Why is it that when summer arrives business slows down, networks stop meeting, work attendance decreases, business development activities grind to a halt - and yet we still have budgets, goals and targets to achieve? How do you handle the 'unproductive' attitude that summer brings? How can you juggle vacation schedules? Historically, summer may have been a time for you to take it easy, do the minimum amount of activity while you focus on what you will achieve when fall comes around...not this year. Decide to make this your most productive summer ever, here are some strategies that will help you do that and continually grow your business all year round.

Take advantage of the weather. Use the longer hours of daylight savings to conduct meetings later in the day, take advantage of warmer conditions and meet people at outdoor venues and cafes, meet clients for lunch where you will enjoy lighter food and warm sunshine.

Review your business plan. Make a two-hour appointment with yourself to review all the actions in your business plan - including your cash flows and targets - and spend time determining what you need to achieve your goals for this financial year. Your business plan should not be hiding in your bottom draw or collecting dust on a shelf, it is a living document that can be reviewed regularly - make summer your time to determine your next steps.

Revisit your marketing plan. What plan you ask? If you don't have one, now is the time to sit and write one. If you need help there is an abundance of talented consultants who can assist you build a customised plan for your business. If you already have one, review your progress, determine what actions need to be taken and schedule time during the summer to complete those tasks.

Conduct a six-month business review. Spend two hours reviewing your business achievements for the past six months. Ask yourself these 11 questions:

1.How would I rate the past six months' business performance (1-10 with 10 being the highest)?

2.Did I achieve my financial goals each month?

3.If not, why not?

4.If not, what do I need to do differently in the next six months to meet my annual budget or plan?

5.If I did meet these targets (congratulations to you), were they big enough?

6.Have I conducted staff reviews with my team? If not, why not? And when?

7.If so, have I rewarded my team adequately?

8.Do I need to invest more in my team or personal development?

9.Is my marketing plan on track? If not, why not?

10.If not, what activities do I need to conduct to implement more marketing strategies?

11.Have I done sufficient networking to grow my business or my connections? If not, why not?

When you have completed these questions, create a series of tasks, actions or projects to implement some of your strategies to help you really achieve all your targets for the next six months.

Invest in your personal development. Have you been meaning to read the latest business book? Is there a summit you could attend? Is there an online program you have wanted to complete? Is there a web seminar that you've wanted to register for? This is a great time of year to invest in yourself, refresh your memory and learn a new skill. Summer is conducive to learning.

Conduct a summer clean. Just like a spring clean, but during the summer months. Your summer clean could include:

Clearing, deleting or filing those read emails in your inbox.
Unsubscribing from all those newsletters that you don't read.
Allocating one hour to get your paper filing up to date (if you have more than one hour's worth, do one hour per week until it is all complete).
Throwing out unwanted, unread journals that you have been 'meaning' to read, but haven't and won't.
Reviewing your 'tasks' on your to-do list or in your Outlook file and removing those tasks that simply won't be completed.
Spending 15 minutes cleaning the top of your desk, removing unnecessary stationery, putting away files, cleaning the dust off your family photo, throwing away empty water bottles and wiping down your computer keyboard and screen. A clean and clear desk will help you be more productive any time of year!
Entering details into your contact management system of the business card pile that is gathering dust on your desk.

Hold a team development activity. If you manage a team of people, allocate some time to meet for lunch at an outdoor café; take three hours and visit the local zoo as a team (work out which animal best represents each member of your team...only joking!); meet early for a game of golf or tennis before work; bring food to share for lunch and conduct a meeting in your local park. Spend time listening to your team, their challenges and achievements. Plan your next six months and how you will achieve the targets for the whole team. Use the warmer weather to conduct outdoor versions of activities you normally conduct indoors.

Conduct focus groups. Invite a select number of key clients to your office and ask them about your business, their expectations and experiences, and how you can better serve them. Collate the results and seek your team's input on how to action them.

Implement a product or service trial. This is the perfect time of year to try a new product or introduce a new service to your customers. Map a plan, seek team involvement and watch your customers' reactions.

Create a list of new business development targets. Once you have made your list, sort it into three groups: 'spheres of influence', those that are able to make decisions about your products or services; 'centres of influence', those that are already your advocates; and 'strategic alliances', those that you can refer business to and that can also refer business to you. Once you have your list completed, book appointments with these people to include lunch, breakfast or even a 'tele-coffee'. Create a plan within your schedule to contact them regularly. Contact could include a phone call, email, sending them an interesting article you've found, inviting them to a networking event with you, sending a parcel of products or a face-to-face meeting.

Book a 'tele-coffee' with your customers. What is a 'tele-coffee'? It is where you both make a coffee and meet by teleconference. It is a more productive way of meeting (and avoids time wasted in travel).

