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Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Your Autoresponder Is The Most Important Tool For Generating Web Income

Think of an autoresponder as a tireless salesman ready to work and sell night and day without hassle, hence the reason it is the most important tool in your internet marketing business.

The majority of the people who visit your website will not buy from you on their first visit. In fact, most people do not buy a product on the Internet until they have seen it or heard about it at least 7 times. Think about this yourself. How many times did you hear about a product or service before you actually bought it? If it is any less than 7 times, you are a little unusual. But the point is, most people need multiple exposures to a product or service before they buy it.

If you go out and spend a great deal of time and money promoting a product on the Internet and you do not have an effective way to capture and follow-up with your website visitors to remind them about the products and services you are promoting, you will lose a lot of sales. A great way to capture visitors is to offer a free subscription to your Newsletter and the autoresponder will do the job of following up with your visitors

If your sales page captures 30 subscribers after you send 100 visitors to it and you are using an autoresponder, you have a very good chance of automatically converting 10 or more of those 30 subscribers to customers in the future through your automated follow-up autoresponder/newsletter series. Remember, whenever someone visits your home page or your sales page and signs up for your newsletter, they will be automatically followed up. All of those follow-up messages are working on your behalf to provide value, build trust and ultimately lead your subscriber to buy one of your affiliate products and/or sign up for the service offered.

Your sales page should work to capture your visitor’s name and email address in the process of introducing them to the products or opportunities you are offering, and will automatically build your subscriber list in your autoresponder, which gives each of your visitor’s a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc. exposure to your recommended products and opportunities. This additional exposure through your automatic email follow-up series gently reminds your visitor’s about your site and gives them the opportunity to sign up when the time is right for them.

See, people do not say no to you. People usually only say no to an opportunity if the timing is not right for them. By capturing subscribers on your website and following up with them via your autoresponder, you will still be there when the timing is right for them. And you will not have to lift a finger to do this. It is all 100% automated and handled for you 24/7/365!

That is the beauty of the Internet, you never have to personally experience rejection! The system does all the sorting, qualifying and selling for you, automatically.

So, optimizing your autoresponder is very, very important since your autoresponder is your tireless, auto-pilot salesman working for you every moment of the day to follow-up with your website visitors, build trust, handle objections and ultimately make the sale and generate web income for you.

Cynthia Minnaar works from home online and invites you to visit http://www.cyns-home-biz.com for ways to generate income online. Visit http://www.cyns-home-biz.com/pips.html to start your own web income generating website complete with 400 day pre-written email autoresponder campaign.

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Care Of Oil Paintings In Your Home, Care Of Fine Art

For your famous oil painting reproductions and original artwork to retain their beauty for many years to come, The World’s Artist (TWA) http://theworldsartist.com provides the following simple guide for the care of your oil painting reproductions, portraiture or fine art original oil painting.

Handling your oil paintings: Unframed oil painting reproductions or original oil painting should be handled as little as possible and when oil painting reproductions or oil paintings must be handled, ensure that your hands are washed beforehand and are free of grease or lotions. Never lift your unframed oil painting reproduction (not on a stretcher frame) with bare fingers by the edges or touch the surface. Wear gloves, use tissue paper, or lift from beneath using cardboard to support and hold the cardboard, not the oil painting.

Framing your oil paintings: Framing should be done to the highest quality affordable, using acid free materials that will not interact with the hand painted oil painting to enable it to be displayed for optimum visual effect. Quality framing is not expensive and well worth it.

Hanging your oil paintings: Your oil painting reproduction or original oil painting should be hung using high quality multi strand, braided picture wire, attached to the frame (or stretcher frame) via swivel jointed eyes and suspended from heavy duty wall hooks. Heavy framed fine art should always be hung from two hooks, each capable of supporting double the weight of the frame for safety reasons.

Lighting: Avoid direct sunlight. Fading due to UV rays is cumulative and irreversible. If possible, display in a room with blinds or curtains.

Climate: Avoid locating oil painting reproductions, portraits in oil or original oil paintings in an area of sudden temperature changes from hot to cold. The room temperature and relative humidity should remain reasonably constant, as large temperature changes cause expansion and contraction of both the oil painting and frame, which can lead to structural damage in hand painted canvas oil paintings and cause a small rippling effect. Temperature should be between 50F/10c to 77F/25c and between 40% to 60% relative humidity. Do not locate directly in the field of any forced ventilation. If you are located in a humid or coastal area, consider the use of a de-humidifier.

Cleaning oil paintings copies: Oil paintings should be gently dusted, if anything sticks to the paintings, have it professionally cleaned.

Accidents: If the oil painting reproduction or portrait painting gets wet, seek repair advice from a professional immediately. It is important to dry the 100% hand painted canvas oil painting right away before mould starts. Your home insurance should cover such accidents.

Varnishing oil paintings: All 100% hand painted canvas oil paintings and portraiture are provided unvarnished by default. Varnishing is not essential. It can undertaken by an experienced buyer or a restorer: in order to be protect the fine art for display, to give it a desired matt, semi-gloss, or gloss surface finish or to simply enhance the surface luster after a period of time. Varnishing also gives a uniform surface appearance to your paintings, as different oil paints and colors can harden with a slightly different surface ’sheen’, especially at areas of overlapping between sessions. Do not varnish for at least 6 months to allow sufficient hardening of the oil paint.

Al Mansour is the founder of The World’s Artist and a oil painter and watercolor artist, having had many exhibits in the USA.

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10 Ways To Explore The Grand Canyon

Are you planning a trip to the Grand Canyon but don’t know what kind of activities there are to see and do once you reach the Grand Canyon?

If you are planning to visit the Grand Canyon either as a 1-Day-Activity or if you wish to make a week of it, there are plenty of options.

