Gifts Women Can Love More than Diamonds

10 Simple Gifts Women Can Love More than Diamonds

Sparkling advice from Marilyn Monroe aside, there are things that some women treasure far more than costly jewels. In many cases, the things she’d love to receive the most from her significant other are simple, thoughtful gifts that show how much you care. These ten unpretentious gifts often sweep women off their feet in a way that diamonds simply can’t compete with: 

1. A Love Letter – In today’s electronic age, the handwritten love letter is a dying art. A heartfelt epistle extolling her virtues and declaring your steadfast affection is a surefire way to melt her heart far more than any jewel ever could.
2. Handmade Gifts – Even sloppy or clumsy efforts will almost always be greeted with delight, because a handmade gift requires an investment of time and creative energy. Strolling through a jewelry store and peering into display cases might seem like a tedious effort to you, but she’s certain to be much more charmed by a gift you made solely for her with your own two hands.
3. Something Specifically Tailored to Her – Even the most exquisite and extravagant pieces of jewelry are slightly impersonal. By presenting a gift that speaks exclusively to her and her interests, you can show the lady in your life that you’re listening when she speaks and that you know exactly who she is.
4. A Weekend Getaway – Harried moms will be thrilled at the prospect of a quick, kid-free jaunt. With today’s prices, you can often secure accommodations at a nearby point of interest for the entire weekend for what you’d spend on one pricey trinket, and she’ll treasure the relaxed one-on-one time with you more than any piece of jewelry she can only wear on special occasions.
5. A Scrapbook – Collecting photographs, ticket stubs and other mementos from your lives together and collating them into a scrapbook serves a dual purpose of showing her that you treasure your life spent together and condensing those tiny scraps into one book, where they’re less likely to create clutter or be lost.
6. Her Birthstone – If you’re absolutely determined to give a gift of jewelry, choosing a piece that features your partner’s birthstone is one surefire way to ensure that it has the personal touch that she’ll appreciate.
7. Honesty – One of the most important gifts you can give a partner is absolute honesty; it’s also a gift that can and should be given every day. The strongest relationships are those built upon a foundation of truth, so avoid the temptation to be less than honest in sticky situations.
8. Your Undivided Attention – The fast pace and demanding nature of professional life today often leaves couples greeting each other largely in passing. Setting aside a special day to devote all of your attention to her is a gift that she’ll treasure for years to come.
9. Something Personal to Your Relationship – A mix CD filled with songs that have special meaning to the two of you, a trip to the place where you first met, or other gifts that reference something specific to the two of you and your relationship are never-fail gifts for any woman.
10. A Sincere Apology – If your gift-giving occasion is the result of a major misstep, a sincere apology will go much farther than a hastily-purchased gift encrusted with jewels. Acknowledging that you’ve done wrong and vowing to make every effort not to repeat it is the most important post-argument gift out there.

Of course, there is one diamond that truly is forever: the one in an engagement ring. If you and your honey have reached this level of commitment, there’s no gift that can compare to the one that symbolizes your love for her and your unwavering faith in your future together.

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Source: (http://www.topdatingsites.com/blog/2012/10-simple-gifts-women-can-love-more-than-diamonds/)

Arguments In Favour Of School Uniforms

7 GREAT ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS

• Category: Education
• Author: Staff Writers
• Date: June 20, 2012

The success of school uniforms has been a longstanding debate among school officials, researchers, and parents for many years. Supporters of school uniforms believe that uniforms can decrease violence and increase academic achievement, while opponents argue that school uniforms do not in fact make schools safer or reduce bullying. Both sides provide compelling arguments for and against school uniforms, but we’ll first take a look at what the proponents have to say. Here are seven great arguments in favor of school uniforms:

1. Increases academic achievement:

   
   When you take away the distractions of trendy clothes and shoes, students will feel less insecure about the way they dress and have more time to focus on their studies. Students who wear uniforms have an equal opportunity to succeed because they won’t be competing over clothing and socioeconomic status is less apparent.

2. Improves school climate and school spirit:

   
   Once students are stripped of their superficial items, they are on an even playing field and often have an increased sense of school pride and spirit. Students who wear uniforms often take more responsibility in maintaining a positive school environment and reputation.

