Elite Key Words

By choosing elite, or niche, key words, you'll be providing a needed service to web surfers seeking information as well as ensuring web traffic on your site. By using elite keywords properly in your website, you will attract the search engines and, because you'll have few competing web pages, you are likely to have the people seeking information on your topic visit your site.

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It doesn't matter what the topic or theme of your website may be, you can find elite key words to incorporate into the content. For example, if your website is about fast cars, you'll probably find the term 'fast car' has millions of web pages already but the term 'sports cars', oddly enough, has many fewer responses when used as a search term. Therefore, 'sports cars' would be considered an elite key word, providing a niche in the web for you to fill.

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Elite key words are important to sales websites as well. If you are providing a service or product, people still need to locate you and if you do not appear in the first 30 or so search engine responses, you'll probably be lost in the crowd. By choosing keywords that are elite, you'll find your search engine rankings improve significantly.

There are many tools available for choosing elite key words. Wordtracker is a well-known tool, but rather expensive to use. Of course, it is probably also the best. But there are many other tools available and many of them are free to use or download. Some are web-based and the application runs right on the Internet. Others require that you download and install software on your computer. Either way, many of these tools are quite effective.

You'll be able to determine how well your search for elite key words has improved your web page after including them in your meta-tags and content. As the search engine spiders find your site, you can search for your keyword and see where in the search engine results you rank. If your site does not appear high in the rankings, continue to improve through the use of elite keywords until you obtain the ranking you desire.

Elite Key Words

Peter Vermeeren is the owner and webmaster of: Free articles and resources - Keyword Elite Review [http://www.keywordselite.powerrss-seoelite-xsitepro.com/keyword-elite-case-study-1150-in-12-hours.html] Keyword Elite made me 1150$ in 12 hours: learn how to do this yourself- All about affiliate marketing and business online

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How To Plan the Perfect Spring Picnic

Spring is such a fantastic season. Not only do the flowers bloom and the grass turns bright green but the weather is simply gorgeous, not too hot and never too cold. This is when we all come out of our hibernation and start planning outdoor activities. This is the perfect excuse to get some friends together on a sunny afternoon and have a picnic.

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Before you gather all your friends together, there are a few things we need to go over so you will be well prepared for this fun and joyous day. Here is a list to help you start planning the best spring picnic.

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- Date: Obviously you are going to want to pick a day when all your guests can come and join in on the fun. Also make sure to check ahead on the weather forecast. I wouldn't try and check too far in advance, the meteorologists can try to predict the weather, but there's never a 100% guarantee. Just keep your eyes open for any changes.

- Time: You want to schedule the picnic around having enough daylight for food and activities. If you have it on a Saturday you can pick whatever time you want for the picnic to start. A lot of people don't have to wake up early on Sunday for work so none of your guests will feel pressed for time. However, if you decide to have the picnic on Sunday I suggest thinking about having your guests meet you around 11ish, that way you will have the whole afternoon to eat and enjoy the activities outside.

- Location: Nothing beats a great picnic in a big fantastic park. Usually parks have a special shaded picnic area for the public. If you have a park in mind, go check it out before you start telling your friends to go there. Also try and find a park with a lot of grass area so once everyone is done eating you can play some fun outdoor activities. If there will be children coming along, having a big playground would be key.

- Invitations: A simple phone call would work for this type of party but if you decide to send out invitations check out some of these links below. Don't go out and buy invitations when you can just spend a few minutes on the computer and pick out some free printable cards to send out.

American Greetings.com

BlueMountain.com

Evite

MyCardMaker.com

NetFunCards.com

- More than just the picnic basket

Though food is what's important at a picnic, you can also plan on bringing games and planning activities as well to keep your guests happy and having fun on this gorgeous spring day. Here are a few items you should think about packing and bringing with you to the park:

Deck of cards and poker chips

Football

Whiffle ball and bat along with some plastic baseball plates

Frisbee

Bocce Ball Set

You should also have a list made ahead of time with what supplies you need so you forget anything. You don't want to get to the picnic site and realize your forgot something. Here is a starter list for you:

Sun Screen

Garbage Bags

Plastic Utensils (bring extra) and paper or plastic plates

Paper Napkins

Paper Towels

Corkscrew (if drinking wine)

Bottle Opener (for the beer drinkers)

Insect Repellent

Hand Sanitizer

Cooler for beverages and food

Now for the important part, the food. Since most parks don't supply you will a grill, assume you don't have one for this day. And considering you will be having a pretty decent amount of people coming, you will want to be able to socialize rather than cook all day. The easiest thing you can do is buy an assortment of deli meats along with French bread rolls and lots of condiments. Not only is this easy to pack but gives you more time to prepare and make some of the side dishes.

SIDE DISHES

**Spinach Dip**

Ingredients

1 frozen pkg. chopped spinach

1 loaf sheepherder's bread

1 C. sour cream

1 C. mayonnaise

1 envelope dry vegetable soup mix

3 green onions, chopped (optional)

1 small can water chestnuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Put the frozen spinach in a colander and run water over it until it is thawed out (or put it in the refrigerator ahead of time to thaw it out). While you are doing this, cut the top of the bread off to make a bowl. Chop up the top of the bread and save it to use for the dip. Scoop out the bottom part of the bread to make a place for the dip. Wring out the spinach with your hands to get out all the water. Mix all the ingredients together (except the bread) and put in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Fill the bread bowl with the dip and serve with the bread, crackers or vegetables.

