Education Journal Online

For Sanity’s Sake – Budgeting Your Vacation

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:53:26 +0000

With the necessity of long work weeks and workdays of the utmost importance in terms of paying bills and support your family, most often travel and vacations are sacrificed for the good of saving money. While putting in a 60 hour week is very admirable there have been conclusive studies that correlate long work weeks and increased stress levels or personal unhappiness. Plainly speaking, when you don’t allow yourself the time you need to let go of your workday burdens and experience this wonderful planet we live on, you’re putting yourself at risk for EXTREME unhappiness. Now, having the desire to take an extended vacation is terrific, but how realistic is this goal? Oh looky there, here comes that marvelous word we all love to hate…BUDGET! Budgets are ridiculously daunting, with the needs of now likely trumping any potential wants of later. I am here today to affirm the evasive fact that having a budget is possible, regardless of how much or little you make.

Today I will generously provide you with tips on planning and budgeting for your potential vacation.

The Perfect Location – It would be quite pointless for us to discuss vacation budgets if you never decide on where it is what you want to visit. There are many travel agencies out there that allow you to pick from a myriad of destinations, all the while graciously being your historical guide throughout the vacation. These businesses, like several LDS travel agencies out there, make it easy and rather needless to think about destination and plan out every step of the trip. While this may be the route for some, there are others who prefer to adventure forth on their own. There are sites that help you Budget Your Trip, but follow these tips for self-planning.
- Most couples plan to spend around $2,000 to $5,000 on any given trip. The most expensive part of the trip tends to be the travel. A common misconception is that a vacation needs to be to a distant location, but it might surprise you how many people haven’t even visited tourist destinations in their own state or country. Instead of flying, try driving to a nearby destination, thus allowing you more money to spend on potential luxuries.
- It would make sense that beaches will be packed around summer and ski resort lifts all full in the winter months. The natural way to avoid the big crowds and hiked up accomodation prices is to visit a destination in its off-season. Not only does it save money, but it can cut down on potential stress caused by other travelers. If you were to travel in a mid-size group, much like in LDS Church History tours, it can help cut down on line waits and increase the amount of destinations you are able to see due to the established relationship most tour companies have with locations.
When To Save and Where To Splurge
- Save On:
  - Airport luxuries (food, drink or idle time activities)
  - In-room service and phone calls
  - Forgettable and poorly made souvenirs
  - Taxis or other tranpsportation costs
  - Purchasing new clothes for a vacation
- Splurge On:
  - A comfortable and clean hotel
  - Balcony and great views
  - A trustworthy camera
  - Comfortable shoes
  - A 5 star hotel (a few times throughout your trip)
When on vacation we tend to let our guard down on our wallets, but frivolous spending never makes a trip more enjoyable. The only thing it’s good for is causing anxiety issues once the good feelings of the vacation have worn off and you’re back at home once again.

Fun For Less Tours
392 East 12300 South, Suite D
Draper, UT 84020
(800) 591-2432

Helpful Tips and Harmful Tricks in Resume Writing

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:02:57 +0000

Today, the jobless rate stands at 8.3%, with a good number of those Americans actively seeking employment on a daily basis. With the various job markets being as competitive as they are, it’s not surprise that someone can apply to 8 or 9 different companies without even a courtesy call (or email) letting you know your resume has been received. This is, in large part, due to the massive volume of resumes companies with available positions can receive on a daily basis. So, a good question that can be asked is this, how I receive professional resume help so my resume will catch the eye of my potential employer.

Many different people have tried many different tactics in order to have their resume stand out, with the more notable attempts being highlighted in an article post by AOL on Crazy Resumes and Lasting Impressions. While this may be very helpful in becoming the butt-end of an inner-office joke, more often than not the key to writing a good resume is simplicity and straightforwardness.

