Paella Party Catering in San Francisco Offers Four Tips For Corporate Catering Success

San Francisco corporate caters, Paella Party Catering, offers four tips for corporate catering success, which include: getting the facts straight, not losing a sense of style, being prompt, and determining the company’s budget. (PRWeb March 04, 2011) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/corporate-catering/san-francisco/prweb8181490.htm

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Paella Party Catering in San Francisco Offers Four Tips For Corporate Catering Success

$30 for $60 Worth of Services at Katherine Kendall Salon & Spa in Albany

Like fine marble statues, human bodies must be touched up on a regular basis lest their surfaces dull, their north-sides moss, and their forearms fall off. Lavish your life vehicle with today’s Groupon: for $30, you get $60 worth of health and beauty services at Katherine Kendall Salon & Spa in Albany

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$30 for $60 Worth of Services at Katherine Kendall Salon & Spa in Albany

Callan Survey: Trends Swing Positive for Defined Contribution Plans

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Callan Associates’ 2011 Defined Contribution Trends Survey: Positioning the DC Plan for the Future finds that plan sponsors will revive efforts to move their plans forward after enduring a severe market collapse and several years of economic challenges. Improvements in company contributions, use of automatic features and the increased usage of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) funds rank among the positive trends.

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Callan Survey: Trends Swing Positive for Defined Contribution Plans

First-Ever Plastic Surgery Innovation Forum Will Gather Multi-Disciplinary Leadership Group to Stimulate Collaboration …

PALO ALTO, CA–(Marketwire – 04/14/10) – Successful clinical innovation. Collaborative partnerships.

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First-Ever Plastic Surgery Innovation Forum Will Gather Multi-Disciplinary Leadership Group to Stimulate Collaboration …

Tips To Succeed and Win While Placing NFL Bets

The NFL and NCAA Football are hallmarks of American culture and pride in recent years. Their popularity has continued to grow over time unlike baseball which has faded a bit in recent years as compared to football. Whether you are from Indiana, Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Dallas, nearly everyone has a favorite team they like to root for on Sunday. In recent years, another part of football has also been growing with the amounts of bets placed on NFL football and NCAA football growing every year. As people have increased knowledge about the games, they also are more likely to bet on them.

For the NFL and NCAA, people place bets based on the football betting lines released by the sports odds makers in Las Vegas. The football betting lines affect how the bet is placed because it adds point to the team that is not favored in the final score, and subtracts points from the team that is favored to win in the final score.

For instance if the Philadelphia Eagles were favored to beat the Dallas Cowboys by three and a half points, and the Philadelphia Eagles won by only three, the people who placed their bets on the Dallas Cowboy would win the money for the game. But if the Philadelphia Eagles were favored in the football betting lines by seven and the Dallas Cowboys lose by fourteen, then the winners would be the people who placed bets on the Philadelphia Eagles.

When a bet is placed on a football game an amount of excitement is added to the game and the football betting lines mean every score counts so the game is watched by the person who placed the bet until the end. While it may ultimately result in a disappointment, it often results in a victory for the better and a great feeling when victory is achieved. The key to a successful football bet is to not read into the football betting lines as much as people do, as your own knowledge about the game will typically supersede the football betting lines as your gut is the best indicator of who will win. But at the same time, you need to keep in perspective how the football betting lines are made as typically the odds makers try to make the odds in way that favor them, but there are still a ton of winners every week.

The amount of money that can be won through placing football bets can be big and there are many stories about winners and people who beat the football betting lines to win big. If your bet is right you can join the many winners. If not, then good luck next time and make sure to make a better bet next time.

Seven Tips For Small Business Branding

Seven tips for small business branding

Big companies know how to launch, build, and maintain their brands. Small businesses? Not so much. Small business owners know they need to grow their business, but without an in-house “Global Brand Management and International Marketing Communications Department” they tend to be iffy on the details of how to actually do it.

The following tips have been compiled after several years of literally repeating the same things over and over again to the small and mid-sized business that have made up the core of Plumbline’s client list.