**Vegetable Dip**

Ingredients

1 C. Sour Cream

1 C. Hellmann's Mayonnaise

1 tsp. Seasoned Salt

1 tsp. Parsley Flakes

1 tsp. Dill Weed

1 tsp. Onion Flakes

Directions

Combine all ingredients. For Spinach Dip: add 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen spinach, defrosted, drained & squeezed out excess liquid with paper towels

LEAF SALADS

**Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Vinaigrette**

Ingredients

3 lg. ripe tomatoes, sliced

1 lb. mozzarella, sliced

1/2 C. olive oil

2 Tbs. wine vinegar

2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh basil

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

In a large serving dish, alternate slices of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with oil, vinegar and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 6 people.

**Spring Salad**

Ingredients

For Salad:

3 C. washed baby spinach leaves

3 C. washed and torn salad greens

1 C. sliced strawberries

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

1/4 C. sliced almonds

1/4 C. sliced mushrooms

1/4 C. snow pea pods

1/4 C. mandarin orange slices.

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

For Dressing:

1/4 C. orange juice

2 Tbs. honey

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

Salt

Pepper

2 Tbs. olive oil

Directions

Toss together the spinach leaves, salad greens and other salad ingredients in a large bowl. For dressing, combine the orange juice, honey, mustard, poppy seeds and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl until well mixed. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly until the dressing is mixed. Toss the dressing with the salad or serve on the side.

Yield: 6 Servings

FRUIT DISHES

**Fresh Fruit Salad**

Ingredients

Favorite combos:

Strawberries, Oranges, Pineapple and Kiwis

Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries in the summer

Oranges, Pineapple, Kiwi, Mango, Papaya, and Star fruit are nicely tropical and good with exotic
food like Pacific Fusion or Indian cuisine.

Apples, Oranges, Grapes, and Bananas in the winter

Watermelon, Cantaloupe, and Honeydew Melon.

6 C. of mixed fresh fruit

1 C. of Simple Syrup (1 C. of sugar mixed with 1 C. of water, brought to a boil, and simmered for 5 minutes)

Seasonings for the Syrup (such as a few spoonfuls of Brandy or Liqueur, Lemon or Lime Peel and Juice, or Ginger Julienne)

Garnish:

A decoratively cut piece of fruit, candied fruit peel, candied ginger, mint leaves, etc.

Directions

Prepare the simple syrup. (We make it by the quart and store it in a jar in the refrigerator.) If you like, you can add seasoning to the syrup and let it soak up their flavorings for 60 minutes or more, before adding the syrup to the fruit. Strain the syrup before adding it to the fruit. Cut up the fruit in attractive pieces. Arrange the fruit in a large bowl (we like layers in a glass bowl, especially well). Pour over the syrup and chill.

POTATO SALADS

**French Potato Salad**

Ingredients

7 Potatoes, approx. 2 lbs

1 tsp. Tarragon, chopped

1/4 C. Onion, chopped

1/2 C. White wine, dry

2 Tbs. Shallots, chopped

1/2 C. Olive oil

1/2 tsp. Garlic, chopped

2 Tbs. Wine vinegar

1/4 C. Parsley, chopped

Pepper, freshly ground

1/4 tsp. Red hot pepper flakes

Directions

Rinse and drain the potatoes but do not peel them. Put them in a large saucepan. Add cold water to cover and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Cut the potatoes lengthwise in half. Cut each half into thin slices. Put the potatoes in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients, including pepper. Stir gently. Yield: 10 servings

**Red and White Potato Salad**

Ingredients

2 lb. small new red potatoes (about 12)

1/4 C. red wine vinegar

1 Tbs. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh dill or 1/4 tsp. dried dill weed

freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 clove garlic, minced or pressed

1/2 C. olive oil

6 green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 C. chopped parsley

1/4 C. mayonnaise

1/4 C. sour cream

1 C. sliced radishes

Hard-cooked egg slices, optional for garnish

Fresh dill sprigs for garnish

Directions

Place potatoes in a large pot, add salted water to cover, and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook until potatoes are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and slice while warm. Place potatoes in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix vinegar, mustard, salt, dill, pepper and garlic. Gradually whisk in oil until well combined. Pour oil mixture over warm potatoes, stirring gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Gently mix in onion and parsley. Blend mayonnaise and sour cream until smooth, and fold into salad. Cover and refrigerate from 1 to 3 hours. Just before serving, gently mix in radishes. Garnish with egg slices and dill sprigs, if using.

PASTA SALADS

**Pasta and Fresh Fruit**

Ingredients

1 1/2 C. uncooked spiral pasta (plain, not tri-colored)

1 8 oz. can pineapple chunks

1 8 oz. carton peach yogurt

2 Tbs. sour cream

1 1/2 C. cantaloupe, cubed

1 C. seedless grapes, halved

1 1/2 C. fresh strawberries, sliced

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse in cold water and drain. Cool completely. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 Tbs. juice; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, sour cream and reserved pineapple juice until smooth; cover and refrigerate.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, pineapple, cantaloupe and grapes. Just before serving, stir in strawberries and pour yogurt mixture over top of salad.

Tip: To cut down on calories and fat, you can opt to use non-fat yogurt and sour cream. You can add your favorite fruits to this salad and make it even more colorful and tasty.