3. Reduces peer pressure and bullying:

   
   When everyone wears the same clothing, there is less emphasis on trying to fit in with the latest styles and trends, and students can simply be equal with their peers. Uniforms also increase school safety by decreasing peer conflict and gang activity that’s related to clothing and statuses. Students are less likely to be bullied about superficial and unimportant things, such as their clothing.

4. Harder for cliques to form:

   
   Uniforms make it harder for students to judge one another on superficial criteria, such as clothes and shoes. When students look the same, they are less likely to form cliques based on the style of clothes. This may encourage students to be more accepting of each other’s differences. When superficial items are taken out of the picture, students will be more likely to choose their friends based on character traits like kindness, loyalty, intelligence, and humor.

5. Saves families money:

   
   Many families cannot afford to buy the latest name brand clothing, shoes, and accessories for their children. The pressure to fit in at school causes parents to overspend on unnecessary items. You don’t have that problem with economically smart uniforms. Students can wear the same outfit every day or alternate with another outfit for a very low cost. Parents can save money by buying their child street clothes less often.

6. Help schools quickly identify outsiders:

   
   When everyone is dressed in the same colored uniforms, school officials can quickly identify outsiders. Whether it’s a student from another school or a random person roaming the halls, schools can increase their security measures and safety by spotting and reprimanding outsiders who might try to harm students.

7. Makes it harder to conceal weapons:

   
   Uniforms are simple, neat, and fitted. The style and fit of uniforms makes it difficult for students to carry and conceal weapons at school. Most school uniform policies do not allow students to wear oversized, untucked shirts or baggy pants, which reduces the chance of students being able to hide a gun, knife, and other weapons.

Source:  http://www.hattoss.com/education/2012/06/20/7-great-arguments-in-favor-of-school-uniforms/ 

An incredible story of luck and inspiration

If this does not touch your heart,

then you just don’t have one.

An incredible story of luck and inspiration!

Can you believe it?

This guy wins $181 million in the lottery

and then finds the love of his life just 2 days later!
Talk about LUCK!!!

Byakika

http://youtu.be/H3t3CJenugo

Compelling Reasons to Volunteering After College

20 Compelling Reasons to Consider Volunteering After College

June 18th, 2012 by Staff Writers

Having graduated from college, you are now an adult by every meaning of the word. Forty years of work awaits you. You're hearing the siren song of the rat race. But if you haven't figured it out by now, the cookie-cutter life path of college-work-marriage-kids-death doesn't have to be the way it all goes down. Volunteering after college is an adventurous option that you can take to make the world a better place, and benefit yourself a little in the process. Here are 20 reasons why you should give it some serious thought.

1. The job market sucks:

   Half of current college graduates are unemployed or "underemployed," working in a job beneath their skill level. Students who graduated as far back as 2010 are still looking for jobs utilizing their degrees. Know where they're always looking for people? Hint: you won't have to serve coffee to hipsters.

2. See the world:

   Some of the poorest countries that are the most in need of help also happen to be some of the most breathtaking places in the world. The mountains of Nepal, the lush jungles of Costa Rica, the wide expanses of Kenya are just a few of the lush vistas available to you.

3. Volunteering makes you live longer:

   Although at 21 or 22 you probably think you're invincible, trust us: it won't be long until it takes you three days to recover from a pickup basketball game and you start thinking seriously about your health. The good news is, if you start helping people for selfless reasons, you may live longer.

4. Volunteers are needed in this economy:

   A recession hits charitable groups doubly hard, as people need more help but volunteers have less time and resources to give. Although the numbers are beginning to come back up, the recession is far from over, unemployment remains high, and the need for workers lingers.

5. Help your resume:

   The job market being what it is, volunteer experience can make great material for improving a resume and helping yourself stand out. More employers are saying they're interested in employees with volunteer experience. And who knows? You might land a job with the nonprofit you volunteer with.

6. Find your calling:

   College grads who aren't sure what they want to do with their lives are often advised to take an internship somewhere to get a feel for life in a certain line of work. Volunteering can serve the same purpose. You may find your passion is helping people.

7. Build lifelong friendships:

   Serving alongside people has a way of forming special bonds that can last for years. Especially if your volunteering takes you to a third world country, the newness and uncertainty of the environment encourages you to find similarity with your fellow volunteers, which builds a basis for friendships that can last a lifetime.