1. You have a brand personality whether you create it or not.

A brand is not a logo. Its a feeling. It’s what the customer actually feels or thinks of when he or she hears your name. So you better take some time to figure out how you want your customers to feel about you. The minute you launch your product or business you will start eliciting a response from people. How they perceive you (premium, value, technical, friendly, old, young, etc.) will shape your future. To make things worse (or better), it happens almost instantly on the Web.

Send some time, before you even create a business card, to think, really think about who you are as a brand and who the people are that make up your target audience. Then craft every piece of communication material around that.

2. Know where you want to take your brand.

?You need a plan. Lucky for you, this plan is not a drag to create. You simply need to have a good idea of how far you want to take your brand in the future and write it down. Commit to your vision. You may be a local coffee shop now, but a few years from now there may be some crazy trend toward Italian-style hot beverages made with espresso and foamed milk and just like that your in the Forbes 500. It would be wise to consider this possibility and create your brand accordingly. If you are going to grow, your brand message and image will need to accommodate that growth.

3. Speak Your Customer’s Language

?If you are a stand-up comedian, you better know what kind of room you are working that night. Comedy that kills in San Francisco might just possibly get a good Texas-Style Butt-Kicking in Dallas.

You’ve got to know your audience. More importantly, you’ve got to know what will work for them, what will turn them off and what will make them sit up and take notice. This really is marketing 101: Match the message to the audience. The message may shift over time, but the voice you use should not. If the voice must change or evolve, it should only do so when necessary and after a good length of time.

If you are selling a Cadillac, you should speak in a way that Cadillac customers will understand. Don’t try to sell them a Cadi using the voice used to sell a Scion. They just won’t hear you.

4. Make your audience respond in the way you want.

First, identify what you want the response to be, then craft your message around that.

You can make your audience respond through the use of visuals that tell your story or deliver on your core message. In packaging, it is often said that the package design is the first experience the customer has with the product contained inside. So through two dimensional graphics on a three dimensional product, we can actually communicate flavor and taste – eliciting a response like “mmmm doughnuts” for example. You can also make people respond by connecting to them with images that they are already tuned in to. That’s why beautiful, scantly-clad women sell a lot of beer. Both on TV and in the bar.

Just remember to keep it appropriate. A scanty clad biker dude will probably not help you sell pantyhose. Then again, maybe it will.

5. Control your message.

?You are in control of what you say. You can control the message your brand delivers. However you cannot control what is said about you. Unless your in the movies or politics apparently.

Be very very careful to consider all of the points of contact between your brand and your audience. All messages should be delivered in the same voice. Everyone who works for you should be treated like representative of your company. You know where they do this very well? Disneyland. Every where you go, and every one you interface with–the guy running the Matterhorn, the garbage sweeper, or Mickey Mouse himself– are all working off the same script all the time.

Your brand should be treated the same way. Your receptionist, your stock people, your engineer, should all know the brand story forward and backward and be able to represent (sell) your brand to anyone, at any time just as well as your actual sales team does. Build your brand inside as well as out.

6. Show what’s special about your brand.

What makes BMW different than Audi? or The Gap different from JCrew? It doesn’t matter if you are a landscaper or a lawyer, if you want to stand out form the crowd, you have to show what makes you unique.

However what you think might be your single, most-defining feature probably isn’t. More specifically it’s probably the same single, most-defining feature that everyone else is pushing. And really, do we need another piece of software to increase ROI and CRM PDQ ASAP? Can the world really take another Amazon.com? Do we need the “E-Bay of medical supplies”? If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard a client describe their business as the “perfect one-stop solution for blank” or as the “gold-standard provider of blank for the blank industry” I’d be on the beach of the island I’d be able to buy.

So how will you define yourself? The good news is that once you arrive at that answer the rest will be pretty easy. Or at least fun.