** Italian Pasta Salad**

Ingredients

16 oz. Rotini pasta

8 oz. can of tomato sauce

1 C. Italian dressing

2 Tbs. dried basil

2 Tbs. dried oregano

1 C. sliced mushrooms

5 Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped

2 1/4 sliced ripe olives, drained

1 large cucumber, coarsely chopped

Directions

Cook and drain pasta, rinse with cold water. Mix tomato sauce, dressing, basil, and oregano. Add remaining ingredients and toss.

When it comes to beverages, what you need to decide first off is whether you are supplying all the beverages or if you are asking your guests to bring something.

Once this is decided, make sure there is enough pop (diet and regular), water, beer and wine to go around.

Most importantly, right before you get to the picnic site, go to a nearby gas station and stock up on plenty of ice to keep all your beverages and food (if needed to be refrigerated) cold.

** For many more great recipe ideas for side dishes please visit http://www.recipe4living.com.

How To Plan the Perfect Spring Picnic

© 2007 Ampere Media LLC, All Rights Reserved Recipe4Living.com features more than 11,000 user submitted recipes, ideas and recipes from Wolfgang Puck, reference guides, healthy living advice, tips for kids, and much more. All of the recipes mentioned in this article can be found at http://www.recipe4living.com

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Birthday Invitation - A Really Useful Guide

What type of occasion?

Your birthday invitation could be an invitation to a normal birthday party, or a surprise party, or the birthday invitation could be an invitation to an outing at a special location or event. There are lots of possibilities, so take a while to think about what sort of party or event you wish to organise, and where you wish to hold it. Your birthday invitation should then give a flavour of the event, the level of formality and tone.

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What type of birthday invitation?

The main point to make here is that you need to think outside of the box--the mail box. These days, birthday invitations can be delivered via e-mail/internet, special delivery, or by conventional mail, and each method will have its own cost implications. The possibilities for the format of your birthday invitation are also wider than you might think.

E birthday invitations are either very cheap, or they are free. They are easily available on the internet and are easy to send. If you decide to send your birthday invitation in this manner then make sure that you have all your recipients' e-mail details.

You can send a birthday invitation on a DVD or computer disc, and there are a number of suppliers that will produce these for you (try Show & Tell Invitations). As you can imagine, the cost of a DVD invitation is likely to be more than for a conventional birthday invitation. Alternatively, you could create this the DVD invitation yourself! All you need is a digital camera that can record digital film, a DVD writer, some basic computer know-how and a dash of imagination. If you don't have all this, perhaps you know someone who does who can help you. These unusual birthday invitations can be great fun to make (you'll be giggling through the first few takes) and offer huge scope for innovation and personalisation of your birthday invitation. They can also be loaded with lots of information, such as maps, visual dress guides, and personalised information to set the tone and spirit of the event. There are no boundaries, you are the director and can be the star in a location of your choosing. DVD invitations can be easily mailed, but they are likely to be a little more costly to mail than a conventional birthday invitation card due to size and weight.

Conventional birthday invitation cards available on the market generally come in the standard rectangular format, but do a bit of research on the internet and you'll find square ones and other shapes. Square, or unusually shaped or over-sized birthday invitations will cost more to mail, so it's best to work out your budget first. The tone and theme of the event will give you ideas for the type of paper to use. For example, a heavy weight linen or smooth creamy paper might be appropriate if you wish to hold a formal or traditional affair, whereas brightly coloured or contemporary designs lend themselves to casual birthday invitations. Traditional invitations are generally printed or embossed with black or gray ink on white or ecru paper, whereas casual announcements can be made on any coloured paper you like, using any ink and often include graphics or photos.

Where do I get the birthday invitations from?

It is of course open to you to make your own birthday invitations, whether they be DVD invitations or conventional
ones, but only if you have the time. You'll get lots of inspiration by searching the internet. All you will need are the basic materials, paper and card for conventional invitations, and a bunch of writable DVDs if you are making DVD invitations.

You may decide to download cheap or free birthday invitations from the internet for home printing. However, keep in mind that you are unlikely to create a real sense of anticipation and excitement for your birthday by sending out internet freebies. You can also send free E invitations by logging onto one of numerous websites. Again, just search the internet and you'll find them.

For formal events and larger gatherings, or events where the birthday invitations has to look just right, most people contract with a birthday invitation company to supply conventional invitations. For conventional invitations, the choice of ink colour, the paper, the designs, the font styles, etc., will be limited to the range of a particular company, but your choice of company is very broad and the variations between companies are almost unlimited. Shop around, search the internet. You can often download a company's whole catalogue on line and then order on line at your leisure. You should also be aware that companies outside your country may be able to supply
birthday invitations more cheaply (e.g India) but the lead time in supply of the invitations may be longer, and you'll have to pay particular attention to spelling and the details of dates and times. Always ask to see a sample for approval before you place the order.

If you plan to hold the birthday celebration at an outside location, keep in mind that companies that regularly hold birthday celebration events will often do the birthday invitations for you. This can save on time and expense, since the invitation may be a free extra.

Birthday Invitation Wording

Your aim here is to set the tone and theme (if any) and to answer all the questions that your invitees will have about the birthday party. Make sure you cover time, place, dress, nature of the party, whether it is a surprise party, and think about travel and parking information. Give direction where appropriate. Formal events include a note of who the host is.

