<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204</id><updated>2011-04-21T18:51:45.692-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Enjoyable Raccoon</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>20</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112333299231658843</id><published>2005-08-06T05:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-08-06T05:56:32.326-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Antique Jewelry: a timeless and elegant adornment</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Angela Davis&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Antique jewelry is a timeless classic adornment which can never go out of fashion. It is the epitome of ethereal charm, delicate grace and a gentle reminder of a bygone era. It is that jewelry which has been made during and before the early 1900's.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The jewelry has its own unique character which cannot be copied or imitated. In most cases antique jewelry is handcrafted. It has exquisite craftsmanship and a very special whimsical aura surrounding it, which sets it apart from all other jewelry, however beautiful or expensive they maybe. There is an understated classic elegance inherent in the design and styling. Though widely looked upon as being something worn by only those who are older; perceptions are gradually changing. It is now also seen as a very fashionable ornament which is quite in vogue and is worn by almost anyone, irrespective of their age group.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; This kind of jewelry is not available in just any departmental store or some other normal jewelry shop, it can most often be found in niche show rooms, exclusive boutiques, and big auction houses and in antique dealer stores. These are the more reliable places from where you can acquire antique jewelry. Though there are many websites online and other shops which sell this kind of jewelry; it is best to be cautious. The reason being that in many cases the antique jewelry being sold is not actually an original . Also you could charged an exorbitant price for a piece which is not actually that expensive. Unless you have a trained eye and know the difference, it is easy to be fooled.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; In many cases antique jewelry has also been handed down from one generation to another and is a part of the family heirlooms. Some antique jewelry can actually be quite expensive and a real collectors item.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Just a simple piece of antique jewelry can greatly enhance your over all appearance, add to your appeal and lend a sophisticated charm to your entire persona. Being the beautiful pieces that they are, this jewelry can easily attract attention and can become the focal point of any conversation. However not every one can carry off antique jewelry, you have to have a certain inner beauty and dignity to wear it.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; One of the best things about antique jewelry is that its value only appreciates with time. In fact some of the pieces are valuable collector's item and can fetch huge sums of money. They can in the long run, actually prove to be good investments.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Antique jewelry is a wonderful thing to buy for yourself, a delightful possession and also a great thing to gift to some one special in your life. Whether it is your daughter, mother, wife, girlfriend or sister; antique jewelry is that gift which lets the other person know how much they mean to you. Also this jewelry is not just restricted to women; there are beautiful intricate pieces which are there for men too.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So go ahead indulge yourself and relive the beauty of a bygone era.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Looking for information about Jewelry?&lt;br/&gt; Go to: http://www.merryjewelry.com&lt;br/&gt; 'Merry Jewelry' is published by Angela Davis -&lt;br/&gt; The Complete Jewelry Resource Directory&lt;br/&gt; Check out more Jewelry articles at: http://www.merryjewelry.com/archive&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;How to Get Promoted&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Leonard Konis&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;How to Get Promoted&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; From the time we begin working in a company or business, in the back of our minds, the goal is to move up the ladder, and achieve a higher status along with better pay. There are many steps to achieve this accomplishment, but a combination of many steps, are often necessary. A good amount of patience and fortitude is required.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Here are suggestions, to get promoted:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; First, check to see if your company will consider you for the new promotion or if the company will seek only someone, from the outside.&lt;br/&gt; Become knowledgeable of the requirements you will need to have, or perquisites, for the position you desire. If necessary, take any additional education or training. Show your record of how punctual, smart, reliable, expiated ethical standards, problem solving skills during the time you have worked for your company, and that you will continue this achievement, when promoted. Try to have a good sense of humor, when giving answers to questions. Acknowledge any awards, praises you have received, and any over time, that you voluntarily done, especially without any pay. Develop over time, a dependency your boss or company relies upon you. Make sure you always get credit for your accomplishments. Accumulate as many, letters of recommendations during the time you have worked in your current job, and or recommendations from other positions you held in the company.&lt;br/&gt; During the interview, definitely acknowledge, any contributions you have made to achieve a higher status for your company. And, acknowledge, that you had participated in any previous board meetings you had attended. Disclose that you have taken any additional responsibilities in your current position. Use exhibits to highlight those accomplishments, besides having a current resume. Dress formal and without excessive make-up, cologne, perfume or jewelry worn. Practice at home, in front of a mirror or people, how you will present yourself, during the interview. Keep your answers short and to the point, except if further inquiry is requested. Avoid, saying any negative comments about any coworkers or any other candidates seeking the same position. Show your enthusiasm for the position you desire, but not a ridiculous manner. Tell how well you get along with your coworkers. And, how you have helped your coworkers, perform better in their jobs, based upon your suggestions, and created a more happier, working environment. Provide suggestions, what you would accomplish, if promoted to the new position, and a willingness to travel, for business trips, if necessary. Let your interviewer(s), know of your educational degrees. Finally, don't make it seem, like a "life or death situation", being considered for the new promotion, but always try to have other options available, if you are not considered for the promotion. Including continuing your current position or being hired by another company. During the interview, never threaten to leave your job, if your not promoted, since that shows your arrogance. You certainly have that option, if you decide to pursue that later. As the clich� often offers to "It's not what you know, it's who you know" that gets you promoted, which is the final thought.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; After the interview, always acknowledge how you appreciated the time, taken for your consideration. And, shake the hands of each interviewer, before you leave. Walk away, feeling optimistic or enthusiastic, if you receive notification, of your promotion, before you leave.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; B.B.A. Management Information Systems&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 15 years analzying and investig in the financial markets. Marketing for a Dental Practice. Freelance work in Wall Street Firms both in Equity and Fixed Income Depts. Writer of various articles, including business, finance, and investing.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112333299231658843?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112333299231658843/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112333299231658843' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112333299231658843'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112333299231658843'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/08/antique-jewelry-timeless-and-elegant.html' title='Antique Jewelry: a timeless and elegant adornment'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112306593908235277</id><published>2005-08-03T03:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-08-03T03:45:39.100-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Importance of Travel for A Writer</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Maxine Thompson&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Copyright 2005 Black Butterfly Press&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Dr. Maxine Thompson&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; http://www.maxinethompson.com&lt;br/&gt; http://www.maxineshow.com&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; "Don't go into the city alone," the blonde tourist warned me at the port of Belize. "They will cut off your arm for your jewelry."&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; This was in October 2004, when I went on a Caribbean cruise which, among other islands, stopped in the country of Belize. As I have a friend (whom I'll call Natalia) who grew up in Belize, this made me curious as to how the people actually lived.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Instead of jumping on a tour bus, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and go off the beaten path. I found a group of men standing outside the gates of the port, clamoring for customers to get into their cabs. Finally I chose the most friendly-looking man and climbed into a taxi, which was actually a jitney. On this hour-long ride around the island, I, not only felt deliciously alive, I saw Belize through Natalia's eyes.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; My driver, Raoul as I'll call him, assured me that the people would treat me kindly because the island is largely supported by tourism. First, he took me to the richer side of the island. This side of town was comprised of small mansion-like homes, wrapped around by lush palms, which belonged to the prime ministers and the dignitaries. The neighborhood was sedate and quiet as all the inhabitants were at work.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Afterwards, we blundered through the back streets and alleys of Belize, and I met the everyday denizens, including the derelicts.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Looking back, in what Raoul described as the "hood" side of the island, I noticed that the largest house belonged to that of the Obeah woman. This house was chalky white and resembled a mausoleum. It stood out like the Taj Mahal in a trailer camp as it was surrounded by what can only be described as windowless hovels and wooden shacks. Suddenly I realized and appreciated how much Natalia had accomplished by coming to America from this third-world country. (Truly, Natalia had given me an accurate picture as to how underdeveloped the country was.)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; But this trip also made me think. How can a writer improve his writing through traveling?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; These are just some of the benefits I gained.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 1.. Travel gives you a broader frame of reference from which to write.&lt;br/&gt; 2..You get to see how people in other parts of the world live.&lt;br/&gt; 3..Travel helps you learn how it feels to walk in another man's shoes.&lt;br/&gt; 4..Travel satisfies a writer's curiosity and can give you life-changing information.&lt;br/&gt; 5..Travel gives you a fresh perspective on life and expands your horizons before you close your eyes in death.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Travel helps you fill out the small details of your writing projects. These were some of the ideas that I gathered while traveling. Some will be used in future projects.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 1. From my trip, I absorbed many small details, which eased their way into my novella, Second Chances, a story about renewal and resurrection in life.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 2. People are basically generous. As people opened up to me, I found everyone has a story.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 3. I learned about the haunted hotels in Galveston, Texas, which is an area of research I'd like to look into.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 4. I learned about the flood in Galveston, Texas, which killed over 8,000 people in 1908. I'd like to research this story more.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 5. On the cruise, I took classes in traveling around the world safely, which cultivated my desire to travel around the world.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 6. I also took a class on feng shui, which I found to be useful as a fictional plotting tool. (Pronounced fung- schway, this is the ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging your surroundings to attract positive life energy, or chi, so it can flow smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected for better or worse by their surroundings.)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Most of all, since this trip, I discovered that travel not only broadens a writer's horizons, it is a lucrative way to make money as a travel writer.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; As a writer, how would you like to travel the globe and find out how different cultures live? What if you could do this, stay in five-star hotels, and have an all-expense paid for trip? Moreover, what if you could get paid for writing articles about your travels? Wouldn't it be nice to supplement your income as a novelist?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Bottom line. The largest journey is the internal journey that you go on when you travel. I believe the best writing should "Tell me something I don't know." Therefore, when you travel, you will encounter the unknown.&lt;br/&gt; Some resources to help you sell articles, including travel articles are the following:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 1. Writer's Market -- this annual publication lists 8,000 or more (mostly North American) publications that buy articles -- travel and others.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 2. Writers &amp;amp; Artists Yearbook -- A directory for writers, artists, playwrights, writers for film, radio, and television, designers, illustrators, and photographers. This is a good resource for British and European markets.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 3. The Guardian Media Directory -- Also focuses on the British and European markets, this listing contains over 10,000 contacts, from regional newspapers to publishing houses.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Maxine Thompson does 3 Internet radio shows to help authors promote their books and products. They are at www.maxineshow.com., www.vloiceamerica.com, www.artistfirst.com. If you are interested in being a guest, or for help with your writing needs, please contact me at maxtho@aol.com or maxtho@sbcglobal.net.