Here are 10 ways to explore the Grand Canyon. Many people could easily spend all day just looking at this magical wonder, but there are other ways you can enjoy the mighty Grand Canyon.

If you are pressed for time, it is certainly still feasible to enjoy the Grand Canyon as a 1-Day activity; you may just feel a little rushed. If you leave early and prepare yourself for a long day, it can be done.

If you are a traveler who has a little extra time, you would likely appreciate taking that extra day or two and view the other sightseeing attractions as you make your way to the Grand Canyon.

Many visitors spend the night in another town, such as Sedona, Arizona, where the beauty of the red-rock will astound you. If you choose to drive from the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, plan on about 4.5 hours of travel time to get to the Grand Canyon.

If you decide to stay in Flagstaff before traveling to Grand Canyon National Park, it is approximately 80 miles away, which should take about an hour and a half to drive there. If you stay in Sedona, the Canyon is about a two-hour drive.

The Grand Canyon National Park offers a free shuttle at the South Rim in Grand Canyon Village, along Hermit Road. Note that these shuttles provide transportation only and are not considered tour buses. (Bus Tours are available, however.)

You are required to exit the bus to view the Canyon. It is important to note that if you or someone in your group has a physical challenge, most shuttles are inaccessible to wheelchairs.

Here are 10 excellent ways to explore the Grand Canyon.

1. Go boating or rafting. There are plenty of companies who are willing to take you on a very specialized tour-guided river experience inside the Grand Canyon. If you choose to go rafting, though, keep in mind that the water can get a little rough at times, but you will certainly be in good hands with your tour guide and required life jacket.

If you are timid about water, consider the fact that the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is said to be one of the wildest stretches of white water in the United States.

2. Go hiking. Many hiking trails exist throughout the area. The South Rim is where the most popular hike is. The name of this trail on the South Rim is named Bright Angel Trail, located near Grand Canyon Village.

On the North Rim, the most popular hiking trail is North Kaibab. (No permit is required here.)

No permit is needed for day hiking, but you will need a permit if you choose to camp inside the Grand Canyon, as dictated by the National Park Service.

The most popular backpacking site is the Bright Angel Campground. Bright Angel Campground is located at the end of Bright Angel Trail.

3. If you are not afraid of heights, you can always try out the new Grand Canyon Skywalk which recently opened this past spring! The Skywalk is officially open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. It first opened March 28, 2007, and from all accounts, is something very special and exciting.

4. Take a helicopter or a mule ride inside the Canyon. You will find several companies who will give you a bird’s eye view down inside the Canyon.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is the first walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the Canyon floor. It extends 70 feet from the rim and is located at Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point.

5. Take a helicopter ride. Tours originate at either the Grand Canyon Airport, five miles south of the park entrance or in Sedona.

6. Drive to the South Rim and park your car and walk to the edge of the Grand Canyon. If you don’t like large groups, or if you just prefer doing things on your own time, you certainly have this option.

7. You can access the Grand Canyon Railway train for some fun, too. Sit back and relax! Jump the train in Williams, Arizona, where it will escort you precisely to Grand Canyon Village.

8. Take a bus tour. Many tour companies are available for your tour to the Grand Canyon.

9. Take a Jeep Tour. If you like the wilderness, you will find that these Jeep tours are a great way to take in limitless nature along with Native American Indian history, culture and more.

10. Settle for an Audio Tour. You can also opt for your own personal guide on a CD. These are also available to visitors and provide a learning experience at every listeners own pace.

Cecilia Valenzuela is a full-time small business entrepreneur who resides in Arizona. Cecilia Valenzuels works alongside other small business owners who are also working online in their quest to become successful. For more information on the Grand Canyon along with history, facts, tips, and more about living in the desert southwest, you can find out more at http://www.My-Arizona-Desert-Living.com

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Andrew Jalbert’s novel, West Across the Board

Andrew Jalbert’s novel, West Across the Board, chronicles one man’s journey back to the Florida Keys to see his dying friend. For both men, it is a journey of lifetime reflection and liberation. In 1934, at a saloon in the Florida Keys, Lazaro, a passionate and brilliant fisherman, meets Dominic, a civil engineer graduate. The two young men instantly bond over a game of chess. The game would become more than recreation. It would become the cement that binds the two through a lifetime of love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption.

With such themes as the beauty and danger of nature entwining itself with the strength and frailties of human nature, a story of growth and survival unfolds. Drawing on Physicists research into the Chaos Theory, Dominic, a pragmatist, tries to find order from tragic events that affected the choices both he and Lazaro made. Lazaro, a man forever changed from the loss of his father during a storm at sea, reflects on his life in a more traditional sense. Dominic tries to find a logical pattern of events, while Lazaro buries his need to resolve issues that led to his choice to leave the Florida Keys for a life in Wisconsin. It is only when the two men come together that Lazaro is able to confront his past.

As historical fiction, the author delivers a carefully crafted and detailed account of life on the Florida Keys. The story is rich in the sights, sounds, and description of life in the 1930’s. Drawing on real events from the past, the fictional story is well implemented within its historical context. The historical and nautical details illustrated within the story are well researched and accurately presented.

West Across the Board delivers a well crafted tale of two men’s journey back together to find redemption and peace. The history and backdrop of the Florida Keys makes readers feel they are accompanying Lazaro on his journey. I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy well written historical fiction that delves into the human condition.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

Paperback: 190 pages
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 28, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0595421946
ISBN-13: 978-0595421947

Tracy Roberts is the Editorial Coordinator for Write For You Field Services. Tracy has a degree in English and over 15 years experience in the writing business. Her work has been published both independently and in numerous collected works with other published writers. website: http://writefieldservices.com/

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10 Ways to a Closer Relationship with God

What’s your day like so far? Did you have time to enjoy a cup of coffee, eat breakfast, spend some time with your family before they headed out the door? Does the day you are anticipating feel exciting, daunting, boring? What do you plan to do to make it special, inviting, filled with love and grace? We each have the opportunity to welcome God into our lives each day, spend time with God, and tangibly feel God’s spirit in our thoughts, conversations and actions. Encouraging ourselves to cherish the pleasure of knowing God in everyday ways is a joy, and recognizing that one simple fact is the basis for creating a closer relationship with God. Here are ten simple ways you can use to start creating a closer relationship with God.

