Archive for February, 2008

10 Insider Tips to Direct Response

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By Jay Siff With the proliferation of media choices available today, marketing to consumers has become more sophisticatedand seemingly more challenging and expensivethan ever before. Especially when some of your direct competitors are on local or even network TV, it can seem like your humble promotional efforts are meager at best. Dont believe it for a second. There isnt any reason why a retailer with a less-than-TV-sized ad budget cant be amazingly effective in promoting his or her store. In fact, some forms of marketing communications deliver a far higher ROI, on average, than a TV ad campaign. At the very top of the list of under-appreciated media is direct response marketing. As the name implies, this marketing tool is geared for one objectiveresponse. When you need customers in the door, cash registers to ring, and average sale totals to rise, its hard to beat a well-conceived direct mail program. Direct response has the ability to help independents go toe-to-toe with better-funded competitors. All it takes is commitment, a dose of promotional imaginationand an insiders knowledge of what makes a direct mail effort work. With that in mind, here are ten tips the pros use to create a winning direct mail campaign: 1. Focus, focus, focus. One of the most common mistakes gift merchants make is putting too many ideas into one mailer. Focus your piece on a single offer or idea, and drive the point home with crisp, active copy. Better to sell one idea with dozens of powerful words, than a dozen ideas all at once. A related concept is to focus on YOUR advantages, not on advantages anyone in your business can claim. Talk about your extensive selection of Hummels, or your close relationship with Christian Steinbach that makes you one of the best Steinbach nutcracker retailers in the area. Let your recipients know you have a frequent buyers clubor that you offer monthly signing events. Specifics set you apart and make you more appealing than your competitors. 2. Pile on benefits, not features. Obviously you want your mailings to have substance. After all, no one wants to spend money on copy thats all fluff. But in your drive to deliver facts, dont forget to sell. That means communicate benefits. A feature of your shop may be your membership in the Herend Guild. The benefits, on the other hand, include better selection of Herend productsgreater availability of limited designsor inside knowledge of how to start or grow a Herend collection for maximum value. Transform your advantages using words that energize and entice, and youll enjoy greater response. 3. Create social proof using testimonials. People never believe testimonials, right? Wrong! Actual experiences from satisfied customers are among the most influential appeals you can make. Psychologists call it social proofpeople want to know that others have successfully gone before them. Ask your most loyal customers to stay and talk for a few minutes. Offer them a discount if theyll tell you what they like about your store. Solicit responses from people who have taken part in your special events. These positive experiences can turn mail prospects into customers. (Be sure to get permission before using any attributed quotes.) 4. Think visually. According to a study of 2,000 consumers, print ads that consisted of 50% visuals (photos, illustrations, graphics) were seen and recalled 30% more often than ads with no visuals. This principle holds true in the direct mail world as well. Pictures do indeed speak louder than words alone. Today its easier than ever to include great photography in mailers, thanks to new photo capture, editing and printing technologies. However, nothing takes the place of well composed, properly lit pictures. If you havent got the knack for it, find someone who doeseven if you have to pay. These days there are also many sources of high-quality photos on the Internet. Unless you are willing to pay royalties, however, make sure the shots you use are in the public domain or you may be open for a lawsuit. 