Some Things I Can Do For You

I’ve been a writer, marketing & communications consultant, web content provider, website creator & site manager, copywriter, SEO specialist, ESL consultant, editor, news journalist and magazine contributor since 2007.

WEBSITE – I can provide you with a website that can drive physical and online traffic to your business to increase sales and improve customer relations. There are many ITs and tech people who can create websites but not all of these sites will actually “work” for your business or even be visible or searchable to potential clients. Many may even contain substandard and incomprehensible English.

If I were to provide you with a website, content and optimization, your business, services and products will become searchable and visible to direct customers looking for specific services you offer. No beating around the bush or expensive soliciting to people who likely aren’t interested in procuring your service or buying your products.

For those who already have existing websites, I can improve optimization, content and online visibility. In some cases, non-working website may have to be redone from scratch to make it useful for your business.

Take note that these techniques and benefits are not instantly achievable. Organic optimization which is highly beneficial to businesses in all kinds of fields normally takes 2 years to achieve. I have found a way to shorten that waiting period by half or even less and apply location specific search results.

MARKETING – I can also provide marketing materials or content for marketing tools such as brochures, flyers, and billboards. As a consultant, I can also offer a marketing plan to help boost your presence in your specific location and field of business.

COMMUNICATIONS – As a communications consultant, I can provide clients with business proposals, letters of intent and introduction, or create company profiles, mission & vision statements, and other tools that will help your business communicate better with potential or existing clients and your market.

MEDIA – As a contributor to publications (online and print), I can provide content for newspapers and magazines. I can also do write-ups for advertisers. My experience in online and print media focuses on both local (Philippines) and international publications covering various categories such as lifestyle, world news, food, health, entertainment, breaking news, sports, business, technology, science, environment, and arts.

EDITOR – I can edit all types of written presentations and articles for webcontent, marketing materials, communication correspondence, proposals, schoolbooks and other book bound publications, news and magazine articles. I apply international and global English standards.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONSULTANT – As an English Language Consultant, I can provide clients with English lessons (conversational), coach and edit professionals on English language business materials (legal contracts, medical documents, and more). I can also provide online English language schools with lesson plans in PowerPoint form.

References available upon request and project negotiations.

“Learning is a never ending experience, the more new things you experience and do, the better you get and the more types of businesses you can serve. Using and applying all the knowledge you learn from every new project lets you provide a more comprehensive and helpful service to proceeding clients “

Flying on the Cheap has Never Been Easier to do

Darwin to Paris

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Only on Skiddoo can you find cheap flights from Darwin (DRW) to Paris (CDG) without the inconvenience of looking for promotional coupons or out-of-the-way airport terminals just to get budget fares. You can book low airfares to Charles De Gaulle International Airport from Darwin International Airport with reliable and trustworthy airlines such as Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Australia. Paris is not a cheap city to visit but you can save on travel expenses by spending less for international airfares. Experience more of Paris’ gourmet food and tourist destinations by paying less for budget airfares.

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Experience More of Paris by Spending Less on Low Airfares from DRW to CDG

By paying less for Skiddoo budget fares from DRW to CDG, you can spare more money for other things like site-seeing and fine dining at some of Paris’ best gourmet restaurants. This part of the world is known for some of the most delectable cuisine found on earth. By saving more money on low airfares, you will be able to afford to eat at top French restaurants and visit France’s famous tourist destinations such as the Louvre. You may even be able to travel to more French cities such as Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Bordeaux, and Versailles.

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Flying on cheap flights from Australia’s DRW to France’s CDG will be surprisingly easy with fewer queues for luggage check-in and safety control. Luggage unloading is quick and signs are clear and visible. English-speaking airport staff are helpful. The CDG terminal in Paris is also well-lighted, modern, and clean. Getting to the right terminal will as easy as taking a short walk from one point to another. If your budget travel flight connection is tight, you won’t have problems getting from one plane or terminal to another with enough time to shop or have a croissant and coffee.