&lt;br/&gt; http://www.maxinethompson.com&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Protecting Yourself from Miter Saw Hazards&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Kaitlin Carruth&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;A &lt;a href="http://www.toolamerica.net/miter-saw.html"&gt;miter saw&lt;/a&gt;, also known as a "chop saw," is a circular saw that is mounted on a frame. It is designed to be portable and to make very accurate angled cuts between 45 and 90 degrees. The &lt;a href="http://www.toolamerica.net/compound-miter-saw.html"&gt;compound miter saw&lt;/a&gt; can cut at an additional angle in order to cut bevels. Miter saws are predominately used in cutting wood but can also be used to cut plastics and light metals. Like any power tool, it is important to follow some safety rules to protect yourself. The following are some guidelines to keep yourself safe while operating you miter saw:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1) Wear protective gear.&lt;/strong&gt; Make sure to protect your eyes with&lt;br/&gt; safety goggles or safety glasses that currently meet the national safety standard. Wear a full protective face mask when needed or dust mask for dusty projects (some of the dust from projects can contain harmful chemicals). It is also recommended to wear hearing protection (such as ear plugs) with extended use of a miter saw.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2) Avoid wearing any loose clothing.&lt;/strong&gt; Do not wear anything that could possibly get in the way or fall into the path of the saw. This would include loose clothing, jewelry such as earrings, neck ties, gloves, or any dangling object. Remember to tie back long hair.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3) Keep miter saw clean.&lt;/strong&gt; The miter saw and area around the miter saw should always be clean and free from debris. Also, inspect material to make sure it is free from nails and any other foreign objects before cutting.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4) Maintain a sharp miter saw blade.&lt;/strong&gt; Always use a miter saw blade that is sharp and undamaged.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5) Do not over reach&lt;/strong&gt;. Keep a secure footing and do not over reach. Never attempt to reach around the miter saw while it is on.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6) Use miter saw safety guards.&lt;/strong&gt; The miter saw should come with an upper hood that covers the top half of the blade along with a lower&lt;br/&gt; blade guard. Do not operate machinery without these guards.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;7) Make sure that blade is securely fastened&lt;/strong&gt;. Loose blades have the ability to fall off. Take care to make sure that the miter saw blade is securely fastened and aligned correctly. To do this, unplug the miter saw and carefully spin blade with finger. The blade should not hit any of the other components of the saw.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;8) Keep work material secure.&lt;/strong&gt; Do not attempt to cut the material freehand. Always make sure that the material being cut is secure against the fence of the miter saw. If the work piece is unstable, then use a clamp to hold it in place. Also, remember to check that the miter saw is on a smooth and stable&lt;br/&gt; surface before beginning a project.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;9) Leave miter saw unplugged and in the off position when not in use.&lt;/strong&gt; Following this guideline will protect you from any accidents that could occur when turning on your miter saw. Never leave a power tool on while unattended. It is also advisable to wait until your miter saw is completely warmed up and come up to speed before starting a project.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;10) Be Alert!&lt;/strong&gt; Always be alert when operating a power tool. If the work becomes monotonous, take a short break. Accidents are prone to happen to those who are not paying attention.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow these miter saw safety tips in order to keep yourself safe.&lt;br/&gt; Remember that these are only general guidelines and that you should stop operation of a miter saw at any sign of abnormality. Always be cautious while operating a miter saw in order to avoid any possible accidents.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with &lt;a href="http://www.10xmarketing.com"&gt;10xMarketing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt; - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue.&lt;br/&gt; For more information about &lt;a href="http://www.toolamerica.net/miter-saw.html"&gt;miter saws&lt;/a&gt;, please visit &lt;a href="http://www.toolamerica.net"&gt;Tool America.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112306593908235277?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112306593908235277/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112306593908235277' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112306593908235277'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112306593908235277'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/08/importance-of-travel-for-writer.html' title='The Importance of Travel for A Writer'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112299608031151813</id><published>2005-08-02T08:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-08-02T08:21:20.323-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Cost Effective Way to Advertise Online. . . A Permission E-Mail Marketing</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Robin Nobles&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Search engine optimizers often forget who our true audience&lt;br/&gt; really is. We get so wrapped up in trying to please the search&lt;br/&gt; engines that we forget to focus on our target audience: our&lt;br/&gt; users.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; What we've got to do is forget about the search engines and&lt;br/&gt; concentrate totally on our customers. I call it . . .&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Optimization without optimization . . . focus on your target&lt;br/&gt; audience and forget the search engines!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Fact #1:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; On-page factors have made a come back, and I'm thrilled. If we've&lt;br/&gt; played our cards right and continued to use our tags as we should&lt;br/&gt; have, we're right where we need to be now that the major engines&lt;br/&gt; are once again considering the contents of META tags when&lt;br/&gt; determining relevancy.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Fact #2:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Concentrate on giving your users what they want to see when they&lt;br/&gt; visit your site: good quality, well-written, valuable content.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Fact #3:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Focusing on one particular theme/focus on each of your Web pages&lt;br/&gt; is crucial to the success of that page. Don't deviate from the&lt;br/&gt; focus of each page, including the outbound/inbound links.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Don't forget to focus on your target audience!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; When writing new content for your Web site, focus on your target&lt;br/&gt; audience and what they want to see when they visit your site.&lt;br/&gt; What type of information are they looking for? What do they want&lt;br/&gt; to learn when they visit your site?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you have an online jewelry store, can you provide information&lt;br/&gt; on how to clean silver jewelry? How to polish gold? How to clean&lt;br/&gt; diamonds? How to clean fragile opals?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Focus on your target audience!&lt;br/&gt; (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/articles/beyond_keywords&lt;br/&gt; .htm)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you sell antique books online, what about creating&lt;br/&gt; informational pages about some of the more famous authors that&lt;br/&gt; talk about their lives and their books, with links to the books&lt;br/&gt; you have for sale?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Let your creative juices flow. Visit&lt;br/&gt; http://www.wordtracker.com/moreinfo.html and do some searches to&lt;br/&gt; see what people are doing when they go online.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Read this interview article with John Alexander,&lt;br/&gt; http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/articles/wordtrackerR.html&lt;br/&gt; which goes into more detail about how to focus on your target&lt;br/&gt; audience when doing keyword research.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Create a page that's highly focused on one topic only. Don't&lt;br/&gt; deviate from that topic. Put other topics on other pages.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Finally, once you have your page(s) created, create your tags&lt;br/&gt; based on the focus of each page. Use your keyword phrase in each&lt;br/&gt; tag.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Now, you have a page that your users will appreciate and enjoy -&lt;br/&gt; a valuable page that is focused on your target audience.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; And . . . you'll also have a page that the search engines will&lt;br/&gt; love too . . . because they love focused content!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; And you didn't even have to try hard or spend a lot of time&lt;br/&gt; optimizing it, now did you?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; In Conclusion&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Remember to focus on your target audience when creating new Web&lt;br/&gt; pages. Forget about the search engines! You'll create good&lt;br/&gt; quality, valuable content that your users will love . . . and so&lt;br/&gt; will the engines.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Though this may not seem like a standard business marketing&lt;br/&gt; practice - to create information pages for people . . . not the&lt;br/&gt; search engines - this virtually free plan will help you focus on&lt;br/&gt; your target audience, bring them to your Web site, and increase&lt;br/&gt; your bottom line. Isn't that what online marketing is all about?&lt;br/&gt; Why not start today! You have all the tools you need with your&lt;br/&gt; own creativity and Wordtracker&lt;br/&gt; http://www.wordtracker.com/moreinfo.html.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Robin Nobles teaches 2-, 3-, and 5-day hands-on search engine&lt;br/&gt; marketing workshops thru http://www.searchengineworkshops.com in&lt;br/&gt; locations across the globe as well as online courses at&lt;br/&gt; http://www.onlinewebtraining.com/. Robin's partner, John&lt;br/&gt; Alexander, recently published an e-book titled, "Wordtracker&lt;br/&gt; Magic," at http://www.wordtracker-magic.com (which offers great&lt;br/&gt; tips for helping you learn how to focus on your target audience.)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Fashion After 40&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Diana Pemberton-Sikes&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;With so many designers and trends targeting the svelte body&lt;br/&gt; of the twenty-something, is it possible to look fashionable&lt;br/&gt; as the years pass and your body begins to tell the tale?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Absolutely!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; In fact, with a little ingenuity and sleigh-of-hand, it's&lt;br/&gt; easy to be fashionable and stylish regardless of how many&lt;br/&gt; candles are on your birthday cake.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Now let's be frank: unless you work out religiously, you&lt;br/&gt; probably don't have the same body at 40, 50, or 60 that you&lt;br/&gt; did at 25. Time, gravity, and pregnancy all take their toll&lt;br/&gt; on the female body, as does menopause. And when you mix a&lt;br/&gt; mature body with fashions obviously made for a younger&lt;br/&gt; person, it can lead to self-doubt, frustration, and&lt;br/&gt; confusion.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; But it doesn't have to be that way. Getting older also&lt;br/&gt; means getting wiser, and like a fine bottle of wine, you're&lt;br/&gt; improving with age. So you don't have the same body as&lt;br/&gt; those twenty-somethings you see in magazines or on TV. So&lt;br/&gt; what? Would you REALLY trade everything you've learned&lt;br/&gt; since your twenties for the body you had back then?&lt;br/&gt; Probably no sooner than you'd like to re-live puberty,&lt;br/&gt; thank you very much.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So how can you be fashionable without wearing all those&lt;br/&gt; body-conscious clothes so en vogue these days? By&lt;br/&gt; remembering the "3 C's" when you dress: clean, classic, and&lt;br/&gt; coverage.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; CLEAN&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Clean lines create a clean silhouette which makes the body&lt;br/&gt; appear more youthful by skimming the trouble spots instead&lt;br/&gt; of calling attention to them. Complicated cuts, seams, and&lt;br/&gt; details usually call for a killer body to pull off, so if&lt;br/&gt; you haven't got it, steer clear of those styles.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; CLASSIC&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Classic styles are called classic because they remain in&lt;br/&gt; style year after year. Why? Because they look good on so&lt;br/&gt; many bodies! Sheathes, A-line skirts, flat front pants -&lt;br/&gt; all tend to flatter a variety of shapes. What's more,&lt;br/&gt; because they remain in style year after year, classics are&lt;br/&gt; easier on the budget than trends.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; COVERAGE&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Covering appropriately is the key to aging gracefully. If&lt;br/&gt; your upper arms, thighs, and d�colletage have all seen&lt;br/&gt; better days, it's time to cover them up a bit instead of&lt;br/&gt; sharing the wear-and-tear with the world. Now I'm not&lt;br/&gt; talking about draping yourself in a tent for the rest of&lt;br/&gt; your life. Far from it. I'm talking about wearing short&lt;br/&gt; sleeves instead of going sleeveless, Capris instead of&lt;br/&gt; shorts, and modest necklines instead of plunging necklines.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Now I know that covering up the parts that used to turn&lt;br/&gt; heads and draw envy can be tough to take for some women.&lt;br/&gt; Which is precisely why beautiful jewelry and fine fabrics&lt;br/&gt; are the revenge tools of choice for many well-dressed&lt;br/&gt; mature women.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So your bustline isn't as perky as your twenty-something&lt;br/&gt; daughter or granddaughter. So what? Add a beautiful&lt;br/&gt; necklace and draw envious glances from women of all ages.&lt;br/&gt; Don't have the same backside you did as a teen? Encase it&lt;br/&gt; in a fine fabric and see how many men go out of the way to&lt;br/&gt; hold the door open for you. People will look where you&lt;br/&gt; focus their attention, so use that knowledge to redirect&lt;br/&gt; their interest to the parts you want them to see.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Or, as actress Cybil Shepard once said, "I like to flaunt&lt;br/&gt; what I have left."&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Don't flip through fashion magazines and bemoan the fact&lt;br/&gt; that you don't look like the models. Instead, look at the&lt;br/&gt; various fashion elements to determine what will and won't&lt;br/&gt; work for you. Are printed scarves all the rage this year?