Month: August 2014

Do you have life insurance?

One of the main changes in US society as a result of the recession that hit in October 2008 is that women now make up nearly half the workforce. Almost a third of married women are now contributing significantly to the wealth of their household by working outside the home. Countless families are now headed by women. Yet only about 25% of women have thought to take out a life insurance policy to try to protect their family from the financial shock of their untimely death.

Even for those that do have insurance, they are often underinsured, which risks their family being stuck with final expenses and little to live on if her salary was to disappear overnight.

Life insurance is not just for men, and it can also be a valuable planning and investment tool to help you improve your financial future.  If you have any dependents, take some time today to look over your existing life insurance to see if you are underinsured, or start looking into the range of life insurance options to see which one makes sense for your family, situation and budget.

FURTHER READING

Buying Life Insurance-A Beginner’s Guide

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Transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall

fashion shoeSummer time is disappearing fast and fall is approaching. We know you want to make the most of your flirty summer fashions, but your light and white clothing will soon have to give way to more somber colors and heavier fabrics. But there are ways to make the transition so you do not just get to wear your summer clothes for a few weeks of the year. Instead of packing the clothes away as soon as Labor Day is over, here are a few ideas for keeping them out with the rest of your clothes and transitioning them to be useful for you in the fall as well.

* Tee shirts can still be worn on most days. If the weather is a little chilly, top with a cardigan or layer your tee over a long sleeved shirt.

* Dresses. If they are not too summery in terms of color or pattern, add a cardigan or pop a tee shirt underneath, or both.

* Shorts. Shorts with tights became the fashion several years ago, so provided they are not too summery or skimpy, you can continue to wear them into the fall. Capris can also work well to extend your wardrobe if they are not too summery in color or pattern.

* Summer shoes. Sandals may not be appropriate for very cold or wet fall days, but they are fine for an extended Indian summer. Just be sure to keep your pedicure up to date. Flats are perfect for wearing well into fall and work well with any outfit, from casual to formal, as long as they are not white.

* Summer accessories can still be used in the fall. Sunglasses can be used throughout the year. After all, just because its fall does not mean the sun isn’t still shining, and you should always try to protect your eyes. A straw hat, bag and sunglasses work well with fall colors as long as they are not too summery. If your hat has a ribbon on it, you can always change it to something darker and more autumnal, for a whole new look.

* Mini skirts are a staple in the summer time, and can be carried over into fall with the addition of tights and high boots. The resulting fashion statement will show great fashion sense and will leave others wondering why they haven’t tried it. Again, just avoid wearing white or any overly summery patterns.

* Accessories are a staple to any outfit in any season. Utilize scarves and darker purses with your summer wardrobe and the change will create a fresh, pleasing effect.

*Shawls and shrugs. These are handy for adding an extra layer and keeping the chill off. Adding one can create a whole new look to your tee shirt or top or your dresses.

Wearing your summer items for longer makes sure you will get more value of them and not feel you are going to be stuck in winter woolies for the next nine months until summer rolls around again.

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Do You Need a Fashion Consultant?

Fashion consultants, also referred to as image consultants, are individuals who are able to give advice on the latest fashion trends and help you develop your own style.

You can certainly read about and study fashion on your own, but there are some individuals who feel they need professional assistance to make the most of their appearance, especially if they are not that interested in reading about all the latest trends but still want to look their best.

With the bewildering array of styles and many people with body issues, spending the time and money to get a fashion consultation can help save a lot of effort, frustration and even embarrassment, so that you can find the styles that are right for you.

If you have ever seen the show What NOT to Wear, you will have some idea of what to expect with a fashion consultant, minus the TV cameras and ridicule.

Most of the time, people consult with a fashion expert when they have a special occasion coming up, such as a wedding. Others might decide that they need help in developing a more professional wardrobe so that they can really dress to impress on their upcoming important interviews.

Whatever the reason, some people do not know what suits them, or suits the occasion they are going to be attending, and feel they need professional help.