Budget Travel Let’s You Have More for the Fun Stuff

Sydney to New York, NY

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Get online budget fares from Sydney to New York at Skiddoo. Flights to LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are served by Air Canada, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, Qantas Airways, Delta Ari Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Virgin Australia among other airlines. Budget travel lets you have more resources to visit must-see places like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and museums among other tourist destinations in New York. Get more choices for low airfares by booking your cheap flights now.

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See More Sites with Budget Fares from SYD Australia to JFK New York

NYC is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world with some of America’s must-see tourist spots such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Times Square, the Bronx Zoo, the Yankee Stadium, and Ellis Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty. If you take advantage of cheap flights from Sydney (SYD) to New York (JFK), you can spare more money to see more tourist sites. Booking low airfares allows you to do more shopping at some of New York City’s finest department stores like Saks Fifth, Bergdorf’s and Barneys.

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New York has always been a springboard to other destinations in the US due to highly efficient airports (JFK, LGA, EWA) in NY. Aside from being able to book cheap flights on Skiddoo, you can also get low airfares for connecting flights to other cities from NY. It has never been this easy to arrange your flight itinerary by just clicking on your computer mouse. Make the best of your time by booking a cheap flight from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Buffalo (BUF) to see the Niagara Falls after you’ve had your fill in the Big Apple.

Teaching Our Kids Genuine Cultural Tolerance

The world we live in today is a melting pot of various cultures, religions and nationalities. In almost every city in the world, you will find diverse groups of people living side by side, working together and merging each other’s traditions with their own. It’s not surprising for people to speak more than one language or find young kids eating food from a different ethnic cuisine from their own.

Unfortunately there are still some people and even children who frown upon customs they are unfamiliar with or people of different color or race. Some clichés and stereotyping still exist in most parts of the civilized world. Children who are more open-minded about other cultures usually have parents who are likewise tolerant and exposed to a diverse society.

We may teach our children about being tolerant to immigrants from other nations and treating them as equals but if they hear us make snide remarks that stereotype their culture or religion, a mental impression may stick instinctively. Children carry these impressions till adulthood without even remembering how or why they have certain feelings, such as superiority or suspicion, towards people from a particular race or religion. This perpetuates a cycle of hate and distrust concerning other people.

Because our communities are becoming more diverse, our children’s future relationships, careers and success depend on how they are able to understand and work hand-in-hand with people from different backgrounds. Tolerance is the ability to understand and respect customs, religion, culture, sexuality and even physical and mental disability of other people. Of course not all aspects need to be accepted like stealing, bullying and other negative characteristics.

Children discover values from watching their parents and other adults who are influential in their upbringing such as teachers, counsellors, religious leaders and political figures. Teaching tolerance starts with exposure and then guidance. Show your kids how to appreciate food from other cultures and expose them to friends from various ethnic backgrounds and religions.

Most of us work with people of different backgrounds, invite them to your home for a BBQ so that your kids can meet them. Your children will observe your attitude towards your foreign guests, how you treat them, speak to them and respect their individuality. Children imitate your examples and mirror your values. They will soon discover that it’s easier and much more fun to get along rather than to fight each other. People who get along share what they have like money, opportunities, assets and resources.

Of Cakes and Courtship

Cakes are staple for many occasions like birthdays, dinner parties, and weddings. Actually, we don’t need a special occasion to eat cake. You can buy a slice of cake at just about any bakeshop and take it home with you. A miniature dessert cake is also a sweet token after a Valentine’s dinner for two. There was a time in ancient Irish Celtic history when the process of baking a cake was linked to courtship.

A long time ago in Ireland, many young single people found their spouses in a tradition called Bilberry Sunday. It was once a popular food festival and courtship tradition in Ireland. The exact beginnings of Bilberry Sunday are somewhat unclear because the custom died out before the 20th century. So, many Irish people don’t really know how this custom started. Some young Irish adults today don’t even know the tradition ever existed.

