Blog With Leo

T-shirts can provide a lasting impression on your life and those around you. Through simple illustrations and slogans they immediately show your current feelings or opinions.

Vintage t-shirts will bring up situations from the long ago past. They can be anything from funny to rude and offensive, to sayings, to your favorite rock band of yore, to baby tees.
And don’t forget putting a t-shirt on your dog. Ugh.

In my own experience I have been a cancer survivor for 5 1/2 years. In my first summer my struggle inspired my sister-in-law to get active in the Tacoma, Washington Relay For Life program of the American Cancer Society. Every spring they host a weekend walk and fund raiser. A large part of that walk is the Survivor’s walk celebrating all those people currently battling cancer and those who are cancer free.

All the survivors walking in that event are given purple t-shirts with the Relay For Life logo on the front. On the back is the saying: I Am… Living Breathing Inspiration.

I love wearing my t-shirt with that saying on it both for my own feelings and for the inspiration of those around me.

Another situation involved a camping/hiking trip my partner and I took several years ago in the Columbia River gorge near The Dalles, Oregon. This was the year the Sesquicentennial of the Oregon Trail was being reenacted. A replica of the 1843 wagon trains was in progress coming all the way from the mid-west to Portland, Oregon.

When we joined them they had arrived in The Dalles and were camping out at a large fair grounds. After square dancing the night before, we set out on foot hiking with the train for that day’s journey, a distance of about 18 miles.

When we got up the next morning and were about to leave the train, we came on a fellow in a wheel chair who was selling t-shirts. He said they were his own original design, in this case a fine pencil sketch of the Oregon Trail at Barlow Pass. I bought one on the spot both to support him in his efforts and for my own memory of the occasion. I still wear that tee shirt and think of the fun my girl friend and I had on that trip.

The next obvious use of t-shirts is if you’re a sports fan. In my own case as a long suffering Seattle Seahawks fan, I still wear the tattered t-shirt I bought in 1983 that reads “1983 Play-Offs” along with the team logo on the front. I guess that hasn’t been the last playoffs we’ve been in, but it sure seems like it.

So get out there and express yourself with a t-shirt. Buy one or get online to design your own. I think every aspect of life has been shown on a t-shirt and every new experience that shows up
seems to wind up on a tee shirt.

Dale Miller has several websites up covering a variety of subjects and resources. Please visit thewebsite to lighten your day a little: Funny Cats

The off camera Lucy Liu is anything but the tough characters that she always portrays on screen. She is usually seen wearing hairstyles that are classic and elegant while still being on a trend setting edge. The assorted jewelry of hers became famous during her early appearances on the Ally McBeal show. Whatever style you wish to have, or hairstyle you wish to wear and jewelry you wish to use, I am sure that Lucy Liu’s choice offer sophistication and glam that would complement and enhance any style.

During the movie Charlie’s Angels, Liu’s character was seen wearing lots of fun hairstyles like a simple ponytail that is pulled way up that emphasized her sharp cheekbones and delicate neck bone. If you want this look, use a gel or a hairspray and curl a curling iron to make waves on your hair, and then pull your hair back with an elastic band to hold the ponytail in place.

If you want a more playful flipped hairstyle, start by using a mousse or pomade while your hair is still damp. While blow drying your hair, use a round brush to flip the ends of your hair. And then apply a shine enhancer to smoothen your hair and give it shine.

Liu keeps her wardrobe simple and minimalist, making way for her accessories to shine through. She prefers brooches and butterfly pins. At the latest awards night, she used a lizard shaped pin. Make sure you keep your outfits simple if you use her accessories to not overdo it. Look at her, she is a picture of simplicity and elegance.

SalwarKameezIndia.com offers safe and secure online shopping of more than 5000 unique fashion products for men, women, teens & kids shipped to you absolutely free anywhere in the world. Check out some bestsellers like pearl necklace and different types of clothing, shoes, jewelry and fashion products.

One of the most stressful parts of hosting a baby shower is often deciding on and preparing the menu. Today there are many different types and styles of showers allowing for a variety of options.

The most common baby shower menu is set in the style of a buffet or a small brunch. The menu often consists of appetizers, vegetables and dip, and pastries. A brunch menu tends to be more casual and can be an easier style to host.

Another option is providing a sit down meal that can be elegantly catered or made into a simple barbecue in the backyard. It is important to consider the time of day you are hosting the shower, your shower theme and style, the size of your shower as well as your guest list.

Menu Tips:

Creating a Menu Planner can help keep you organized and ensure you remember all the details on your menu. Write down all the items you

How to get Discount lift tickets for Crested Butte, Colorado. A wallet friendly way of receiving discounts on Crested Butte lift tickets is to plan ahead and purchase your lift tickets well in advance of arriving.

