Business

Why is location targeting so important in modern SEO?

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When it comes to ranking, you want to rank for highly relevant keywords that are used in your niche. The problem is that when you do that, your competition surely includes some big brands that have big SEO budgets.

SEO is highly competitive and the truth is that you will not be able to compete with the big brands. However, you can take advantage of how important local SEO is to Google right now. This is exactly where geo-targeting comes in to give you a big help.

Location-specific keyword targeting

The point here is that you want to get around the really tough keyword competition. You can do this in search engines by taking the approach of targeting location-specific keywords.

What does this really mean?

To put it as simply as possible, instead of targeting a keyword like “shop shoes,” target a longer, more specific, location-specific keyword like “shop shoes in New York City.” Instead of “car repairs in New York”, you go deeper, like “car repairs in Brooklyn”.

The main idea here is to reduce it as much as possible. You can even choose to reduce some of the keywords you use to the street level. However, you should try to cover as much of your service area as possible.

Why target such specific keywords?

Using geo-targeted SEO offers some benefits that simply cannot be ignored by SEOs and business owners. Some of the ones to mention are:

  • Less Competition – While it’s virtually impossible for smaller businesses to rank for highly competitive search terms like “protein supplements” or “bakery,” it’s much easier to rank for location-specific keywords, since the competition is naturally , much smaller.
  • Lower price – You have to spend money on your SEO campaigns, so when you opt for very competitive terms, the campaign quickly becomes very expensive. With geo-targeting, you pay much less.
  • Less time – To rank on the first page of Google for competitive keywords, you may even have to wait a year or more. With geo-targeted campaigns, the time required is much less.

How to use geo-targeting in SEO

First thing’s first. Geotargeting in SEO is both simple and complicated. There are some strategies you can use that are pretty obvious. This includes:

  • Creating the right landing pages

Geo-targeted keywords can be used for both paid ads and organic search. However, to make the most of this opportunity, you need location-specific landing pages.

Try to create one for each individual location where you offer services. Then, when you use local SEO ranking strategies, you can point your links to the appropriate resource.

  • Use of directed top-level domains

This is a tactic that you can definitely use if you are planning to launch a website to cater to local markets. However, it’s also something you can consider if organizing proper redirects isn’t an issue for you.

TLDs (Top Level Domains) are those domains with extensions that are location-specific, such as .co.UK or .com.au. This carries much more weight than many expect when referring to the country-specific Google search engines the user uses.

When we refer to the less obvious SEO strategies that you can use for a location targeting campaign, we could mention a couple of examples:

  • Registration in local business directories

For local SEO in general, business directories that target a specific region are much more valuable than larger ones that have global coverage. This is especially the case when you can zero in on the location-specific landing pages we mention below.

  • Barter with local businesses

The link you get from a business serving the same area as yours is invaluable with location-specific campaigns. This is especially the case if they already have good local search engine coverage. Aim for different trade-offs that you can set up and always opt for something that is beneficial to both parties.

recommendations

Today, you must use SEO geo-targeting. It’s as simple as that. When you hire an SEO agency to work on your site, you should avoid all those that don’t talk about the importance of local SEO and don’t mention geo-targeting to help you rank exactly where you serve customers.

Home Kitchen

Alluring Appearance: Cabinet Knobs

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Freedom is loved by everyone and when you first move to a place, you call it your own even though it is a rented apartment, but it still makes you happy to have the freedom to live on your own. You feel like a free soul who has a home that is completely yours. But even in renting the apartment, the landlord has few restrictions on the place. Completely redoing the place is impossible and there are a couple of clauses in the contract that you have no control against. Changing the color of the wall may be something you can’t experiment with.

Don’t be disappointed as you can still make minor variations and give the place a new look. Through creativity, despite all these restrictions, you can still make the apartment a place for yourself. Swapping out cabinet knobs can be a great way to add a little more of you. It’s not very complicated and changes can be made quite easily, you don’t need heavy tools and you don’t have to go through the complicated manuals. Just a few simple steps and you will see the transformation take place.

You can find many options in the market when looking for a knob as they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors and designs to choose from. You can change the look of the place without making any permanent changes.

You must first make an inventory list of the hardware you want to exchange. Make a note of the number of knobs and other accessories, such as handles, that would be needed so that when you go to the market you will know how many to order.

Make sure you know the exact size of your cabinet holes so you don’t buy too big or too small a size that can’t be attached to the cabinet. If you plan to buy online, take accurate part and screw hole measurements so you only find the part that fits the cabinet.