1. Pray - Prayer is simply carrying on a conversation with God, the same way you communicate with anyone else you love. Not sure about that? Consider how you talk with your spouse, your parents, your friends or your children. What do you want to know about them? What do you want them to know about you? Prayer helps you explore your relationship with God. Just like any relationship, learning to know and be known by God takes time - a lifetime. Make time each day to visit with God. Share your thoughts and listen for God’s words for you. You may like to keep a prayer journal or dedicate a portion of your existing journal to your visits with God. Not quite sure where to begin? Decide what is important to you and mention it to God. You will always find a listening ear and an open heart. Remember also Jesus’ words concerning prayer. “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the hour of trial, but rescue us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9-13).”

2. Study - Reading is becoming a lost art, but you can integrate a bit of this wonderful activity into your life in ways that work for you. Newspapers, magazines, devotionals, essays, web articles, novels, short stories, political commentaries, biographies, poetry and the Bible can all shape themselves to fit into the twenty minutes you lie awake in bed before you are ready to fall asleep, or the half hour you spend watching a television show you really don’t like that much anyway. Why study? It’s a big world that God has created to share with us. While far too easy to stay cloistered in our routines, mental stagnation is the next step into the abyss that drags our spiritual lives right over the cliff. Making the effort to expand your world to include more of God’s creation expands your image of God, which makes it a whole lot easier to see God in action. Other ways to incorporate study into your life may be available through your local church’s adult education programs, your community college or your local library. Being open to study and learning keeps our minds open to God’s presence and purpose.

3. Worship - Praising God, thanking God, giving God your attention is an important part of feeling closer to the One who creates, redeems and sustains us. How and where you choose to worship is personal, sometimes in community and other times in private. Worshipping God, honoring God, connects us to God’s ongoing work in the world and refreshes our souls. While worship may have been framed as an obligation, a duty or a task at other times in your life, this may be a good time to rethink worship as a gift to yourself that only God can give.

4. Enjoy Life - “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).” Jesus’ words from John’s gospel remind us that life is not a war, a contest or a race. Life is a gift , a pleasure and a journey designed with you in mind. Having been created in God’s image, it is time to celebrate. God created us with love and delight, and wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Enjoying life is another way to feel closer to God.

5. Journal - Journaling gives us back our focus, helps us pay attention to the details of life and sort through the muck and mire to get to what really matters. Whether journaling random thoughts, descriptions of daily events, conversations or memories, prayers or feelings, putting pen to paper about our lives and our world puts those experiences into perspective in a way no other activity can. Spending a few minutes a day jotting down your thoughts can also help you see patterns in your life, those that may be causing challenges and those that are nurturing you. Journaling most assuredly can guide you to see and understand how God is working in your life in ways you would not otherwise have noticed. God is in the details, and in journaling, the details will be right in front of you to ponder.

6. Fellowship - Spending time with friends, family and our faith community adds richness and depth to our lives, just as God intended. We were created as individuals, but also for community. Paul’s first letter tot he Thessalonian church shares these thoughts: “We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers constantly, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 1:2-3).” We are all in this together, sharing space and sharing our lives. God’s gift of fellowship shares the importance of who each of us is and how we each contribute to God’s purpose as a whole. Whenever we gather in fellowship, we remember that God is with us, indeed, with all of us.

7. Serve - While fellowship reminds us we are a part of a larger purpose, service is the gift we give to that purpose. What are your favorite things to do? What are you passionate about? Chances are, with prayerful thought, you can find some great ways to share God’s loving spirit with those around you in ways that tap into your gifts to serve. serving is giving the best you have to offer to God’s community, which is all of us. When we each serve with our individual gifts, god is always there to celebrate with us.

8. Sometimes it is important to stop talking, stop thinking and just listen. Close your eyes, hear what is going on around you, and be wherever you are. Our world is heavily invested in visual images as a means of communication. Taking our focus off this major attention-getter and intentionally placing it in another direction can awaken all of our senses to who God is in our lives. Hearing the wind whistle around your house during a storm, a siren in the distance or a dog barking in your neighbor’s yard speaks of God in nature, God’s presence in times of need and God’s love in a kind companion. Where else can you hear God? Close your eyes and listen.

9. Reflect - Meditation and reflection on your relationship with God will dazzle and delight you! Why? Giving yourself permission to appreciate that God created you, God loves you, God redeems and sustains you every moment of every day of your life is exhilarating. You belong here, nestled in the strength and beauty of God’s love because you are a part of God’s creation. How does that make you feel? Think about it.

10. Act - “Whether you know it or not, you live by what you believe,” is the legacy I was blessed with from my maternal grandmother. Living by what we believe is more than following a routine of rudimentary actions we think make us look like we believe in God. How does God’s love inform your life? How does God’s grace inspire you to act? Actions sometimes do speak louder than words because actions show us and those around us that we mean what we say.

Cory L. Kemp

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10 Tips for Choosing and Placing Unique Outdoor Yard Art

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially when it comes to garden art. It all boils down to finding pieces that are unique and special to you and that make you feel good.

Many homeowners wouldn’t dream of putting any kind of garden art in their backyard unless it was very traditional. They like formal garden art like stone or concrete statuary of angels, gargoyles and goddesses. Formal garden art also includes ornate birdbaths and heavy classical water fountains.