Visit a new networking group. Many networking groups don't meet during the summer, but those who are serious about building their businesses are still networking and still making valuable connections. Find out which groups are meeting and plan to attend at least two new groups this summer. This is the perfect time to develop new relationships and valuable connections.

To continually grow your business you do need to be mindful of the seasons but don't slow down in summer - get more productive. Use this time to get a head start on all those fall meetings you can conduct when people return from vacation, ensure plans are in place to achieve your annual results, tidy your work environment so you are not distracted by clutter, and experiment with new products, focus groups and new networking opportunities. Embrace the warmer weather for outdoor meetings and events and enjoy all that summer brings for your business growth.

The long awaited day is almost here! Soon you will hold a precious baby in your arms, and you want everything to be perfect!

Bringing home a newborn baby, especially when it is your first, can be daunting. Such big changes and unknowns can cause a new mom stress. "De-stressify" your preparation with this newborn baby checklist. It will help give you the confidence to know you are prepared!

The following newborn baby checklist can be used as a guideline in the quest to be prepared for your new arrival. While no checklist will have you prepared for EVERYTHING (like finding out your mother-in-law will be coming to "help" for a few weeks), this one ought to come close!

Clothing - Newborn babies grow into the next size very quickly! Don't go crazy purchasing the tiny newborn clothing items, or you may find that your baby has outgrown them before he/she has even had a chance to try them on! By the time your baby is about 8-9 pounds, you will need the 3 month old clothing (these will last until your baby is about 12 pounds). Some larger babies even skip the newborn size altogether!

The quantities listed here are based on the assumption that you will be washing your laundry at least 2 times per week.
5-10 newborn sized outfits 2 sweaters 5-7 sleepwear 2-4 wearable blankets or sleep sacks 4-6 onsies dress clothes 2 pairs of mittens (for preventing scratches) hats - one for warmth and one for shade snowsuit - do NOT use when your baby is in his/her car seat 6-10 pairs of socks (more is better because they are so little that they get lost or "eaten" by the washing machine) accessories - such as shoes, hair decor, jewelry mild laundry detergent Bathing and Grooming - When my first baby was born, we had very little in the way of baby supplies - and nothing for bathing. Do you know what we discovered? We didn't really need much. He got perfectly clean when I bathed him in the bathroom sink and washed his hair with the kitchen sink hose.

So why did I include most of the following items in this newborn baby checklist? Convenience. There is a LOT to be said for convenience when you have a newborn baby in the house!
baby tub or baby bathing sponge 4 baby washcloths 2 hooded towels baby lotion baby brush infant nail clippers baby shampoo/body wash bath thermometer Nursery Items - A beautifully decked-out nursery is a fun way to prepare for your new baby. Giving the baby's room personality and then putting away the items he/she will be using makes it start feeling like he will REALLY be arriving soon! Consider:
dresser baby size hangers rocking chair cd player with soothing cds night light nursery decor - wall hangings, window coverings, bed skirt Diapering - "Changing a diaper is a lot like getting a present from your grandmother - you're not sure what you've got but you're pretty sure you're not going to like it." (Foxworthy) No baby checklist would be complete without "covering" this.
wet wipes - either commercial or home-made changing table with a water-proof pad 3 washable changing pad covers hand sanitizer diaper rash remedy wipe warmer diaper disposal or diaper pail with liners basket or diaper holder for keeping diapers orderly If using disposable diapers: 10-12 disposable diapers per day OR If using cloth diapers: 24-36 cloth diapers 8-10 diaper covers inserts and liners diaper pins if the chosen system calls for them diaper sprayer Feeding - After you have decided whether you will be breastfeeding or bottle feeding, you will want to consider which items you will need to assist you in growing a healthy baby. Breastfeeding Needs: 3-5 nursing bras nursing pads - washable or disposable breast pump nipple cream breast milk storage containers breast feeing pillow nursing cover 10 burp rags Bottle Feeding Needs: bottles (BPA free) - start with just a few until you know what your baby will prefer nipples (clear silicone) formula - don't stock up until you know it will "agree" with your baby 10 burp rags bottle brush bottle warmer drying rack sterilization bags Sleeping - Newborn babies spend about 18 out of every 24 hours sleeping. At least some of that time you will want to put him/her down to tend to your own needs. Your baby's safety during that time is paramount. Providing a safe, comfortable, familiar place to sleep will help your baby establish good sleeping habits which will in turn facilitate YOUR sleep. You will need:
sleeping place - crib with mattress, portable crib, bassinet, Moses basket, or co-sleeper 2 mattress pads 3 fitted sheets 6-8 receiving blankets baby monitor a small fan for air circulation and white noise Traveling - Whether it is across town or across the country - you will want to show off your baby (or at least re-stock on diapers). Traveling with a newborn is more complicated than grabbing your keys and walking out the door, but you will be prepared for any trip if you have:
car seat diaper bag replacement car seat cover stroller baby sling or carrier blankets of varying thicknesses car seat travel bag for air travel portable crib Health - No one likes to think about their baby becoming ill, but sooner or later it is bound to happen. Be prepared by having the following items on hand:
nasal aspirator/bulb syringe petroleum jelly digital thermometer rubbing alcohol & q-tips (for umbilical cord care) infant acetaminophen - use with newborns only under advisement of your pediatrician saline nasal spray a great pediatrician Don't forget to add your baby to your health insurance policy! Safety - Your newborn won't be mobile for a few months, but you will want to have safety items in place well before that occurs.
safety gates corner/edge bumpers safety locks outlet covers Development and Entertainment - Most of your newborn baby's early development will come from the cuddling, singing, talking, and interaction provided by the ones who love him/her the most. A few items that will stimulate and entertain him/her while you are occupied will be beneficial to you both.
baby mobile or a plastic mirror for the crib a few toys of differing textures baby swing and/or baby bouncer baby book for recording all of the milestones A common "rookie mom" mistake is caring for her baby to the exclusion of caring for herself. Don't forget to make "mommy care" a priority, too. Add your favorite bubble bath to your newborn baby checklist - and then use it!