Now that you have all the tools and parts on hand, get started. Please note do not damage the cabinet as this will cost you later when you plan to move in, the security money may be taken as a penalty for any damage or changes made during your stay in the apartment. The owner can also take legal action if the damages are huge. Breach of contract is a crime.

There are small screws that are very prone to getting misplaced or lost in the process of unscrewing the old knobs, so keep them in a small box as it is owned by the owner and once you decide to return the apartment, you can fix the old one. new knobs on the cabinet without the owner knowing it was changed. Changing the knobs on the cabinet will have a greater effect on the place, making it look fabulous.

Be careful not to scratch the surface or damage cabinets when unscrewing old knobs or trying to fix new cabinet knobs. Don’t try to push the pieces together. With just a few simple changes, you can always have a new spot.

Auto

What is the difference between PHEV and MHEV?

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The main difference between PHEV and MHEV vehicles is that the latter can run electrically and without gasoline, unlike the former. However, there are also other variations between these two car models. Keep reading to know more.

Being a car lover, amateur or slightly interested driver can be extremely exciting. Today’s market has many hybrid and electric cars. Among these motor vehicles, PHEVs and MHEVs stand out as the most popular group. So what makes the difference between the two?

Regardless of your choice – a mild hybrid, full hybrid, full EV, or plug-in hybrid, the guideline remains the same: These cars emit all or some built by the usual combustion engine towards a battery engine.

The use of battery-powered vehicles instead of combustion engines is increasingly on the rise. This post delves into various PHEV and MHEV terminologies that revolve around the electric vehicle market.

MHEV car models
An MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle) is a combination of a full hybrid and a traditional gas. In essence, the hybrid model is powered by a much smaller battery assisted by a motor generator with the ability to generate power to support the performance of the gasoline engine. However, MHEV cars are not electrically capable of running.

Every time the car calls for more power, the engine’s motor generator uses the standby electricity to apply torque to the engine; therefore, it improves production without wasting additional fuel.

When sailing or drifting, the fuel engine spins the motor-generator to generate power to jump-start the battery. In simple terms, you can easily stop the gasoline engine and get spare fuel.

PHEV car models
Traveling in a PHEV is interesting as it is more or less the same as full hybrid and EV models. In a real sense, the PHEV works more or less like an ordinary hybrid, albeit with notable battery modifications.

In comparison, the PHEV battery is more powerful than that of an ordinary hybrid. Also, the on-board generator cannot fully charge the battery and therefore you will need to set it up at the charging station or via an outlet.

The most perplexing terminology about PHEV vehicle models is the Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV).

Still the same, though similar to a hybrid model, the PHEV comes with an additional battery power limit for extended all-electric driving.

A PHEV vehicle can typically drive, say, 25-50 kilometers on standby battery power with a fully charged battery. And by going back to fuel use, you can go an additional 80 km. The car works similar to an ordinary hybrid from the moment this range is used until you recharge it again.

When you take a short trip, you will find that the performance of your PHEV is more or less the same as that of an EV, without burning any fuel. Unlike the electric car model, a PHEV vehicle can revert to its original hybrid by exhausting its EV range. At this point, it uses the self-generated power and gas to cover a few extra miles of distance.

PHEV drivers take advantage of all-electric functionality on shorter runs and excursions and a full hybrid haul range after that. Regardless of whether or not you are able to fully recharge your PHEV car’s battery, the car will continue to function similarly to a normal hybrid. Although not required, charging a PHEV reduces its fuel consumption.

Once your PHEV is fully charged and the fuel tank is full, its driving range is the same as a conventional car model.

The difference between MHEV and PHEV
To reach a solid conclusion when considering MHEV or PHEV model options, you must first make a difference. PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrids) are powered exclusively by a large battery system and do not contain a gasoline engine. Electric motor-assisted MHEVs (mild hybrids) add a certain level of speed, recover under braking, and provide lubrication for stop-start components or long-range EVs and a large battery.

The Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi 48V is a good example of an MHEV vehicle model. It uses a 2.0L capacity diesel engine along with a 48-volt MHEV system to generate a variety of electrification. By contrast, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV accounts for fifty percent of PHEV sales in the UK. With the ability to cover approximately 30 miles using only its electric power, the PHEV model comes with a 2.4L gasoline engine connected to the electric motors and a large battery that includes a charging system.

The list below includes several tips to consider before choosing your PHEV or MHEV.