&lt;br/&gt; Grab a few and be trendy. Are mini skirts the style of&lt;br/&gt; choice? Pass and bank your money.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; See how easy this is?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; "A woman has the age she deserves," Coco Chanel once said.&lt;br/&gt; You don't have to go under cover and dress "like a little&lt;br/&gt; old lady" just because that's what your mother or&lt;br/&gt; grandmother did. You're your own person.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you remember to dress in clean lines and classic styles&lt;br/&gt; and cover appropriately, you can still be fashionable - AND&lt;br/&gt; draw long, lingering glances from handsome men -- whatever&lt;br/&gt; your age. And if THAT doesn't make you feel like a&lt;br/&gt; blushing girl again, then honey, nothing I can say will!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image&lt;br/&gt; consultant and author of "Wardrobe Magic," an&lt;br/&gt; ebook that shows women how to transform their&lt;br/&gt; unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes.&lt;br/&gt; Visit her online at www.fashionsavvy.com .&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112299608031151813?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112299608031151813/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112299608031151813' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112299608031151813'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112299608031151813'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/08/cost-effective-way-to-advertise-online.html' title='A Cost Effective Way to Advertise Online. . . A Permission E-Mail Marketing'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112292116786028087</id><published>2005-08-01T11:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-08-01T11:32:47.870-07:00</updated><title type='text'>SEO Writing Strategies for Graphic-Oriented Sites</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Karon Thackston&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;by Karon Thackston © 2003&lt;br/&gt; http://www.copywritingcourse.com&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; As a copywriter, I'd love to tell you that every site on the Web needs tons of copy. However, the simple truth is not all do. Many sites simply produce better sales when they use more graphics than words. Since search engines are hungry for words you simply have to use copy if you plan to get ranked high. Quite a dilemma, isn't it?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So what do you do if you're a graphic designer, if you sell jewelry, or if you have another site that needs more pictures than copy? Don't despair. There are some strategies that can help you reach a happy medium satisfying both your visitors and the engines.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 1. Use Descriptions - Place keyworded descriptions under each graphic on your pages. Just a sentence or two for each one can add up and give you enough room to achieve good keyword saturation.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 2. Break the Copy Into Sections - Instead of having all 250-350 words of copy in one place, break your copy into small sections. For example, place a headline and three sentences at the top of the page, a few words under your bottom navigation bar, and a short paragraph above your "Order Now" link. The engines will find the words regardless of where on the page they are, but your visitors won't be overwhelmed by seeing all the copy in one place.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 3. Don't Neglect ALT Tags - Don't abuse them, either! ALT tags (technically known as image alt attributes) are designed to give short descriptions of graphics on your page. They are read to those who can't see well (when they use special text-to-speech software). Abusing ALT tags by stuffing them full of arbitrary keywords or extremely long descriptions is frowned upon by the engines. However, feel free to assign a short keyword phrase that describes each graphic you have.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 4. Go Below the Fold - Copy can always be placed "below the fold." This term is used to describe the section of your index page that is not visible when the page first loads. In order to see it, the visitor would have to scroll vertically. If you've designed your index page to be fully visible without scrolling, consider using the space below the design to insert your copy.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 5. Use the Sidebar - If your site design uses a sidebar for the navigation links, use the empty space for short bits of copy. Even the statement "Order ________ Now" will give you one more instance of keyword placement.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; 6. Create Bulleted Lists - Many people don't perceive lists as copy. For this reason, you can use bulleted lists (or numbered lists) where traditional "sentence" copy wouldn't work. Tip: Instead of creating a list that reads:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; We meet all your ____ needs by:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; �offering the lowest price.&lt;br/&gt; �providing first-rate service.&lt;br/&gt; �shipping your order in just 24 hours.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Create a list that reads like this:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; At ABC Company, we offer you:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; �the lowest price on ______.&lt;br/&gt; �first-rate service. Ask us any questions you have about ____.&lt;br/&gt; �shipping of your _____ in just 24 hours.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; See the difference? More keywords in the same amount of copy.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you use a little creativity, you can get enough keyword saturation in your copy without it cluttering up your site. This is sure to please both the search engines and your site visitors.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Copy not getting results? Let Karon write targeted, SEO copy for you. Visit her site at http://www.marketingwords.com, or learn to write your own copy at http://www.copywritingcourse.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Karon's free ezine at http://www.marketingwords.com/ezine.html&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Spiritual Meanings of Gemstones and Native American folklore&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Tarl Michael&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Through out human history every thing imaginable on earth and in the skys has been associated with a spiritual meaning and that includes gemstones.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; At Bearlanders Trading Co. we ship our merchandise with a spiritual meaning card. Including our dream catchers and kachina dolls. Here is a list of those spiritual meanings, passed on to us by Native American Indians who craft our jewelry and gifts.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Amber (golden transparent color):This beautiful golden-color stone was once thought to be pieces of the Sun which had fallen to Earth. Amber is actually fossilized resin from extinct pine trees, many pieces of Amber have insects or plants encased. It is thought to relieve sore throats and minor infections.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Amethyst (purple color): Conducts peaceful energy, aids intuition, encourages freedom from addictions.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Aventurine (green in color): Releases anxiety and fear, boosts tranquility, promotes decisiveness and leadership skills.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Charoite (purple in color): Comes from a river in Siberia, Russia. It is thought to promote courage and healing. And release us from our fears!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Coral (red color): Is said to aid in the circulation of the body and to enrich the blood.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Hematite (metallic dark grey color): Energizes and revitalizes you. It attunes the mind and positively effects the bloodstream.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Howlite (White with Gray Marbling): Howlite is thought to aid in breathing.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Jasper (brownish-red color): Nurturing, protects against negativity; promotes healing to kidneys, liver, spleen and bladder.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Lapis (dark blue to purple color): Lapis is thought to bring the gift of strength, self-assurance and increase sensitivity to your higher power. Denim Lapis is light blue color with darker blue speckling.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Malachite (dark green color): Clarifies emotions, facilitates insights. It removes obstruction, represents fidelity and loyalty.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Opal (milky white with spectral colors): Known as "The Gem of the Gods," Opal has always had a mystical significance. Opal is thought to aid in psychic vision and to have the power to open the spiritual centers. Opal is also believed to heighten weak emotions and to strengthen the memory.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Onyx (black color): It is said to drive away unwanted thoughts and bad temper. In folklore, Onyx is considered a stabilizing stone, especially during times of extreme stress because it prevented loss of energy from the body.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Snowflake Obsidian (black with white marbling): Obsidian is Volcanic glass (but is not sharp) and is thought to bring out the truth. It helps calm fear and maintain balance in time of change.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Sodalite (bark blue with white marbling): Is thought to stimulate courage, alleviating fears and calming anguish. It is thought to promote understanding and balance for spiritual growth.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Sugilite (Sugilite is deep purple in color): Is associated with spirituality and mysticism. Sugilite is thought to increase psychic abilities and increase insight.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Tigereye (golden color): Tigereye is thought to balance negative and positive energy, bringing clarity and enhance psychic ability.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Turquoise (blue color): Turquoise jewelry is very popular today, it is an endless fashion through out the world. The early Egyptians mined Turquoise as far back as 5000 BC. Turquoise is one of the main stones that the Dine' (Navajo) use in their jewelry work and in religious ceremonies. It is thought to promote healing and good luck. Turquoise can be found in various colors from green to blue. Turquoise is mined in many parts of the world including Iran, Afghanistan, Australia and here in the United States it is mined Arizona and New Mexico. The Native American Indians have used turquoise for jewelry as far back as the 1600's, but the introduction of silver came from the Spanish. And the combination of silver and turquoise is said to have been taught by a mexican silversmith in the 1800,s.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Wild Horse (white with black ): Wild Horse is mined in Nevada and is sometimes called White Turquoise or White Buffalo, but it is 75% Magnasite and 25% Hematite. One of the most popular stones in the Southwestern today is the Beautiful Black and White Wild Horse. This stone is thought to energize and revitalize you, it also represents beauty, strength and determination.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Totem :&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The animal spirits whose qualities we most associate with or those animal spirits which most associate with us. These are qualities that we feel most connected to or qualities that are connected with us. It is a simple belief, that we are all connected, humans, animals and mother earth.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Our animal spirits (totems) can guide us through all or certain parts of our lives. An easy way to learn your totem is to find a quiet place and concentrate or meditate. Don't try too hard or your totems will elude you. It is possible to have several totems and these totems can change as we change throughout life.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Every animal on earth is sacred, revered or has spiritual meaning in one culture or another. Just as the Eagle symbolizes unity, strength and freedom for the United States. Below we list the symbolic meaning of animals in many Native American Indian traditions.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Badger :Cures the sick, prays for the growth of healing herbs to be given to him.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Buffalo :Is thought to be a great spiritual protector, bringing nurishment to the body and soul. When a white or albino Buffalo is born, it is thought to bring peace among nations.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Bear :Symbolizes strength and power. The Bear is considered to be one of the most powerful and sacred of all animals. Because the Bear hibernates, it is considered to bring the gift of renewal. The Bear Kachina is thought to have great power to cure the sick.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Crow (kachina doll) :Is beneficial to agriculture because of his destruction of rodents.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Eagle :The Eagle represents strength and power, is the ruler of the sky &amp;amp; the messenger to the heavens.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Lizard (kachina doll):Is thought to bring sweethearts together.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Owl (kachina doll):Symbolizes intelligence and Wisdom, it is very benificial to agriculture because of his destruction of rodents.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Wolf :Represents the Hunter, he uses his knowledge to find and capture game animals.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Chasing Star (kachina doll) :Chasing Star symbolizes the planets and the stars.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Morning Singer (kachina doll) :Appears on roof tops and sings songs to wake the village.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Sunface (kachina doll) :Represents warmth, shelter for the old, a bright future, and playfulness for the young.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The Arrowhead :Arrowhead is thought to represent the hunter and also symbolizes the adventurer in each of us.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The above is for entertainment purposes only! These meanings are considered folklore or myth. Bearlanders Trading Co. does not make any such claims to the above statements. Thank You !&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; www.BearlandersTradingCo.com is the leader in affordable Native American jewelry. Bearlanders is currently offering every item at reduced prices and through the month of July take advantage of additional 30% saving by using the coupon code jly5x.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Tarl Michael owner of Bearlanders Trading co., On-line store http://www.BearlandersTradingCo.com, has been purchasing American Indian jewelry for retail sales over the past 6 years.&lt;br/&gt; Any business venture can prove to be difficult but not impossible. Just like: "Landing a Bear!" Bearlanders is inspired by the traditions of the American Indian including their crafting skills passed down from generation to generation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112292116786028087?