»sehtest-text« by timm ulrichs (1972) (+)
augen ~ eyes
genau ~ clearly, exactly
sábado, abril 23, 2016
7 Modest First Anniversary Gift Ideas for Her
Traditionally, the gift for a first anniversary is paper (framed art, painting, books, etc.), but in these modern times, there are so many more options to give to that special lady that she may appreciate a little bit more. For a new husband who is not sure what to give his new bride, here are a few ideas, ranging from the practical to the luxurious, all with a bit of romance added in to show her how special she is.
1. Jewelry
The old saying that diamonds are a girl’s best friend is only partly true, because even without that sparkly accessory, jewelry is always a great idea for an anniversary gift. Though she already has the rings on her finger, there are still necklaces, bracelets, or earrings to add in to her collection. Keep in mind that some women prefer gold and others prefer silver, so be sure to match what she has been known to wear regularly.
2. Gift Baskets
Giving your wife a gift basket filled with her favorite things shows not only that you care, but that you know her better than anyone else. If she loves a relaxing bath, add some scented bubble baths, salts, and a fluffy bath flower. For a new wife with a sweet tooth, fill it with her favorite chocolates. Movie tickets, gift cards, or various makeup products in her brand will also please her, and remind her how important she is.
3. Casual Backyard Oasis
Even if children are not yet on the horizon, your newlywed is probably a busy woman. The gift of relaxation is something she will appreciate, and to do this, all that is required for a tranquil yet casual backyard oasis is a hammock and stand. She will dive right in with a good book, take a nap, or just lay back and watch the fluffy clouds float by above. And if the hammock is big enough, she may even offer to share it.
4. Wedding Keepsakes
Use the first anniversary to remind that lovely lady of the special day being celebrated, by giving her wedding keepsakes. Her favorite wedding or honeymoon photo in a beautiful frame is a nice idea, as is a framed copy of the wedding certificate.
5. A Romantic Date
Anniversary gifts don’t have to come in a box. Take a new wife out for the evening on a romantic outing involving activities she enjoys. A dinner at her favorite restaurant will be sure to please her. Tickets to a concert, play, or even a movie can make for a fabulous evening. And if she likes to visit museums or art galleries, book a private tour. A moonlit stroll to finish the night will have her remembering why she said “I do”.
6. Clocks
Everyone needs a clock, and there are very few houses that don’t have at least a few of them around. There are dozens of clock designs for sale, including wall clocks, digital clocks, sun dials, cuckoo clocks, or the old fashioned type with a brass pendulum. Such an item may not seem like an anniversary gift, but it symbolizes the time spent together, and the years to come that are measured on such a thoughtful device. And if desired, add an engraved message or the anniversary date to honor that special day.
7. Anniversary Getaway
Recreate the honeymoon by taking a trip together to a fabulous destination. Italy is perfect for a romantic getaway, whether riding a gondola down the canals of Venice, enjoying the fine art of Tuscany, or touring the Colosseum in Rome. If warm breezes and beaches are more her style, head to the Caribbean, for the gorgeous beaches and ocean views, to relax and enjoy each other’s company in the luxury of one of the many resorts.
Giving a new wife a gift from the heart is the best way to show how special she is on that first anniversary. Any of the above ideas will do just that, and remind her why she married such a thoughtful and loving fellow in the first place.
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5 Life Lessons From the Homeless Girl on 42nd Street
I don’t get to Manhattan often, but I love it when I do. The rush of the city, people everywhere, cars honking, food on every corner and the “live-and-let-live” attitude. New York is welcoming and dismissive all at once.
It was a cold April afternoon, the sky was clear blue and the buzz of the city enticed me outdoors. Walking across the intersection at 2nd Avenue, I saw a young woman sitting on a suitcase with the telltale cardboard sign indicating that she was among the city’s 60,000 homeless people. I felt the uncomfortable pang of empathy and concern in my heart and looked back to read her sign. “If you can’t donate – gratitude, kindness and well-wishes are free!” My heart broke to read such a beautiful sentiment and see such a beautiful young girl. But I kept walking.
