White Zinfandel Wine

White Zinfandel wine is a blush wine made in California from early-picked Zinfandel grapes. The red grapes are quickly separated from their skins during crushing and fermentation so that the resulting White Zinfandel wine is very light pink; thus White Zinfandel wines have far less color, alcohol and flavors than normally fermented Zinfandels.

White Zinfandel is a great starter wine because it is light and refreshing and sweet. The flavors are delicious and the price is always right. New wine drinkers would do well to experiment with White Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel wines have gained acclaim with many local and non-local wine enthusiasts. The light strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors are coupled with just enough acid to balance the modest residual sugar in this wine. The soft pink color catches the eye and the fruity bouquet begs the first sip. White Zinfandel wine is best served chilled with a nice picnic or try putting it in the freezer and serving it a little slushy. There's nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day.

White Zinfandel Wine Tip:

Within White Zinfandel wine, a light creaminess is evident, with a refreshing crisp finish. Delicious enjoyed well-chilled as an aperitif, White Zinfandel wine is perfect partner to all types of foods, particularly those which have slight heat or spiciness such as Asian or Latin cuisine.

Wine Ratings - Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

IRS Lock-In Letters ? What?s An Employer To Do?

Employers often ask employees to designate the amount of tax withholdings for paychecks. Occasionally, employees will fail to withhold a sufficient amount in the eyes of the IRS. The IRS will then send a "lock-in" letter on the amount to be withheld. What's an employer to do?

Withholdings

Four taxes must be withheld from employee paychecks ? Medicare, Social Security, Federal Income and State Income tax. The Medicare tax is set at roughly 1.5 percent of salary while social security is set at 6.2 percent. The withholding for federal and state income tax, however, is subject to adjustments made by employees. The amount of tax required to be withheld by the IRS requires a calculation beyond the scope of this article, but you can look to the "Employer's Tax Guide" on the IRS web site.

If an employee claims excessive deductions that result in insufficient withholdings, the IRS may respond. The typical response is to send an employer a "lock-in" letter.

The lock-in letter tells the employer to increase the amount of withholding tax of the employee. The IRS will actually specify the maximum number of withholding exemptions the employee can claim. The more exemptions claimed, the less tax withheld in each paycheck. The IRS will also send a copy of the correspondence to the employee.

As an employer, you must comply with the IRS lock-in letter. The IRS will designate a specific compliance date. Better to have died a small child than fail to comply with the letter. Failure to comply will result in the tax liability transferring from the employee to the employer. The employer can also expect the unwanted attention of IRS auditors. In short, make absolutely sure you comply with the lock-in letter.

What should you do if you receive a lock-in letter, but the employee no longer works for you? You must send a written response to the IRS office listed in the correspondence. The response must state the employee no longer works for you and the last date of employment to the best of your knowledge.

What should you do if the employee refuses to comply with the lock-in letter? You must comply with the lock-in letter. The employee's wish is irrelevant and you have no discretion in the matter. Instead, the employee should be told to contact the IRS directly and request a modification to the lock-in letter.

Lock-in letters can cause stress in employee-employer relationships. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about.

Richard Chapo is with http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - recovering overpaid taxes for small businesses. Visit our article section - http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com/articles - to read more tax articles.

Explode Your Consulting Income

Here are just a few ways to increase and diversify your income from your consulting business.

1. Sell More Services to Your Existing Clients

Instead of spending all that time and money trying to get new business, why not try to sell more services to your existing client base?

If you are an accounting and tax consulting firm, for example, you likely have clients who need some assistance in their record keeping and documentation. In addition to your year-end tax services, could you provide monthly bookkeeping and financial statements, accounting system setups, training in accounting software, or other services to assist your client?

Monthly services, in addition to annually billed fees, will help you smooth out your cashflow and minimize the seasonal nature of your business.

2. Mass Market Your Advice by Productizing Your Services

Could you produce a folio, special report, newsletter, e-book, book, audio cassette, video, or course? If so, you could enjoy making money even when you're not billing for your time. While asleep or on vacation, the sale of your information products could be generating additional income for you.

Sell such products through direct mail, mail order, exporting, and Internet marketing (your own website, your own affiliate programs, eBay auctions, and so on).

As well as the passive, residual income that information products can produce for you, they also help establish your credentials as an expert. This, in turn, produces more consulting opportunities for you.

