Life

 

It was my friend Alexis Fecteau who first made a comment about my social media usage, and he was absolutely right, I was beginning to get a little hooked. Alexis and I were at lunch at I must have spent at least 80% of the time with him on my phone, at the end he politely said that there wasn’t much point in coming for lunch, because I didn’t really give him my time. After that day I felt terrible and I began to gradually reduce the amount of time which I spent on social media, and now I only have one profile which I check every couple of days. Since reducing my social media use I have noticed some big changes and it is clear that I had no idea the impact that this was having on my life.

There are many dangers of using social media too much, and this is what I have noticed since stopping.

Less Concerned

Social media has shone a light on more areas of the world than ever before and that means that we now know so much are about world events. The problem with spending too much time on social media however is that you start to feel constantly sad or worried about the plight of things in other areas of the world, things which you really cannot do anything about. This is not to say that you should ignore problems or laugh about other people, but if there is absolutely nothing you can do about it then there isn’t much point in getting yourself worried about it, or stressed out.

Presence

What Alexis said to me that day was absolutely right, I was never present with my friends when I went to see them because I was too occupied with my phone, an awful thing for someone to have done to them. The worst thing is that on those occasions, I’d be snapping shots of us all together and uploading it like we were having the time of our lives, when in reality that would be the only time I took my hands off my phone. You have to be present with people and if you are stuck on social media it won’t happen.

Pressure

There is enough social pressure in this world without adding to it a bunch of people who present a fake version of their life on their social media pages. Very few people online are honest, the majority run their profile to show off a life that they actually wish they had, and this makes so many people feel under pressure. There is pressure to take the right photo, to write the right thing, to wear the right clothes, take the right vacation, it is just too much. When you stop using social media you begin to think more about you and your decisions, rather than doing things which you think other people will approve of.

 

Apart from providing guests with crucial information, your wedding invitation is one of the first elements relating to your big day that guests will see. As such, it is essential to invest in high-quality but affordable invitations. With a little creativity, you will be able to come up with a breathtaking design that includes a special and personal touch. Here are a few tips to help you when creating your own wedding invitation.

Choose your ideal layout

As much as making your own wedding invitation is exciting, it can also be intimidating. There are many options out there when it comes to designs. Take time to go through different themes and design options before choosing your preferred layout. Whether you are planning a formal, beach, rustic, or Indian wedding, you will definitely find a template that works for you.

Reflect on the wedding tone

Considering the importance of first impressions, your wedding invitation should serve as a preview of the big event. As such, you should consider the wedding tone and find ways of including it in the invitation. Depending on the type of wedding you are having, you should use the invitation to spread the wedding’s enthusiasm.

Consider using a photo

Since weddings are a celebration of love, you should consider making love the focal point of your invitations. One of the best ways of doing this is by including a photo in the design. Seeing a happy couple commit to each other for the rest of their lives is likely to warm your guests’ hearts. You can either choose a nice photo that you took together or consider doing a photoshoot. Photo wedding invitations are a great way to achieve customization.

Color matters

The announcement of your wedding is an important event that should be surrounded by dazzling colors. Apart from drawing inspiration from your wedding theme, you can also pair colors that will make the invitation look beautiful. You can also be inspired by nature, the season in which the wedding will take place or ask for opinions from loved ones.

Make sure they are legible

Even as you consider colors and patterns, you should not forget about the text. Since the main aim of sending out the invitation is to announce your wedding, you must ensure that the text is legible. Avoid using light ink on light backgrounds, and be careful not to crowd the card. Choose a clean look that is visually appealing and helps you pass your core message easily.

Paint and write by hand

Instead of printing your wedding invitation, you can choose to showcase your creative side. You can go for handmade invitations where you design all the images and text. Handmade wedding invitations will not only be unique but will also have a personal touch that expresses your distinctive personality. However, you will need to plan properly and start early if you need a lot of wedding invitations.

There is a lot of work that goes into designing and creating wedding invitations. If you are to ensure that everything is done as you would like, you should consider starting early.