7. Be who you are

Be true to yourself and your customers. Don’t oversell or try to do to much. And once you have defined your brand personality, stick with it. If you are the value leader, then be the value leader. If you want to move from being the value leader to a high-end player, my advice is to launch a separate brand – think Old Navy vs. Banana Republic.  Once you are out of the gate, changing the world’s established perception of you will be very difficult so again, think about who you want to be before your hang up your shingle.

Sometimes what you set out to be is different from what you become. That’s okay, even if it wasn’t part of your plan. If your audience leads you to a new place, follow them and deliver on their expectations. Don’t try to force them back to where you originally wanted to be or they will probably abandon you for your competition.

Of course there are dozens of other ideas for building the brand of a small or mid-sized business. And there are probably thousands of experts, books, blogs, lectures, and classes on the subject. This is not meant to be Gospel. It’s just some friendly advice.

Dom Moreci is the creative director of Plumbline Studios – a creative services firm in Napa, Ca.

Event Planning Tips and Tricks

10 Key tools and tips to save money and still have a great event in these challenging times.

Tip #1:

Plan out far ahead or last minute, if you can take the stress: If you plan out 6+ months ahead, you will be able to assure the venue, and vendors that you want. However if you plan last minute, venues and vendors that are not already booked may give you good deals. On the other hand, if you are using an event company, you may be charged more, as it is a lot of extra work and stress for your event company.

Tip#2:

Catering quotes: If you are booking a caterer for you event and getting multiple quotes, make sure you look at the price at the bottom of the invoice! It should include catering, wait staff, kitchen staff, gratuity, and tax. If you only have a cost per person, or a food total, plan on spending as much as twice the number shown when you are finished. Make sure all of your caterers are providing the same items, and note whether they are cooking onsite, or bringing in hot boxes. Some caterers may be more, but providing rentals for instance.

Tip#3:

Venue selection: Venue selection is critical for a dynamic event. Here are items you want to consider when booking a venue: A. Do they allow adequate set up time? Most events will need 2 to 6 hours for set up, depending on what elements you have: lighting, stage, décor, etc. B. How much break down time do they give you? Plan on at least two hours to comfortably exit and clean up an event space, unless you have minimal elements C. Can you drop the rentals off the day before, or at least earlier in the day? If not, the rental company will charge you a premium for any deliver that has less than a 3 hour window. D. Curfews? There is nothing worse than forgetting to ask the all important question: Are you in a residential district? If so, what is the latest that my reception can go until? Many venues in residential areas must finish their events by 9 or 10pm. This might be way too early for your crowd. E. Parking: If your guests can’t park, you will never hear the end of it, and it could spell disaster. Make sure parking for guests and vendors is handled F. Rentals: Does the venue provide chair and tables with the rental? If so, you will not only save money on those items, but can also save on delivery, as you would only need linens, which you could pick up yourself from the rental company, and drop off yourself. This will save over $150 in delivery fees to many locations. G. Hidden charges: Do they charge a day of event fee? A security fee? Require event insurance (and additional fee)? H. What are their expectations in terms of clean up? Some venues are fine with you leaving the venue without any large pieces of garbage. Others expect you to mop up and put away the chairs and tables (if provided).

Tip#4:

Rentals: As touched upon above, when ordering party rentals, try and allow a 3 hour window between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday. If you can’t do this, then give them a 3hr window on the weekend. If this is not possible, you will paying a premium for after hours delivery with a short load in window. Other items that rental companies charge extra for are stairs, elevators, long load ins, and distance charges depending on where your venue is located. You can follow this advice: A. Do NOT wait until a couple of days before your event to make final guest count changes. Most rental companies will not make any changes 48hrs before an event. Give yourself a week before the event to finalize the RSVPs. B. Who is setting up the rentals and breaking them down? Did you consider this? The rental companies will not do this, unless they are paid additionally for it. If your group size is 120 people or less, it is usually cheaper, and always easier to have the event rental company set up the tables and chairs, while your caterer will often set up the linens and fold the napkins, set the plates, etc.