Advantages and disadvantages of MHEV models

Advantages

  • It can power various electrical systems of the car.
  • Stop-start system helps save fuel when not in motion
  • less complexity
  • You can decrease turbo lag by filling in torque until the engine is boosted.
  • lowest cost
  • It is lighter than other electric vehicles.

Disadvantages

  • Full EV mode is absent
  • High complexity and cost compared to internal combustion car engine models only.

Advantages and disadvantages of PHEV models

Advantages

  • Lower purchase costs than BEVs
  • They come with improved range over BEVs (battery electric vehicles) attributed to their range-extending gasoline engines.
  • Operating costs are lower than the hybrid series.

Disadvantages

  • High complexity compared to mild hybrids
  • More expensive than mild or series hybrids
  • They are heavy, attributed to their huge battery pack.

The economic impact between MHEV and PHEV

PHEVs function as part-time electric vehicles, assuming their daily movements remain wholly or mostly within the electronic zone. Its electric activities have zero emissions, unlike its competitors, which are rarely zero-emission car models.

With their 48-volt battery systems, PHEVs can do at least a mile at reduced all-electric driving speeds. However, they run in mid EV mode assisted by their gasoline engines.

Furthermore, a PHEV vehicle can revert to ordinary hybrid once its electrical reserves are depleted. Therefore, you should compare and contrast your estimated daily range to establish if the vehicle is right for you. PHEVs are known for their ability to save fuel and extreme emissions when fully loaded.

In contrast, MHEVs (Mild hybrids) combined with their electric motors include a certain speed, recover during rest time, and offer some lubricant for stop-start devices, or long-range EVs and large batteries. Although it is not a great saving, it is a positive step.

The cost of operation for both models
While the plugin runs on both electricity and gas, plugins run primarily on less expensive electricity and ignore the charged battery. They are available with a key metric estimated by the EPA; Also, its efficiency is kwh/100 miles or “MPGe”, and various ways to assess the EPA.

In particular, plug-in cars operate on two counts: gas prices and electricity costs. Electricity can vary from free for load provided by employer or certain public, essentially free for home solar installation paid for over the years, or the amount you remit to your local utility.

Regardless, relying on electric power for your daily commutes pays off, regardless of high utility costs. The moment the PHEV’s battery power runs out, it reverts to normal hybrid mode, except for the ELR and Volt, which start holding the charge.

For plug-in varieties like the Toyota Prius, your EPA mileage is about the same as the non-hybrid plug-in. On the other hand, the Honda Accord model drops 1 mpg once the grid’s reserve power is depleted. For its part, the Ford Fusion reduces 4 mpg.

The trickiest part about MHEVs is their daily gas mileage. Taking into account your daily commute, you can save more, especially in urban areas with heavy traffic, thanks to electric motors and regenerative braking.

Maintenance
The maintenance cost of PHEVs is quite low due to the minimal use of the engine. Patience is required to understand the basics of this car model, but when you get used to it, you will discover its profitable nature.

To be precise, hybrids combine two powertrains: some have performed poorly or better, but the story is pretty compelling and PHEVs should perform better too.

PHEVs are only two or three years old on the market, there’s not a case show of high-mileage models, and their big lithium-ion battery system is non-existent. However, automakers are more cautious when it comes to reliability and battery life.

While mild hybrids work like regular combustion cars, they are more efficient, though not like electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or standard hybrids.

convenience

For an ordinary hybrid, you are only required to refuel at the service station. Toyota has made a name for itself just by articulating that it has supportive crossovers. They don’t need you to learn new ideas, and you’ve launched a variety of plug-in electric vehicles for undelivered power components, which are also “filled up” at the station.
However, EV and PHEV customers find the opportunity to plug in their car during the evening hours decent and easy, boasting an assigned parking area or carport. What’s more, they can be easily connected at your workplace or on the go to expand and maximize e-benefits.

Speaking of the 11-mile Volt and Prius PHEV, or the 19-mile goEnergikin, drivers can also stay away from the gas station. Also, the fact that electric car models do not require recharging at the station is an advantage.

By taking all of the comparisons above, you can now choose which type of vehicle model fits your lifestyle. You can go for MHEVs or PHEVs, as long as it lives up to your life dreams.

Digital Marketing

Writing a Wedding Speech – Brainstorming the Perfect Speech

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When it comes to writing a wedding speech, many people may find it difficult to think of one, but to be honest, it can be really easy when you know exactly where to start. This article will give you the information you need on how to start getting your creative juices flowing so you can brainstorm and write a wedding speech that’s perfect for the upcoming occasion.