5. Dont neglect color. While a simple word-processed letter printed in black-and-white on a piece of stationary can be very effective, full color mailers (better known in the industry as four-color because of the four inks used) do even better. Research shows that four-color pieces get up to 45% greater readership than black-and-white pieces. If youre already contemplating four-color, try a bleed, where the ink runs to the very edge of all four sides of the paper. Four-color bleeds get 15% higher readership on average than non-bleed four color. To get the most from your use of color, find and use the very best color printer and processing software you can. Or have your pieces printed by a commercial printer if you can afford it. 6. Use coupons! Your customers can make you rich if you give them enough reasons to spend money with you. Its not enough to say Come again! as they head out the door. You must get into their minds with offers that justify another visit. With this in mind, nothing beats a coupon in mailing pieces for generating a response. Coupons featuring even the smallest discounts are strong motivators because they shout, Take action! Be sure you put your discounts in a coupon format, rather than simply stating the savings in plain text. For an even better response, offer a free gift instead of a discount. And always lead with the gift firstsay Free scented candle with the purchase of two at regular price, not Buy two scented candles at regular price and get the third candle free. 7. Partner for profits. To increase the value and appeal of your offers, find another business that offers complementary services, then cross-promote the services of both merchants through your mailings. If youre located near a florist, for example, why not join forces? Mail a coupon good for 25% off a music box with the purchase of any qualifying Valentines Day bouquet. Art galleries, craft stores, even Christmas tree retailers make good promotional partners. When structuring the deal, make sure your partner gives out coupons for your establishment as well. Why? Because it taps into the confidence of the relationship that business has established with its loyal customers. Make your partners customer base work for YOU! 8. Promote even when business is good. Huh? Sounds a bit crazy, doesnt it. You have all the business you can handleso why risk turning away customers you cant accommodate? Waiting for a slow period to promote your store is like waiting until a storm hits to build a roof on your house. You need to constantly develop your customer base so that slow periods diminish and busy times become more profitable. Consistent year-round promotion through direct response is the key. Find ways of increasing average sales during busy times of the year, or leverage your traffic by providing add-on birthday or anniversary offers. That way youll have the goodwill and strong customer base to sustain you when things slow down. 9. Turn loyal customers into mailing lists. This tip dovetails with Number Eight. Its especially important during busy periods to gather names and addresses from your customers. No purchased mail list is as valuable as the one under your nose. To make it easier for customers to leave their name and address, offer them an incentive, like a chocolate or gourmet cookie. Have a weekly drawing and give away something freeor reward them with a certificate good for a two-for-one deal on their next visit. 10. Test and track. This is perhaps the most important rule of all. The reason direct response campaigns have such a high return on investment is because they are so measurable and can therefore be constantly be refined and improved. Yet amazingly, many direct marketers dont take the time to adequately test and track their efforts. To test a mailer, send it to a subset of your mailing listperhaps 500 namesbefore sending it to your full list. You can do a split run, e.g., 250 names get one offer and 250 more get another, to test the validity of an idea. Test only major ideas ($45.00 versus $50.00 for a Bernardaud Votive is hardly a test) and never test more than one variable at a time. When customers redeem coupons, track the gift line and total receipt amount. Its easy to quickly mark down the information by the cash register. If an offer is scoring great results, keep at it! Theres no reason to discontinue a program until it is no longer working. Finally, remember that 40% of a mailers effectiveness comes from the offer, 40% from the list you use, and only 20% from the design and copy. Make sure youre sending the right deal to the right people, and youre 80% of the way to a successful direct response campaign. JAY SIFF is CEO of Moving Targets (http://www.movingtargets.com), a Perkasie, Pennsylvania-based provider of new resident direct marketing programs. The companys strategic business partner, Loyal Rewards (http://www.loyalrewards.com), helps retailers expand their customer base and encourage repeat visits through its unique, email-based business marketing system. Moving Targets and Loyal Rewards have served over 20,000 merchants nationwide. Jay can be reached at 800-926-2451 or jay@movingtargets.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Siff http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Insider-Tips-to-Direct-Response&id=437715 ambien sleepwalking ambien pak lorazepam no prescription free consultation cheapest ambien generic