Wines taste best served at the right temperature. From 7°C for non vintage sparkling to 18°C for vintage port. Different types of wines need to be served at different temperatures. Wine coolers serve the purpose of chilling your wine to the right temperature.

A wine cooler is any type of utensil or equipment used to cool the wine. These may be small table top units that rapidly cool a single bottle or hand held totes used to carry chilled wine. Wine coolers may also be as elaborate as large refrigerator style units that store dozens of bottles at selected temperatures. Wine coolers are usually made of neoprene, vinyl or double-walled glass, plastic, metal or any insulated material that assists to keep the wine chilled.

Table top units are useful for obtaining the correct wine serving temperature especially in warmer climates. Hand held totes are used for carrying and keeping bottles cold for picnics or parties but these keep wine chilled for a limited amount of time ranging from 1 to 3 hours. These hold single bottles or as many as three bottles of wine.

The large refrigerated units come in different types, sizes, styles and functions. These types of wine coolers are useful for those who do not have access to a wine cellar, as temperature and humidity conditions can be replicated. These can maintain temperatures at a designated level and also at precise levels so wines are continually kept chilled to the desired degree. With developments in technology, wine coolers have also come of age. Modern day wine coolers do not only control temperature, cooling and circulation but are also able to read bar coding of wine bottles enabling precise controls of elements related to the coding. Some wine coolers also have separate chambers with separate temperature controls so that different types of wines can be stored in the same wine cooler.

While choosing a wine cooler, features like volume, number of shelves, capacity, dimensions and energy efficiency are to be kept in mind. Coolers with extra features like light, glass doors and the opening of the door to both left and right are added advantages. Digital or electronic controls gain over dial controls, as temperatures can be set precisely.

Various brands are available with different functionalities with prices ranging from 0 to over 00. Table top coolers are useful for domestic purposes while the large refrigerated units are ideally suited to bars, restaurants or uses where high turnover of products is expected.

Unless you are the pioneering type, a camping stove will accompany you on any camping trip. While they are very convenient and easy to operate, different stoves work on different fuels and work in different ways. So always read the owners manual. Aside from that, here are 15 rules that should be followed in regards to camping stoves for your protection and mother natures.

1 - Being as children are a big part of camping, the use, refueling and storing of a stove should only be done under a knowledgeable adult.

2 - Use only approved, undamaged fuel containers. Keep them far from open flames and any other source of heat.

3 - When you need to changed the compressed gas cartridges, or when you need to refill liquid fuel containers, allow the stove (or lantern) to cool completely .

4 - Refill stoves or lanterns outside away from any other flames or heat source. For liquid fuel use a funnel and then allow any spilled fuel to evaporate before attempting to ignite.

5 - Place your camping stove on a cleared, level surface. On snow, place it on a large piece of plywood. This will keep the stove warmer and reduce the tendency for it to tip over.

6 - Check stoves, hoses and tanks before each outing. Check for bent valves, cracked hoses and stripped treads that could cause leaks and possible explosions.

7 - Keep the fuel tanks as far from the actual camping stove as possible. Always keep your head and body to one side when lighting in case it creates a flare up.

8 - Never leave a lit stove or lantern unattended.

9 - Do not over load the stove. These are not made for heavy duty cooking but transportability. If anything larger then a 2 quart pot is needed, setup a second grill and place the stove under it.

10 - Do not discard empty containers. If they are not refillable, they should be disposed of properly being as the dumpster at the campsite might be disposed of by burning all refuse.