Centuries ago, groups of young men and women set off to the Irish hills in search of bilberries for their annual food festival. The ideal harvest time for bilberries is in the middle of summer around the latter part of July till the first weeks of August. Traditionally, they would be sent out by their parents on the last Sunday of July. Bilberries are tiny versions of blueberries that grow in thick shrubs. This made the hunting for bilberries tedious and time consuming.

The young men and women would spend more than half the day collecting enough bilberries for the town’s food festival. This gave them a lot of time away from prying eyes of parents to get to know each other better. The single men took this opportunity to court the girl of his dreams. After harvesting the bilberries, they would return to town and all the women would begin cooking and baking food for the festival.

The bilberries were often turned into cakes, pies, jam, tarts, and wine. If any of the single women fancied one of the boys from the earlier bilberry expedition, she would bake a bilberry cake for him. She would give it to him that evening during the height of the festival when everyone would be dancing, eating, and drinking. Many Irish couples back then, found their lifelong partners this way.

This charming Celtic tradition of cakes and courtship is now going through a revival. Cultural conservation groups have brought back the Bilberry Sunday tradition and are sponsoring bilberry hunting expeditions with children and young adults. To maintain the custom, the volunteers take the youngsters to the Irish hills on the last Sunday of July. The resumption of the Bilberry Sunday tradition began a few years ago and is a popular annual event with the Irish people once more.

Couples Diet – Easier Way To Lose Weight

Going on a couples diet with your partner is an easier way to lose weight together.  A couples diet can also be a fun experience instead of something you just have to do to lose weight.

Going on a diet with your boyfriend, husband of friend will not expose you to temptation to break the diet. It can be difficult to stick to a diet if you see your partner eating a slice of chocolate cake in front of you. When you have fun doing something, you won’t even notice that you are trying to do something that most people consider unpleasant.

A couples diet does not have to be an unpleasant experience. There are ways to spice up a diet which can actually even spice up your relationship. Here are some ways to make a  diet routine more bearable and even fun:

1. Get a commitment – If you think that you and your partner should lose weight together, talk to your better half and see if he will be receptive to the idea of a couples diet. If you are both committed to losing weight then maybe it is time to consider a diet for two. Doing things as a partnership takes commitment, cooperation, and support from each other.

Couple biking

2. Use a journal – Get a journal and write your goals, target weight for each of you, and steps to achieve this plan to lose weight together. In your journal, you can write your weekly menu and other notes like healthy restaurants to go to and food you will buy and not buy at the supermarket. Take your weight each week and write it in your journal. You can monitor your progress with this handy tool.

3. Get rid of the junk food – Clear your kitchen of junk food, sweets, potato chips, and other fattening food and beverages. Take a box and place all the food you are getting rid of in the carton. You don’t have to throw away food. Give the box to a nearby soup kitchen or to a charity. You don’t just help yourselves lose weight together, you help other people too.

4. Do groceries together – Make a list of food, drinks, and cooking ingredients. Create a menu for the week. Do this with your partner so that he gets to choose healthy food he likes too. A couples diet will be more effective if you both like what you are eating. Go to the supermarket together, it will be easier to coordinate and decide about what healthy food and beverages to buy. Do this together till you know each other’s preferences.

Get creative with a picnic on weekends

5. Sports for two – One way to make a couples diet fun is to do sports together. Start playing tennis or racquetball. Focus on sports and physical activities for two. If you start to get bored playing the same sport week after week, switch to another activity like running or biking together. You can also sign up at the gym as a couple and probably get a discount if you pay for a package for two.

6. Bring in the romance – Turn your dining room into a fine dining restaurant one Friday night. Bring out the candle sticks, fine China, and use them. Turn on some music while you dine and have a little wine with your meal. On weekends, plan a picnic at a place neither one of you has been to before.

