How to Get That Perfect Wedding Band and Engagement Ring Match

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Wedding Rings

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If you are looking for a wedding band to go perfectly with your engagement ring, there are a few things you should know. The first rule is that there are no rules! Of course, there are some popular choices to look at but essentially, the perfect match is the one you’re happy with. There is no right or wrong choice here, only the one you are completely satisfied with. The second rule is that “perfect” is relative only to the person making the choice. If you like what you choose, go for it by all means.

That said, even if there are no rules to creating a perfect match between the engagement ring and the wedding band, there are some guidelines to help you find the choice you’ll be happy with. Here are some of them.

Find the Right Setting

You might find a collection of piercing green emeralds shaped like your favorite animal impressive, but you have to make sure your wedding band is timeless. After all, you are going to be wearing it for the rest of your life. So instead of going for something you might find fun now, go for something you are sure to like in ten, twenty or fifty years.

If you plan on wearing these rings on the same hand, next to each other, you might want to find a setting that matches your engagement ring. A lot of women wear both rings on their left hand, while some wear the engagement ring on the right hand instead. However you plan on wearing them, make sure it reflects in your choice.

Match the Metals

Wearing two different types of metal can be a bit off, even if you choose to wear the rings on separate hands. Therefore, the general rule of the thumb is to pick matching metals for the engagement and the wedding ring. However, if your engagement ring is a mix of white and yellow gold, you have more options to choose from and great ways to make a perfect match. You can choose a similar, two-toned wedding band or one made from one of these metals to create an impressive contrast.

Coordinate the Shapes

If you are going to wear the rings on the same hand you should consider the shape of the wedding band. It has to fit nicely next to the engagement ring, but not appear conjoined either. You should have no problem matching a straight-band engagement ring to any wedding band. However, large prong rings can be a bit tricky to pair.

The shape of the stone is another factor to consider. You should try to match the shape of the gemstones in the wedding ring to the diamond or any central gemstone on your engagement ring. Therefore, pick rounded stones for a cushion or oval cut and square gems for a Princess or other square cuts.

Match the Gemstones

Matching the gemstones can also help create a perfect pairing. Pick a simple wedding band for a traditional solitaire engagement ring. But if your idea of a perfect match involves a band with gemstones, go for it by all means.

If you’re looking for a perfect pair for your engagement ring visit Emerson & Farrar Fine Jewelry at

27 E State St, Redlands, CA 92373, USA
909-798-5888

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5 Ways to Keep Your Car Safe in Order to Protect Your Young Family

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It is natural for parents to worry about keeping their family safe. If you are one of these parents, this is a sign that you are doing a great job. Worrying about your family is no bad thing. However, it is important that you are also looking for suitable solutions. The best approach is to separate all of your concerns into different categories and then tackle them systematically. For instance, you may be concerned about whether or not your vehicle is a suitable environment for your loved ones. If this is the case, you will need to keep reading. Below are five ways to keep your car safe to protect your young family.

Invest in clever storage solutions

Make sure that there is a place for everything in your car. When you are driving on a busy road, the last thing that you want is for your child to grab something they shouldn’t. Lots of small objects lying around could be a choking hazard. That is why you need to invest in clever storage solutions. This will give you complete control over what your family members have access to. It will also ensure that you know where to look in an emergency situation.

Prepare a medical kit

Make sure that you have a medical kit in your vehicle. This is the best way to ensure you are prepared for an emergency situation. It could even be the thing that saves your child’s life. For instance, if your little one seriously struggles with asthma, you may need to find their spare inhaler quickly. If you have a medical kit, you will always know where to look. You should also remember to tell your whole family where the kit is being kept, as if you are driving you will need somebody else to grab it.

Choose the right baby seat

If you have really little ones traveling in your car, you will need to choose the right baby seat. When you do this, you need to take the model of your car into consideration. You should opt for a seat that is easy to use and completely reliable. Remember to read up on the safety guidelines for traveling with young children. This is especially important if you have airbags in your vehicle.

Take care of your vehicle

To keep your vehicle safe, you will need to invest in taking good care of it. Make sure that you only trust the experts. For instance, if you drive a BMW, you are only going to get the best level of service if you reach out to a BMW mechanic. If you are trusting a vehicle with the safety of your young family, it is vital that you don’t leave anything to chance.

Make it clear that you are driving with a young family

You need to make it clear that you are driving with a young family. A ‘baby on board sign’ is a great way to encourage other drivers to be more careful. It is also essential in emergencies. If the worst should happen, and you do get into a car accident, it is vital that the emergency services know to look for a small child.