First of all, make sure you have enough time. If you don’t have time to do this you will end up rushing and what this means is that you will end up with rushed work and people will be able to say that about your speech. So make sure you give yourself enough time to write this article so you have time to make changes and even get people’s opinions.

The next thing you should do is think about the bride and/or groom. This will be the biggest inspiration that will fill your speech.

Write a few vignettes about them and how they (or you) are together and you’ll soon find you can’t stop.

If you are still having trouble with the content about the two of them, then maybe include a story about the bride and/or groom and this will help take up more time. This will also help you relax if there is a bit of humor in this story.

Another thing that can help your pitch is to think about why marriage is a good idea. By telling people why you think this is the right address, you’ll be able to write as much as if it’s something from the heart. This is very important if you are the bride or groom, as people will want to know why you are doing this and why it is important to the two of you. As for the best man, this is important as he will give you support as to why you should be together, which should be easy for you and therefore he will end up with his pen flowing to paper. He speaks.

Just by jotting down a few bits on the above, you’ll soon be getting the creative juices flowing and you’ll be able to structure it all along with writing a wedding speech.

Relationship

Wrestling: how a chubby boy became an Olympic champion

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chubby

Olympic champion wrestler Dave Schultz was known as “Pudge” in wrestling circles. He was a bit chubby in his youth. In fact, Dave’s friend Steve Holt stated in an article that Dave was a complete jerk with no well defined muscles when he was in high school. He states that Dave would often be mistaken for a scorer or a coach.

Steve first puts Dave into a weekend tournament that Steve was wrestling during his high school years. Steve states, “I noticed this fat, chubby first-year kid sitting in the bleachers watching me during every round. He was looking at me and studying me like a scientist does with a white lab rat in a maze. I was even taking notes!”

According to Jim Humphrey, former Indiana University head coach, “he didn’t look like an athlete, with the sloping shoulders, shuffling gait, and pigeon toes. He wasn’t particularly fast.”

So what sets Dave “Pudge” Schultz apart from other fighters? How did he become so dominant?

Mentors Wanted

Young Dave Schultz became a fan of wrestling. He couldn’t get enough. He wanted to learn the best techniques he could and looked for ways to get additional practice time.

For example, Chris Horpel met Dave when Horpel was already an NCAA All-American wrestler for Stanford. Dave, 14, walked up from Palo Alto High and asked Horpel, 21, to wrestle him. Horpel agreed, hoping to get rid of Dave after a few sessions. To his surprise, Dave kept coming back.

according to a Sports Illustrated article titled “Brothers and Brawlers,” “Dave, dyslexic as a child, had started fighting in seventh grade on the advice of a teacher who thought it would help him build his self-confidence. He did that and more. For his high school student Freshman year at Palo Alto High, Dave was a wrestling fanatic. He wore his t-shirt under his school clothes and his wrestling shoes everywhere. He trained up to three times a day. After his training at school high school, he was riding his bike a few miles down the road so he could practice with the Stanford wrestling team, whose coach, Joe DeMeo, was taking him 30 miles north to Skyline College for a session with a club called the Peninsula Grapplers.

Dedication

Dave Schultz was not a wrestling prodigy. He was dominating from the start. He took time and dedication.

Dave Schultz had dyslexia and was teased and teased by other kids. When Dave first stepped onto the wrestling mat in seventh grade, he was clumsy and uncoordinated. He didn’t even make the varsity and while fighting JV he only won half of his matches. Many kids would have given up and found a new sport or hobby, but not Dave. He was determined and within two years he was ranked the second best fighter in the world for his age group.

I’ve already noticed that Dave Schultz practiced a lot. He put in more hours on the mat than most fighters would be willing to do. He walked across campus with his wrestling shoes tied around his neck. He carried a huge copy of an illustrated wrestling guide in his backpack.

He didn’t get his driver’s license at age 16 because he didn’t want to spend time taking the class. He had a girlfriend for a short time during his senior year of high school, but he dumped her after she suggested that he should spend more time with her and less time fighting.

Focus on technique

Dave Schultz studied wrestling, analyzing techniques and breaking down each move. For Dave, wrestling was like a game of chess. He knew that he would not always be stronger than an opponent, but he could outthink him. in a Sports Illustrated The article Dave states, “Guys have certain tactics and I study them. Then I try to do what pisses them off best.”

Schultz has been universally praised for being one of the best technicians the sport of wrestling has ever had. He was considered by many to be wrestling’s greatest technician and a master strategist. His knowledge of wrestling was enormous.