7. Be adventurous – This is an ideal time to try exotic recipes. There are some foreign foods that are very healthy that use a lot of fish and seafood or vegetables. Surf the net for Japanese recipes, spicy Thai dishes, healthy Greek salads, etc. Make sure your salad dressing is non-fat. Diet food doesn’t have to be boring or taste bad.

Japanese tuna sashimi

8. Dining out – Eating out is one of the reasons some people gain a lot of weight. Avoid fast food places. If it will be difficult for you to cook exotic dishes at home, then dine out at a Japanese restaurant or other ethnic restaurants  that serve healthy food. When you eat out, cut down on portions or split an order with your partner. Take note of how the dishes were cooked and if the ingredients are not fattening.

Be a bit creative to make a couples diet fun. You won’t just lose weight together but also enjoy the diet experience. Avoid depriving yourself of food. Starving yourself is not an effective way to lose weight. Waiting till you are too hungry might make you binge on food. Drink lots of water to stave off hunger between meals. Make incentives for each other if you see your partner start to slack off. Going on a diet doesn’t have to be an ordeal.

Coffee Shop Equipment You Can’t Do Without

Coffee shop industry reports say that coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world next to oil. It’s a multibillion dollar business and the fastest growing sector in the restaurant industry with a 7% yearly growth rate. Pessimists say that opening your own coffee shop may be a bad idea since there are already many shops around. But, statistics show that the market for coffee is still growing. Population increases and so does the desire for a good cup of coffee.

If you’re thinking of starting your own coffee shop, there are dozens of things to think of before you can open your business. Some of these are creating a business plan, searching for the ideal location, finding out how much capital you need, getting the funds to start it, planning your menu, pricing, store layout, and training staff. Another important factor to consider is to find out which coffee shop equipment are necessary. You don’t want to waste money on equipment you will rarely use.

Espresso machine – Most popular coffee drinks are espresso based. Some of these are cappuccino, caffe latte, caffe Americano, and macchiato. An espresso machine is an indispensible equipment for any coffee shop, unless you plan to serve regular brewed coffee only. Espresso based coffee is the cash cow of any profitable coffee outlet.

Coffee maker – Purists like their coffee plain and brewed the regular way. Drip type coffee makers are essential in any coffee business. If you have a large shop or an outlet that has a lot of customers every day, you might be better off buying an industrial type of coffee brewing machine.

Coffee grinders – If you want to serve quality coffee, you will need to grind the coffee beans yourself. Get grinders for decaf, regular and espresso. If you have a huge amount of daily customers, choose industrial grinders because you will need a durable brand that won’t break down from repeated use.

Refrigerators – A large coffee shop will need 2 refrigerators. One behind or under the counter and another at the back kitchen. The counter refrigerator will hold sandwich ingredients, milk, soda, and other ingredients needed for quick orders. The back refrigerator will contain stocks of milk and other food items needed in the back kitchen.

Computerized cash register – Restaurant and coffee shop cash registers have come a long way. These days, the registers are also equipped with a computer program that records and adjusts inventory, aside from keeping track of sales.

Depending on your menu, you may need additional equipment like, blenders, icemakers, oven, panini grill, sandwich prep counters, a stove, refrigerated cake case, and many more. Of course you would also need utensils, plates, coffee mugs, cups and saucers, coffee tables and chairs. Cozy coffee shops provide comfortable couches and reading material for their patrons.

People gather at coffee shops to talk about art, politics, business, love and rebellion. If you enjoy hanging out at coffee shops, why not start your own. Having your own coffee shop can be fun but it also takes dedication, innovative marketing and hard work to make it successful.

About Fleece Jackets Today And Where To Find The Best For Less

Outdoor clothing should feel comfortable, but it’s still important to appear fashionable in sporty outfits. If you want to use durable soft clothes for outdoor use, then you should search for the best fleece jackets in the market. Many years ago, this type of fabric used to be crudely made and looked unattractive. Today, manufacturers have refined their construction and design.