11 - Camping stoves or lanterns must never be used inside a tent or any building with poor ventilation.

12 - All canisters should be bright red or at least marked well so they don't get confused with water bottles

13 - Carry fuel cartridges away form all foods. This may mean carrying it on the outside of a back pack.

14 - Shut off the supply valve at the tank before disconnecting hoses. Allow the extra gas in the line to bleed off.

15 - All ways read the manufactures guide lines and follow them.

Visit "Camping and More" for more useful information and camping tips.

Summertime crock pot recipes, you may ask? But the crock pot is only used for "cold-weather meals" such as stews, roasts, and other hearty stick-to-your-ribs type meals. Wrong! The crock pot has truly received a seasonal stereotype and sits in many kitchen cupboards all summer long. Bring it back to your kitchen counter during the summer; there are so many benefits and fabulous light summertime meals that can be prepared in the crock pot!

Most people already know how wonderful crockpot cooking is; throw a few ingredients in a pot, turn it on, and come back eight hours later to a wonderful home cooked meal. We also know that cheaper cuts of meat turn out tender and juicy because they're cooked with moist heat over long periods of time. Crock pot cooking is perfect for the busy homemaker, the office mom, the busy dad, the work-at-home mom, anyone who has anything to do during the day and is tired by dinnertime, not wanting to spend countless hours preparing dinner for their family. But crock pot cooking is also perfect for the summertime.

Where I live, we have humid, hot, sticky summers where the last thing I want to do is turn on my oven or fire up my gas stove, much less spend time standing around them preparing meals! During the summer I don't crave meals like chicken and dumplings, lasagna, beef stew, or pork roast. I want light meals with little or no preparation so I'm not standing in a hot kitchen getting even warmer and stickier. So, I use my crock pot! Out of any of the cooking devices in your kitchen, it sets off very little heat and can allow you to put everything into the slow cooker in the morning (when your kitchen is cool) and spoon it up at dinnertime (when your kitchen is not).

Sandwiches are among our favorite summertime meals, especially paired with corn on the cob and a salad. Put a 3 pound beef or pork roast in your crock pot with 1 cup of water. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove roast and shred meat, replace to crock pot and add a bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce. Stir, cover and cook on high an additional 15-20 minutes. Serve on sandwich buns - a great summertime meal.

Brats are also a huge summertime meal where I live, and many techniques have been created to prepare them properly. Many simmer their brats over a low flame on their stove in beer for hours, heating up their kitchen as they do so. I use my crockpot! Place 12 brats in your crock pot, cover with 3-4 cans of beer (the cheaper the better), add one chopped onion and 4 cloves of minced garlic. Cover and cook on high 7-8 hours. Remove brats and grill over a low flame until browned. Serve in hot dog or brat buns with ketchup, mustard, minced onion, and other desired toppings.

The crock pot is a wonderful kitchen appliance that should not be ignored during the summer. For more great summertime crock pot recipes, view this article on Natalie's Recipes.

Based on how many independently controlled temperature zones the wine cooler has there are:
single zone dual zone and three/multiple zone wine storage coolers.
Benefits of a Dual Zone Wine Cooler over a Single Zone Unit

A dual temperature wine refrigerator has two individually refrigerated and controlled compartments for red and white wines. The two sections are usually separated with the control panel in the middle. Each zone has its own electric thermostat control and display to independently set and monitor the desired temperature.

In a single zone wine cooler refrigerator you can set only one temperature level for the whole cabinet interior and all of your wines (including reds and whites) will be cooled to the adjusted temperature.

If you love both red and white wines a wine cooler refrigerator with two temperature zones will allow you to keep both types of wine at their recommended serving temperatures. You'll always have a perfectly chilled Chardonnay or a bottle of nice, cool Pinot Noir on hand all the time. During a dinner party it's classy to pick a bottle of white and/or red that goes with the menu from your elegant wine storage cooler.

Single Zone vs. Dual Zone Wine Cooler

Now that you know the benefit of owning a dual temperature wine refrigerator you might ask whether you really need one. Some say that you don't need a two-zone wine cellar even if you drink both reds and whites. A single zone wine fridge has a temperature variance of around 5 degrees Fahrenheit from bottom to top which is acceptable and manufacturers/retailers inform customers about this fact on their website and in their catalogs. If you put your whites in the colder bottom and the reds in the warmer top part of a single zone cabinet you'll be doing just as fine as you would with a two-zone unit.

This way you'll have something similar to a dual temperature wine cooler although without individual temperature setting option. This is a bit of an exaggeration and 5 degrees difference within the cabinet's lower and top part is not enough to keep both types of wine simultaneously at optimal temperatures. The temperature range of dual zone wine coolers can be as wide as 25°F (e. g. 38°F - 65°F in the Sub-Zero 424 dual zone wine storage cabinet) giving you the ability to chill whites or sparkling wine and keep reds at cellar temperature (cc. 55 °F).