Here are 5 Tips for Finding the Best Deals on Crested Butte Lift Tickets

The day and age has arrived where you can shop online for the best prices on ski tickets and equipmentrentals for skiing and snowboarding. The resources below should direct you to lift tickets and rental deals for your Crested Butte Ski Trip.

Often times, if your coming in the “non” peak season, you can bundle your lift tickets with your Crested Butte lodging. For instance, many hotels will offer “Ski Free Stay Free Packages.” This means that if you buy 3 nights of lodging and 3 lift tickets they will give you 1 night of lodging and 1 day of skiing for free. This is an excellent method for keeping your wallet full and your family happy.

Generally speaking, If you come with a large group, you are more likely to get group rates. You can receive discounts on everything from lodging and lift tickets to activities and food. Bring your family for a reunion or have a Crested Butte college ski trip. Either way, groups are an excellent way to save money on a vacation to Crested Butte.

Gold C Coupons are still floating around out there and provide an easy way to get great rates at the lift ticket window if you present the coupon within the valid dates. Swing by King Soopers or Safeway and pick up coupons for Crested Butte lift tickets. Often times, consolidators offer discount lift tickets for skiing and snowboarding in Crested Butte online.

Crested Butte, Colorado is a mecca of adventure. Plan your Crested Butte vacation starting today and purchase discount lift tickets for Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Whether you’re a breastfeeding mother or you formula-feed your baby, it seems like all he does at first is eat. Before you can even answer the question, “Do I shower or eat now that the baby’s full for five minutes?” he’s ready to eat again. Since babies don’t eat three squares a day, feeding your baby when he’s hungry is the norm. But how do you know what to feed this voracious little creature?

Birth to Four Months

Babies get all the nutrition and water they need from infant formula or breast milk at this age. Formula fed babies generally need 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of their body weight in a twenty-four hour period.

Breastfeeding is trickier to measure, since you cannot see how much your baby is consuming. So long as he has five or six wet disposable diapers a day, you can hear him swallowing while nursing, and he’s gaining sufficient weight, all is probably just fine. Another sign to check is whether your breasts are noticeably softer and feel empty after feeding. You can always have your pediatrician check your baby’s weight if you’re unsure.

If you’re bottle feeding your baby, be sure you’ve thoroughly cleaned the bottles, nipples, and rings. Never prop a baby’s bottle up and leave him with it. Until your baby can hold a bottle himself, always hold the bottle for him, making sure to take frequent burp breaks. Letting your baby go to bed with a bottle is bad for his dental health, so be sure he’s all done eating before falling asleep.

If your baby has a dry mouth, sunken eyes, or doesn’t produce tears, he may be dehydrated, and needs more formula or breast milk. Your baby will tell you if he’s still hungry; his rooting reflex will let you know that he’s looking for additional food.

Introducing Solids

Your baby watches you and your family eat, and he will start to exhibit interest in what the rest of the family is doing at mealtime. Once he’s holding his head up, sitting in a high chair, making chewing faces, and no longer pushes food out of his mouth, he’s ready to try solids.

Although these first foods are called solids, they’re anything but. Prepared or homemade baby food is a puree that requires no chewing. Fruits and vegetables, starting with a teaspoon a day, increasing gradually, or iron-fortified cereals are the usual starter foods.

Be sure to have your camera handy to catch these first feeding moments: your baby will have more food on him than in his mouth, but he’ll quickly get the hang of the spoon, and before you know it, he’ll be impatiently grabbing it from you, wanting more.

If you introduce new foods one at a time, you’ll be able to watch for signs of food allergies. Keep track of what you feed your baby and note any unusual reactions.

When using jarred baby food, don’t feed the baby straight from the jar unless you plan to use the entire jar in one meal. Digestive juices from your baby’s saliva, transferred on the spoon to the jar, will start to “digest” the leftover food.

Table Foods

Babies who can make a chewing motion, pick up items with their thumb and forefinger, and put everything in their mouths are ready for table food - that is, what the rest of the household is eating. Dry cereal is a great starter table food, as are rice puffs, small amounts of protein (tofu, egg yolks), mashed beans, bits of toast, and small chunks of non-citrus fruits.

Needless to say, the bites you feed your baby must be small enough for him to chew safely. Off-limit foods include honey, citrus fruits, peanuts, and peanut butter.

As your baby gets more teeth, he’s ready for more foods. Your pediatrician probably has some easy-to-follow guidelines. Soft pasteurized cheeses, pastas, and yogurt are all good choices. So long as your baby doesn’t have any food allergies, try experimenting to see what he likes. Enjoy watching your baby experience new textures and tastes; this is all part of his getting to know what he likes and dislikes. You can set the stage now for many future enjoyable mealtimes.