Break Out of the Passive Reading Habit and Get Active!

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By Kelly Garbato This might sound silly, but there is a right and a wrong way of reading. This is especially true for students, who are expected to summarize, analyze, and critique the readings assigned to them by their professors. The task can be particularly daunting to students who are working on a term paper, since they need to read a number of materials and then integrate them into the ongoing discourse that is their research paper. So what forms of reading are right, and which are wrong? While reading a book or article, you want to read actively as opposed to passively. When you read passively, you are just receiving information; as you read, you aren’t digesting the information and forming an opinion. Of course, this is not very conducive to critical thinking, a practice for which you should always endeavor. In contrast, active reading is a more interactive process. Active readers are participants in the reading process. As they pour over the text, they interact with it; they question it, challenge it, gather evidence and present counterevidence, converse with it even. Active reading helps you comprehend and recall what you have read, and ultimately makes for a better paper. This explanation probably sounds pretty vague. Nonetheless, active reading isn’t just an abstract theoretical concept - there are concrete steps you can take towards becoming a more active reader! Firstly, don’t approach a text with the assumption that you have to read it straight through, from beginning to end. Before you even start, scan through the title, the abstract, the table of contents and the index. This provides a framework for the rest of the readings. As you move on to the text itself, do not be afraid to skip from chapter to chapter or section to section. If you are reading a book, look at the index to see when your topic is mentioned. For research reports, try reading the conclusion before the results; this will give you a general idea of the author’s findings and will help you understand the specifics as presented in the results section. If a statement or subject has you confused, don’t be afraid to backtrack and reread a paragraph or even an entire chapter, if need be. After all, if you don’t understand a topic, it will be awfully hard to write coherently about it! Active reading also involves forming an opinion of what you are reading. As you take in the text, pay attention to your emotional reactions to it. Does it make you angry? Upset? Incredulous? Why? Does the author make any claims that you find dubious? What have you read to date that supports or contradicts the author’s arguments? Does the author offer credible evidence for his statements, or is he just presenting his opinions or making speculations? Mark down these questions and your impressions as you go. Another means of breaking the passive reading habit is to make use of those margins. This is easy if you are reading a photocopy or printout of an article. On the other hand, if you’re reading a text, photocopy any sections you plan on using in your paper so that you can mark them up without defacing the library’s property! It will save you a ton of time, so it’s well worth the extra expense. You can also save documents on your computer as Word files (rather than printing out hard copies) and mark them up using Word’s highlighting function. This conserves both money and paper! Marking in the margins gives you pause to consider what you’ve read. It also draws your attention to important passages and makes note of them for future use. You can jot down anything that comes to mind. Underline or highlight important facts, statements, or findings in the text. Use arrows to connect relevant sections to one another and denote relationships. Write down any questions you might have. Is there something you dont understand? A new avenue you might want to pursue? A topic that you need to research further? Make note of it! Single out any inconsistencies in the text along with points of discussion or debate. Gather evidence that supports or defies your viewpoint. Don’t shy away from statements you don’t understand or can’t explain - these are what you should pay closest attention to. Consider not just the text in front of you, but the context in which it was written. Examine the time period in which the source was written. Your analysis should also include the perspective the author’s writing from - is she a psychologist or a biologist? How about a feminist, or perhaps a Marxist? How might the context influence the author’s conclusions? Keep these questions in mind as you read, and make note of any impressions you have while reading. After you have finished a chapter or article, write up a brief summary. Not only will this aid in your understanding of what you’ve just read, but it will provide a helpful guide for later, when you’re writing your paper and need to sort through hundreds of pages of material. Besides, if you can’t easily write a paragraph or two, this is a clue that you need to go back and reread the source. Don’t wait until you’re assigned a paper to try out these suggestions. The next time you need to do any reading for class, practice some active reading strategies. You’ll increase your comprehension of the material and your grades! Copyright Kelly Garbato, 2005 Kelly Garbato is an author, ePublisher, and small business owner. She recently self-published her first book, 13 Lucky Steps to Writing a Research Paper, now available at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com) or through Peedee Publishing (http://www.peedeepublishing.com). To learn more about the author, visit her web site at http://www.kellygarbato.com. 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Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