Tip#5:

DJs/ Bands: Looking for a great DJ? Need a Jazz or dance band? Make sure they have multiple references: I would check at least three. Make sure the load in time for bands is 1.5 hours before the event and for DJ’s, at least one hour. If you have a DJ coming, ask if they supply dance lights, and if so, how many, and are they on stands? They should be. You want the dance lighting on the dance floor, not on the ceiling.

Tip #6:

Saving money on catering: One of the most expensive parts of catering is the staffing! Try and design your events with only about 2 hours of food service for maximum savings. It may extend to three with appetizers. Speaking of which, We suggest offering some appetizers stationed, such as cold plates, and having other appetizers passed. This reduces the number of staff needed, allows people who are hungry to not be at the mercy of the staff passing the appetizers, and gives people who are engaged in conversation an opportunity to still nibble on the passed appetizers. Passed saves on the food, while stationed saves on the labor. Why not do the best of both worlds, having your less expensive items stationed and the others passed?

Tip #7:

Buffet or seated?: I am a fan of the buffet. I will readily admit that the buffet has the distinct disadvantage of not being as elegant, and requiring more food per guest. However, the logistical nightmares and intensive staffing that it saves, makes it a great choice. A nice full service plated dinner requires one wait staff per every 10 people or so. If you have 150 people, you will need 15 staff. At $150 to $200 per staff, this adds up very quickly relative to the 3 to 5 staff needed at a buffet (one to two at the buffet and 2 to 3 to bus/ replenish). It also greatly reduces the back end kitchen staff. Have you ever attempted to plate 150 meals in a 10 minute duration? Don’t! The other major issue with plated dinners is the issue of ever changing minds. Many a time my clients have gotten RSVPs, made table tags, and assigned food preferences for each guest, only to find out that after countless hours of labor and coordination, many of their guests decided that they weren’t vegetarians after all, once they see their neighbor dig into a fillet of sea bass. This will lead to many of the guests that did order a particular dish, not getting it, as it is impossible for the caterer to buy two of everything for all guests. If you must have a plated meal, I strongly suggest doing one split meal. Offer plate with surf and turf or fish and chicken, and let your couples barter at the table if one wants fish only and the other prefers beef.

Tip#8:

Party Timing: Timing is everything as they say, and this is certainly true with events. Keep your event at four hours. Vendors may not tell you this, but this is the industry standard. Go under this magic number and it will cost you the same as if you kept your event at 4 hours. Go over it and you will be paying for overtime. From Venues, to DJs/bands to caterers, and more, you will find this the case.

Tip #9:

General Vendor Selection Tips: There is nothing more telling than the old event planners adage: you are only as good as your vendors. Follow these tips and you will reduce your chances of ending up with a lousy vendor, which will make a lousy Event. This is probably the single best reason to hire a tried and true professional planner: They will know who to bring, and more importantly, who NOT to bring to your event. C. As is true in most other aspects of life, in the event industry, you get what you pay for. This is a service industry, and you just can’t take shortcuts and get away with it. If you get a cheap caterer, DJ, or cake, that is exactly what it will appear like. Get 3 quotes if you are doing it yourself: don’t take the cheapest. Go for the middle or the highest. D. Be a detective. There are two things in life that all products and services are judged on: Price and quality. Your job, if you are venturing into the unknown land of finding vendors for your event, is to source the most reliable providers.. After you have selected your best candidate, ask them for three references. Preferably ones that have used them more than once. Call up their references, and make sure to ask the hard questions, such as: “ I know you think they are great, and I am sure they are. However no one is perfect. This won’t go beyond you and me, but if you had to change one thing about vendor X, what would it be? “

Tip#10:

Lighting: No event is complete without lighting. Lighting transforms a dismal space into a dynamic atmosphere. Although lighting a venue is not cheap, it is considerably less than decorating it with draping and other elements, and has a powerful impact on the emotions elicited, which will shape how the evening evolves. By incorporating lighting and draping, you can colorize any room to your event theme. Keep in mind there is no good way to only partially light a room. In order to have uplights, food lighting, and dance floor lighting be visible, you must turn down the ambient lighting of your venue either off, or to 25% of the normal lighting. This will allow the colors of the lighting to saturate the space and create the “glow” that you are looking for. When you do this, the bar, buffet, speeches on the dance floor, gift table, and anything else you need to have visible will disappear. It is important to make sure all of these elements are well lit by your lighting company. The impact of this is dramatic: a room glowing with every important event element.