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112292116786028087/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112292116786028087' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112292116786028087'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112292116786028087'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/08/seo-writing-strategies-for-graphic.html' title='SEO Writing Strategies for Graphic-Oriented Sites'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112290877317798382</id><published>2005-08-01T08:06:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-08-01T08:06:13.186-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How Much Should You Pay for a Click</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Andy Quick&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Title: "How Much Should You Pay for a Click?"&lt;br/&gt; Copyright © 2002&lt;br/&gt; Author: Andy Quick&lt;br/&gt; Contact Author: mailto:andy@findmyhosting.com&lt;br/&gt; Website: http:// http://www.findmyhosting.com/web-&lt;br/&gt; resources/Articles/howmuch.htm&lt;br/&gt; Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article&lt;br/&gt; electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box&lt;br/&gt; at bottom is included. No notification required.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; How Much Should You Pay for a Click?&lt;br/&gt; Andy Quick&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; You have a web site ready for action. Your product catalog, order&lt;br/&gt; tracking, credit card payment system, and fulfillment process are all&lt;br/&gt; in place. Now all you need is traffic! Many web entrepreneurs have&lt;br/&gt; learned that the magic nut to crack is attraction: get a steady flow of&lt;br/&gt; customers who explore your site and eventually purchase goods. The&lt;br/&gt; overhead costs of most web businesses are minimal relative to brick and&lt;br/&gt; mortar stores. However, the variable marketing costs can over shadow&lt;br/&gt; sales revenues by orders of magnitudes. Unfortunately, unlike the&lt;br/&gt; saying in the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will not&lt;br/&gt; come!" Luckily, the industry has learned this lesson; some the hard&lt;br/&gt; way, and others in spite of the losers. Dot-coms are clearly not the&lt;br/&gt; darlings of the capital markets any longer; however, there is still&lt;br/&gt; money to be made! If you plan to start a web business or already have&lt;br/&gt; one but are not sure how to increase traffic and make money at the same&lt;br/&gt; time, you should consider a science-driven approach. What does that&lt;br/&gt; mean? Read on-&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; How to Lose $500 in 12 Hours&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; One weekend, my business partner and I created an affiliate commerce&lt;br/&gt; site. The site comprised a list of links to other online retailers.&lt;br/&gt; People go to our site, pick a link to a jewelry store for example, buy&lt;br/&gt; something, and in turn we receive a commission from the sale. The&lt;br/&gt; process of creating the site, signing up the affiliate agreements, and&lt;br/&gt; turning it on was a cinch. The cost was virtually nothing. We, being&lt;br/&gt; new to this whole web business concept, thought we had an incredibly&lt;br/&gt; smart marketing idea: pay to have our site come up in an ad box on a&lt;br/&gt; major search engine (Google) every time someone searched on the word&lt;br/&gt; "gifts". The word gifts is searched for 49,000 times per day! We&lt;br/&gt; figured we would have a good flow of visitors and the money would start&lt;br/&gt; rolling in. For certain, we would at least break even. We sunk $500 in&lt;br/&gt; one day and let it rip. Here's what happened:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Our investment in Google - $ 500&lt;br/&gt; Number of times our ad was displayed (impressions) - 36,964&lt;br/&gt; Number of times people actually clicked on our ad when they saw it&lt;br/&gt; (click-throughs) - 429&lt;br/&gt; Number of times a person visiting our site made a purchase - 10&lt;br/&gt; Our total sales revenue- $ 77&lt;br/&gt; Our total gross profit - $ (428)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The whole process took less than 12 hours. At least we learned a lesson&lt;br/&gt; quickly at a relatively low cost. Let's look at this event from a&lt;br/&gt; slightly different perspective, putting the costs in terms of number of&lt;br/&gt; visitors:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Our investment in Google - $ 500&lt;br/&gt; Number of times our ad was displayed (impressions) - 36,964&lt;br/&gt; Number of times people actually clicked on our ad when they saw it&lt;br/&gt; (click-throughs) - 429&lt;br/&gt; Ad cost per visitor - $ 1.17&lt;br/&gt; Number of times a person visiting our site made a purchase - 10&lt;br/&gt; Average sale per purchase - $ 7.70&lt;br/&gt; Average revenue per visitor - $ 0.18&lt;br/&gt; Average gross profit per visitor - $ (0.99)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; We were basically giving $1 away for each visitor that came to the&lt;br/&gt; site. Not a winning business model. However, taking this information,&lt;br/&gt; we can assess which marketing techniques can work best for the&lt;br/&gt; business. Let's add 2 additional critical data points to our table:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Our investment in Google - $ 500&lt;br/&gt; Number of times our ad was displayed (impressions)- 36,964&lt;br/&gt; Number of times people actually clicked on our ad when they saw it&lt;br/&gt; (click-throughs) - 429&lt;br/&gt; Percentage people who clicked on our ad (click-through rate)- % 1.16&lt;br/&gt; Ad cost per visitor - $ 1.17&lt;br/&gt; Number of times a person visiting our site made a purchase - 10&lt;br/&gt; Percentage of visitors who purchased something (conversion rate)-% 2.3&lt;br/&gt; Average sale per purchase- $ 7.70&lt;br/&gt; Average revenue per visitor- $ 0.18&lt;br/&gt; Average gross profit per visitor- $ (0.99)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Running the Numbers&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Putting this all together, you can create a formula for estimating the&lt;br/&gt; gross margin per visitor for a specific marketing campaign:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitor = Average revenue per visitor -&lt;br/&gt; Advertising Cost per Visitor&lt;br/&gt; Advertising Cost per Visitor = Campaign Costs /(Impressions x Click-&lt;br/&gt; through rate)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average revenue per visitor = Conversion rate x Average sale per&lt;br/&gt; purchase&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Putting it together:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitor = (Conversion rate x Average sale per&lt;br/&gt; purchase) - (Campaign Costs / Impressions x Click-through rate)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Using our Google example, the average gross margin per visitor would be&lt;br/&gt; calculated as:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitor = (0.023 x $ 7.7) - $500 / (36,964 x&lt;br/&gt; .016) = (0.99)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Remember, this formula can only be used for a single type of campaign.&lt;br/&gt; Depending upon your target audience and the type of campaign, all of&lt;br/&gt; the above variables can change. When we launched our Google campaign,&lt;br/&gt; we used impression-based advertising, that is, we paid Google a certain&lt;br/&gt; amount of money for every 1,000 impressions of our ad (about $15 per&lt;br/&gt; 1,000 impressions in our example). However, just because our ad was&lt;br/&gt; displayed inside someone's browser did not mean they would click on the&lt;br/&gt; ad itself.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Enter pay-per-click advertising. This advertising model allows you to&lt;br/&gt; pay for an ad only when a person actually clicks on it. In this model,&lt;br/&gt; you are guaranteed to get visitors. However, the cost per click is&lt;br/&gt; usually much higher. Let us assume we ran our same Google campaign&lt;br/&gt; except we used pay-per-click advertising. Pay-per-click also factors in&lt;br/&gt; position which will drive the amount you pay per click (the higher the&lt;br/&gt; ad position on the screen, the higher the price per click will be).&lt;br/&gt; Let's say we pay google $0.50 per click and based on Google's traffic&lt;br/&gt; for the word gifts, we receive 170 clicks per day (or visitors), or in&lt;br/&gt; total 1000 visitors over the life of the campaign (we still only put in&lt;br/&gt; $500, so $500/$0.50 = 1000). Using our same ratios, let us re-compute&lt;br/&gt; our Average Gross Margin per Visitor, modifying our formula slightly&lt;br/&gt; (notice the formula is simpler):&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitor = (Conversion rate x Average sale per&lt;br/&gt; purchase) - (Campaign Costs / Visitors)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Plugging in the numbers:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitors = (.023 x $ 7.7) - ($500 / 1000) =&lt;br/&gt; (0.32)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If we used a pay-per-click advertising model, we could have saved $100.&lt;br/&gt; Either way, we would have lost money, but imagine if we had started&lt;br/&gt; with $5,000 instead of $500. The nice feature of pay-per-click is that&lt;br/&gt; you know ahead of time how many visitors you will receive. If you know&lt;br/&gt; your conversion rate and your average sale, you can modify the formula&lt;br/&gt; to determine the most you should pay for a pay-per-click campaign:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Max Pay-per-click = (Conversion rate x Average Sale per purchase)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; In our Google example, our maximum pay-per-click should be $0.18. For&lt;br/&gt; every penny we pay less than our maximum pay-per-click, we're making&lt;br/&gt; money! Unfortunately, as of this writing, the minimum pay-per-click&lt;br/&gt; cost for the word "gifts" on Google is $0.37. The ultimate lesson is&lt;br/&gt; that for this particular site, the Google marketing campaign will not&lt;br/&gt; generate sales revenues. But is that really true? We could increase our&lt;br/&gt; conversion rate and our average sale per purchase. We could increase&lt;br/&gt; our conversion rate by optimizing the design of the web pages. We could&lt;br/&gt; increase our average sale per purchase by entering affiliate agreements&lt;br/&gt; that offer higher commissions. Let's say we used the $0.37 pay-per-&lt;br/&gt; click model on Google for our gift site. In order to make money we&lt;br/&gt; would have to get our average revenue per visitor to at least $0.38. If&lt;br/&gt; we just focused on our conversion rate, we would need to increase the&lt;br/&gt; percentage of visitors who make a purchase to 4.9%. If we left&lt;br/&gt; conversion rate alone, we would need to increase the average sale per&lt;br/&gt; purchase to $16.50. Alternatively, we could try and increase them both.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Not All Ad Models Are Created Equal&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Using the same model, let's look at a different type of campaign:&lt;br/&gt; newsletter advertising. This form of advertising involves placing an ad&lt;br/&gt; embedded in a newsletter that is distributed to a subscriber base via&lt;br/&gt; email. The model for calculating average gross margin per visitor is&lt;br/&gt; exactly the same as impression based, except your target market is&lt;br/&gt; different. For example, let us say we spend $1,000 to place an ad in an&lt;br/&gt; email newsletter about shopping tips. And let's say the newsletter&lt;br/&gt; reaches 500,000 subscribers. If we used the same click-through rates&lt;br/&gt; and conversion rates, our average gross margin per visitor would be:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Average Gross Margin per Visitor = (.023 x $ 7.7) - $1000 / (500,000 x&lt;br/&gt; .0116) = $0.004&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; We're making money!! (not much, but the margin is positive).&lt;br/&gt; Translation: this campaign brings us under a half a penny per visitor.&lt;br/&gt; Another helpful ratio is to calculate the return on your advertising&lt;br/&gt; dollar:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Return of Advertising = [(Impressions x Click-through rate x Conversion&lt;br/&gt; rate x Average sale per purchase) - Campaign Cost] / Campaign Cost&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Or in our case:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Return of Advertising = [(500,000 x .0116 x .023 x $ 7.7) - $1000] /&lt;br/&gt; $1000 = 2.7%. Translation: you're making 2.7 cents in gross revenue&lt;br/&gt; for every dollar of advertising you spend. Also keep in my mind that&lt;br/&gt; this newsletter reaches a different target audience. While people on&lt;br/&gt; Google may casually look for gifts, the recipients of a shopping&lt;br/&gt; newsletter may have a higher tendency to buy (i.e. your conversion rate&lt;br/&gt; may be higher). If your conversion rate were higher, let's say 3%, your&lt;br/&gt; new average gross margin per visitor becomes $0.05!! or a 34% return on&lt;br/&gt; our dollar.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The Bottom Line&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Using formulas to compute the success of marketing plans is extremely&lt;br/&gt; helpful and reduces the risk of throwing away precious advertising&lt;br/&gt; dollars. However, understand that each marketing campaign will differ&lt;br/&gt; based on cost per click, conversion rates, target audience, and average&lt;br/&gt; sales per purchase. I encourage you to track all the data available&lt;br/&gt; about your marketing campaigns so you can realize profits instead of&lt;br/&gt; losses.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Marketing on the web can be difficult. Predicting the behavior of&lt;br/&gt; surfers is an art unto itself. Before you begin spending a lot of money&lt;br/&gt; on advertising, experiment with different types of campaigns, track all&lt;br/&gt; of the results, and make future marketing decisions based on real&lt;br/&gt; customer behavior. Also keep in mind that there are other, free forms&lt;br/&gt; of advertising. Writing articles, participating in newsgroups, print&lt;br/&gt; advertising, and email marketing are other examples. Remember that all&lt;br/&gt; of these marketing techniques will have different click-through rates,&lt;br/&gt; conversion rates, and revenues per visitor.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Andy Quick is co-founder of Findmyhosting.com (www.findmyhosting.com),&lt;br/&gt; a free web hosting directory offering businesses and consumers a hassle&lt;br/&gt; free way to find the right hosting plan for their needs. Feel free to&lt;br/&gt; contact Andy at andy@findmyhosting.com in case you have any questions&lt;br/&gt; or comments regarding this article.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Andy Quick is co-founder of Findmyhosting.com (www.findmyhosting.com),&lt;br/&gt; a free web hosting directory offering businesses and consumers a hassle&lt;br/&gt; free way to find the right hosting plan for their needs. Feel free to&lt;br/&gt; contact Andy at andy@findmyhosting.com in case you have any questions&lt;br/&gt; or comments regarding this article.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Vacationing Tips to Protect You and Your Family&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Jordan Walt&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;A.I.C. Insurance Agency Offers Vacation Tips to Protect You and Your Family&lt;br/&gt; Milwaukie, OR Feb. 28, 2005 - Vacations should be a time spent having fun and relaxing. By taking a few extra precautions while traveling, you can prevent yourself, or your friends and family, from being a victim of crime. A.I.C. Insurance Agency and Travelers, a leading provider of auto and homeowners insurance, offer these safety tips to help you, your friends and family have a fun and safe vacation:&lt;br/&gt; � Do not carry large amounts of cash. Use traveler's checks that can usually be replaced within 24 hours.