Others take their garden art far less seriously and want unique outdoor yard art with a more modern look and feel. This group of backyard lovers enjoy nostalgic and fun resin or bronze sculptures of children and animals of every kind. I’ve even seen alligator statuary yard art!

Other examples of this semi-formal garden art include copper art for patio and yard, stainless steel yard art, topiary wire garden sculptures, as well as handcrafted items like one-of- a- kind birdhouses, stain glass stepping stones, pottery, and other unique outdoor yard art.

Then there’s the crowd who declare that art should be just plain fun and crazy. They like informal garden art. Their taste is off the wall. They love to shake things up with a few pink flamingos, or to decorate their gardens with unusual household objects like broken china plates, a dressmaker’s dummy, even an old toilet seat lid.

They like to transform old junk into beautiful works of art. No need to waste anything. Try placing recycled metal garden art in your backyard or use architectural salvage to create garden art from old windows.

Whatever you consider garden art, here are 10 places to display it to bring out its full charm.

• In a boring, bare part of the yard to add interest and stimulate conversation.

• At the end of a path to add drama.

• In any area to add comic relief. How about some playful topiary wire garden sculptures of your favourite animal like a lion or a dinosaur?

• In front of an ugly spot to hide dead patch.

• Directly in line with an unwanted view of the neighbour’s yard to create privacy.

• On a wall or fence to visually break up the long monotonous line. I have a beautiful concrete painted face hanging on one part of my fence and a mirror hanging on another to add interest. Any garden wall art sculpture will do.

• In front of a colorful burst of foliage to punctuate the space. My classical white bird bath looks gorgeous just in front of my huge pink rose bush.

• Hidden behind some greenery so it just peeks out a little to create a feeling of antiquity. This will put plants in the spotlight.

• Within the frame of a beautiful view to enhance the view even more. My backyard is on the lake and the view is made even more beautiful by a piece of unique outdoor yard art –A fountain of Poseidon the sea God that we have made part of the view.

• In a rock garden to create feeling of garden gallery. The rocks are natural pedestals for the art and create a wonderful playground for eye to bounce around in and land on art.

Don’t forget about the view from inside. Take a look out your window to see where you might place garden art so that it draws you out into the backyard.

Finally, less is more. Too much garden art will make your backyard look junky. All you need is a few interesting pieces of unique outdoor yard art to personalize your backyard and give it a sense of place.

Deborah Boland © 2006 All Rights Reserved

Deborah Boland is the host of the popular HGTV Canada TV series, Backyard Pleasures, and author of the eBook: 7 Easy Steps to Transform Your Ho-Hum Backyard into a Breathtaking Oasis. Sign up for Deborah’s FREE special report: TOP 3 Backyard Design Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them! For more info on fun backyard designs and creating the backyard of your dreams, Visit http://www.backyardpleasures.com or read her blog at http://www.backyardpleasuresblog.com.

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Are You ALSO Groaning Under Expensive Fuel Prices?

At first the world thought it had found a way out when it discovered oil. Cars could be powered on fuel from oil… planes could be powered… and most importantly machines could be powered. And with all these, progress could be made that would improve the whole of humanity.

Many years later, we are no longer so sure of that. Despite the incredible progress being made by the discovery and use of fuel from oil, we have also taken many years backwards.

This is because apart from the damage that fuel has caused to the environment, it has also caused a lot of economic damage to the income of lots of people, not only in the United States but in many other countries of the world.

Almost everyday the costs of fuel increases all over the world, whether or not the people can afford it. There are many countries that pay so much for oil that many people are forced not to own cars, just to avoid paying so high for fuel.

Many people insist that there is nothing we can do about it. Some would jokingly ask - “Or do you have an alternative to fuel?”

The good news is that YES, now we have an alternative to fuel for powering our vehicles. The BEST news is that the alternative is practically FREE.

No longer MUST we be forced to depend solely on fuel to power our vehicles. Now there’s an alternative that doesn’t cost anything to use.

Can’t wait to hear what it is? Here goes…

WATER!

Yes, you can now power your car on water as well as gas, thereby saving lots of money on gas.

How does it work?

This is the use of simple technology of putting together of home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car’s battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown’s Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline.

To get started, do your due diligence to find out more about this technology and how you too can save cost by fueling your car with water and gas, instead of 100% gas! Thankfully, on the Internet you can find information for free.

But a word of caution: ensure that you don’t depend on any information that tells you that it’s possible to run your car on 100% water. Such technology are not only too expensive but very complicated.

Water hybrid cars are the perfect solution: part water, part gasoline - and you don’t have to buy a new car!

King J. For

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Top 10 Holiday Lip Picks for ‘06 (and under $20!)

What to get her, what to get her…something fun, something unique, something she’ll use, and something from a boutique. Lipple (a cross of little and lip) stocking stuffers abound this year with lip wear gifts under $20 that are sure to please and most include shipping. Don’t want to break the bank, but look like you did? Get the ultimate of gifts with much-needed winter lip wear.

Glosses, tints, pots, balms, butters and more are everywhere. How do you choose which one? That depends a lot on who you’re buying for, but going with her personality will help a lot in determining which one she’d love.

Need a little guidance? Help is on the way! Here are my picks for this year’s Holiday Season.

