Stork Baby Shower Games And Activity Ideas

Stork Baby Shower Games And Activity Ideas Stork Baby Shower Games And Activity Ideas by http:www.articledashboard.comprofile0Would you like to host a baby shower that really packs the pizzazz? Time is precious. Guests dont often jump at the chance to give up a Saturday afternoon to drink punch and play goofy games that stifle conversation, insult their intelligence and do little to celebrate the arrival of a new bundle of joy. This article breathes new life into the time honored tradition of baby shower. Stork Baby Shower are very popular and a great way to celebrate the arrival of the new bundle of joy. Here are some ideas on what to do with your guests that are tied up to your stork baby shower theme. There are so many ways to create a stork baby shower theme - from the baby shower favors to the decorations and the baby shower invitations. Play Stork Gift Bingo - Create a bingo game card for you and all your guests. If you are familiar with bingo, then you know how to do that. If not, you can simply look it up online by searching for Bingo sheets or bingo game card. As your guests arrive, instruct them to write in the squares of the game cards, the names of shower gifts they thing the mom to be will be likely to receive. For example, hooded towels, pajamas, blankets, bottles, diapers, etc. They may write a gift name in more than one square but only one square may be marked per gift opened.At the gift opening, give each guest twenty-five jelly beans. As the mom to be unwraps her baby gifts, guests mark the corresponding squares on their cards. A player should yell Stork when he or she fills all the squares in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line on his or her card. If you need to break a tie between two winners, award the prize to the player whose birthday is closest to the babys due date. Write baby-related charades, truth or consequences questions or a combination of both on separate slips of paper. For the questions, write questions that will test the guests knowledge about the mom to bes pregnancy, childhood or plans for the nursery and also include consequences such as Put a quarter in the babys piggy bank. Get the correct answers from the mom to be prior to the party and write them down on a sheet of paper. Put the slips in a separate plastic eggs and hide them around the party area before the baby shower. When its time to play the game, tell guests the eggs contain prizes so they will hunt for as many eggs as possible. Tell them not to open the eggs until all the eggs have been found. When the hunt is over, the guests will be surprised to discover the true contents of the eggs. Have guests take turn opening their eggs and performing the tasks on the slips. If a guest correctly identifies a charade being acted out, the actor and the guessor each earns a point. If the guest incorrectly answers a question, then she must perform a consequence. Award a prize to the guest with the most points. So here are some great ways to play stork baby shower games and have fun with your guests. This author lives in Flemington, NJ with her husband and 5 month old daughter and is an expert contributing author for a luxury http:www.babygiftstation.combaby gifts boutique offering variety of http:www.babygiftstation.comBaby-Shower-Favors-s77.htmbaby shower favors, http:www.babygiftstation.combaby gift baskets, handprint footprint kits and more. Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

The Top 2 Sources for Easy Sales

The Top 2 Sources for Easy Sales The Top 2 Sources for Easy Sales by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileAllyn_Cutts3269Allyn_CuttsSource 1: Existing Customers Yeah, thats right, your existing customers are the ultimate source for increasing your sales. Think about it...they already trust you and know about your business. Finding and convincing new customers is expensive and time consuming. Why waste all of your time hunting new candidates when you have a huge amount of potential right under your nose? Find or create new productsthat your loyal customers will enjoy! Offer them a related item to go along with the purchases they are already making. Your helpful insight will be appreciated, and your profits will add up nicely in the process. Get your customers working for you. Do you have a referral system in place? If not, you are missing out on one of the greatest marketing tools available! Find out what they want. Customer surveys are great for discovering exactly what customers like and dont like. Hey, it makes them feel important and appreciated too! Ask them what they like best about your product... what you can do to improve...who their friends are who might be interested in your product. Youll find a lot of valuable information just waiting for you to ask for it. Source 2: Non-Buyer Contacts Not everyone buys the first time they come around...in fact, the majority of us want to get to know a little bit more about the business before we invest too much of our money in their product. Follow up systems are a great way to turn prospective customers into loyal, satisfied clients. Hey follow up systems dont have to be involved, but they can range from a simple occasional contact to providing weekly newsletters. The ball is in your court...keep it as simple or as involved as you want! Newsletters come in handy for Internet Marketers hoping to capture email addresses of visitors to their site. If a newsletter is too much involvement, give out a free report that will be sent to their email address. Where theres a will, theres a way to get the contact information you need. If you can get the first name of your customer - whether its in a one-on-one setting or on the Internet - youre setting the stage for a more personalized relationship. Allyn has spent over 24 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales to current customers. Allyn is a marketing and sales fanatic, providing measurable marketing solutions that drive huge results for small-to mid-size business clients. Allyn is the owner of AllynCutts.com and works personally with clients to design and deliver off-line and on-line direct marketing strategies that focus on measurable results. Submitted with http:www.after5webdesign.comsoftware.htmlArticle Distributor. Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Doing The Math on Credit Card Rewards