Bill Scherr, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and friend states, “Dave possessed many unique qualities that gave him the drive and ability to become the best technical wrestler in the United States. First, Dave was as competitive as any athlete I’ve ever seen. ever met.” He didn’t like being beaten. He was consumed with being the best and he believed that learning more and better technique was the key to achieving that goal. Second, Dave had a tremendous mind. While we were on the National Team together, Dave got into chess and soon had us all playing. And I don’t remember him losing.”

Schultz watched videotapes of his matches and those of his competitors. He always had a notebook with him and wrote down the techniques and things he needed to work on.

He learned freestyle and Greco-Roman techniques in addition to his school wrestling even when he was in high school.

Humble and willing to learn

Dave Schultz learned Russian and other languages ​​so he could speak and learn from fighters from different nations. And, he willingly shared his technical knowledge with anyone. He was a great ambassador for the sport of wrestling. He had friends all over the world.

Two-time Olympic champion John Smith states, “He took the time to teach you techniques. He wouldn’t let you go until you understood it. This is very unique in wrestling, because most athletes have their information. Dave Schultz was not Here.”

Dave was willing to learn from fighters, even the seemingly less talented ones. He didn’t have a big ego. He was willing to learn a good technique from anyone. Information and knowledge were valuable to him. He was always picking everyone’s brains and asking other fighters about the moves.

Other obstacle fighters

Legendary wrestler Gene Mills, stated in a book, “I was an 88-pound butterball my freshman year of high school when I started wrestling in Wayne, New Jersey. Wrestling was the sport for me and I won the states in my last year”. and two NCAA championships at Syracuse University in 1979 and 1981. My father taught me my favorite move: the half nelson. on top. It worked very well for me “.

Colleges weren’t that interested in Gene even though he had been dominant in high school. Mills was small and claims he could only bench 100 pounds at the time. His former coach from Syracuse remembers Gene as a puny high school senior, and yet he took a chance on Mills, who would go on to become one of the greatest wrestlers America has ever seen.

A two-time NCAA champion, Gene set the NCAA Division I career pin record with 107 pins. That record stands to this day.

Gene was unable to wrestle in the 1980 Olympics due to the American boycott. Says Gene, “I wanted to break through to the Olympics and I knew I had to get down to 114.5 to reach my goal. It was hard for me, but I did it.”

Unfortunately, he was unable to wrestle in the Olympics, but won the prestigious Tbilisi Tournament in 1980, which was said to be more difficult than the Olympics at some point.

According to the article “Gene Mills: The Uncrowned King”, “Gene Mills achieved what no other human has achieved since the Russians’ renowned Tbilisi Tournament began in ’58. He had no bad grades, which means he defeated all eight enemies by 12 or more”. more points. He pinned down seven of his victims.

HAS Sports Illustrated The article referred to Doug Blubaugh as “a stocky, haircut Olympic champion who wears thick, tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses.” In fact, some say that Doug Blubaugh was legally blind without his glasses. If you look at photos of Blubaugh, he may even seem a bit nerdy until you look closely at his body and see how muscular he was.

A fellow wrestler described Blubaugh as “intelligent, confident, kind, generous, and a Superman with Coke bottle glasses that allowed him to see the world a little differently than the rest of us.”

Doug Blubaugh was another humble and friendly man like Dave Schultz who turned out to be a great fighter and trainer. Blubaugh grew up on a farm with no electricity or running water and had poor eyesight, but it didn’t interfere with his desire to become a great fighter.

Three-time NCAA All-American Ken Chertow didn’t start out as a perfect fighter. It took time and practice for him to become so successful.

Chertow states, “When I started wrestling in high school, I quickly incorporated shadow drills into my training schedule. I was slow and chubby, so my shadow drill wasn’t very smooth, but I got steadily better every day.”

Olympic champion Kendall Cross may not have seemed all that imposing when he stepped onto the Oklahoma State campus. But after winning the 125.5-pound Olympic title in 1996, Sports Illustrated spoke with US wrestling coach Joe Seay, who had a few words to say about Cross. “He came to Oklahoma State 10 years ago as Gumby, no muscles. He became a champion.”

final thoughts

Maybe you are clumsy and uncoordinated. Maybe you are a little overweight. Maybe you are small. Maybe you are skinny. Maybe you’re not that strong. Maybe your vision is not so good. Perhaps you have had to overcome many adversities in your life. Maybe you don’t look imposing at all. But, Dave Schultz and other fighters have proven that with practice and determination it is possible to become a better fighter than you ever imagined.