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Top 7 SEO tools for your website in 2017

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There are many great tools out there to help increase your website traffic and advance your ranking on Google. While there are many new tools being created often, there are some that stand out as the best SEO for websites. A great deal of research has been conducted by industry experts on what tools are the best to use if you want to get authentic results. This article will introduce the top 7 SEO tools that we have found in 2017. It is important to note that while this article will give a brief overview of the tools we have chosen to feature, you should continue to do your own additional research before arriving at a decision on what is best to use for your particular website.

  1. Moz. This is a fantastic tool without many glaring weaknesses as reported by industry professionals in a recent article on PCmag.com. What makes this application great is that it offers a plug-in toolbar as well as page optimization recommendations. While this is a great tool that is receiving wonderful reviews, it can be a challenge to use for those who are new to this type of work. Also keep in mind that it will set you back at least $80 per month.
  2. Ahrefs. This application provides specific site web-crawling capabilities as well as great keyword search functionality. It is important to note that Ahref provides conservative SEO reporting and is typically used for only the most common SEO needs. You can expect to pay $82 a month for the lite version and even more if you want advanced features.
  3. SEMrush. This application offers backlink tracking, a keyword research tool, and provides keyword recommendations as well as SEO tips. While this program is wonderful, it is important to note that many of its parts are still in beta format. Perhaps that is why it is fairly cheap to use at only $69.95 per month.
  4. Scrapebox. For under $100 you can access what is being called the “Swiss Army Knife of SEO” by customers and developers alike. The easy functionality of the interface along with the plethora of information provided such as but not limited to link checkers, keyword search options, keyword creation options, and a proxy harvester.
  5. Pro Rank Tracker. With a variety of plans that can be suitable for any budget, this tool is one that is trusted by thousands of people in the industry. They boast that they are the most comprehensive when it comes to rank tracking and suggesting keywords. They believe in their product so much that they want you to try it for free. No credit card required!
  6. Serped.net. This all-in-one SEO package is only open to those who sign up for it. There are dozens of tools to track your ranking, research keywords, and backlinks. In order to learn more, you simply need to submit your email address and you will be well on your way to advanced SEO for your website.
  7. KWFinder. The most noticeable thing about this program is that it is dirt cheap to use. At only $12 per month, you can try KWFinder without having to worry about going into the red. When using KWFinder, you can expect a solid keyword search as well as suggestions. If you are new to SEO and want to get the hang of it, this is a great place to start.
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Cyber Safety: Avoid Scams On The Net

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The internet has brought a wealth of good things to the world. It’s made it so much easier to stay in contact with one another. And we have access to pages of information without having to leave our doorstep. But like with anything, we need to be super careful. After all, there are a lot of dangers to the net that you and the kids need to be aware of. You don’t want to be left short of money due to a mistake on the web. Therefore, here are some cyber safety tips you need to ensure you avoid scams on the net.

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Always think twice before clicking on an email

It’s so common to get emails now which are attempts to get information out of you. And then these hackers will use this information to take money out of your account, or even to steal your identity. Therefore, as it says on http://lifehacker.com/5420356/the-complete-guide-to-avoiding-online-scams-for-your-less-savvy-friends-and-relatives, you need to be careful before you click on any email. After all, it might not be from the person who it says it’s from. The first thing to check is the email. If it doesn’t have the company’s name in the email, there is a good chance it’s a spam message. Also, you need to check the content of the message. If there are spelling errors and bad grammar, there is also a chance it’s not from the sender. You also need to be wary before clicking any links in the email. After all, if it gives you an uneasy feeling, there is likely to be a reason for this! You can often search on Google about the content to see if it’s legit as well.

Be wary when using survey and review sites

More people than ever are going online to make some extra money. After all, there a ton of ways you can earn some cash. And while there are lots of legitimate websites, there are a few which are scams. In fact, you might end up wasting your time doing a job for them to not receive any money at the end. Therefore, before you do use any of these sites, you should read reviews online first such as https://www.surveyssay.com/quickreward-review/. That way, you know whether it’s worth your time signing up and doing the work for them. And if you do read a bad review, it could stop you making a terrible error!
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Keep your account details to yourself

It’s so easy to put your account information on websites. After all, it means you can quickly make payments when you want to buy an item. But if the site isn’t legitimate, they might use your details for fraud payments. And then you will soon see payments coming out of your account that you didn’t make. Therefore, always make sure it’s a proper site before you insert your details. Also be wary about giving information when you are entering contests and giveaways. After all, it might come back to bite you if you find out it was actually a scam!

