate’ and ‘hate to love’! It can make bland foods tasty and can make the dentist rich. Americans love sugar in all forms, from pure white granulated to liquid to fluffy cotton candy. As a nation, it’s fair to say that we’ve developed a love affair with sugar! But at what cost? Our ever-expanding waistlines are due, in part, to our sugar infatuation. Many of us try to eat healthier, only to be pushed into consuming even more sugar! Take for example the low-fat craze of the 1980’s and ’90’s, pushed by the federal government’s proclomation that FAT IS BAD. As soon as Americans started demanding low-fat products, the food manufacturers responded by flooding the market with low-fat, high-sugar foods…..and we loved it. Honestly, how many of us have chowed down an entire box of Hot Tamales candy and justified it because they’re ‘fat-free’? Cotton candy, that staple of the county fair, is also fat-free! Hard candy, jelly beans, licorice and oh so many more foods found their way into our mouths - all justified because of their fat-free status. But at what cost? Common sense, reinforced by our expanding size, soon reminded us that it’s EXCESS CALORIES THAT MAKE US FAT, and that SUGAR HAS CALORIES! It took us only a decade or so to figure out that just because a food is fat-free, doesn’t mean that it’s good for us! Again, the food industry responded (and is still responding) by giving us loads and loads of sugar-free food. From ice cream to candy to soda, sugar-free is fast replacing fat-free as the new standard of ‘healthy’. Our scientists have created many different sugar substitutes for us to enjoy: DiabetiSweet, Splenda, Equal, Sucralose, Xylitol, Stevia, NutraSweet, aspartame, tagatose, saccharin, and many many more. Even the Pepsi Slushie, that icon from our youth, now has a sugar-free version! But at what cost? Do we really know everything we need to know about the sugar replacements on the market today? Take saccharin for example. Saccharin has been used to sweeten foods and beverages without calories or carbohydrates for over a century. Its use was considerable during the sugar shortages of the two world wars, particularly in Europe. Later, however, we find some experts debating the safety of saccharin: “In a joint letter, the scientists told the National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, that declaring saccharin safe would ‘result in greater exposure to this probable carcinogen in tens of millions of people, including children (indeed, fetuses). If saccharin is even a weak carcinogen, this unnecessary additive would pose an intolerable risk to the public.’”. (Source: www.cspinet.org) Now, citing new research, some scientists are claiming that sugar-free foods may not help us lose weight! As with many topics, the experts don’t agree on this issue. What’s important to note, however, is that some doctors believe that the sugar-free craze might be just a bad case of deja vu similar to the fat-free craze of decades past. So, when the year 2030 rolls around, will we all be looking back in disbelief wondering how in the heck we ever believed in that sugar-free nonsense? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we need to know that BALANCE IS THE KEY to everything. Balance a healthy diet (eating foods in moderation) with a regular exercise program. Let the experts debate all day long about what to eat and what not to eat…..while they’re trying to figure out the ‘magic formula’ for the perfect diet, we’ll be maintaining a healthy weight through exercise!! * Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com. * The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracie_Johanson http://EzineArticles.com/?Diet-Fads-Come-And-Go&id=72530 cheap debt consolidation loan medical credit score card consolidation credit debt debt help auto loans for poor credit score