Whether it is worth getting a two zone wine refrigerator or not depends on your preferences for style and convenience. You would probably do very well with a 1-temperature zone cooler that keeps all your wines at cellar temperature. You can always get a bottle of white chilled in the kitchen fridge.

How Much Dual Zone Wine Refrigerators Cost?

Depending on size and brand the price of dual temperature wine refrigerators can vary greatly. The smallest and cheapest units cost cc. 0 while larger, higher-end models usually cost more than 00. A good quality mid-size wine cooler with two separate temperature zone sells for around 0.

Recommended Dual Temperature Wine Coolers

Since there are so many home wine cellar brands and models to choose from here is a selection of some good-value units to make the decision easier for you.

If you only have space for a smaller unit then the 12-bottle Vinotemp VT-12TEDS-2Z Dual Zone Wine Cooler is an ideal and affordable choice. It has digital controls and display for each zone.

Each of the four slide-out wood shelves holds 3 standard size wine bottles. The Vinotemp VT-12TEDS-2Z costs around 0 so it is a fairly cheap model.

The Magic Chef 44-bottle Two-Zone Wine Cooler is a larger capacity, inexpensive dual zone wine fridge selling under 0. It holds approximately 44 bottles: 16 in the top zone and 28 in the bottom compartment.

In the higher-end category (00-00) Sub-Zero, Marvel or Perlick wine refrigerators are the best choices. Wine storage units of these brands include all the bells and whistles including proper alarm systems, Sabbath mode and proper (or adjustable) humidity level.

Vintage wines are made from grapes that were grown in a specific location during a particular year. The bottle will label exactly what year it was grown.

The quality of vintage wines can vary dramatically. Its quality will largely be determined by the weather conditions in the location where the grapes were grown. The weather during the couple of weeks before the grapes were harvested is of particular importance in the resulting quality.

If the weather during the weeks before the harvest is rainy, the grapes will become bloating and possibly dilute the wine. Rainy weather may also cause problems with various fungal diseases, so producers may be forced to harvest the grapes early to prevent these problems.

Vintage wine values can also be affected by the temperature in the region. Warmer temperatures will produces wines with a lower acidity level. Conversely, cooler temperatures will produce wines with a higher acidity level. You should know that acidity will affect the quality of the wine negatively.

Another way to determine the value of wine is to consult a wine chart. One of these charts will tell you the ratings for every year that a specific region produced wine. You can learn all about the vintage's reputation and learn what years the region produced the best types of wines.

By consulting a vintage chart, you may also be able to see how long you should store the wine before drinking it. However, these properties can't be determined immediately for all types of wines. Some varieties can't be assessed for about two years.

If you have a collection of wines, then you may want to know how much it is worth. You can determine this by browsing around on the internet to check estimated values. This is important if you're looking to sell some of the vintage wine bottles in your collection.

One of the better ways to determine the value of your collection is to visit an auction or retailer that specializes in vintage wine sales. Most retailers will give you an estimate at no charge. You need to check around and compare estimates from different people though.

When storing wine bottles, you should store them in a location far away from heat. If you store your wine too close to heat, it may get cooked which will destroy it. If the cork protrudes above the lip of the bottle, it's a sign that the wine is damaged.

As wine ages, a small amount of oxidation is important for breaking down tannins. However, too much oxidation will damage the wine. Make sure that the bottle is corked correctly so air will be kept out. The seal should also be proper.

A high-quality vintage wine can be worth a lot of money. You need to consult a chart to see which years produced the best types of wine from the vintage. If you want to determine the value of your collection, you should consider going to an auction or retailer that specializes in wine sales.

Wall to wall carpet has recently made a comeback. For quite some time this type of carpet was considered an outdated form of flooring. It was replaced by hard flooring options and area rugs.

It has been found though that carpeting is not only aesthetic and affordable but it is also a great way to save some energy. It is important to understand that energy conservation efforts take on all different modes including flooring options. Wall to wall carpet covers your floor completely from one end of the room to the other without any gaps or areas that are not covered. This keeps the room much warmer during the winter months.

Eco Friendly Carpet

Amazingly enough wall to wall carpet comes in extremely environmentally friendly models. Some of this type of carpet is made from a host of recyclables to include old soda bottles and even tires.

The recyclable materials are shredded to within mere millimeters of their pre recycle size. The shredded material is than melted down and treated and made into long spools of thread which is than made into carpet fibers by being cut down to size.

The process results in some really great looking carpet that is not only nice for the home but also great for the environment. This type of carpet is hypoallergenic, and largely free from developing mold and other harmful airborne spores that are normally associated with wall to wall carpet.

