April 25, 2018 - Oh My Heartsie Girl

April 25, 2018October 15, 2020

Life in Colorado

The American economy is chugging along pretty well right now, and nowhere is that more true than in Colorado. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked The Centennial State’s economy as the best in the country based on factors like growth and business environment. Colorado is attracting talented professionals from other, more expensive parts of the country, like New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a great time to move West and find a slice of paradise in the Rocky Mountains. The people are friendly and there’s plenty of options for both indoor and outdoor recreation. It’s no wonder that Colorado also ranks as one of the top 10 best states for millennials because of its affordability and quality of life.

The Denver area

Denver serves as both the capital of the state and the biggest city in Colorado. It has a population of about 700,000, which also places it in the top twenty biggest cities in all of the country. You’ve probably heard it called The Mile High City due to its staggering elevation, although the word “high” has taken on a new term ever since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana a few years back. It’s not just a place for stoners, though. Coloradans are health-conscious in several respects. They like to stay physically fit, and they don’t like smoking, as the state has a low percentage of people who identify as smokers. That can mean the people who do smoke feel even more isolated if they don’t have much company when they step outside a bar and light up. Some people in search of an alternative have turned to vape juice, which feels like smoking but is generally regarded as less dangerous because there are fewer chemicals involved. Vape juice is available with or without nicotine, and the flavors include basics like mixed berry and far-out tastes like glazed donut. Chances are, you’ll walk outside and see someone vaping, whether they’re waiting alone at the bus stop or chatting casually in a group of friends.

Other cities

Drive south of Denver for about an hour and you’ll find yourself in Colorado Springs, the second-biggest city in the state, at about 465,000 residents. The defense and tech industries are major players in the local economy, and the city is also home to organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee and Focus on the Family. The incredibly selective U.S. Air Force Academy is also based in Colorado Springs, meaning you may run into a few cadets around town.

Those who would prefer to stick a bit closer to Denver without being in the middle of everything can head northwest to Boulder, a town of around 100,000 residents about 25 miles from the capital city. The University of Colorado is headquartered there, but it’s not simply a college town. It’s full of culture and job opportunities, and you’re just as likely to find high-quality condos in Boulder as you are to find fraternity and sorority houses near campus. If you’re interested in an environmentally-friendly town, look no further than Boulder and its highly-supported carbon energy tax. It’s also got plenty of bike-friendly paths and roadways for those who would rather leave their car in the garage. Like many places in Colorado, Boulder is lively, beautiful, and growing fast.

April 25, 2018

How People Decide Which Products to Buy

In our free market, the competition between products and manufacturers creates better products and lowers prices, while improving the customers’ shopping experience. If you are unable to compete in the market, you are slowly pushed out and disappear.

It is, therefore, important to figure out what drives people to buy one product and not the other and how to create your product to appeal to your target audience the most.

Packaging Is More than a Box

Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. The first thing that they will see from your product is the packaging. More likely than not, will be nestled on a shelf, surrounded by scores of other products from the same niche. Why should they pick your product and not some other?

Apart from safely storing your product, the packaging needs to have something about it that will attract your customers’ attention. Depending on your target audience, that can mean a lot of different things, which is why it is important to do proper market research. There are certain traditional packaging options for certain industries, as listed here https://www.boxcoop.com/boxes-by-industry/, but you don’t necessarily need to adhere to those if you have a better idea.

Word of Mouth Means a Lot

If you are a small company, chances are that you don’t have a particularly big budget for advertising and marketing. That’s when it is time to advertise smart and make sure that your product reaches people who can make an impact on others. In today’s modern world, that can be anyone from notable Twitter to YouTube stars, and even regular people in smaller communities.

People are much more likely to buy a product recommended by a friend or a family member than those advertised by celebrities. Celebrities are inherently considered untrustworthy because they are paid to recommend the said product. On the other hand, if someone you know tells you about a product, it feels more natural and people inherently trust it more.

Make Sure Your Product Is Good

If you’ve managed to convince people to buy your product either through choosing the appropriate packaging or through a successful marketing campaign, you may be able to convince people to buy your product once. However, if you want to create a recurring customer base, you need to give your customers a good product.

It is your job to make sure that the product corresponds to everything you promised in the packaging and the marketing campaign. If your customers aren’t satisfied with the product they got for their money, they will take their business elsewhere the next time around. What’s more, they will potentially generate negative word of mouth which can further damage your brand’s image.

Price to Value Ratio

When you have a customer who is on the edge whether to buy your product or not, the deciding factor is more often than not the price. However, it is not the price in the vacuum; if that were the case, we would only ever buy the cheapest brands and be done with choices.

We calculate how much value we are getting for the amount of money we are paying. Some recent studies have shown that our lines of reasoning are much simpler than the complex mathematical models that big marketing companies have developed and swear by.

Instead, the MIT researchers posit that we like to simplify things and not overanalyze things when making everyday purchases. When it comes to more complicated and expensive purchases, most people make a conscious effort to be analytical and rational, but that is not always the case when buying everyday items.