I was totally preoccupied for the rest of my walk past the Avenue of the Americas, past Park Ave, Lexington Avenue, and into Times Square. Why hadn’t I stopped? Why didn’t I give her any money? What is it about homeless people that have us look the other way?
The frigid air and my distressed emotions ushered me back to find the young girl on 2nd Avenue. I’m staying in a $200 a night hotel, I thought, the least I can do is give this girl some money.
My steps hastened and as I approached the corner, there she sat, her cardboard sign on her lap and paper cup in front of her. Our eyes met and she cast a simple, warm smile my way. “I like your sign,” I said. And thus began our exchange in which I witnessed these five life lessons from the homeless girl on the corner of 42nd and 2nd.
1. Take Full Responsibility For Your Circumstances.
As if it was any of my business, I looked at the gal sitting on her suitcase and with compassionate concern, I asked, “What happened?”
Intuitively understanding that I meant “How the hell did you end up on the streets?” she responded with clarity and no remorse, “Just a couple months ago I was doing fine in Florida, making $1000 a week, but my mother got sick here in NY, so I came home. It didn’t go so well between us, we had a fight and she threw me out. There’s a lot of baggage between us.”
She could have just as easily thrown her mother under the bus and said, “I left a good job in Florida to come home and help when my mother was sick and she ended up throwing me out!” But she didn’t do that. She didn’t blame her mom. She simply said what was so. “We have baggage. She’s sick (her intonation led me to believe she was referring to emotional and mental illness more than physical) and she threw me out.” No drama, just the facts. Which led to the next lesson…
2. Ask for Help
She wasn’t too proud to ask for help. Looking at me straight-faced, she said, “I’ve never been down this low before and I don’t plan on being this low again, but for now, there are good people everywhere who are willing to help. I just have to ask.” How true. The vast majority of people are more caring than hurtful, wanting to help more than cause harm. You get what you see and she saw good people everywhere. Because of this, so she was able to….
3. Maintain Optimism
Despite how low this gal had found herself; sleeping in Bryant Park, washing up in public rest rooms, asking strangers for money on the street, she was incredibly optimistic about her future. “I will be back on my feet again soon when I get back to Florida where things are less expensive. I can get my job back down there. They liked me and were sad that I left. I just have to get back there.” When I asked how she was going to do that, she did not hesitate for a moment, because she knows it is important to…
4. Have a Plan
Her reply was quick and determined. “I just need to get $250 for a bus ticket to get back down there. It’s cheaper to fly, only $78 for one-way airfare, but I don’t have any ID.” It didn’t occur to me to ask her why not, or if it wouldn’t be cheaper to get ID than save up $250 for the bus. But she was clear. She was going to have the $250 within a couple of weeks and head back down to Florida where she had friends to stay with and a job she was sure she could reclaim. And therefore, she knew to…
5. Be grateful
Perhaps the most striking quality about this young gal was her upbeat optimism. As we chatted, a few folks dropped coins or bills into her paper cup and she would respond as if she had just won the lottery. “Thank you! You are so kind! God bless you!” she would exclaim with enthusiasm and sincerity.
I walked away feeling like a better person for having chatted with her. Half a block away, the delicious aroma of New York City pizza wafted around me. I walked in and ordered 2 large slices and walked back to my sage on the street. She saw me coming, pizza boxes in hand, and her face lit up once again. “It’s just cheese pizza,” I said. “It’s not much,” feeling insufficient in my sparse offering. In her continued gracious humility, she gratefully exclaimed, “No, it is a lot! It’s so much. I was just sitting here getting hungry and wondering what I would do, and then you came along.”
Maybe there is something to these lessons, after all. When we live with willingness, humility, gratitude, and optimism and have a plan to follow, maybe, just maybe, good things find their way to us more easily.
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5 Things You Should Do To Wake Up Energized
Picture this: you open your eyes as you wake up to a sunrise. Without a moment’s delay, you get out of bed and stretch. It’s an exciting day ahead and you can’t wait to get started.