And remember to always use complicated passwords. That way, a hacker will struggle to get hold of your password. And make sure you use different ones for each site. That way, you can protect your other details if you do get hacked!

 

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Easy Money : Your Finances Don’t Have To be Nightmare

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So you have the kids to dress, feed and entertain, and the house to look after, and that’s all outside of the time that you spend in work. In fact, you are so busy that if your finances are anything but easy, they just don’t get done. But don’t fret, below are some tips and tricks on how to turn your finances from a difficult nightmare into an easy dream.

Little and often

One of the best ways of turning your finances into a dream instead of a nightmare is in the simple act of keeping on the top of them.

That doesn’t mean pulling out every financial document that you have received in the last three years and pouring over them. In fact, it means that every few days, or at the end of the week you check what is left in your current account and what is still left to go out.

If you compare these against each other, you will then see that any money left is spare. Which can be put to good use in the savings, or even for having a fun day of out with the kids.

Fancy planners

Now some folks think fancy planners are a waste of money, but they can actually really help you get organized if it’s not your strong suit.

In particular, financial planners or planning sheets give you a structure. So you know exactly what to look for, record, and check every time you look at your books.

They also keep all the information all in one place. Which can be a godsend if you need to find some information a rush.

Pinpointing your debts

Now, not many people like knowing exactly how much debt they owe. They are worried that they will end up thinking about it all of the time. Or that it will become a millstone around their neck, just bringing them down. But there is no sense in ignoring what you owe, as this will just lead to trouble.

In fact, it’s much better to know what you have left on your car to pay off, and what the outstanding loan amount on your mortgage is.

This is because not only does it make you more careful with the money that you do have. But it also allows you to put any spare money towards paying your loans off early, saving you a lot of money and stress in the long run.

Joint accounts

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Lastly, if you are still working on separate accounts in your household between you and your partner, this really needs to stop. At least for the bills, you will need a joint account. So it’s as simple as possible to track what is going in and what is coming out.

Otherwise, you end up having to transfer all sorts of money here, there & everywhere, and it can become a messy, overwhelming nightmare. Which is going to mean that your finances suffer and probably your relationship as well. Why do that to yourself?  

 

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5 Ways to Control Your Smart Home

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Photo Credit © yupiramos

With everything from locks, security, lights, and appliances moving from dumb to smart, smart home devices are meant to make life easier. But managing multiple devices can be a task, and there are many different options for controlling your smart home. Which option’s best?

1. Smartphones Control Smart Homes

When using your smartphone to control your smart home, you can control multiple devices from anywhere. With the right devices in place, you can turn off your coffee pot, disarm your alarm system, and make sure the garage door is closed all by pressing a button.

No matter how you choose to control your smart home, a smartphone is going to play a role. In addition to controlling devices you can use your phone to receive alerts of unexpected changes. You can also use it to check on things while you are away and to keep an eye on things. For example, with a connected camera you can use your phone to view live video feed, something not possible using the other control options.

PROS

  • Can View Live Camera Feeds
  • Control From Anywhere

CONS

  • May Require Multiple Apps
  • May Limit Access to One Family Member

2. Voice Commands

Have you ever wanted to say a word and make things happen? Maybe you want to change the channel, or you forgot to turn the light off in the kitchen before getting cozy on the couch. Voice activation and voice commands are no longer a thing of the future; they exist, and they’re getting better. There are many voice activated devices that you can add to your smart home. Currently, you can use Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s HomeKit for voice control. Soon, you will also have the option of using Google Home. As an added benefit, all three options are also capable of acting as personal assistants. They can make shopping lists, play music, answer questions, and even help with your home’s security.

PROS

  • Easy Way To Control Devices While at Home
  • Personal Assistant Features Included

CONS

  • Requires the Purchase of a Separate Device
  • Compatibilities are Still Limited

3. Bluetooth-Based Presence

By using your smartphone and certain Bluetooth devices like Zuli Presence, you can automate each room in your home that has one of these devices. Zuli Smartplugs, for example, are Bluetooth devices used to communicate with you smartphone. When you have at least Smartplugs plugged in, they can automatically sense your smartphone’s presence and triangulate your location in the room and adjust the lighting and the temperature to

  • Easy Way To Control Devices While at Home
  • Personal Assistant Features Included

CONS

  • Requires the Purchase of a Separate Device
  • Compatibilities are Still Limited

3. Bluetooth-Based Presence

By using your smartphone with Bluetooth devices like Zuli Presence, your devices can perform based on your location. Unlike geofencing, which knows when you are home or away, Bluetooth presence knows which room you are in. For example, when you walk into a room, lights will turn on. When you leave the room, they will turn off. When you have at least three Smartplugs, they will triangulate your location to pinpoint what room, assuming you are carrying your smartphone.