&lt;br/&gt; � Use ATMs only during daylight hours. If you must use one after dark, try and find a well-lit, busy area such as a grocery store.&lt;br/&gt; � Leave copies of trip information with a friend or family member at home. This includes credit card numbers, passport numbers, plane tickets and itinerary&lt;br/&gt; information, and phone numbers for your credit card companies.&lt;br/&gt; � Keep credit cards, cash, passport, and plane tickets separate.&lt;br/&gt; � Wear a "money purse" underneath your clothes that contains passport, phone numbers for credit card companies, and a small amount of cash, should your wallet get stolen.&lt;br/&gt; � Carry a "dummy" wallet in your back pocket containing $20 which, if you were to be mugged, would satisfy the robber without draining all of your funds.&lt;br/&gt; � Have your mail delivery stopped while on vacation. If you have a neighbor&lt;br/&gt; retrieving mail and newspapers while you are away, ensure that they will be there&lt;br/&gt; every day. Nothing says an empty house like a stack of mail or newspapers at the front door.&lt;br/&gt; � Do not assume your personal documents are safe in your hotel room. Lock them in a safe while the room is unoccupied.&lt;br/&gt; � Have separate ATM, debit and credit cards and make sure that you need a PIN for in-store use of a debit card, not only for the ATM.&lt;br/&gt; � For women, do not hang purses on the back of bathroom stall doors. It is very easy for someone to reach over the door and grab it.&lt;br/&gt; � Leave your regular checkbook at home. If your checks are stolen, it's difficult to cancel them and track their use as you would a credit card. Plus, if someone reorders checks in your name, you won't realize it until you receive your bank statement.&lt;br/&gt; � Only carry credit cards that you will need on vacation. Leave cards for particular department stores or things like gas cards at home.&lt;br/&gt; � Remember that your credit card number is on your plane tickets, so treat them as you would a credit card.&lt;br/&gt; � Cover ATM key pads when entering your PIN. People could be watching over your shoulder, or even from a distance, and then later attempt to steal your wallet and use this information.&lt;br/&gt; � Use common sense when traveling. Do not draw attention to yourself as a tourist. Avoid reading maps in a busy, high-traffic area, carry your camera in a tote bag rather than the carrying case, and do not flaunt large amounts of cash when removing money from your wallet or pocket.&lt;br/&gt; Your homeowners, condo or renters insurance policy may cover loss or damage of your personal items while traveling, up to specified limits. Take time before you go on vacation to compile a personal property inventory, which helps determine replacement cost of lost items. Document each item's year of purchase and original price. Items that may exceed policy limits, such as jewelry, cameras and golf equipment, need additional protection such as Travelers valuable items insurance. To ensure you have the coverage you need, contact your independent insurance agent.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Established in 1995, AIC Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including auto, home, life, commercial, and more.&lt;br/&gt; For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit AIC Insurance Agency at 14000 SE Johnson Rd. Ste.210 in Milwaukie, OR, or call 503-653-8287.&lt;br/&gt; Travelers, the second largest writer of auto and homeowners insurance through independent agents, is a member of St. Paul Travelers, a leading provider of property casualty insurance and asset management services. For more information, visit www.travelers.com&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Graduate of Oregon State University, and independent insurance agent in Oregon.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112290877317798382?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112290877317798382/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112290877317798382' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112290877317798382'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112290877317798382'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/08/how-much-should-you-pay-for-click.html' title='How Much Should You Pay for a Click'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112283704157438998</id><published>2005-07-31T12:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-31T12:10:41.583-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Celebrate Togetherness, Not Resentments</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Lynn Cutts&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;When we get together with family, especially during this hectic time of year, we often find old childhood hurts, feelings, and reactions popping up. We regress; we even lose some of our identity as independent adults. The end result is that a holiday that is supposed to be a celebration of gratitude, fellowship, and giving becomes an ordeal.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; It doesn't have to be that way. Here are a few quick hints to help you enjoy, rather than suffer, through that holiday get-together:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; � Relax, and remember - it's about fellowship, connection, and fun, not about perfection.&lt;br/&gt; � Look for the positive side in everything. There is always a positive side.&lt;br/&gt; � Don't say anything negative to or about anyone or anything. It won't help or change the situation, and will just make things worse.&lt;br/&gt; � Don't bring up politics, religion, or any other controversial topic that can lead to arguments.&lt;br/&gt; � Bring along some little thing (A photo? A piece of jewelry? An emergency stash of chocolate?) to remind you that you are successful, creative, resourceful, and all grown up. And that you can act like it.&lt;br/&gt; � Limit your alcohol intake; it loosens tongues, ethics, and discretion.&lt;br/&gt; � When you're in a conversation, listen to what's being said instead of planning what you're going to say next. Focus your attention on the other person. (It's a coaching skill, but you can do it, too.)&lt;br/&gt; � Ask others about their lives; don't hog the floor. Dust off your curiosity. Ask open-ended questions.&lt;br/&gt; � If someone is hogging the attention, or the conversation, start a separate conversation with someone who's looking left out. Work to make them feel better. You'll feel better too.&lt;br/&gt; � If you're the host or hostess, plan, plan, plan! Do as much as you can ahead of time, even to setting the table. (You can do it as much as a week in advance, then just cover it with a bed sheet.) Ask your guests to bring a dish, or to help out in the kitchen. Giving people something to do is a great ice breaker and helps them feel included.&lt;br/&gt; � If you're a guest, offer to help! No matter what the host or hostess says, bring a little something: a small flower arrangement, after dinner candy (chocolate - of course - is always welcome, and mints are great), a bottle of wine. And don't forget the thank you note, handwritten, later! It may be a pain, but it will make your hosts feel wonderful.&lt;br/&gt; � Go around the table and ask everyone to say one thing they are thankful for. You might be surprised what comes up -- and it can start the meal off in a wonderful, positive direction.&lt;br/&gt; � Reminisce about the good times. I know there were some. How can you create more?&lt;br/&gt; � Consider planning or suggesting activities other than eating and drinking. Play touch football outside or go for a walk. Bring a board game (yes, it's un-cool) or work on a jigsaw puzzle. It's much more fun to be arguing about landing on Boardwalk than old, un-resolved family issues.&lt;br/&gt; � Finally, if you absolutely know it's going to be pure hell, don't go. You don't need the aggravation, and neither does anyone else. Make reservations instead of having them.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Remember, the holidays are about celebrating, not about family therapy, old hurts or resentments. Leave those at home, and you'll have a much better time. (To ensure that everyone is on the same page, why not forward them this article?)&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; NOTE: You're welcome to use this article online in electronic newsletters and e-zines as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end). If use of this article is desired in print, you must first contact Lynn Cutts at Lynn@ManageYourMuse.com.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Copyright 2004 Lynn Cutts&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Lynn Cutts, the Muse of Manage Your Muse, is a life coach, writer, and general chocolate lover. To learn more about Lynn and her coaching, please visit her site at http://www.ManageYourMuse.com.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Look Fashionable At The Beach!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Sher Matsen&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;It's that time of year when we pack up our bags and head to the beach for the day to enjoy those warm sunrays and the refreshing sound of the lapping water.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So what constitutes a good beach wardrobe. Well there are certain essentials that none of us forget. On goes the swimsuit and bathing suit cover, flip flops on our feet. Beach bag has been packed with the essentials - sunglasses, floppy hat, towel and a good book. Great - got the basics covered but what about the rest.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So if we are so prepared for a day at the beach, why is it by the time we get home we look pretty worn. Here are some helpful tips to make your day at the beach fun and keep you looking fashion fresh all day and all the way home.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; First before you leave home, if you've got long hair pull it into a high pony tail or fun knot. Use some funky hair accessories that will stay in place when you're swimming. Try a fun colored bobble or some firm fastening clips in bright summer colors. If you pull your hair up your neck will stay cool and you'll look fresh all day with your neat hairdo.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Second slather yourself in sunscreen before leaving the house, then toss the sunscreen in your bag so you can reapply after a swim or every few hours. A sunburn is not only unhealthy and painful, it's unattractive, so don't let yourself turn into the lobster of the day. Your sunscreen should be a SPF of 15. It doesn't hurt to use a strong SPF on your face or your entire body if you burn easily.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Your beach bag should be large enough to hold your supplies for the day. Why not get something fun and fashionable to keep you looking fashion fresh. Make sure you've got all the daily essentials in your bag - sunglasses, sunscreen, a good book, a floppy hat, some lip gloss, and any other makeup touch ups you'll want. If you plan to wear eye makeup make sure it's waterproof. Stay away from heavy foundations. If you must apply something use a bronzer moisturizer. It's also a good idea to bring lip balm with an SPF15 to protect your lips. It never hurts to put some moisturizer in the bag. Include a snack and plenty of fluids. It's important not to get dehydrated.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Okay great we've got the basics covered now what about the wardrobe basics? If you're planning to wear a swimsuit it's usually easiest to put it on at home, that way you're not chasing down change rooms. So great - first on goes the swimsuit. Now what to wear for a cover? Well you've got plenty of choices. A tank top and shorts, tank and skort, or a nice light cotton dress all work well over top. Choose something that's easy to put on and take off, and choose fabrics that breathe to keep you cool. I also suggest including a long sleeved cotton blouse just incase you start to burn you can protect your shoulders and arms.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you're planning on heading out later in the day without returning home you might want to toss a pair of jeans or long skirt into your bag. If your outing is going to extend into the evening you'll want to include a sweater for the cooler evening air. If you're worried about your evening wear getting sandy or wet at the beach, then place them in a separate bag and leave them in the trunk of your car. That way you are guaranteed they'll remain fresh.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; My favorite beach look is this. And what's perfect is it keeps me looking fashion fresh throughout the day and takes me right into the evening. First I like a swimsuit that's got lots of support and is bright and cheerful. I throw a fitted tank on top and throw on a loose flouncy long skirt. The long skirt serves me through the evening and also works great to cover up if I'm starting to burn. I choose a lightweight material in a darker color with a pattern that accents the colors in my swimsuit. Flip flops are my footwear. Depending on where I'm heading after the beach I choose either a basic pair or one of my funky pair with rhinestones or crystals. Easy to walk in, feet breath, and terrific for an evening out. I keep a fitted light weight sweater in my car, and take a long sleeved cotton blouse down to the beach. I usually choose a long sleeved and long length blouse because it's versatile. I can knot it to create a short blouse, wear it long as a beach cover, and put it on if I start to burn on my upper body. I usually choose white or a soft pastel depending on my other colors. I like white because it's cool to wear and refreshing to look at. Every year I buy a fun new beach tote that's big enough for the beach but not too big as to take it with me for an evening out. I like a fun bag that's full of character.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Since I always feel naked without my jewelry I wear fashion jewelry to the beach. That way should I loose something I won't be out a lot of money and I won't feel so bad. I like to keep the earrings simple and elegant. I may or may not wear a necklace. Often I'll toss a funky wood necklace in the bag to add to the evening outfit. I like to wear a couple of fashion rings just to add the finishing touches. Now if you're fussy about tan lines you'll probably want to forgo the rings. I toss my watch in the bottom of my bag so I can put it on later.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; That's it - simple is the key. Keep your beach wardrobe choices simple but fashionable. Think ahead so you can go from beach to an evening out without hassle. Remember to always make your fashion statement!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; © Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; About the author:&lt;br/&gt; Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at &lt;a href="http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/"&gt;Estate Jewelry International&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112283704157438998?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112283704157438998/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112283704157438998' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112283704157438998'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112283704157438998'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/celebrate-togetherness-not-resentments.html' title='Celebrate Togetherness, Not Resentments'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112282025255635176</id><published>2005-07-31T07:30:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-31T07:30:52.563-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Diamond Solitaire rings - The Ultimate In Engagement Rings</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Peter Leigh&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;There are no better rings to seal your engagement than diamond solitaire rings. The ultimate in diamond rings, diamond solitaire rings are the only ring for the woman who wants the best in wedding jewelry.