Doing The Math on Credit Card Rewards Doing The Math on Credit Card Rewards by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileRobert-Alan6679Robert AlanWith the increasing popularity of credit cards in America, its no surprise that credit card companies and banks continue to flood the market with all manner of cards--rewards credit cards, cash back credit cards, 0 APR credit cards--all in an effort to appeal to as many potential cardholders as possible by offering a wide variety of incentives for use. The major problem with the strategy, however, is that theres often little explanation of exactly how credit card rewards work in their respective programs: whats the difference, for example, between cash back cards and rewards credit cards? And which card will, in the end, save you more? The variety and sheer number of rewards programs leaves some potential cardholders confused about the actual market value of their points values. The most prevalent credit card rewards plans out there today fall into two different categories -- percentage-based rewards and points-based systems. The former offers a percentage of your money back on purchases in certain targeted categories, most commonly gas, travel, and in some cases entertainment. The latter offers a series of points for all purchases made, which can eventually be redeemed for reimbursements on various expenses, most commonly travel. The percentage rewards plans are fairly straightforward except for a few obscure snags, such as how your cash actually gets back to you and how much you can earn in any given year through credit card rewards, but in the case of points, its often difficult to determine exactly what youre getting for your purchases using a points-based rewards credit card. But in the end, it all comes down to the numbers, specifically the math formula used to calculate the rewards. A good percentage-based rewards credit card will offer anywhere from 3-5 back on targeted purchases again, commonly gas and travel. If you spend 1,000 at the pump in a given year which, with current gas prices, is a pretty low amount to spend on gas in a year, youll earn 50 back in rewards at a 5 rate. For a years worth of gas purchases, 50 isnt a huge amount of money, but itll fill you up twice and its certainly better than nothing. Compare this to points systems. One points system from Chases Free Cash Rewards Visa offers a rewards rate of 2,500 points for 25, with one point earned for every dollar of purchases. Thats only a 1 rate of return on the money you put into the card. Certain airline credit cards offer a slightly better deal, such as American Expresss Blue Sky, which allows you to redeem points again, one dollar per point in 7,500 increments for a 100 reimbursement on travel expenses, meaning about a 1.3 rate of return. Again, even a low rate of return can help to offset any expenses you may incur, and can make certain purchases essentially free. But 1.3 versus 5 -- you do the math. On non-targeted purchases, points systems and percentage rewards credit cards even out, since most percentage reward cards offer a 1 rate of return on the majority of non-targeted purchases you make. And the points cards can offer a few incentives that a percentage rewards credit card cant, such as bonus points on sign-up, anywhere from 1,000 to 15,000 and up depending on the value of a given points system, of course. But, assuming that you frequently purchase the targeted items on a percentage rewards credit card and who doesnt make frequent gas, travel, and entertainment purchases?, youve got a slight edge with percentage-based rewards programs. Check all of the fine print and consider your specific purchasing needs, of course, but remember one of the first rules of finance: when dealing with credit card rewards, always look at the long term and make sure to do the math. Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com for more information on http:www.creditcardassist.comrewardscreditcards.htmlcredit card rewards. Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Choosing a Diamond is much more personal than fin