PROS

  • Works Automatically
  • Room Specific Automation

CONS

  • Requires That You Carry Your Smartphone
  • Requires a plug in every room for best results

4. Control with a Swipe

A fourth way you can control your smart home is by using gestures. Fibaro, for example, is an easy to install, non-permanent touchscreen that can be plugged in and mounted or battery powered and portable. It is used to control various devices in your home, both smart and non-smart. You can use Fibaro with your home security system, your entertainment system, and more.

Swipe allows you to control your smart home with 6 simple gestures: up, down, left, right, circle left and circle right. You can use a simple gesture or up to 6 gesture sequences to signal your devices to complete specific tasks. For example, swiping up and down or left and right can turn something off or on.

PROS

  • Mountable and Portable
  • Touch Free Gestures

CONS

  • Limited to 6 Gestures and 6 Sequences
  • Must be Close to the Device

5. Setting the Rules with Automated Rules

Setting up automated rules can be a long process, but once you have the rules set, you’re done. Automated rules are events that occur based on conditions or triggers. For example, if the kids arrive home from school Monday-Friday at 4:00 p.m., you can set a rule to disarm your alarm system and send you a notification when the kids walk through the front door. You can use motion sensors to turn on lights and even set rules to turn the air conditioning on and off at certain times or when the house reaches a specified temperature. Automated rules allow you to set it and forget it.

PROS

  • Runs Automatically
  • Can Control Multiple Devices With One Action

CONS

  • Initial Setup Takes Time
  • Assumes You Follow a Schedule

So which one is the best? For me, a combination is the winner. When you’re away from home, use a smartphone. When you’re home, use your voice. But in my opinion, rules are the epitome of a smart home. A home that knows what you want when you want it is truly smart indeed.

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Five Ways Employees Could Be Cheating Your Time and Attendance System

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Though most employees are reliable, there are still a couple who try to scam their timesheets; these are known as time thefts. Time theft is the purposely fraudulent act of an employee faking his hours worked.

This action implies that the employee receives pay for the time that was not put into work. This scam is costly and an extra baggage for a company. Hence, it is vital that you know the most widely recognized ways employees could cheat on your organization’s time and attendance system.

Here they are:

1. Untruthful Attendance Data Entry

In numerous companies, attendance data must be moved from time sheets or time cards into the payroll system. For this situation, a dishonest typist or in-charge might just alter the information. In addition to intended scamming, this system is susceptible to oversights and typographical error.

2. Buddy Punching

When an employee has another close employee to “punch” or sign the time sheet for him; because he is late or he is absent, buddy punching happens. This permits the worker to add hours to his time & attendance system for which he did not work.

3. Inflating Work Hours

Electronic or manual time sheets are utilized in several companies where compensation depends on an hourly rate. Fabricating these records might be as simple as writing the inaccurate start and close time, and inflating the hours worked, depending upon the system.

This data might be hard to validate when your employees start and end shifts at different times. In this case, you would be compensating an employee for hours he didn’t work.

4. Favoritism

Favoritism is precisely favoring somebody not because he is doing an excellent job, but because of some reasons not related to job performance. It shows for instance when a boss picks who gets overtime records even if that employee does not perform well enough to deserve them. Or sometimes he uses the power to override attendance.

5. Human error

When you depend on punch cards or time sheets, there is constantly a possible for human error. Your workers might mistakenly write down their time on the sheet. And your HR department can consume a lot of time amending these mistakes. The mistakes that were overlooked could lead to incorrect compensation for workers and other payroll issues.

How to settle it?

Selecting the most reliable way of tracking your employees time and attendance is a bit tricky. Scamming the attendance system is a serious matter, and as bosses, it’s your job to deal with your workforce in an intelligent and well-organized way. Being mindful that this problem is prevalent all over your workplace is an initial step to putting an end to this fraudulent action.   

Also, nowadays, with the initiation of modern technology, there is an assortment of reasonable yet advanced time and attendance systems that will support you in tracking your employees and avoid or at least lessen scam in attendance.

 

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What’s New in School Lunch Boxes?

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Perhaps you took brown bag lunches to school when you were a kid or carried one of those vintage metal boxes with matching thermoses. You may have been one of those kids with fabric lunch totes or perhaps you decided it was simpler to enjoy the cafeteria lunches (especially on pizza day). There have been significant changes in the way kids lunch boxes have been designed over the years. Your kid may be more likely to eat packed lunches with new features that keep food at a reasonable temperature and make it easier to carry different types of food.