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; What is a diamond solitaire ring? Simple. A diamond solitaire ring is a ring with one diamond. That's all. Just one diamond. Nothing else to distract from that one magnificent stone.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Why are diamond solitaire engagement rings the best engagement rings? Well firstly because they are a diamond ring. Diamonds are the best of all jewelry stones available to the serious jewelry buyer. And there are a lot of other stones out there. All sorts of colored stones, diamond copies, diamond simulants and so on. Most of them beautiful stones.&lt;br/&gt; But none of them are diamonds.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Why are there so many diamond copies, man made diamonds? Because diamonds are the best, and it is the best that is copied.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Your engagement ring is one of the most important buying decisions you will ever make. Think about it. What else can you buy that will be with you for life?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Your house? No, not really, most people keep a house for a few years and then move on. Your car? Never!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Is there anything? I can't think of anything that is more enduring than a diamond solitaire engagement ring. Nothing else that goes through life with you. So if it's that important then get a good one. Once you've got it then it's too late to change your mind.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; And why diamonds? Why not some other type of beautiful jewelry stone?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diamonds represent the ultimate. The best. There is no better jewelry stone than a diamond, and no more expensive. By buying a diamond you're saying "only the best for us". You're making a commitment that you are prepared to spend some serious money on the one most important and enduring purchase you will ever make. Your diamond solitaire ring.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; And why a solitaire ring? There are lots of beautiful rings with diamonds. Thousands of styles, a whole world of choices. Why choose a diamond solitaire ring?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Just because that's what it is. A solitaire. You are getting the biggest diamond for your money. One that stands out. One that people will admire.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; There are some beautiful three stone diamond rings. Magnificent rings. But not solitaires. Three small diamonds just don't cut it like one large one.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diamond engagement rings have a long and proud tradition. The giving a diamond engagement ring to a woman as a symbol of a promise to marry began in 1477 with the engagement of Archduke Maximillian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. The Archduke selected a diamond engagement ring and his decision has been copied ever since.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; It was even said then that cupids arrows were tipped with diamonds which imbued the couple with the magic of love.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diamond solitaire rings encapsulate that magic of love.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diamond engagement rings have a symbolism from centuries past. They are the ultimate in engagement rings. And diamond solitaire rings are the ultimate in diamond engagement rings.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Find out more about &lt;a href="http://www.delectable-diamond-rings.com/diamond-solitaire-rings.html" target="_new"&gt; Diamond Solitaire Rings&lt;/a&gt; as well as many other types of Diamond Rings including &lt;a href="http://www.delectable-diamond-rings.com/diamond-engagement-rings.html" target="_new"&gt; Diamond Engagement Rings&lt;/a&gt; at Peter's website Delectable Diamond Rings. © 2005 Peter Leigh.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;All that Glitters-Something Old, Something New...&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; M J Plaster&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Brides through the ages have accessorized with wedding jewelry to add a finishing touch to their bridal attire; however, many brides who don't wear jewelry in everyday life jump at the chance to wear it on their wedding day. Is it the special occasion or the chance to play dress-up that prompts these brides to don the unthinkable-jewelry?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Those brides too practical to care about jewelry in real life use it on their wedding day to check off all the "somethings" that bring good luck-something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Whatever your reason for wearing jewelry on your wedding day, it should complement the overall theme of the wedding, including the formality of the occasion, the design of the wedding dress, and the bridal color scheme if your jewelry includes color.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The traditional bridal jewelry ensemble consists of pearl and/or diamond earrings and necklace, often heirloom pieces (something old, something borrowed). Pearls top the list as the most popular bridal jewelry. Originally worn as a symbol of purity, pearls are understated, elegant and timeless. If you listen closely and put your ear to the ground, you can almost hear that chorus of all the Mothers of the Brides from here to Timbuktu: "Dear, you cannot go wrong with pearls." For once, Mother's mantra hits the mark.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The same holds true for diamonds. You can't go wrong with real diamonds. A rare bride can afford to be gaudy and showy with diamonds, and those who can know better. It's the blinding array of affordable simulated diamonds that leads to trouble. On your wedding day, less is always more unless you're Elizabeth Taylor. There's a fine line between a fairy tale look and gaudy. If you're not sure whether you're crossing the line, ask for help from a trusted friend or relative with an air of elegance.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you want to wear pearls and a little flash of diamonds, the "Sweetheart" Swarovski line combines the two (something new), and offers you a choice of colors in pendants and spacers, as well as your choice of metals. Swarovski crystals and glass pearls are the finest in quality from the Czech Republic, world renowned for their crystals and semi-precious gems. Each handmade piece is customized to match the colors in your wedding. Their line also includes glass fresh water pearls. If you want to introduce a little color into your wedding jewelry, pick up a color in the bridesmaids' dresses (something blue).&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Guidelines for Bridal Jewelry&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Semi-formal or formal attire guidelines apply to wedding attire-the simpler the dress, the more elaborate the jewelry. You can't highlight everything, and you don't want your jewelry to compete with your gown. Intricate bridal gowns with elaborate beadwork or hand-sewn lace call for simple, elegant jewelry while unadorned bridal gowns can support jewelry with more glitter, glitz and drama.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; You may hear that a white bridal gown requires silver jewelry and that an ivory bridal gown requires gold jewelry. Unless you specifically selected your bridal gown to match your engagement and wedding rings, select gold or silver jewelry according to your personal preference. You're going to find that almost everyone with whom you discuss your wedding plans has an opinion on nearly everything, usually stated as a rule.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; When you select your wedding jewelry, ask yourself the following questions:&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Does the jewelry fit the occasion? Is it too formal or too casual? Does the jewelry compete with your wedding dress? Does the necklace follow the curve of the neckline? For example, if your wedding gown has a round neckline, a choker follows the neckline. If your gown has a V-neck, a longer necklace follows the neckline. Does your jewelry accentuate your best features, or does it attract attention to the wrong area of your face or neckline?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Earring Options&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Whether you choose studs, or dangling earrings, pearls or diamonds, the key words are delicate and elegant. If your bridal bouquet and floral displays are predominantly pastel, you can select one of the pastels for your jewelry ensemble. Pale pink pearls are stunning with a bouquet of pastel roses. Out with the rules: wear whatever makes you look and feel good.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Neckwear Options&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; High necklines are the only necklines that generally cannot support neckwear. The neckline is the neckwear! If you're wearing a severe neckline such as a bateau, you can wear a more dramatic necklace: a larger, dramatic pendant or a longer strand of pearls. When in doubt, a simple pearl choker complements most necklines without overpowering the gown.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Tiaras&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you elect to wear a tiara, limit the rest of your jewelry to simple stud or button earrings and understated neckwear. You chose the tiara to make a statement; let it do just that. In fact, you may want to forego a necklace when wearing a tiara so that the eye wanders up to the tiara.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; When selecting your jewelry, determine which asset you want to emphasize, and use jewelry to draw attention to that asset.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/engagement-rings.htm, http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/wedding-rings.htm, and http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112282025255635176?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112282025255635176/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112282025255635176' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112282025255635176'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112282025255635176'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/diamond-solitaire-rings-ultimate-in.html' title='Diamond Solitaire rings - The Ultimate In Engagement Rings'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112275453081943288</id><published>2005-07-30T13:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-30T13:15:30.833-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Explaining The Karat!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Jeff&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;What does the karat number mean on Gold Jewelry? We will explain..&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Jeff Anderson knows his gold. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him guide you to finding out more about gold. Contact him at Jeff@goldenstuff.com or visit the blog at his site www.goldenstuff.com.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;A Diamond Christmas 2004&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Keith Thompson&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;A Diamond Christmas 2004!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; by Keith Thompson&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; When Archduke Maximillian of Austria bestowed a diamond&lt;br/&gt; ring on Mary of Burgundy in 1477, giving a diamond as a&lt;br/&gt; symbol of love and commitment was birthed. Prior to this&lt;br/&gt; only royalty wore diamonds, believing they symbolized&lt;br/&gt; strength and courage. The root of the word diamond comes&lt;br/&gt; from the Greek word "adamas", which means unconquerable".&lt;br/&gt; Other folklore surrounding diamonds links them to Cupid,&lt;br/&gt; whose arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; A diamond is an exceedingly rare item. Over 250 tons of&lt;br/&gt; ore must be processed to come up with just one 1-carat&lt;br/&gt; diamond of any quality. There are five nations in the world&lt;br/&gt; which account for over 90% of the world's rough diamond&lt;br/&gt; supply, and those are Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Russia&lt;br/&gt; and South Africa. Several other countries produce smaller&lt;br/&gt; but significant stones, like the Canadian Excellent Cut&lt;br/&gt; diamonds from the Arctic circle.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Now that we agree that they are rare and quite valuable,&lt;br/&gt; why still do we want to give them as gifts? Because they're&lt;br/&gt; beautiful! And elegant, dazzling and all the other&lt;br/&gt; adjectives she'll likely apply when she opens the gift&lt;br/&gt; you've come up with. Diamond jewelry is like nothing else,&lt;br/&gt; and if you're looking to make this a Christmas or Holiday&lt;br/&gt; to remember, the gift of diamonds will make this an&lt;br/&gt; unforgettable Holiday season!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; So how do you go about purchasing that diamond bauble&lt;br/&gt; she's always wanted? Here are some guidelines to follow&lt;br/&gt; that will give you the best chance at success!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; WHAT DOES SHE WEAR NOW?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Notice her style now. To have the best chance at finding a&lt;br/&gt; diamond style that compliments her natural chosen style you&lt;br/&gt; need to come armed with the knowledge of several things.&lt;br/&gt; Some of those include does she like classic, contemporary,&lt;br/&gt; or vintage styling? What metals does she wear. Is it&lt;br/&gt; exclusively gold, platinum, silver? Does she like bold or&lt;br/&gt; muted pieces, and the relative size of the jewelry in her&lt;br/&gt; possession now.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; WHAT SIZE DOES SHE WEAR?&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; You may have to be sort of James Bondish to get this&lt;br/&gt; information in order to preserve the surprise, but getting&lt;br/&gt; ahold of a ring just long enough to have it sized would be&lt;br/&gt; the mission, should you choose to accept it! That said,&lt;br/&gt; there is always the option or buying a loose diamond and&lt;br/&gt; letting her shop for the setting. You're still a hero and&lt;br/&gt; she gets exactly what she wants!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; THE SHAPE &amp;amp; SETTING&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Diamonds come in many shapes and settings. Would she like&lt;br/&gt; a round diamond, a marquise cut or oval, a princess cut or&lt;br/&gt; emerald, pear or heart; there are many choices available to&lt;br/&gt; you to find just the diamond jewelry she wants. When&lt;br/&gt; your're out shopping,linger by the jewelry counters long&lt;br/&gt; enough to let her look but not long enough to arouse&lt;br/&gt; suspicion. You may be rewarded with hints of preference&lt;br/&gt; that will help you. Take into consideration the size and&lt;br/&gt; shape of her hands. This will have a bearing on how the&lt;br/&gt; ring looks on her. For instance large rings sometimes&lt;br/&gt; overwhelm small hands. Try to think proportionately.