By Alvah Parker Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves 1.Do I have the persistence and patience necessary to be a business owner?It would be nice if once you wrote your business plan all you needed to do would be to execute flawlessly and everything would fall into place. Maybe it happens to a few businesses but usually in some part of the plan you get different results than you expected. It takes patience to wait for the result in the first place. It takes persistence to keep updating your plan and then trying something else until you find how to make it work. 2.Does this business idea really energize me? Am I really excited about it?If your vision of this business is really compelling it will give you the energy to move forward on your idea. The energy allows you to persist even when things are not going as planned and it helps you to generate enthusiasm in others. 3.Can I generate enthusiasm about my idea from others? New business owners have to spend most of their time marketing initially. If the business owner him/herself can get others excited about his/her business idea, then that is the first step in generating interest from a customer/client or a strategic partner. The owner must be able to articulate the idea in a way that is convincing to the customer or client. 4.Am I convinced that I am exactly the right person to own this business? Can I articulate why? Self-confidence is important in the success of the business. You must believe in yourself before others will believe in you. 5.Do I have the commitment necessary to put aside other interests to focus my energy on this business?There will be lots of distractions while you start your business. Are you willing to commit to whatever it takes to get the business up and running successfully? 6.Am I able to quickly recover from setbacks and not take things personally?Can you still keep working and feeling confident even on a day that a big client or big prospect decides against using your service or buying your product? 7.Who will support me in this endeavor?It helps to have people in your life that appreciate you and really want you to succeed. Family support is critical because youll need to spend large amounts of time working and your family needs to understand this. Mentors, colleagues and coaches also are important for advice and encouragement. 8.Do I have enough financial reserves to carry me until I am profitable?Your business needs enough capital to get going until it is profitable. You also need money in reserve for your personal expenses if things get tight. Worrying about money will sap your energy. 9.What weaknesses do I have that may get in my way as I start this business? What will I do about them?Identifying your weaknesses and strengths is an important task. Use your strengths in running your business and find ways to off load the tasks you are not good at. Shore up those weaknesses as best you can in the beginning when finances are tight. Being aware of them is the first step. 10.What is my intuition telling me about this venture?Be in tune with your intuition. Business people get caught up in the analytical part of the business. The numbers are very important in running your business but dont ignore what your gut tells you. Leave some time in your day to spend time thinking about your vision. (Daydreaming!) About Alvah Parker Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parkers Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Her clients are attorneys, business owners, sole practioners, and people in transition. She is also a Practice Advisor for attorneys. She coaches lawyers to create thriving businesses. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvah_Parker http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Questions-For-Entrepreneurs-To-Ask-Themselves&id=49729 ambien detox buy ambien with no prescription i take ambien every night how safe is ativan

Understanding Houseplants

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

By Lisa Hallman Since I’ve been a rather horrible plant mommy, I’ve done some research into finding out what some common things mean. Like when leaves turn yellow, or drop off. From my digging I have learned how to be a moderately good plant doctor. Plants lose leaves or turn yellowThis means that your plants are likely suffering from low humidity. Meaning the air itself is too dry. Grouping plants together helps keep the plants feeding off eachother moisture. Otherwise if you can get a humidifier to up the humidity in your home, you and your plants should benefit. Also if you happen to have any open containers of water around will help. Most plants need between 50 and 70 percent humidity to thrive. Plants have cyclesPlants usually have active cycles and dormant cycles. When they are dormant, they pretty much need less of everything, this is good for you. But it is at these times you could potentially over-water your plants. While they are dormant, they use less and therefore can drown. Their active cycles are in the late spring through to the early fall, and their dormant phase is in the late fall to early spring. However with other plants, their dormant phase can be the opposite of others. This is why you should get to know your plant. Over-watering is the biggest killerMost plants actually die of being over watered. I suppose this is mostly because of our lack of understanding of the plant we usually have. When your plants are dormant, check 1 inch below the surface and if it’s dry only give a minimum amount of water, if it’s in it’s active phase then thoroughly water. It is always more important to keep your plant on the slightly dry side then being over-watered. Lackluster looking foliageOften times the plant we want may just not be suited to living in your home. Insufficient light can make your plant look unhealthy, and unhappy. If you have your plant in a window that get’s lots of direct sunlight but, your plant looks unhealthy, move it to a more moderate lighted part of your room and see how that works. If at all possible, take a look at your plant label and read it, if there are no instructions, do a search for it’s name. If you can’t get any info look for houseplant images on the web, and see if anything looks like yours. Plants are dustyYour plant needs to get it’s nutrients from the sun, this is because in order to grow and be a big plant it needs it’s food, and the sun is part of it’s food. It is possible that your plants can get too dusty, and just like any other thing in your house, it’s needs to be dusted. To clean large leaved plants it’s simple — dampen a good quality paper towel, or rag and gently wipe down the leaves. For finer leaved plants, take a little more precaution and be as gentle as possible while wiping. These are the biggest reasons most of my plants were unhealthy, apparently nothing to do with disease, just neglect. Below are a bunch of common reasons for certain symptoms your plant my be experiencing. Entire Plant Droops - You plant has most likely rotted, and suffered from over-watering. Plant has Sticky Spot - Aphids usually cause this. Fuzzy Grey Mould Covering Plant - Neglect of plant being left with too much dead matter on it, be if flowers or leaves. Fuzzy or Cotton Like Mounds - This is something caused by mealy bugs. Flower Buds Drop before Blooming - Temperature has fluctuated, it’s experiencing a draft or is having a lack of humidity. Edges of Leaves Brown or Dried - Your plant is too hot, or too dry and needs humidity. Tiny White Spots on Leaves - Spider mites, this is what happened to my ivy plant, I bought the plant and bugs directly from the store. So check your plants before purchasing. Lisa Hallman, owner of Thrifty Canadianand publisher of many articles on Savings advice for Canadians. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Hallman http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-Houseplants&id=155735 buy ambien cheap onlinine keyword ambien cod zolpidem keyword ambien zolpidem baikalguidehtml