3. Perform Group Consulting

Seminars, workshops, and teleclasses enable you to help many participants in a cost-effective manner. In addition to paying for admission, your attendees may also purchase some of your information products or even become your regular consulting clients.

4. Consider Additional Markets

Could you sell your consulting services to federal, state, provincial, or municipal governments? Could you be an expert trial witness?

If you consult with local clients, could you extend your reach nationally or internationally by using the telephone and Internet?

These few ideas are a starting point for you to brainstorm all the possibilities for exploding your consulting income.

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.

For more information about profitable consulting and other Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/consulting.html

Your Focus Determines Your Reality

"Your focus determines your reality", this famous line was spoken by Qui-Gonn Jinn of Start Wars-The Phantom Menace fame.

Ok, perhaps it is really infamous and you don't remember that quote. Nonetheless, think about it for a moment. Would you agree or disagree?

I'm about to show you why I emphatically agree with this certain Jedi Master and not just because it's from Star Wars...well not completely ;) No I'm going to show you how your focus relates to anything you want to be successful in and then more specifically your Christian life. Ready? Let's Go!

"Close or narrow attention; concentration" - so says Mister dictionary.com. When you are focusing on a certain aspect of anything, you generally ignore the rest of the picture. You're concentrating so hard that the rest of it at the very least becomes far less important and occupies less of your mental powers.

So what happens? You get more of what you're focusing on. And less of what you're ignoring. You can be successful at what ever it is you are focusing on because you're giving it all your attention. And everything else gets harder to become better at.

Whatever is in your focus, you will start to concentrate on it and you will be better conditioned to alter certain aspects of your life which will allow the object of your focus to actually become a true part of your life.

Perhaps an example is in order:

[Example]

Say you are on a diet. You're not allowed to eat any carbohydrates. So what should you focus on? If you're gonna focus on the fact that you can't eat donuts and ho hos, what do you think you're gonna be craving all day? That's right--ho hos and donuts!

Now instead, lets say you focus on how you can make a great tasting meal out of fresh vegetables and yummy lean meat products, how you're gonna prepare them, cook them and enrich the flavor. What do you think you're gonna be craving that night? The no-carb-lean-meaty meal of course!

[end example]

See how your focus determines your reality? If you're concentrating on what you shouldn't be doing, you're setting yourself up for failure...are you starting to see how this relates to your Christian walk?

What do most Christians focus on? What do most preachers preach on? What you can't do! Am I right? The only result that can come from focusing on what you can't do is you doing exactly that! Most Christians think in terms of what they can't do--the law.

The Bible goes so far as to say that we would not even know about sin if it wasn't for the law:

"On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET. But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind" Romans 7:7-8

Likewise we would not even have the desire to do what we're not supposed to do if we weren't focused on not doing it. (just read it again, It'll make sense).

So it is clear that by fixating our attention on what it is we are trying to avoid, we are actually setting ourselves up for failure. You can't focus on what you don't want and get what you want.

But you need to focus on something! And like our diet example, the right way to focus is on what you do want! Just like the diet works if you focus on the good foods, your Christian life will work if you focus on what is good--Jesus Christ and his life that he gave you.

Focusing on Christ and allowing him to express himself through you daily is the key to success in your Christian life. Pay no heed to what you're not supposed to do, "out of sight-out of mind!".

So I guess ole Qui Gonn was right, "your focus does determine your reality"!

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"Who Else Wants to Experience The Abundant, Care-free Life of Being a Better Christian Day In and Day Out and Experiencing the Guiltless

Joy of Living Life Without Limits or Having to Worry About Following a Bunch of Uptight Rules?" Click Here> http://www.ChristThroughMe.com/CTMbook.html

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Ex-CIA Folks are Problematic

Those who are above the law or act as such are a problematic situation for civilizations. Maybe this is why the CIA is so effective in screwing up other nation's government. There is a problem when these ladies and gentlemen retire. They often use contacts from the government and agency to network and work the system. This is a problem because invariably it hurts an honest and law abiding citizen.

We can fix this easy enough. Simply chip them. We put a satellite RFID ? Radio Frequency Identifier and track them wherever they go. We know the many ex-CIA are involved in the drug trade in our nation. This is bad because these illegal drugs coming into the country that they make money on, tend to cause an increase in law enforcement, rehabilitation and health care costs. It would be cheaper for us to simply pay them a lifetime pension. Track them and then hold them to the full extent of the law times five in the case of any misdeeds in the country.