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Although having a baby can be a shock to the system

For many women, the joy of celebrating a friend or family members pregnancy is often overshadowed by the boring games played at their baby shower. If you’re throwing a shower, try to plan original games that you can’t just pick up at any local party store. Using the web, it’s fairly easy to look up some pretty interesting shower games and it will probably be cheaper than buying them from the store!

Fun gifts or party favors are a great way to make all games a lot more enjoyable. Even the smallest gift, like a candle or special kind of coffee, can make the games more personal. You could also use gag gifts to liven things up a bit and make the games more humorous. It’s important that the games be centered on fun and simple ideas rather than be difficult and incredibly competitive. A shower is about relaxing and mingling with friends, not beating one another at a silly party game. Try word games or even simple board games that you can pick up at your local department store or order through the web.

It’s the planners responsibility to find fun and enjoyable games for guests to play, so make sure you do your homework and select games that are not boring and that your guests won’t dread. Stay away from obvious or overplayed shower games so that those attending will be able to try something new. One fun way to liven up party activities is to invite the father of the baby-to-be and center the games around thinking up new ways to embarrass him. If he’s got a good sense of humor, he’ll be amused too, even if you dress him up to experience the joys of being pregnant! No matter what, you’re all there to honor the baby and mom-to-be, so try to think of games related to pregnancy.

Baby-ultrasound.com is an informative baby site on what to expect with an ultrasound. 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasounds are available for you to view your baby in the womb.

Most small business owners don

As of February 2008 it may be a better idea to rent than buy a home in Hampton Roads. However, there are always exceptions, everyone’s situation is a bit different. Let’s use Chesapeake and Virginia Beach as an example. Additionally, let’s use a budget of $1000 per month.

In order to borrow money for a loan, you must qualify or be Pre Approved. In the current market condition (with a prediction of rising rates and declining home prices) it only makes since of this writing to use either a conventional/fixed rate loan or some blend of a 80-15-5 fixed, etc, or a conventional fixed rate loan. With that as a starting point, you will most likely need between 5-20% cash for a down payment and an additional 4% or so, to pay for closing cost/ pre-paids, etc for the loan. You will pay roughly pay $100 a month for insurances and roughly $140 for taxes in addition to the mortgage payment. Leaving us with $760, for a mortgage payment. With our $1000 a month budget our purchase price will be limited. We will only be able to purchase a home for about $125- $140,000. Talk to a CPA about all those fancy schemes the mortgage lending snakes are offering, where they tell you they can get you into a 300K home for 1K per month….It is a SCAM!!!!!! They ALL are!!! BEWARE!!!! If you sign up for one of those a few things may happen….You may find yourself with a $3oK month payment at year 15, or perhaps at year 5 your payments go from 1K to 3K per month for the year. Those guys have no conscious! Beware.

So armed with this info we now assume you have around $10,000 cash for a down payment and closing cost, and ability to pay 1K per month for the mortgage, taxes and your insurance. If not, renting may be the best bet this year.

What will you get in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach, VA for $140,000? At the time of this writing, according to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) there are:

Virginia Beach, Attached (Condos, Townhomes, Etc.)

40 Current Listings.- with the exception of a few condos (which have an additional fee of $100-200 per mo) few are safe places to live.

Virginia Beach Detached (A house)

There currently are zero detached homes (excludes mobile) listed in MLS for VA Beach for 140K or less.

Chesapeake Attached (Condos, Townhomes, Etc.)

13 Listed Condos, townhomes, etc. Of those 13; 4 or 5 look to be in safer neighborhoods and are probably the safest best. Keep in mind, we have not factored in ANY upkeep and maintenance yet! How much will upkeep and maintenance cost me? From $0-140K easily depending on what breaks, gets eaten, spits, sputters, flakes, etc. A roof could easily cost you 10K, a HVAC full install at least 5K, plumbing nightmares….the sky’s the limit! Etc. Be prepared, insured, and make good friends with construction dudes!

Chesapeake Detached (A house)

Currently in Chesapeake, 27 detached homes are listed in MLS, most are as I’m sure you imagined in the ghetto or in a similar bad neighborhood. Look up the crime reports online. Many are 100 years old and show every day of their age. Nothing “Historical” about a money pit! So, in Conclusion, In the purchase department: A 1K a month mortgage payment on a 140K property in VA Beach will get you a Townhouse in the hood or a townhome in a declining neighborhood. The same amount in Chesapeake, VA will get you a Town House …you will have to look real hard to find a Town House that is in good shape and in a safe neighborhood…but I do think they exist.

Is it Better to Rent?

There are increasingly an enormous numbers of rental houses, apartments, etc. in Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, VA.