Choosing a Diamond is much more personal than finances Choosing a Diamond is much more personal than finances by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileDavid-Sandell21798David SandellDiamonds - their very mention makes the heart skip a beat. Be it for the expectations implied or for the very beauty and exquisiteness of their possession. However, purchasing a diamond can test the nerves of even the most astute buyer - what do you look for? What do the terms mean? What makes one diamond worth more than another? Here is a simple guide to the essentials of diamond grading. Understanding these terms will help you discuss with the dealer the features most important to you, ensuring you get the very best diamond for your money. Diamond appraisers look for four qualities in a diamond when discerning its value. Commonly called the 4 Cs they are: Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color. CUT There are two aspects referred to when discussing the cut of a diamond. The first refers to the quality of the cut - affecting the brilliance of the diamond - the other refers to the actual shape of the diamond. Diamonds are available in many shapes. Some of the more common are; round, oval, pear teardrop shaped, heart, princess square shaped, Emerald rectangular shaped, marquise football shaped and round. Of all the shapes available, round diamonds are the shape most capable of being cut to exude the greatest brilliance. The brilliance is determined by the ability of the diamond to reflect light. A quality cut diamond will have facets angled to reflect the greatest amount of light. Beware of diamonds cut to maintain a higher carat weight while sacrificing the cutting of a good angle as this will dramatically reduce the brilliance. CLARITY Diamonds from natural sources are subject to individual flaws including trace minerals and scratches. A diamond without such characteristics is called flawless and is the rarest kind. While these flaws are often not visible to the naked eye, they affect the light reflecting qualities of the diamond which affects the overall brilliance. Diamond clarity is classified as follows: Flawless, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, SI3, I1, I2 and I3. CARAT Carat is the measurement of the weight of a diamond. One carat may also be referred to as 100 points. This means that a half carat would be listed as 50 points and so on. The larger a diamond is the more costly it becomes. Since the larger diamonds are much rarer the cost will go up significantly with each increase in size. A one carat diamond will be more than just double the cost of a half carat, however, a ring with multiple diamonds that have a combined weight of one carat will be cheaper than a single stone of that weight. COLOR The color of a diamond is rated on an alphabetical scale from D to Z. A typical white diamond should be as colorless as possible - a rating of D being the rarest and most desirable. When choosing a colorless diamond it is best to stay within the D-J range or the diamond will have a yellow cast which lessens the value. The less natural color the diamond has the more colors will appear in the flashes reflected in the prism. Fancy diamonds diamonds with a rating over Z come in a variety of shades and include some famous diamonds such as the Blue Hope diamond. When purchasing a diamond it is important to remember that each of the 4 Cs are of equal importance in an appraisers eyes. If budget is an issue, however, you should consider which features are of greatest importance to you and with a little knowledge select the diamond that will hold the greatest value and sentiment for your budget. David Sandell is a journalist and an author of many publications on different actual topics. Jewelry Deluxe eStore http:jewelry-deluxe.comhttp:jewelry-deluxe.com Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Growing Your Own Herbs

Growing Your Own Herbs Growing Your Own Herbs by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileRoberto-Bell13207Roberto BellIf youre not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. While the product might not seem as significant, youll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with. First youll want to choose the herbs that youll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary, sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others. When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants. When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days. The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course. When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have labored so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isnt well established, it isnt healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like its not using them. You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come. Once youve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, youll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours. After theyre sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish. If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew. If you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, its just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs. Jonathan Locke is the author of many articles on gardening, including http:www.monsterguide.nethow-to-grow-tomatoes.shtmlHow to Grow Tomatoes, http:www.monsterguide.nethow-to-grow-potatoes.shtmlHow to Grow Potatoes, and http:www.monsterguide.nethow-to-grow-herbs.shtmlHow to Grow Herbs. Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Feel Secure With Your Own Home Surveillance Secur

Feel Secure With Your Own Home Surveillance Security Camera Feel Secure With Your Own Home Surveillance Security Camera by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileLesley-Chew21586Lesley ChewNothing is more important than having you and your family safe and comfortable in your house. However, nowadays when you flip open newspapers, you can see stories and news about violence and crimes happening everywhere. Hence protecting your family has become increasingly important and installing a home surveillance security camera can ensure that your family is secure at home. With the enhancing technology, there is no doubt a huge array of sophisticated home surveillance security cameras available. In order to choose the right one for your home, you need to consider several basic points : 1. What type of camera do you need? 2. Where do you want to install the camera? 3. What type of environment are you using the camera in? Minimum lighting? 4. What is your budget? Price range. There are many types of security cameras available. The following are the common types that you can find and when do you use them : Outdoor Security Cameras As the name indicates, these security cameras are used outdoors to monitor your property. If you plan to use your home surveillance security camera outdoors, you have to choose a security camera that can be used outside. This means that it has to be built from a strong material that can resist impact and bad weather conditions, such as snow, rain or wind. Plus, it needs to have a protective layer to ensure a long lasting life against dirt and grime. Dome Security Cameras These cameras are commonly used by banks and casinos. Why? Mainly because these dome security cameras have the advantage that they are less obvious than other home surveillance security cameras. Furthermore, they are also more resistant to dirt and bad weather conditions and can be used indoors or outdoors. An intruder cannot see where the camera points at so it is more difficult for himher to bypass it. Hidden Cameras Hidden cameras are great for keeping an eye on someone