Remember to seek out qualified mentors and teachers, spend plenty of time practicing, focus on perfecting your technique, be willing to listen and learn, and be humble and work hard. Then it is almost certain that you will become a successful fighter.

Health Fitness

Try a slow carb habit

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Carbohydrates, found in grains, bread, pasta, and sugar, as well as vegetables, fruits, tofu, beans, and dairy products, provide the body with the most efficient fuel for energy production and brain activity. They are nutritionally essential, a principle currently downplayed by the “low-carb craze.”

What is important to understand is that not all carbohydrates have the same “fuel efficiency”. Many carbohydrates, called “refined” or “simple,” cause high and low blood sugar levels that can lead to a period of high energy followed by a period of extremely low energy, often leaving a person with craving more fast-release simple carbohydrates.

Examples of these “refined” carbohydrates are regular pasta, white bread, snack foods, and baked goods. Weight loss plans that recommend eating less or none of these foods are on the right track, except they tend to rule out the GOOD carbs as well. We’ll call them “slow carbs,” and here’s why:

After you eat them, the carbohydrates in your food are broken down and released as units of sugar (glucose) into your bloodstream. “Slow carbs” are foods that release glucose at a slower rate.

These foods are generally “whole foods”; that is, they contain the fiber and minerals that are often removed when making their refined “quick release” counterparts. (Such is the difference between brown bread and white bread.)

Choosing “slow carbs” over refined carbs helps keep blood sugar in balance (positively affecting hunger, mood, and mental focus, among other things). Fiber also promotes regularity and helps maintain healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Examples of “slow carbs” are whole-grain breads and crackers, potatoes with skins, beans and legumes, brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain pasta.

Here are five tips for creating a “slow carb” habit:

1. Whole Foods – Eat as natural as possible. Vegetables, fruits, beans, and lentils are whole foods that contain all of their original nutrients (fiber, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates for energy).

2. Grains and breads: When it comes to grain products like breads, crackers, cereals, and pasta, choose “darker” whole grain varieties. This can be done at both restaurants and the grocery store.

3. Snack: Fruit is a great snack. Consuming whole fruit provides slow-release carbohydrates and will keep your energy up for longer, unlike fruit juice, which provides the body with a quick release of fruit sugar into the bloodstream. Another great snack to try is chopped red peppers with hummus (made from chickpeas).

4. Take the time (you’re worth it!): Since some of the slow carb options take longer to cook (eg, brown rice vs. white rice), make them ahead of time and freeze more for later. foods. Brown rice is very versatile; try it in soups, stews, stuffed vegetables, or for (heated) breakfast with cinnamon, raisins, chopped walnuts, or ground flaxseed.

5. Read labels: “Whole wheat” (or other “whole” grain) should appear before any other flour in the ingredient list. White flour can be disguised as “wheat flour,” “enriched flour,” “unbleached flour,” or “grain flour,” to name a few.

Working to replace “slow carb” foods in your lifestyle will ensure you have enough energy, proper nutrition, and maintain a healthy weight. Of course, it’s also essential that you find some ways to stay active and limit high-fat, high-calorie snacks as best you can.

(c) Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services.

Lifestyle Fashion

Golf and Destination Packages: Pro Tips for Planning the Perfect Trip

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For the serious golfer, there is no better vacation than a time spent on the links, competing in beautiful weather against a tight-knit group of friends. There are many ways to structure a golf vacation and many golf destinations and packages to consider when planning the perfect excursion. Here are some pro tips on how to get it right:

Get your crew on the same wavelength

The first step to a successful trip is making sure everyone agrees on how to structure your vacation time. Get your friends together and brainstorm exactly what kind of experience you want. Not everyone will want to wake up at the crack of dawn and play eighteen holes before lunchtime. The same goes for activities outside the field: if you plan to spend a few nights on the town, make sure your cohorts don’t run out when you get back to the room in the wee hours.

take the road less traveled

Famous spots like Pebble Beach and Myrtle Beach are must-see destinations that every serious golfer should visit at some point. However, do some research on lesser-known courses. The states of the US have amazing places to play, each with a different feel depending on the climate and landscape of the region. Ask around and check out golf guides and magazines to find the hidden gem you like best. May be less crowded than those big name places

Golf resorts vs. game packs

Golf packages generally fall into two main categories: resort packages and game packages. The above variety puts you in a resort right on the links, giving you access to this course for the duration of your stay. In contrast, the play option will put you and your group in a hotel located near several courses. The package includes reserved slots on some courses, so your itinerary will have you jumping around the map to play. Again, check with your group to determine what kind of experience you want.