Rving in California: Tips on Rv Camping, Rv Parks and Places to Visit in California

California gets its “Golden State” nickname from the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s – but also deserves the handle because RVing in California offers a golden opportunity for travelers on the go! As the third largest state in the country, California has so many different landscapes it can seem like all fifty states rolled into one. There’s the desert, the mountains, big cities, small towns and more than 1000 miles of breathtaking coastline. This makes for excellent RVing and countless sightseeing destinations – Here are some ideas on how to enjoy your RVing in California.

California RV Camping and RV Campgrounds: Something for Everyone

There’s such wide geographical variety in California that the state is divided into 12 regions. Each has its own unique natural beauty, man-made splendor – and weather! With all the California terrain and weather differences, research California RV camping and California RV campgrounds specific for your RVing journey and prepare accordingly. There is truly something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors – skiing, boating, fishing, hiking and lots of beach RV campsites.

California RV Camping and RV Parks: A State for all Seasons

It’s hard to imagine covering all of California in one journey (there’s more than 150,000 square miles!) So if you’re flexible, think about when you most want to go on your California RV camping trip. If you’re a snowbird on the run from cold weather at home, you probably won’t want to go to the High Sierra mountains in the winter, as you’ll find snow and low temperatures. Looking for a champagne stopover on a beer budget? Prime time to visit Palm Springs is in the winter, with prices to match, but if you go in the summer-time off-season, RV campsites and RV parks are likely to be more reasonably priced and much more readily available. Make sure though that your air conditioning is working and make room for plenty of sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat!

RVing in California: Visit California’s Greatest Places

Because of the state’s generally mild climate, most RV campsites in California are up and running year-round. If you’re planning on RVing to the Golden State, you might want to concentrate on one area. If you’ve never been to California before, start with some well-know highlights: San Francisco and nearby Muir Woods, then venture further north to wine country, or Southern California known for its Hollywood glamour and some of the most popular attractions in the U.S.A., including Universal Studios, the Getty Center, Venice Beach and of course the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Be sure to research discounts such as AAA, AARP, groups, etc.!

RVing in California: Visit Fairs & Festivals in Every Flavor

Many people associate California with business, Silicon Valley and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, but did you know California is the nation’s #1 agricultural state? With most harvesting done in the spring and early summer, there’s a bumper crop of festivals celebrating locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Most are cozy, down home events, which benefit regional community organizations. While RVing in California, here’s a tasty sampling:

• Apricot Capitol of the World, Patterson – holds an Apricot Fiesta every year

• Butter & Egg Day in Petaluma commemorates the town’s egg and dairy history

• Gilroy Garlic Festival, in its third decade, attracts over 100,000 visitors a year and

• Asparagus Festival – more than 40,000 pounds of asparagus are consumed annually at the Stockton

Most all of the areas where there are Fairs & Festivals have plenty of RV Parks, RV Campgrounds and RV Camping facilities!

California RV Campgrounds & RV Camping at the Beach!

The beaches of California and the Pacific Coast Highway are world famous, and deservedly so. Beautiful ocean vistas, sand, surf and seasonal glimpses of migrating whales are just some of the more obvious highlights. You can plan an entire California RVing excursion just by driving north or south along the coast. If you’re RVing on the California beaches, consider getting a copy of the California Coast Access Guide, which contains information on more than 890 public access coastal areas, 100+ maps and clear descriptions of RV camping, RV parks, RV campgrounds, trails and recreation areas.