Wipe Out Your Credit Problem With Bad Credit Secured Loan

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maria_Smith]Maria Smith Do you have a bad credit score? Is it a big roadblock in the way of availing any loan? Do you know your property can rescue you from this problem? How? Only with bad credit secured loan. Yes, if you have any property, you can use it to wipe out your bad credit problem. A bad credit secured loan is a customized facility for bad credit scorers, by which a borrower can repair his credit score. Usually, credit score is the financial estimation of borrowers credit value. It is ranged from 300-850. This range acts as a yardstick that determines whether borrowers credit score is good or bad. When a credit score is measured 580 or below, it is considered as bad credit score. Many reasons can be responsible for this bad credit score, like CCJs, IVAs, bankruptcy, default, arrears etc. As the name refers, bad credit secured loan is available against a security. But do remember that choosing a security is not so easy. Since, based on the worth of security, the lending amount is decided, thus, borrowers are advised to use a high valuable object. In such cases, one can opt for real estates, automobiles etc. A bad credit secured loan enables a borrower to consolidate his loans into a single manageable loan that would be more convenient for him to pay off. But, borrowers cannot avoid the fees and fines that they have to pay due to their overdue debts. However, by repaying some of the unpaid debts, borrowers can stop them from reporting negatively against their credit history in future. With a bad credit secured loan, there is a possibility of credit repairing. This loan is used to combine debts and prevent them from making negative mark on credit reports. And preventing the old debts from damaging borrowers credit, new loan starts making positive credit report as long as borrowers make their payment on time and keeping it up to date. But where to find a bad credit secured loan? This question may rise in borrowers mind. Nowadays, many traditional lenders, like banks, financial institutions, lending companies are offering a bad credit secured loan. In order to avail this loan, meet those lenders personally, collect various loan quotes of various lenders. After that, compare those quotes, it will assist you in getting a better deal. This loan is also available online. If you do not have enough time, sit in front of computer and collect various loan quotes within a minimum time. So, what else are you looking for? Apply for a bad credit secured loan and start repairing your bad credit score. Maria Smith has not been writing articles from the beginning. But theincrease in perplexing loans information has urged her to write on differentloans types. So she writes in a way that is logical, comprehensive and understandably meant to cater to the need of general public who is leftbreathless while searching for loans. To find a [http://www.loansfiesta.co.uk/secured_loans.html]bad credit secured loan, Low cost secured loan, Secured homeowner loan in uk, Secured home improvement loans at low interest that best suits your needs visit [http://www.loansfiesta.co.uk]www.loansfiesta.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Wipe-Out-Your-Credit-Problem-With-Bad-Credit-Secured-Loan&id=352018 ambien and product liability at waht age can ambien be prescribed united states ambien fedex sanofisynthelabo zolpidem free trial

How This One Time Food Junkie Discovered The 2 Keys Too Losing Weight?