#1 - For the gal who has everything, something unique is sure to please. You want to let her know that you thought long and hard about what to get her and that you aim to please. Jaqua’s Pink Buttercream Frosting Lip Whip would be a great choice!

http://www.oohlalips.com/pink-buttercream-frostingbrlip-whip-p-636.html

#2 - We know plenty of ladies who are dieting don’t we? Although we often wonder why, we still want to show them we respect their choice of no longer diving into milkshakes and birthday cakes at every opportunity. You can do this by grabbing them lip wear that sure to stay on the lips and not on the hips! This lady in your life needs Bag Lunch Co.’s Birthday Cake Lip Balm. Don’t think that’s a great choice for the Holidays? Try a tube of Body Bakery’s Dutch Chocolate Cake Lip Butter. Yep, that’ll do it.

http://www.oohlalips.com/slice-birthday-cakebrlip-balm-p-645.html - Birthday Cake Lip Balm- $4

http://www.oohlalips.com/dutch-chocolate-cakebrlip-butter-p-609.html - Dutch Chocolate Cake Lip Butter - $4

#3 - The coffee lover girlfriend. Gourmet coffee is sure to please especially if she can keep it in her purse and never have to worry about spilling a drop on her shirt (not to mention the $4-$5 a splurge). Crazy Rumors’ Perk - Mocha Latte is calling her name. For $4 a tube, you just can’t beat it.

http://www.oohlalips.com/mochabrlatte-p-588.html

#4 - Sassy n’ Spicy girls just love items that reflect them. For these non-forgettable friends we have Mad Gab’s Cinnamon Lip Lube.

http://www.oohlalips.com/cinnamonbr-lube-p-591.html - Cinnamon Lip Lube - $3

#5 - We all have a girlfriend that pops into mind when we think of “Girls Night Out!” These ladies are classy, hip, and the definition of fun. For them, we’ve chosen Pina Colada Lip Balm or if that’s just not hitting it, N.Y. Appletini will do it.

http://www.oohlalips.com/pina-coladabrlip-balm-p-653.html - Pina Colada - $3

http://www.oohlalips.com/appletinibrlip-balm-p-658.html - N.Y. Appletini - $4

#6 - Pampering Beauty. Know a gal that needs a reason to pamper herself? Secure her a couple of minutes alone with our pampered lip pick: Luscious Lip Mask by Raw Beauty.

http://www.oohlalips.com/luscious-mask-p-603.html - $9.50

#7 - Getting enough sleep is essential to everyone’s well-being (especially if you’re around the person who isn’t) and if you’re looking for the perfect bedtime balm to help her get some much-needed zzzzz’s, our pick for night lip care with a touch of scent is Lavendar Lullabyzzz by Body Bakery.

http://www.oohlalips.com/lavender-lullabyzzz-brbedtime-balm-p-605.html - $6

#8 - Not so in love with the Holidays girlfriend. These ladies, while we love them dearly, may not feel that the Holiday Season is all its cracked up to be. For them, we’ve chosen a timeless, yet classic selection of fruity flavored lip wear. Nothing fancy, but enough to say that you care (and oh-so-subtly spread some Holiday cheer her way.) Blueberry Moose Smooch is sure to brighten anyone’s day.

http://www.oohlalips.com/blueberrybrmoose-smooch-p-613.html - $3

#9 - Some girlfriends are just not that excited about food-scented lip balms. Let’s face it, we’re all different and that’s what makes us unique. For those on your list that will love a little lip lift, but perhaps not in bakery or flowery scents, we’ve chosen an aromatic fresh spearmint lube that she’s sure to love.

http://www.oohlalips.com/spearmintbrlip-lube-p-594.html - $3

#10 - Last, but not least there has to be something unique and stocking-tuckable for little lips as well. Alley Katz has it goin’ on this year with their notebook lip glosses for girls and tweens. A must-have for the growing diva in any family.

http://www.oohlalips.com/lip-glossbrbook-p-624.html - $9.50

Angela Strosnider is all about everything girlly and loves working with sites of this nature. http://OohLaLips.com is one of them. Check out the latest from Angela and OohLaLip.com at: http://pinkparty.typepad.com/oohlalips/.

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Wonderful, Magickal, Mustika-Pearls Part 1

Freaks and anomalies are found abound in Nature and her creations–if we would just look for them. “Mustikas” or “Magickal Pearls” having their origin in animals and plants are just some of Nature’s curiosities hardly known or mentioned in the literature of the Occident, accept perhaps in faerie tales. It is different in the East, however. Pearls, other than those originating from oysters are mentioned in the Hindu scripture, “Sri Garuda Purana,” where it explains the powers of several types of pearls derived from mammals, reptiles and even the natural conditions or specific events of Nature. In Indonesia, legends are found in which brave men died searching for these pearls–and when acquired they are treasured and valued as high as other family heirloom items such as kerises, spear heads, and other sacred objects. Almost all magickal stones mentioned in Arabian, Chinese, and other Eastern tales or legends actually refer to mustikas, or magickal pearls of an organic origin. Dragons, for instance, in Chinese lore, are known to guard pearls–these pearls are actually produced by them rather than acquired from some external source.

It would be appropriate here to explain the word “Mustika”: it is from the Kawi language, of an old Javanese origin and translates as, “magick jewel,” or “precious stone.” Some Indonesian occultists use the word to refer to any magickal object or power. That most western occultists and shamans do not mention animal pearls or pearls originating from plants is quite unusual in itself. One would expect this knowledge to be universal, especially among aboriginal shamans in all parts of the world–yet we find that this is not–as far as we can tell (if anyone can offer us some info on this regard we would greatly appreciate it). In contrast, the shamans of India, China, and South-East Asia are always on the look-out for these occult objects as they hold great power and magickal virtues–powers and virtues often employed in magickal work, mystical rites, spiritual development, and occult healings. In the past, kings, ministers, and noblemen sought for them and paid handsome rewards for those able to acquire them–many have died trying. Unfamiliar with pearls of origin other than oysters, westerners approach the subject with a good deal of skeptism–even those involved in the occult are somewhat surprised at the possibility. This shows that a good deal of work and investigation still lies before the seeker and average practitioner of the occult from the Occident in the probings of Eastern Mysteries. We also still have to hear what open-minded zoologists and botanists have to say about these mustika-pearls.