The Makings Of A Legitimate Business Opportunity

The Makings Of A Legitimate Business Opportunity The Makings Of A Legitimate Business Opportunity by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileCrisoforo-Marroquin-1137144277Crisoforo Marroquin-11371The internet is full of business opportunities that you could potentially become rich off of. Because there are so many options to choose from, the most difficult step is deciphering the legitimate opportunities from those that are simply a waste of your time. So what can you do to find a legitimate business opportunity? The most crucial step for you is to take the time to research. The more time you take to research in-depth the better off you will be. It will eliminate any possibilities of you getting into a scam because you will know how the company works. During your research, you want to determine whether it is a product-based company or a company that focuses on recruiting and building downlines. You can have success with both types of business opportunities, but both kinds of businesses are not for everyone. Think about what you will have the most success with and go with that. If the business opportunity involves you selling a product, look at the product closely. If you cannot see yourself buying the product, it is going to be difficult for you to sale it to others. The more you believe in the product the more prospects will believe in you. Next, look into how stable the business is and in what direction it is heading. You do not want to get into a business that is in a downfall. Who knows how much longer the company will even be around. Look at how long the business has been around and what their sales numbers are. If the numbers have been steadily rising, it is definitely a company you want to look at closer. One of the most important aspects to a legitimate business opportunity is their training program. There are a number of internet newbie

Stuttering Child

Stuttering Child Stuttering Child by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileblueboy1471blueboyChildren can develop a stutter at an early age and for the parents it can be a very worrying time. It is difficult to know what to do. Parents wonder if it is just an age thing or just a phase. They think about whether to take their child to some form of speech therapy, however worry that that might be an over-reaction. I myself developed a stutter at the age of four or five. My mother had left work to look after me when I was born and I started to talk as normal. Everything was fine until I started school. My mother who now had more time on her hands decided to re-start work and I would now be going to a friend of the familys after school. This friend was called Jean and she had a son my age called Graham. On the first day I spent at her house everything was going well until Jean called us in for our evening meal. Meal times at my own house were a very relaxed affair, we were able to eat our food wherever we wanted to in the house. At Jeans house they ate in a dining room around a dining table. There were a lot of people around the table who I did not know very well and eating in front of them all itself made me feel quite uncomfortable. During the meal people were asking me various questions and for whatever reason, I found it difficut to answer and started to stutter. This was the first day of my life as a stutterer. My parents a few months later took me to speech therapy, the speech therapist advised them that most children will grow out of their stutter. I continued unfortunatelt to stutter until I was twenty two. Stephen Hill Stephen Hill runs a speech centre in Birmingham, England. He has a number of websites including: http:www.stammering-stuttering.co.ukstuttering information http:www.stutter-cure.comstuttering cure http:www.stutter-stuttering.comstuttering therapy Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

What You Should Know Before Deciding To Buy Puppi

What You Should Know Before Deciding To Buy Puppies What You Should Know Before Deciding To Buy Puppies by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileJohn-H.-Rogers--7656John H. Rogers -They are cute, cuddly and have all of the love in the world to give. But in return, they expect the same from you. If you plan to buy puppies, then you are in for a treat and a workout all at the same time. These little furballs are full of energy and cannot wait to unleash it on you, but there is nothing better than a wag of the tail when you walk in the door. People buy puppies for different reasons, including companionship or to raise them for breeding. There are a number of locations to buy puppies, including animal shelters or directly from breeders. If you buy puppies from an animal shelter, you are literally saving a life. If you are planning to spend money for your new pup, there are some important considerations to think about before adopting the newest addition to your family. The first thing to consider if you plan to buy puppies is their demeanor. If you want a companion, some types of dogs are more ideal than others and this is especially true if you have young children in the home. A gentle dog is the best kind for children or the elderly. Even though almost every kind of puppy is rowdy, certain ones will grow up to be gentler than others. It