Eating Food Just to Be Rid of It

April 19th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Kathryn Martyn, M.NLP Okay, tell me if you’ve ever done this: It’s Monday late afternoon. You decided yesterday that starting today you were going to 1) eat right, and 2) start to get regular exercise, and 3) give up all your bad habits. So, you’re picking things up around the house and starting to notice all the little bits and pieces of leftovers from the past weekend. You see the cookies here and small bits of candy there. Today in my house I noticed three individually wrapped, large shortbread cookies with icing (my favorites), several bags of candy that looks just like real rocks (in a decorative jar–it’s for show, really, it is) and the leftovers from the latest family gathering, which in this case is about five pounds of fruit salad — not bad in itself, but I can only eat so much fruit salad. And Then There’s the Wine Of course, I had to buy some wine at a tasting on Saturday (I always buy it, don’t know why I think those wine tasting’s are such a great deal — they always entice me to buy), and now there’s an open bottle waiting. So, my thoughts are, “Do I eat this, or not?” “Do I throw it away and WASTE it?” “Oh, my, dear no. That’s not a good idea,” I think. Oh, I just remembered there is also an entire plate of large cinnamon rolls (Cinnabon style) I made Friday night. They’ll be stale soon. That’s not good. It’d be such a shame to throw them all away, and I only ate one so far. And so it goes. Do I talk myself into becoming a human garbage can by eating all the remaining food from the weekend, thus going into Tuesday and possibly Wednesday with the taste of weekend indulgence still on my lips, or do I decide, really decide, I’ve had enough? It’s time to eat better, like I just said, last night. Remember last night? It seems so long ago now … What if We Just Start our Diet Tomorrow? It’s interesting how easily we talk ourselves right out of what we had decided yesterday was such a good idea. So what’s wrong with just starting tomorrow? What’s wrong is that tomorrow never comes. It’s always today, right now. You’ll never reach that elusive tomorrow. Yes, the date on the calendar changes, but you, standing where you are, right here, right now, are still here, in the present. You can’t live in the past, nor can you live in the future. You can only live in the moment. Decide Right Now: What Do you Want for Your Health So if you want to decide, then decide right now. What do you want, really want for yourself? Do you want to continue to indulge yourself at every turn, or do you want to exercise just a bit more discipline and see if you can get into better shape? It’s not about what you’ll miss out on, it’s about what you will gain. Better health, more energy, endurance. You’ll feel better, you’ll look better. It’s all about what you’ll gain, but in the immediate moment, it’s so easy to think only of right now. Yes, but right now this would taste so good, wouldn’t it, and there’s always tomorrow. I’ve found that when I make a mental shift, a real shift, not just a decision but a true change in my thinking, then I follow through, and not until then. All the times I try to talk myself into doing things that I don’t really want to do, are not successful. Probably they’re not successful because I don’t really want to do them. How do you get yourself motivated and stay that way? I start with a list. List all the reasons you want to lose some weight. Think in terms of a mini goal of five or 10 pounds. Make it a one month goal, not a lifetime goal. It’s fine to have long-term goals, but if you really want to learn to change for good, then you need to make it something you can live with. Incorporate real change into your lifestyle and you can indulge at a holiday party without it making any difference; without it throwing you off the deep end. When you go on vacation you’ll come back maybe a couple pounds heavier, but it won’t matter. You’ll have eaten what you wanted, you’ll have had a wonderful time, and not stressed yourself over whether you’re gaining weight. Make a List: Why I want to lose Weight What’s my first mini-goal? (1 week to 1 month). What’s my longer-term goal? (1 month to 1 year) How strict must I be for this to work? (Pre-planned or legalized deviations works very well for many people) Sometimes, especially if you use a plan that incorporates “legalized cheating” then you’ll end up with some leftover food. Get used to getting rid of it. Give it away, throw it away, it really doesn’t matter. You’re not doing yourself any favor by eating all the leftovers. So what if the cinnamon rolls go stale? I ate one and really enjoyed it, and that’s what’s important. Others also ate some cinnamon rolls, and even if no one had any, did I make them to eat them all, or did I make them because I was in the mood to make cinnamon rolls? Does eating them all myself make any sense at all? Sometimes I feel a little guilty making goodies and then giving them away because I think I’m not making it any easier for others to stick to their plans, but then I remember what I do in that situation, and I have to assume others are adult about how they decide to take care of themselves too. If I decide I’m going to eat in a more healthful manner, and someone brings something unexpected, it’s not difficult in most all circumstances to simply say, “No, thanks. I already ate,” or take some on a plate for later. Since I don’t go on “restrictive” diets, then I can incorporate pretty much anything into my day’s food plan. I just eat it, when I’m hungry. I find it so much easier to base my eating on whether I’m hungry, than on whether something is there. Just because unexpected people show up, doesn’t mean you use them, does it? Honestly, do you think anyone is upset when you leave a bit more for them? I don’t think so. The Case of the Missing Wedding Cake True story: When I was a teenager my mother remarried and I offered to buy the wedding cake. I had an ulterior motive. My favorite bakery, Beaverton Bakery, was where I intended to get the cake, and I knew by ordering far more than would be necessary there’d be lots and lots of leftovers for me to gorge myself silly after the festivities, or so I thought. What happened instead is a blur. I don’t know really what happened to the cake but I do know I not only didn’t get any leftovers, I never even had a piece at the wedding. I tend to get caught up in the people and don’t usually eat at parties, so I paid it no attention, and much to my dismay someone else had bundled it up before I got there to do so. Alas, I was never to taste that cake at all. Such a disappointment. It must have been a life altering event because I still remember it and it’s been more than 25 years ago! Food memories stick for a very long time. That day is my prime example of how I would not have minded one little bit if more people had said, “No thanks, I just ate,” and passed on the cake. I just wish I’d been a little more alert in setting aside a hunk for later. Kathryn Martyn,Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor,author of Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com Get the Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss. 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Hospitality - A Marketing or Sales Function?