In Indonesia, a shamanic specialist on the animal kingdom called a “pawang” is normally the one that goes looking for these objects in the jungles and wilderness. Sometimes magickal pearls are acquired in an occult manner directly from the faerie realms where they are guarded by elemental beings–often with considerable psychological struggle. Pawangs are those who speak the “language” of animals, birds and plants. The pawang would meditate and sleep in the wilds requesting Nature for her gifts in the form of mustikas. In dreams or while in the trance-state he is guided by the spirit-dwellers and guardians of the forests and jungles as to where mustikas may be acquired, and sometimes what he has to do in order to acquire them. He is almost always directed to caves, nearby lakes or streams and shown the cadavers or remains of animals or plants and trees where they are found. Animals are never hunted for their pearls, as shamans and pawangs respect them. Nevertheless, pearls are also sometimes found in animals being hunted for food by native huntsmen. It is said that it is the senior members of any animal species or those displaying exceptional qualities that yields mustikas.

Occasionally, ordinary people in a rural environment would have visitations in dreams by the regional spirits. These intelligences would direct someone to accept a special gift from Nature lying at a certain spot. These dreams are often found to be substantially true as the object is located–objects which are normally mustika-pearls.

Why are mustikas so highly valued? Magickal pearls are held in great regard not only because of their scarcity, and sometimes beauty, but also because of the power that resides in them. These pearls are formed with the help of elementals spirits–gnomes, elves, and other etheric beings of Nature. That etheric spirits help to form gems is not quite unknown in western occultism. In the fairy tale, “Snow White,” for instance, we read of 7 dwarfs working in their “mines.” From the esoteric perspective, they were actually not mining at all, but forming gems and crystals. Tales such as hens laying “golden eggs” possesses some truth if considered in the light of magickal pearls. There are many such golden eggs available. Elementals are Nature’s handmaidens and are the hidden forces acting behind all phenomena and natural formations or creations. Elementals help “paint” the flowers and nourish them with prana and the necessary gases. Science calls the latter process osmosis, but behind the physical scene, in the etheric world, one may perceive fairies frolicking among plants, flying to and fro, entering and exiting the stem and leaves of plants taking the pranic globules from the air and into the flora.

Such similar work as the above are being done by elementals in the formation of mustikas. The difference with ordinary gems and crystals is that these elementals eventually make the pearl their dwelling place until released by the destruction of the pearl or for some other cause–thus sometimes we have genuine pearls without the elemental spirit present. Below we quote a paper, “Conversations on Occultism” by H.P. Blavatsky on elementals to give a greater insight on these beings (italics are ours) :

“Student.- If I understand you, an elemental is a centre of force, without intelligence, without moral character or tendencies, but capable of being directed in its movements by human thoughts, which may, consciously or not, give it any form, and to a certain extent intelligence; in its simplest form it is visible as a disturbance in a transparent medium, such as would be produced by ‘a glass fish, so transparent as to be invisible, swimming through the air of the room,’ and leaving behind him a shimmer, such as hot air makes when rising from a stove. Also, elementals, attracted and vitalized by certain thoughts, may effect a lodgment in the human system (of which they then share the government of the ego), and are very hard to get out.

“Sage.- Correct, in general, except as to their ‘effecting a lodgment.’ Some classes of elementals, however, have an intelligence of their own and a character, but they are far beyond our comprehension and ought perhaps to have some other name.

“Student.- Am I to understand that a clairvoyant or clairaudient has to do with or is affected by a certain special class or classes of elementals?

“Sage.- Yes. A clairvoyant can only see the sights properly belonging to the planes his development reaches to or has opened. And the elementals in those planes show to the clairvoyant only such pictures as belong to their plane. Other parts of the idea or thing pictured may be retained in planes not yet open to the seer. For this reason few clairvoyants know the whole truth.

“As to the moral character of elementals, they have none: they are colourless in themselves - except some classes - and merely assume the tint, so to speak, of the person using them.”

It is the presence of these elementals in pearls that give them an extra feel of power. Normal gemstones and crystals do not have any elemental spirits dwelling in them unless willed by an occult practitioner; mustikas, however, do have an etheric being living in them as a matter of course. Lacking a spirit dweller, a mustika-pearl is still more powerful than an ordinary gemstone or crystal as it possesses the energies of the Guardian Group-Spirit or Intelligences (Animal Totems/ Plant Devas) of the animal/plant species embedded in it.

Some occultist believe that the beings living in mustikas are human spirits, but we feel this to be untrue. Human spirits do not return to dwell in animals or stones but live in the various realms of the astral and higher regions.

Elementals dwelling in pearls are not demonic; although some may be amoral. Some may assist the owner to gamble for instance–directed to do something negative by its master. The elemental would not know the difference between good and evil or the natural law of consequence. Elementals love to imitate human beings in clothings, names and titles. Thus, psychics of high-caliber have found that most elementals adopt the titles and names of saints and kings. These names and titles should not be taken too seriously, but when given by the elementals themselves, they do respond psychically to them. Acquiring the names and details of the elemental dweller is not an easy process, although once acquired and contact made with the pearl-intelligence, many things may be known about the origin of the mustika and its virtues. Yet, psychics who manage to contact the elemental spirit are probably 40-70% accurate in this matter. It should be noted that even without such knowledge, the powers and virtues of a magickal pearl may still be readily felt by those possessing it after a short period of time.