When you hire someone to lie, cheat, manipulate and show them how to operate outside the system, you have created a real negative dynamic in the system. Many of these people end up with juicy contracts, employment and above the law lifetime status and as any human well trained in the arts of Machiavellian technique we are finding them abusing the privilege. Some are calling for the killing off in the line of duty of such folks or kicking them out of the country after they are completed in their careers. I disagree, by using technology we can implant them with chips and allow them to integrate back into society without having to kill them.

Many politicians believe that many of the ex-CIA know too many secrets and know too much about the actual politicians which they use to bribe them with and prefer to have them killed as to not spill the beans on a shady or disreputable back door deal or government operation. There are plans a foot to do just that in some inner circles.

If all this sounds too much like a spy novel to you, it is okay for you to not wish to address this serious problem as it may or may not actually affect you personally, but it does affect our nation in a serious way. Since we are the land of second chances, let's just chip the ex-CIA operatives and bureaucrats and be done with it. We own the government and as long as they wanted the job in the first place, we own them too. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

What You Should Know About

I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a huge problem with our health care. When it comes to trauma we are the best in the world hands down. Doctors are doing incredible things in trauma; I think that God works through the hands of these amazing doctors. But when it comes to keeping us healthy the United States is thirty seventh on the list, thirty seventh. It's not hard to see that this is true. We all know someone with some kind of health related issue. It's really sad as a matter of fact.

You shouldn't wait until you get a health issue to do something about it. That's what I don't understand about the majority of people today. It seems that the majority of people go to the doctor when they do not feel good then they get prescribed some drugs hoping it will make them feel better, then people don't have that specific symptom any more but now they're dealing with side effects from the drugs. Every drug is a toxin and every drug is a poison, and every drug has some kind of side effect. When you're driving down the road and your oil light turns on, you don't put a band aid over it and keep driving. You pull over and put oil in the car, which solves the problem. So why do people just take there pills and go on with life; isn't there a better way. If you do not feel good, then you have something wrong and sorry to say but drugs do not take care of the problem, all they do is cover it up.

People know that nutrition is important. We have all known that for a long time. All nutrition is, feeding the body at a cellular level so that your body is working correctly and efficiently. If our bodies were working correctly then we wouldn't have any health issues. See our bodies have an amazing ability to heal themselves. One of the main reasons that people are getting more and more sick is the quality of our foods have dramatically decreased. Due to green harvesting, depiction of minerals in the soil, also the toxins that can be found in the pesticides found on our fruits and vegetables. Also, the fruits and vegetables just do not have the nutrient value that they used to have. Green harvesting is a huge problem, in the last couple days of the ripening process the majority of the nutrients are put into the fruit. Don't get me wrong you want to eat as many fruits and vegetable as you can. But in reality unless you buy organic food that is close to your home there is know way to get these essential nutrients.

Every body knows that there are allot of vitamins and minerals that we need. But recently scientists have found there are also other essential nutrients that we need. In the ripening process there are nutrients called glyconutrients. Scientists are finding that these are also essential to the human body. Glyconutrients support cellular communication, which is how you're cells talk to each other to gather information from each other. Some information that gets communicated are things like if they're damaged, or being attacked, or if they need to be fed. If your cells did not communicate then you would be six feet under.

The body does have the ability to make these glyconutrients, this is because they are so essential. But in order too make them it takes allot of energy, and in fact the body will rob itself in order to make them. So what are people doing about this dilemma, well now people are supplementing glyconutrients. With doing this they are giving the body what it needs to work correctly. Your body can heal itself from anything that's wrong with it through proper nutrition. I know that I get into this a little too much but you know I think this world needs more people like me.

If you were at all interested in anything I had to say. I recommend on click the link below to get your limited time offer of the free e-book, The Ten Deadly Health Myths of the 21st Century.

To get your limited time offer for the free e-book The Ten Deadly Health Myths of the 21st century, Go to http://theoffer.myglycostore.com.

A Wedding Shower Invitation Should Be Attractive And Stylish!

Wedding shower invitations should lay out all of the necessary information, yet still be attractive. One way to do this is to have a picture engraved on the invitation. Ask your engraver to add a small design on the inside of your invitation or wherever you have information about the reception. If, for example, an ice cream social is your theme see if there is an ice cream cone or Sundae dish they can emboss onto the paper without taking away from the main body of the invitation. Remember that subtlety is stylish; you don't want to come across as overpowering with your theme.