Simplicity and straightforwardness may seem like a very general piece of advice for writing resumes, but I can assure you its not. Instead of writing an objective in a resume, get straight to the point of why they should hire you by listing your qualifications and accomplishments. When your potential employer doesn’t have to read through a pointless objective statement (Yes, they know your objective is to obtain a position at their company), they instead focus on your potential value to a company. While its undoubtedly true you have a magnificent personality, keep them guessing regarding your persona until the interview, as there will be plenty of time for them to get to know you. So simply put, state why you’d be best filling the position they need filled.

A few other helpful tips in resume writing could be:

Avoid using first person references – Instead of saying, “I danced with the wolves”, try saying, “Danced with wolves”. This lets them know you have full faith they know you’re speaking about yourself in your resume.
Don’t use a thesaurus – There is a rumor that employers will be more impressed if you use large words in your resume. This is entirely false and where the need for simplicity comes into play.
Pointless Objectives – As stated previously, an objective can actually be used against you if deemed inappropriate or not related to what your employer wants to know. Save it for the interview.
Generally Specific – A good way to format a resume is by starting with general statements, then identifying specifics regarding accomplishments or qualifications.

If your skills simply do not lie in the area of writing resumes (Don’t worry, that is the case for most people), then there are resume writing services which help those desperately in need of resume guidance.

Giraffe Resume

Tackling Emergency Preparedness Head On

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:00:50 +0000

The world is a crazy place. With contentions rising on a daily basis it’s no surprise that self-sufficiency is a trending topic. What is self-sufficiency you ask? Well, I’m glad you did.

Resources cite that self-sufficiency, “May be a return to a frontier spirit for an American, or a yearning for a lost rural idyll for an Englishman”. It could also be said that self-sufficiency is displaying a great love of personal freedom and providing for yourself and your family in a way that is almost non-existent in modern-day Western culture.

While there are many ways to obtain a self-sufficient lifestyle, whether it be through frugal spending or owning your home instead of renting or having a mortgage, but what is most often on the minds of those thrifty livers is food storage for survival.

If you’re just beginning to prepare for the potential of limited access to mass produced foods, then preparing your food storage can seem overwhelming. Who knows where to begin and which direction to go from there?

Well straight from the mouth of the experts, what follows are 4 elements of preparedness that you should follow to start a family survival plan.

Enough supplies to last at least 14 days (if you stay where you are).
Enough supplies to last at least 6 months (staying where you are or moving to another location).
Long term: the skills and ability to provide food, water clothing, and shelter for your family for 20 years.
The desire to survive extreme circumstances without sacrificing your humanity or your values.

When preparing your emergency food storage, instead of seeing all that needs to be done (which can be incredibly scary), start with a 72 hour Kit and an family emergency meet up destination. Starting small and working your way up to full preparedness is a wonderful way to begin.

The Ready Project
909 W 500 N STE A
Lindon, UT 84042
(801) 785-5800

Dental Practice Evaluations – Increasing Your Worth

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:13:42 +0000

Investments as assets are becoming more and more common as physical personal property is continually growing in worth. There are many different types of physical asset, but if you’re a dentist the top dog on that list is your dental practice. The months spent searching for your ideal market, the work of moving yourself and possibly your family to a new location, and the rigorous hours put into building a return-based clientele. This, not to mention the social events attended just to let people know you’re a good person and their teeth is in the right hands.

So when it comes time to retire or move to a new location, receiving top dollar for one of your largest assets is of the utmost importance. It isn’t easy to find dentists who are looking to purchase an already running dental office, but there is a market if you know how to look for it.

Dental broker offices that are savvy in finding dentists willing to sell a dental practice are rare, but not impossible to find. However, the question to ask is can I find a buyer who can put the right price on my life’s worth? Easily said, this question is almost impossible to answer and extremely difficult to think of.

Increasing your practices’ value before evaluation

All dental brokers will execute an evaluation of the dental practice and what listing price is ideal. The factors involved in raising the value are varied, but one can guess it will rely on location, clientele and reputation within your practicing area. Before this evaluation occurs, it would be both cost effective and intelligent to make a few minor changes, which in turn could lead to a greatly increased evaluation.