Undeveloped psychics may have trouble detecting and communicating with elementals. Interacting with human spirits and jinns may not pose a problem but elementals may sometime elude them. This is because elementals will not interact with humans that are spiritually unbalanced and have not harmonized their element psychologically within the psyche. For this reason, genuine mustikas or magickal pearls may be mistaken for fakes by psychics who know no better. Sometimes other factors fool people who think they know something about mustikas; two such factors are the color and form of a pearl. When shown a genuine pearl of a certain color and size, like one having its origin from a bamboo plant, for instance, they would search for further bamboo mustikas having only such characteristics–other genuine bamboo pearls of a different form and color would be labeled as “false.” This is unreasonable as there is nothing in Nature that are exactly alike. Oyster pearls, as an example, come in various colors, sizes, and forms. Oyster pearls are not always round, they may come in pear-shape forms, as in tear-drops, and even flat pieces resembling angel-wings. We personally possess bamboo pearls as large as a chicken egg, red in color. We also have blue and green, and black bamboo pearls of diverse shapes and sizes. Not all of our stock are presented on our web-site. The pearls shown are merely representative of what is available. Those ordering mustika-pearls from us are not always given the exact same mustika as seen in the pearl-pictures–mustika-pearls are one-of-a-kind.

Descriptions from ancient texts as to the color and shape of a mustika do not tell the whole story as not enough pearls were found at that time to make a proper comparison or a true statement. To put it plainly, mustikas or magickal pearls of the same animal or plant origin do not always have the same color, size or form. They may appear as an unworthy object or as a thing of beauty–their appearance should not be too much of an issue for the magickal practitioner, for their true value lies in their occult nature.

In their natural state most mustikas have rough textures. It is only after being tumbled and polished do they give a lustre. It is actually in their natural state that one may see that a mustika is genuine as they are unlike any crystal or gem stone in their uncut, untumbled, and unpolished state. Sometimes natural objects such as a grass or part of an insect may be found embedded within them–these magickal pearls often possesses additional power.

Pearls may be tested by the layman whether they are genuine or fake using the finger test; however, this method is not conclusive–it does entail having some psychic sensitivity on the person testing it. The method is to hold a pearl with the right hand between the thumb and forefinger. Inhale and hold your breath, then feel the energy flowing along the arms to the heart. Exhale when you need to. Repeat the breathing cycle–the more you do this, the more definite will the energy be felt. The arm holding the pearl would feel intensely heavy at one point–this effect is generally not felt with ordinary stones and objects. You may test this for yourself should you possess a magickal pearl. Some people make a mistake of stating that testing every object makes their fingers tingle and thus feeling this as a result of holding a magickal pearl is of no import. This is fallacious, and is not the effect sought. This tingling is the result of the blood pulsation as the fingers are pressed against the hard surface of the pearl. What we are actually after in this experiment is to feel the subtle energy flowing into the arms–thus the pearl should not be held between the fingers too tightly. When the energy flows, it accumulates in the arm before reaching the body–this makes the arm intensely heavy. When one’s subtle nadis or etheric nerves have been cleansed of psychic toxins and enlargened for a greater capacity of energy-flow, just holding a mustika-pearl for a few seconds is sufficient enough to feel the rush of the force.

In the days of yore, most men could only mention animal/plant pearls in their writings. Nowadays, magickal pearls are bountiful and readily available to a wider public–to those that seek them. The reason has partly to do with the Aquarian-Age that we find ourselves living in. It is, however, mainly because Nature wishes to offer humanity something that would help men embrace her and not destroy the platform where the other lower kingdoms have their place of evolution. Mustika-pearls are Nature’s gifts to humanity, it connects us directly to the Spirit-Intelligences of the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms.

As alluded to previously, the reality of mustika pearls are to be found in certain literature. Below we quote fully the summary/translation of the Sri Garuda Purana by the gemologist , Robert S. Brown, regarding this matter. The commentary in square brackets are ours:

“Besides (natural) oyster pearls there are seven other types [In fact, almost every animal specie and perhaps plant-life may produce pearls--although rare] found in conch shells, wild boar heads, elephant heads, king cobra heads, bamboo stems, clouds, and fish heads.

“Pearls from elephant heads, bamboo stems, boar heads, fish mouths, and conch shells are lusterless, even though possessed of other auspicious qualities [Not all crowns of animals are lusterless--some have clear crystalline-structures and do give forth a sheen; some bamboo pearls also have lustre]. Pearls from conch shells are usually the size of a large kona (the large end of a drum stick), and they possess a color similar to their host shell.

“Fish pearls are perfectly round and symmetrical. They possess a yellowish hue like the scales of the pathenam fish which often inhabit the mouths of deep sea whales [Again, not totally true, we have seen shark pearls white in color.]

“Boar pearls [we have this pearl available in our collection] are colored like a boar’s tusks and are found only in remote parts of the world. Such pearls are auspicious symbols of the Varaha boar incarnation of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu.

“Pearls derived from bamboo appear like hailstones in color, and they are found only within bamboo that has grown in a region populated by religious people [Lots of bamboo pearls in our collection--they mostly come from Ujung Kulon, Java, which secret sources say is one of the remote places where the Indonesian Spiritual Masters regularly convene].

“Pearls from the cobra’s hood are perfectly round, like fish pearls, and they radiate a natural effulgence. By repeated washing, a snake pearl becomes as lustrous as a polished sword blade. Anyone possessing such a naga-mani attains piety, rare good fortune, and eventually becomes illustrious as a leader of men, complete with a great collection of all precious gems [Cobra-pearls are not always round, they may also come in other shapes].

“Upon acquiring such a snake pearl, the owner should have the rite of installation performed by a priest who is learned in religious formalities. After hearing from the owner how the pearl was obtained and conducting the benedictory ritual, the priest should formally install the jewel inside the owner’s house. On such an auspicious occasion, the sky becomes filled with dark and heavy rain clouds, thunder, and flashing lightning, such as exhibited at the time of universal dissolution. A man in possession of such a snake pearl will never be troubled by snakes, demonic beings, diseases, or disturbances in any form.