This kind of fabric for clothes was invented to provide warmth for active people during winter. It is used as material for jackets, mittens and hats. They can also be made into blankets to keep people warm during cold nights. Unlike other fabrics used for winter clothes, this type of cloth will not fray or come lose easily like other textiles used for winter clothes.

This fabric is made more durable than other types used for the old outdoors and was originally crafted for active wear. Wool can also be used to keep active people warm outside the house, but this traditional kind of fabric does not dry quickly like newer active wear does. Synthetic fabrics usually form little balls of thread except for fleece.

Another advantage of this kind of clothing is that it is light and easy to carry or pack. A nice North Face Crescent Point zip jacket would be ideal fashionable clothing for winter or fall. This kind of clothing can keep you warm but will not drag you down with heavy weight. Wool coats are a bit heavy though.

Although this kind of fabric used to look dull and dreary in its traditional grey shade, today’s clothing manufacturers have created more attractive colors for fashionable wear. Check out the Haglöfs Women’s Isogan II Fleece Jacket that comes in a sexy purple dye. The red 66° North Women’s Esja Fleece Jacket is another chic colored piece of clothing.

Aside from jackets, this versatile textile can also be used as headgear or hand protection as gloves. It is also important to keep your hands and fingers protected in cold outdoor weather. Your head and neck are also important parts of your body that need protection from icy weather. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of bringing a cap, you can wear a coat with a hood.

The best fleece jackets can be found in upscale clothing stores. These kinds of outfits may be a bit expensive though. You can still locate more affordable version on the internet that look just like the expensive outfits you will find in designer stores.

Grapeseed Extract Benefits

Did you know that grapeseed extract benefits people with cancer? A lab experiment proved that leukemia cancer cells exposed to grapeseed extract were killed within only a day. There is a specific medical term that describes this process which is apotosis. What happens in apoptosis is that the cancer cell sort of kills itself and then produces healthy cells in its place. That study was made by scientists from the University of Kentucky and published their results in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. All living things actually create cancer cells. The cancer cells in healthy people normally die by apoptosis when the cells realize that they are defective and unhealthy. Unfortunately not all people can rid of cancer cells naturally. This is when grapeseed extract benefits cancer patients the most.

Although the experiments were done in a lab on cells, not the whole human being, I think it would be safe to say that it can work on humans with cancer. I guess that is why more experiments and tests are being done to prove that grapeseed extract benefits people with illnesses. What the scientists need to find out is how to deliver the grapeseed extracts with the right potency to destroy cancerous cells in the human body. Aside from leukemia, it has also showed promising help for people suffering from other types of cancer in the lungs, prostate, breast, skin, stomach and colon. Traditional cancer treatment like chemotherapy and radiation will kill both the cancer cells and healthy cells at the same time. Sometimes this unfortunately results in early fatalities of cancer patients. Grapeseed extracts in the lab experiments did not harm the healthy cells. Now, if grapeseed extracts are able to do that, which would you prefer if you had cancer? Radiation, chemo or grapeseed extracts? I sincerely hope these scientists and doctors figure out a way to implement grapeseed extract benefits into proper cancer treatment.

Aside from its ability to stop cancer in the laboratory, grapeseed extract benefits people with infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. In vineyards, people who grow grapes are aware that the grape vines have a natural ability to fight bacteria, infection and viruses that attack them. Grapes and grapeseeds stimulate the immune system of the grape vines. The great thing about grapeseed extract is that it has healing abilities similar to antibiotics that can cure infections and ailments even when the source of the infection is unknown. So far, there have been no known negative side effects from the use of grapeseed extracts in humans and animals whether ingested internally or used topically. This miracle compound has over a hundred known uses and benefits. Grapeseed extract has been used effectively for centuries, generation after generation as a natural herbal cure by people from all walks of life. There are too many diseases that grapeseed extracts can cure and prevent that I can’t even begin to write them all down here. If you have time to do research as I did, you will find lists of illnesses by the tens of page. It’s unbelievable!