Flexible Loans are called Bad Credit Unsecured Pe

Flexible Loans are called Bad Credit Unsecured Personal Loans Flexible Loans are called Bad Credit Unsecured Personal Loans by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileRebaccaAdams15068RebaccaAdamsA bad credit should never come in the path of getting loans. Well, it has been truly realized by lenders in the loan market, who are providing loans to bad credit holders. In the form of loan, they offer financial support to bad credit holders. And now a days they are offering loans without any security. Equipped with several features, these loans are known as bad credit unsecured personal loans. Bad credit unsecured personal loans demand no collateral and as a result lender alone bears the risk. However before offering such loan, a lender usually concentrates on the employment and financial standing of the borrower. Bad credit unsecured personal loans are beneficial in many ways. Here a bad credit holder gets the chance to improve his bad credit history. He can do it by repaying the loaned amount in proper time. Moreover with a reasonable amount of money, a bad credit holder can easily finance any of his need. The only thing that is problematic in bad credit unsecured loan is the high rate of interest. Lenders usually offer such loans at high rate as they are not getting any security. However it will not be too much to say that finding lender with a reasonable rate of interest is an easy task today. You can meet them through online method, where several lenders usually offer bad credit unsecured personal loans at easy terms and flexible rate of interest. They give you a chance to select the loaned quote, which is exactly required by you. Rebecca Adams works as a consultant in Unsecured Personal Loans UK. She is proficient in the credit market because of a degree in finance from the esteemed University of Oxford. She has also done her masters in insurance management from the Risk Management Research Institute.To find cheap personal loans, http:www.unsecured-personal-loans-uk.netbad_credit_unsecured_personal_loans.htmlBad credit unsecured personal loans, bad credit debt consolidation loans, fast cash personal loans, fast unsecured personal loans visit http:www.unsecured-personal-loans-uk.nethttp:www.unsecured-personal-loans-uk.net Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

The Right Car Tracking System

The Right Car Tracking System The Right Car Tracking System by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileMichelle-Crimson2692Michelle CrimsonA tracking system in your car could assist you well enough in finding out where you car may be head or where your car is in once a thief runs away with it. More often than not, people who have cars with a tracking system get them back in one piece still. You see, car tracking devices give you information on the current location of your vehicle so finding it would be easier. You can have your own car tracking system installed in your beloved machine. Although you would have to first learn about the different tracking systems so you could choose which one would work best for you. Just like everything else, each type of these tracking systems has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. To get information, you can search through the Internet or you can also ask the companies for information about them. Also, ask about the monthly service costs. At least, you would really know how much you would be spending on these systems and if you could really afford them. It would also be wise to ask if the system would be monitoring your car

How To Overcome A Stammer

How To Overcome A Stammer How To Overcome A Stammer by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileblueboy1471blueboyMy name is Stephen Hill, I have overcome a stammer which had been a major thorn in my side for eighteen years. My aim in life is to try and help as many other people to achieve fluency as I can. When I had a stammer, I would attend speech therapy, at which I would be told to slow down or to take a deep breath before talking. This did not seem to help me very much and after attending these speech therapy lessons for eighteen years decided it probably never would. I firmly believed that my own stammer was very much a physcological as well as a physical problem as at times I could talk very well, like for example when I was talking to my girlfriend or when I was talking when I was drunk. I decided to read a lot of books about positive thinking for example and at the same time started to study how good fluent talkers were speaking compared to me. I was basically trying to re-learn how to speak. It was hard for me to truly believe I would ever be able to achieve fluency as everyone had always told me that you can not overcome a stammer. After about a year though I managed to overcome the stammer and then started to help other people to achieve fluency. Stephen Hill runs The How To Stop Stammering Centre in Birmingham. Stephen Hill promotes various websites including: http:www.stammering-stuttering.co.ukstammering information http:www.impotence-male.co.ukimpotence male http:www.meditation-symptom.co.ukmeditation symptom Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Lemon Laws and Car Dealers Who Wont Pay Up

Lemon Laws and Car Dealers Who Wont Pay Up Lemon Laws and Car Dealers Who Wont Pay Up by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileessmeier5757essmeierBuying a car or truck is an expensive proposition. With new cars often costing more than 20,000 and car loans averaging nearly six years in duration, it only stands to reason that consumers expect those vehicles to work reliably when they buy them. Sometimes they do not, and for those cases, each of the fifty states has passed an auto lemon law. Those laws were passed to simplify the process by which a consumer with a habitually defective vehicle could seek relief in the form of either a replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price. Understandably, dealers and manufacturers are often reluctant to hand over the money or a new car, and frequently offer a variety of excuses for failing to do so. Here are some of the more common excuses offered by dealers when presented with a defective automobile: The vehicle is neglected or abused - All fifty states offer exemptions for vehicles from their lemon law statutes if the vehicle has been abused, neglected or modified by the owner in a manner that is not approved by the manufacturer. There are certainly cases where neglect or abuse may apply, but dealers often suggest these problems right away in order to chase the owner away. If you know that you have not abused, neglected, or modified your car, then you know that you still have a valid claim. Dont let the dealer chase you away by simply declaring the vehicle to be misused. The vehicles defect is not a significant one - The laws declare pretty clearly what is and is not a qualifying defect. Such defects need not, by definition, be significant; they need only adversely affect the safety, use, or value of the vehicle. These things are best determined by courts of law or arbitration panels; dont let the dealer scare you away by telling you the problem isnt important. Suggesting that the defect is not actually a defect. In this case, the dealer suggests that the problem is common to all similar vehicles. Its not a defect, so much as a manufacturing problem. Its not your car, the dealer will say, they are all like that. If they are all like that, then the problem cant be a defect, can it? Yes, it can. Dont fall for this one. Suggesting that you havent qualified due to an insufficient number of repair attempts. Each state has its own rules for the number of repair attempts that qualify a vehicle as a lemon. You should check with your states Attorney Generals office to find out how many repair attempts qualify a vehicle as defective in your state. Dont take the dealers word for it; he isnt looking out for you. It can be difficult, time consuming, and frustrating to file a lemon law claim. Under the laws of your state, you are entitled to a replacement or refund if your vehicle qualifies under the law. Dont expect your dealer to go out of his or her way to offer your refund; you will have to insist upon it yourself. But if you do have a case, make sure that you stand your ground.