You quickly get changed into your gym clothes and head outside for a nice jog in the quiet, peaceful morning. When you get home, you take a shower and come out refreshed. By the time you finish eating breakfast, it’s still early outside. Yet you feel energized and fully awake, ready to take on the day.
I used to think that waking up early naturally was for the lucky. I was simply a night owl, and early mornings were a painful thing. But after I tried a few different strategies and changed up my routine, I realized that waking up energized was something that could be done.
It turns out how you approach your sleep and waking routine is largely a developed habit rather than a genetic trait. And if you’re like me, there may some lifestyle choices that you make which affect the quality of your sleep.
So let’s take a look at 5 things that you should do to get a good night’s sleep and wake up energized.
1. Eat lots of fruits and veggies
What you eat and the quality of your sleep are closely tied together. Having a quality diet precedes quality sleep, so don’t think about skipping this one.
Today, we’re surrounded by all sorts of processed food, sugar-laden snacks, artificial ingredients, and sodium. Unfortunately, these types of foods are taxing on the body, which leads to waking up groggy.
If you want to rest well, load up on the fruits and veggies.
2. Eat a light dinner
There’s a saying that goes like this: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”
It’s interesting how our society has developed a system of eating a light breakfast, a medium-sized lunch, and then a large evening meal. But if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, it could be because your dinner portions are too big, which takes longer for your system to digest.
Instead, make fruits and veggies the star attraction at dinnertime. They’re easy to digest, making it easier to have a good night’s sleep.
3. Have a morning routine
I used to think routines were synonymous with boring. But not all routines are bad. Having a simple routine right after you wake up gives you a sense of direction and something to look forward to.
One routine might be that you get up, go exercise, shower and then eat breakfast. Maybe you like to start off calmly by doing a bit of reading or the daily crossword puzzle. Do whatever helps you warm up for the day.
4. Exercise
Exercise can mean a number of things. It doesn’t mean that you have to go to the gym, unless you enjoy that. It could mean going for a jog or a nice walk outside. It could mean going out to tend your garden.
Whichever way you decide to incorporate exercise into your day, do it with vigor and break out a sweat.
Exercise helps you sleep better at night and wake up energized. It also keeps you more alert throughout the day too.
5. Sleep when you’re tired
Have you ever gone to bed simply because you looked at the clock and saw that it was time to do so? If so, you might have been fully awake but tried to force yourself to sleep.
The end result? Tossing and turning, trying for who knows how long to get some rest.
Listen to your body instead. If you’re fully awake even though it’s bedtime, do something relaxing.
Read a book. Plan ahead for the next day. Listen to some soothing music. When your eyelids start to feel heavy, then you know that it’s time to go to sleep.
Getting a good night’s rest is important to waking up energized and ready for the day, which in turn keeps you more productive during the day.
If you start incorporating these steps, you’ll find yourself on a pathway to feeling happier and ready to seize opportunities.
Featured photo credit: eelx via imcreator.com
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Which Type of Visa Do You Need to Travel Abroad?
If you’ve never traveled abroad before, you might not really even know what a visa is, or why you’d need one.
To put it simply, a visa is a document that provides you with visitation rights to another country. Think of it like a hall pass: It explains what you’re doing in the country, and for how long. Depending on what you are doing in the country, you’ll have a varying amount of time to be within the border without having to do more paperwork or request an extension.
Although there are many – many – types of visas you can apply for. But for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the four most popular types of visa people use when coming into the United States. These visas allow visitors to stay in the country for specified periods of time, and dictate their purpose for being in the country. However, this does not mean visitors must adhere to a strict schedule. While the period of time in which they are allowed to stay within the country is quite stringent, they are allowed to use their free time however they choose.
Short, Specific Period of Time
Those temporarily coming to the US on business can apply for a B-1 visa. Travelers applying for a B-1 visa know exactly how long they will be in the country, and their documentation will reflect this. Though those entering the US on a B-1 visa will performing occupational duties for an international company throughout their stay, they aren’t limited to actions only pertaining to work. In other words, people with a B-1 visa aren’t going to be thrown out of the country if they attend a professional ballgame or Broadway show.