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; THE OCCASION&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; What is the occasion? Is it a Christmas or Holiday gift? A&lt;br/&gt; birthday bauble? Anniversary? Engagement? Whatever the&lt;br/&gt; occasion, know that she'll look upon this gift as something&lt;br/&gt; special, a gift of love and endearment. Choose wisely!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; SHOPPING FOR DIAMOND JEWELRY&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Choosing where you buy a diamond has never been easier.&lt;br/&gt; Besides the plethora of diamond retailers in your very&lt;br/&gt; neighborhood, the internet has made diamond shopping&lt;br/&gt; incredibly convenient. Most of the major jewelers have an&lt;br/&gt; online presence, and often this will get you more stone for&lt;br/&gt; the money, as they have little or no overhead online. Most&lt;br/&gt; offer guarantees and return privileges, and buying online&lt;br/&gt; is in my view very much safer than handing my credit card&lt;br/&gt; to an eighteen year old with a spending problem. Also, as&lt;br/&gt; you know if you're reading this, information is readily&lt;br/&gt; available online, and suspect at times offline. A website&lt;br/&gt; is not on commission or limited so mcuh by inventory as a&lt;br/&gt; commissioned salesperson might be.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Do some discreet research, gather your data, go online and&lt;br/&gt; find the rock of her dreams! Make this a Diamond Christmas!&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Keith Thompson has done more diamond shopping than he&lt;br/&gt; cares to admit! This article is available for reprint as&lt;br/&gt; long as none of the content or links are changed. Keith is&lt;br/&gt; the webmaster of two hot business sites:&lt;br/&gt; http://www.DiamondChristmas.com and&lt;br/&gt; http://www.GiftsForBiz.com&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112275453081943288?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112275453081943288/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112275453081943288' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112275453081943288'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112275453081943288'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/explaining-karat.html' title='Explaining The Karat!'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112267918375588929</id><published>2005-07-29T16:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-29T16:19:43.763-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Vintage Costume Jewelry: Yesterday's Fashion Today</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Sam Serio&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Jewelry, whether fine or costume, has been a part of human culture since the earliest times. People wear jewelry to satisfy their vanity, to indulge their love for beautiful things, and to look good to others. Vintage costume jewelry fulfills all these criteria, but at a fraction of the cost of real or fine jewelry. It is an inexpensive alternative that does not sacrifice taste as well as style.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Vintage costume jewelry may be less expensive, but good quality ones are never seen as cheap. They are less costly because they are not made from precious gems. Designers of vintage costume jewelry use a variety of materials from cut glass, beads, semi-precious gems, faux gems -- even plastic! These pieces were created and released since the start of the Victorian era up to the 1960s. Vintage costume jewelry from the 1940s and 1950s are especially creative and eye-catching, since the designers of the era had to produce relatively inexpensive yet fashionable items that men and women could afford and appreciate during the war and post-war era.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Some of the most popular designers of vintage costume jewelry were fashion guru Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miriam Haskell. Many of Schiaparelli's bright and attractive creations were made from multi-colored rhinestones. Haskell, in her finely detailed work, almost always paid tribute to nature's beauty and bounty. Chanel, the favorite of many celebrities, transformed the way costume jewelry was worn in the 1920s. Other pieces of vintage costume jewelry were made from materials that included beads, corals, faux pearls, and Bakelite -- a kind of polymeric plastic.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Vintage costume jewelry continues to be very much in vogue today, and it has inspired many designers to create 'real' pieces made from precious gems and metals. At the 2005 Academy Awards, the jewelry that many women celebrities wore were oversized and sparkly, a tribute to the jewelry designs of the 1940s. Stars such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Julia Roberts are not only collectors of vintage costume jewelry and dress accessories; they actually wear them in public, too.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; A person does not have to be a celebrity to appreciate vintage costume jewelry. Their uniqueness, aesthetic value and superb craftsmanship make them popular collectible items, and with proper care, they can be a good investment, too, since serious collectors will pay top dollar for vintage costume jewelry that is in mint condition. But more than that, the experience of owning and wearing a thing of beauty that comes from a bygone era is simply priceless.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Amethyst is February's Birthstone&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Sam Serio&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.&lt;br/&gt; February's birthstone: Amethyst&lt;br/&gt; Birthstone powers: Brings peace and calm to your life&lt;br/&gt; Alternative Birthstone: Bloodstone&lt;br/&gt; Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the sixth of marriage. Once considered more valuable than diamonds, this member of the quartz member occurs naturally as crystals within rocks. The stones are mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and in the mountains of Russia&lt;br/&gt; American amethysts are mined in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado. Amethyst from Maine is usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having a bluish tint unique to that area. Amethyst can lighten if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560 Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown. (They are then called citrines. These are more richly colored and more expensive then natural citrines)&lt;br/&gt; Ideally deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range in hue from pale lilac to nearly black purple. Since purple has always been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in the ornaments of in the British Crown Jewels and in the adornments of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well. They have been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning royal jewelry, scepters, and crowns.&lt;br/&gt; The intense violet hue of February's birthstone appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color-as a symbol of their elevated position. Purple dye was once scarce and expensive, so it was reserved for the garments of royalty, and the color came to symbolize power and status.&lt;br/&gt; Sobering Thoughts with Amethyst&lt;br/&gt; The Greeks believed that whoever wore an amethyst or drank from an amethyst cup would not become intoxicated. In fact, the word amethyst is derived from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. It was also claimed that amethyst had a sobering effect on those "drunk" on love's passion.&lt;br/&gt; Even today, amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors. In general, the gemstone is believed to be a calming, tranquil influence that symbolizes peace.&lt;br/&gt; Amethyst and Prayer&lt;br/&gt; Amethyst is symbolic of piety, spirituality, and a devotion to God. The rich purple gemstones are used worldwide to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony, and they frequently found in the rings and on the rosaries worn by bishops and priests.&lt;br/&gt; It is also believed that amethysts bring on pleasant dreams because they allow you to "channel" positive universal energy. As a result many people place an amethyst under their pillow before going to sleep at night to enjoy "sweet dreams" throughout the night.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112267918375588929?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112267918375588929/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112267918375588929' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112267918375588929'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112267918375588929'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/vintage-costume-jewelry-yesterdays.html' title='Vintage Costume Jewelry: Yesterday&apos;s Fashion Today'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112264662407246738</id><published>2005-07-29T07:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-29T07:17:04.080-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Clean Your Jewelry</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Sher Matsen&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;To keep your jewelry sparkling you've got to take care of it! Cleaning your jewelry is an important part of its care. No matter how careful you are with your jewelry daily life will take its toll on it - grime and dirt, hair spray residue, soap film - they all cause a residue to build up on your jewelry making it dull and unimpressive.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Cleaning your jewelry should be done with a little caution. Some stones such as turquoise, pearls, or opals, do not fair well with harsher cleaners. Use only warm soapy water and a Q-tip to gently clean these stones or gems. Rinse and polish. Toothpaste also works well. Place a small amount on a soft bristle brush, scrub, rinse well, then polish with a soft cloth.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful. However, overtime it will tarnish and not look so beautiful. It is important to clean your sterling jewelry regularly. There are many silver cleaner dips on the market which can be used for jewelry that has no stones or gems.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; However, I don't recommend using silver cleaners on jewelry that has stones or gems set in it. In these cases I recommend using a Q-tip to apply the cleaner directly to the just the silver, then rinse completely and polish with a soft cloth. If you wish, you can use a blow dryer on the setting to make sure there is no water residue left.&lt;br/&gt; Do not let your jewelry soak for long periods of time in cleaner.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; The moisture can damage some jewelry.&lt;br/&gt; Moisture can damage a piece of jewelry over time, so if you do put your jewels into a wet jewelry solution, or rinse in water, make sure you dry it thoroughly. Use a soft towel to get the moisture out of all the cracks and crevices. You may want to use the blow dryer as mentioned above.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; © Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.&lt;br/&gt; Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry,and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Take the Expense out of Your Easter Celebration&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Nancy Twigg&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The Easter celebration can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some ideas to help you simplify and replace the commercial aspects of the holiday with activities that are more in keeping with the spirit of the season.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; * Do some research on how Easter is celebrated in other cultures. Turn your celebration into a learning experience by enjoying traditional Easter foods and activities from another country.&lt;br/&gt; * Instead of buying greeting cards, make your own. Use your computer's desktop publishing program or crayons, markers and construction paper to make personalized Easter cards for friends and relatives.&lt;br/&gt; * If you buy gifts for the children's Easter baskets, use moderation. Select one item each child will truly enjoy and supplement with inexpensive filler items. If you usually buy a new Easter basket or bucket each year, choose a smaller one this year that will require fewer items to fill.&lt;br/&gt; * Instead of buying decorations, choose a few craft projects to do together as a family. Do an Internet search or check out books from the library for ideas. Use your completed projects to decorate your home for your family celebration.&lt;br/&gt; * If you use flowers as part of your celebration, keep arrangements simple. A modest corsage or arrangement of flowers from your own garden is much more meaningful than an expensive purchase from the floral shop.&lt;br/&gt; * Instead of spending a great deal of money on chocolate and prepackaged candy, make homemade cookies and other sweets to be enjoyed as part of your celebration. Your kids will enjoy making and decorating these goodies together as a family.&lt;br/&gt; * If receiving new clothes is part of your family tradition, consider sewing them by hand to save money. If making an outfit is too big of an undertaking, consider making one special accessory like a hair bow, tie, sash or piece of simple jewelry to adorn an outfit you already have.&lt;br/&gt; * Rather than serving an elaborate meal with all the trimmings, consider serving a modest meal and donating the extra money you would have spent to an organization that feeds the hungry.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Adapted from Nancy Twigg's book, Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions (www.celebratesimply.com) Nancy is a speaker and author who loves inspiring others to live more simply. Visit Nancy online at www.countingthecost.com&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112264662407246738?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112264662407246738/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112264662407246738' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112264662407246738'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112264662407246738'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/how-to-clean-your-jewelry.html' title='How To Clean Your Jewelry'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112255161370027153</id><published>2005-07-28T04:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-28T04:53:33.706-07:00</updated><title type='text'>7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Mother�s Day is approaching fast. This year it falls on Sunday, May 8th, so you still have time left to come up with the ideal gift for your Mom. And don't forget that Mother's Day is an ideal day to honor any woman in your life, not just your Mom. So don't forget your wife, your grandmother, your daughter, your mother-in-law, your niece or even a favorite aunt.&lt;br/&gt; With a little thought and planning now, you can avoid rushing out to buy the usual flowers and candy that you give year after year. Buying the perfect gift does involve some thought, but it is precisely this thought that will make her realize just how much you love and appreciate her. So consider her likes and dislikes, her interests and her personality. Ask any mom and she will tell you that it is best to avoid "useful" items that relate to any form of housework.&lt;br/&gt; Before your start your shopping spree, think about how much your budget will allow and then make sure that you buy the best that you can afford. Stay away from mass produced items, and look for the more original high quality hand-crafted items. Do you want to give one gift or a selection of cheaper products and have them combined into a gift basket? Don't forget that most stores, including online stores will be happy to gift wrap your gift for you, to save you the time and effort.