April 16th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Dan Lobring When investing in sports, a marketer is often faced with the alternative to use exclusively media, or an integrated platform of media and sponsorship. One of the most valuable components of the sponsorship alternative is hospitality, which has long been an underutilized and misunderstood tool by marketers. The changing climate of hospitality at the marquee sports events in North America (The Masters, Super Bowl and Final Four) will soon change the lack of focus that hospitality has received by marketers. Traditionally most of the damage was done due to the confusion of hospitality as a marketing function or a sales function. Sales people grew too accustomed to sports tickets and often hosted friends or long term and stable clients for which they already shared a strong relationship. Marketers would stand at a distance and encourage high opportunity clients as guests, but would do little to help in the selection of guests or in the post event reporting of sales lift. This era is quickly coming to an end. Today, hospitality offers marketers a rare opportunity to accurately measure sales lift and in turn a marketing ROI. For sales people, the market for hospitality is maturing. Easy access to big sporting events is a thing of the past. Ticket allocation is monitored closely and access is limited. If you havent already heard about the Mike Tice incident (former coach of the Minnesota Vikings), he was heavily fined and reprimanded by the NFL for scalping his Super Bowl tickets which were provided by the league. The NFL was the first to launch an official program, unable to resist the secondary market pricing of their tickets for the Super Bowl. This level of regulation and surveillance is not limited to the NFL. The Masters, U.S. Open and now the NCAA have all followed suit by denying third party vendors the ability to profit from their product. In 2006, when the NCAA launched their own official hospitality program, dubbed The Tournament Club, they hired rEvolution to not only run the program, but to aid in their efforts to regulate third party vendors. The result is that significantly fewer tickets find their way to the public. This means more than increased prices for Joe Fan who wants to see his team in the big game. It means an increased risk in dealing with ticket brokers and third party vendors. In turn the hospitality component of a sponsorship has become that much more valuable. In this new hospitality climate if your sales organization wants to entertain at the most exclusive and premier events in the U.S., they have two reliable alternatives. One is a massive investment in an official sponsorship with the governing body of the sport (anywhere from $5 - $100 million per year) and the second is the purchase of official hospitality directly from the governing body (prices range from $3,000 - $8,000 per attendee). One option requires a Fortune 500 marketing budget and offers no solution for a B2B marketer. The second option, although not cheap, is fast becoming the reliable and cost effective alternative. So the question remains, is hospitality a sales or marketing function. If its not clear already, the answer is both. To satisfy the return on investment and accomplish your firms goals, marketing has to work in conjunction with sales to provide access to premier events. In turn, the sales organization must think and act like marketers conducting one on one brand building and in turn increasing sales. The necessary budget is large and the access has become increasingly scarce. If you are going to take the plunge, it would be wise to do your homework and start with the official governing body. If a sponsorship doesnt make sense and you cant gain access through an existing media buy, call the official vendor. And finally, make sure your marketing organization is communicating with the sales team. ABOUT rEVOLUTION - rEvolution is the only independent and fully-integrated sports marketing and media services agency in the industry. rEvolution utilizes a global array of sporting events, leagues, teams and athletes to enhance the growth of its clients consumer and business-to-business brands. Chicago-based with an international vision and reputation, rEvolution’s unique integrated capabilities model includes strategic consulting for program design, program activation and program measurement across a comprehensive list of services (including corporate hospitality, event management, media buying/selling/planning, mobile marketing, promotions, research, software solutions, and sponsorships ) and specialties (such as action/youth sports, collegiate sports, international sports, lifestyle sports, motorsports, Olympics, and professional sports). Unencumbered by a network of holding company interests to consider, rEvolution joins forces with clients in creating and implementing innovative business-building ideas. An unprecedented team of industry experts, collectively possessing more than 100 years of global sports-related, consulting and platform development experience and relationships, lead rEvolutions highly skilled team of professionals. More information about rEvolution and the unique experiences they have created and executed is available at www.revolutionworld.com. Dan Lobring is Manager, Public Relations, at rEvolution, a Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Lobring http://EzineArticles.com/?Hospitality—A-Marketing-or-Sales-Function?&id=523408 buy phentermine next day phentermine diet pills by cod cheap phentermine no prescription where can i order phentermine