You can get ready made wordings over the internet, or from your invitation supplier but remember that it is your invitation, so personalise it as much as possible to create the atmosphere and anticipation you wish for your
birthday celebration.

The reply

Give thought to how you wish your birthday invitation recipients to reply. You could ask them to e-mail you, or
post a special reply provided by you, or you may ask them to phone you. The choice is yours, but keep in mind the costing implications of your choice. If you ask for a written reply then make it easy for the recipient and provide a reply device, like a reply card, and make sure you cover the postage on this. Then all the recipient has to do is pop it in the post.

Birthday invitation - the cost

The cost of your birthday invitation needs to cover production of materials and printing and postage. Even standard sized invitations may cost a little more than the standard postal rate due to their weight, which will depend on how many enclosures you have and the weight of the materials. A good
idea is to cost postage for one invitation (with all the enclosures) by taking a sample to the post office and have
them weigh it for you.

When to mail an invitation?

For casual parties, try to post the birthday invitation so that it arrives 2-3 weeks in advance. For formal events, the invitee should receive the birthday invitation around two months in advance. Some people like to send out a pre-invitation letter, say, four to six months in advance, so that the invitee can 'save the date'. The letter will explain that a proper invitation will be sent out later.

Keep all of the above in mind and you'll be sure to get your birthday invitation message across.

Happy Birthday!

Birthday Invitation - A Really Useful Guide

© Stephen Turner 2006.

Stephen Turner has set up an information and resource website called Birthday Invitation [http://www.invitationbirthday.co.uk]. On the site you'll find loads of birthday invitation information and advice, articles, features, discussion and specially chosen links to other birthday invitation websites, so please take a look. Stephen would also welcome your feedback on the site: click on the contact link on the site.

This article may be reproduced in its original form provided that the author's copyright note and this 'author resource box' paragraph are displayed below the article.

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Key Features in Church and Non-Profit Web Design

We are a culture of 4G Facebooking smart phone users who have become accustomed to having the internet at our fingertips. When we have a need, "There is an App for that". Simply put we are a culture that expects to find everything we need online and we expect it to be instant. For churches and non-profit organizations, this means that a website is no longer just an outreach tool, it is a cultural standard; if you run an organization, your organization has a website.

evite.com

The problem arises: with so many websites out there, how do people find your site? And furthermore, what about your site helps you reach more people?

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Most likely, if you are reading this article you are looking to establish an online presence for your church / non-profit organization or perhaps you already manage a website but want to learn how to get the most out of it. In this article I will go over what key aspects your site should address along with what you should look for in a web design company.

We Want Modern!

A website is more than just pictures and a phone number, it is the number one place people will go to find information about your organization. It is also your first point of sale. Here's what will put you on the map:

Fresh Design - If your site is not modern, it's expired. You must invest in making a perfect first impression. If you want to reach our culture, your site must be modern and up to date. Graphics - A picture says 1000 words... always incorporate graphics into your site. Fresh Content - We are a culture of bloggers. We want the most recent news and we need to be updated and informed. This means you must have new content for visitors to read. Content Management - A perfect way to keep fresh content and easily maintain your site is to use a Content Management System. This allows access for multiple authors to easily modify, add, and remove content on your site. Clean Content - Unfortunately most of your viewers will not read all of your content. Though you need good, quality, fresh content, you also must not overwhelm the viewer. My guess is that you skimmed through some or most of this article. Your content should be concise and to-the-point without sacrificing the intended message. SEO - It is the buzz word web designers use all the time: Search Engine Optimization. Very simply put, make sure search engines like your site and then market yourself for higher ranking. A couple of ways to do this are: update your content frequently, make sure your site is accessible to everyone including screen readers, and use keywords in your content and page titles. Social Tools - We love Facebook. Create a Facebook page and a Twitter account for your organization and start "friending" and "tweeting" (yes, both are now actual verbs recognized by Microsoft Word). But don't stop there... plug them into your website so you can show off how many people like your company (it's all about reputation) and update viewers with your latest news! Specifically for Churches - There are a few key features you should have on your church site. Your site is not just a tool to reach new people, it is a tool to keep your members informed. You should use calendars of events, sermon podcasts, and pastors' blogs. Another great tool for your members is an Evite system that allows your members to invite their friends.

So Where Do You Go From Here?

Is the answer Web Templates? You must set your company apart from the rest, not join the rest. You need to be unique. If you decide to go with templates, make sure to fully customize it to fit your organization's vision and brand. I would recommend finding a company that will custom build a site based around your organization's existing brand.

What about Flash? Flash is awesome, but it should not be used for an entire website. This is because search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing look through your content with Flash, JavaScript, and CSS disabled. This means that any of your content that is written in Flash will not add value in the eyes of search engines. I suggest looking for a text-only browser and looking at your site to make sure search engines have quality, updated information to rank your site.

"We can build your site in 24 hours???" Do not go there. Companies that claim to build you a site overnight do not invest in your organization. The goal of a website is to convey your organization's vision and mission. This is not just communicated in the content, it is communicated in the very design and layout of the site. Make sure the company you work with invests in learning about your organization so that they can design to communicate your vision.

So where then? Invest in a company that will invest in you. Look for a company who knows web design AND web development. Make sure the company you work with knows your specific needs before providing you with a quote. Your budget is already tight; you need a solution that fits it. Look for discounts for non-profits... You deserve it! Find a company with a portfolio of work that displays the key aspects I listed above. It is okay to go with a smaller company. Keep in mind that bigger and more experienced companies expect more money.