The Right Temperature

Think about how differently you may view some of your favorite foods if they are served at different temperatures than you are accustomed to. Chances are, you probably wouldn’t like chili so much if it were chilled or a cool cheese or deli sandwich if it was left in the sun most of the day. You can find a kids lunch box that will keep your food at the right temperature and keep it fresh and appealing. There are few things more discouraging than to pack a delicious sandwich only to find that by mid-day it is unpalatable, with warm mayonnaise, wilted mayonnaise, “sweating” cheese and smashed tomatoes. An insulated box may not be a refrigerator, but it will keep your food tasty.

Stay Safe

You may not think of a packed lunch as a potential safety issue, but it is important to be aware of the potential threats posed by bacteria and harmful materials. Spoiled food can do more than give you stomach pain, but can harbor dangerous bacteria. Your child may be more sensitive to this than adults, so it is important to be vigilant and select a lunch box that prevents spoilage, regardless of the weather. In addition, look for lunch boxes that are free of harmful plastics and lead. While many lunch boxes have some plastics, select those that are PVC and BPA free.

Be Stylish

You may not want to advertise the fact that you are brown bagging it, so you can select a lunch box or tote that is stylish and doesn’t look like a lunch box. You can find a full range of fashionable totes that can blend in with our outfit and styles. Children get almost as excited about selecting designs for lunch boxes as they are outfits for Halloween. Your kid has to carry his or her lunch box every day, so make sure you choose a design that will bring a smile to their face.

Not the Same Brown Bag You Remember

Lunch boxes have come a long way from the time you went to school. They are so advanced that you may feel like taking your lunch to work rather than spending money at the café. You can opt for frugal, healthy lunches for you and your kids with attractive lunch boxes that keep food safe, free of bacteria and tasty. You won’t have to face another uneaten sandwich or another untouched fruit salad you packed with your kid’s lunch. Look for lunch boxes that will keep food fresh and delicious all day.

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Garbage Can Life Hack

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garbage can life hackMy husband came up with something pretty genius and I thought I’d share with my readers who likely have the same problem. Our children have a bad habit of stuffing the garbage can in the kitchen so the bag falls down into the can. Ewwwwww! Hubby came up with the idea to put 2 Command Strips upside-down on the sides of the can to hold the ties of the garbage bag down keeping the garbage bag in place. Genius!!!
garbage life hack

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How the Internet Can Help You Learn New Skills

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The internet has become one of the most effective technologies for teaching and learning new skills. Students can learn wherever and whenever they want to. Below are some of the most effective ways to learn online.

Mock Exam Websites

In some instances, you may be required to take some kind of test. The best way to prepare for such a test is to take a mock exam that is similar to the real test you will eventually take. For example, if you are learning to drive, you will have to take a driving theory test before you can take your practical. You can prepare for this theory test using a website like TopTests.co.uk, which includes a range of mock exams that will help you prepare properly for the real driving theory test.

Online Video Technology

Video has become one of the most effective ways to carry out online demonstrations and to teach people. Many of the videos available online are free to view through video sharing websites like YouTube, Vimeo and Daily Motion. In other situations, teachers, lecturers and other experts charge a fee for access to their videos. However, the fees charged are usually much less than you would have to pay for the same sort of training or lessons carried out offline in a traditional classroom environment.

Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is particularly effective for one to one tuition as well as small group training. Skype, Google Talk and a range of other free and affordable video conferencing systems are available for this purpose. These platforms make it easy to take video conference calls from any location, which means you can easily learn a new skill from someone based anywhere in the world. If you’re an expert in a particular area, you could even help other people through video conferencing too. For example, many people teach English to non-native speakers in this way.

Membership Websites

Membership websites are a popular choice of site for many webmasters. A central membership website can be accessed by huge numbers of people who each have access to the content of that site. This content can include videos, text, documents and audio files. When setting up a site like this, it’s important to encourage interaction between the moderators and fellow members. This interaction increases the value of a membership website and makes it a more effective online resource for people who want to find out about the latest developments in a particular niche or industry.

Mobile Apps and Mobile Websites

Mobile app and mobile website technologies take online learning to a new level. Once you have a smart phone and the appropriate app or access to a mobile website, you can learn on the move and from any location that has a broadband signal.

The internet has become the number one destination for people who want to learn a new skill. However, many people don’t realise just how easy it is to use the internet in this way. The ways to learn online mentioned above are as effective, if not better, than the traditional methods we are accustomed to.

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