Minor Changes

Cosmetic – The aesthetic state of the carpet, wallpaper, and dental equipment add a certain glow to a dental office. As always, first impressions are key, so even purchasing a new welcome area rug can help hide old carpet or give the sense of waiting in the living room of a home rather than a dental office. Think of it in terms of home staging, the money you spend on making your office look and feel cozy is a direct investment towards a higher listing price.
Equipment – Dental equipment is always advancing and always expensive, so it may make sense to upgrade those items that are put into use on a daily basis. You don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest x-ray machine, but new equipment for cosmetic work such as cleaning teeth, applying fillings, or adhering veneers will gain positive approval by those dentists who appreciate high quality little things that are used often.
Community appeal – Placing a few advertisements or having in place an effective social media campaign is an incredible way to place increased value on your practice. Garnering reviews for your Google Places page, followers on your Twitter account, or Friends on your Facebook page show a worth that is not determined by looks alone.

Selling a dental practice is often neither fun nor easy, but a little hard work can mean the difference between a future filled with possibility, and one with “if I had only…”’s.

ADS Transitions
Dental Practice Brokers
1621 Ivanhoe Street
Denver, CO 80220
888.ADS.4237
Email: nancys@ADStransitions.com

How to Find a Hidden Gold Mine at a Dental Practice Sale

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:25:52 +0000

When you’re looking at buying a dental practice remember there are many factors contributing to the practice’s worth that won’t show up on a balance sheet or list of capital assets. Know which factors to look for and you’ll stand a much better chance of getting the most for your money.

Analyze the Market
You can’t always predict a practice’s future earning potential by previous years’ revenue or current patient lists. Markets can change without warning if you’re not paying attention. Population growth or decline can affect this. Economic conditions can cause people put off even much needed dental work. If the age of the population is trending upward you will see a difference in the type of dental work demand. If you specialize in dentures or braces, this makes a big different. Remember when you’re shopping a dental practice sale, you’re betting on the long term profitability of a business. If you’re in a college town, you’re more likely to see young families settle locally. If the economy is especially bad, you might see a general shrinking. If the average income isn’t very high, you may not succeed in selling a lot of porcelain veneers.

Analyze the Competition
If there are a large number of dentists for the population in an area, your piece of the pie gets smaller. On the other hand, in a wide open field, competitors are likely to rush in well after the surplus business is soaked up. Things are also different if you represent a less crowded niche. If you’re the only IAMT certified dentist or the only one skilled in osseointegrated dental implants in the area, you may find a stable patient base no matter how saturated the overall field is. Where there are unusually high numbers of dental practice sale listing, this may signal an over saturated field thinning out.

Business viability
The competitiveness of a medical business depends on adoption of new technology. When you look to buy a dental practice, it may have newer equipment, but if there are new procedures that are more efficient or give patients better results, your equipment might just sit and gather dust. There are time joining an existing practice may be more practical than buying a dental practice outright. If you are highly specialized yourself, you may be better off in the short term, joining an established practice with a general dentist or one of a related specialty.

ADS Administrative Office
1621 Ivanhoe Street
Denver, CO 80220
888-ADS-4237

What Happens in Nauvoo…Should be Enjoyed by Everyone

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:23:59 +0000

In terms of history, Nauvoo is about as rich as you can get. In 1830, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as “Mormons”, established Nauvoo. After they were forced to leave, Nauvoo was inhabited by the Icarians for quite some time. But this isn’t why Nauvoo is as historically rich as it is, it’s because of the perfectly preserved and diligently guarded buildings and places of interest that exist there today. This includes blacksmith shops, homes, general stores, and aNauvoo hotel. Truly the citizens of that town are dedicated to preserving the history of those that came before them, through the pageants and workshops which teach of the daily lives of pioneers through example.

The Nauvoo events that are hosted are indeed the means of transporting visitors back to a simpler time, one when the sweat of your own brow determined your wealth in this world. Below are some upcoming events that should not be missed.