29 Healthy Fit Tips

1. BETTER POSTURE – If you have rounded or hunched shoulders and want to improve your posture, here are two things you can do. Backward shoulder rolls and shoulder squeezes with short sustained holds can help strengthen you upper middle back and stretch your chest. Think of your chest as if it were the headlights of a car and always keep your head lights up. Avoid arching your back. You’ll soon walk straighter, stronger and be on your way to better posture for life.

2. METABOLISM – Exercise not only increases the metabolic rate for the duration of the activity, but also for many hours after completion. Studies have indicated that the resting metabolism is still elevated some 18 hours after the exercise period. That means you’re still burning calories long after you’re finished working out.

3. WEIGHT LOSS – “It’s hard to lose weight and keep it off”. How many times have you heard that? The recent release of information saying that we have a fat gene is very depressing. It would be so easy to believe the “doomed to be fat” editorials or the notion that there’s little that we can do about how much we weigh. But don’t you dare for a minute, buy into that kind of thinking. If you watch what you eat and stay active, how much you weigh will be “OK”. Think about it, there are people you know who have been successful at losing weight and keeping it off. Think positively.

4. FLAT ABS – Don’t get too hung up on having the perfect flat stomach. For some people, this goal may be impossible. Even if you are very thin, your internal organs may give a slight roundness in your abdominal region. The flatness of your stomach depends, in large part on your genetics. That is, whether or not your body tends to store fat around your midsection or elsewhere.

5. HEART – Exercise has been proven to protect the heart. A moderate amount of exercise increase HDL cholesterol. It also lowers blood pressure, makes you less likely to gain weight, increases insulin sensitivity in the muscles and lowers the risk of formatting blood clots. Fit individuals have a lower risk of heart disease.

6. BMR – Our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is the number of calories burned at rest, decreases with age. Researchers have realized that a person’s lean body mass is the key to compiling a definitive figure. The best way to maintain lean body mass is by including strength training to your workout regime. Without strength training, the BMR may drop by 100 calories per decade, starting at age 20, so build those muscles and burn more calories.

7. STRENGTH TRAINING – Is an excellent way to slow down the aging process, In fact, one researcher indicates that much of what we call aging, is nothing more than the accumulation of a lifetime of inactivity. For example, muscles shrink due to inactivity – a process we call atrophy and body fat increases as a result. Also linked with inactivity are risks of diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. By preserving muscle mass, we may prevent these problems from occurring.

8. SPOT REDUCING – It is a myth that abdominal exercises like sit ups burn fat deposits around the waist. The fact is, abdominal exercises can strengthen your abdominal muscles which in return help burn fat overall but it won’t selectively burn abdominal fat. You can’t spot reduce, which means to lose weight from specific regions of the body. However, this is not to say that doing abdominal exercises is a waste of time. When properly done, they strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles which are otherwise hard to exercise. Strong abdominals muscles provide better support for the back and may alleviate some back problems. The best way to lose fat is exercise combined with a low fat diet.

9. INFLEXIBILITY – in the quads can alter pelvic alignment, which in turn contributes to problems in the lower back. Lack of muscular coordination in this area increases risk of accidents and falls. Remember to include flexibility and coordination exercises when working out.

10. WOMEN – generally lose between 3 and 6% of their bone density annually just before and after menopause. Researchers estimate that in the women they studied, waling generally delayed osteoporosis by about 7 years and also conveyed cardiovascular benefits.

11. WOMEN & HEALTH – Women who exercise regularly experience as much as 60% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. Those who participated in at least 4 hours of exercise per week appeared to reap the greatest benefit.

12. WEIGHT TRAINING – Research has found that as women become stronger and fit with weights, they begin to spend time pursuing other physical activities, such as team sports like tennis or join a cycling group, all because their stronger.

13. HEALTH – Did you know that strokes are rare in women 25-44? Under age 45, only 10/100,000 women lose their lives to stroke or other brain disorders. After 45, however, the rate zooms to 65/100,000 and continues to increase with age. The best way to avoid stroke is to control your blood pressure by keeping weight and cholesterol in check through healthy eating and regular exercise.

14. AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN – More than 40% of African American women weigh more than 20% above their ideal body weight, which gives them a 90% greater chance of developing heart disease. This extra weight, combined with a lack of exercise, contributes to other conditions that weaken the heart and one’s overall health, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. So get movin’!

15. WEAK MUSCLES – A recent study indicated that half of women age 65 cannot lift 10 pounds. Women have less muscle mass to begin with, and they start to lose muscle strength more rapidly after age 60. Often times they become so profoundly weak that they must be put into nursing homes because they are unable to perform their daily functions. So start pumping those weights.

16. EXERCISE DURATION – How much exercise is enough? Well, fitness experts say at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day. If you don’t have 60 straight minutes, break it up into 6, 10 minute workouts or 30 minute workouts 4 to 6 days a week.

17. MUSCLE MASS – More muscle creates a higher demand for energy. In order for muscles to maintain itself at rest and during exercise, you’ll need to eat more foods high in nutrients. How do we create this formula…resistance training builds strong muscles, and eating foods low in fat will help to prevent the loss of muscle mass.

18. TOTAL BODY – just like baking a pie, you need all the ingredients to have a beautiful and tasteful pie, same with your body, it’s not one without the other, taking care of your body means as a whole, mentally, physically and spiritually!

19. HEALTHY FOODS – Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants are better for your skin, cells and body. Think organic, non-chemical foods that are not loaded with toxins. Eat fewer calories

20. REST – Your body needs rest to repair itself. Also, a rested mind is a happy mind that can think more clearly and has more energy. Active minds are more likely to remain healthy.

21. LIVE LONGER – Be active and live longer! Physical activity is critical to longevity and independent living. Death rates in non-active people double the rate of those that live an active lifestyle…so keep moving!

22. ADVICE – Eighty percent of women rely on their friends for advice and support when trying to improve health habits. Eating healthier diets and increasing physical activity are the main ways that women attempt to improve their health and succeed.

23. WORKING OVERTIME – Women who work overtime consume more high fat, high sugar snacks and caffeinated beverages, smoke more, and get less exercise. People snack more when they work in hostile, high stress environments. Snacking at work is not necessarily bad if you choose healthy foods such as fruit, low-fat yogurt, or high-fiber crackers.

24. MAGNESIUM – Calcium and vitamin D get all the glory when it comes to promoting bone health. While they are the major nutritional players in bone metabolism, minerals such as iron and magnesium are also important. Good sources of magnesium include fruits vegetables and whole grains. You can also beef up magnesium intake by taking a good multivitamin that contains it.

25. METABOLICALLY FIT – Sixty percent of Americans are overweight, while 25 percent are obese. Many of these people exercise regularly, some vigorously, but are still overweight. A few extra pounds are okay if you are metabolically fit- as long as you exercise regularly. It’s best to be lean and active, but you get some health benefits from exercise no matter how much you weigh. It’s easier for a fat person to increase physical activity than to lose weight through diet alone.

26. VITMAMIN D – Skin doctors have been telling women for year to stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds to avoid wrinkled skin and skin cancer. While the bronzed tan look is still popular, many women cover up or use protective sun lotions to protect their skin. Avoiding the sun’s rays completely is not a good idea. The body gets vitamin D largely from a reaction that requires sunlight. The vitamin is essential for building strong bones, preserving muscle strength, and preventing multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and cancer. It also helps regulate cell growth, immunity, and energy metabolism. Dermatologists (skin doctors) countered that people with vitamin D deficiencies can take supplements and should avoid excessive sun exposure.

27. STRESS – Stress can literally give people gray hairs and cause cells to age and die faster than normal. Cells can only reproduce a limited number of times. Stress shortens that interval, which makes it more difficult to repair injured cells and fight disease. University of California, San Francisco found greater cell damage in women who were under high levels of stress compared to women who weren’t. Stressed women had cells that were judged 10 years older than the cells of unstressed women of the same age. The scientists speculated that free radicals- destructive chemicals produced normally during metabolism- were responsible for stress-related cell aging. Try to reduce the stress in your life- you might live longer.