Alternative accommodation options

If you want to skip the hotel experience, it can be fun and inexpensive to pool your money and rent a condo or golf villa. This gives you more freedom to relax in your own place. While you’ll miss out on the perks of room service and wake-up calls, you won’t have to beg the hotel kitchen to stay open when you want a late-night snack. It also gives you and your friend a comfortable communal environment to chat and relax during downtime.

map ahead

There are many golfers in this world and there are not enough places for everyone to play at once. Courses are booked months in advance, especially during peak seasons. Once you’ve decided where to go, know that you’ll need to book your trip well in advance. The added benefit of booking early is that your airfare will be cheaper if you buy it at the same time.

With research, coordination, and a little ingenuity, you and your team can have the best golf vacation of your life, even if you spend part of it in the sand trap.

Pets

Estate planning? Don’t forget your pet

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The older I get, the more I find myself reading obituaries. I don’t expect to meet the people on the list, I just find it interesting to read about their accomplishments. I ran into one the other day that got me thinking about an aspect of preparing ourselves and our heritage for the end that I had never considered.

The obituary read in part, “you will grieve, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc., and your constant companion, your dog Lucky.” She gave me pause. I’m sure the poor decedent was well prepared when it came to the end, with a will signed and witnessed, bequests well thought out, funeral arrangements already made, typed and close at hand.

I wonder if he thought of Lucky. I own a dog, a loyal and loving boxer named Duke. It had never occurred to me to wonder what would happen to Duke if I died suddenly or even after a long illness. Young married couples with small children choose and appoint guardians for their children, in the event that the children die suddenly or become incapacitated to the point of not being able to care for the children. You who love your pets, as I love Duke, know that our pets are our children.

Likewise, you need to plan for your care in the event of your death. You must have notices in a conspicuous place announcing that the pets live in the home. You should make a plan with your closest neighbors for them to provide temporary emergency care.

For long-term care after your death:

First, if the animal is clearly your pet who you can leave in the care of your spouse or partner, make sure that they keep your pet in case it dies. Do not assume it, discuss it in detail with your partner.

Second, no spouse? Ask among family members if it is feasible for one of them to take care of your pet. If they agree, discuss it in detail. Prepare a list of important information, name and address of the veterinarian, any special food needs, any chronic conditions, any prescription medications the pet may be taking, any idiosyncrasies.

Third, if there are no family members willing to care for your pet in the event of its death, try close friends. You know your friends and you will know whether or not they will be good guardians for your special friend.

If a family member or friend agrees to take over the care of your pet, please formalize the agreement. Have an attorney draft a document explaining the arrangement and also plan to set aside funds for your pet’s care.

What if there is no spouse, no family, no friend? If you are elderly and possibly have health problems, there are organizations that are willing to work with you to place your pet with an adoptive family. Check with your local SPCA for the names of these placement specialists and start working with them early on so there is a smooth and quick transition. Inform your attorney and family that you have made this arrangement.

There are so many aspects to consider when we begin estate and death planning. Don’t forget to plan for the future of your “constant companion.”

Real Estate

How to work with the buyer’s agent when you sell your house without an agent?

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Many people today opt for the ‘sale by owner’ method and learn how to sell their home privately to save thousands of dollars in realtor commissions. Being a ‘for sale by owner’ seller can give you the certainty of saving up to 3% on agent commission and the potential to save 6% if the buyer is not being represented by a real estate agent. But if the buyer is represented by a real estate agent, you will have to pay half of the commission. So, even if you are a ‘for sale by owner’ seller who has complete knowledge on how to sell your home privately, you are likely to come across a buyer’s real estate agent.

Most sellers benefit from having their agents access Multiple Listing Services (MLS). Fortunately, we at Minus The Agent provide you with real estate services that can help you sell your property effectively without paying thousands of dollars in real estate agent fees. Minus The Agent puts you directly in contact with genuine buyers or renters so you can successfully sell or rent without the need for an agent. By listing your property on high profile and high visibility websites domain.com.au, realestate.com.au etc, Minus The Agent gets your property on the market in front of thousands of potential buyers. Minus The Agent also provides end-to-end support with no helpful marketing tools for sellers to have a smooth home sales process every time.

Show like a professional agent
As a ‘for sale by owner’ seller who has learned how to sell your home privately, you must act like a professional real estate agent while showing the property to potential buyers and their agents. Preparing the house, preparing it for sale and getting it ready for sale are the basic requirements on your part. But as a FSBO seller, he has to be at his best as he shows his home to the potential buyer and his agent.