Exodus Re-enactment, February 4, 2012 – Walk from the Cultural Hall to the Trail of Hope down to the edge of the Mississippi to commemorate the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo to the Rocky Mountains. Warm up with hot cocoa and fresh pastry before hand at the Family Living Center.
Memorial to Hospitality of Quincy Residents to Mormon refugees, February 12, 2012 – Jan Chaney, Quincy resident and Director of Public Affairs for the Nauvoo Stake, recounts the help extended by Quincy residents to destitute Latter-day Saints escaping Missouri mobs in 1839, and the Church’s modern-day expressions of appreciation for that kindness.
Children’s Voices from the Trails, February 26, 2012 – Learn what it was like to cross the plains in a wagon train en route to Oregon, Utah, and California through the eyes of the youngest travelers. Rosemary Palmer shares insights gleaned from diaries and letters written by children.

There is too much to see in Nauvoo for it to be a one or two day affair. Take advatange of historically located Nauvoo Illinois hotels, where each inn has a history that rivals the city in which it resides.

Woodruff Hotel
1200 Mulholland
Nauvoo, IL 62354
Ph: (800) 860 – 1215

Planning Memorable Birthday Parties for Your Kids

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:32:09 +0000

Kids love themed birthday parties almost as much as moms love planning them. There are tons of easy and fun kids birthday party ideas out there that can inspire you to throw a party your kids won’t forget.

Kids’ birthday party ideas
For inspiration when choosing themes for your kids’ parties, the cartoons, books, and movies they can’t get enough of are great places to start. Kids relate to familiar characters and love to see them represented in new ways. It’s amazing how much stories drive kids’ imaginations beyond the books and the screen. Also, watch how your kids play when they’re inventing their own stories and characters. Who do they dress up as? What situations and settings do they create? You’ll find great girl and boy birthday party ideas on the web too. Mothers not only love to create great parties, they love to show them off along with their adorable kids.

Boy birthday party ideas
Boys and girls experience the world differently. Great birthday party themes for girls and boys take account of that. Most boys like to get dirty and play rough. So plan activities that allow them to use their energy. Games of tag and pool parties are great for this. It’s ok to give your kids a little more freedom to make messes during a party. Kids understand parties are special occasions, so don’t be afraid you’re encouraging unwelcome behavior at other times. Just make sure you include clean up time with messy activities.

Girl birthday party idea
Girls tend to play less physically and more cooperatively than boys. So plan activities that encourage that — less movement and more face to face interaction. Themed dress up parties can be big hits with girls. Dividing them into teams, giving them props, and having them put on skits works well too. Plan your games to break up clicks and make sure every girl has a good time.

Of course, when you’re planning parties where both boys and girls will be present, you’ll want to have a good balance of activities. Also, you know your kids best. Plan a party based on their personalities. Maybe your boy doesn’t like to get dirty. Maybe your girl does. Have fun in planning a great party that reflects your child’s personality and it will be one they always remember.

Seeking Affordable Dental Care

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:19:21 +0000

It’s not secret that financial difficulties are one of the leading stress factors within families in today’s economy. This also has translated into not obtaining proper dental care due to what people are focusing their budgets on. Not only does this have a large chance for serious health repercussions, but it also shows the habit of improper care to those who look to you as an example. This is a very vicious cycle indeed, ignoring timely trips to the dentist can further troubles like dental infections, which will end up being much more expensive to treat. A dentist who has recently moved into the area with the help of dental practice brokers may often have discount programs that you may not know about unless you ask. In fact, many dentists in the U.S. provide special discount programs which could end up saving you 10-50% of the original costs. This seems like something work looking into.

Doing very thorough research is also a prime way to find the most affordable dental health care services. The internet can be a wonderful tool as we all know and in this case it shouldn’t be any different. There are also many services out there that help find the most affordable dental care for low income adults and children. This helps where the lack of proper funding has been a deterrent in seeking dental care in the first place. Low-income families also have the advantage of government-run programs which are available at most local community health clinics.

Let’s recap:

Be proactive about finding proper dental health care.
Do research on ways to find affordable dental care, use the internet as a primary tool.
If you’re low enough income, check out your local community health care clinic for government grants.