Key Features in Church and Non-Profit Web Design

David Hamilton - 706design.net

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E-Vites Vs. Paper Invitations - Tips on How to Choose

In this digital world, anyone with a computer, an email address, or a friend has surely received an "e-vite," the email version of an invitation. These are fun and certainly have their place in the modern world, but are not suitable for every occasion. Here are some tips to help you choose which invitation, e-vite or paper, works best for your event.

evite.com

The electronic invitation is great for casual gatherings and for occasions with a short lead time. Super Bowl parties, pool parties, or a girls' night out would certainly fall into this category. Also, get-togethers where the purpose is to view items for sale like jewelry or kitchen products certainly make good use of the e-vite. With an e-vite it is easy to keep track of who can make it to your event and who can't. But you'll need to send a reminder a couple days prior as there isn't a hard copy for your guest to stick to their refrigerator.

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A more formal occasion calls for a paper invitation. Whether it is a wedding, anniversary, or baby shower, sending a paper invitation implies the event is special. The printed invitation provides a tangible reminder to the guest of the celebration's date and time. Printed invitations are frequently added to scrapbooks, along with pictures of the event, as keepsakes.

Once you decide that a printed invitation is what you want to use for your special occasion, choosing the right paper is easy. There are countless colorful and casual styles of printable invitations available to celebrate any occasion. Most allow you to complete the invitation on your laser or inkjet printer, saving on professional printing costs while still maintaining a professional appearance.

So, there you have it, a quick overview of when to send the e-vite and when to send a paper invitation. When it's all about fun, send the e-vite. But for a lasting impression, send paper. Each has its place in our fast paced society.

E-Vites Vs. Paper Invitations - Tips on How to Choose

John Oberhauser, manager of the Image Shop in Southern California, can answer all your questions about invitation paper, letterhead stationery, and stationery sets. Since 1984, he has supplied designers, with stationary sets, blank wedding invitations, and kid's birthday invitations. Image Shop brings the best selection of products to you.

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Cracking the Dress Code - Appropriate Attire For Every Occasion

You've received the invitation to your cousin's wedding, and you get really excited until you read the dress code at the bottom..."Black Tie Optional".

evite.com

Huh? Your hubby wears ties, not you!!

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Panic sets in...what IS the difference between Black Tie, Black Tie Optional and Cocktail attire?

Getting invitations should be fun, not stressful, but cracking that infernal dress code can be a real pain!

What if you get it wrong! Who wants to show up at their cousins wedding in a full length gown only to discover that you could have worn a short summery dress instead? Or worse, how about attending your client's party in jeans only to discover that it's a formal party?

First, you need to do a little reconnaissance...

1. Don't be afraid to ask! This is the simplest way to find out what the dress code means. The host/hostess can give you the guidelines for the proper attire and would be much happier to help you upfront that have you show up miserable because you've worn the wrong type of outfit!!

2. Look for hints on the invitation! Is the invite engraved? Formal! Was it an evite? Probably informal. What type of occasion is it? A company picnic and a class reunion might both state the same dress code, but you'd interpret it differently. Check the time of day...morning to late afternoon events tend to be more casual, evening events more formal. And lastly note where the event is taking place...a beach wedding requires much different attire than a church or synagogue.

3. Who will you run into? Mostly old college friends and family? Potential dating material? People you'd want to network with professionally? They could all be held at the same place and call for "business casual", but you'd wear something different to each event.

4. Look up the venue. If the party is being held somewhere other than at a person's home, you can give them a call or check online to get a sense of what type of establishment it is. Look/ask for menu pricing, the décor of the rooms and types of events they host.

Still unsure? Follow these guidelines for cracking even the most difficult dress code.

Casual: This dress code can often be the hardest to determine. Casual means the host of the party wants you to be comfortable, but we all know that everyone has distinctly different opinions about what constitutes "casual". Just know it never means that you can wear ratty jeans and that old college sweatshirt no matter how well you know the host. Instead, try a nice pair of jeans or khaki's with a cute top and sandals or a flirty skirt with a casual top.

Semi-Casual, Resort Casual or Casual Chic: Think about what you'd wear to a private country club or think casual jumped up a notch. It means that the host is afraid that someone will show up too sloppy (remember that sweatshirt?) and wants a more refined casual instead like for a beach wedding or dinner at most restaurants. This means that you need to nix the jeans and opt for trousers or a skirt, maybe add something with a heel, and swap in a blouse for the casual tee.

Business Casual, Corporate Casual: So many companies have allowed their casual Fridays to turn into sloppy work days that you can't go by that as a guide. Instead, think of business casual as being one step under a business suit occasion and go for dark wash jeans, straight leg trousers or khakis and a collared shirt with a cardigan or jacket worn over it. Boots or heels complete the look.

Business Attire: The best analogy here is to think about what you'd wear to a job interview. The safe bet for more traditional environments is a suit (matching pants and jacket) in a fabric other than cotton or a knee length dress or skirt plus a jacket. For more creative environments you'd be okay wearing separates, but always with a fitted jacket. Close-toed shoes are a safe bet, and keep the jewelry toned down. For evening, go for darker colors.