It may be difficult sometimes to know who to invite to the wedding shower. As a general rule, the wedding shower hostess or hostesses should invite all family members of both the bride and the groom. She should also invite close friends of the bride and the bride's family. She may also want to invite some of the bride-to-be's co-workers. She should be sure to consult with the bride when compiling the guest list. Try to organize the people invited so some will set up the wedding shower game, someone else will set up the wedding shower favor, and so on.

What do I put on a wedding Shower Invitation?

The wedding shower invitation should include the name of the bride to be, the date and time of the shower, and the address and phone number of the hostess/hostesses. If you are concerned about the attendance at your wedding shower, consider including on the invitation a deadline date for the RSVP. (This is usually about two weeks prior to the shower date.) It may be difficult to make up a wedding shower invitation without prior experience. Because of this, it may be a good idea to have the same person who did your bridal shower invitation to also do your wedding shower invitation.

About The Author

Mike Yeager - Publisher; http://www.a1-party-supplies-4u.com/

Choosing Pond Plants

A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond plants fight algae, give fish a hiding place against predators, and beautify our own little slice of paradise to plunk down in at the end of a tiring day.

Don't smother your pond with plants, however. Start with half the surface area, and don't let them cover more than two-thirds to three-quarters at their growing peak. Overcrowding stresses them out, and hey ? it just looks bad!

Don't let the terms "hardy" and "tropical" throw you when choosing plants for your pond. Just remember that these terms refer to the environment in which the plant has originally been adapted ? and not to whether it can be thrown across the room or how well it looks in a fancy mixed drink.

Hardy pond plants, as a rule, can handle cold temperatures and frost. Of course, this is relative to your USDA agricultural zone, found here: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html.

Ask your plant professional or check the plant's label before taking home that plant that does great in Hawaii, but not so great in Maine.

Tropicals, on the other hand, pretty much hold true to what they're called: They will take a nosedive if temperatures get much below 70 degrees, turning into a messy mush if it freezes.

But, ah, Grasshopper, there are ways to save even those hardy plants that aren't quite up to a northern blizzard, as well as those tender-toed tropicals with which you've fallen madly in love.

Bury hardy pond plants, pot and all, into a south-facing part of your yard and cover with a thick, warm blanket of mulch. Or put them into a garage or basement, making sure they're kept wet and have good air circulation.

Tropicals, on the other hand, need light and moisture year 'round. If you don't have a greenhouse, place tropicals in your sunniest window and keep misted, several times a day if possible, to provide the humidity they crave in order to flourish. "Grow lights" do a fabulous fake of the sun, however, and many tropical pond plants thrive under them.

Marginal pond plants ? those that grow around the edges, or margins, of a pond ? can be either hardy or tropical. Some hardy marginals are cattail, plantain, and rush. Tropical marginals include taro, spider lily, and water hibiscus. Of course there are legions more to lust after in both hardy and tropical marginals. Place marginals with their pot tops one to six inches under water. Very tall plants, like cattail, can be moved as deep as a foot beneath the surface one they've gotten full-sized.

Water lilies, however, like their water deep ? between 18 and 30 inches ? after starting the season in the 6"-12" shallower end. This gives them a nice, springtime shot of sunshine to get going again. And when the plant pro recommends those funny-looking pots with all the little holes in them, go for it. Pond plants poke their toes (roots) through them to develop tiny, nutrient-extracting feeder roots. Meshing with one another, these roots provide stability and protection against wind, kids, pets, and adults that have a tendency to stumble into them.

Fertilize pond plants when they need them. "Ha!" you say. "And when is that?" Well, go back to your plant pro, the Internet, or the plant label you so wisely saved. Each plant may have different requirements, but one rule of thumb: Plants need much more fertilizer in warm-weather months than when it's cool outside.

So go have fun with your pond and your plants!

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary 'New Pond Owners Guide' for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens > ****************************************************************

Roller Blinds

What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it because they are the value for money window treatment or is there anything else in it. There is not doubt they do provide a cheap and efficient way of blocking out the light and the heat that's comes with the light. Also the glare can spoil the enjoyment of that room, particular a TV or computer room, and damage valuable furniture and favourite plants.