The phrase may be commonplace, but it is true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That being the case, a couple of outstanding outfits in your wardrobe can help you wow those you want to impress with effortless ease, once you know how.

While it is true that every work environment is different, for instance, with some workplaces offering more casual dress, while others still expect more formal dress, there are certain styles that are classics that you can have for years which will not go out of fashion, while other outfits are so trendy that they will be out of style in a year or two.

In most cases, these kinds of clothes are more suited to your social life than your professional life, unless of course you are working in a position that required you to dress in a very stylish manner. The kinds of clothes that you would need to wear in an upscale boutique will be very differen from those you would be expected to don if you were working in a law office.

Professional fashion consultants spend hours reviewing the latest fashion trends and styles, including workplace fashions, and then helping to match the trends to your personality and the nature of your job plus your appearance and body type

If you are interested in updating your appearance, you may want to think about hiring a professional fashion consultant to help you develop a more sophisticated look, or one more in keeping with your age now that you have reached the age of 29 again but are in need of a fashion update.

You should have a wardrobe of mix and match separates that will work well in in the office or on a business trip, and for a fun and possibly even romantic night out as well. Fashion consultants can help you invest in a wardrobe that everyone will be impressed with, but without anyone thinking that you are wearing one of your outfits too often. They can help you save money in the long run by not buying anything so trendy that it screams last season if you try to wear it for more than a few months.

Finally, if you have body image issues, consult with an expert to help you get on the right track for the best outfits for your job, lifestyle, coloring and body type. We can be a bad judge of ourselves with respect to thse issues, so hiring a professional design consultant can help you put things into perspective and find the clothes that are right for you so you are not constantly walking around in a tent to hide what is actually a good figure, or wearing skin tight clothes when you have gained 50 pounds.

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3 Success Secrets Using the Power of Your Mind

We often seem to think that success just happens to some people, that they are ‘lucky’ or have some special skills or talents that we lack. This image of success is one example of a self-limiting belief that can hold us back from the kind of success that we have always dreamed of.

Success means different things to different people, of course, but generally speaking, it is being able to accomplish your personal, career and financial goals.

First, you need to define your goals. Next, you need to take a look at your own mind to see if YOU are actually the one who is holding yourself back from the life that you deserve.

Let’s look at # top strategies for increasing your level of success by using the power of your mind.

1-Don’t give your negative thoughts too much importance.
“The worst things in life that ever happened to me, NEVER happened.” Mark Twain

Many people tend to think the worst and come up with all sorts of negative scenarios which make them feel as if they have experienced some sort of disaster, when in reality, NOTHING happened.

If your mind has the power to create all of these worst-case scenarios that upset you, why not use your mind to create best-case scenarios that can fill you will powerful, positive feelings? In this way, you will be motivate to keep on trying, and often succeeding, in reaching your goals.

2-Create a mantra or daily affirmation.
The author of The Little Engine that Could did not call it a mantra, but, “I think I can, I think I can,” is a good example of one. In the modern world, we also have the saying, “Fake it ’til you make it.” In other words, keep on acting as if you are successful, until you succeed.

Any mantra that speaks to your innermost feelings and fears can work to calm and soothe you and serve as powerful self-talk that can transform your mindset from defeated to prepared to try, try again.

3-Set goals and intentions but don’t make them the ultimate goal.
The law of attraction states that we attract what we focus on the most, either positive or negative. The more we worry about failing, the more we attract failure.

Stressing over money or your business, wondering if you are going to be successful, is leaving the door open for failure. The negativity of these thoughts can send either mixed messages or even negativity out into your world, and hold you back from the success that you are so longing for.

The question then becomes what is your goal or definition of success. Are you mindlessly making your way to your first million, and once you get it, you will be satisfied? Or do you understand that success is a process and journey, one we can arrive at any time provided we are happy with our efforts and practical in terms of distinguishing between wants and needs?

Set your goals and intentions and then let them go. A certain amount of faith in yourself and in the power of attraction is necessary, as is surrendering to the process. Go with the flow rather than try to re-direct the river all the time, and you will attain what you desire.

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