Grapeseed extract benefits practically all organs in our body from the heart, lungs, kidneys, lymph system, bladder, etc. Externally, it also helps with fungi infection like athlete’s foot, blisters, acne, burns, eczema, dandruff, wounds, parasites, allergies and even herpes. Grapeseed extract is also a disinfectant and can be used to clean an infant’s crib, feeding bottles, nipples and toys. Of course it would be safer to dilute it a bit for the baby’s safety. Some people even use a few drops of grapeseed extract to launder the baby’s clothes and diapers because sometimes hot water and soap are not enough to get rid of all bacteria and germs. When babies are newly born they tend to shed skin on their head. This is known as cradle cap. Mixing some grapeseed extract with oil can be used to get rid of cradle cap and even diaper rash. There are so many grapeseed extract benefits that I’m surprised that not every household has a bottle. Even veterinarians use grapeseed extract for animals and domestic pets. Grapeseed extract benefits don’t stop at living things only. It can be used for household cleaning too. Unlike commercial cleaners at the supermarket, grapeseed extract is non-toxic, therefore safer for homes with young children. As it does with the grape fruit vine, the extracts can also benefit house plants and protect them from fungi, disease and parasites.

Footed Pajamas, Onesies And Bodysuits – What’s the difference?

Girl's Footed Pajamas

Some of the most popular boy and girl pajamas are footed pajamas and onesies. It is easy to confuse the two types of baby sleepwear and they are often mistaken as the same kind of pajamas. They have common characteristics which make them confusing for some people.

Both types of sleepwear are made of a single piece of clothing. Both cover up majority of your child’s body. They are both sleepwear and even look alike in photographs. Some people also confuse the bodysuit with the two outfits. Bodysuits can be used for sleeping and outdoor wear.

Bodysuits are actually easily distinguishable from the two because bodysuits do not cover the legs. But these three baby outfits are the most popular for newborn infants till they turn around 1 year old. Of the boy and girl pajamas, footed pajamas are the most popular for families that live in colder climates.

Footed PJs can keep a baby warmer because they cover the feet which are highly sensitive to changes in temperature. If there is a part of the body that can feel cold quickly, they are the feet and then the hands. Footies can provide warmth for babies even without socks or blankets.

Onesies cover a baby from the neck down to the ankles. They do not cover the feet or hands. All footies cover the feet and some have optional flipping hand covers to protect the hands. Hands can get cold too if your babies do not wear mittens. The hand covers on some footed pajamas can also prevent your baby from scratching his or her face.

The onesie is a popular choice of many parents who live in temperate climates. Footies can become very warm for children who live in warmer places. To keep your infant cooler during warm summer months, boy or girl pajamas without foot covering might be more comfortable for your baby.

Bodysuits are also preferred clothing for children who live in warm states. Body suits are also easier to handle when it’s time to change nappies because they can be easily opened in the nappy region. Bodysuits have snaps that go over the nappies which can be opened in a split second.

Footed pajamas can be difficult to use if your child relieves himself a lot during sleep. These days, more footies come with a flap in the back for easier nappy changing. Make sure there is a flap at the back when you purchase footed boy or girl pajamas.

Footed PJs are ideal sleepwear for those who live in colder climates because you will never have to worry if your baby is warm enough. There are footies made of fleece and other warm fabrics if you live in arctic weather. You can also cut down on using and washing socks and blankets if your child uses footies.

Bamboo Footed Pajamas

You can always switch to onesies in the spring. If it gets extremely warm during summer, consider clothing you baby in short bodysuits. You can use a bodysuit and let your baby wear thin socks at night for extra precaution.

Footed pajamas are also great for home use and not just for sleeping. It will keep your infant or young toddler warm all day. Your child can crawl and roll around the floor freely because he will be completely protected with clothing.

Even older toddlers enjoy using footies at home because it keeps their feet clean without the need to use slippers or socks. Footies also create a barrier between your child’s feet and the cold floor. The next time you need to buy boy or girl pajamas, consider these points before making a final purchase.