 

The IRS is just as eager as you are to settle your debt as quickly as possible. The tax experts at Optima Tax Relief review the appeals process and explain the rights to appeal that every taxpayer has.

While many taxpayers may live in fear of the IRS – particularly if they are in the red when it comes to their tax debt, it may come as a surprise that the IRS actually embraces a proactive philosophy regarding working with its taxpayers to help them navigate through any tax-related debt accrual. While many taxpayers may opt to avoid tackling their tax debt head on with the IRS, there are a number of programs the IRS has created to aid taxpayers so they don’t have to manage through the debt alone. The tax experts at Optima Tax Relief reviews the taxpayer appeals rights, so that all taxpayers understand the appeals process.

Like any other corporation, it is just as advantageous for the IRS to avoid any court proceedings in an effort to get an outstanding debt from a taxpayer satisfied. Court proceedings are long, arduous and expensive for any and all parties involved, including the IRS.

Every taxpayer has specific rights of appeal they need to understand, especially if they owe the IRS back taxes. The administrative appeals process exists so that the IRS and taxpayers alike can both benefit from staying out of the courtroom. The Office of Appeals exists to enable an independent review process of tax disputes and to provide a channel for resolving tax disputes fairly and impartially.

An appeals conference may seem intimidating, but they often follow a relatively informal format, but do require preparation. You can learn more about the appeals process, including what to expect and how best to prepare by accessing the Appeals section of the IRS.gov website. There you will find information about alternative dispute resolution processes, technical guidance, international programs, and more.

You can also learn more about the Appeals process by reviewing the Appeals Process: Exam Issues YouTube video. Get the latest Appeals news, information, and settlement guidelines by following the IRS News and IRS Tax Professionals Twitter accounts as well.

 

I have been working with Alexander Sabadash for a number of years now and my job has been to focus on improving his company’s Instagram following and manage social media. Alexander and I went to college together and when he first launched his business, social media was very much in its infancy. I was in-between jobs so jumped on board to help out and one of our biggest challenges was to increase his following on Instagram. Alexander and I tried many strategies and it has only been in recent years that he and I have found a formula which seems to have done the trick. Whether you want more followers for your personal profile or your business page, here is how Alexander and I managed to increase his following.

Content Focus

The first point to mention here is the massive importance that you need to place on the quality of your content on this social media channel. There is a temptation that if you don’t have a large following that you shouldn’t be spending too much time on the content, but in reality the opposite is true here. When people first check out your page, they can see all of your content before they decide to follow you, which is just one reason why you need to be able to wow them with what you have produced. Also, if you want to really grab people’s attention in this sphere then you need to produce the content which can do that, otherwise you’ll just be another post in the sea of mediocrity.

Tagging

Hashtags and Geotags are absolutely essential to amassing more followers. Unlike Twitter, people can actually follow hashtags which will then feature on their news feed. If you have a record store for example then ensuring that you tag your location and use hot tags like #vinyl #vinylcollector are going to significantly increase your visibility and help you to bring more followers to your page.

Engaging

Social media is not, and has never been, a one-way street and you can’t expect people to show you love and attention without reciprocating it. When your followers engage with you it is up to you to get back to them. In doing this you will show others that you are part of the community and they will be more inclined to follow you as a result.

Trending Topics

Always pay attention to trending topics and make yourself part of the conversation. To use the record store example again, let’s say that a record has its 40-year anniversary, or perhaps a band get back together, if you have content about these groups or albums then start sharing it again to help you bring more followers to your page.

Provide Value

Content should be high quality, but it also has to provide value, before you post anything, think seriously about what you are offering someone who visits your profile. This could be humor, knowledge or information, whatever you decide to do, there is no doubt about it that you have to give people a reason to follow you.

Give these tips a try and let us know how you get on.

With Halloween around the corner, you may already be contemplating what your children’s costumes are going to be, or what snacks you plan to make available at this year’s party. One thing that you likely haven’t thought about, though, is how to protect your and your children’s eyesight as you take in all of the ghoulish festivities. Here’s a look at why this holiday can be a scary one for your eye health, as well as what you can do protect your vision at trick-or-treat time, according to the Zietchick Research Institute.