A Guide For Writing a Funding Proposal

A Guide For Writing a Funding Proposal A Guide For Writing a Funding Proposal by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileConnie-Nies11747Connie NiesNo guide for writing a funding proposal would be complete without cautioning that a business looking for funding cannot do so without also presenting a completed business plan. Every lender, whether bank or other financial institution, venture capitalist, or private individual, will want to see the firms business plan in addition to the project detail. Theyll want to know the companys mission, its goals, its steps to achieving those goals, its products and services, its available resources, the market, the competition, and your firms competitive edge. The business plan that accompanies the funding proposal you write and present should also include the owners or officers and all major players such as executives and others instrumental in the day to day workings of the company. If youre new to writing a funding proposal a guide is essential, whether a written brochure or publication, online assistance, or a counselor at the local small business development center. SCORE, the Service Corps for Retired Executives, is another top-notch resource that can guide you through writing a funding proposal. The volunteers are all retired executives and other experts who have been where you are and have succeeded. In addition to the standard documents that the bank or credit union will require for the loan application, the lender also expects to see a written funding proposal when you apply for the loan. Rather than looking at writing a funding proposal as a tedious chore, look at it as the guide for your lender to see just how exciting, promising and profitable your idea and firm could be and what an opportunity they have to be a financial part of your great venture. Give your funding proposal a zippy but clear title, then talk about the overview of the project youve planned, supplying background information on the problem as you see it, the details of the project that will solve the problem, what resources you have available and what resources youll need to get the job done, what staff and administration help you have and what else you might need, the facilities available for your project and any that youll need to lease or buy in addition, any supplies or equipment or personnel that will be added, and any communication capabilities or requirements that are pertinent. Present a budget for your project. Step by step, you should.... * Write a cover letter with your funding proposal, both as an enticement to read the proposal and a guide to what will be found in the funding proposal pages. Included in the cover letter, besides the title, are a brief introduction to your firm, the purpose of the loan and the amount of money you are requesting. * The funding proposal should begin with the company name, address, and contact information such as phones and e-mails. Here should also be the names, titles and social security numbers of all the principals, the reason for the loan, the amount requested and details of what you will be doing with the money including the equipment and supplies purchase, perhaps the lease of new facilities, the resources now available, the staff that might be added, and the administration personnel that will oversee the project. * Next offer extensive details about the firm, including any previous projects and performance, clientele, overall goals and objectives, unique aspects of the firm and the ownership and legal structure. * Background information is next, with details about the company budget, as well as the project budget, the market and the competition, and your firms standing among the competition. Details on the current clientele as well as an evaluation plan for determining the companys overall financial and competitive health and for that of the project itself should be included as well. * All key personnel should be profiled, including their education, the accomplishment both as a firm member and prior, as well as their qualifications. Along with background information and a budget for the project, you should provide all information and documents about the last three years of the companys operations. If not in business that long, provide the financial statements including balance sheets and income statements that you have. Collateral should be pledged for the funding. * Written communication is a crucial part of your funding proposal and someone should guide you through the process by proofreading the materials, to check for spelling, grammar, factual accuracy and overall quality of presentation. Any time you apply for a loan, whether the details of the needed resources, the project overview, the statement of the problem, and the budget are already in the application or the cover letter, you should still submit a funding proposal as an overall guide to the loan officer and other funding decision makers. Fast Track Funding for Quality Projects Worldwide. Over 100 Million in Size. http:www.wefinanceprojects.com Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Understanding The Types Of Coffee Grinders