Now, this a list of only a few things you can do and believe me, there is much more than can be done. My suggestion would be to find a dentist who is selling a dental practice, as the new dentist will be in need of the patronage and may offer special deals.

ADS Administrative Office
1621 Ivanhoe Street
Denver, CO 80220
888.ADS.4237

Healthier Teeth and a Happier You

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:07:06 +0000

Having healthy teeth may mean a variety of things for different types of people. For some, having healthy, clean, white teeth is an image of status, one that exhibits a desire to maintain a certain image. For others, healthy teeth are essential to a long and happy life. Many dental issues have been linked with bone disorders, or even TMJ related pains. Whatever the reason you desire healthy teeth, having the best Boston dentist is a sure fire way of starting off on the right track.

Dentistry is a rapidly changing field that some even say changes almost daily. Sadly, most patients never ask enough questions to their dentists, or if they do ask a lot of questions, they never ask the right ones. Every year we spend more and more money on dental care, especially those who do not have proper dental insurance. This is especially important to those who are getting up there in age, as dental health issues tend to arise more as the years go on.

In an average lifespan you’ll have 3 to 4 tooth related emergencies.When you take into consideration there are about a million different things that can go wrong with your teeth, are you sure you’re seeing the dentist in Boston that is right for you? Take your time and get to know your dentist, as their personality is often a sure fire way of knowing the quality of their work.

Can my dentist really give me the smile I want? Not every Boston cosmetic dentist can give you the smile you truly want. Make certain that your dentist has on-going training and education, learning all of the latest techniques. Have your dentist show you the veeners they use, if there are before and after sample photos, have them show you the differences. It is also important to make certain the photos are of actual patients before being too impressed.

Dental Partners of Boston
Dr. Sergio Guzman
800 Boylston Street 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02199
Ph: (617) 848-1164

Oilfield Ventures and Equipment

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:48:39 +0000

JACKPOT! For the sake of this informative article, we’ll put ourselves in the position of having just a large sum of money. Yup, that’s right, all 5 numbers and the lucky PowerBall number, or a lucky quarter in the slot machine that was just calling your name. So now that you’re a multi-millionaire, how will you make certain that you are able to stay that way and which ventures have a high enough ROI to do so?

All we hear about is gas prices, crude oil prices, and more gas prices anywhere we go. It may be smart to involve yourself in such an industry, as it seems to be one that will be around for quite some time. Now it’s important to take note never has it been considered easy to start your own business. That being said, it has been acknowledged that the statistic of 9 out of 10 start-up companies fail within their first year. This is completely untrue as recorded by the Small Business Administration, which states 76 percent of new businesses remain open after two years. While it is hard, those who are dedicated and smart about the business moves they make have a high chance for success. While investors are key in maintaining the strength of your business, the equipment which you use in your business venture must be of the highest quality and last throughout the constant use and exposure to the elements.

Hydraulic fracturing is the practice of propagating fractures in a rock layer by using pressurized fluid, the fracture is kept at the desired width by proppant which is added to the injected fluid. This technique is often referred to as fracking or hydrofracking, and grains of ceramic or sand are commonly used as the proppant in the fluid.

Natural occurences of fracking can be seen in rocks, where the walls of the rock have moved and stay apart due to the passing of the fluid. Veins throughout rocks are created by the constant natural occurence of fracking. However, for your oil business you will have to rely on man-made methods of fracking.

Examples of Frac Equipment

Frac Storage Trailers – Depending on the size of trailer, these units can be capable of holding up to 3000 cubic feet of sand and has four compartments in which 18,000 to 20,000 lbs. of sand per minute can be pumped to a conveyor.
Sand Conveyor Systems – An example of a conveyor system is the “T-Belt” conveyor. Equipped with a hydraulic control system and powered by diesel engines, T-belt conveyors can divert the flow of sand in two directions, while delivering the sand at 20,000 to 25,000 lbs. per minute.

There are so many things to consider before and after you’ve started your business, but your oil field equipment, after purchased, should be at the back of your mind.

Cambelt