The operation of roller blinds is simple especially compared to venetian blinds or roman blinds. The blinds can be rolled up or down depending on how much light is needed at any time. They are best mounted inside the window recess and can be effectively teamed up with curtains; drapes or valances to add that extra bit to the room's d?cor. They are very flexible and can be used in any room of your house as well as in the conservatory. They are ideal for windows where the depth is narrow and are also the perfect way to cover storage areas. They are very easy to adjust.

Roller blinds with special reflective aluminium backing are the most popular for conservatory blinds in the UK. The sunlight in effect bounces off the back of these blinds providing effective heat protection and glare control. This means you have an effective protection for valuable furniture and plants, particularly in the conservatory.

What criteria should be taken into account when selecting roller blinds ? Well the most crucial factor in selecting a roller blind is choosing the right material. Most roller blinds are crafted from relatively translucent fabrics, so that the light entering the room is not completely blocked and some light manages to filter through giving a pleasing subdued light. If this is not enough and complete black out is needed for say small children or developing photographs then blackout blinds are also available, and these as you would expect block out the light completely. These are also effective in keeping the room cool in the summers and warm in the winters. Also the room the blinds is needed for is important. Kitchens and bathrooms require much more robust frabics which are colourfast. In general the blind should be closely woven and lightweight. Roller blinds come in a huge selection of colours and in many different styles.

Another great thing about roller blinds is that they are quite easy to maintain. The blinds are constructed of fabric that is hard wearing and will only require a simple wipe with a damp cloth.

Installation of roller blinds is relatively simple - certainly easier then other types of blind. Almost anyone can fit these with ease and in no time at all.

As mentioned previously Roller blinds are versatile with plenty of decorative possibilities and while they may lack the attractiveness of pinoleum or pleated blinds, they are an immensely practical solution. They are a great value for money and are usually priced at the lower end of the budget range. Thus, they are an affordable and practical solution for low-budget window treatments.

Garry John has produced many home improvement articles including more articles about blinds and window treatments.

Why Use Permission-Based Email Marketing?

The goal of all marketing is to attract interest in, build desire for, and generate sales of your products or services. Email marketing is a perfect medium to pick up where other marketing leaves off. Email marketing is still one of the most cost effective ways to contact prospects and customers. It's far cheaper than traditional bulk postage mail and in many cases can have a much larger impact on immediate sales and long-term relationship strength than traditional advertising.

When done correctly, email marketing can be an extremely powerful and effective marketing technique. It's a medium that allows a buyer and seller to freely communicate with one another and build a relationship based on value and trust. When done incorrectly, however, email marketing can be destructive, erode brand equity, and turn your happy clients into litigious flamers. It is for this reason that one must make sure they send only permission-based email communications to their subscribers.

Before we proceed any further, let's define exactly what permission-based email marketing is. It is important to note that there are two types of email marketing. One can either send unsolicited email promotions or send out emails only to persons who have requested to receive them. Unsolicited email is, of course, called spam. Sending spam will ruin any legitimate organization's reputation and brand value faster than mold grows on bread that is left outside in the middle of summer. Rule number one of becoming an intelligent email marketer is to not send unsolicited email.

Permission-based email marketing, on the other hand, is used effectively everyday by hundreds of thousands of organizations to build the value of their brands, increase sales, and strengthen the relationships they have with their clients and subscribers. The key difference, of course, is that these senders are only sending messages to persons who have requested to receive them.

Let's take a second to understand the key difference between spam and permission-based emails.

The Axiom of Value

For the last 100 years, companies have relied on traditional advertising in the form of catchy jingles, TV commercials, billboards, print ads in newspapers and magazines, direct mail, hot air balloons, and waving mascots. The technique is to interrupt a radio listener, TV viewer, or magazine reader with an attention grabbing ad that compels the consumer to buy the company's product or at least have the product closer to the forefront of his or her mind next time the individual is making a buying decision.

In most instances, advertising is acceptable to the consumer. Most people don't mind seeing ads while watching television, listening to the radio, or reading magazines-or at least they understand that these ads are necessary in order to receive the content they are seeing, reading, or hearing. While technologies like TiVo, DVR, and satellite radio are challenging advertisers to come up with new methods of advertising, other technologies such as Internet television require users to watch a 30-second advertisement prior to the start of a show. The point is, as long as value is provided, consumers will be willing to be exposed to a few advertisements.