Monday, February 25th, 2008

By Mike Makler I am not a fitness Guru. What I know about nutrition you can fit on the head of a pin and still have plenty of room left over for the declaration of independence. I do however know How I lost over 70 lbs in just 12 months. I can still fondly remember when my 3 Basic Food Groups consisted of Cheeseburgers, Fries and a Diet coke. Everyday at lunch I would get a Double Cheeseburger Plain (Meat Cheese and Bun Only) Fries and a Diet Coke (as if somehow the Diet Coke made a difference). Then Unfortunately I was diagnosed with Diabetes. My whole thought process on Eating, dieting and exercise changed. I found myself eating foods I never thought I would ever eat. Yogurt, Lettuce, Whole Grain Cereal and fruit have now become regular parts of my diet. Hamburgers and Fries are now a treat that I enjoy once a month or. My ice cream treats are now small portions of the sugar free or low Carb variety. I no longer live to eat, instead I eat to live. I no longer stuff myself until I am so full that I need a tow truck to haul me from the table. I merely eat until I am not hungry. Most of my meals out are now accompanied with a Doggie Bag so I can have 2 Meals. Not because I can’t finish it all but because I choose not too. My snacks frequently consist of an Apple or Pear instead of a box of cookies. Rice Cakes really do taste great. Peach Yogurt and a small slice of cheese also makes a wonderful snack. I no longer look at mowing the lawn as a chore but as an opportunity to get more exercise. My nightly 2 Mile walks are no longer a burden but instead help calm and relax me after a busy day so I can sleep easier. My 2 Keys to Loosing Weight, Eat Smart and Move More. About the Author Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri Call Mike at 314 398-5547 Visit Mike’s Web Page: http://ewguru.com/finance For Missouri Specific Insurance and Loan Questions: http://ewguru.com/Mo-Finance Get Mike’s Newsletter Here http://ewguru.com/fin-news Copyright 2005-2006 Mike Makler Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Makler http://EzineArticles.com/?How-This-One-Time-Food-Junkie-Discovered-The-2-Keys-Too-Losing-Weight?&id=75763 pills zolpidem toll ambien zolpidem insomnia sleep side effects hallucinations information on ambien ambien bovine

Introduction to the Online Nursing CEU

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

By Amanda Jones For those in need of completing nursing CEU credits, online options may be a new area. This introduction to the online nursing CEU will help you get started in your research of online CEU options. State Requirements An introduction to the online nursing CEU would not be complete without a mention of state requirements. Before you choose a CEU program, first determine if your state requires specific CEU credits. Many states do require these as new health care issues arise. Before you spend time and money on other CEU programs, first determine if you need a specific program, and then you can research to see if the required CEUs are available through an online program. Variety of Options No introduction to the online nursing CEU would be complete without a mention of the many options from which to choose! If you have met your state’s requirements and are looking for CEU options to further your career or to learn more about a particular area of health care, look no further than online! Regardless of your interests and career goals, you can find a CEU program. Again, ensure that your state licensing body will accept the credits before enrolling. Costs As soon as you begin researching online nursing CEU options, you will see that many CEU programs are free. Others are quite expensive. Some of the differences are the number of CEU credits offered by the program. Free CEU courses can be quite good, but as with all CEU credits, some research into the provider and your state’s acceptance of the credits is necessary. This holds true for expensive programs as well! A pricey course does not guarantee its quality nor that it will be accepted by your state. Where to Look As a professional nurse, you’re likely involved with one or more professional organizations. Contacts through these organizations can be a great way to learn about online CEU options and to talk with others who have completed the courses. Ask others for their opinions about any courses you are considering. To learn more about attending an online nursing CEU, Amanda Jones recommends Nursing Degree Guide. Please see http://www.nursingdegreeguide.org/articles/online_nursing/how_to_earn_your_degree_from_an_online_nursing_ceu.php for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Jones http://EzineArticles.com/?Introduction-to-the-Online-Nursing-CEU&id=231514 generic lorazepam photos dnipnet online online ambien zolpidem overdose ativan online pharmacy2c ambien