In lieu of a B-1 visa, many travelers can apply for an ESTA waiver if they hail from a specific country.
Visitor Exchange
A J-1 visa is colloquially known as a visitor exchange visa. J-1 visas are most often granted to college-age travelers looking to come to America to work in temporary positions in order to gain fieldwork experience and training. Candidates for a J-1 visa are usually recruited from a specific area at once, allowing hosts in the US to accommodate to a single demographic. Those visiting the country on a J-1 visa can take jobs ranging from camp counselors to teachers, or may remain as students or apprentices.
Skilled Work
Students who have recently graduated with highly-specialized degrees apply for an H-1B visa. These students usually work in fields in which other countries consistently outperform their American counterparts – including computer programming, medicine, and mathematics. Visitors applying for an H-1B visa must be able to provide documentation that confirms their skills are on-par with the degree they currently hold. An H-1B visa allows recent graduates to live in the US for three years, and up to six or ten in special circumstances. Although the main goal of accepting workers under an H-1B visa is to recruit skilled workers, doing so also promotes cultural diversity in the workplace, as well.
Unskilled Labor
An H-2B visa is a cross between the J1 and H1B visa: It allows travelers from other countries to come into the US during periods in which seasonal employment increases. Typically, these jobs are either very labor-intensive or simply require increased manpower. For example, during the spring and summer months, the US may accept young adults from other countries to work as lifeguards or ticket-takers at water and amusement parks. In the winter, those looking for work as snowplow drivers may be accepted into the country. After the season winds down, however, the workers’ visas will expire.
Featured photo credit: Statue of Liberty / Chick neo / Flickr via farm9.staticflickr.com
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5 Things Not To Do Before Working Out – And What To Do Instead
What you do before a workout session can have incredible benefits on your body – or it can derail any attempt to get in shape whatsoever. Before hitting the gym, take the following precautions so you don’t end up leaving in worse shape than you were when you walked in.
Sleep
Of course you want to be rested before you start working out. But getting too much sleep before a session at the gym can actually hinder your performance. When you sleep for more than 30 minutes, your body enters a deep sleep – just as it does when you lie down for the night. A nap that lasts longer than 30 minutes will only make you feel even more groggy and exhausted than you were when you laid down.
If you must nap before the gym, make sure you set an alarm for 15-20 minutes ahead of time. This will give you enough time to rest your eyes and body but not trick your mind into thinking it’s time to go to bed for the night.
Stretch
When we were younger, our gym teachers all told us make sure to stretch before doing any sort of strenuous activity. However, experts now say stretching before a workout might actually do more harm than good. Not only does static stretching before exercising decrease the strength of the muscles being stretched, but it also increases the risk of pulling or straining these muscles.
Instead of using static stretching methods before a workout, warm up your muscles by moving them in some way or another, such as running in place, doing jumping jacks, or riding a stationary bike. Save the static stretching for after your workout. Stretching is much more beneficial after you’ve “loosened up” your muscles.
High-Intensity Interval Training
High-Intensity Interval Training is – surprise, surprise – intense. It also varies in intensity throughout each session. Because High-Intensity Interval Training varies in intensity, it disrupts your body’s natural respiration, as the amount of energy you put forward changes over time. HIIT also decreases your stamina and strength quickly, which you certainly don’t want to do before you even get started with your workout.
As previously mentioned, you should definitely do some sort of cardio to begin a workout session, but there’s no need to go from zero to sixty. Instead of diving into high-intensity activities, wade in with some steady state cardio in which the energy you put forth doesn’t vary much at all.
Eat or Drink Too Much
Remember when your mom always told you not to go swimming until a half-hour after you ate? It turns out there’s some truth to that old wives’ tale, after all. After you’ve eaten a large meal, your body will obviously start to digest it. What we often don’t realize is just how much energy this process takes. If we try to work out during the digestive process, we overburden our bodies, which can lead to stomach cramps and nausea. Additionally, drinking beverages that are high in sugar content can lead to an athlete quickly “hitting the wall,” and being unable to complete a workout session.