“Cloud pearls [this could possibly be a "dew pearl" or a variation], being naturally effulgent like the sun, illuminate the sky in all directions and dispel the darkness of cloudy days. Glowing brighter than the combined light of the moon, the twinkling stars, and fire, a cloud-born pearl dissipates even the darkest night exactly like the sunrise. A cloud pearl is so priceless that the entire earth, with her oceans filled with countless jewels and covered in layers of gold, would not be equal in value. Cloud pearls rarely reach this earthly world, because they are usually taken away by the demigods.

“Even a low born man would become supreme ruler of the entire world if, as result of some past pious actions, he were to come into possession of such a pearl. The appearance of such a man on earth who obtained a cloud pearl during his lifetime would bring good fortune not only to himself, but to the entire human race as well. No form of evil could even touch the land within an 8,000 mile radius of his birthplace.”

THE “OTHER” PEARLS By Richard S. Brown, Gemologist (G.I.A.)

How do animal/plant pearls differ from ordinary gem stones and crystals? Mustika-pearls contain energies of the Totem Animal/Plant Spirit-Guardians (Power-Animals/Plant Devas) of the species under its care. During its construction, an elemental spirit appropriates these energies to actually construct every line of force within the pearl and to actually dwell within it after it is fully formed. The energies of the Totem-Animal/Plant Spirit and the presence of the elemental are the two occult factors that differentiates mustikas from ordinary crystals and gems.

Extraordinary mustika-pearls are sometimes found. These are the crowns and horns of animals that normally do not possess them. In this category are also the fossilized-eyes and other parts of animals and creatures. Crowns are normally lusterless as described in the Sri Purana Garuda. There are, however, crocodile-crowns that are crystalline in nature. Most crown-pearls come from snakes and centipedes. These crowns normally have a spiral, conic shape. Horns/crowns of animals such as horses (unicorn) and cats do exist, though they are scarce.

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

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Copywriting Makeover: Facts Vs. Fantasy (Part 1 of 2)

Time for a pop quiz! Name three products that sell better when a facts-based approach to copy is taken. Just off the top of my head I’d say computers, fax machines and microwave ovens. Now, name three products that sell best when the copy is romanticized. Travel, fur coats and jewelry are good examples. Knowing when to use facts and when to use fantasy was a problem JuliesJewels.com had on one particular website page. Let’s see how approaching the copy differently brought this e-commerce company greater success.

The Problems

One of the hardest things to learn as a copywriter is which focus or approach to take with copy. There are general guidelines to follow, but experience will tell you that there are almost as many exceptions as there are rules. However, in the case of JuliesJewels.com’s Moissanite jewelry page, it was obvious we had a clear lack of — and a clear need for more — emotion.

For those who may not be acquainted with Moissanite stones, they were originally created in a laboratory by a Nobel Peace Prize-winning scientist. They are made of a replicated mineral that was originally found in a meteorite that crashed to earth thousands of years ago. However, unlike cubic zirconia (CZ), they are extremely hard and do not form a cloudy appearance over time. Moissanite offers the brilliance of a diamond without the flashy price.

Now, the guideline goes: If you have a product that is unfamiliar to the marketplace, you will want to educate your site visitors while you sell to them. However, sometimes “educate” gets confused with “provide facts.” This was one problem Julie’s page suffered from.

As I read the original copy (which you can see here: http://www.copywritingcourse.com/juliesjewels-moissanite-original.pdf) terms like “replica” and “lab” and “wholesale” struck me as cold and undescriptive. Yes, they were absolutely true, but they completely disregarded the wonder and enchantment brought about by one of these manmade diamonds.

While a few words like “beauty” and “lustrous” were included, they did little to help a man feel proud and confident that he was choosing a gorgeous piece his wife or girlfriend would swoon over. It didn’t evoke any emotions in women who lack the funds (and the desire!) to spend thousands on diamonds yet still dream of jewelry that was is unique as they are.

Another challenge was the page’s so-so performance in the search results. Considering how horribly competitive most jewelry terms are with regard to search rankings, Julie’s positioning for this page wasn’t too bad. The Moissanite jewelry page usually bounced between positions 11 and 30 on the major engines. However, the goal was to push the page as high as possible while driving visitors deeper into the category.

The Solutions

The key points that needed to be made on the Moissanite jewelry page were these:

1) Moissanite is the next best thing to a diamond, closely replicating a diamond’s luster, vibrance and quality.
2) Unlike CZs, Moissanite jewels are rare, not a victim of a flooded marketplace.
3) While not considered “cheap,” Moissanite is definitely affordable.

To prepare myself for writing this page, I looked over the various other pages of the Julie’s Jewels site. I wanted to dream a bit about the earrings, rings, necklaces and other pieces I that included Moissanite stones.

As I clicked from page to page, I took notes about what I saw, what I felt and how I reacted to the pictures of the jewels. I also went to various diamond websites. Since Moissanite is almost as hard as diamonds and since it so closely resembles the characteristics of diamonds, many of the adjectives used to describe diamonds would also be applicable to Moissanite stones.

Lastly, I thought about who would be buying these gemstones and why. Perhaps a man who truly wanted to impress his fiancé, but who didn’t have the money to pay for a one-carat or two-carat diamond ring. Maybe a woman who wanted a pendant that was truly exceptional, but didn’t care to pay the extensive markup usually found on diamond jewelry. While the reasons might vary, the common denominators were that beauty and quality mattered as much as price. Once I had a good grasp of the target audience and the products, I set out to write a new category page.

In Part Two of this series, you’ll see how the rewrite unfolded and what those changes accomplished for Julie’s Jewels.

by Karon Thackston © 2006, All Rights Reserved

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