The reason the rentals are so plentiful now is during the real estate boom, an enormous number of home owners took advantage of the opportunity to buy rentals for extra retirement income. Additionally several 500 Plus unit Apartment communities were built. They are all competing for your business against each other!!!! No longer do you have to rent in an apartment community, you have a wide variety of styles, settings, views, neighborhoods, and prices to select from! What I have found is you can now rent a Condo in VA Beach for $1,000 that would cost you about $1,700 to buy. The competition is overwhelming!

A search on Yahoo for apartments yielded 84 results in the $1,000 and under rent per month. The Pilot had 57 homes for rent and 14 Apartments listed in VA Beach. CraigsList yielded a wooping 326 results! We saw a Condo on CraigsList that rents for $805 where others were for sale on the same street for 170K. That is an enormous saving for the “rent is better” argument! You could easily save $600 per month in that instance. I hear people doing this and placing their savings into a CD and waiting for the bubble to burst! YOU CAN ALWAYS REFINANCE- You may NEVER recover from an inflated purchase!!! Timing is everything!!! This should be our first lesson in life!

I conclude in this analysis, that in Feb. 2008, in VA Beach and Chesapeake, VA it maybe a better idea to rent, place the savings into a CD, and wait for the market to settle to a more realistic price point. Take advantage of the flooded rental market. This is on the basis that you will purchase a home when the market cools with an expectation that it will rebound in later years.

Scott Jones
Topicslive.com
You can read more articles about Renting and Real Estate as well as almost any Ezine topic at
http://TopicsLive.com
http://real-estate.topicslive.com

I’ve always been impressed with salespeople who have success written all over their face. That face or facial expression has a tremendous influence over the people we meet day in and day out!

I’m only guessing at this but I believe most salespeople could immediately increase their sales by 30% if they an a simple on/off switch.

Yeah - this on/off switch would be used before and after every sales call. I’m not sure why, but many salespeople truly believe their personalities are sufficient to win all the business - no special preparation necessary.

Why prepare?

=> You’re bringing all of your experience to the sales call.

=> You’re bringing all of your education to the sales call.

=> You’re bringing all of your brains to the sales call.

=> You’re bringing all of your attitudes to the sales call.

=> You’re bringing all of your personality to the sales call.

Simple reasoning suggests why do anything else? Well you can chase prospects and customers or you can attract them.

Just showing up has never been enough and now with global competition and web competitors lusting for your business, you best be seeking ways to take your selling skills to the next level. And be careful - you probably think your selling skills are at a much higher level than they actually are. You aren’t the judge - your prospects and customers are.

Look the secret to getting more people to buy your products really works.

This secret is easy to do.

This secret has an unbelievable power to attract business.

Let me digress for a minute to give you an example.

The cruise ship pulls into a Turkish port for a one day visit.

Bernadette and I get off the ship to see the sights and do some shopping - the shopping is her idea.

We’re not 500 yards from the ship when Bernadette does a 90 degree turn to check out a jewelry store display case.

She’s eye-balling everything in the display - especially the bracelets.

Remember we’re still outside the store. Behind the display case is a sheer curtain.

As we’re looking at the stuff - the curtain parts and out pops one of the happiest faces I’ve ever seen.

He was gesturing. He was nodding his head. He was pointing at things my wife was looking and kept smiling, pointing and nodding. He had the look that every sales person should have when working with their customers.

Dr. Bernadette Meisenheimer, is no easy target. She’s got street smarts. She knows how to deal with people.

Nevertheless - she says to me, “Let’s go in the store - he’s expecting us to.”

So in we go - because the sales person was expecting us to.

Imagine just before your next sales call you turned on the switch.

=> You turned on the switch to smiling.

=> You turned on the switch to positive thinking.

=> You turned on the switch to positive expectations.

=> You turned on the switch to solving your customer’s problems.

=> You turned on the switch to high energy and lots of enthusiasm.

You see it’s because very few people are always smiling, always thinking positively, always have positive expectations, always focused on solving problems, and always have high energy and lots of enthusiasm - that you have to turn it on, you have to turn the switch on.

This switch is not automatic - it’s manual and you have to turn it on.

The secret to getting more people to buy your products and services is as easy as A, B, C!

Try saying “SHOW TIME” before you open the door to your next sales call and see what a difference it makes.

It’s “SHOW TIME!”

You’ll have success written all over your face - as soon as you say “SHOW TIME.”

Jim Meisenheimer shows salespeople how to increase sales and earn more money. To sign-up for his FREE The Start Selling More Newsletter and to receive your copy of Jim’s Special Selling Report, “The 12 Dumbest Things Salespeople Do” visit his website now: http://www.startsellingmore.com