Western: To keep yourself from appearing like a cartoon caricature, don't attempt to wear every clichéd piece of western gear available. Instead, opt for either a pair or cowboy boots or cowboy hat, and wear with either a Western belt buckle or gingham shirt. You get the idea - only a few pieces of Western gear are necessary to show you're in the spirit but maintain your stylish ways!

70's Retro, Disco: For these types of events you can either channel your inner Janis Joplin or go a little more sophisticated. Option one: wear a short, fitted sheath, lots of chunky bangles and/or a beaded necklace and tall boots. Option two: pair a tunic or peasant top with flared legged jeans and a floppy hat. Option three: wear black or white flared pants with a colorful flowing top and strappy sandals. You get extra points if you can straighten your hair and wear false eyelashes!

Black & White, All White: While this dress code seems obvious, I'm including it to prevent you from appearing like a waitress at the party. If the code calls for black and white, go for chic and wear the white on the bottom with a fitted black top. Or wear an all black outfit with white accessories like beads, bangles, shoes and sunglasses. For an all white party, try white jeans or a white skirt paired with a casual tee or fitted top. Too many puffy white pieces and you'll end up looking like a bride.

Festive: Seen recently on more and more invitations, this is your host's way of asking you not to wear black...not their way of telling you to dress like you're going to Mardi Gras! Generally speaking, festive also means that you can get a dressed up, but less rigid than a black tie event...like an Anniversary Party or toned down New Years Eve. For daytime opt for a brightly colored or patterned top to pop your outfit; for evening add on chunky jewelry and metallics to spice things up.

Cocktail: This dress code is intended as an opportunity to get dressed up in a way that is sexy and stylish. Carrie Bradshaw and friends wore "cocktail" attire when they sipped their Cosmo's... You could go for a cocktail dress (LBD), or a dressy fitted skirt and sleeveless blouse, but the must-have accessory is a killer pair of strappy heels.

Dressy: A little obscure for sure, "dressy" is something that would be required for most weddings, holiday parties or to dinner at a really nice restaurant. A pair of dress pants paired with an elegant blouse or a simple but sophisticated dress are de riguer. This is also one time when wearing stockings with your dressy flats or heels is required.

Black Tie: This one is actually easy to interpret. Black tie events are the most formal events you can attend, including formal evening weddings, the Opera or Symphony or to a formal government reception. Wear a floor length dress in any color other than all white, and nothing in cotton or wool. Add heels and you're ready to go.

Black Tie Optional: You will find people dressed everywhere from Cocktail to Black Tie at events specifying "black tie optional". You can either wear a floor length gown or a knee length cocktail dress with heels. Base your choice on the age range of people you may know who are attending and the location.

If you're still a little unsure, always err on the side of being dressed up. You look better to be overdressed than underdressed and will make more of an impression.

If the thought of that doesn't appeal to you, bring along a few extra pieces that would allow you to make a quick change. Shoes, a different pair of earrings or necklace to add drama or a cashmere wrap are all quick ways to take your outfit up or down a notch if needed, and you can always leave them in the car if you discover they're not necessary!

©2009 The Stylish Executive

Cracking the Dress Code - Appropriate Attire For Every Occasion

Please visit http://www.stylishexecutive.com for more articles like this. Barbara Ellis is the executive behind the style who helps women look and feel fabulous while creating their own personal brand. You can contact her for coaching or speaking engagements at Barbara@stylishexecutive.com.

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iPad Alternatives - Latest iPad Rivals

Apple is very popular in the mobile devices market because of its innovative computer and electronic gadget designs. Apple iPhone, iPod and other mobile devices are famous all over the world for their quality. Apple launched its first tablet pc named iPad in 2010. iPad gained a lot of attention and popularity because of its design and features. However, there are many iPad alternatives which are giving it a tough competition.

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At the moment, Samsung Galaxy Tab represents one of the best iPad alternatives. Samsung Galaxy Tab comes with better portability and power features then iPad. It was second best sold tablet, just after Apple iPad, in 2010. A second generation of Galaxy Tab will be equipped with much more features, and is likely to make a strong competition to second generation of iPad too.

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Samsung, with its new tablet is becoming one of the biggest Apple rivals. New Samsung PC 7 Series runs on Windows 7 operating system and has integrated sliding keyboard as input device. Other features include 10 inch touch screen, two back and front cameras, USB ports and solid state storage. All these features and innovative approach attracts a lot of attention among potential buyers. This probably isn't an iPad killer tablet, but will represent important iPad alternative in the future.

Another iPad competitor is BlackBerry PlayBook, a RIM's first tablet pc. Tablet comes packed with features like dual core processor, dual cameras, phenomenal multi-tasking ability and support for Flash. A complete compatibility and the ability to pair easily with BlackBerry handsets, is another reason to consider Playbook as iPad substitute.

The first tablet from Motorola will also be strong competitor for iPad. Motorola Xoom is powered by Android 3.0, the first Android operating system designed specifically for tablet PCs. This tablet computer has dual core Tegra2 chipset, two web cameras, 10 inch display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution and 10 hours of full HD video reproduction. All these advanced features and the fact that Motorola Xoom is first tablet that runs tablet optimized Android OS, makes it one of the strongest iPad alternatives.

All these and many more tablets are expected to enter tablet pc market during this year. Customers that are buying tablet computers expect new models to be cheaper, better and more portable. Comparing tablet computers shows, that Apple will have to launch soon a second generation iPad, in order to maintain its market share.

iPad Alternatives - Latest iPad Rivals

Simon Cernuta compares tablet pc computers and writes reviews about popular models, best buy tablets and cheap iPad alternatives.