It is virtually undetectable with this type of carpet that any recyclables were used in the process. The carpet simply looks like a well made carpet. You can be kind to the environment while getting a great looking floor for your home.

Aesthetics

These carpets are very aesthetically pleasing. You can find a host of colors and patterns to choose from, a perfect match for virtually any décor is available. A simple web search we result in leading to a huge selection of options.

Purchasing

You can purchase wall to wall carpet from any carpet dealer. Just about every store that sells carpet will certainly sell this type of carpet. Normally it is recommended that the carpet is professionally installed.

Usually this carpet can be installed in less than a day depending largely on the area that is going to be carpeted.

Job-related injuries are a reality regardless of occupation. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, approximately 6,000 employees in America die from workplace injuries and another 5,000 die from illnesses caused by exposure to workplace hazards. These incidents have cost businesses more than 5 billion annually.

Every company in America is required to comply with occupational safety and health standards. Some employers' responsibilities include keeping the workplace free from occupational hazards by properly maintaining their tools and equipment; posting color codes, posters, labels, or signs to warn employees of potential hazards; and providing training and medical examinations.

Keeping the workplace safe involves the cooperation of both the employer and the employee. One way of promoting safety is through promotional products.

A necessity for all companies is the emergency supply kit. According to the US Department of Homeland Security's Ready America campaign, a typical emergency kit should include three days' water and food supply for one person, battery-powered crank radio, flashlight, first-aid kit, whistle, dust mask, moist towelettes, wrench or pliers, maps, and can openers.

In the absence of a ready-made emergency kit, companies can put together their own with custom safety promotional products from Branders.com. Wholesale bandage dispensers, pocket sliders with first-aid-safety tips, moist towelettes, handy radios, flashlights, whistles, and survival kits are available in a range of colors and can all be personalized with corporate logos.

Companies with employees who regularly travel might want to consider giving each one a customized first-aid kit for safety. Promotional products such as hand warmers, pill cases, personal alarms, and pepper spray pens are add-ons that will be appreciated for their practical benefits.

Next to emergency kits, posting clearly written and color-coded signs and warnings is a requirement in the workplace. In medical and construction facilities, especially, warnings signs at hazardous and hard-hat areas are needed. Safety warnings on custom labels, stickers, and decals are effective ways of warning employees of possible accidents that stem from recklessness, carelessness, or even ignorance. In these lines of work, safety promotional products like construction hats and reflective caps and clothing are a must.

Zetaclear claims to be a natural solution for healthy looking toe and finger nails. But does it do what it claims it says it can do?

Thousands of people everyday are effected by nail fungus. And unhealthy nails can be a very embarrassing and aggravating thing. This is especially true during the warmer months when we all like to wear sandals or go bare feet to the pool or the ocean.

This is where Zetaclear comes in. This product is manufactured by a company called Pacific Naturals. Pacific Naturals has been in business since 2002 and is a member of the Natural Products Association. They produce many natural supplements and other natural products that claim to help people live a healthy life.

Why Would You Need Zetaclear?

There are many problems associated with nail fungus. And these problems effect the lifestyle of every person who is effected by it. Nail fungus can create thick, ugly yellow nails that are extremely embarrassing and visually repulsive.

That's why people seek out natural nail fungus relief products. Zetaclear is one such product. It contains a proprietary formulation of natural oils that have been proven to aid in the promotion of healthy finger and toe nails.

And unhealthy nails are a difficult opponent. That's why people looking for a cure need to find one that is effective in providing relief.

How Does It Work?

Zetaclear is applied morning and night with the applicator brush that is included in the bottle. It is absorbed under the nail and promotes a clear and healthy look.

What's In it?

The natural ingredients in this product are: Tea Tree Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Undecyclenic Acid, and Clove Oil.

Conclusion

Based on the effectiveness of the oils in the ingredients, Zetaclear is a viable option for aiding in the curing of toe and finger nail fungus.

Before the age of the hot water bottle, how did people make a cozy bed? The answer, as far as the English aristocracy was concerned, was to use a human hot water bottle. A servant would be dispatched to the master's freezing bed to act as a bed warmer. Then, when his lordship had quaffed his port and scoffed his quails he would retire to his four poster, turn out the human water bottle and climb in to his, by now, warmer bed. His own personal, breathing hot water bottle!

Years later, when Prince James, heir to the British throne was born in 1688, a bed warmer was at the heart of the plot to disinherit him. Rumour was spread that Queen Mary had miscarried and that a warming pan had been sent for. The plotters convinced her subjects that a peasant's baby had been substituted for the stillborn Prince; smuggled into the Queen's boudoir hidden in a bed warmer! The doubts about the baby Prince's legitimacy, and the desire of the plotters to remove the catholic line of succession, forced the Queen to flee to France for the safety of the "Bed warmer Prince". He never did succeed to the British throne. When he invaded 20 years later, he was defeated by the English fleet, and George I was instead crowned King of England. He was denied his birthright because of a bed warmer!