This same axiom holds true online. As long as your web site provides content that people value, visitors will continue returning to the site even if there are a few banner ads or Google AdWords boxes within the page layout. While some web sites, such as WSJ.com, have successfully switched to a subscription-based model, many more web sites rely on banner, box, skyscraper, and contextual advertisements to earn the bulk of their income.

The same axiom, that as long as value is provided, consumers will be willing to be exposed to a few advertisements, also holds true with email. As long as one provides value-whether by providing content on a topic a recipient is interested in or a discount off a product related to one purchased previously-people will allow you to continue to contact them. Each and every email you send of course contains your logo, information on your products and services, and links to your web sites. These items are the advertising and should be surrounded on all sides by the items which make the communication actually add value to the lives of your readers.

Spam however, by its very nature, breaks the axiom. Unsolicited bulk email very rarely has any value. Spam is usually irrelevant, always impersonal, and rarely helpful. Everyone with an email inbox knows how aggravating it is to sort through forty new emails to only find two that are from persons you know. While spam may make money for persons in Eastern Europe promoting fake drugs, I feel strongly that sending spam will always have a net negative impact on any legitimate organization.

For this reason, we strongly recommend only sending permission-based email, also known as opt-in email. Permission-based email marketing can be an extremely effective way to increase visitor-to-sale conversion rates, build strong relationships with your customers, and turn your one-time buyers into lifetime product evangelizers who recommend your organization to everyone they know. Permission-based email marketing allows companies to develop and sustain relationships with their prospects and consumers by creating value. Permission marketing is about "turning strangers into friends and friends into customers" as Seth Godin likes to say.

The nature of permission marketing-building a relationship with a prospect or expanding the relationship with an existing customer over time-allows you to concentrate on the prospects and customers who are really interested in what you have to sell and are more than willing to become repeat customers.

The Five-Step Process of Permission Email Marketing

There is a simple five-step process in putting a successful permission-based email marketing campaign in place. This process is reviewed below.

1. Start using a permission-based email software such as IntelliContact Pro that allows you to easily create newsletters, automatically manage subscribes, unsubscribes, bounces, and view reporting statistics like opens and clickthroughs.

2. Decide on the type and frequency of email communication you will be sending. We recommend sending at least a monthly newsletter. You can certainly send multiple newsletters if you sell different types of products. You can also send promotional messages offering a discount or coupon for a product or service.

3. Add a sign-up form to your web site so you can start collecting subscribers and import any existing lists of subscribers that have already requested your communications. It is generally also safe to import the names of anyone who has done business with you in the past year, provided you will be sending content relevant to what they purchased.

4. Create a good email template by using a template provided within the email software, having your in-house team create one, or using the custom design services of the email software company. IntelliContact Pro provides over 140 design templates within the software that can be used free of charge and can also develop a custom template for a nominal charge.

5. Develop quality relevant content for your newsletter or message and send it out to your list. Continue sending your newsletters, announcements, or promotions with consistent frequency. As your list grows, you will notice increased traffic (and if applicable, increased sales) on the day of and the days following an email send.

By providing quality relevant content you will succeed in keeping your brand mindshare at the front of the mind of your customers and cement strong relationships with your subscribers.

Ryan Allis is an internationally recognized expert on email marketing. Ryan is the CEO of Broadwick Corp, providers of the email marketing software IntelliContact Pro. For additional information on email marketing software, visit http://www.email-marketing-software-resource.com

Seasoning An Oven

Untreated cast iron rusts, especially around water. To prevent metal from oxidizing in the presence of moisture, cast iron requires a process called ?seasoning?. Seasoning is simply the procedure of baking oil into the oven's pores, and on top of the iron pores. This baked on coating will darken and eventually turn black with age. Darkening is the sign of a well kept oven, and of it's use. This coating forms a barrier between moisture in the air and the surface of the metal. It also provides a non-stick coating on the inside of the oven that is easy to clean.

Here are some tips when it comes time to season your oven.

Scrub lid and oven in hot water with a mild soap to take off the coating the manufacture puts on the oven before shipping. Use a stiff brush, 3M scrub pad, or plastic scrubbing pad to scrub the waxy coating off of your new Dutch oven, and rinse in clear, hot water. Dry your oven by putting it in the kitchen oven at 150 to 200 degrees for 15 or 20 minutes.