8. Gain valuable experience:

   There are so many different ways to volunteer, the skills that can be learned in the process are countless. Whether you volunteer as a firefighter or a camp counselor, you'll gain valuable knowledge about the world and about yourself that can be applied anywhere.

9. It's a great way to make contacts:

   You never know whom you'll run into when volunteering. The connections you make with fellow volunteers could prove invaluable when you return to the search for a job. It's just one more reason it pays to be nice to everyone.

10. Practice what you preach:

    According to the most recent figures, nearly 80% of American adults self-identify as Christians. If this percentage holds for college graduates and they all took Proverbs 19:17 to heart and volunteered, it would mean about 1.4 million volunteers, or 7,142 volunteers for every country in the world.

11. A fraction of volunteers are bearing most of the burden:

    About 26% of Americans are credited with volunteering in 2011, but this calculation is pretty generous — it counts everyone who volunteered at least once. The vast majority of volunteer work (80%) is done by people who volunteer more than 100 hours each year. Why not pitch in and make that 26% figure a bit more legitimate by dedicating a few months to volunteering?

12. It can change your outlook on life:

    Volunteering is probably the best way to break yourself out of your comfort zone and show you what life is like for many people. Doing so can change your views on a number of important social issues, like welfare, public health care, education, and more.

13. Learn about your community:

    In an era of customizable and portable technology, it's easy to create a little bubble for yourself, iPod blaring in your ears while you surf Facebook on your phone. Whether you recognize it or not, you're part of a community, and volunteering requires you to unplug and connect with those around you.

14. Have your student loan forgiven:

    For certain federal student loans, the government will agree to cancel all or a part of the loan in exchange for the student performing volunteer work. The work must be done with approved groups like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, or Volunteers in Service to America.

15. Learn a foreign language:

    Anyone who has tried to pick up a second language will tell you there's no quicker way to become fluent than by immersing yourself in a culture where that language, and nothing but that language, is spoken. Volunteering abroad is the perfect time to learn a foreign tongue.

16. Get motivated:

    Maybe you just haven't felt motivated to get to work now that college is over. Since objects in motion tend to stay in motion, getting off the couch and volunteering is a good way to build some momentum that can carry you into your working career.

17. Find inspiration:

    Say you're volunteering by digging a well in Africa and the brilliant idea for well construction hits you. There's no telling what kind of inspiration you can get while giving your time. Or maybe the inspiration you get will just be a better appreciation for wildlife, people, or America.

18. Volunteering makes you happier:

    Happier people tend to live longer, which may explain why volunteering makes you live longer. Making other people happy is a tried and true way to achieve happiness yourself. If you want more than chasing the almighty dollar after college, you may find joy in volunteering.

19. You have your whole life to work:

    The average ages of marriage are now at all-time highs (26 for women and 28 for men), so as a recent college graduate, odds are good you're still single. When you find a job, get married, and have kids, it becomes harder to find time to volunteer close to home, and much harder to volunteer halfway around the world. There will never be a better time than right now.

20. It's the right thing to do:

    As an American in the 21st century, you are one of the wealthiest people to ever walk the face of the earth in the history of mankind. Since you've been given so much just by being born here, you should give back a little of your time. It's simply the right thing to do.

Source:  http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/18/20-compelling-reasons-to-consider-volunteering-after-college/) 

8 Risky Business Investments That Paid Off Big

Business is not for the overly cautious or the faint of heart. If you’re going to run a business or invest in a company, you have to be willing to take risks, big and small. Sometimes these risks become regrets, but sometimes they turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made. Here are eight risky business investments that paid off big.

1. Target:

   
   Target has prided itself on being a unique, consumer-savvy retailer that is above Wal-Mart and K-Mart. But well before Target became the store of choice for soccer moms and yuppies, it was just another low-brow discount retailer trying to keep up with its competitors. A big turning point in Target’s success was adding affordable versions of designer merchandise made by big-name designers like Issac Mizrahi, Mossimo Giannulli, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, and many more. The collaboration was a risky, yet lucrative investment that has helped Target expand its consumer demographics and become a well-respected retailer.