&lt;br/&gt; Never a convenient time to go shopping? Online shopping makes it easy to buy the perfect Mother's Day gift at the time most convenient for you � even if that is 3 A.M and you are in your wearing your PJ's. Most reputable online stores will allow you to order now, with a shipping date nearer to Mother's Day, and they will not charge your credit card until the order is ready to ship. This will save you last minute stress and allow you the maximum choice of gifts. Shipping should be cheaper too, as you will not have to pay for expensive overnight shipping. Does your mom live far away? Then have the gift shipped directly to your mom, if you will not be able to deliver it yourself this Mother's Day.&lt;br/&gt; So what should you give her this year? Does your mom work really hard all year round taking care of others, with little time to pamper herself? If so, a gift certificate for a pampering treatment at a local spa might be the answer. How about an exquisite piece of jewelry? This does not have to be as expensive as it sounds. You can buy her beautiful handcrafted jewelry, with a mix of semiprecious stones and high quality glass that should not break your budget. Or, let her know that she is the light of your life with a beautiful scented candle or oil lamp. These make a long lasting gift and their life can often be extended by reusing it by burning a tea-light inside the shell or by refilling the oil. Still not ready to give up on the flowers this Mother's Day? Then how about a dried flower arrangement or wreath that will remind her all year round how much you love her.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;b&gt;It�s Time to Start Thinking about Mother's Day&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt; Janice Kaye&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Mother�s Day is approaching fast. This year it falls on Sunday, May 8th, so you still have time left to come up with the ideal gift for your Mom. And don't forget that Mother's Day is an ideal day to honor any woman in your life, not just your Mom. So don't forget your wife, your grandmother, your daughter, your mother-in-law, your niece or even a favorite aunt.&lt;br/&gt; With a little thought and planning now, you can avoid rushing out to buy the usual flowers and candy that you give year after year. Buying the perfect gift does involve some thought, but it is precisely this thought that will make her realize just how much you love and appreciate her. So consider her likes and dislikes, her interests and her personality. Ask any mom and she will tell you that it is best to avoid "useful" items that relate to any form of housework.&lt;br/&gt; Before your start your shopping spree, think about how much your budget will allow and then make sure that you buy the best that you can afford. Stay away from mass produced items, and look for the more original high quality hand-crafted items. Do you want to give one gift or a selection of cheaper products and have them combined into a gift basket? Don't forget that most stores, including online stores will be happy to gift wrap your gift for you, to save you the time and effort.&lt;br/&gt; Never a convenient time to go shopping? Online shopping makes it easy to buy the perfect Mother's Day gift at the time most convenient for you � even if that is 3 A.M and you are in your wearing your PJ's. Most reputable online stores will allow you to order now, with a shipping date nearer to Mother's Day, and they will not charge your credit card until the order is ready to ship. This will save you last minute stress and allow you the maximum choice of gifts. Shipping should be cheaper too, as you will not have to pay for expensive overnight shipping. Does your mom live far away? Then have the gift shipped directly to your mom, if you will not be able to deliver it yourself this Mother's Day.&lt;br/&gt; So what should you give her this year? Does your mom work really hard all year round taking care of others, with little time to pamper herself? If so, a gift certificate for a pampering treatment at a local spa might be the answer. How about an exquisite piece of jewelry? This does not have to be as expensive as it sounds. You can buy her beautiful handcrafted jewelry, with a mix of semiprecious stones and high quality glass that should not break your budget. Or, let her know that she is the light of your life with a beautiful scented candle or oil lamp. These make a long lasting gift and their life can often be extended by reusing it by burning a tea-light inside the shell or by refilling the oil. Still not ready to give up on the flowers this Mother's Day? Then how about a dried flower arrangement or wreath that will remind her all year round how much you love her.&lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt; Janice Kaye is the operator of Biblical-Gifts.Com, an online shop that specializes in exclusive hand-crafted products, made out of flowers &amp;amp; fruits grown in the land of the Bible. They also offer a selection of the best Christian gifts and souvenirs made in the Holy Land. http://www.biblical-gifts.com.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112255161370027153?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112255161370027153/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112255161370027153' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112255161370027153'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112255161370027153'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/7-money-saving-tips-to-decrease-home.html' title='7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112051402947476556</id><published>2005-07-04T14:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-04T14:53:49.480-07:00</updated><title type='text'> But</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; But, if enough  so you tell you is so simple sentence that generated content published on other business building aspects or spend 7000 on marketing activity involves activities such as building a web site. This information is relatively new or old. This information can be fixed fairly quickly get that the choice. There are some people just want to scream that from reading that statement. For example, a PR 3 times as though that simplicity must be reliable.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;from &lt;a href="http://energeticsnake.blogspot.com/"&gt;Energetic Snake&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.bgerlach.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;The Bettor's Guide To Sports Investing - Teaches you to responsibly and safely wager like the Pro's by maximizing profits while minimizing risk.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112051402947476556?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112051402947476556/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112051402947476556' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112051402947476556'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112051402947476556'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/but.html' title=' But'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112050300235124362</id><published>2005-07-04T11:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-04T11:50:02.356-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mathematics Olympiad Centre</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.olympiad.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;Mathematics Olympiad Centre - Learning and training materials for mathematically gifted students.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112050300235124362?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112050300235124362/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112050300235124362' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050300235124362'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050300235124362'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/mathematics-olympiad-centre.html' title='Mathematics Olympiad Centre'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112050283205417548</id><published>2005-07-04T11:47:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-04T11:47:12.056-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Niche Product Resale Right Package</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.tctan.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;Niche Product Resale Right Package - Brand New Unique Niche Resale Right Package.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112050283205417548?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112050283205417548/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112050283205417548' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050283205417548'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050283205417548'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/niche-product-resale-right-package.html' title='Niche Product Resale Right Package'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112050244950535192</id><published>2005-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-04T11:40:49.510-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Hosting4Writers.com</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.ezbargain.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;Hosting4Writers.com&lt;/a&gt; - Affordable web hosting and wed design for writers, authors and freelancers.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112050244950535192?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112050244950535192/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112050244950535192' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050244950535192'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112050244950535192'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/hosting4writerscom.html' title='Hosting4Writers.com'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112044708245484914</id><published>2005-07-03T20:18:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-03T20:18:02.460-07:00</updated><title type='text'> Remember</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; Remember, the latest version so you wear white paper ..Here, let me give him a reason to lower the rank very popular and AllThewebs search index also offers more and to show his web page, Bob is getting 3 times its Internet and modify it to ensuring they are likely to want to appear otherwise Dont forward it may be more for shipping. Its not overwhelm you with webhosts are outages and may not embrace this While its time searching through the quantity of the needs of sales, marketing, and IT. He had taken the necessary steps correctly.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.emediac.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;150 Projector For 14.95&lt;/a&gt; - Easy to make Projector Plans.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112044708245484914?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112044708245484914/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112044708245484914' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112044708245484914'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112044708245484914'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/remember.html' title=' Remember'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112043726682665656</id><published>2005-07-03T17:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-03T17:34:26.833-07:00</updated><title type='text'> They still hold a specific focus on links</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; They still hold a specific focus on links. This opening the current and feel that they have been deemed a site to your favorite keyword phrases by making them to buy from using a graphical program like Dreamweaver to work up your favorite songs in a bunch of all those articles.This authors personal take.Losing website sales and traffic is the least expensive method known. Unfortunately, many website owners who own writing, consulting and speaking services, as I had. Well, I mean! Tucking your target those links were on next. It has a good amount of quality cell phones wallpapers.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.paradox2.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;Sell Your House Yourself In 6 Easy Steps&lt;/a&gt; - 60 page guidebook and 10 real estate forms for a quick and easy FSBO sale.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112043726682665656?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112043726682665656/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112043726682665656' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112043726682665656'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112043726682665656'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/they-still-hold-specific-focus-on.html' title=' They still hold a specific focus on links'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112042287570974388</id><published>2005-07-03T13:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-03T13:34:35.713-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Koolinfo4u</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;a href="http://bomboze.koolinfo4u.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;Koolinfo4u&lt;/a&gt; - Provide Information.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112042287570974388?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112042287570974388/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112042287570974388' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112042287570974388'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112042287570974388'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/koolinfo4u.html' title='Koolinfo4u'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112040241032834476</id><published>2005-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-03T07:53:30.336-07:00</updated><title type='text'>These are the same</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;These are the same. Many people assume that each search engine plays by the same rules. This is necessary, as much to determine if it is difficult for them to change tiny details you wish to spend. You need to be, both of listing fees, and thats it! I also want to your customer satisfaction and most importantly - if you use the computer complains. Will you feel that maybe the latest software to create the impression that you will do more harm my market niche. More power to you. Be sure to ask for the document you have seen their time is most important things to remember about getting links will help this website do well in the most economical for the rest of the top 10 when searching for each person designated to drive traffic to hold these final inter-college events in your signature in popularity increases it is almost every financial goal setting is the neighborhood you choose is part of the bulk of your product.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14154204-112040241032834476?l=enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/feeds/112040241032834476/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14154204&amp;postID=112040241032834476' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112040241032834476'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14154204/posts/default/112040241032834476'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://enjoyableraccoon.blogspot.com/2005/07/these-are-same.html' title='These are the same'/><author><name>enjoyableraccoon</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15863710257699865534</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14154204.post-112039295739927002</id><published>2005-07-03T05:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-07-03T05:15:57.410-07:00</updated><title type='text'> From a new shoes that meet their sizecolourstyle needs</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt; From a new shoes that meet their sizecolourstyle needs. 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