The bed at the centre of the "Bed warmer Prince" scandal is housed at Kensington Palace, the old home of Princess Diana. The bed warmer incident played a huge part in the birth of future royal babies. It was decreed that a senior government figure must be present in the Queen's bedchamber, negating the possibility of any future skulduggery and thus removing all doubt about the true identity of a royal baby. It was only when Queen Victoria gave birth to her first child that Prince Albert banned the practice, deeming it:" Ridiculous!" A bed warmer indeed!

Yellow jacket (or yellow-jacket) is the usual name in North America for predatory wasps of the genus Vespula and Dolichovespula. Members of these species are better-known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries. Most of them are black and yellow; some are black and white (such as the bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata), while others may have the abdomen background color red instead of black.

They can be identified by their characteristic markings, small size (similar to the size of a honey bee). They exist in colonies and have a characteristic rapid side-to-side flight pattern prior to landing. Yellow-jackets are often mistakenly called "bees." All their females are capable of stinging. Yellow jackets are important predators of pest insects, though they can be pests themselves as well.

II. Yellow Jackets as Pests

Eliminating yellow jackets can be time-consuming and excruciating. Yellow jacket (of the Vespula genus) are possibly the only wasp that can be considered pestiferous if you take its belligerent colony size and defensive nature into account.

This aggression on the part of the yellow jacket genus is most evident towards the end of the summer when the colony starts to crumble and workers find more sugars and sweets to nourish themselves and what's left of their young. Not only does the yellow jacket wasp's demeanor change toward the end of the warm season, but the size of a colony can also be imposingly astronomical if left unobstructed.

For the most part, wasps are predators and rarely scavengers, and this, by and large, applies to yellow jackets as well, but there are particular species within the Vespula genus that tend to salvage more aggressively than others.

Vespula Vulgaris, for example, is one of these scavenging species, and because of their scavenging behavior, they tend to come into contact with humans on a more regular basis than wasps that hunt live prey.

III. Basic Yellow Jacket Control

* Sometimes getting rid of yellow jackets or reducing yellow jacket populations is as easy as keeping your garbage cans properly sealed. Your garbage bins are a windfall not only for stray dogs, stray cats, and the occasional raccoon, but also for yellow jacket wasps, which will feed on the leftover proteins and sugars you tend to throw out with the trash.

Scraps of meat and fish are particularly pleasing to a yellow jacket's appetite, as well as old bottles of pop, bottles of syrup, and fruit.

* One way to get rid of yellow jackets is to keep pet food and other sources of refined proteins indoors. Yellow jackets, like other wasps, really do enjoy protein, and nothing is packed with more accessible proteins than pet food floating around in a water dish.

Keep your dog or cat's food bowl inside during the warmer months, or find a way to protect the pet food from foraging pests like yellow jackets and other scavenging wasps.

* Pop cans, humming bird feeders, and other sweets should not be left out, or should be sealed in such a way as to prevent yellow jackets from gaining access to the sugar. Studies done on yellow jackets show that populations with access to large amounts of refined sugars build incredibly large colonies much faster than colonies whose access to food is restricted to their natural diet of nectar and live prey.

* Make sure awnings and siding is properly sealed to get rid of yellow jackets. Preventing yellow jackets from gaining entrance to the voids in the siding and roofing of your home is highly recommended because hidden wasp nests are particularly difficult to get rid of and may require the services of a pest control professional.

If you can't stand having wasps living behind your walls, having a professional remove them for you is going to be like having a root canal on your wallet. If you're patient, cold weather will eventually kill the colony, and then you can seal the entrance without driving wasps into your home.

* Mechanical, non-toxic traps are a good way to get rid of yellow jackets - or at least reduce the local population to a less noticeable level. There are a couple of theories surrounding the right timing of yellow jacket and wasp traps, but most experts agree that traps should be put out during the earlier months of the warm season.

If traps are set before yellow jacket queens begin their search for proper nesting grounds, it's possible to spare your community one more yellow jacket colony by killing that one queen. Otherwise, traps set during the first few weeks of summer should keep yellow jacket populations at a manageable level during the peak season.

IV. Natural and Organic Yellow Jacket Control

The do-it-yourself wasp trap is perhaps one of the most effective traps your money doesn't need to buy. All you'll need is an empty 2-liter bottle, scissors, and some sugar water or fruit juice.

* Cut the cone off about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the bottle, flip it over, and staple it into place so that it looks like a minnow trap. Then, fill the bottle with fruit juice concentrate or sugar water with a little soap, and hang it from an awning or in your garden if you prefer.