Losing Weight-5 Essential Principles

April 13th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Jeffrey Edwards There are numerous diets to choose from, and the odds are that you may have already tried a few of them, but can’t seem to achieve that goal in mind. I believe there are 5 basic principles to losing weight. The first thing we should look at is eating. It’s the cause of the problem, but it’s an enjoyable thing to do and that is what gets us most into trouble. So why not enjoy a diet! So the first tip. 1. ENJOY YOUR DIET.There are so many diets around that there is bound to be one that you can enjoy. What’s the point in following a diet that is hell. Unless you are a masochist. 2. SAVOUR THE FLAVOUR.Enjoy your food. By that, I mean take notice of all the varying tastes and textures. Let it spend a little time in your mouth instead of using it as a bypass. You’ll be surprised to find tastes you like and some you don’t. 3. IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT.If your diet works then remember that with most diets, the biggest weight loss is in the first week. It’s a trickle after that. It’s the same for everyone. If it works and you enjoy it then don’t try to improve it. You may end up back where you started. 4. DO THE THOMAS EDISON.There are different diets to suit different people. Hopefully you will try several. If you follow a plan and you do not lose weight from it then do not consider yourself a failure. Just consider that you have not failed. You have just succeeded in proving that the plan you followed was not the right one for you. Then move on to the next one. 5. BE SELFISH.This is the most important point of all. You must be losing weight for yourself. Not for relatives or for the sake of friends. You must be doing it for you, and you only. After all, it is your body. To get a start on dieting, why not check out some of the tips and techniques on my website. Take a look in the ‘Diets’ and ‘Weight Loss’ categories at http://www.hammocksurvivalguide.com/ Jeffrey Edwards runs http://www.hammocksurvivalguide.com/ . Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine, newsletter or website as long as the articles content is not modified and all links are included. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Edwards http://EzineArticles.com/?Losing-Weight-5-Essential-Principles&id=406483 buy phentermine online prescription buy phentermine online without prescription buy phentermine mastercard phentermine from kenwood pharmacy

Acid Reflux and Looking Younger!

April 11th, 2008 by alfiehiguchi

By Charles Richey Many people suffer daily from the effects of acid reflux, to one degree or another. Unfortunately, the constant strain of this condition on the body can lead to premature aging. The reflux of stomach gas and fluids during the night, even on a modest level, inhibit proper sleep patterns. It is a known fact that sleep is the most important factor affecting the aging process. If you do not get enough quality sleep at the R.E.M. level, you face each day with low energy, which can be described as a form of chronic fatigue. This syndrome will eventually drag you down and make you feel and look older than you should. It may even shorten your life. Many people are not even aware that they suffer from this condition. Acid reflux or gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease) occurs when the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes and allows gas and fluids from the stomach to move upward into the esophagus. The LES is a ringed muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. It opens in order to allow food to enter the stomach, and then closes in order to keep the digestive fluids where they belong. It is when this muscle is too relaxed or damaged, that the contents of the stomach can escape up into the esophagus thereby causing acid reflux. The medical community would have us to believe that drugs are the only answer to the problem of gerd. Of course this is not true. Antacids are, at best, a temporary fix and are loaded with harmful ingredients such as sodium and aluminum. PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec should only be used for eight weeks, at most. It says so right on the label. Furthermore, these drugs only mask and hide the symptoms and they have hundreds of harmful side effects. The acid reflux condition can be the result of poor eating habits or even the aging process itself. We all know that certain foods can trigger indigestion; tomato sauce, raw garlic and onions, chocolate, coffee and alcohol. The ingestion of these foods can make you acidic in nature, resulting in acid reflux. Yet most of us cant resist one or more of these items on a daily basis. Besides eliminating trigger foods from our diets, there are many natural herbs and supplements that can be helpful in staving off this malady. Chronic indigestion can also be caused by a lack of hydrochloric acid. Some people produce insufficient amounts of stomach acid as they grow older. Besides the proper digestion of food, hydrochloric acid is necessary to keep harmful bacteria, which are found in the digestive track, in check. Without this defense, infections can develop which make the acid reflux condition even worse. This particular condition can be improved with hydrochloric acid supplements, or even ingesting small amounts of apple cider vinegar. Although these conditions are different in nature, they both cause acid reflux and can result in premature aging. Other things that should be considered in dealing with this condition are: * Smoking cessation (Smoking creates an acidic body) * Loosing weight * Eating small portions of food throughout the day * Chewing food well and eating slowly * Eating at least three hours before retiring There are many subtle changes in lifestyle which can remove the threat of the acid reflux condition. By eliminating this unnecessary and harmful strain on the body, one can live a more healthy life. Getting better quality sleep will increase your chances of retaining life-force, which means living a longer and more youthful existence. 2006 Wind Publishing For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com Charles Stewart Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means and has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies. For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Richey http://EzineArticles.com/?Acid-Reflux-and-Looking-Younger!&id=292920 phentermine online phentermine no prescription us pharmacy phentermine online mastercard order phentermine with no prescription