(c) Copyright - Simon Cernuta. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Do I Need An Agent For A Movie, Music Or TV Career? If So, How Do I Get A Movie, Music Or TV Agent?

Movie, Music and TV agents can be a valuable resource, but keep in mind, they just are that - a resource. Who would you rather have in control of your career: a person with a 10% interest or a person with a 90% interest. I hope the answer is a person with a 90% interest, which is you. Your agent makes money by having many clients and making a little money from a lot of people. You make money only if you make money. This does not make your agent an evil person, but you need to be aware of this so that you put everything into perspective.

evite.com

In essence, it's your movie, music and TV agent's job to get you that meeting or audition. It's your job to close the deal. Once the deal is closed, your agent will negotiate the major deal points and your lawyer with finagle the finer points.

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You can help your agent by letting him or her know about great leads such as who could be attached to your project and so forth. Your agent works for you and not vice-versa, but once again, your agent only has a 10% interest, so you have to be out there constantly working for yourself.

If you do use an entertainment agent, allow your agent to "be" an agent. I had a screenplay go out wide once and I assisted my screenwriting agent by having my manager send out an Evite to key studio and production executives. You would think that the email would have been ignored as junk mail, but in fact, the average executive didn't seem to have the power to ignore the unsolicited email and we ended up doubling the amount of requests to read the script. The downside was that some of the additional requests were from the bosses of the executives on my agent's list. The end result was bad vibes from my agent's personal connections and bridges burned. The script made it all the way to the president of a small studio's office by 10:30 a.m. the next morning, but in the end, it all fizzled out.

The big question for most is "how do I get an agent?" Remembering, that a movie, music or tv agent is just a tool, if you choose to use that tool, here's the short answer: contact one. If you go to Samuel French Books or even Barnes and Noble in LA, you'll find a "Hollywood Creative Directory" for anything and anyone you can imagine you'll need in show business. There you can find a list of agents and agencies in your field. Pick a name and send them a query letter, headshot, or reel, etc. Writers, if you're great on the phone, you can call and briefly sell yourself to the assistant. Never ignore the assistant. No one in Hollywood wants to be an assistant and many assistants have already passed the bar or possess doctorates and masters.

I've pitched someone once who I thought was an assistant, who had actually already become full fledged agent just weeks prior. The person read my scripts. If you're an email person, you can go to websites like showbizdata.com and hcdonline.com and collect email addresses for all your favorite agents and assistants. I've emailed as many as 400 agents and assistants, sent them an amazing query letter, and had someone contact me from every top agency to read a script of mine. I'm not afraid to tell anyone about this, because it took me 180 hours of hard work to make my email list, I had to learn how to write a great query letter first, and most people simply aren't willing to go the extra mile and put in the elbow grease to get ahead.

For actors, there are publications at Samuel French books that also list what type of person agents and agencies are looking for that particular month.

For writers, a great book on how to write a query letter, as well as how to market your script is "The Screenwriter's Bible" by David Trottier. This book is also great for formatting suggestions.

Do I Need An Agent For A Movie, Music Or TV Career? If So, How Do I Get A Movie, Music Or TV Agent?

Christopher C. Odom is a Director, Writer, Author in Nashville, TN, USA. He loves filmmaking, roller skating, partner dancing and metaphysics.

You can see the things that Chris writes about and publishes at http://www.odombooks.com

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How to Create a Virtual Grand Opening

Grand openings and ribbon cuttings don't have to be limited to businesses that have retail locations. If your "real estate" is your website and you work out of your home, this great public relations opportunity is available to you as well, although you will have to plan it a bit differently than someone with a brick and mortal location. A few years ago I attended a "ribbon cutting" for a client's new website and had a great time meeting people all over the country on a teleconference bridge line.

evite

Since I'm only a few months away from a new website myself, I wondered how to powerfully take advantage of this wonderful promotional opportunity. I made some posts to some discussion lists to which I belong, and the ideas listed in this article are the results of my information requests.

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Here are some ideas to spice up your virtual grand opening/ribbon cutting:

Technology

At a minimum you'll need a teleconference bridge line. My favorite one at the moment is Live Free Conferencing, http://freeconferencing.liveoffice.com/, because you can record the call at no extra charge, the bridgeline holds up to 250 callers, the moderator can mute the entire call if needed, and they offer the ability for muted callers to ask a question via their webcontrol panel.

If you'd like more interaction with your visitors, you will want to use webconferencing/virtual conference room software. There are a number of these services out there, so I recommend that you do a search and try and few before deciding on your provider.

If you'd like to invite a group of people to your event, you can use an invitation service like Evite.com, or sent out an HTML invitation to your contact list through your email broadcast service like aWeber.com, EzineDirector.com, ConstantContact.com or an audio postcard through a service like AudioAcrobat.com. In order to have your attendees register for this event, you will need to create a contact form on your website that feeds into your shopping cart or autoresponder service.

Event Activities

1. Virtual ribbon cutting. You can do this via a web cam and actually cut a ribbon that's draped over your monitor which is displaying the home page of your new site and show it via your webinar service/virtual conference room service. Or, you might find an animated graphic of a ribbon cutting and show that via your virtual conference room instead.