Ultimately, your job as a company is to create the best product you can and to offer it to the general public for evaluation. You can always change and adapt to the shifts in the tastes of the market.

April 25, 2018

Female-Focused Muscle Building Tips and Techniques

As a woman, you can definitely be as fit as any guy. However, if you are interested in building up your muscles, it does take a different approach to what your brother, boyfriend or hubby might do in the gym. To increase your muscle mass, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between men and women and then look at some female-focused tips and techniques.

Men and Women are Definitely Different

Biologically, men and women have a number of key differences that impact how they become more fit. For example, men have higher levels of testosterone, a hormone that helps the body to become more muscular. Women have higher amounts of estrogen, which helps with the growth of fat cells. This fact alone is why it’s inherently more challenging for a woman to add muscle than it is for a man. But that’s not all. Women also usually have a higher body mass index (BMI) than guys, which means they usually have a bit more fat on their bodies. These differences should not discourage you from building up your muscles; on the contrary, they should reassure you that while you can definitely get more fit, you should not be discouraged if your muscle-based results are not as quick as that of the dudes in the gym.

Start Out Slowly

While you might be gung-ho to hit the gym and start doing as many reps as you can, health coaches will warn you to be careful. If you are new to weightlifting, start out with two sessions each week; if you have been at it for some time, you can do as many as four. As you gain strength and your body adjusts to the workouts you can certainly up your weight lifting times, but go easy at first. In addition, focus on specific muscle groups each time, choosing one to four muscles per workout. For instance, work on your chest, back and legs on Monday and your stomach, biceps, and triceps on Thursday.

Take Your Vitamins

In order to do your best in the gym, your body must be getting enough fuel. To ensure that you have the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to support a healthy body, you may want to take a daily supplement. This is also a good way to make sure you have enough nutrients on those days when time is tight and you are eating on the go. For example, Amway sells the Nutrilite line of supplements, including a number of products that are made for women. The Women’s Pack contains plenty of calcium for strong bones and omega-3s to keep your heart and brain as healthy as possible. The Nutrilite Double X supplement is another great choice for women who are trying to build up their muscles; two servings a day of the supplement will provide you with 12 essential vitamins, 10 essential minerals, and 22 plant concentrates.

Don’t Skimp on the Protein

To develop your muscle mass and help those workouts be as effective as possible, it is important to eat plenty of protein. Try to shoot for about 1.7 daily grams of protein per kilogram of body weight; in other words, if you are 140 pounds, you should strive to eat 115 grams of protein a day. The protein should come from complete sources like lean meat and fish, or vegetarian sources like peas or hemp.

Remember, You Can Do This

By understanding the differences between your body and that of a guy, you will be well on your way to building muscles in a healthy and effective way. By using a slow and steady approach, taking supplements to nourish the body and focusing on your protein, you will be sure to notice a positive difference in your physique.
[…]
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April 25, 2018

Need a Gift for Your Best Friend? Consider These

When the time comes around for you to buy a gift for your best friend on her birthday, the panic can start to set in if you haven’t found something early. No one wants to be rushing around at the last minute desperately trying to find a gift that’s going to be suitable for them. Rather than getting yourself into that situation, read on and find out about some of the very best gift ideas and why they’ll go down well with your best friend.

A Range of Scented Candles

Relaxation is so much easier to achieve when there are some beautifully scented candles burning in the vicinity. You should make it your mission to find a range of scented candles that you know your friend will enjoy making use of in the home. There are so many of them out there, so start searching for the ideal combination.

A Stunning Necklace

Necklaces are useful and most women who wear them have a large collection that they’re constantly cycling between. If your friend is anything like most women, she’ll always be on the lookout for new necklaces to pair with outfits, so this is a good gift idea. You could choose a my name necklace if you want to have some fun with this idea. Consider antique options too if you want to splash out.

A Pair of Unique Earrings

Earrings are always a safe call when it comes to buying your friend a gift. As long as they’re in keeping with the kind of style that your friend generally chooses, they should go down well. And you can make a choice depending on how much you want to spend. There are great earrings, from modern silver pairs to vintage classies, to suit just about every budget.

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A Modern Instant Camera

Instant cameras make nice gifts because they’re kind of retro but also very modern. The fact that we’re so used to taking photos on our phones nowadays makes it nice to have a physical camera that produces photos instantly. It’s like a modern version of an old polaroid camera. In other words, it’s perfect for you and your friends when you want to capture memories.

An Art Print for Their Home

Everyone wants their home to look the part and feel welcoming and warm. One way to help your friend with that is to buy them an art print that you think would look great on their wall. It should be something that fits in with the general aesthetic of their home, as well as something that suits your friend’s personal taste in art. If you get it right, this gift will go down fantastically well.

Finding the right gift for your best friend doesn’t need to be over complicated. Choose something that you know they will make use of and something that you know they’ll appreciate on some level. As long as you’ve put some real thought and effort into it, your friend will be grateful and appreciative.