Instead of eating and drinking everything in sight, maintain a healthy pre-workout diet to properly energize yourself before a gym session. Stick to wholesome foods like fruits, grains, and yogurt – stay away from sweets. Check the labels on your sports drink; you might realize there’s a lot more sugar in it than you thought there was, and it might be hurting you more than helping. Stay away from chemicals; find nourishment that actually helps you rather than giving you a superficial boost that will lead to a crash.
Take Too Many Supplements
If you eat well, you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need to prepare yourself for a workout session without the need of supplements. But if you do choose to use them, don’t overdo it. Taking too much “product” can lead to an irregular heartbeat, nausea, and anxiety – and more. It’s definitely not worth doing long-term damage to your body just to get an extra boost during a workout.
If you’re going to use supplemental powders and pills, read the label. Know exactly what you’re taking before you put anything in your body. Know how it will affect you, and know the warning signs your body will give you if you’ve taken too much. It’s okay to try to give yourself an edge while working out – just don’t abuse it.
Featured photo credit: working out / Tomas Salinka / Flickr via farm8.staticflickr.com
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7 Career-Advancing Courses That You Can Take (And Actually Finish)
Have you ever thought that you would like to have a better career? Have you thought about taking courses, but figured that you don’t have time to go back to school? Well, whether you are an entrepreneur who is busy running a small business, a stay-at-home mom who is busy with kids, or a business person who wants to learn new skills and advance in your career, there are courses that you have plenty of time for. Here are seven great options to get you started.
1. Search Engine Optimization Training
This is a great course for small business owners. It will teach you how to do SEO through courses that are tailored specifically for you and your needs. It doesn’t matter if you are already an expert with SEO or if you are just getting started, this training is going to benefit you and your small business. Your new knowledge will mean your marketing will be much more effective and you will get more visitors to your website.
2. Communicating Strategically
If you are a professional who has trouble communicating with those who are not well-versed in your line of work, this is the course for you. You will learn how to communicate effectively with non-professionals who may not understand business or scientific terms as well as you do. You can take the class for free, and if you want a PurdueX Verified Certificate, it is just $50.
3. Speechwriting 101
Have you been asked to write a speech but you have no idea how to do it? If so, here is a great course with 10 lessons that have been created for beginners to help them write great speeches. Lessons include “How to Write for the Ear (Not the Eye)” and “One Speech Structure to Rule them All.” The course is 10 weeks in total, with one lesson per week.
4. Law for the Entrepreneur and Manager
Here is a course that will help you to understand the basics of legal issues that surround businesses. This intermediate-level course starts with the basics of business law and then moves into the second half, which includes various issues, including intellectual property, business disputes, bankruptcy law, reorganization, international trade, and more. There are 21 lessons for a total of 32 hours of study.
5. Learn Java
This is a free, comprehensive guide to Java, which is one of the most popular programming languages today. These lessons are fast and easy, and you will be able to complete your work in under three hours — with no need for previous experience in programming. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to write code quickly and easily. You will be guided step-by-step, and you can even compete with peers from other parts of the world.
6. Public Speaking
A lot of people know their stuff inside and out. But, if questioned about it, they freeze up and can’t speak. Or, they are not able to effectively relay the information. If this sounds like you, you need this course. Through lectures and the textbook, you will learn about every aspect of public speaking and what it takes to be an effective public speaker. There are also videos that show the various aspects of public speaking.
7. The Fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator
In order to take your designs to the next level, you need to be using Adobe Illustrator. If you have never worked with vectors, anchors, brushes, symbols, etc., this may seem a bit scary. However, once you take this course, which only takes a month to complete, you will be an expert. You will learn how to take a project from concept to completion, even if you are just a beginner.
Featured photo credit: unsplash.com via pexels.com
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