2. Have people register for your event and give out door prizes. You can spotlight your business colleagues by requesting door prizes for them. Electronic info products are the easiest door prize to award, as you don't have to mail a physical package to the winner. If some of your door prizes do require mailing, however, you need to request a mailing address from everyone who registers for your event.

3. Hold a teleseminar during the grand opening that's partially educational, partially promotional. You can make a special offer to all those who attend the live call.

4. Give a virtual tour of your new website via webinar/virtual conference room software.

5. Host a roundtable session at your event that permits attendees to give a 30 second commercial of their businesses. Schedule this at the end of your event so that it doesn't detract from your offerings.

6. Hold a scavenger hunt on your site during your grand opening. This hunt creates a reason to have people visit the site and visit multiple pages. Create a 3-5 page report or something that's easy to compile that showcases your expertise and is of value to your visitor for the prize. You might use roll-over images to give clues or find a funny graphic or and hide it in various places throughout your site in obvious and not-so-obvious locations. You could also place audio snippets around your site as well and put clues in those audio files.

7. Sponsor a message board and/or chat room on your site. At specific times post a series of questions, polls, etc. that will make your visitors interact. Ensure that the questions are relevant and of interest to your target market. This will instantly create popularity for your website, as well, for keywords pertinent to your target market.

8. Give away prizes every hour (or every 10-15 minutes for shorter events) and tell your visitors that they have to be present in the webinar room/on the teleconference line to win. Between giveaways, talk about your experience, your offerings, and offer free on-the-spot help for a problem faced by your target market.

Online Publicity/Promotion

1. Post the date and time of opening of your event on CraigsList.com, on the boards for your city/area and surrounding areas.

2. Send out invitations through Evite or though your email broadcast service.

3. If permitted, post the particulars about your event on various lists/discussion groups to which you belong.

4. Send out press release regarding event through online press release services.

5. Create a post about your grand opening/ribbon cutting on your blog and invite attendees to post their comments on your blog

Offline Marketing

1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and they will offer to hold a ribbon-cutting for you. For virtual/at home businesses, most chambers will do this in their office rather than your home. Many times a photo or article about the riboon cutting will appear in the local press and in the chamber newsletter.

2. Plan a couple of local talks and/or book or product signings to coincide with your grand opening

3. Send out postcards inviting people to your new website and grand opening and offer them a free gift for dropping by.

4. Send out press releases to your local media regarding any "in-person" events you sponsor during this grand opening time

Grand openings are held to generate good will and begin relationships with business colleagues, current clients, and prospective customers. Now, as the owner of a virtual business, you can foster that same good will by sponsoring a virtual grand opening for your new business or new website and get your new venture in gear.

How to Create a Virtual Grand Opening

Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Online Business Coach Donna Gunter helps self-employed service professionals learn how to automate their businesses, leverage their expertise on the Internet, and get more clients online. To sign up for more FREE tips like these and claim your FREE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at Get More Clients Online.

Copyright (c) 2007 Donna Gunter

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Discover How to Entertain on a Budget - Part I

Part I

To most people these two words, entertain and budget, are miles apart. But they don't have to be. Whether you are a young adult who wants to impress your friends, a new business owner looking to impress your clients, or a mom or dad who simply wants to take a break from the "office" to entertain a few friends you will find these tips useful.

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No matter whom you are or what your background, we all enjoy getting together with family and/or friends. However, when money is a little tight you don't have to opt out of host or hostessing if you utilize some sensible alternatives.

Your first task should be to decide the theme for your event. This will help you to create your guest list as well as help you see what pre-party elements you can bypass and what areas you will want to make extra special.

If you are planning your wedding festivities you will want to focus on the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. For this type of event you could save a ton of cash that could be used for a more practical purchase like your honeymoon or your first home purchase by narrowing your guest list. After all is said and done only you and your immediate family and very best friend will remember your party. Most of your guests will remember the wedding. So have a larger wedding if you must, but limit the wedding party to save major dollars.

For most of us we simply want to entertain a few friends. Be sure to supply a comfortable amount of room for your guests. If yours is a dinner party you will want to ensure you have enough chairs for your entire guest list. If it is a cocktail party you can and should opt for "milling"; room rather than so many chairs.

Another consideration is where you have your event. This can also either be costly or not. Here is a list of some inexpensive alternatives.

Just what is a Progressive Dinner? Simply put, each course of a meal is prepared and presented by a different diner. My recommendation here is to plan carefully the route to minimize driving distance.

The next issue you need to decide is whether to give out invitations or not. Although a phone call is often less costly than a printed invitation you may want to consider sending them to at least some of your invitees. The more formal your event the more likely this should be done. Some ideas to consider that can help cut down on the expense here are:

Hand crafting your invitations can be fun and will provide a unique invitation that may be cherished by the recipient for many years to come. You can even have a group of close friends or family members assist you with the invitation's design and creation. Think about the laughs and memories you will be making at the same time.

Join me next time for part two when we will conclude our discussion on entertaining to impress on a budget

Discover How to Entertain on a Budget - Part I

Ginger Marks and Kim Emerson are co-owners of Nibroc Marketing Solutions http://www.nibrocmarketing.com Ginger is also the author of “Presentational Skills for the Next Generation”, available through her company website at http://www.DocUmeant.net My Little Taste of Italy can be found at [http://www.mylittletasteofitaly.com/]

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