Make sure you have the knowledge and understanding about your property’s structure, plumbing, electrical, safety and security systems, and HVAC systems so that when potential buyers or your agent ask you a question, you have the right answer. Be sure to mention any necessary details about the home to visitors, such as new carpet, fresh paint, or any other major construction or repairs that have recently taken place.

Trade like a professional agent
In order to sell your house and make a lot of money, you need to be objective. Yes, it is your home and you have your memories in that house, but at the end of the day, it is a financial asset. So, negotiate the price of the deal as much as you can, but don’t push it too hard to scare the buyer off. Also, there are other things you can negotiate beyond price. This includes appliances, closing date, and closing costs.

Be sure to carefully read the purchase agreement written by the buyer’s agent. Although it is an additional expense, hiring an attorney who can help you with the legal work can do wonders for you. Unless you have significant experience selling a home, having a real estate attorney by your side will give you the peace of mind you’ll need during the process. The attorney will not only help you review contracts, evaluate complex mortgages or leases, and complex offers, but also tell you what you are required by law to disclose to potential buyers and help you formulate a disclosure agreement.

Close like a professional agent
The best way to prepare for closing costs is to talk to a lender about costs before you even start looking for a home to buy. This is known as mortgage pre-approval and can help you understand the various closing costs associated with the deal so you can plan your funds accordingly. Closing costs are often higher than most buyers initially assume. It is also recommended to budget for the down payment in addition to the closing costs. The home buying process is quite lengthy, giving you plenty of time to organize closing cost funds, but make sure you’re prepared to pay them off before you make an offer on the home you want to buy.

Shopping Product Reviews

The benefit of being chaotic

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A traveler from a distant land stopped at a well-known place called ‘colorful fantasy land’. The whole world is very interested in this land due to its uniqueness and puzzling stories. The traveler entered the gate and asked for a southerly direction to reach his destination. Instead, he was shown the north direction which led him to a place called ‘work is worship’. He stayed the night but nobody was there until the next day in the afternoon. A man with a red mouth and tobacco greeted the traveler warmly at the rest house with the assurance of a cup of tea. The tea arrived after an hour of securing. The traveler, taken aback by the late response, asked the man why it was taking so long for a cup of tea to arrive. He said, ‘we’re not in a hurry, why do you worry?’

The bewildered traveler decided to leave and asked for the way to his homeland. The red-mouthed man pointed south at his place. By default, he arrived at his destination after two days. He searched for his friend and found him residing in a palatial home. He was fat and rich and fortune flowed everywhere, but his neighbors were skinny and poor from hunger. He had a surplus but had refused to share with his poor neighbors. The day the traveler arrived at the palatial building, he asked his friend if he could take him to visit the place. He was given a royal deal with a horse-drawn cart and two men to escort him. He felt glorious, but on his way, he saw cows filling the roads with stench, a little boy urinating on the roadside, and odor-filled puddles of black sewage water greeted him on the road. The vendor was yelling at the buyers to sell their fly-filled sweets, and two beggars approached him asking for money. He felt sad; he gave them their share of him as they deserved.

At the corner end of town, there was an internet cafe with a multinational ‘McDonald point of sale’ and a few call centers that looked classy amidst the dirt and grime. On the opposite side of the elegant building was a large screen that said “the race between the tortoise and the hare, who will win”? The traveler, amazed by the sudden change of sight from dirt to bright and elegant environment and by the writings on the bulletin board, asked his two escorts the meaning. He made it clear to her, ‘we are like a chameleon that changes color according to time and space. That is why we are called the land of ‘colorful fantasy land’. We can be dirty and clean, rich and poor, great and mediocre, fat and skinny, honest and dishonest, quarrelsome and cowardly, argumentative and silly, conservative and modern on demand.’ The best part is that we are locals made with an international profile and no one can copy us or abuse our prestigious name. We are born winners, as revealed by our potential to be winners in many indices. We are proud to be called a tortoise because only a tortoise can win the race against the hare. The secret of our success is in the method of our chaotic way. That method is known only to us and we will reach the top using this method. The secret method known only to us cannot be copied by others or used without a familiarization program. If someone copies it without prior training and capacity development program, they will be doomed.’

And so the story goes; after a few years, the other part of the world copied the secret method and applied it without the familiarization program. She slammed into them with such force that she sent them spiraling. The result was economic recession in the wake of the global financial crisis. The global crisis did not dare to enter the ‘colorful fantasy land’, because the chaos in the colorful fantasy land was more powerful and chaotic than the spiraling effect of the global crisis.