Understanding The Types Of Coffee Grinders Understanding The Types Of Coffee Grinders by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileRebecca-Prescott1797Rebecca PrescottThe first step in creating incomparable coffee in your home of office is to grind the coffee beans yourself. Freshly ground coffee has had less of a chance to oxidize, and thus the flavor is preserved. If youve walked past a busy coffee shop, youll notice the strong aroma of freshly ground and prepared coffee. Nothing beats it, and this freshness contributes to the flavor of the final cup. Finding a coffee grinder that will prepare the quality beverage youre after is another matter though. It helps to understand the different types of grinders available, as they produce quite varying qualities of brewed coffee. There are three ways to grind coffee. Blade grinders, which chop up the coffee beans, are the most common in home coffee grinders. They have advantages in that they are longer lasting, and quite cheap to buy compared with other grinder methods. But this trade-off is apparent in the type of ground coffee they produce. One of the key principles in producing quality coffee grinds is that the size of the grind is even. Unfortunately, blade grinders dont perform well here. They produce both large and small particles of coffee, as well as a type of coffee dust that can clog up sieves in French presses and espresso machines. The coffee they produce is generally poorer in quality because the lack of uniform particle size means that the brewing method selected is unable to work optimally. Some of the coffee beans will be perfect for it, and thus the full flavor will be extracted, but a lot of it wont, as the beans are too large or small. Whilst the effect of coffee grind particles that are too large may seem obvious, in that flavor is left in the ground, a grind that is too fine will also contribute to poor coffee. Bitter coffee results when the surface area has been exposed to hot water for too long. By far the best method for most types of coffee is the burr grinder. These grinders are used in coffee shops, and they produce a very even grind. There is a range of settings that can be used, so that espresso, French press, drip coffee, and percolators can be used to make the final cup. Burr grinders have another advantage in that there is less heat to change the taste of the coffee bean. Blade grinders tend to produce more heat. The third way of grinding coffee is particular to making Turkish coffee. A very finely ground coffee is needed, and only very good quality burr grinders are able to do this. The alternative is the old fashioned mortar and pestle! The best type of coffee grinder is the conical burr grinder, but these are also the most expensive. What is best for an individuals needs will depend on how much they love their coffee, and their budget. For an unusual addition to your kitchen, try an http:www.coffeecaper.comAntique_Coffee_Grinders_-_History_In_A_Bean.htmlantique coffee grinder. For more http:www.coffeecaper.comcoffee help, click here. Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

A Bad Career is Like a Bad Relationship: Is It Ti

A Bad Career is Like a Bad Relationship: Is It Time to Get Out? A Bad Career is Like a Bad Relationship: Is It Time to Get Out? by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileCarol-McClelland13625Carol McClellandHave you ever been in a bad relationship? You arent happy. Your partner doesnt respect you. You cant do what you want for fear youll be criticized. You feel stifled and stuck. You dream of moving on, but you really dont want to leave because theres some comfort in the fact that you are familiar with your situation. Even if its neither ideal nor pleasant, at least its something! Its likely you are having an ongoing conversation with yourself about whether you should stay or go. Some days you are 100 stay....other days you are100 go. But more often than not you find yourself vacillating from one answer to the other several times during the course of your day. Because leaving a relationship takes so much effort and determination, you may spend a lot of time convincing yourself to stay. Perhaps you are saying: Its not that bad. I think things will change. So and so looks like they are changing...Ill hold on a bit longer to see what happens. I just need to try harder and everything will improve. I wont be able to find anything better. I should be happy with what I have. Who do I think I am? There are many people in the world who are in a situation thats not ideal. I need to just deal with it. All of these statements are signs that you are settling for something thats really not working for you. You have resigned yourself to the fact that you cant be happy. You have lost touch with the fact that you have the ability to create a life that really works for you. How Does This Relate to Careers, You Ask With just a few word changes, everything in the previous paragraphs applies to people who are in jobs or careers that dont work for them. Generally people who are frustrated with their work feel that they cant be themselves at work. They may not feel respected by individuals in the company or the company itself. They worry about what they can do and what they shouldnt do. Its often difficult for people in bad relationships and bad jobs to come to terms with the fact that they are in a situation thats not working for them. They do whatever they can to convince themselves that the difficulties are temporary and will turn around in the near future. In fact, they often search their surroundings for any small sign to prove this is true. Unfortunately, one sign that a partner or a work situation is improving isnt enough to turn the entire situation around. Just because your boss acknowledges you or provides you with the resources you need to do your job, doesnt mean the job is suddenly a good fit for you. Just because your company adds a new benefit that gives you a bit more flexibility or provides you with better health insurance, doesnt mean the job is working for you. For a job or career to work for you, it needs to meet four key characteristics. 1 You need to be able to be fully yourself at work. 2 The job needs to support you in living the life you want. 3 The work environment needs to support you in being both productive and satisfied. 4 The work you do must tap your passions and interests. If your workplace forces you to be someone you arent, if your personal life is squeezed out by your work life, if your work environment limits you, or if the work itself is boring or unbearably stressful, your job is NOT working for you. Now What Do You Do? As soon as you can acknowledge that your job isnt a good fit for you, its time to explore your options. This is a tricky time because its so easy to be swept back into believing you should stick it out, work harder, or settle for whats going on at work. Dont let your guard down! You deserve to have a job that works for you personally and professionally. Even if you cant make a change immediately, begin focusing your time and attention on whats DOES work for you. This is the first, critical step in creating a career that works for you. You must gather as many clues as you can about who you are, how you want to live, and what you love to do. To do this, ask yourself these questions: What are you drawn to? What topics interest you? What skills do you like to use in your work? What lifestyle do you want to have? What work environment supports you and your life? What is your innate personal style? As you begin answering these questions, dont worry about how you are going to tie all this information together. Just gather as many clues as you can. Start by recording the information you collect. Then when you have at least forty items listed, begin looking for themes and patterns in list. What have you learned about yourself and how can you leverage that information into a great career. Although this process may take some time, dont get discouraged. The time you spend discovering and understanding yourself and your needs will allow you to make good, solid decisions as you step into your future. Youll not only be able to evaluate new job possibilities and even new relationships with more confidence and clarity, youll be able to use this new sense of yourself to keep yourself out of unworkable jobs and relationships in the future. Copyright c 2007 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc. Carol McClelland, PhD, is the author of Your Dream Career For Dummies and the creator of the Career Clarity Program, an online program that helps you find your dream career and make it real. She