Keeping the Flame of Love Burning

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

By Syed Quadri Love relationships and fireplaces are very similar. Both can bring warmth and a feeling of comfort into our homes and make it a cozy haven to help us escape from the harsh realities of life. However, it takes hard work to make this happen. To keep the flame of love burning in your relationship, you shall have to add the wood to keep this fire burning at the same rate at which it gets consumed. The beginning of any romantic relationship is full of spark. The spark becomes brighter and mightier when you add fuel such as chocolates, flowers, love notes, love bites, candle light dinners and just being together. Soon routine sets in and you and I, let other things to consume us. Our work, kids, housework seem to take all our time, and we are left with no time for keeping the flame of love burning brightly. No longer are candle light dinners, long walks, hugs, holding hands and doing other things together, important. Instead the man finds warmth on the couch in front of the TV and the wife finds her affection in a book. Many of you, who are still with me, must be thinking Wow, this is really us! So how can we ensure that the romance and passion stay alive? If we desire something with a deep intensity and passion, we shall also have to work hard with purposeful intention to make it work. So in order to keep the fire burning, you shall have to work, be ready to make the effort and also be prepared to do things which you would never have done, before. 1. Be prepared for the cold and harsh winters before they come An intelligent person will always try to be prepared knowing that cold season is approaching. This means that the person shall have enough firewood cut and stored to keep him warm and comfortable. Similarly, you should set aside some money to indulge yourself in things that can keep the passion alive in your relation. Plan special dates, candle light dinners, or just some time away from everyone and stay warm. 2. Do not wait for too long; feed the fire on time to keep it burning Understand that you sometimes need to get away from the regular environment and go to someplace new. This shall help you feed the fire regularly and continuously. Send your beloved flowers, gifts, or just go for a long drive. Surprise your partner by calling him and saying I just called to say, I love you. This is very effective. Watch the sparks fly once again. 3. Know your firewood Make serious attempts to know your likes and dislikes. Find out what your lover likes to eat, whats his favorite color, what kind of movies does he like etc. And if you are not sure what turns him on or off, Ask! Its better to ask than experiment. However if your relationship has died and grown cold, you shall have to start all over again. The best way to revive the fire is to feed it a little at a time. Revisit your courting days and do the same things you did back then. Late night phone calls, flowers, candy, perfumes, toys, hugs, stealing kisses and watch the fire come back to life. Remember, when the fire dies, its not just the fireplace which becomes cold, but the whole house! For more relationship advice and to rekindle or re-ignite your relationship, visit www.TheSinglesNetwork.com, the largest local dating network in the world. Tom Chapman, CEO, Net Content Creations, Inc.Tom@TheSinglesNetwork.com http://www.TheSinglesNetwork.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Syed_Quadri http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-the-Flame-of-Love-Burning&id=383817 phentermine 37.5 without a prescription buy phentermine overnight phentermine mexico pharmacy buy phentermine online