28. WHOLE GRAINS – Eating more high grain foods contributes to weight loss and prevents disease. New FDA food guidelines recommend five to ten servings of grain products- at least three of which should be from whole grains. They also urged people to eat fewer servings of refined grain products. Whole grain foods must contain all three layers of the grain- the endosperm, the bran and the germ. Read the label carefully when shopping for these foods. Dark bread does not necessarily contain whole grains.

29. DARIY FOODS – Most women know the importance of calcium intake for building and maintaining strong bones. Dairy foods, such as milk and cheese, are the best sources for calcium. Dairy foods may also help fight fat. Iranian scientists found that men and women who consumed the most dairy products are 80% less likely to be obese and have a lower body mass index. Try to consume three servings per day of non-fat dairy foods.

Recreational Vehicle: Tips When Buying a RV

Many celebrities are opting to have it. A recreational vehicle or RV is more than a luxurious form of transportation. Nowadays, the functionality of an RV is getting more and more practical. Many people are choosing to sell their current homes just so they could finance an effort to acquire an RV.

What makes owning a recreational vehicle worth it? Basically, an RV is an enclosed form of large vehicle that is apparently and practically converted into an improvised home. You may probably seen an episode of MTV Cribs or any other Hollywood celebrity shows wherein an icon’s RV is being featured. You surely have an idea of how the interior looks like.

The Recreational Vehicle

Usually, a recreational vehicle has an interior that is no different from a small condominium. There are stylish windows, the floor is carpeted and the whole place is fully furnished. There are also rooms where the owner could relax and take some sleep. There is a bathroom and a restroom, as well as kitchen and a living room. Basically, an RV is a simple home.

Aside from celebrities who are always on locations for filming and other job-related trips, many retirees are opting to give up their homes to acquire a recreational vehicle. Other homeowners are thrilled by the thought of having different locations for the home. Many people are excited about sleeping in Los Angeles and waking up at San Francisco without leaving home. That is possible if you are living in a recreational vehicle.

Top 4 Must-Know RV Tips

If you are aiming to invest in an RV, it would be helpful if you would initially consider the following guidelines. Take note that a recreational vehicle acquisition is not a usual purchase transaction because RVs usually cost about $100,000 to $1,500,000. That would be a significant investment and would cost as much as a regular home.

1. If you are considering giving up your home in favor of an RV, do not act impulsively. It would be wise if you would first give it a try. You can get the feel by renting an RV for a holiday getaway. This way, you could experience how it is to live in an RV without necessarily making the significant investment. Thus, you can easily abandon the plan if you realize you are not really into it.

2. Recreational vehicle purchases are usually costly. Often, an RV costs as much as regular conventional home. Thus, before taking the transaction, plan ahead. If you can produce the full amount for the purchase, pay in full. Car financing schemes and loans would further inflate the RV’s tag price.

3. If you choose to take a financing scheme, strive to make a 20% down payment. Usually, car financers and customers agree to a 10% minimum down payment scheme. If you pay 20% of the total amount ahead, the remaining cost to be paid in installment would be lessened. You could also keep up with the current valuation of the RV. Usually, such vehicles’ valuation depreciates two years after the purchase.

4. If you realized that recreational vehicle ownership is not for you, dispose the vehicle by selling at prices that would not spell losses for your investment. You can choose to buy another home after the initiative or return to your old house. With the current high gasoline prices, RVs are truly not advisable to own.

A recreational vehicle is more than a luxury. It could be a necessity as more people nowadays choose to own one over owning a conventional home. The best tip anyone could offer for prospective RV buyers is to find the best deals in the market. There are cheaper RVs available, which are more advisable if you are not aiming to make living in the vehicle a life-long decision.

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