Selfish or SELF Preservation?

Selfish or SELF Preservation? Selfish or SELF Preservation? by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileCari-Vollmer7362Cari VollmerI once saw a sitcom where a woman was being scolded by her spouse for taking a little time for herself. Instead of letting her spouse guilt her, she pounced back with, Its not selfish, its self preservation! I loved it! And, it is! If youre going to lead a life you feel great about, its time to reframe the notion that going after your dream is selfish. Its not! Rather, its what needs to happen if youre going to honor your heart, soul and purpose in life. A quick note: When I talk about being selfish, Im not talking about the kind of selfish behavior kids are often punished for. You know, the its all about me and what I want kind of selfish. Rather, Im talking about a grown up, take care of yourself, so you can take care of others kind of selfish. Honoring your needs and wants is NOT selfish, if you do so from a place of caring for yourself and others. I see so many people who deprive themselves of what they really want, or feel guilty for getting what they want, and I dont want that to happen to you! You deserve to have what you want. Let me say it again, YOU deserve to have whatever it is you want. A gorgeous house, a lot of money, a happy life, a boat, success - whatever! You deserve it! Why is it so hard to give yourself what you really want? There are two traps most of us fall in to: 1. We wait for approval and permission from others. 2. We think were being selfish or greedy for wanting what we want. Do you ever hesitate giving yourself what you want because youre not sure what other people will say? Or do you stop yourself from taking action on your hearts desire because youd like your parents spouses, friends blessing first? For a long time I stayed in a job that had grown old and stale because I was afraid of what people might think if I quit a good job and did what I really wanted to do: start my own business. Finally, and with a lot of encouragement from some good friends, I found the courage to do it, without anyone elses permission or approval. And you know what? It was the best thing I ever did! And you know what else? When I stood confidently in my decision, others applauded me. Patted me on the back. Wished me good luck! Some even called me an inspiration! Give yourself what you want! If something makes you happy, excites you or interests you, dont wait for someone else to give you the go ahead - give yourself permission to go for it. Same goes for trap #2: You are not selfish or greedy for wanting what you want. We live in an abundant universe. By making a lot of money you are not taking money from someone else. By giving yourself rich life experiences you are not looking down on those that dont or cant. In fact, the more you have the more you can GIVE AWAY. And thats hardly selfish or greedy. So, If you want to get a massage every two weeks, get one! If you want to start your own business, start your own business! If you want to be rich - do what you need to do to become a wealth magnet! So, what is YOU really want? Copyright c 2006 Cari Vollmer Cari Vollmer, founder of