While it is warm, coat the inner and outer surfaces with a thin layer of cooking oil. Use a good grade of olive or vegetable oil. Peanut oil is a choice of many, and tallow or lard can also be used, but they tend to break down over time and become rancid if the oven is not used often enough.

Place the oven and lid in a conventional oven, or a gas BBQ grill, with the pot upside down and the lid on the Dutch oven legs. Heat oven at 450 to 500 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the oil turns very dark, nearly black. This process bakes a grease coating into the pot and virtually gives it a no scrub surface.

Remove the oven and apply another light coat of oil, and. bake at 450 to 500 degrees for another 30 minutes. By using high temperatures, the oil will bake harder and darker, leaving your oven shinier. You should oil and bake at least once, I like to go through this process two, or even three times to get a beautiful dark color, and rock hard finish.

Turn off the heat and let the Dutch oven sit until cool. If the surface is sticky, bake an additional 30 to 40 minutes. When seasoning your oven it will create a smell that may be unpleasant. For this reason some like to season their ovens in a BBQ outside, however I have done all mine indoors with the doors and windows open.

The first thing you cook in your oven after seasoning should be things like roasts, potatoes or chicken. Stay away from tomatoes and tomato products with high acid content, or a lot of sugar such as cobblers. Acids and sugars can break down the protective covering before it seasons or hardens properly.

A well seasoned oven produces a unique flavor unequaled by any other cooking utensil. This is the Magic of Dutch Oven cooking.

About The Author

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

dutch_oven2000@yahoo.com

Self Tanning - Tips for Getting the Best Results

Self tanning products are becoming more and more popular, many tanning salons offer a spray on tan, but many tanners still choose to get their self tan in the privacy of their own home. If you are considering using a self tanner, here are some tips on how to get the best results.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY THE SELF TANNING PRODUCT? ? Since most self-tanning lotions have no sunscreen for protection outdoors, the best time to use self-tanners is at night before going to bed. If done earlier, allow a minimum of two hours and test for staining before putting back on your regular clothes. Note that if your lotion contains extra coloring formula or if you're using a spray, staining could be a major issue and you won't to go to bed and stain bedding; so use these types of products earlier in the evening or when you have more time to "dry" after applying (at least a few hours).

WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY THE SELF TANNER? ? Gather your necessary items together. Choose what you want to wear for tanning lines, whether it's a swimsuit, undergarments, etc. Use caution in your choices because the product may stain or run so choose old clothing, especially without nylon (permanently stains this fabric), and not loose clothing (to inhibit runny lotions). You will also need to be able to shower or wash beforehand. So round up a cotton washcloth or whatever you use to exfoliate your skin (sponge and other product, etc.), soap, any moisturizer you may want to use, your self-tanning product, disposable clear gloves, a nail brush, a ball cap, hair pins or accessories to keep hair from your face, a sponge roller brush or paintbrush if you will apply product to your back, and access to a clock.

TIMING NOTE: if you are not going to use disposable gloves, you will need to wash your hands and scrub your nails about every minutes while applying the tanning product so that they don't stain orange. Hence the need for the timer mentioned above.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?? Begin with a shower or washing to remove dead, flaky and dry skin. Wash with your washcloth or exfoliation sponge, gently going in a circular motion. Special areas of focus are your knees and lower legs, your ankles and feet, and your elbows. When finished, dry yourself, including your hair, thoroughly, and get hair up off neck. Let steam out of the room, if you'll be continuing in there. (Remember: moisture like steam & sweat can cause the self-tanning product to run / wear off.)

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I GET TO THE MOISTURIZER STAGE?? Gently rub moisturizer into the special areas of focus mentioned above (knees, ankles, etc) to prepare (prep) for the self-tanning solution. Some apply this to the face and neck areas, too. SELF-TANNER STAGE? Now it's time to suit up and apply your tanning product. Note: beginners should practice on small areas first.

FIVE MINUTE LEGS - Begin by applying the tanning product to your legs. Work with one leg at a time, applying in a circular motion from top to bottom. Don't rub it in thin. You want a good even coating. For feet and ankles, go ahead and apply a little thinner coating. You can skip sides of feet, toes and heels or go lighter here or mix in moisturizer a little for easier coverage (knees, too). (If you are not using gloves, work quickly and check timer to wash up when finished with this stage).