* Pouring boiling water or just soapy water into the entrance of a yellow jacket nest is one way of killing yellow jackets and rendering their nest uninhabitable. Of course, this particular tactic should be done during the late evening, and measures should be taken to cover the skin in case the colony is feeling particularly bloodthirsty that evening.

*If you're going to use soap water, why not do it with some organic dish soap like the kind Seventh Generation makes? Sure, you'll still be the Tamerlane of the wasp world, but at least you'll be remembered as the environmentally-friendly murderer of wasps.

First you're probably wondering just what exactly a "Bug Out Bag" is. This is a military term used to describe to gear a soldier keeps packed and ready at all times. In the event that soldier needs to be rapidly deployed the soldiers kit is pre packed and ready to go. While this usually refers to all of a soldiers kit, you only need one bag. This bag will contain only essential items to keep you alive.

Depending on your location and the time of year will determine what exactly you will have in your bug out bag. Despite this there is some kit that is essential and should be in everyone's kit. Here are 11 items every bug out bag should include.

1. First Aid Kit

Of all items this is your most important, remember in the event of a collapse or natural disaster you have to rely on yourself, there won't be any 9-11 service, no paramedics, and no clean hospital beds if you are injured. Make sure your first aid kit whatever type has a few pocket CPR masks. These masks will keep you from getting an infectious disease or from having to eat a casualties vomit.

2. Flashlight

I recommend using a flashlight that doesn't require batteries such as a wind up with LED lights. I keep two in my bug out bag in case one is lost or breaks. Some models also have the ability to be used as a charger for items like cell phones, radio's or even iPod's. Another option is getting a head lamp which will allow you to go hands free. While these use batteries they tend to have longer battery life then their hand held counterparts.

3. Radio

Having a radio provides two things, information to the outside world, to safe zones or evacuation centers, and a distraction. While I don't recommend blasting music where ever you go (If there are any radio stations left that are playing music) as this can give away your position to others. Like flashlights try to find one that doesn't require batteries.

4. Knife and Multi-tool

Both are excellent choices and I recommend having both. For a knife you don't require a massive blade, a six inch blade is more then enough to be used as a tool and weapon. For multitools you can go the cheap route and purchase one for as little as 20 bucks, however I recommend spending a little more, say in the 80 to 100 range as these offer better quality which in turn means longer life and more resilient to abuse.

5. Fire Starter

Fire is vital to ones survival, so carry a few different types of fire starters with you. The obvious first choice would be either a lighter or matches which I recommend having several with you. Also carry a couple magnesium fire starters which are excellent at starting fires. Another option is to use steel wool and a battery, simply spread apart the steel wool and rub the top of a battery on it. Make sure that these two items are stored separately, the last thing you want is to have your backpack burst into flames, especially if it's still on your back.

6. Water Purification

In the post apocalypse chances are good that much of the fresh water will be contaminated. Also carrying several days worth of water is heavy, noisy, and unpractical. To keep from becoming sick keep a few bottles of water purification tablets with you and a few clean bottles (Any type will work). Simply add a couple tablets to your water and in about half an hour your water should be safe to drink. It's important to remember that these tablets won't remove all forms of bacteria, virus' or other contaminants.

7. Rope

Rope is necessary for a number of tasks such as building a shelter, climbing, repairing clothing and equipment, and building traps and snares to catch animals. I have three types that I carry in my bug our bag, the first is para-cord an extremely strong and lightweight cord that can be used for everything. The second is nylon cord to be used as general purpose rope such as tying up objects and building shelters with. The third is a heavy duty climbing rope for climbing and to be used as an improvised harness or "Swiss Seat"

8. Foot-powder

In the wasteland your feet will probably be your only form of transportation, you must take care of them. If your feet are injured your mobility is compromised and you become a target.

9. Shelter

I keep two large tarps with my bug out bag, rather then a tent which can only be set up one way and requires multiple parts, a tarp can be rigged up any way you need with the resources you have at hand. Tarps can also be used to collect rain water.

10. Compass

While a GPS (Global Positioning System) is easy to use and can provide your location within a few feet depending on model, they also rely on batteries and satellite's. Batteries will only last so long before needing to be recharged, and even though there are thousands of satellite's in orbit, they will start to breakdown quickly. A compass on the other hand if kept in working condition can provide your location for as long as you need it.

11. Food

Like water food is important to keep yourself going. With food you can go two directions either buy military style or inspired rations or canned food. Both have long shelf life, but canned food has one advantage it has water used to package the food which can be consumed adding extra nourishment. Remember with canned goods to check for air leakage. This can be done by simply pressing on the top of the can. If the can's top is rigid and doesn't move or moves very little it should be fine. If the top can be pushed down a lot then there is a air leak in the can and the food has most likely gone bad.