Reiki Energy Balance

Monday, February 18th, 2008

By Robert Morgen Heres a simple exercise that anyone can do, even if they havent been attuned to Reiki. It requires a basic knowledge of channeling Reiki energy, the positions of the 7 primary chakras and a willingness to spend some time making someone else feel good. Everything else is optional.For those whove never channeled Reiki or studied it, first take a moment and see my other article Basic Reiki for instructions on how to open up to and channel the energy. Setting the tone I like to create a nice atmosphere when doing Reiki. I usually light up some nice incense and for music I usually use Nik Tyndalls Reiki-Healing Hands CD as its also designed to help open the heart chakra. Getting Started Just lie down in a comfortable position and put a pillow under your knees to help take the strain off your lower back. Place one hand over your 3rd eye and the other over your 1st chakra. Now just relax and open up to the energy and let it flow down through the top of your head, through your heart chakra and out through your hands. Spent several minutes here, or until you feel like its time to change. Next move one hand up to your 2nd Chakra and the other down to your Throat Chakra. Spend as much time as you need here, and then move one hand down to your Heart Chakra and the other up to your Solar Plexus Chakra. After you finish here then just switch your hands around to your chakras at random and continue tuning them up for as long as you desire. Getting Deeper These exercises can obviously be enhanced by using the Reiki Symbols and by having the Attunements, but neither is really necessary. Over time your body will attune itself if you keep running the energy. These exercises can also be enhanced by regularly practicing The 5 Tibetans exercises also, as they help tune and rejuvenate your chakras also. There are so many things that can be done, both with Reiki and your Chakra System, and the point of this exercise is to help you balance your energy and feel better. Its also about building up your own catalog of experience, as its pretty hard for any teacher to tell you what a certain exercise should feel like when you do it. I can tell you how it feels to ME when I do it, but it may feel differently to you when you do it yourself, so play with it and see how it feels. This is also about learning to trust yourself and your own feelings and the only way to do that is play with it and have fun. — Reiki Energy Balance is an excerpt from Robert Morgens book Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery (ISBN: 0-9773801-0-6)His new book Easy Meditation for Martial Artists (ISBN: 0-9773801-3-0) will be available in October, 2006. Robert Morgen is a Reiki Master who holds a Black Belt in Hoshinjutsu. Hes founder of the Mystic Village Online Community at http://www.mysticvillage.org He writes a regular column on subtle (or internal) energy for Fight Times Magazine and a column on Kundalini Awakening at Alumbo.com. Hes the author of 3 books and 4 CDs on meditation and energy work. Hes a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids as well as the International Bujinkan Dojo Association, Canemasters International and the International Combat Hapkido Federation. You can learn more about his books, Kundalini and Martial Arts Seminars and free events and newsletters at his website at http://www.mysticwolfpress.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Morgen http://EzineArticles.com/?Reiki-Energy-Balance&id=26622 phentermine online consultation buy phentermine blue phentermine 37.5 90 no prescription legal to buy phentermine online

ATMs For Sale

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

By Eric Morris Using ATMs for bank transactions is very convenient for a number of reasons, some of which are that they can be accessed 24 hours a day and they are located in various locations and for some banks, their ATM services are even available in different countries. However, in recent years, the use of ATMs is no longer limited to banks as they are now being offered to business establishments as well. This is because businesses see the benefits to their customers and their business of having an ATM in their premises. Advantages of having an ATM One of the best advantages of having an automated teller machine in your business is that it can increase your sales. This is because studies show that about 35% of cash that are withdrawn from an ATM is spent on the same site, which means that you will be able to provide the cash that your customers especially impulse buyers need to buy your products. Another advantage is that it can reduce your costs associated with accepting credit cards and you would not have to wait for checks to be cleared. More importantly, you can even earn since you get to keep the ATM charges. One of the most obvious advantages is convenience, since your customers do not have to run to the nearest ATM machine or go to a bank to get cash. This can also build customer loyalty since your customers would want to shop in a place where added services such as ATMs are provided to them. Lastly, you will be able to save a lot of time if you have an ATM in your premises because you would not have to run debit transactions yourself. This also means that you would not have to deal with the hassles of having one of your customer?s credit cards being rejected since they could pay in cash. One of the most recent innovations in electronic banking is that ATMs can now be placed in business premises. This innovation gives customers convenience in being able to access their accounts to purchase items and it allows businesses to save time and money and an opportunity to earn as well. Given this, it is only a matter of time before most business would have ATMs placed in their shops. ATMs provides detailed information on ATMs, Bank ATMs, ATMs For Sale, Portable ATMs and more. ATMs is affiliated with Global Money Transfers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris http://EzineArticles.com/?ATMs-For-Sale&id=278521 cheap phentermine 37.5 phentermine with a mastercard no prescription buy phentermine online ky buy phentermine online consultation