FIVE MINUTE UPPER BODY ? Continue applying product upwards in circular motion. Most prefer to cover the torso first, using the roller brush or paintbrush on the back, then continue with the arms. If it's taking awhile to cover all areas and you're not using gloves, remember to check the clock and wash hands and nails thoroughly before continuing. (Treat elbows as you did knees).

FIVE MINUTE NECK-UP ? Time to finish up with the neck, face, ears, nose, cheeks. "Go thin" is the motto for these areas. DRYING STAGE ? Now it's time for drying. Wait at least 30 minutes before coming into contact with anything. Stand and read or sit on the edge of a chair and enjoy computer games, television, a friendly phone chat or something. After the 30 minutes, you can wear loose clothing. Skip the jeans scene, though, and other tighter clothing to allow for around one to two hours. Check your specific product instructions for guidelines.

FOLLOW UP STAGE - Keep in mind different products have different drying times, so you don't want to get wet, even by sweating, for at least three hours. Depending upon the tanning product and your kin and genetics, you will want to wash, exfoliate the dry, flaky, dead skin cells and re-apply product every few days or so. Check your product for guidelines and monitor your skin for any rashes or other irritations that could develop.

This article was written by Jon Yarbrough You can find more tanning tips at http://www.tanning-tips.com

This article may be republished as long as it is not changed and this resource box is included.

Acid reflux chokes me awake at night

by: Drew Harris
by Drew Harris
http://www.acid-refluxsite.com

Acid reflux has forced me to suddenly wake up countless times, in a state
of panic, choking on my own acid and gasping for breath.

Nothing can really describe the burning bile feeling, or the taste it
leaves in your mouth as you try not to gag and throw-up. I have had to
stick a pinch of toothpaste into my mouth and leave it there to try and
cut the bile taste.

I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia as a teenager, which may contribute
to acid reflux. The burning acid had left me alone for most of my 20's.
However, a high stress job and a subsequent gain in weight and lack of
exercise brought the acid reflux back on with a vengeance in my 30's.

When I started having almost constant waves of heartburn and acid
indigestion, sitting upright at my desk, I knew it was time to see the
doctor.

At that time, I had never heard of acid reflux.

He told me that more than 60 million people suffer from frequent
heartburn, acid indigestion or GERD (Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease).

Acid reflux describes the regurgitation of acid back up the throat. It can
also lead to more serious medical conditions that may require
hospitalization.

My doctor explained this happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
does not close properly and stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into
the esophagus. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus
that acts like a valve between the esophagus and stomach. The esophagus
carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

When refluxed stomach acid touches the lining of the esophagus, it causes
a burning sensation in the chest or throat called heartburn. The fluid may
even be tasted in the back of the mouth, which is called acid indigestion.
Heartburn that occurs more than twice a week may be considered GERD, and
it can eventually lead to more serious health problems.

When I finally went and saw my doctor, I was having almost constant
heartburn and acid indigestion.

He further explained that symptoms are usually worse at night when the
person is lying flat and acid flows easily from the stomach back up the
esophagus.

Anyone, including infants, children, and pregnant women, can have GERD.

I was told to make some lifestyle and dietary changes. They included:

1. Using a wedge pillow to elevate my body at bedtime
2. Eating plenty of fiber and drinking lots of fluids.
3. Eating small meals and eating slowly.
4. Not lying down for at least 1-2 hours after eating.
5. Losing extra pounds. Added weight causes extra pressure on your stomach
and can irritate symptoms.
6. Wearing loose clothing. Tightly fitting clothes put extra pressure on
your stomach.
7. Not exercising for at least one hour after eating.
8. Avoiding the following: alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, chocolate,
carbonated beverages, spices, fried and fatty foods, tomato products,
citrus, and peppermint.

I am a non smoker and I don't drink that much. I do drink a fair bit of
coffee however. The real culprit for me though has been drinking fruit
juice of any kind before bed. When I have, my acid reflux has been
significantly worse.

As I have made many of these changes to my lifestyle, I have seen some
relief.

The elevated pillow works wonderfully. I have also started taking proton
pump inhibitor medication, which reduces acid production in my stomach. I
have been told surgery may be an option down the road.

About the author:
Drew Harris owns and operates Acid-refluxsite.com, a one-stop-shop
directory for those looking for information on acid reflux and its related
issues. Multiple pages of resources, referrals and expert articles.
http://acid-refluxsite.com