The LuxMob Info Tags

Let’s face it!!! Our children are judged based on their grade point average and their performance on standardized test such as ACT/ SAT. Our children’s high school and college admissions are based on those credentials. As parents, we invest money in sophisticated desktop/ laptop computers to give them access to the worldwide web. We establish home offices, libraries and structured areas to encourage daily homework and studying. We believe constant studying and attention to homework will groom our children to brilliant status and give them impeccable credentials. To a certain extent, we are correct. Homework and study skills lay the basic foundation for school success as high grade point averages flow from high test scores.

Memory skills and repetition is the key to high grade point averages; however, they are not the key to brilliance on standardized test. Standardized test, such as California Achievement Test (CAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT), assumes students are exposed to different cultures, climates, countries and experiences at least 10 times before reaching 10th grade. Students who perform the best on standardized test have exposure to diverse experiences. What better way to gain this exposure than a vacation to another city, state, country or continent!!!!!

Wealthy families have always known that trips, getaways and vacations are the secret to grooming brilliant students. Family vacations are an opportunity for students to apply all their classroom knowledge quickly. The average vacation is three to seven days. Some wealthy families are known to vacation up to 45 days on multiple continents. Nevertheless, most families are on a limited timeframe requiring them to make quick decisions regarding currency exchange, climate differences, navigation of city, etc.

These decisions while extremely practical require the use of mathematics, science, geography, social studies and reading. Unconsciously, students are immersed into lessons fueled by sheer excitement and curiosity.

Imagine how productive the lesson would become if a family vacation evolves around a classroom lesson. Children learn lessons at a faster pace. For example, a train trip to an Indian Reservation in Arizona/ New Mexico really solidifies a lesson on Native American History.

I know you are thinking “I don’t have the money for vacation as travel is too expensive.” Under normal circumstances and full prices, travel can be extremely expensive. However, prices drop substantially September 7 through November 20 as this time period is considered the travel slow season. Other lesser known slow seasons are December 1 through December 20, January 3 through February 1 and 2 weeks after Passover/Easter through May 20.

Combine slow season discounts with internet discounts, a family can experience the world at the fraction of cost of your holiday (Christmas, Hanukah, and Ramadan) gift fund. “I spent $1500 dollars for a 3 day vacation in Nassau, Bahamas. That cost included air travel to Miami for 3 people and a cruise to Bahamas. Since food was include, the trip was relatively inexpensive,“ states Ida Byrd-Hill, a parent of 7th grade twins, Kevin and Karen Hill who attend Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art (a Detroit Public School). “My children learned about world colonization, but better yet they learned about opportunities as they met the Bahamian Governess, a woman of African descent. I am glad I was able to find that trip on the web. as Karen scored 96 percentile on the Social Studies portion of the California Achievement Test and Kevin scored 87 percentile on the Science portion of the California Achievement Test ” states Byrd-Hill.

Great deals can be found on the internet by booking at least 14 days or even 21 days in advance. There are also websites that specialize in last minute travel. Often these trips (air/ hotel combos) are for a weekend departing the same week you book the vacation or the next weekend. Since there are so many travel websites on the internet it pays to spend some time price comparing. There are websites, that allow individuals to surf many of the top websites and not so well known sites to compare vacation pricing.

If you want to groom your children into brilliant students, improve their grades and performance on standardized test, implement the secret wealthy families have known for generations – Take a Family Vacation.

Good Trip!!! Bon Voyage!!! Viaje Bueno!!! Arrivaderci!!! Viaggio Buono!!! Gut Tschus!!!

Ida B. Byrd-Hill is the President of Uplift Inc.and www.livinginstyleonline.com. She was the President of The Harvard Group Wealth Management L.L.C. for 10 years. She has served as guest columnist for the Michigan Front Page for 2 years and a speaker for the Better Investing television show hosted by David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber.

Trade shows are a great place to network. People are there to meet other people, and learn about who’s doing what. These 6 tips will help you maximize the networking opportunities at any trade show.

1. Meet the exhibitors

The exhibitors at any trade show paid to be able to talk to you. Make an effort to visit as many vendors as you can. Learn about them and what they have to offer. You might also ask who their target market is, or who their ideal client is.

2. Make it fun!

Consider making a game out of your networking efforts. Try to meet at least one new person every 10-15 minutes. That’ll give you enough time to spend 5 or 10 minutes getting to know them. You’ll also have a few minutes left over to meet your next new friend.

3. Listen

When you’re meeting new people listen more than you talk. Try to find a common interest. Ask them about their business and their personal interests. This information will come in handy later when you follow-up.

4. Give people value, be a resource

Be listening for ways that you can help people. Direct them to the exhibitor you met earlier who might have a great solution for them. Tell them about the great drawing you just entered, and suggest that they do the same. Offer to introduce them to someone else you know at the event who you think they might be able to make a good connection with.

5. Use business cards

Business cards are a tool. After you meet someone be sure to ask them for a business card. Take a couple of seconds to make a couple of notes about what you learned about them. Before handing someone your own business card you might want to write a quick note that will add value. Write the name of a website they might find useful (NetworkInAustin.com perhaps?), a book, another networking event. Anything that will make your card stand out, because you’ve show that you’re a valuable resource.

6. Follow-up

This is probably the most important tip of all. Your networking efforts at any networking event are unlikely to bear any fruit if you don’t take the time to follow-up with those you met. Be sure to make at least one, preferably two, contacts during the week following the show, with each person you met. A hand written note and a voicemail. A brief phone conversation and an e-mail. Just be sure to reconnect so you can truly begin building a relationship.

Happy networking!