2. Harley-Davidson:

   
   Considering how incredibly popular Harley-Davidson is today, it’s hard to believe that the motorcycle company was ever on the verge of bankruptcy, but it’s true. Harley-Davidson experienced near-bankruptcy from 1969 to 1981 when the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) bought the company and turned it upside down. AMF’s decision to streamline production and slash the workforce resulted in labor strikes, low quality motorcycles, and declining sales. It wasn’t until AMF sold struggling Harley-Davidson to investors Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson for $80 million that the company started to turn a profit again. Harley-Davidson returned to its beloved retro styling and started using high-quality parts, which helped bring back the buyers one by one. If those brave investors hadn’t taken a chance on Harley-Davidson and helped restructure its name, the “Hog” might have been ancient history.

3. Apple:

   
   Apple lovers around the world will find it hard to believe that one of the fastest-growing and most successful companies in the world was once close to bankruptcy. During the late ’90s, Apple was struggling to meet sales goals and internal power struggles were greatly to blame. After former CEO Gil Amelio was let go and Steve Jobs was brought back to fill his spot, things began to change for the better. Jobs helped restructure the brand and launch the revolutionary products that the brand is now known for. Jobs’ return to Apple proved to be a risky, but crucial business decision that helped steer the company toward infinite success.

4. J. Crew:

   
   Believe it or not, but the uber successful retailer, J. Crew, was once on the fritz with plummeting sales and branding issues. It wasn’t until Millard Drexler, former Gap Inc. chief, came to the rescue in 2003 and helped turn the company around for the better. Drexler is credited for saving J. Crew from bankruptcy by rebranding the store and giving it a new identity. Under Drexler’s leadership, J. Crew experienced a dramatic increase in sales, earning $3.8 million in 2005. Revenues have continued to increase every year and investors couldn’t be happier with what brave Mr. Drexler has done for J. Crew.

5. Google:

   
   Google is one of the largest companies in the world and its founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are some of the richest entrepreneurs to date. But before Google became the giant corporation that it is today, it was almost sold for a shy $1 million to Excite CEO George Bell in 1999. Brin and Page nearly gave up their would-be fortune because the search engine they built was taking up too much of their time and distracting them from their graduate studies. The risky transaction did not happen because Bell rejected their offer and negotiated them down to $750,000. Their patience paid off months later when big name venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital invested $25 million in Google.

6. TOMS Shoes:

   
   TOMS Shoes may be as well known for their charitable shoe drop as they are for their fashion. Since the company launched in 2006, TOMS has provided new shoes to children in need through their non-profit organization, Friends of TOMS. The One for One program has given away more than 1 million pairs of shoes to children in more than 20 countries worldwide. Founder Blake Mycoskie created TOMS with the original intention that for every pair of shoes sold, a new pair would go to a child in need. After developing his idea, Mycoskie sold his online driver education company and financed the shoe company himself. He has remained true to his company’s mission and, although he may have lost profits in the process, his innovative business model has certainly paid off big.

7. Whole Foods Market:

   
   The story of Whole Foods Market begins with four brave businesspeople living in Austin, Texas, who decided that the natural foods industry was in need of a leading supermarket. Founders John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery, were determined to make this happen even though popularity for local, organically grown foods was still rather low in the late ’70s. In 1980, they decided to leave their small natural food stores behind and invest in a game-changing supermarket that we’ve now come to know as Whole Foods Market. The organic grocer became an instant success and the founders’ hard work definitely paid off big.

8. Spanx:

   
   Spanx is one of the biggest names in the hosiery industry, but her “body shaping” pantyhose and undergarments weren’t always considered to be such a novel idea. Founder Sara Blakley is quick to admit that she didn’t know much about pantyhose or business, but she did know that she didn’t like wearing pantyhose with seamed toes and that the industry needed a version that slimmed and shaped women. Blakely was turned away by lawyers who thought her idea was “so crazy,” she said, and decided to write the patent herself and later found a lawyer who was willing to write the claims. The brand quickly took off and her branded shapewear is estimated to have made $750 million in 2008.

Source:  (http://www.onlinebusinessdegree.org/2012/06/26/8-risky-business-investments-that-paid-off-big/)