For starters, avoid wearing contact lenses that come with costumes. These decorative, non-prescription lenses are never safe to wear, as they may not have been manufactured according to Federal Drug Administration safety regulations. For instance, a costume’s contact lenses might feature jagged edges that can damage your eye. Likewise, these lenses may carry infections due to improper sanitation. If you’re serious about altering your eye color for Halloween, talk to your eye doctor to see if he or she can recommend certain prescription costume lenses instead.

Also, exercise caution if you plan to don eye makeup on Halloween. Ideally, you should utilize hypoallergenic makeup. In addition, try not to share your eye makeup with other people, and be sure to wash away the makeup prior to hitting the sack at night. You should additionally avoid using the same makeup you used last year at Halloween. Why? Because makeup can easily attract microbes with time. Furthermore, be sure to carry moist towelettes with you as you go out and about. If sweat causes your makeup to run into your eye and irritate it, you can simply wipe away the makeup with the towelettes.

Finally, make sure that any hats, wigs, or masks that you wear on Halloween to not obstruct your vision, as this can result in accidents or falls that can break, rather than make, your Halloween.

We all want to become more efficient when it comes to energy use. There are benefits to being more eco-friendly regardless of what your motivation is. If your motivation is simply a monetary one, then you will reduce your electric and natural gas bill. This will result in saving money every month. If your motivation is to be environmentally responsible, then you will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help promote a cleaner environment all around you.

Agera Energy is a utility provider in Westchester County, New York that delivers electricity and natural gas to its customers. The energy company has taken environmental responsibility to a whole new level. They have implemented energy saving and waste reduction initiatives all across their office in Briar Cliff Manor, New York. The utility company has even shared how they have become a Certified Westchester Green Business.

The first thing that Agera has done in its office is to switch its lighting. It now uses LED lighting throughout its 12,000-foot office space. This has had a tremendous energy savings impact. The company has slashed its utility bill significantly.

The reduction in CO2 gases due to switching to LED lighting is also massive. It is equivalent to powering 76 homes on a yearly basis. Who knew that switching to LED lighting can save so much energy? To further reduce electricity usage, Agera has initiated a policy of having employees turn off the lights in conference rooms and office rooms when they are not in use. This is common sense. If a room is not used, then there is no need to light it up and waste electricity.

Some of the windows of Agera Energy’s office building face south. This means that they will be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. To counteract the heating effect of this, the utility company had contractors install reflective film coverings on its south-facing windows. This reduces the heating effect of the sun and helps keep cooling costs under control.

Company refrigerators are monitored at Agera Energy. Thermostats were installed to make sure that the refrigerators are not using too much energy than is required. The result is a reduced impact on the environment and a smaller utility bill at the end of the month.

Before becoming a Certified Westchester Green Business, Agera Energy did not recycle any items. It only used waste containers to throw all waste away. Today Agera Energy has an extensive recycling program. Every room in its office in Briar Creek Manor, New York has recycling containers in addition to regular trash bins. The company recycles things such as glass, cans, and paper. By recycling, a company can have a tremendous impact on the waste stream. It also encourages the reuse of materials such as glass bottles, paper, and cans.

Of course, merely placing recycling bins is not enough. The utility company has made sure to label what is acceptable for recycling clearly. It has also tried to educate its workforce on how to recycle items both at work and at home properly.

Agera Energy goes a step further than most companies when it comes to recycling programs. The company also uses a contractor to dispose of hazardous wastes. It has also set up an e-waste recycling program. Employees are encouraged to place old electronic items and other e-waste in a special container for e-waste recycling. This further helps the environment and keeps hazardous materials away from our landfills and streets.

Water conservation is another aspect of Agera Energy’s environmental sustainability initiative. The energy provider has given every employee a free reusable BPA water bottle. Water filtration systems have been set up in the office that automatically refills these bottles with clean water. The company also encourages employees to report leaks and turn off faucets when done using them. Together, these initiatives have resulted in a significant decrease in water consumption and plastic waste.