Scott Ingram is the founder of etworkInAustin.com a networking resource for networkers in Central Texas. He also posts regularly to his Business Networking Blog where you’ll learn more about Scott as well as how to become a better networker. When he’s not out building relationships at trade shows and other business networking events you’ll find Scott out running with friends on the trails of Town Lake in Austin, Texas or spending time with his growing family which currently consists of 2 cats and dog and his expecting wife Emily.

There are many opinions on cleaning a Dutch Oven. Not all Dutch Oven cooks believe you can use soap in your Dutch Oven. Some cooks suggest never to wash them, others wash them, but not with detergent. We have found that a well-seasoned oven will not be damaged by using a few drops of dishwashing soap if you have been cooking something really greasy. Just be sure to rinse several times to make sure there is no soap residue. If your oven is not well-seasoned, whatever you put in the oven will be absorbed into the pot and become part of your next meal.

Dutch Oven care begins with seasoning, but it’s important to clean them properly after each use. Cleaning cast iron is easier than scrubbing pots and pans. As soon as possible after using your Dutch Oven, scrape out as much food as possible with a plastic scraper. Put 1 - 2 quarts of hot water in your oven and scrub with a plastic scrubbing pad or a vegetable brush. Immediately after washing, dry the oven thoroughly by putting it in your kitchen oven at 150 to 200 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Cast Iron can only be dried by heating. Heat dries out the moisture in the pores. If a pot is not completely dried after it is used, it will rust. The pores must be opened by heating up, and the moisture dried out of it. Don’t let the oven set around after washing, go straight from draining the rinse water into the kitchen oven if possible. If you are camping and don’t have a kitchen oven to dry a Dutch Oven, dry it the best you can and try and store it away from moisture.

Dutch Ovens when cared for, will last for generations. Be sure your oven has been cleaned and lightly oiled before putting it away. Try to keep your ovens in a dry, warm place. Remember, moisture with cause cast iron to rust. Leave your lids slightly ajar, allowing the air to circulate. I like to store with a paper towel rolled up and sticking out from under the lid. The towel inside the oven acts as a wick and will help absorb moisture.

Tip: Here’s another idea. If you need to store an oven for long periods of time, use a light-weight food-grade Mineral Oil and coat the oven, inside and out. It’s cheap and effective. Once you have sealed the oven with mineral oil, no oxygen can reach the seasoning and it will last many months.

With correct use and proper care, a well seasoned oven produces a unique flavor unequaled by any other cooking utensil. That’s the Magic, it looks great and tastes even better!

Glea Reno and Dennis Reno are the owners of Dutchovenmagic.com. They are based at Billings, Montana and have taught Youth Groups, Scout Troops, Church Organization and friends what they have learned over years in Dutch oven cooking. They also do cooking demonstration at various retail outlets. They can be contacted at help@dutchovenmagic.com

info@dutchovenmagic.com

Most people who complete a self build will go on to make a profit if they decide to sell afterwards, but what steps can you take to ensure that you don’t totally blow the budget?

There are lots of advantages to a totally unique self-build but most important is sound financial planning before and during the self-build, to ensure you stay within budget and make worthwhile savings.

Research all your costs carefully and get as many perspectives and quotes as possible. Self management skills will save you money from the word go and are useful as good planning and anticipation can relieve much of the pain and frustration that may occur.

The Right Site

Aside from the cost of buying the site, building plots often require a site survey to check boundaries and other variables that should be investigated. You will need to research the costs of this. There may be other investigations needed, depending on the type of land: a soil investigation and survey should always be commissioned in order to assess the type of foundation likely to be necessary.

Changes to foundations can be expensive and can vary from having to avoid a soft spot such as on old pond, right through to deep excavation or pile and ring beam foundation involving extra costs.

· There are a lot of important questions to ask about the site itself.

· Establishing the ground condition and available to utility services are vital.

Architects Fees

Make sure that you agree fees with your architect in writing and ask for details of any additional cost.

· Printing out sets of plans.

· Producing color elevations.

Ensure that you allow for all of the drawings and specification documents necessary to build the house.

Remember employing an architect to oversee the design project from start to finish can cost anything from 8 to 14 % of the budget.

One thing to keep in mind, the architect is an important go-between for you and the contractor and knows all the steps and costs involved and can actually save money.

Equipment Hire

This is another aspect to remember, not every self-build project will need vast arrays of equipment. But, if there are delays on the site and the hire period needs to be extended then there might well be a weekly penalty on the total hire charges. Check this on the contact before you sign to hire the equipment.

Materials

Other building materials vary so much that it’s up to you whether you want them to become a budget blower or not. Ask the advice of the contractor, first and foremost; builder’s merchants normally include delivery within their price, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get a quote first. Any materials ordered direct from manufactures will usually incur a delivery charge.

Make sure that you get prices for you budget that the quote includes delivery . If your site is difficult to access, there may be additional delivery charges for staged deliveries on smaller vehicles.

Connecting to Utilities

Suburban plots or sites in towns are nearly always adequately covered for utilities. This may not be the case in all areas. Check for cost for supply of water, sewage and main services, all of this needs to be thoroughly research.

Delay and Pay

A vastly underestimated budget buster! Time is money in any building project and delays caused by lateness or non-delivery of materials can incur extra labour costs for waiting time, plus increased finance, rental and hire costs.

Building work not itemised in the original contract price is know as “extra”. The cost of “extras” can total thousand on top of the fixed contract price.

Other Essentials

Remember also that there will be a host of other cost categories, all with the potential to become budget busters if not properly considered and researched.

· Drains/pipes

· Wall structure

· Cills & Lintels

· Roof finishes

· Chasing

· External doors & windows

· Decorating

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of
unique house plans which includes
cottage plans,
beach house plans,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.